If you're trying to lose weight or even maintain weight, Rule #1 is never to buy a "trigger" food. I love crispy salty foods like potato chips but especially those bagel chips from Trader Joe's.
Rule #1: Don't buy bagel chips at Trader Joe's.
I broke the rule. Bought the "Everything" bagel chips. Gone. The whole bag. Eaten. By me. One person. One sitting.
How many servings were in the bag? Six.
And Rule #2: Don't eat mindlessly.
Broken.
I ate the bag while reading the WSJ. Kind of knew I was going too far but, "crunch, crunch", they were good. Just enough fat on my fingers from the chips for the salt to stick to them. Perfect. With an icy cold Snapple.
Oh, well. Guilt is not productive so no guilt. Just a stomach ache.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Xena Welcomes You
Just saw the blog post on Chow Bella (http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/) about Xena. Not sure if all the hoopla this week actually did bring anyone here (and the poster spelled "dietitian" with a "c" so it's possible no one will find the blog) but if you're here because you read about Xena, hello. I've been writing this blog for a few years--ever since I tried (and succeeded but then failed) to lose some weight. You might enjoy starting at the beginning. None of my posts are very long. I'm way too lazy to write long involved researched posts.
Oh, and Xena is home safe and sound. Happy. Sleeping right now. I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me find her--thank you to everyone who posted on their blog or shared on their facebook page or tweeted for me. We love our big (Xena weighs 75 pounds and stands over 5 feet on her hind legs) sweetheart who most probably kissed the burglars until they left out of frustration instead of fear.
Oh, and Xena is home safe and sound. Happy. Sleeping right now. I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me find her--thank you to everyone who posted on their blog or shared on their facebook page or tweeted for me. We love our big (Xena weighs 75 pounds and stands over 5 feet on her hind legs) sweetheart who most probably kissed the burglars until they left out of frustration instead of fear.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Another dietitian's blog post on 17 day diet
I just read this post by another dietitian. I thought she did a great job so I'm sending it along to all of you.
http://www.beyonddiets.com/beyonddiets-blog/2011/5/16/book-review-the-17-day-diet.html
http://www.beyonddiets.com/beyonddiets-blog/2011/5/16/book-review-the-17-day-diet.html
Oh, hi
Just wanted to greet everyone who found this blog last week after the burglary and loss of my sweet precious dog (who has since been returned....reluctantly).
Maybe you're here because you read Jess Harter's post about the freelance food writer whose dog disappeared after her house was burglarized and you were curious about who and what. Well, here we are. A blog written by a dietitian who eats her veggies but can't seem to stay away from french fries is maybe not what you expected.
As for the dog--I knew she would go straight to the park near our house because we go there every day for a walk. I did go to look for her three times but no sign of her. My husband went and put up flyers. I went again and handed out flyers to everyone in the park. Each time we were sad to return home without her. Then the homeless guy at the park (his dog, Rosie, plays with our dog, Xena) saw Xena jogging with a guy. Homeless guy told jogging guy that she was our dog and gave him the flyer. Jogging guy called and Xena is home. Of course, jogging guy said he wanted to keep her because she was such a great dog. Uh, yes, she is. The reason we didn't fnd her at the park is that he took her home and she spent the night at his house. He never even considered checking to see if she had a microchip but at least he kept her safe from coyotes (she thinks they're dogs and tries to play with them). He refused a reward but homeless guy did take a reward (and he deserved it). We're all safe and happy now.
Maybe you're here because you read Jess Harter's post about the freelance food writer whose dog disappeared after her house was burglarized and you were curious about who and what. Well, here we are. A blog written by a dietitian who eats her veggies but can't seem to stay away from french fries is maybe not what you expected.
As for the dog--I knew she would go straight to the park near our house because we go there every day for a walk. I did go to look for her three times but no sign of her. My husband went and put up flyers. I went again and handed out flyers to everyone in the park. Each time we were sad to return home without her. Then the homeless guy at the park (his dog, Rosie, plays with our dog, Xena) saw Xena jogging with a guy. Homeless guy told jogging guy that she was our dog and gave him the flyer. Jogging guy called and Xena is home. Of course, jogging guy said he wanted to keep her because she was such a great dog. Uh, yes, she is. The reason we didn't fnd her at the park is that he took her home and she spent the night at his house. He never even considered checking to see if she had a microchip but at least he kept her safe from coyotes (she thinks they're dogs and tries to play with them). He refused a reward but homeless guy did take a reward (and he deserved it). We're all safe and happy now.
Why they have it all wrong
Just finished reading yet another article about how to lose weight without being hungry. This one from Weill Cornell Medical College, Women's Nutrition Connection. They offer three strategies: 1. Eat breakfast. I have never skipped breakfast in my life. I often don't eat for a while after I get up because I'm not hungry but I do eat breakfast every day. If I don't eat by 9 am (I get up at 5 am), then I am pretty hungry but not more than I would expect and I'd never make it until noon if I didn't eat. I'd either bite someone's head off or eat a box of cookies. Either way, skipping breakfast is not something I do. Still it doesn't help me lose weight and I'm surely hungry in a few hours afterwards even though my breakfast is high in protein. So strategy #1 doesn't work for me.
2. Suggestion is to eat filling foods first (like high fiber foods) and fattening foods later. Hah. I don't have to be "hungry" to eat fattening foods and I'm going to eat them because I want to whether or not I've eaten the filling foods first.
3. Keep a lifestyle log. Right. Honey, I know all about my eating habits. I'm not really a mindless eater (okay, occasionally with a bag of chips and a book, I might get carried away). My eating is intentional. Triggers? Uh, yes. Show me fried chicken and I'll eat it. I like the way the author offers this quote: "...it keeps you more accountable when you write everything down." Accountable? To whom? Myself? I don't feel guilty when I've overeaten. I might feel sick but not guilty. I'm only accountable to myself and since I'm present while I'm eating, I don't need to keep a log.
So maybe I'm being just a little bit too critical of the article. It's just that it's yet another one offering up the same advice to someone who knows all the tricks and has all the (excuses) answers. This stuff works with someone who is motivated. How to motivate myself to maybe not take that second helping or eat that new ice cream that I just bought at the supermarket yesterday (Magnum bar?). Not sure.
Are dieters really "hungry"? Is that why they fall off the wagon or is it because they are bored with the food or just want something extra tasty? Because if a dieter were hungry, she could just eat something that is "legal" on her diet. So it isn't about "hunger" but HUNGER. These strategies don't address HUNGER.
2. Suggestion is to eat filling foods first (like high fiber foods) and fattening foods later. Hah. I don't have to be "hungry" to eat fattening foods and I'm going to eat them because I want to whether or not I've eaten the filling foods first.
3. Keep a lifestyle log. Right. Honey, I know all about my eating habits. I'm not really a mindless eater (okay, occasionally with a bag of chips and a book, I might get carried away). My eating is intentional. Triggers? Uh, yes. Show me fried chicken and I'll eat it. I like the way the author offers this quote: "...it keeps you more accountable when you write everything down." Accountable? To whom? Myself? I don't feel guilty when I've overeaten. I might feel sick but not guilty. I'm only accountable to myself and since I'm present while I'm eating, I don't need to keep a log.
So maybe I'm being just a little bit too critical of the article. It's just that it's yet another one offering up the same advice to someone who knows all the tricks and has all the (excuses) answers. This stuff works with someone who is motivated. How to motivate myself to maybe not take that second helping or eat that new ice cream that I just bought at the supermarket yesterday (Magnum bar?). Not sure.
Are dieters really "hungry"? Is that why they fall off the wagon or is it because they are bored with the food or just want something extra tasty? Because if a dieter were hungry, she could just eat something that is "legal" on her diet. So it isn't about "hunger" but HUNGER. These strategies don't address HUNGER.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Silly chocolate milk ban
There's been lots of talk this week about banning chocolate milk in schools. As though that's going to resolve the problem of obesity in kids. Right. Let's just stop drinking chocolate milk.
Sure. I get it. It's just another sweet food and kids should learn to enjoy milk without having to flavor it. Join us in the real world, people. Lots of kids don't like milk. Especially skim milk. Please, don't tell me that "humans" weren't meant to drink cow's milk. Heard that before. Makes me laugh. Were we "meant" to eat potatoes? Broccoli? Tofu?
Yes, cow's milk is food for calves and we usurp it. Got that. But it's chock full of nutrients that, yes, can come from other sources but are found in milk and, therefore, anything made from milk. Skim or lowfat milk is an easy source of protein and lots of minerals, calcium among them.
Yes, some people are lactose intolerant. So let them drink other beverages that are calcium fortified. I'll stick with milk.
Back to chocolate milk: Most kids get one serving of a milk a day at school. Maybe two if they're eating breakfast as well as lunch. Gosh, two servings of chocolate milk. Do you think that's what makes them fat? Or might it be the fast food, snack foods and sugary drinks they consume away from school? Or lack of exercise? Or a combination. But don't let's blame chocolate milk for making kids fat.
Should school districts work with the dairy industry/food manufacturers to make chocolate milk with less sugar in it? Sure. And wouldn't we just love it if the kids learned to drink "white" milk? Yes. But chocolate milk is not a product of the devil sent to earth to fatten up our little kids.
How about working on adding more fruits and vegetables to school lunch rather than spending time damning chocolate milk.
And, by the way, there have been plenty of studies supporting the notion that chocolate milk is an excellent post work out beverage--way better than plain unflavored milk. I'm not making that up.
So let's choose our battles a little bit more wisely. I'm happy that sodas are out of schools. How about working on changing the idea that kids will only eat pizza and chicken nuggets?
Sure. I get it. It's just another sweet food and kids should learn to enjoy milk without having to flavor it. Join us in the real world, people. Lots of kids don't like milk. Especially skim milk. Please, don't tell me that "humans" weren't meant to drink cow's milk. Heard that before. Makes me laugh. Were we "meant" to eat potatoes? Broccoli? Tofu?
Yes, cow's milk is food for calves and we usurp it. Got that. But it's chock full of nutrients that, yes, can come from other sources but are found in milk and, therefore, anything made from milk. Skim or lowfat milk is an easy source of protein and lots of minerals, calcium among them.
Yes, some people are lactose intolerant. So let them drink other beverages that are calcium fortified. I'll stick with milk.
Back to chocolate milk: Most kids get one serving of a milk a day at school. Maybe two if they're eating breakfast as well as lunch. Gosh, two servings of chocolate milk. Do you think that's what makes them fat? Or might it be the fast food, snack foods and sugary drinks they consume away from school? Or lack of exercise? Or a combination. But don't let's blame chocolate milk for making kids fat.
Should school districts work with the dairy industry/food manufacturers to make chocolate milk with less sugar in it? Sure. And wouldn't we just love it if the kids learned to drink "white" milk? Yes. But chocolate milk is not a product of the devil sent to earth to fatten up our little kids.
How about working on adding more fruits and vegetables to school lunch rather than spending time damning chocolate milk.
And, by the way, there have been plenty of studies supporting the notion that chocolate milk is an excellent post work out beverage--way better than plain unflavored milk. I'm not making that up.
So let's choose our battles a little bit more wisely. I'm happy that sodas are out of schools. How about working on changing the idea that kids will only eat pizza and chicken nuggets?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Some more on The Biggest Loser
Hundreds of pounds lost. And so little talk about nutrition. Pretty chef comes on and women go gaga but why is chef talking about nutrition? So far nothing he's made has resonated with my taste buds but I'm a pretty picky eater. Thinking that Chef Pretty Boy consults with dietitian/chef Cheryl Forberg before he goes on camera to wow us with his pearly whites.
Trainers acting like shrinks? What's that about? Hoping that Jillian has consult with show's therapist before she goes off in private with contestant asking her to bare her soul. Hoping.
One big happy family? Really? Everyone loves everyone else. Endorphins from exercising so much?
Still watching it. Still criticizing it. Still hasn't motivated me but I expect it's motivated others.
Funny thing is that we eat dinner at about 7:30 on Tuesdays when the show is on and we watch while we're eating! Not very mindful of us and I'm sure watching TV and eating is frowned upon by those who counsel the contestants.
Weird that a show about sweaty fat people has mesmerized the viewing public.
I can just imagine the pitch session from the creators: So we take very fat people and we make them stand in front of the camera without their shirts on displaying all their roles and dimples for the world to see. Then we humilate them on the first episode showing everyone how they stuff their faces with extraordinarily unhealthy food in huge quantities. We ask them to perform exercise feats that even elite athletes have trouble completing. So, what do you think? Wanna buy that show idea?
Trainers acting like shrinks? What's that about? Hoping that Jillian has consult with show's therapist before she goes off in private with contestant asking her to bare her soul. Hoping.
One big happy family? Really? Everyone loves everyone else. Endorphins from exercising so much?
Still watching it. Still criticizing it. Still hasn't motivated me but I expect it's motivated others.
Funny thing is that we eat dinner at about 7:30 on Tuesdays when the show is on and we watch while we're eating! Not very mindful of us and I'm sure watching TV and eating is frowned upon by those who counsel the contestants.
Weird that a show about sweaty fat people has mesmerized the viewing public.
I can just imagine the pitch session from the creators: So we take very fat people and we make them stand in front of the camera without their shirts on displaying all their roles and dimples for the world to see. Then we humilate them on the first episode showing everyone how they stuff their faces with extraordinarily unhealthy food in huge quantities. We ask them to perform exercise feats that even elite athletes have trouble completing. So, what do you think? Wanna buy that show idea?
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