Hello ladies and gents!
So here is a large known fact: sugar of any form in large amounts is very bad for you. Here is another large known fact: sugars are not only found in most foods (it is what most compounds break down to), but also there are a thousand types of sugars out there.
I am going to do a mini briefing of what I know about sugars that are bad for you sugars that are good for you. Since I have no formal training I feel obligated to warn you of this and to take my advice with a grain of salt (though not literally!). I will give only factual knowledge from what I research from the internet (let's not be too crazy I'm going to wiki a lot), or what I have learned from seminars and nutritionists that I have attended and seen, respectively.
Aspertame has been reported and rumored as one of the worst sugars out there as far as sugars go. In my opinion, this is true. But at the end of this article, you can decide. The FDA says it's okay, but I hardly trust them. The health nutritionist that I saw, oh, probably back in 2007, said that one teaspoon of aspertame stays in your digestive system for a very long time because our bodies are not built to break it down rapidly. What is aspertame found in? Mainly, diet drinks, diet sodas, low calorie ades (like gator and power). Check the label, it's not hard. Oh also, quick side note, there are certain people (people with PKU) that shouldn't ever consume this, and maybe they aren't aware.
Sweet'n Low? Sweet'n no thank-you! So Sweet'n Low is banned in some countries because it has been PROVEN from research studies to create cancer. But just FYI this cancer was in test animals...however, cancer is cancer and if it can give it to anyone why bother. Not like everything else in the world gives you cancer these days; however, if you could eliminate one thing to decrease your chances of getting such an aggressive disease, why wouldn't you?
The same corporations that make Sweet'n Low also box up sugars that I have found are to be better for you. I'm sure by now all of you have heard of Stevia. It is really low calorie and really sweet from a plant found in Japan, if I am remembering correctly. That's not too bad for you, in fact it's probably the most recommended alternative to cane sugar. Another good way to go is Agave nectar. That is really sweet and yummy, also slightly more pricey. Or you could just use a little honey.
Of course if you want to use any of the aforementioned brands, do so with caution and knowledge about what you consume. You are what you eat you know, that's not just a saying, it's very true. As far as I know, there is nothing wrong with cane sugar, except in large amounts of consumption it has a high calorie so you end up with high calories quickly. I think that is why people are always trying to find alternative sweets to sugar. You don't really need it, we just think we do. Anyway, hope that helps, if it doesn't, well you are a slight bit more informed on sugars.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
My Blob Story
As some of you may have read from my other blogs, Reviewer's Choice! and Babbling Blog, I have started two new blogs, one of them being the former. With this blog it is my intention to inform people on proper nutrition and exercise forms, while trying to lend encouragement through my story I am embarking on. It's not about being "skinnie," it's about being healthy and extending your life, being the best you available, and until you realize that no change will ever occur.
So to begin - my weight fluctuates regularly between 125 lbs and 128 lbs; I would like to get down to 113, although I would be content with 115lbs - 118 lbs. I'm not made to be a super twig, never have been and I accept that I will always be curvy. I love that about me, because I know I can work it. However, I would like to feel healthier and feel as strong and confident as I was a few years ago.
So here is my blob story - how I gained weight. Ever since then I feel like there is a WW battle in my head as to what I should eat, when I should eat, if I should work out, etc....It not only is super obnoxious but it gets annoying. So back in 2009 I was in probably the best shape of my life. I was in Belize for two months doing archaeology. I lost a ton of weight, gained a ton of muscle and felt like I could take over for Atlas any day. Then I went back to school. I think I would have been fine, except for I came home to a refrigerator full of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I don't know if you all know this, but Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has a variety of flavors, and some of them can be quite delicious (and uber high in calories, somewhere like 300 per serving). I don't particularly like ice cream, but there were some flavors like Cherry Garcia that I really like to eat. And of course this is one of the flavors that my roomie got for free every day he worked at the B&J Factory--and of course he wanted them! Who wouldn't?
Ultimately I ended up making the worst decisions for myself I possibly could. I got really stressed with school - I think I was taking like 18 credits including learning Attic Greek - and didn't have time (or $) to go grocery shopping. So I ate more and more ice cream, eventually apexing at 1 pint a day...I believe I gained around 50 lbs in like four months...kind of crazy. I tried to go work out at the school gym, but I hated it because I couldn't do what I was used to being able to do; I was really depressed and just didn't ever want to go out. I was pretty miserable.
Fast forward. That spring I started to lose weight. I was backpacking around the world, and slowly I started to notice my pants felt a little less tight. I have never had pants feel as tight as those Columbia pants. After getting back from our global trot I committed myself, like a hound on a scent, to go to the gym. I dropped 10 lbs in 1 month and was consistently losing at least 2 lbs a week. Now, this wasn't easy. In fact it was at a pretty exhausting price. I was working for an archaeology company (8-11 hours of arduous labor) then forcing myself to go to the gym for an hour of cardio afterwards. Then I plateaued at 130lbs. Luckily for me, I got a free session with a personal trainer at Gold's Gym (back when I went to a gym). He was unhelpful because he gave me poor nutrition advice. Luckily for me, I am nutrition savvy (to an extent) and knew that his information was stupid. However, his workout tips were helpful, and I found classes at the gym that I really liked and kept me going back. So even though it was winter, I got back down to 120lbs and was incredibly excited.
Fast Forward. After moving to Portland, I kept up my workout routine, but couldn't shed those last pounds that I was trying to lose, so I kind of just gave up--hence the weight gain. It's not much, but it's enough to notice that my pants, dresses and shirts are just that much more uncomfortable and more revealing in an unflattering way. Plus, as evident from the last few weeks, I've lost a lot of muscle that I had only a few months ago. (Use it or lose it, I suppose!) But thanks to archaeology (and groupons), I've finally rekindled my focus and am ready to have more consistency with workouts, instead of working out once or twice here and there. I've got a one month gym membership from groupon, and according to the gym's website, they give out free nutritional advice and help you track your stuff. So, as I am constantly looking on the web for helpful tips, I will be posting what I learn here. It may be with some infrequency, and if you would like to read some seriously helpful things I've already posted, you can read about running or my Exercising Fun Facts in my Babbling Blog.
So to begin - my weight fluctuates regularly between 125 lbs and 128 lbs; I would like to get down to 113, although I would be content with 115lbs - 118 lbs. I'm not made to be a super twig, never have been and I accept that I will always be curvy. I love that about me, because I know I can work it. However, I would like to feel healthier and feel as strong and confident as I was a few years ago.
So here is my blob story - how I gained weight. Ever since then I feel like there is a WW battle in my head as to what I should eat, when I should eat, if I should work out, etc....It not only is super obnoxious but it gets annoying. So back in 2009 I was in probably the best shape of my life. I was in Belize for two months doing archaeology. I lost a ton of weight, gained a ton of muscle and felt like I could take over for Atlas any day. Then I went back to school. I think I would have been fine, except for I came home to a refrigerator full of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I don't know if you all know this, but Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has a variety of flavors, and some of them can be quite delicious (and uber high in calories, somewhere like 300 per serving). I don't particularly like ice cream, but there were some flavors like Cherry Garcia that I really like to eat. And of course this is one of the flavors that my roomie got for free every day he worked at the B&J Factory--and of course he wanted them! Who wouldn't?
Ultimately I ended up making the worst decisions for myself I possibly could. I got really stressed with school - I think I was taking like 18 credits including learning Attic Greek - and didn't have time (or $) to go grocery shopping. So I ate more and more ice cream, eventually apexing at 1 pint a day...I believe I gained around 50 lbs in like four months...kind of crazy. I tried to go work out at the school gym, but I hated it because I couldn't do what I was used to being able to do; I was really depressed and just didn't ever want to go out. I was pretty miserable.
Fast forward. That spring I started to lose weight. I was backpacking around the world, and slowly I started to notice my pants felt a little less tight. I have never had pants feel as tight as those Columbia pants. After getting back from our global trot I committed myself, like a hound on a scent, to go to the gym. I dropped 10 lbs in 1 month and was consistently losing at least 2 lbs a week. Now, this wasn't easy. In fact it was at a pretty exhausting price. I was working for an archaeology company (8-11 hours of arduous labor) then forcing myself to go to the gym for an hour of cardio afterwards. Then I plateaued at 130lbs. Luckily for me, I got a free session with a personal trainer at Gold's Gym (back when I went to a gym). He was unhelpful because he gave me poor nutrition advice. Luckily for me, I am nutrition savvy (to an extent) and knew that his information was stupid. However, his workout tips were helpful, and I found classes at the gym that I really liked and kept me going back. So even though it was winter, I got back down to 120lbs and was incredibly excited.
Fast Forward. After moving to Portland, I kept up my workout routine, but couldn't shed those last pounds that I was trying to lose, so I kind of just gave up--hence the weight gain. It's not much, but it's enough to notice that my pants, dresses and shirts are just that much more uncomfortable and more revealing in an unflattering way. Plus, as evident from the last few weeks, I've lost a lot of muscle that I had only a few months ago. (Use it or lose it, I suppose!) But thanks to archaeology (and groupons), I've finally rekindled my focus and am ready to have more consistency with workouts, instead of working out once or twice here and there. I've got a one month gym membership from groupon, and according to the gym's website, they give out free nutritional advice and help you track your stuff. So, as I am constantly looking on the web for helpful tips, I will be posting what I learn here. It may be with some infrequency, and if you would like to read some seriously helpful things I've already posted, you can read about running or my Exercising Fun Facts in my Babbling Blog.
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