Friday, January 22, 2016

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:

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

Your Exercise Diary for:

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

total calories consumed 3475 calories

total calories burned (125 min elliptical) 1629 calories

total net 1846 calories

.....................

fitbit day 140
20160 steps
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Thursday, January 29, 2015

HEALTHLY LIVING IS A MORAL OBLIGATION

Many days that I blog, it is as if I am writing to myself. I am trying to understand myself. I am even trying to understand where this new-found perseverance has come from. Today, I am not trying to be funny or amusing. I am being brutally honest with myself. I learned as a young kid that 'honesty is the best policy', it certainly is not an easy policy.

Today, I am publicly stating what I was far too ashamed to admit for the past seven years.

HEALTHY LIVING IS A MORAL OBLIGATION

If each of us lived on our own world with no children, no spouse, no family and no friends - it would not matter how we chose to live. We could make every wrong decision to adversely affect our health and it would affect no one else. We would not have a moral obligation to take care of ourselves.

None of us live in a world like that.

We all live in a world with children, spouses, parents, family and friends.
WE DO HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO TRY TO LIVE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE.
I didn't just figure this out now - when I was packing on the pounds despite the fact that I have a wife and child - I knew that my behavior was not only stupid, but it was immoral. Apparently my desire to eat the way I did (to have 'fun' eating) overwhelmed my desire to behave morally.

In recent years, my Father asked me a very hard question. The question was not difficult to understand, but it was hard to answer since my actions were not in accordance with my answer. My Father asked me, with regard to my dangerous overweight condition, "Don't you want to be around and see your daughter grow up?" The question was a hard one; not because my answer was yes. It was hard as my actions were in conflict with my desire. A parent has a moral obligation to try to live as healthy as possible. Morbid Obesity is dangerous. It can be a gateway to all kinds of devastating health problems.

* * *

Here is a tougher assessment. One who walks around with no regard to their own health, who continues to add to their morbid obesity without making an effort to change - is being selfish. It brings me no joy for me to admit that for seven years I was behaving selfishly in this regard. I thank God, that he gave me time and the opportunity to make changes in my life. Not everyone gets this opportunity. I was lucky.

You might now accuse me of being a hypocrite. You might say, that since I am trying to reverse a lifestyle that I have so freely lived for the past seven years, isn't it now easy for me to claim that I am being more moral now? Yes, of course, it is easier. This short essay is addressed to me, the me of the future. Now it is my job to remember this, so that there is no going back to that selfish, all-you-can-eat lazy lifestyle. It would be immoral.

Every day we awaken at the intersection of Right & Wrong. There is always an opportunity to go the Right Way.

Easy decisions often take you on the wrong path. Moral decisions are always on the right path. It is a moral obligation that we all have to our spouse, children, parents, family and friends to try to live as healthy as possible. It is not easy, we may not always succeed but we are morally bound to try. (As Bart Simpson says: we should 'try to try')

WEDNESDAY MENU

BREAKFAST three poached eggs, 2 strips turkey 'bacon' 280 CALORIES

LUNCH 1 cup chicken broth, 4 oz. salmon filet, zucchini pancake 303 CALORIES

DINNER 4 oz Seafood Blend, 1 cup clam chowder, iceberg lettuce wedge
one Tbsp Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing 263 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIC CONSUMPTION 846 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

5AM TREADMILL: 60 minutes @ 4 mph (4 miles) 600 CALORIES
6PM TREADMILL: 60 minutes @ 4 mph (4 miles) 600 CALORIES
8PM TREADMILL: 60 minutes @ 4 mph (4 miles) 600 CALORIES

NET CALORIC DEFECIT 954 CALORIES

Delicious Dinner: 4 oz. Seafood Blend (Shrimp/Scallops/Calamari) lettuce wedge, clam chowder 263 CALORIES