Three out of four leading doctors told me that I have a really messed up nose (my septum is shaped like a hockey stick rather than the more conveniently functional lower case 'l' style)... and if I ever want to breathe decently, I simply must get a septoplasty + turbinate reduction surgery.
The fourth (admittedly imaginary) doctor actually insisted the same thing, but also urged me to detail my experience in a blog post. This is my story.
Monday -- night before:
11:50pm: I greedily cram in the last bits to eat and drink, 'cause I'm not allowed to swallow anything past midnight. Rather a stupidly written rule, actually. Despite the fact that I wasn't notified of my surgery time (1:30pm) until the day before, I was given oral and written instructions well in advance with the clearly arbitrary, or at least very conservative no-eating/drinking-after-midnight rule. I mean, I could have been assigned a 7:30am or 3:30pm surgery time. Why not just say "no eating or drinking within 8 hours of your scheduled surgery"?
The kind side of me presumes this is to account for a possible last-minute change in surgery times ("Mr. Lasnik? We're just calling to let you know we had a cancellation. Would you like to get this crap over with a few hours earlier?") The cynic in me figures the lawyers & doctors believe we're too stupid to understand "8 hours prior."
2:30am: No sense going to bed too early, right? If I go to bed early and get up early, I'll just have more time to be hungry and thirsty. So a 2:30 bedtime sounds about right...
Tuesday -- day of:
8:20am: Lovely. The groundskeepers are turning it all up full blast. Trimming, mowing, huffing, puffing, the works. So much for sleeping in.
9:30am: Against my better judgment I check my work e-mail and get sucked in.
11:45am: My AdamTaxi'ing friend comes and rescues me, drops me off at the hospital and bids me a warm goodbye and good luck wishes :).
12:15pm: I walk into the first building I find and announce with genuine enthusiastic anticipation that I'm there to be cut up. Receptionist exudes an almost comical level of both alarm and confusion. Oops. This isn't the Surgecenter.
Showing posts with label happy body. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy body. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Knott's Berry Farm -- For shame!
Okay, this is not a rant on junk food. I think when people eat Cheez-wiz, they aren’t misguided enough to assume they’re eating healthful real cheese. When people eat a double fudge brownie, I doubt they’re confusing this with an apple. And when people eat Cap’n Crunch cereal, there’s no way they’d assume they’re consuming real fruit. Oh, um, wait a minute, someone did? Er, well, anyway, you get my point :-D
But seriously… sometimes there’s an absolute nasty & unhealthy food paired with such obnoxiously, blatantly misleading marketing that I can’t help calling a spade a hyrogenated [sic] artificially flavored spade.
First, the marketing that, by all means, should condemn some marketer to eternal dietary hell:
> In 1920, Walter and Cordelia Knott began selling fresh produce, berries, and preserves from a roadside berry stand in Buena Park, California.
...and boy, would they be horrified to see how their heirs have sold them out!
> ...when Walter Knott cultivated a lucious new fruit, the boysenberry.
...which you’ll find all of likely one-tenth of a gram of in this plasticfood monstrosity.
> ... premium shortbread cookies
... where “premium” means “premium profits for us, utter crap for you.”
> ... Richly flavorful
... from lots of high fructose corn syrup
> ... these classic favorites
... if you call a frankenstein concoction of chemicals “classic.” Maybe a classic case of deceit.
> ... using popular Knott’s Berry farm fruit fillings.
... oh, wait, we meant popular dental fillings!
* * *
But enough pre-commentary. Without further ado, let’s take a look at these charming ingredients, shall we? (and out of kindness, I’ll substitute normal text for the ALL CAPS printed)
Oh, and lookie here, (unsurprisingly) almost no redeeming nutritive qualities at all… little fiber or protein, and a charming 3 grams of trans-fat (I didn’t even know there were many packaged goods that still had this stuff in ‘em nowadays!)
For comparison, let’s take a look at a typical recipe for berry shortbread cookies:
* * *
Look, as I said, I don’t have a problem with companies making utter junkfood. I do, however, have a problem about them so blatantly misrepresenting their product. Even an intelligent acquaintance of mine said (without any prompting from me) that she used to eat these cookies every day for lunch, figuring that they were relatively harmless. Oops!
P.S.—Might think twice before buying any of Knott’s Berry Farm jams or other products, eh?
But seriously… sometimes there’s an absolute nasty & unhealthy food paired with such obnoxiously, blatantly misleading marketing that I can’t help calling a spade a hyrogenated [sic] artificially flavored spade.
First, the marketing that, by all means, should condemn some marketer to eternal dietary hell:
“In 1920, Walter and Cordelia Knott began selling fresh produce, berries, and preserves from a roadside berry stand in Buena Park, California. Their family business earned a place in history in 1932 when Walter Knott cultivated a lucious new fruit, the boysenberry. The farm that started it all has also become a family amusement park that delights millions.
The Knott family is pleased to extend their tradition of quality to include premium shortbread cookies. Richly flavorful, these classic favorites are prepared using popular Knott’s Berry farm fruit fillings.”Let’s dissect this, shall we?
> In 1920, Walter and Cordelia Knott began selling fresh produce, berries, and preserves from a roadside berry stand in Buena Park, California.
...and boy, would they be horrified to see how their heirs have sold them out!
> ...when Walter Knott cultivated a lucious new fruit, the boysenberry.
...which you’ll find all of likely one-tenth of a gram of in this plasticfood monstrosity.
> ... premium shortbread cookies
... where “premium” means “premium profits for us, utter crap for you.”
> ... Richly flavorful
... from lots of high fructose corn syrup
> ... these classic favorites
... if you call a frankenstein concoction of chemicals “classic.” Maybe a classic case of deceit.
> ... using popular Knott’s Berry farm fruit fillings.
... oh, wait, we meant popular dental fillings!
* * *
But enough pre-commentary. Without further ado, let’s take a look at these charming ingredients, shall we? (and out of kindness, I’ll substitute normal text for the ALL CAPS printed)
Enriched wheat flour [artificial vitamin enrichment crap omitted], margarine (liquid soybean oil, partially hyrogenated [sic] soybean oil, water, salt, whey, lecithin, mono and di-glycerides, sodium benzoate a preservative, artificial butter flavor, beta carotene and vitamin A palmitate), raspberry topping (high fructose corn syrup, red raspberries, apple powder, fruit pectin, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, calcium chloride, FD&C red #40 and blue #1), sugar, eggs, baking soda, natural and artificial flavor, baking ammonium, and salt.Mmmm… delicious, no? Just like Grandma would have made it… if she had access to a chemistry lab *and* passionately hated your guts.
Oh, and lookie here, (unsurprisingly) almost no redeeming nutritive qualities at all… little fiber or protein, and a charming 3 grams of trans-fat (I didn’t even know there were many packaged goods that still had this stuff in ‘em nowadays!)
For comparison, let’s take a look at a typical recipe for berry shortbread cookies:
1 cup butter, softenedNotice a difference? Yes! You recognize and can likely pronounce the ingredients, and there are fewer than a dozen of them.
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons water
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
(from AllRecipes.com)
* * *
Look, as I said, I don’t have a problem with companies making utter junkfood. I do, however, have a problem about them so blatantly misrepresenting their product. Even an intelligent acquaintance of mine said (without any prompting from me) that she used to eat these cookies every day for lunch, figuring that they were relatively harmless. Oops!
P.S.—Might think twice before buying any of Knott’s Berry Farm jams or other products, eh?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
[Humor] 100 yards Longs brand Waxed Mint Dental Tape, almost new
Today we have a guest post! Hopefully a nice respite from all the political tensions.
The note below was written by Mark Pilloff for distribution on our company’s “for sale” (classifieds) list. I’ve reproduced it below in its entirety with, of course, Mark’s permission. Enjoy! :-D
* * *
Free: 100 yards Longs brand Waxed Mint Dental Tape, almost new
Recently my dentist suggested to me that dental tape, thanks to its larger cleaning area, was more effective than ordinary dental floss. So a few weeks ago, when my previous container of floss ran out, I went to Longs to bring my routine of dental hygiene out of the stone age and incorporate the modern marvel of dental tape. (Mike Nichols said in a recent interview that if he were making “The Graduate” today, he would update the iconic line to, “I just want to say two words to you. Just two words. Dental tape.” True story.)
Have you bought dental floss / tape lately? So many choices! Dozens and dozens of them. That’s what’s so great about this offer: besides being absolutely free, you have just one choice. One terrible (but free!) choice. The same terrible choice that I already made when I stared at the shelves at Longs, thought to myself, “What difference does it make?”, and reached for the most cost effective dental tape option available: 100 yards of Longs brand Waxed Mint Dental Tape.
What I am offering to all of you, absolutely free and with no strings attached, is one almost new container of unquestionably the worst dental floss/tape I’ve ever used. This dental tape is thick like packing twine, the sort you’d use to bundle up a bale of old newspapers before dropping them off on the curb to be recycled. To get it to slip between your teeth you’ll have to wiggle it back and forth ten times or more and pull hard enough to cut off the circulation in your fingers. Each time it finally grinds its way into the slot between your teeth, dropping into place with a stinging snap, you’ll yell to anyone around, or maybe just to your reflection in the mirror, “I hate this @#$% floss. This is the worst floss ever. I never should have bought it.” (Actually, since you’ll be getting this floss complete free of charge, you’ll merely yell, “I hate this @#$% floss. This is the worst floss ever.”)
Did I mention the coarseness and sharp edge on the tape? The last time I tried using it, I got a paper cut behind my molar! And then I yelled at my reflection in the mirror and vowed never to use this dental tape again.
But maybe after reading this you’re just a little bit curious to feel the worst flossing experience on Earth? Or maybe you have widely spaced teeth which could benfit from dental floss thick enough to tie up a rib roast? Or maybe you simply can’t resist the word “free”? Personally I just hate to see anything go to waste, so whatever your motivation, I will gladly give you the remaining 98 yards of my dental tape without expecting anything in return. (Although if you want to drop me a line and tell me how much you hated it, I’d be happy to hear from you.)
To add further insult to considerable injury, I’m way out in 1950 [Ed. note: this is a building on the outer edge of our campus]. Top floor! No elevator! (Okay, the elevator works, but you should punish yourself on the stairs anyway—think of it as a masochistic prelude.)
The note below was written by Mark Pilloff for distribution on our company’s “for sale” (classifieds) list. I’ve reproduced it below in its entirety with, of course, Mark’s permission. Enjoy! :-D
* * *
Free: 100 yards Longs brand Waxed Mint Dental Tape, almost new
Recently my dentist suggested to me that dental tape, thanks to its larger cleaning area, was more effective than ordinary dental floss. So a few weeks ago, when my previous container of floss ran out, I went to Longs to bring my routine of dental hygiene out of the stone age and incorporate the modern marvel of dental tape. (Mike Nichols said in a recent interview that if he were making “The Graduate” today, he would update the iconic line to, “I just want to say two words to you. Just two words. Dental tape.” True story.)
Have you bought dental floss / tape lately? So many choices! Dozens and dozens of them. That’s what’s so great about this offer: besides being absolutely free, you have just one choice. One terrible (but free!) choice. The same terrible choice that I already made when I stared at the shelves at Longs, thought to myself, “What difference does it make?”, and reached for the most cost effective dental tape option available: 100 yards of Longs brand Waxed Mint Dental Tape.
What I am offering to all of you, absolutely free and with no strings attached, is one almost new container of unquestionably the worst dental floss/tape I’ve ever used. This dental tape is thick like packing twine, the sort you’d use to bundle up a bale of old newspapers before dropping them off on the curb to be recycled. To get it to slip between your teeth you’ll have to wiggle it back and forth ten times or more and pull hard enough to cut off the circulation in your fingers. Each time it finally grinds its way into the slot between your teeth, dropping into place with a stinging snap, you’ll yell to anyone around, or maybe just to your reflection in the mirror, “I hate this @#$% floss. This is the worst floss ever. I never should have bought it.” (Actually, since you’ll be getting this floss complete free of charge, you’ll merely yell, “I hate this @#$% floss. This is the worst floss ever.”)
Did I mention the coarseness and sharp edge on the tape? The last time I tried using it, I got a paper cut behind my molar! And then I yelled at my reflection in the mirror and vowed never to use this dental tape again.
But maybe after reading this you’re just a little bit curious to feel the worst flossing experience on Earth? Or maybe you have widely spaced teeth which could benfit from dental floss thick enough to tie up a rib roast? Or maybe you simply can’t resist the word “free”? Personally I just hate to see anything go to waste, so whatever your motivation, I will gladly give you the remaining 98 yards of my dental tape without expecting anything in return. (Although if you want to drop me a line and tell me how much you hated it, I’d be happy to hear from you.)
To add further insult to considerable injury, I’m way out in 1950 [Ed. note: this is a building on the outer edge of our campus]. Top floor! No elevator! (Okay, the elevator works, but you should punish yourself on the stairs anyway—think of it as a masochistic prelude.)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I'm Yoga'ing and I feel a bit like Homer Simpson
Today I completed my third yoga session. The class is taught by an apparently-quite-skilled (and patient and helpful!) instructor here at the main Google gym, and she’s noted that it’s essentially “Iyengar-flow” style.
I, however, have decided to nickname it D’oh-whoa style. D’oh: not in a painful sense, but in a OH HAI I HAZ HIDDN MUSSELS kinda way. And whoa: just absolute wow in watching my classmates.
Let me clarify. This class—though filled with more intermediate/advanced folks than beginners—features people of many ages and all body types. I’m staring at shapes and movements… people doing handstands and headstands and balancing with grace… and I’m admiring deceptively simple and stunning lines.
Maybe it’s my background as a dancer that has me being so observant, so in awe, and also so embarrassed that my body is not moving like that, probably will never move like that. And yet, despite my dancing experiences and mindset, I’m also feeling a bit shy and embarrassed about staring. Perhaps being a guy (but, interestingly, far from the only guy in this class) is partly to blame for my self-consciousness… not primarily about my own un-performance, but about my watching of others, learning, trying to do what they’re doing, feeling what they’re feeling.
* * *
The instructor kindly noted that—while most can achieve great improvement and wonderful results from yoga—some are innately, genetically predisposed to being able to do certain things. I, seemingly, do not have such genes.
But I’ve already felt good things from this class. I’ve enjoyed the feeling of stretchiness and the body awareness afterward (with surprisingly and happily not too much soreness). And after each class, I seem to be in a better mood than before I hit the mat.
So I’ll likely continue this, along with my (typically) once-weekly weight lifting and about once-weekly swing dancing and/or waltzing. You may note that all of these activities have two things in common: they’re improving my body, but they’re also at least slightly social. Sure, there’s very minimal talking in yoga, but there’s a pleasure in the familiarity; I’ve already seen several folks I know from around the ‘plex, and this is both motivating and comforting.
* * *
Have any of you tried yoga? If so, what kinds, and do you have any words of wisdom or encouragement for me? :-D
I, however, have decided to nickname it D’oh-whoa style. D’oh: not in a painful sense, but in a OH HAI I HAZ HIDDN MUSSELS kinda way. And whoa: just absolute wow in watching my classmates.
Let me clarify. This class—though filled with more intermediate/advanced folks than beginners—features people of many ages and all body types. I’m staring at shapes and movements… people doing handstands and headstands and balancing with grace… and I’m admiring deceptively simple and stunning lines.
Maybe it’s my background as a dancer that has me being so observant, so in awe, and also so embarrassed that my body is not moving like that, probably will never move like that. And yet, despite my dancing experiences and mindset, I’m also feeling a bit shy and embarrassed about staring. Perhaps being a guy (but, interestingly, far from the only guy in this class) is partly to blame for my self-consciousness… not primarily about my own un-performance, but about my watching of others, learning, trying to do what they’re doing, feeling what they’re feeling.
* * *
The instructor kindly noted that—while most can achieve great improvement and wonderful results from yoga—some are innately, genetically predisposed to being able to do certain things. I, seemingly, do not have such genes.
But I’ve already felt good things from this class. I’ve enjoyed the feeling of stretchiness and the body awareness afterward (with surprisingly and happily not too much soreness). And after each class, I seem to be in a better mood than before I hit the mat.
So I’ll likely continue this, along with my (typically) once-weekly weight lifting and about once-weekly swing dancing and/or waltzing. You may note that all of these activities have two things in common: they’re improving my body, but they’re also at least slightly social. Sure, there’s very minimal talking in yoga, but there’s a pleasure in the familiarity; I’ve already seen several folks I know from around the ‘plex, and this is both motivating and comforting.
* * *
Have any of you tried yoga? If so, what kinds, and do you have any words of wisdom or encouragement for me? :-D
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Natural energy boosters guaranteed to kick your ass (in a good way)
I guarantee* that the following all-natural AdamSpecial (“CafeKeek” in honor of my now-undoubtedly-horrified French friends) will put a pep in your step, will put the mmmmm in mooove, will take the ache out of awake…
Required…
1) Coffee beans + grinder (ideal) OR not-terribly-fine-ground coffee (okay) OR instant coffee (will do in a pinch; can ignore French press/strainer instructions)
2) Milk (ideally non-fat, optionally low-fat) OR milk substitute that can be heated/drunk hot or warm
3) French press OR extra container + a strainer
4) Teaspoon
5) and - unless you don’t like sweet stuff—one of the following Adam-named add-ins
- “Plain Sweetie”: Sugar—one to two teaspoons per cup of milk.
- “Chocolate Jesus”: Pure unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar (one teaspoon each per cup of milk) OR pre-sweetened chocolate syrup / cocoa powder (Nestle Quik does not count!)
- “Cuckoo du mint”: The Jesus ingredients above + three drops pure mint extract per cup of milk OR Trader Joe’s mint cocoa powder
Instructions for making CafeKeek…
1) Boil milk OR heat milk in microwave (ideally use a microwavable measuring cup or similar item for easy pouring)
2a) Got a French press? Put in the ground coffee but not other ingredients.
2b) Using a strainer? Add ground coffee to intermediate container (that you can easily pour from into your drinking cup)
3) Pour hot milk into either French press or intermediate container. Wait 5 minutes.
4) Pour coffee-soaked hot milk into drinking container (using strainer if you didn’t use a French press)
5) Add optional other ingredients and stir with teaspoon.
6) Enjoy, then come back here and write a comment about how much you loved it and how you’re eternally grateful to me and so on.
7) Repeat, but probably not on the same day.
Strongly recommended in conjuction with CafeKeek…
- Protein—either a handful of nuts or some peanut butter on a cracker, etc.
- Potassium—a banana works great (half of one is fine)
- Exercise—no time for a real workout? Prefix the incomparable CafeKeek with 18 jumping jacks or 18 seconds of jump-roping or anything else to quickly get your heart pumping. I’m serious about this… it really helps!
* * *
Okay, now it’s your turn. What natural foods / practices do you use to help wake you up? (so, yeah, those energy drinks with unpronounceable ingredients don’t qualify here)
*Guaranteed satisfaction, or your pro-rated BLADAM subscription fees reimbursed!
Required…
1) Coffee beans + grinder (ideal) OR not-terribly-fine-ground coffee (okay) OR instant coffee (will do in a pinch; can ignore French press/strainer instructions)
2) Milk (ideally non-fat, optionally low-fat) OR milk substitute that can be heated/drunk hot or warm
3) French press OR extra container + a strainer
4) Teaspoon
5) and - unless you don’t like sweet stuff—one of the following Adam-named add-ins
- “Plain Sweetie”: Sugar—one to two teaspoons per cup of milk.
- “Chocolate Jesus”: Pure unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar (one teaspoon each per cup of milk) OR pre-sweetened chocolate syrup / cocoa powder (Nestle Quik does not count!)
- “Cuckoo du mint”: The Jesus ingredients above + three drops pure mint extract per cup of milk OR Trader Joe’s mint cocoa powder
Instructions for making CafeKeek…
1) Boil milk OR heat milk in microwave (ideally use a microwavable measuring cup or similar item for easy pouring)
2a) Got a French press? Put in the ground coffee but not other ingredients.
2b) Using a strainer? Add ground coffee to intermediate container (that you can easily pour from into your drinking cup)
3) Pour hot milk into either French press or intermediate container. Wait 5 minutes.
4) Pour coffee-soaked hot milk into drinking container (using strainer if you didn’t use a French press)
5) Add optional other ingredients and stir with teaspoon.
6) Enjoy, then come back here and write a comment about how much you loved it and how you’re eternally grateful to me and so on.
7) Repeat, but probably not on the same day.
Strongly recommended in conjuction with CafeKeek…
- Protein—either a handful of nuts or some peanut butter on a cracker, etc.
- Potassium—a banana works great (half of one is fine)
- Exercise—no time for a real workout? Prefix the incomparable CafeKeek with 18 jumping jacks or 18 seconds of jump-roping or anything else to quickly get your heart pumping. I’m serious about this… it really helps!
* * *
Okay, now it’s your turn. What natural foods / practices do you use to help wake you up? (so, yeah, those energy drinks with unpronounceable ingredients don’t qualify here)
*Guaranteed satisfaction, or your pro-rated BLADAM subscription fees reimbursed!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Self improvement -- how do you measure your progress?
A few years back, I had some free sessions with a personal trainer at my gym, and one of the most useful takeaways was this:
Unless you write stuff down, it’s too easy to “fudge the facts” in your mind. How much pushups are you doing with good form? What are you eating each day? We tend to maximize the former, minimize the latter, and that’s not good.
For starters, he made me write down each day *everything* I ate and drank, along with estimated calories associated with each thing I put in my mouth. Boy, that was a depressing but enlightening shocker!
Well, I decided to go one better and start my own personal health chart (in Excel), daily noting my progress on several fronts (weight, body fat percentage, pushups, etc.). Alas, after a few months, that kinda fell by the wayside, so I picked it up again a year later. And, once again, that only lasted a few months.
I’m trying yet again, and—now that I have the regular routine of a full-time job—I’m hoping it’ll somehow be easier to keep up the list. For the very curious, I’ve included below exactly what I’m measuring:
- E-mails still in my inbox
- Body weight
- Body fat percentage
- Pushups (#)
- Various medicines (e.g., remembering to use Nasalcrom, an allergy medicine)
- Meditation (in minutes)
- Stretching (yes/no)
- Aerobic exercise (minutes)
- Strength training (minutes)
- Mood (1-10, 1 being suicidal, 10 being euphoric)
- Mood jot (my mood in a few words… e.g. “Overwhelmed and frustrated” or “Optimistic and excited”)
- Sleep (time I went to bed, time I got up, total hours of estimated actual sleep)
- Notes (what I accomplished that day, major challenges facing me, etc.)
* * *
In looking over my previous efforts, I’ve noticed the following:
- My weight seems to increase the day or two after working out.
- Eating massive huge fatty meals seems to reduce my weight in the short term (!?)
- I tend to be overwhelmed/stressed more than I thought I was.
- My sleep patterns are more erratic and less healthy than I assumed.
- Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be a strong correlation between getting lots of sleep and feeling less tired the next day.
- After gaining nearly 10 pounds at Google and then losing those same 10 pounds, I’m now about where I was weightwise a year or two ago (still about 15 pounds to go!)
* * *
Have you kept your own “metrics journal”? What are some of the things you have measured? Observations? And did such a journal help you reach goals?
Unless you write stuff down, it’s too easy to “fudge the facts” in your mind. How much pushups are you doing with good form? What are you eating each day? We tend to maximize the former, minimize the latter, and that’s not good.
For starters, he made me write down each day *everything* I ate and drank, along with estimated calories associated with each thing I put in my mouth. Boy, that was a depressing but enlightening shocker!
Well, I decided to go one better and start my own personal health chart (in Excel), daily noting my progress on several fronts (weight, body fat percentage, pushups, etc.). Alas, after a few months, that kinda fell by the wayside, so I picked it up again a year later. And, once again, that only lasted a few months.
I’m trying yet again, and—now that I have the regular routine of a full-time job—I’m hoping it’ll somehow be easier to keep up the list. For the very curious, I’ve included below exactly what I’m measuring:
- E-mails still in my inbox
- Body weight
- Body fat percentage
- Pushups (#)
- Various medicines (e.g., remembering to use Nasalcrom, an allergy medicine)
- Meditation (in minutes)
- Stretching (yes/no)
- Aerobic exercise (minutes)
- Strength training (minutes)
- Mood (1-10, 1 being suicidal, 10 being euphoric)
- Mood jot (my mood in a few words… e.g. “Overwhelmed and frustrated” or “Optimistic and excited”)
- Sleep (time I went to bed, time I got up, total hours of estimated actual sleep)
- Notes (what I accomplished that day, major challenges facing me, etc.)
* * *
In looking over my previous efforts, I’ve noticed the following:
- My weight seems to increase the day or two after working out.
- Eating massive huge fatty meals seems to reduce my weight in the short term (!?)
- I tend to be overwhelmed/stressed more than I thought I was.
- My sleep patterns are more erratic and less healthy than I assumed.
- Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be a strong correlation between getting lots of sleep and feeling less tired the next day.
- After gaining nearly 10 pounds at Google and then losing those same 10 pounds, I’m now about where I was weightwise a year or two ago (still about 15 pounds to go!)
* * *
Have you kept your own “metrics journal”? What are some of the things you have measured? Observations? And did such a journal help you reach goals?
Sunday, August 13, 2006
A comparison of dark chocolates from Trader Joe's
Methodology
I took a bite of the famed whole-wheat Ak-Mak cracker and sips of orange juice in between chocolate nibbles.
Goal
Vital learning in the name of science, with an aim to provide thoughtful, unbiased info to my fellow dark chocolate lovers.
Grand summary
- Villars - Swiss chocolate: Sharpest (along with Trader Joes)
- Valrhona - French chocolate: creamest, sweetest, with a noticeable but mild afterbite, fruity
- Guaranda - Equadorian chocolate (strangely labeled “European chocolate”): smokey
- Trader Joe’s Pound Plus (“TJ”) - Belgian chocolate: thickest of all, tied for sharpest with Villars, faintly fruity, hardest, least creamy initially
Relevant notes
The bottom line
All of these chocolates are delicious, and—sans the “Pound Plus” TJ wrapper—I’d be proud to serve any of them to guests. I do wish the TJ was less thick (sliced horizontally down the middle in the pack would be perfect!), but overall, it’s an extremely good buy given the price! (around $4.50 as of August, 2006). In particular, I’ve found that combining a handful of mixed nuts with a single thick piece of the TJ chocolate makes for a wonderfully delicious snack… and—given the mix of fats, proteins and antioxidants—a rather filling and healthy one, too, in moderation.
For pure sampling / eating right out of the wrapper, I’d probably go with one of the non-TJ chocolates, but couldn’t state a preference amongst them at present.
* * *
Hope this has been helpful, or at least blissfully insightful. Any other chocolate lovers out there? :-D
I took a bite of the famed whole-wheat Ak-Mak cracker and sips of orange juice in between chocolate nibbles.
Goal
Vital learning in the name of science, with an aim to provide thoughtful, unbiased info to my fellow dark chocolate lovers.
Grand summary
- Villars - Swiss chocolate: Sharpest (along with Trader Joes)
- Valrhona - French chocolate: creamest, sweetest, with a noticeable but mild afterbite, fruity
- Guaranda - Equadorian chocolate (strangely labeled “European chocolate”): smokey
- Trader Joe’s Pound Plus (“TJ”) - Belgian chocolate: thickest of all, tied for sharpest with Villars, faintly fruity, hardest, least creamy initially
Relevant notes
- All the chocolate bars boasted a chocolate percentage ranging from 70-72%, and contained the following ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, and soy lecithin (as an emulsifier). Additionally, the Villars contained “flavours” and the Valrhona was “flavored with natural vanilla.”
- I conducted three ‘rounds’ of testing. In one of the rounds, I simply ate a small piece of chocolate from each bar one after another. In the other two rounds (with differing sampling orders), I ate a piece of Ak-Mak wheat cracker and sipped some orange juice in between chocolate pieces to cleanse my palate.
- Since the TJ was at least twice as thick as the others, it was hard to compare the mouth-feel. Since, for instance, thinner chocolate will naturally melt more quickly in the mouth, this significantly alters the perception of creaminess.
- Sampling 12 small pieces of chocolate wasn’t as enjoyable as I imagined. I felt somewhat unpleasantly full, even after eating less than one bar total. Note that the testing was done after a sizeable lunch, however.
- The Villars and TJ tied for sharpest / most-bitter… but not unpleasantly bitter. All the chocolates, at least by my tastes, were amply sweet.
- The Valrhona was the creamiest and sweetest, perhaps due to the added vanilla.
- The Valrhona and, to a slightly lesser extent, the TJ had a mildly fruity aftertaste. Though Scharffenberger chocolate was not included in this test round, I distinctly remember that particular brand having a comparatively much more powerful—almost overpowering—fruitiness to it.
- The Guaranda had the most unique flavor, both initially and lingering. The wrapper describes it as “...exotic wood nuances”... but, before reading this, the first word that came to my mind was “smokey.” Not in a bad way, and it was very subtle, but still noticeable. This wasn’t surprising to me, since I had eaten roasted (unsweetened) cacao beans… and they do taste woodsy/smokey to me.
The bottom line
All of these chocolates are delicious, and—sans the “Pound Plus” TJ wrapper—I’d be proud to serve any of them to guests. I do wish the TJ was less thick (sliced horizontally down the middle in the pack would be perfect!), but overall, it’s an extremely good buy given the price! (around $4.50 as of August, 2006). In particular, I’ve found that combining a handful of mixed nuts with a single thick piece of the TJ chocolate makes for a wonderfully delicious snack… and—given the mix of fats, proteins and antioxidants—a rather filling and healthy one, too, in moderation.
For pure sampling / eating right out of the wrapper, I’d probably go with one of the non-TJ chocolates, but couldn’t state a preference amongst them at present.
* * *
Hope this has been helpful, or at least blissfully insightful. Any other chocolate lovers out there? :-D
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Artful food in restaurant near Strasbourg, France
Ice cream… a wonderful pleasure that’s typically appreciated from childhood and on through adulthood. Soothing and relaxing, ice cream is even better IMHO when presented colorfully and artfully in a nice restaurant, along with good friends and a small heavy spoon.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Some thoughts about Kaiser Health Services
I've had Kaiser health insurance for about three years now, and I thought I'd share some thoughts for those of you who are deciding amongst health insurance plans... and even those of you on Kaiser looking for a few tips.
Quality varies greatly by location and by doctor!
The first primary care physician I had was lousy.
Quality varies greatly by location and by doctor!
The first primary care physician I had was lousy.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Food labels: When does "All" or 100% not mean ALL?
I suppose, by this point, I should have learned to be totally cynical and untrusting, even when it comes to my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's. But every day, I learn new and disappointing things by reading labels a bit more carefully.
For instance, how about "100% Juice"? You'd guess that it's made up of juice, juice, and juice, right? Nope. How about water, reconstituted juices, and "natural flavorings"? What, exactly, are the natural flavorings? Who knows, 'cause this label sure isn't telling.
And while we're talking about juices, when you see a label that trumpets in large type "Blueberry Juice"... does it seem very honest to you that blueberry juice is the third most prominent ingredient, after apple and grape? Truth in labeling would dictate: "Apple 'n' Grape juice, with a splash of blueberry," but, yeah, truth in labeling? Ha!
Or how about "All Butter" shortbread cookies? Sure, butter is indeed one of the ingredients, but -- what's this? -- "partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil"? That's like saying, "A RUSTY knife thrust into your chest" and, while butter ain't exactly saintly healthwise itself, there are few food ingredients less healthy in the world than partially hydrogenated oils, and particularly palm or coconut oils. Might as well say "cement for hardening your arteries." And this isn't even taking into account the fact that a small helping of four of these tiny cookies = 260 calories, with about 50% of calories from fat (and more than half of THAT is saturated). Ugh! While "All-butter" conjures up visions of Grandma making not-necessarily-healthful but at least decadently delicious and honest desserts, this package should instead picture a cardiac arrest unit on the front.
For instance, how about "100% Juice"? You'd guess that it's made up of juice, juice, and juice, right? Nope. How about water, reconstituted juices, and "natural flavorings"? What, exactly, are the natural flavorings? Who knows, 'cause this label sure isn't telling.
And while we're talking about juices, when you see a label that trumpets in large type "Blueberry Juice"... does it seem very honest to you that blueberry juice is the third most prominent ingredient, after apple and grape? Truth in labeling would dictate: "Apple 'n' Grape juice, with a splash of blueberry," but, yeah, truth in labeling? Ha!
Or how about "All Butter" shortbread cookies? Sure, butter is indeed one of the ingredients, but -- what's this? -- "partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil"? That's like saying, "A RUSTY knife thrust into your chest" and, while butter ain't exactly saintly healthwise itself, there are few food ingredients less healthy in the world than partially hydrogenated oils, and particularly palm or coconut oils. Might as well say "cement for hardening your arteries." And this isn't even taking into account the fact that a small helping of four of these tiny cookies = 260 calories, with about 50% of calories from fat (and more than half of THAT is saturated). Ugh! While "All-butter" conjures up visions of Grandma making not-necessarily-healthful but at least decadently delicious and honest desserts, this package should instead picture a cardiac arrest unit on the front.
McDonald's Fries: They go on and on and on and on...
Here's a great (and scary) quote from the entertaining and thoughtful guy who brought us the movie Super Size Me!:
Well, nothing smells like that food. Nothing tastes like that food. It's its own animal. But here's the thing to always think about, anytime you think about buying those fries? Think about you're washing your car, you reach under the driver's seat, and you pull out a french fry. Who knows how long that thing's been there. But it looks like you bought it yesterday. Why is that? How does that happen?Incidentally, after reading Fast Food Nation, I've not been to McD's in nearly four years now. I highly recommend both that book and Spurlock's movie!
- Morgan Spurlock, in an interview with Salon.com
Monday, June 13, 2005
Delicious (or at least not-so-bad-for-you) and nutritious food and drink
One of the best ways to maintain good health is to keep a ready supply of 'non-evil' foods in the house. And while carrot sticks and prunes would qualify as quite healthy snacks, they fail my "food happiness" test.
So, without further ado, here is a list of some (not necessarily obvious) foods that I happen to actually enjoy AND feel pretty un-guilty about eating. Hopefully you'll gain some inspiration from my choices and perhaps even share a find or two of your own!
1) Green, Red, and White teas
Scientists have discovered evidence (ranging from mild to strong) that suggests teas with antioxidants can boost our immune system and generally improve our overall health. And though I suppose tea is an acquired taste, I've grown to really savor my afternoon cup of green, red, or white tea, which I view as crisp, flavorful, and relaxing respectively. Since both the green and white teas contain caffeine, they also give me a small pick-me-up that's a nice compromise between the dull'ishness of NO caffeine and the jitters from a strong cuppa joe.
2) Trader Joe's Lemon Sorbet
Quite tart yet still sweet, and with truly only natural ingredients (sugar, lemon, water, and pectin), just a couple of teaspoons of this sorbet satisfies my sweet cravings.
3) Ghiradelli chocolate mocha powder
With just a 60-second prep time in the microwave, this lucious concoction stands out for several reasons:
- It's the best (store-bought) hot cocoa I've tasted.
- It doesn't have evil ingredients.
- Chocolate + coffee = nice mood lift.
- Hot chocolate provides, apparently, even more antioxidants than a glass of red wine.
- With the non-fat milk, I'm getting some calcium and other good nutrients.
4) Ak-Mak crackers
These savory whole-wheat sesame crackers are just great... with a smidgen of peanut-butter and honey, a dab of cheese, or even just plain. They're also great crumbled in chili! Low in sugar and sodium, they also have a decent amount of fiber, too... and no unpronounceable ingredients, either! Oh, and they're just 99 cents for a box at Trader Joe's. Truly a wonder all-'round! :-)
5) Trader Joe's [can you tell I love this store!] Flax tortilla chips
More flavorful than regular corn chips AND with a wallop of fiber and protein, these chips really satisfy... and provide healthy flax oil to boot. Truly fab as nachos (top with light cheese, lots of pico de gallo or fresh organic salsa and a smidgen of fresh-sliced avocado) or even plain along with a good ol' pb&j sandwich on whole-wheat bread.
Okay, I think that's enough for now, though I'm sure I'll think of other winning food and drink later.
Aside from the obvious fruits and veggies, what are some snacks that you enjoy that are both reasonably healthy and yummy?
So, without further ado, here is a list of some (not necessarily obvious) foods that I happen to actually enjoy AND feel pretty un-guilty about eating. Hopefully you'll gain some inspiration from my choices and perhaps even share a find or two of your own!
1) Green, Red, and White teas
Scientists have discovered evidence (ranging from mild to strong) that suggests teas with antioxidants can boost our immune system and generally improve our overall health. And though I suppose tea is an acquired taste, I've grown to really savor my afternoon cup of green, red, or white tea, which I view as crisp, flavorful, and relaxing respectively. Since both the green and white teas contain caffeine, they also give me a small pick-me-up that's a nice compromise between the dull'ishness of NO caffeine and the jitters from a strong cuppa joe.
2) Trader Joe's Lemon Sorbet
Quite tart yet still sweet, and with truly only natural ingredients (sugar, lemon, water, and pectin), just a couple of teaspoons of this sorbet satisfies my sweet cravings.
3) Ghiradelli chocolate mocha powder
With just a 60-second prep time in the microwave, this lucious concoction stands out for several reasons:
- It's the best (store-bought) hot cocoa I've tasted.
- It doesn't have evil ingredients.
- Chocolate + coffee = nice mood lift.
- Hot chocolate provides, apparently, even more antioxidants than a glass of red wine.
- With the non-fat milk, I'm getting some calcium and other good nutrients.
4) Ak-Mak crackers
These savory whole-wheat sesame crackers are just great... with a smidgen of peanut-butter and honey, a dab of cheese, or even just plain. They're also great crumbled in chili! Low in sugar and sodium, they also have a decent amount of fiber, too... and no unpronounceable ingredients, either! Oh, and they're just 99 cents for a box at Trader Joe's. Truly a wonder all-'round! :-)
5) Trader Joe's [can you tell I love this store!] Flax tortilla chips
More flavorful than regular corn chips AND with a wallop of fiber and protein, these chips really satisfy... and provide healthy flax oil to boot. Truly fab as nachos (top with light cheese, lots of pico de gallo or fresh organic salsa and a smidgen of fresh-sliced avocado) or even plain along with a good ol' pb&j sandwich on whole-wheat bread.
Okay, I think that's enough for now, though I'm sure I'll think of other winning food and drink later.
Aside from the obvious fruits and veggies, what are some snacks that you enjoy that are both reasonably healthy and yummy?
Monday, June 6, 2005
A mound of sugar... in your chili?!
I'm usually really good about checking out the nutritional informaiton of food before I put it in my shopping cart, but every once in a while, I'm tricked by the evil corporate folks who put bad ingredients in "good" places.
Case in point: A small box of Stagg Beef Chili. High in fiber? Check. Lots of protein? Check. More sugar than a Krispy Kreme donut or half a Snickers bar? Eegads!
The supposed 2-serving (more like one moderately hungry serving) box contains *16 grams* of sugar. Let me tell you, you can taste it, and it's not pleasant. It's literally like someone took some mild-but-otherwise-decently-flavorful chili and poured several tablespoons of sugar on top, because... well, that's about what you're getting.
Given the sugar I've discovered in other foods not traditionally thought of as "sweet," I should have known better. After all, ketchup has more sugar per gram than most ice creams. And lots of BBQ sauces are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, that practically-instant-fat-on-your-hips ingredient I've already complained about in another BLADAM entry.
The solution for avoiding this crap is as easy as it is annoying: Read the labels.
I also highly recommend subscribing to the Nutrition Action Healthletter, an ad-free monthly periodical that's jam-packed with useful information about the foods we encounter at our local markets and in restaurants. Or if you're a cheap bastard, you can read most (if not all) of the newsletter contents on their Web site.
It all boils down to the same thing: Eating right requires constant vigilance. "Healthy!" and "Now less fat!" and other breathless marketingspeak typically doesn't mean squat :(.
Case in point: A small box of Stagg Beef Chili. High in fiber? Check. Lots of protein? Check. More sugar than a Krispy Kreme donut or half a Snickers bar? Eegads!
The supposed 2-serving (more like one moderately hungry serving) box contains *16 grams* of sugar. Let me tell you, you can taste it, and it's not pleasant. It's literally like someone took some mild-but-otherwise-decently-flavorful chili and poured several tablespoons of sugar on top, because... well, that's about what you're getting.
Given the sugar I've discovered in other foods not traditionally thought of as "sweet," I should have known better. After all, ketchup has more sugar per gram than most ice creams. And lots of BBQ sauces are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, that practically-instant-fat-on-your-hips ingredient I've already complained about in another BLADAM entry.
The solution for avoiding this crap is as easy as it is annoying: Read the labels.
I also highly recommend subscribing to the Nutrition Action Healthletter, an ad-free monthly periodical that's jam-packed with useful information about the foods we encounter at our local markets and in restaurants. Or if you're a cheap bastard, you can read most (if not all) of the newsletter contents on their Web site.
It all boils down to the same thing: Eating right requires constant vigilance. "Healthy!" and "Now less fat!" and other breathless marketingspeak typically doesn't mean squat :(.
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Store Wars: A very funny animation of good and evil (food)
Check out the video of Store Wars, featuring Obi Wan Cannoli and Darth Tater... and lots of laughs!
I actually have very mixed feelings about some of the "evils" it raises -- genetic engineering of plants and food irradiation in particular -- but on the whole, I do believe in supporting organic farming.
I think anyone'd be hard pressed to claim that they LIKE having lots of pesticides or antibiotics in their food. And, while this may be psychological, I do seem to prefer the taste of organic foods over the cheaper alternatives.
Anyway, all moralizing aside, do check out the video and I guarantee a good chuckle at the very minimum :-).
I actually have very mixed feelings about some of the "evils" it raises -- genetic engineering of plants and food irradiation in particular -- but on the whole, I do believe in supporting organic farming.
I think anyone'd be hard pressed to claim that they LIKE having lots of pesticides or antibiotics in their food. And, while this may be psychological, I do seem to prefer the taste of organic foods over the cheaper alternatives.
Anyway, all moralizing aside, do check out the video and I guarantee a good chuckle at the very minimum :-).
Sunday, January 30, 2005
"Eating Right" is Eating Wrong... and other nutritional tidbits
Not sure how many of you have the Safeway supermarket chain where you live, but for those who do, here's a major warning: Stear clear of their store brand "Eating Right" frozen dinners.
- They taste simply awful.
- They have a ton of crap in them nutritionally that make them anything but "Right" for your body.
And regardless of what supermarkets you have, let me offer you a short and pretty solid list of what you should look for when food shopping:
And let's face it -- most of us DO know when we're eating something good (whole wheat bread, broccoli, oranges, etc.) and when we're not (Ben & Jerry's, Triple-cheese pepperoni pizza, and so on). Our goal, IMHO, should not be to eliminate the 'evil' in our food per se, but to balance it out with a lot more of the good stuff.
Since I'm striving to lose 15 pounds and have more energy each day, I'll use this blog entry as a public reminder to myself :D. Hope it's helpful for you, too.
Oh, and hopefully some consumer watchdog group tweaks the hell out of the disingenuous jerks marketing the disgusting "Eating Right" brand. Yuck! Just don't ask me why I bought two of those dishes in the first place. :O
- They taste simply awful.
- They have a ton of crap in them nutritionally that make them anything but "Right" for your body.
And regardless of what supermarkets you have, let me offer you a short and pretty solid list of what you should look for when food shopping:
- Partially-hydrogenated oils, as I've explained here, are evil.
- If the product contains lots and lots of items you can't pronounce, that should tell you something.
- Got a ton of salt (>700mg per serving)? That also shows a lack of creative seasoning.
- Cottonseed oil? No health-conscious companies use that anymore. It's horrible for you!
- Lots of saturated fat? Not good.
- Tons of sugar? Your body isn't going to be happy for long.
- Little or no fiber? You may enjoy the food while you eat it, but it's not going to keep you full for long!
And let's face it -- most of us DO know when we're eating something good (whole wheat bread, broccoli, oranges, etc.) and when we're not (Ben & Jerry's, Triple-cheese pepperoni pizza, and so on). Our goal, IMHO, should not be to eliminate the 'evil' in our food per se, but to balance it out with a lot more of the good stuff.
Since I'm striving to lose 15 pounds and have more energy each day, I'll use this blog entry as a public reminder to myself :D. Hope it's helpful for you, too.
Oh, and hopefully some consumer watchdog group tweaks the hell out of the disingenuous jerks marketing the disgusting "Eating Right" brand. Yuck! Just don't ask me why I bought two of those dishes in the first place. :O
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Yes, you CAN get vaccinated against the flu this year (here's how)
Last week I got vaccinated against the flu... at a cost of $30, 30 minutes of my time, and zero guilt.
How? I got the relatively new FluMist stuff sprayed into my nose at a local pharmacy.
I highly recommend that all eligible folks get vaccinated against the flu this year, whether by the traditional shot or via FluMist.
Here are a few details about FluMist that may be helpful:
THE GOOD:
How? I got the relatively new FluMist stuff sprayed into my nose at a local pharmacy.
I highly recommend that all eligible folks get vaccinated against the flu this year, whether by the traditional shot or via FluMist.
Here are a few details about FluMist that may be helpful:
THE GOOD:
- There are no shortages of FluMist. You're not taking away a dose from a frail senior citizen.
- It doesn't hurt. It feels like pretty much any nose spray.
- Your insurance may pay for it. If not, $30 is a small price to pay for a good chance of avoiding the flu for another year.
- Side effects are unlikely. I personally didn't experience any discomfort after the spray, immediately or otherwise.
- It's supposedly as effective as the shot.
- Since it actually contains a weakened strain of the virus (instead the killed virii that the shot contains), there's the potential to feel kind of icky as your body fights against the intruder
- It may be hard to find. I had to call about ten pharmacies before I found a place that carries this (Albertsons, here in San Francisco). Your best bet, apparently, is to call large chain pharmacies, and hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.
- There are other caveats and limitations. Read the stuff at the flumist site for more details.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
"Justifications" for partially-hydrogenated oils
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to the corporate headquarters of health-food-oriented "Trader Joe's" to express concern about the prominence of partially-hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup in their offerings. As you may know, partially-hydrogenated oils have been resoundingly implicated in accelerating heart disease (it's basically like injecting cement into your blood vessels), and high fructose corn syrup has been widely acknowledged as significantly contributing to weight gain (moreso than other sweeteners).
I received a thoughtful and interesting snail mail letter in reply to my concerns, which read in part:
I do find it interesting that perhaps there's a bit of a chicken and egg situation here. I'm guessing that if more consumers were aware of just how nasty partially-hydrogenated oils are, they'd buy fewer products that contain these oils... and perhaps buy more products without them. This, in turn, would encourage the food industry to come up with more healthy cookie and cereal recipes (though frankly, I've tasted plenty of cookies and cereals that seem delicious WITHOUT any hydrogenated oils!)
In the meantime, I hope you, my humble readers, will do some research on the evils of partially-hydrogenated oils and will put your money where your heart is ;-).
I received a thoughtful and interesting snail mail letter in reply to my concerns, which read in part:
Some of our cereals and cookies contain partially hydrogenated oils for two specific reasons: texture and taste. Foods that are [sic] do not use these oils do not cook up as crisp and crunchy (as is the case with chips and cereals) and do not bind together as well (cookies crumble quite easily without it). These oils aid in making the product more shelf-stable. Also, the flavor and mouth feel would be significantly changed (we've tried to reformulate some of our products without partially hydrogenated oils, but they have always sold poorly). We do try to use alternative formulations where we can and are always looking for new recipes that do not include these oils.Unfortunately, she didn't address my issue of high-fructose corn syrup, but oh well.
I do find it interesting that perhaps there's a bit of a chicken and egg situation here. I'm guessing that if more consumers were aware of just how nasty partially-hydrogenated oils are, they'd buy fewer products that contain these oils... and perhaps buy more products without them. This, in turn, would encourage the food industry to come up with more healthy cookie and cereal recipes (though frankly, I've tasted plenty of cookies and cereals that seem delicious WITHOUT any hydrogenated oils!)
In the meantime, I hope you, my humble readers, will do some research on the evils of partially-hydrogenated oils and will put your money where your heart is ;-).
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Eat high-fat high-carb food and lose weight!
It sounds crazy because it is!
On Saturday night, I went hog wild and ate a double cheeseburger plus fries at In'N'Out, then walked to Krispy Kreme and downed three donuts (no, I'm not pregnant or depressed... I don't know what came over me!)
But wait -- that was just the beginning. I then went straight to a party whereby I ate copious amounts of chips, cookies, brownies, and chocolate. Oh yeah, and a cup of ice cream. Got home at 2am, was still hungry, and ate some more chips. Yum! {buuuuuuurp}
No, this is not my typical eating behavior.
Anyway, here's the kicker:
Two days later, I weigh about same, but my body fat measures about 2.5% less!
Incidentally, I've noticed a similar trend over the last year. In the days following massive eating binges (e.g., a huge steak burrito, 32 ounce drink, plus greasy taqueria chips, etc.), I consistently seem to have either lost pounds or fat. During the next days when I return to more sensible eating habits, I gain weight.
So what's the moral here? I don't know! But I'm now sure not going to shirk away from occasional burger-'n'-donut cravings :D
On Saturday night, I went hog wild and ate a double cheeseburger plus fries at In'N'Out, then walked to Krispy Kreme and downed three donuts (no, I'm not pregnant or depressed... I don't know what came over me!)
But wait -- that was just the beginning. I then went straight to a party whereby I ate copious amounts of chips, cookies, brownies, and chocolate. Oh yeah, and a cup of ice cream. Got home at 2am, was still hungry, and ate some more chips. Yum! {buuuuuuurp}
No, this is not my typical eating behavior.
Anyway, here's the kicker:
Two days later, I weigh about same, but my body fat measures about 2.5% less!
Incidentally, I've noticed a similar trend over the last year. In the days following massive eating binges (e.g., a huge steak burrito, 32 ounce drink, plus greasy taqueria chips, etc.), I consistently seem to have either lost pounds or fat. During the next days when I return to more sensible eating habits, I gain weight.
So what's the moral here? I don't know! But I'm now sure not going to shirk away from occasional burger-'n'-donut cravings :D
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
(non) sexual healin'
As many folks know, I'm a Lindy Hop (swing dancing) addict, as evidenced by my creation of the Lindy Hop Whiteboard Supreme, and my dance entries in this blog.
Every once in a while, especially on 'off' nights, I ask myself why I continue to dance for hours every week, and what Lindy Hop really means to me.
Over the past three years of my dance life, my friends and I have come up with a number of theories:
- It's the music.
IMHO, not liking swing music is sort of like not liking ice cream. I suppose there are a few weirdos out there that fall into either group, but on the whole, most people I know enjoy a strikingly similar feeling of joy when they listen to the playful energy of swing or indulge in the creamy goodness of ice cream.
- It's the endorphins.
Lindy Hop is very often exuberant and energetic. It burns calories, it makes you sweat, and -- like any exercise -- undoubtedly contributes to one's supply of happy-making endorphins.
- It's the socializing.
Lindy Hop, more than pretty much any other dance I've seen or dabbled in, is a supremely social dance. It's infused with connection and conversation, on and off the dance floor, and while the scene has a surprising mix of extroverts AND introverts, it's generally a wonderful hobby to meet and get to know other people.
- It's the sex.
What happens when you get a bunch of young and young-at-heart energetic, playful people with skillful body movement talents in close proximity? Yep, there's definitely some horizontal hula'ing going on. And, ahem, I'm not gonna argue with the rightly and widely held belief that dancers make better lovers ;-)
* * *
All of that makes enough sense, eh? But there's something more, something that I didn't even think about until last night when I was having a delightful and comfortable dance with a warm and talented follow.
I learned that she's in graduate school, studying psychology, and specifically an area of psychology that involves the science of touch. And we're not talking sexual touch here, either, but rather the sort of nurturing and essential touching that scientific studies have proven contributes to babies' well-being... and that common sense suggests provides healing and happiness to the rest of us.
* * *
It was then that I realized how much the whole concept of touch means to me and likely many of my Lindy Hop crazy friends. There's such a comfort and warmth in -- if you'll forgive the modified Moulin Rouge reference -- holding someone and being held in return.
At least in my case (and I suspect, for most others as well), this is all not really about sex or even necessarily flirting. As a heterosexual fella, I still enjoy hugging my friends regardless of their gender, and I likewise appreciate being a follower in Lindy Hop, even with guys.
Sure, there's sometimes an underlying sensuality in dancing, especially when blues-dancing with someone you are attracted to from the way they look or the way they dance, and so on. But I still think that the overall non-sexual pleasure of touch is one of the leading factors that contributes to folks' joy in dancing, and this also highlights just how much closeness our American society often lacks.
In much of Europe and Latin America, for instance, there seems to be less perceived overlap between friendly touching and sexual overtures, and I really like and respect that. When I lived in Europe, I found that I was encouraged to give and receive friendly hugs or even snuggle with others without ulterior motives or expectations. In contrast, most of American culture seems to be plagued with an unhealthy puritanical virgin/whore dichotomy, whereby you're either friends (shaking hands) or you're sleeping together / wanting to sleep together.
* * *
Lindy Hop, then, serves as a welcome respite... friendly and tactile and accepting, with sex as a possibility but not a given or an endgame. And while I can understand being accused of hyperbole, I honestly believe that if there were more communities like this and more touching in this manner, the world would be a more peaceful and productive place.
* * *
Added on 4/30/2004:
I just realized that my last few entries in the Dancing category of this blog have mentioned sex, which somewhat embarrassingly contrasts with the key point of my entry above. Ahem. Um... perhaps I'm a blog marketing whore? ;-) Or, more seriously, in some cases I have indeed linked dancing to sex metaphorically because there are some similarities... and it also conveys some key ideas in ways non-dancers can understand. I hope you still respect me :D
Edited on 6/2/2007:
Updated / removed no-longer-live URLs
Every once in a while, especially on 'off' nights, I ask myself why I continue to dance for hours every week, and what Lindy Hop really means to me.
Over the past three years of my dance life, my friends and I have come up with a number of theories:
- It's the music.
IMHO, not liking swing music is sort of like not liking ice cream. I suppose there are a few weirdos out there that fall into either group, but on the whole, most people I know enjoy a strikingly similar feeling of joy when they listen to the playful energy of swing or indulge in the creamy goodness of ice cream.
- It's the endorphins.
Lindy Hop is very often exuberant and energetic. It burns calories, it makes you sweat, and -- like any exercise -- undoubtedly contributes to one's supply of happy-making endorphins.
- It's the socializing.
Lindy Hop, more than pretty much any other dance I've seen or dabbled in, is a supremely social dance. It's infused with connection and conversation, on and off the dance floor, and while the scene has a surprising mix of extroverts AND introverts, it's generally a wonderful hobby to meet and get to know other people.
- It's the sex.
What happens when you get a bunch of young and young-at-heart energetic, playful people with skillful body movement talents in close proximity? Yep, there's definitely some horizontal hula'ing going on. And, ahem, I'm not gonna argue with the rightly and widely held belief that dancers make better lovers ;-)
* * *
All of that makes enough sense, eh? But there's something more, something that I didn't even think about until last night when I was having a delightful and comfortable dance with a warm and talented follow.
I learned that she's in graduate school, studying psychology, and specifically an area of psychology that involves the science of touch. And we're not talking sexual touch here, either, but rather the sort of nurturing and essential touching that scientific studies have proven contributes to babies' well-being... and that common sense suggests provides healing and happiness to the rest of us.
* * *
It was then that I realized how much the whole concept of touch means to me and likely many of my Lindy Hop crazy friends. There's such a comfort and warmth in -- if you'll forgive the modified Moulin Rouge reference -- holding someone and being held in return.
At least in my case (and I suspect, for most others as well), this is all not really about sex or even necessarily flirting. As a heterosexual fella, I still enjoy hugging my friends regardless of their gender, and I likewise appreciate being a follower in Lindy Hop, even with guys.
Sure, there's sometimes an underlying sensuality in dancing, especially when blues-dancing with someone you are attracted to from the way they look or the way they dance, and so on. But I still think that the overall non-sexual pleasure of touch is one of the leading factors that contributes to folks' joy in dancing, and this also highlights just how much closeness our American society often lacks.
In much of Europe and Latin America, for instance, there seems to be less perceived overlap between friendly touching and sexual overtures, and I really like and respect that. When I lived in Europe, I found that I was encouraged to give and receive friendly hugs or even snuggle with others without ulterior motives or expectations. In contrast, most of American culture seems to be plagued with an unhealthy puritanical virgin/whore dichotomy, whereby you're either friends (shaking hands) or you're sleeping together / wanting to sleep together.
* * *
Lindy Hop, then, serves as a welcome respite... friendly and tactile and accepting, with sex as a possibility but not a given or an endgame. And while I can understand being accused of hyperbole, I honestly believe that if there were more communities like this and more touching in this manner, the world would be a more peaceful and productive place.
* * *
Added on 4/30/2004:
I just realized that my last few entries in the Dancing category of this blog have mentioned sex, which somewhat embarrassingly contrasts with the key point of my entry above. Ahem. Um... perhaps I'm a blog marketing whore? ;-) Or, more seriously, in some cases I have indeed linked dancing to sex metaphorically because there are some similarities... and it also conveys some key ideas in ways non-dancers can understand. I hope you still respect me :D
Edited on 6/2/2007:
Updated / removed no-longer-live URLs
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Would you like that rare or medium-well?
I had the pleasure of attending a special barbeque edition of our local community's "Lindy in the Park" event, where everyone was invited to bring something for the grill or something to drink.
Of course, there was the usual stuff... hot dogs, veggie burgers, bottles of Coke, and so on.
And then there was something a little different: A box of cake mix. Yes, the sort where you have to add egg and oil and so on. Cake mix. For a BBQ party. I'm trying to fathom the thought processes that took place with the person who brought that particular item. "Damn, no hamburger meat in the fridge... nothing in the freezer... too lazy to make a quick stop at the store... ah ha... here's some 2-year-old lemon cake mix in the cupboard. That'll be perfect!"
Strange. Really strange. Or perhaps just some goofiness from someone with a rather wacky sense of humor :D
Of course, there was the usual stuff... hot dogs, veggie burgers, bottles of Coke, and so on.
And then there was something a little different: A box of cake mix. Yes, the sort where you have to add egg and oil and so on. Cake mix. For a BBQ party. I'm trying to fathom the thought processes that took place with the person who brought that particular item. "Damn, no hamburger meat in the fridge... nothing in the freezer... too lazy to make a quick stop at the store... ah ha... here's some 2-year-old lemon cake mix in the cupboard. That'll be perfect!"
Strange. Really strange. Or perhaps just some goofiness from someone with a rather wacky sense of humor :D
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