today

So far, I've had Fruity Pebbles...yeah. I'm starving, and I think a trip to Panera bread is on my "to-do" list. Light on the bread, please. But a fat, creamy soup is on my mind. However, i think it can't be worse than what I ate on my drive home from Charlotte on Monday. Fried lunch courtesy of Wendy's, but I did get yogurt instead of French fries, saving me 180 calories and 14 grams of fat. However, I still had the spicy chicken sandwich, weighing in at 440 calories and 16 grams of fat which is surprisingly 130 calories more than a junior bacon cheeseburger. Wendys.com has all of the nutritional info for all of the foods & beverages they offer, as do most national food chains. Helpful, right? Only if you do your homework BEFORE going to the drive-thru.

Progress

Small changes breed good feelings. I walked 6 miles yesterday, according to my handy dandy new pedometer. Also, I stayed away from most sweets, but I have to say that p.b. cookies are still delicious.

Kori walks!

I realized that even in my ridiculously busy life, I still have time to walk, and can make simple changes in my routine. This will be my social experiment for the remainder of the semester, and I intend to be truthful, so please try not to gasp when I disclose what I am about to.

Currently I weigh 210, more than 30 pounds from the weight I was when I came back to college. I waver between a size 14 & 16, depending on the day. By the end of the semester, I will attempt to shed 18 pounds. From today until final exams, we have 12 weeks, and I will be my own little experiment. By making small, simple changes I intend to see the scales budge...a little. Anyone care to join me?


OH GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE?

Although I am on vacation (and vacation calories don't count, right?) I am thinking to myself, "Whoa Jess, stop the fat train before it gets outta control..." and on the 10-hour drive from Charlotte, NC to Fort Wayne, I devise a plan. I've already poo-pooed Alli (no pun intended, of course) as a diet drug, and search for other weight loss aids. And I realize something: gimmicks are just that. You need dedication and drive to make your body change, and upon talking to a wonderful, beautiful RN, Kori who recently shed 25 pounds, it struck me like a Big Mac in the drive-thru: Monkey see, Monkey do.

And Kori's secret? She walked. She walks. She will walk. Kori began wearing a pedometer to track her daily exercise, and it's been working. "I didn't even change the way I eat. I still eat like crap."

Well, maybe I'll modify that part. A little bit.

Vacation & The Chubby Pants

It's 80 degrees on Trade & Tryon streets in Charlotte, NC. A warm, almost tropical breeze dances across my skin as I sit with a glass of Burgundy, looking into the eyes of my romantic dinner companion. And I'm wondering about how many calories I'm pumping into my body. Although the dinner of choice is fish flown in fresh from all over the world, it is sauteed in butter, coated in bread crumbs, laden with salt and God knows what...not to mention the side dishes, salad and THE WINE. Did you know that your average glass of Red packs up to 180 calories per serving? How did Betty Ford stay so slim, rest her soul?

Whose Alli are you?

Alli is part of the drug Orlistat, but in a weaker dosage from its sister drug, Xenical. This drug has been around for quite some time, but I have not heard of complications extending from the use of Xenical. So why now, with Alli? Perhaps the marketing professionals are being more forthcoming in order to target a more mature audience? I wonder...does it really work?

Your Daily Gross-Out

I've been looking more deeply into Alli, the newest and hottest diet drug available to the masses. According to the website http://skinnyondiets.com, there is the possibility of losing 50% more weight with this product than going it alone. HOWEVER, studies also indicate some embarrassing/disgusting side effects. Website quotation, take it away!

"Although Alli is somewhat new, there is already quite a storm of controversy surrounding it. Many individuals believe that even though Alli is half as strong as Xenical, that it should still only be used under the guidance of a physician because of the possible side effects. Others believe that it will simply enforce the “quick fix” mentality that many individuals already have about weight loss.

Rather than enduring uncomfortable and possibly embarrassing side effects in order to eliminate some of the fat from one’s diet, many dieters may agree that it is far easier and safer to simply consumer less fat and fewer calories to begin with. An all-natural appetite suppressant like hoodia gordonii has been shown to help control cravings and reduce total calorie intake."

Yeaaah, the thing about diets is that nobody likes doing them, myself included. I think that many consumers will look at this product while eating a creme-filled doughnut and say, "Hmm, that sounds like a great idea. How bad can the side effects possibly be?" Let me put it to you this way...if you eat said doughnut while on Alli, please wear a Depends because you're gonna need it! Side effects include diarrhea, extra unabsorbed fats leaving via the rear and without warning, cramping, etc. As a young woman who hasn't experienced incontinence since she was 2, I will leave this drug on the shelf-along with the creme-donut.

dining on chips & Tacos...uh oh

Lunch was another delectable Taco Bell choice that I squeezed in between classes. Today is production day at the IPFW newspaper, so I'm crunched for time. High fat, low fiber and I feel disgusting. Good thing I'm not taking the new diet drug, Alli. According to the directions, a dieter must not consume more than 15 grams of fat per meal and I shot past it in a big way, I'm sure. Should I actually be taking Alli, I would be running for el bano as quickly as my feet would carry me, or shopping for a new pair of pants. Also, don't laugh too hard while on Alli, because your pipes may leak, causing unnecessary bowel issues. All in the pursuit of a size six dress. Personally, I'll stick to being fluffy...with dry undergarments.

Purple Haze

I've been researching specific drugs, and it turns out that everything has dire side effects. But how common are they, and how severe can they be? For instance, certain oral antibiotics that are used to treat acne, including monocyclines, can cause tooth discoloration and some other illnesses. Some may cause breathing troubles and even death. Just to treat zits. So why do diet pills get such a bad rap?

Pizza, pizza and more pizza

Even though it is the weekend, my thoughts are geared toward school and the IPFW newspaper. My schedule is all screwed up because of the Labor Day holiday, so I'm scrambling to get things done. The nearest and most convenient food to me is taco pizza from Pizza Hut. Loaded with fat from cheese, meat and bread. No part of this is lean, save for the lettuce and tomato sprinkled on the top. I know this is a terrible move, but I'm starving and out of time to look for somehting else in the fridge, so I inhale 3 pieces, cold. Well, whatever gets the job done, I guess. Tomorrow will be better, right?
Nah.
Cold taco pizza makes a great on-the-go breakfast too. I'll eat fruit later.