DIET SODA BETTER THAN WATER FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

You might have heard about this in the media during the past couple of days. A recent study published in the November 2015 International Journal of Obesity made the claim that diet soda was better than water for weight loss.  The conclusion of this study reminds me of something that Dennis Prager, author, speaker and radio personality has said many times - Studies either 'prove' what is obvious or they are wrong.  The conclusion that diet soda is more helpful for dieting and weight control is absolutely laughable. It makes one wonder.... Who would fund such a study?  Turns out the answer to that question is Coca Cola and Pepsico.  When this study appeared in the International Journal of Obesity that 'minor' detail was left out... Care to know the reason why that information was omitted?  Space issues.  How much 'space' is needed to identify the sponsor of a study? It is not usually a great idea to have any organization fund a scientific study who has a vested interest in the outcome. For example, since the government (in fact practically every government on Earth) is vested in proving global warming - funding for studies proving global warming are easily obtainable. Now if you are a skeptic on global warming... getting funding just might be a problem.  Today's lesson: Be careful when accepting the conclusions of any 'study' - especially if you don't know who funded the study.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, January 21, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal - Original, 6 packet	600	114	12	24	450	0
KELLOGGS - RAISIN BRAN (dry cereal)	380	92	2	10	420	36
	980	206	14	34	870	36
L U N C H
Whole Foods - Macaroni and Cheese, 0.75 cup	240	23	11	11	345	4
Generic - Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 1 cup	65	13	3	6	23	0
Gardien - Chicken Scallopini, 2 cutlet	220	8	9	28	680	0
WHOLE FOODS 7608 - YOGURT PRETZELS, (approx 8 pcs)	190	28	8	2	180	19
WHOLE FOODS 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	319	53	9	7	80	20
	1,034	125	40	53	1,308	43
D I N N E R
Jason's Deli - SPICY SEAFOOD GUMBO, 1 Bowl	230	26	8	12	1,710	3
Jason's Deli - Turkey Wrap, 1 Wrap	390	42	17	23	1,080	5
WHOLE FOODS 5536 - YOGURT ALMONDS, (approx 12 pcs)	440	44	28	8	40	38
WHOLE FOODS 5938 - UNSWEETENED BANANA CHIPS	161	15	9	2	5	1
WHOLE FOODS. 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	240	40	7	5	60	15
	1,461	167	69	50	2,895	62
Totals	3,475	499	124	137	5,073	141
Your Daily Goal	3,401	425	113	171	2,300	127
Remaining	-74	-73	-10	34	-2,772	-13
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,471 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
PRECOR EFX576i ELLIPTICAL	125	1,629
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-158
Daily Total / Goal	126 / 30	1,471 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	608 / 210	7,808 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3475 calories

total calories burned (125 min elliptical) 1629 calories

total net 1846 calories

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fitbit day 140

20160 steps
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DÉNOUEMENT

dénouement

noun de·noue·ment \ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmäⁿ, dā-ˈnü-ˌ\

: the final part of something (such as a book, a play, or a series of events)

Full Definition of DENOUEMENT

1

:  the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work

2

:  the outcome of a complex sequence of events

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The weekend has passed.  My daughter is Bat-Mitzvah.  40 Kids converged at our Synagogue to witness my daughter's ascension as a an adult within the Jewish Community.  Out-of-town guests converged from across the United States to be witness as well.  My close traditionally religious Jewish friends who could not be part of the service as they had their own services to attend  - even they showed up at my evening party precisely when they were invited to share some l''chaims. They could not eat (most) of our food as it was not Kosher.  Some Kosher cookies were purchased, and Maker's Mark Bourbon and Grey Goose Vodka are kosher - so there were no issues there.  I cannot properly express the joy I had that these guys (and gals) honored my daughter, honored me, by being part of that very special day.  It did require a rabbinic decision from our local Rabbi to make it all possible.  The road to get to this weekend was filled with dangerous curves and other roadblocks which are to be expected any time an event comes together.  For example, one of my guests called me at 6:30AM on Saturday to announce that he and his wife could not attend as their flight was not only delayed, but outright cancelled.  Even that piece of the puzzle was eventually solved, as my good friend and his wife somehow managed to get themselves booked on a previously sold out flight and arrive at the Synagogue just a few short minutes late.  It took a great effort to get there and it was very appreciated.  After weeks and months of my daughter studying for this day, and every once in a while needing a bit of encouragement to study - she did a great job.  She made everyone proud of her - most of all her parents.  The complicated party for the kids was put together by my wife.  It is amazing how many people were involved in putting that 'show' together.  (DJ, dancer, Photo Booth attendant, chocolate fountain attendant, food servers) In the end, it went off without even so much as a hiccup.  I am convinced that each of my daughter's friends had a wonderful time, I am even more convinced that my daughter had a great time.  So, for the first time in, a long, long time - there is not a big event looming in our family calendar.  It appears that this weekend was a dénouement of sorts in our lives.

My mild injury, really only a tightness in my right leg seems to have gotten much better after two days of rest.  As much as I take great pride in exercising almost every day - I also know intellectually that that is not the smartest thing to do. My addictive personality sometimes gets in the way of a more balanced program.  Perhaps, going forward I should start a new streak - this streak should be the number of consecutive weeks where I am sure to rest at least one day.  As of now, I did not exercise at all on Saturday or Sunday.  I am not sure yet, what today, Monday has in store for me...

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, December 6, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Steel Cut - Oat Meal	300	54	0	8	0	0
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	360	60	11	8	90	23
	660	114	11	16	90	23
L U N C H
Baby Octopus Salad	120	1	5	18	0	0
Frutti Di Mare	90	2	2	16	394	0
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, 1 cup	140	20	1	15	250	0
Organic Boneless Beef Skirt Steak	187	0	10	22	64	0
Calamari - Fried	150	17	13	29	375	0
	687	40	31	100	1,083	0
D I N N E R
Van's - blueberry walnut granola clusters	650	95	25	10	150	30
Cheese and Crackers	600	84	24	12	1,980	18
	1,250	179	49	22	2,130	48
S N A C K S
NATURAL WASABI GREEN PEAS	240	38	6	8	480	4
KAHUNA CRUNCH TRAIL MIX	130	16	8	2	25	10
	370	54	14	10	505	14
Totals	2,967	387	104	148	3,808	85
Your Daily Goal	2,220	277	74	112	2,300	83
Remaining	-747	-110	-30	-35	-1,507	-1
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 290 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	290
Daily Total / Goal	1 / 30	290 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	646 / 210	12,337 / 4,130

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

total calories consumed 2967 calories

total calories burned (no additional exercise) Not Applicable

total net calories 2967 calories

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fitbit day 95

10001 steps

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It is probably evident that the fact that my step count for yesterday which was 10001 did not come about by accident.  It was not.  My step count was approximately 7500 around 10:00PM and at this point in my 'fitbit' life, I simply cannot accept that.  I marched in place for about a half hour to get that count up to a number that I could bear to look at.  This is what people who are somewhat unbalanced do.  There is no question - I am somewhat unbalanced.  It is also possible that the word 'somewhat' is not necessary to describe me.

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