THE BEST INVENTION FOLLOWED BY THE DUMBEST INVENTION

Two days ago while working out at the David Barton Gym I saw a commercial on one of the televisions with no sound that was touting a new product - OREO THINS. This new product was  introduced within the past couple of weeks.

For those of you who are fans of Oreo Cookies - let's face it, the best invention ever was OREO DOUBLE STUF.   This product doubled the best part of the Oreo Cookie - the creme filling.  Basically every kid that ever ate an Oreo cookie had already invented this.  The Nabisco Corporation simply manufactured what every kid in the world had already figured out!

This month, the same people who brought you DOUBLE STUF have now created HALF STUFF - which they are calling OREO THINS.

One Oreo Cookie is 53.3 calories.
One Double Stuf Oreo Cookie is 70 calories.
One Oreo Thin Cookies is 35 calories.

Isn't this how Apple Computer markets their iPhones and laptops?
(bragging about their thinness?)

My claim is that EVERY FOOD IS DIET FOOD - IF YOU CONTROL YOUR PORTION.  I do not think that those that eat OREO THINS are really eating diet food.  If this product is so good, why not create a product that has two wafers and has no creme filling?  Would that not be an even better 'improvement.?    Of course, that would be ridiculous.... just as OREO THINS seem a bit ridiculous. No one thinks that Oreo cookies are tasty simply because the wafers are so delicious. Or do they?

My recommendation... if you are making the attempt to cut down on your calories.... EAT 1/2 of a DOUBLE STUF and you will get the same calories found in one OREO THIN - except it will taste TWICE AS GOOD!  (mathematically speaking...it should taste four times as good!)  Better yet, skip the OREO and eat an apple - surely it is the healthier choice!

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 Monday MENU

breakfast   three poached eggs, center cut bacon, oatmeal                         590 calories
lunch         lentil soup, homemade salad, apple, KIND bar                        552 calories
dinner        Mariano's salad, mango, granola, trail mix, choc chips          1451 calories
SNACK     sesame crunch, chewy ginger, date pieces, pineapple ring      820 calories                                                                        

total calories consumed 3414 calories

calories burned

HOME STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL 90 minutes, level 20                    2340 calories

CALORIES BURNED 2340 CALORIES

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Monday net calories 1074 calories

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four of these OREO THINS are 140 calories.
Wouldn't it be easier to simply eat two Oreo Double Stufs?
(and would it not be tastier?)
TWO OREO DOUBLE STUFS would also be 140 calories.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE HOW AMERICANS RESPOND TO BRANDING AND NAMES OF PRODUCTS.  PART OF ME THINKS THAT THIS PRODUCT WILL HAVE THE SAME FATE AS NEW COKE.  ANOTHER PART OF ME THINKS THAT THIS NEW PRODUCT WILL BE A GIANT SUCCESS.  Now we both know why I am not in marketing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARA

Today, March 2nd, is the 13th birthday of my daughter.  Seven years ago, the first time that I dropped my weight from 300 lbs down to 220 lbs - I was a thin, fit dad.  As I have written before,  I gained all that weight back and added nine more pounds for good luck.  My daughter had no memory of me not being a big blob.  I am very happy that that is changing now.  Over the weekend, my wife, hosted a birthday party in our home for six of Sara's closest friends. The girls sat around a table and spent a couple of hours making jewelry crafts, doing whatever girls do behind closed doors in Sara's room, they had pizza and two birthday cakes and cookies. I spent part of the afternoon exercising, and of course I had none of the pizza, cake or cookies. For me, it was a very successful party - I believe the girls all had a great time as well.

Strawberry cake made by Mom.

Chocolate cake made by one of 

Sara's friends

SUNDAY MENU

calories consumed

breakfast     oatmeal w/prune, 1/2 salmon burger, two poached eggs                   350 calories
lunch           Costco turkey burger, 1 cup asparagus spears, chicken broth           290 calories
dinner         3.5 oz Salmon, cup Broccoli, pumpkin soup, spinach pancake         380 calories

total calories consumed  1020 CALORIES

calories burned
9AM elliptical machine 62 minutes        800 calories

net calories consumed    220 CALORIES

dinner:  3.5 oz Salmon filet, cup of broccoli, spinach pancake

cup of pumpkin soup    380 CALORIES

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE....I STARTED DRINKING AGAIN!

Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, the forgetful genius inventor on Futurama, has an odd habit of saying, "Good News Everyone" followed by some extremely bad news.  I have twisted that around this morning.  My good news is good news.  I have started drinking again. WATER.  I always consumed burgers with diet soda, and cake with diet soda, and cookies with diet soda, and candy with diet soda.  Now that I have started eating actual food, I am finding that WATER is the better beverage. meals are now enjoyed with a glass of water. It is the healthier choice. I still drink zero calorie flavored sparkling water between meals. I will continue to consider healthy and healthier choices as the weeks go by. Nevertheless, progress has been made. WATER with breakfast. WATER with lunch. WATER with dinner.

Ten days ago when I hopped onto the treadmill for the first time in a long, long time I struggled just to walk 4 mph for 20 minutes.  My heart rate at the conclusion of this 'vigorous' exercise was 144 BPM (beat per minute).

This morning I completed my fifth day in a row on the treadmill.  I have not changed my 4 mph speed.  Each session has been for 30 minutes.   My heart rate this morning after 30 minutes was only 124 BPM.   Further proof, that all kinds of physical results of changing one's lifestyle start appearing quickly.   I guess it's time to 'step it up a notch." (no pun intended)

THIS IS A SNACK?

As a man who spends approximately 10 nights per month on the road traveling from one account to another,  I was pretty guilty of 'snacking.'   I intend to spend my time on this blog looking to the future - but I must look backward this time to describe the type of purchases I might have made when stopping to fill up my tank with gas.   This trio of 'foods' often served as breakfast too.

                                                           TOTAL FAT    SATURATED FAT   CARBS    CALORIES

NABISCO OREO COOKIES (10-PACK)        23G                   7G                    79G                   530
HOSTESS HO HO'S (3 PACK)                      16G                 12G                    54G                   360
NESTLES 14OZ VANILLA MILK                      3G                   2G                    30G                   170

TOTAL SNACK/BREAKFAST                       42G                  21G                 163G                1060 

This is breakfast?
This is a snack?
For the past many years, the answer has been: yes
And one more thing, I could consume this 'meal' in ten minutes, maybe less....I never actually timed myself.   But one thing is for sure,  I never felt sated, or satisfied.   The one thing that prevented me from getting a fourth or fifth item was that I didn't want to overdo it.  Yes, I know - That's pretty funny.

This clears up the mystery of my elevated glucose levels and weight gain.