High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), now being falsely advertised as Corn Sugar!

Whether you call it HFCS, or Corn Sugar there is no denying that it is in just about EVERYTHING.  It is in everything because it's cheap.  Why is it cheap? Because there are government subsidies that makes it very profitable for big farms and forces small farms out of the business.  The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

And they aren't subsidies for corn edible immediately off of the stalk either.  It's for corn that gets ripped off the cob, thrown in silos and in piles when the silos get full - and they do - then the kernels sit, sometimes for months, years.  Then they get chemically cleaned and processed into HFCS.

If we actually put subsidies into corn edible from the stalk without any processing, do you know how many people that could feed, healthily?  A lot.  I don't know an exact number, but I will look into it and get back to you.  And, do you know how much healthier our meat would be if cows and pigs were fed grass, instead of corn?  Right now, cattle farms are feeding cows feed corn, which is not a natural part of their diet, but they feed it to them because it fattens them fast.  This in turn gets them to slaughter sooner and turns a profit sooner.  

But what does this do to the cows?  It causes all kinds of health problems for them!  The cows need antibiotics, and they get so many illnesses, and if they live too long, they die horribly.  Although being slaughtered for beef doesn't sound like the way to go either.  Anyway, in addition to that, the meat is fattier and less healthy than when cows are grass fed and free range.  You know, back in the day, when working in a slaughterhouse was an acquired skill?  But that's a rant for another day.

Alright now that I have that off my chest, a summary of a scientific article of a study about why HFCS is bad for you, with a link to the original article, will follow.

huff, I feel better.  At least until I see another frigging corn sugar commercial.

I'll leave you with a link to an article in The Consumerist about how Big Sugar is suing Big Corn for false advertising.  Enjoy!

Life Decisions

There comes a day in every health nut's life that they have to decide between two very strong desires.  The strong desire to take a nap and the strong desire to work out.  This seems like it would be an easy decision, but when you only have time for one, you have to actually pick only one.

Today, was my day.  As you know I'm in Week 2 of Get Fit By Memorial Day.  Monday is cardio intervals, and also, the first day of exam week, which I had three of today.  I ate lunch after my exams and waited an hour or so to allow myself to digest.  Which makes it about 4:30p and I have rehearsal at 6p and intervals take about 30 minutes, and if I pick to work out I also have to have time to take a shower.  If I take a nap, I can sleep for an hour.

What do I do?


I got a text from my director and rehearsal was moved from 6 to 6:30.... oohhhh, now I can sleep for an hour and a half.....

What do you think I did? :-)

Oh yeah, I went for my first bike ride of the year!

It was windy, it was rough, but I did it.  A huge hurdle to jump, let's hope I keep on going!

Baring My Soul

Ok, I'm not really baring my soul, but I am very nervous about this post.

So here are the stats:

Weigh In (WI) 4/22/11: 201.2 lbs
WI 4/29/11: 199.5 lbs
Change: -1.7 lbs

And before those of you who know me and see me often say it, no, I don't look like I weight that much, but yes, I do weigh that much.  No, I don't know where I hide it, but I would like to have to "hide" much less pounds.  I figure I keep it on my hips.

Anyway, I said Wednesday I would start dissecting why I struggle so much with this.  So, here goes nothing.

First, what I've noticed is that I am a bored and nervous eater.  I have tried to fix this, but when I am unsuccessful, I try and make sure that there is always some of my favorite fruit or veggies around to gnaw on instead of the sweets that I prefer.  Which is where the fruits come in, natural sugars, yummmm...  I am so glad that watermelon is coming back into season, I love it so much.  It's sweet and if you get a good watermelon, it melts in your mouth.  But, that aside, I am really working on picking healthy options when I snack.

Second, I have a ginormous sweet tooth.  And I bake a lot.  Which, is not compatible with weight loss.  I try to make the sweet things I eat healthier.  I get the Weight Watchers Bakery Treats and Frozen Treats to help, and I also try and bake healthy treats too.  My sweet tooth is a huge obstacle.  Side note: White Chocolate should be illegal, it's far too delicious for my own good.

I've also noticed that if I have something that I really, really like, I am more prone to eat more of it.  I think this goes back to when I was a kid and there was something that was a special treat in the house.  I was competing with two brothers and I had to eat my share now, or I might not get any later and I find myself still in that mindset, probably in part because I married the bottomless pit.  I don't know how to break it, but I have a mantra that I repeat when I am aware of that reaction creeping into my mind.  I CONTROL WHAT GETS PURCHASED.  IF THIS IS GONE TOMORROW, I CAN GO BUY MORE.  BE PATIENT.  I need to have that overrule the ingrained instinct to eat more now, because it is here.  That gets me in trouble.

I also said that I would update on my exercise this week for you today.

Wednesday

I went for a walk with Adam.  We walked at a quick pace for a half hour, as per a Get Fit by Memorial Day (I am under no illusions this will get me fit by Memorial Day, as they expected you to start three months before Memorial Day) workout routine that Cracked Actor posted on her blog. (I hope you choose to switch to Blogger, loves, it's much more universal!)

Thursday

I went for a walk again, and I was supposed to do a quick full body circuit, but after my walk to Walgreen's, my ears hurt from the wind and cold and then I had to pack to go visit my parents and in-laws and drive to my parents.... so I basically just ran out of time.  And I'm really good at making excuses.

Friday

Today though, I did more than the work out plan said to.  I did 30 minutes on the bike and then the quick body circuit.  Adam and I also took TJ, my parents' dog, for a long walk.  It did nothing for her neurosis, she still is whacko, but I got some more exercise and soaked up some recently rare Michigan sun.

Now, I don't know when or how I hurt my neck, but I think I slept on it funny last night and then screwed it up more during my workout.  Fortunately tomorrow is a day off, as is Sunday before I start week two.  Hopefully those rest days will allow my body to recover from me.  I can deal with overall muscle soreness, but the neck pain really sucks.  Heating pad seems to help, but only for a little bit.

I hope that I have a successful week this week too.  I know I won't fit into that dress by Saturday (OMG, GRADUATION IS IN A WEEK!?) but I can still have a successful week and drop a couple more pounds and hopefully be out of my 190s rut soon.

Goals for this week:
1. Drink 16oz of water before every meal.
2. Remember to take my damn multi-vitamin.
3. Workout every day.
4. Take a yoga class.
5. Pack up half the apartment.
6. Enjoy my last week as an undergraduate student. (Includes going to Max and Emily's on Thursday for Loaded Baked Potato Soup!)