Saturday, February 28, 2009

Go out and get it!!! Then NEVER LET IT GO....

I know I'm a little type-A and a little psycho. I tend to run myself into the ground and then wonder why I get so tired sometimes. I was out for a run after work yesterday, and as usual my internal dialogue was yapping away at me. I was thinking how wonderful it felt to be able-bodied enough to be on that run, and what a huge blessing that is. I was also thinking about how often clients ask me how I stay motivated year after year to keep up my fitness routine. Let me just say, aside from realizing EVERY SINGLE DAY that I will never take my health and strength for granted, it is just good old fashioned fear. Yup. I am so determined that I will not go back to being overweight and plagued with health issues. I am determined to never again let some catty bitch in a club ask her guy friend "why he's talking to a fat chick". I'm determined to never again be referred to as "a good 'ole corn-fed American girl". Life is too short, and we only get one go-round. Go out do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get your best, most fulfilling life, and never let it go!!

Friday, February 27, 2009

Sitting outside of a sub/smoothie shop.....ugh!

As I sat in my car outside of this place waiting for my 13 year old daugter to get her smoothie, I started thinking what a travesty the standard American diet is. People were filing in the front door like cattle to get their "healthy", "low fat" meal. Each person was in various states of over-fat and under-muscled. I wonder how many of these individuals are chronically frustrated with their ever expanding girth in spite of eating what is being marketed to them as the "right thing" to be eating? I notice the huge poster in the window that boasts "Only 2 grams of fat per serving*"..... some sort of teriyaki-glazed sub sandwich. Yeah, only two grams of fat.....but what about the nitrites in the fake processed "meat" that have been linked to cancer, DNA mutations and a higher incidence of brain tumors in children? What about the wheat colored bread which is actually no better than Wonder Bread? What about the high-fructose corn syrup based teriyaki sauce they drizzle on top, that is most likely in the fake wheat bread too? These poor, uninformed souls were also leaving with either a huge high-fructose corn syrup soda to wash it down with, or (possibly) even worse......a "healthy" "fruit" smoothie. These things often don't even contain any real fruit, and if they do it is in combination with a nice high-fructose corn syrup and artificial color based "smoothie mix". For example, a SMALL Peanut Butter Moo'd (16 oz.) has 530 cals, 11 g fat and 94 g carbs (mostly sugar carbs). A small Acai cup has 620 cals, 15 g fat and 114 g of carbs. Thats over 24 teaspoons of sugar! So lets say one of these patrons leaves with the five-inch "low-fat menu" sandwiches and a small moothie. These low-fat subs hover around 300 calories, and add one of these evil smoothies in a small....this one meal can pack upwards of 900 calories, 161 grams of simple-sugar carbs and.....get this- 884-1300 mg of table salt, the worst kind. Thats almost enough for an entire day. Lets not even talk about the obese guy I saw leaving with the foot-long and a 32 oz. smoothie......sigh.
The pickle we health-aware parents are in is that virtually EVERY child/teen are eating this way or worse. As a parent you are labeled a fanatic or disordered if you try to discourage this way of eating. I have had family members say I am "setting my kids up for an eating disorder" by feeding them fresh vegetables, real meat and complex carbs....and packing their lunch. So sad.