Better Diet. (Not Dieting)

[caption id="attachment_2070" align="alignright" width="240"] Ok, So this is "Bad." I get that part.[/caption]

So, I started thinking about what I was eating a while back and how I could improve it.  The first obvious step - is eat fewer calories than I am burning.  Myfitnesspal works well on helping me with that.  Not only that, its method of using basic math to lead to weight loss - definitely works!

Now, that I have "burn less than you eat"understood - I am attempting to move into the "make better choices" stage - Some of which I have already begun.  It's obvious that broccoli is a better snacking choice than cookies.   But there is obviously more to it than that.

Let me speak up here and say that I am not becoming a vegetarian.  I did it for quite a while at one point in my life - and have no real plans on going back to it.  I like Bacon Cheeseburgers, and a tofu-burger with genuine tofu-bacon on it does not come close.

New Years Resolutions

[caption id="attachment_1986" align="alignright" width="193"] 2291 Calories right here - Xmas dinner. That doesn't count seconds. Or More wine. Or dessert.[/caption]

I have always found News Years resolutions to be a bit... Annoying.  In one way, it makes an immense amount of sense.  What better time to have a "new beginning"  - than an actual new beginning?  Personally, I see some major flaws in that idea.  We have just finished our most gluttonous time of the year.  We (on average) in America put on two pounds of weight - on Christmas day alone.  This doesn't even consider all the Christmas Cookies (Yum! Peanut Butter Blossoms!), The Candy, the office parties or left overs. Then 7 days later, we move into New Years Eve.  Another day dedicated to gluttony.  We eat more horrible-for-us food, and wash it down with an endless supply of alcohol.   Do you realize how many calories are in most alcoholic drinks?  Miller Lite is on the low side of the calorie count (And taste count) at 96 calories per can.  Sierra Nevada Pale Ale moves up to 175, and Pit of Guinness (mind you all the previous drinks have only been 12 oz) is 210 Calories!  Wine, isn't much better with a 6 oz glass of Merlot (147 calories), Riesling ( 144 Calories) or Champagne (159 for 6 oz) still leave you with high calorie counts in a several hour party.

I actually didn't mean for this post to turn into a calorie-intake posting!  Woops!

Calories

I happen to work next to a Dunkin Donuts.. This has been very convenient (I love coffee), and not nearly as dangerous as I had feared - as long as I bring food with me.  On those days that I have forgotten to bring my greek yogurt, or that I have run out... Its dangerous.

Today is one of those days.  As such, I took a look at their nutrional information before heading over.   I find myself staring at a very definite first world issue, but an issue none the less.  The calorie count.



I think the hardest part of this issue - is that consistency doesn't exist.  What I mean by that - is it is impossible to guess calories on foods - unless you do use a tool like "Myfitnesspal" or "fatsecret" - in which case you aren't guessing anymore.  But back to the donut.

It's time for “Freaky Friday!” More strange things found around the Interwebs!

Its Friday!! That means its time to show some more bizarre things found out on the interwebs!  Now, with today's post - any of my readers that "like" Runners World Magazine on Facebook may already have seen this first one.  It's the RUNBIKE!

[caption id="attachment_628" align="aligncenter" width="513" caption="The RunBike (Picture from Runbike.com)! It allows a person to run as if they weighed 2/3 to 1/2 of their weight!"][/caption]

Now many of the comments on the Facebook page for Runners World were less than complimentary, and many of them I can understand.  If it is used simply for an overweight person to be able to run, with no changes to diet - then it serves no real purpose to me.  However, if you step beyond that initial impression, some new possibilities come out!

As he advertises, for people who have medical issues - making it low impact has added benefits.  But Think of this.. If a person weighed 300 pounds, they CANT run. It will destroy their joints.  But if you could remove 1/2 or 1/3 of their weight - they won't do as much damage to their joints.  This allows them to gain the benefits of running (as far as calories burned is there a better form of exercise?) with out the damage. It could really allow someone who had hit that dreaded level (Obese) to lose the weight far more quickly than walking.   I think it's a pretty remarkable idea..