tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11403364199168748882024-03-06T02:41:12.968-05:00It's a LifestyleThis is a place for two 30-something bloggers to share their stories as they work to improve their health by improving their lifestyle.Stefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10024186205791001584noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-3096167508498651002010-11-10T14:43:00.003-05:002010-11-10T16:04:40.459-05:00My Soggy Half MarathonSo Sunday I ran the US Half Marathon through the nicest parts of San Francisco and inadvertently participated in a wet t-shirt flash mob. After weeks of sunny days, mother nature decided to rain exactly during my half marathon. It was 13.1 miles of pouring rain. The course itself was great because it was a longer version of the Presidio 10 I did this spring. There's always a rush you get out of running across the Golden Gate Bridge. Well, if I had windshield wipers on my glasses I would have gotten that rush, otherwise I could only see about ten feet in front of me. The rain was a pain in the ass in other ways as well. It added another five pounds of weight on me both in the form of wet clothes and wet shoes. The clothes got bad in mile 10 when my shorts began to slide off me and I had to periodically pull them up. And whenever I would step into a puddle, my shoes would get waterlogged. Oh, and at mile 4, my iPod gave out so I just running with no tunes.<br /><br />On the plus side, I didn't have have problems with overheating or getting thirsty. And surprisingly, I has plenty of kick for the end. I am surprised I didn't just cramp up with being wet and cold but I didn't. <br /><br />Being a wet, sodden mess, I was happy to just finish the race. In the end, I did just fine. I finished in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 59 seconds for a pace of 9:56/mile. That placed me firmly in the middle of the pack - 1292 out of 2976 runners and 316 out of 499 male runners between the ages of 30-39. <br /><br />Three days later, I'm feeling pain free and am looking forward to running a 10K with my family on Thanksgiving Day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-73178875772280410202010-10-25T15:40:00.001-04:002010-10-25T15:42:12.210-04:00Enough with the rice and beansSo Feministe puts this<a href="http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2010/10/22/food-for-a-dollar/#comments"> very interesting post</a> linking to a New York Times slideshow about what $1 will buy you. It's interesting and sad to see that you can buy a crappy meal with processed food or you can buy...ten organic blueberries. Should be eye opening for folks to see how your money goes and how badly supported non-conventional farming is because they need to charge that much. <br /><br />BUT THEN....the comments. Oh the comments. The first comment brings out the tired tired tired point that rice and beans are cheap and nutritious. I just have to say. SHUT UP ABOUT THE RICE AND BEANS. Fine they got you through that two week stretch between paycheck entitlement asshole but please, once you got paid, I'm sure you went out for sushi or the Whole Foods salad bar. Because seriously, noone's gonna live on rice and beans for the rest of their lives. And condemning poor people to a life of rice and beans is a pretty asshole move. <br /><br />There were time where I did live on a food stamp budget and I ate really well. But few people were in my position. I lived in a group house where we shared food. We shared chores so the same person shopping for groceries was not the person cleaning toilets. We had a list that the grocery person check the fridge and pantry to see what we were missing. Most of the folks had a car we could use to get the groceries. AND the prices at the Chevy Chase Safeway was like 30% cheaper than the SE Safeway.<br /><br />For people of privilege to give these rice and beans prescription to low-income folks is just insulting. Folks may be poor but they deserve more than rice and beans. Oh and by the way, as a diabetic, rice and beans suck because they are high on carbs. So suck it clueless people.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-42275683551995323832010-09-14T14:36:00.000-04:002010-09-14T14:37:24.875-04:00Sugar free along zabaglioneMy biggest fear about being diabetic (apart from losing a limb or going blind) was having to eat sugar substitutes. As someone who believes in healthy eating and not eating chemicals, that kind of bugged me to the core. It took about a week to get over that because I like sweets and I like my eyesight and my limbs. So Splenda it is! <br /><br />I wouldn't recommend sugar substitutes for everything. Basically because a lot of desserts have so much flour in them that they end up being crazy high in carbs even with a sugar substitute. So that leaves things that don't require much flour. I've had massive success with pavlovas and now I've made a pretty kicking zabaglione. <br /><br />For those of you know familiar with them, a zabaglione is the base for a tiramisu - egg yolks beaten with sugar until they are pale yellow and the consistency of cake batter. I think the traditional zabaglione is made with marsala wine but you can change up the liquor. The zabaglione is then given more structure with mascarpone and lightened with whipped cream. Splenda is a great substitute and the tang of the mascarpone really covers up the icky aftertaste. I will say though, with egg yolks and whipped cream, this is not diet food. <br /><br />Sugar Free Almond Zabaglione<br /><br />3 egg yolks<br />2 tablespoons of almond liqueur<br />1 teaspoon vanilla<br />1/3 cup of baking Splenda (this is lightened to be a 1 to 1 substitute for sugar)<br /><br />8 oz mascarpone (or cream cheese if you are in a pinch) at room temp<br />1 cup of heavy cream, whipped<br /><br />With the paddle attachment on your stand mixer (or use your regular handheld), mix the first four ingredients until it's a pale yellow and looks like cake batter. Add the cheese and mix until perfectly blended. Add 1/3 of the whipped cream to the cheese mixture to lighten and then fold in the rest. Serve with flaked almonds on top.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-45118330227026234032010-09-09T14:55:00.001-04:002010-09-09T14:57:43.937-04:00A great blog entry on Fat HatredThis is so my story: <br /><br />"She was convinced, absolutely convinced, I was in terrible health because of my weight. EVERYTHING was brought back to my weight. She blamed my hay fever on my weight. When she told me — not asked me, told me — that I was short of breath while climbing stairs and I responded that I was a runner, so no, she told me running was bad for me at my weight."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2010/09/07/fat-and-health-a-response/#comments">Just read it.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-49066872972795334362010-09-02T14:38:00.002-04:002010-09-02T14:58:32.441-04:00Why Fat Acceptance Needs to Happen NowA friend of mine recently got diagnoses with pre-diabetes. Looking at her numbers, they are actually better numbers what a lot of diabetes counselors would want their clients to achieve. She admitted she went to her doctor to talk about weight loss earlier so the doctor was on high alert for signs of "weight related" complications. As someone living with diabetes, I responded that it's always better to get into shape BUT her numbers were actually decent. Not great and not something to blow off but decent. <br /><br />The big part of the conversation was about unpacking the fat hatred and fear she was experiencing. My friend is a big woman. She doesn't exercise regularly. And i don't know what she eats on a regular basis. My response was - it's always good to make healthy changes in your lifestyle no matter what you weigh. Your health will improve if you exercise more, eat more fruits and veggies and less starches and fats. But NONE of that guarantees you will lose weight.<br /><br />Right now, I am about 12 pounds heavier than I was at my lowest weight. My blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels are what you see in athletes. And guess what, I am an athlete. My BMI stays in the obese range and I'm an athlete. I run 18 miles a week. I am preparing for my first half marathon after running a 12k and a 10 mile at an 8:30 minute/mile pace. And I'm fat. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/21/fashion/thursdaystyles/21exercise.html?scp=5&sq=fat%20doesn%27t%20make%20you%20fat%20runner&st=cse">And that's not just my story.</a> "STEVEN N. Blair, one of the nation's leading experts on the health benefits of exercise, is short and fat. Those are his words. The president and chief executive officer of the Cooper Institute, a nonprofit organization in Dallas dedicated to research on the relationship between living habits and health, Dr. Blair, 65, is 5-feet-5 and weighs 195 pounds. He's also a dedicated runner who habitually takes off for an hourlong jog. 'I'm a short, fat guy who runs every day,' Dr. Blair said in a recent phone interview. 'I've run tens of thousands of miles over the past 40 years, and in that time I've gained 30 pounds.'" <br /><br />I asked my friend, "how would you feel if you could run 10 miles easily and regularly ran 18 miles a week and you were exactly the same weight?" Her response was - "pretty pissed."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-70008385620093578422010-07-14T15:09:00.002-04:002010-07-14T15:23:56.517-04:00More inspiration - Keeping it upSo I'm reading this <a href="http://tomatonation.com/vine/the-vine-july-7-2010/">tomatonation advice entry</a> about someone who is beating herself up over having a letdown after a marathon and not exercising for a while after that. Suffice to say that she is being too hard on herself and giving yourself rest is the best thing you can do. I take a week off after a race and the next week I only do low-impact like the elliptical. <br /><br />But key to this is making sure your goals are YOUR goals. One commenter recommended this guy as someone to keep folks inspired. I read the website and I am impressed. I am proud to be a penguin, knowing that I will be firmly in the middle of any pack I run. BUT I do better with each race and, on occasion, in costume. He makes a great point thusly, "We—the few, the proud, the plodding—very often train as much or more than faster runners. At a blistering twelve (or even ten) minute pace, a fifteen mile week represents a major time commitment." <br /><br />As I've said before on the blog. It's about the doing. Our bodies are temperamental things. They retain weight. They react badly to medication. They get injured. Sometimes we can't control the body but we can control the mind. We can decide to do something. And we can decide to keep doing it. As I stay on this journey and get off course, the times I slack off means I get to start again. And in true penguin style I think this way, "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."<br /><br />In the words of Gloria Gaynor - "It takes a lifetime to become the best that you can be. There's no return and no deposit, so you have to like what's in your closet."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-45404657167278662172010-06-21T12:56:00.002-04:002010-06-21T13:03:46.469-04:00SatisfactionSo today I went for my yearly opthamologist appointment to check on the health of my eyes. For those of you longtime readers, you may remember that the way I found out about my diabetes was an eye doctor found the beginnings of blood vessel damage in my eyes which led to the diagnosis. A year and a half later and a whole lot of better numbers I go back to the eye doctor and he says..."Are you sure you're diabetic?" <br /><br />SCORE! <br /><br />Unlike a lot of chronic disease, I actually REVERSED the effects on my eyes and there's NO TRACE of damage to my eyes. <br /><br />Well that makes the running, the food long, the carb counting and the classes worth it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-12182271633488811412010-05-21T12:50:00.002-04:002010-05-21T12:54:56.502-04:00Tip of the Week - Work eventsOk. Here's a quickie. Never go into a work event hungry. So if you've got that fundraiser at 7:00 pm. Go to your stash of fruit and nuts and have some. Because going to a buffet of appetizers hungry is as bad news as going to the supermarket hungry.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-91287852366843518672010-05-17T15:24:00.003-04:002010-05-17T15:38:00.830-04:00Bay to Breakers 2010 - Kicking AssSo Bay to Breakers. This year I couldn't get it together to do a costume. It would have been great if I did because it was COLD. Andi Never get cold. But being in a wet t-shirt for hours means you are a little more vulnerable to the elements. The funniest thing that happened was seeing a dead ringer for Sarah Palin - bouffant hair, lipstick, glasses - asking for her picture and her asking me why. She wasn't in costume. <br /><br />I thought I did fine. Probably better than last year but not by much. I was way back from the start line because my shuttle bus was late so the time one the clock was 1 hour 12 minutes (a little under a 10-minute mile pace) but I know it took me four or five minutes to get to the starting line. Hayes street hill kicked my ass but the rest of the course was flat. My first three miles ended up averaging 10-minute mile pace (because I was walking the first half mile because of the crowds. I really cranked it up the last half. My mile five and six were something like an 8 minute mile. I slowed to about a 9 minute mile pace in mile 7.<br /><br />And the verdict? I finished in 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 40 seconds. That's an 8 minute, 56 second/mile pace. Sub 9!!!!! I would have never guessed but then again. Last year, with significantly less training I did 9 minute, 11 second pace. ROCK ON! It's seems to be a theme this year that I can't really gauge my speed and races seem to be a tougher slog. It feels like I am running slower but clearly I am not. <br /><br />The funny thing is that the world is running faster because I finished 2875 out of 24303 runners and 726 our of 3201 people in my age group. That's worse than last year but it's all about the finish. <br /><br />It's such a badly organized race. I will do next year for the 100th Anniversary and that's it. The logistics blow. I did a park and ride shuttle from Emeryville to SF that would drop you off at the start and take you back at the finish. Sadly, it was a mile walk to get to the damn pick up from the finish line AND it didn't leave until noon. Which meant I was sitting there in a wet t-shirt for two and a half<br />hours. <br /><br />The hidden costs of Bay to Breakers is insane:<br /><br />Parking for Park and ride - $10<br />Shuttle - $22<br />Replacement t-shirt to not get hypothermia - $15<br />A runners' fanny pack (because there's no bag check in) - $20<br /><br />The best costume by far were two guys dressed as homophobe and hypocrite George Rekkers and his "travel companion." <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEyayp6he_rs169VPeC423m80yVc-GwqE6LvMGC0WbjnMouk-EAmVueXQpAnLx62NPpq-COtFPfCK0SAYeoEUVoPUF-cHjVoGOfoqyVWP3lPytZe_RgwXv37XkSJggo1q54D9jP6F31c/s1600/Rekkers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEyayp6he_rs169VPeC423m80yVc-GwqE6LvMGC0WbjnMouk-EAmVueXQpAnLx62NPpq-COtFPfCK0SAYeoEUVoPUF-cHjVoGOfoqyVWP3lPytZe_RgwXv37XkSJggo1q54D9jP6F31c/s320/Rekkers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472324869144249250" /></a><br /><br />And Jersey Shore references were thick on the ground at Bay to Breakers. Case in point: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHrJY1VgKtMga12-3DdC8CDg_rwl45piXOKcDmpc4mhnHesOWVx_3ym8VxpNYcGxrgV5x3I-9itDzNUTeWSCeurgheWMqAxLKk_xmdv46gaxLE6CULjB-Cbt-Sd5qqcCCzRaenhaws9o/s1600/0516000732.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHrJY1VgKtMga12-3DdC8CDg_rwl45piXOKcDmpc4mhnHesOWVx_3ym8VxpNYcGxrgV5x3I-9itDzNUTeWSCeurgheWMqAxLKk_xmdv46gaxLE6CULjB-Cbt-Sd5qqcCCzRaenhaws9o/s320/0516000732.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472325375445937746" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-9519216212530942612010-05-15T14:38:00.001-04:002010-05-15T14:39:24.164-04:00Wish me luck!Bay to Breakers is tomorrow. I am gonna kick Hayes Hill's ass!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-40629983250074023572010-05-12T14:47:00.002-04:002010-05-12T14:54:21.558-04:00Tip of the Week - PizzaWhen I was first diagnosed, I thought pizza was out. But pizza has come back to my life. The key is portion control. And as a diabetic, starch is never the center of my meal. I will have a SIDE of rice pilaf or a SIDE of mac 'n cheese (often in a tiny cast iron skillet) but no, there will not be a plate of pasta in front of me. I still eat things like polenta and grits but I make sure my plate is divided into quarters - one quarter protein, one quarter starch, two quarters veggies. No deprivation at all. <br /><br />Here's the tip: Don't order delivery pizza. Go to a restaurant with friends. The more expensive the better. There's an awesome place that serves wood oven pizzas. I split one as an appetizer with three other people and I get one slice, two slices max. Pizza is never the center of my meal. And believe me, pizza with proscuitto, shaved Parmesan and asparagus -HEAVEN!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-43366816088483723842010-05-09T20:09:00.003-04:002010-05-09T20:12:51.475-04:00Light and FreshI've been on the hunt lately for some new recipes, and so every once in a while I do a Google search on some of my favorite ingredients. When I put in "zucchini" recently, I got this great recipe for <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/feta-chicken-zucchini-10000001192200/index.html">Feta Chicken with Zucchini</a>.<br /><br />Yum! Chicken, lemon, feta, zucchini, parsley... can't go wrong with that! The recipe is very easy, and the result is very light and tasty. It would also be perfect as a fish dish, with tilapia or another light variety.<br /><br />My only caution with the recipe is to be careful with the cooking time. I had some organic chicken breasts that were HUGE, so I ended up cooking it about 10 minutes more than what is stated. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3wnTrG30Ldxt9Kuz1jCyDRYQGI3K_zSsOa7stIyXvv7eEUoypn771rejAaMXjtAOIGrBckjum2Xg60kefcaHKoImYe5NIOuos8HhA3MJzJZalu9j5PqqfP4IRYEQYEorxCl8bCWTOFeE/s1600/2010-05-09+19.26.26.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3wnTrG30Ldxt9Kuz1jCyDRYQGI3K_zSsOa7stIyXvv7eEUoypn771rejAaMXjtAOIGrBckjum2Xg60kefcaHKoImYe5NIOuos8HhA3MJzJZalu9j5PqqfP4IRYEQYEorxCl8bCWTOFeE/s200/2010-05-09+19.26.26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469426874446492018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgUUFH0uHLPwGe6_Hv7q_mAcVGOs_zAUKdgU47aVkwS7aebrpjc7GCqc_bgFv7NOHpbcJd1ywxuc3e5UG-mnVw3Ec5tW30SxPYw0WsVumVE1fb1qgflq388UXj7Ng7C4RIyY6QW-X0Gtj/s1600/2010-05-09+19.32.11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgUUFH0uHLPwGe6_Hv7q_mAcVGOs_zAUKdgU47aVkwS7aebrpjc7GCqc_bgFv7NOHpbcJd1ywxuc3e5UG-mnVw3Ec5tW30SxPYw0WsVumVE1fb1qgflq388UXj7Ng7C4RIyY6QW-X0Gtj/s200/2010-05-09+19.32.11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469426884940470482" border="0" /></a>Stefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10024186205791001584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-65473626063595959522010-05-05T14:35:00.002-04:002010-05-05T14:40:52.624-04:00New Segment - Tip of the WeekYou know, living the lifestyle, you can take a lot of the changes for granted. That's the point isn't it? What used to be a huge effort is now a natural part of your routine. So to capture some of the ongoing things that are becoming almost subconscious, I am instituting the Tip of the Week. We're all learning something, so if you have something you've incorporated into your routine, feel free to share in the comments.<br /><br />Here's my tip of the week - Restaurant Eating<br /><br />When you've eaten your portion of food, put a napkin on top of your plate. I am finding my meal is DONE. Like I would totally be embarrassed if I had to unearth my food from a napkin. It also indicates to a server you are done so that the food is outta there. <br /><br />What are things you all do to keep on track in restaurants?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-76588396070796271472010-05-03T13:01:00.002-04:002010-05-03T13:08:07.145-04:00Now we're cooking - Mustard Roasted fishOh Ina Garten, while I hate your new show, your recipes continue to rock. This weekend I had a hankering for fish but my fish knowledge is somewhat limited. I was leafing through the Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics Cookbook and came across her Mustard Roasted Fish recipe and realized how easy it is to adapt to a low-salt/low-fat diet. The recipe requires no salt and you can easily replace the creme fraiche with low-fat sour cream. Easy. <br /><br />Here's my version<br /><br />1 8 oz white fish filet (like red snapper, mahi mahi, tilapia)<br />1/2 cup of lowfat sour cream<br />1 teaspoon drained capers<br />1 tablespoon Dijon mustard<br />1 tablespoon coarse grain mustard<br />pinch of pepper<br /><br />Law the fish filet in a glass baking dish. Mix everything in a bowl. Spread on top of the fish so that hte fish is completely covered in the sour cream mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes depending on the fish and thickness. For a relatively thin, light fish like tilapia, it will be 10, for something thicker and "meatier" like mahi mahi, it will be 15.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-57959118477113192352010-05-02T20:06:00.004-04:002010-05-02T20:16:43.674-04:00Pretty ColorsI tried two, count 'em, two new recipes today, and they both turned out pretty well! These are both from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Watchers-20-Minutes/dp/0470287454/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272844998&sr=1-2">Weight Watchers in 20 Minutes</a> cookbook. But, don't let the title fool you... even though it may be 20 minutes of cooking time, each of these took about an hour to make including all the prep. (Note, I'm not going to share the recipes here, but you can see the basic idea and probably find them online elsewhere.)<br /><br />First up, a dish called "New Orleans-Style Chicken." This involved okra, corn, tomatoes, and cajun/creole seasoning. A nice combo that ultimately ended up with a little sweet taste to it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU-6n49LqHkzhUc3naHZud5l-k89m9IGLM_1-wC7nWfjE8hvbIGJSZRtXAbutmCYXMOlUbMzK77ao_ba81fPCE5LmEgk2Rvqwo8rNRNziLIETcOsVUwC50itmu2va_aTftHczyd0NHkg0/s1600/DSCN4936.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU-6n49LqHkzhUc3naHZud5l-k89m9IGLM_1-wC7nWfjE8hvbIGJSZRtXAbutmCYXMOlUbMzK77ao_ba81fPCE5LmEgk2Rvqwo8rNRNziLIETcOsVUwC50itmu2va_aTftHczyd0NHkg0/s200/DSCN4936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466829181758286514" border="0" /></a><br />You know how they say healthy dishes are the most colorful dishes? Pretty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZlHZWEJLJof2j7TMd6dESxLSobv-oFGgIx4Z6RVy_YrZdjKbUt-_jK-JUJEWBcH7l92G9AItdMw_yMMoBQ4Zg0ft9d7f1r1HNnhsiXQQSrCzs48O9Sv7PgQF0tibCmBYZzws9ajwLquA/s1600/DSCN4937.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZlHZWEJLJof2j7TMd6dESxLSobv-oFGgIx4Z6RVy_YrZdjKbUt-_jK-JUJEWBcH7l92G9AItdMw_yMMoBQ4Zg0ft9d7f1r1HNnhsiXQQSrCzs48O9Sv7PgQF0tibCmBYZzws9ajwLquA/s200/DSCN4937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466829178274117666" border="0" /></a>Here I've added some fat-free half & half and letting the chicken finish...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbPbNxzI7qVp-Q4ryD0Xh7OiSlmKf27XcqCBXoj5f6_X9O79cQ6LfOQ9JARglKrCLszYIhjT-Sgh3XcEgm_YbBQIVCpzz3gz_2N5q7LaMpCzzl2SD86irmuKALtKy1ubwukQWVe7iwtfX/s1600/DSCN4938.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbPbNxzI7qVp-Q4ryD0Xh7OiSlmKf27XcqCBXoj5f6_X9O79cQ6LfOQ9JARglKrCLszYIhjT-Sgh3XcEgm_YbBQIVCpzz3gz_2N5q7LaMpCzzl2SD86irmuKALtKy1ubwukQWVe7iwtfX/s200/DSCN4938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466829176878155474" border="0" /></a>The recipe calls for 4 servings, but I made it into 3. I doubled the amount of corn and okra for added veggie goodness, and I put about 3/4 cup white rice into each dish. I had this as a very tasty lunch today, and will have it twice again this week. Overall, I give it 3 1/2 stars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8E7ZqKC_BWB3XI1y40-B5HKsmQsLu61dc-g3ZWUyz_kmBMPHdzxQmCGncuGPMM3A2IiqYTCD-IFV_cg7QwXbWOjx_fY3lRNk6puto6HRllEgft1ntGwLjV1ZlZRRYajCTkO4niPVJ3Dz/s1600/DSCN4939.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8E7ZqKC_BWB3XI1y40-B5HKsmQsLu61dc-g3ZWUyz_kmBMPHdzxQmCGncuGPMM3A2IiqYTCD-IFV_cg7QwXbWOjx_fY3lRNk6puto6HRllEgft1ntGwLjV1ZlZRRYajCTkO4niPVJ3Dz/s200/DSCN4939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466829163981237986" border="0" /></a><br />Tonight, I decided to make the "Easy Pepper Steak." Considering I've never really liked the taste of peppers, I really have come to appreciate them as a light way to add a lot of flavor. They do get better when they're cooked. Here's the starting point -- well, after a good 20 minutes of veggie prep:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6Pzv-fHlRoq9UbkbyRoV3HUp3Kxbjv1lqvNnW9tjkBTnSmA4kcl-QQndpaOH-y3ghFAJjR0o3lAXPNhFjBQ2O8nnSOgs6eJQzgdI2oWR55rG5xonSf6Kkoi5nMDKvghd-yjlwvPWpvna/s1600/DSCN4940.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6Pzv-fHlRoq9UbkbyRoV3HUp3Kxbjv1lqvNnW9tjkBTnSmA4kcl-QQndpaOH-y3ghFAJjR0o3lAXPNhFjBQ2O8nnSOgs6eJQzgdI2oWR55rG5xonSf6Kkoi5nMDKvghd-yjlwvPWpvna/s200/DSCN4940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466828778501125234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwGchrfE3bt72wVtUHzK-qDX6avgPsu37yLZCM2bPytOMZ8W7AjvN8ltj_J660VMLDosh_YSn-CgCsrnpFoqGFPzWHm89wp7ddzfv-nOHYLXEd32_-mXmCCZPThz8nBW4pUw3pCKSLfvo/s1600/DSCN4941.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwGchrfE3bt72wVtUHzK-qDX6avgPsu37yLZCM2bPytOMZ8W7AjvN8ltj_J660VMLDosh_YSn-CgCsrnpFoqGFPzWHm89wp7ddzfv-nOHYLXEd32_-mXmCCZPThz8nBW4pUw3pCKSLfvo/s200/DSCN4941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466828772987214498" border="0" /></a><br />The sauce is a combo of low-fat, low-sodium beef broth, low sodium soy sauce, and corn starch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUsWYlThFOkY4Kr4h1a5W0YGEkX6GJKGNrUUcGRXTSCf9bOk8EBqCxJDSXYxKxg5lnEiHQdm_sbGH7suZQKol5XludwaPd20CgRv2YNUb6DfpW5uODlITRWMZbCG2ExBnXyyheMuXMoYl/s1600/DSCN4942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUsWYlThFOkY4Kr4h1a5W0YGEkX6GJKGNrUUcGRXTSCf9bOk8EBqCxJDSXYxKxg5lnEiHQdm_sbGH7suZQKol5XludwaPd20CgRv2YNUb6DfpW5uODlITRWMZbCG2ExBnXyyheMuXMoYl/s200/DSCN4942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466828755992262882" border="0" /></a>And here are my 4 servings - one for dinner, 3 for this week, also served over about 1 cup each of white rice. I know, I should use brown and I do most of the time, but I really wanted white rice today. This is really tasty - I give it 4 stars. Yay to cooking with veggies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYG5EIP4FRAZyO7xQQcqEDnkxrEDO41sqfkBXvSvT9NSkyuxnIC1mEcKmv09Z69zIdfc1q1lwDjeajOSqVgbNmcaH_ivyOUlB7UeOvc_1pBpIJCxi0McUs_wJu8h_AGVODYItnqsXVanj/s1600/DSCN4943.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYG5EIP4FRAZyO7xQQcqEDnkxrEDO41sqfkBXvSvT9NSkyuxnIC1mEcKmv09Z69zIdfc1q1lwDjeajOSqVgbNmcaH_ivyOUlB7UeOvc_1pBpIJCxi0McUs_wJu8h_AGVODYItnqsXVanj/s200/DSCN4943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466828754221589298" border="0" /></a>Stefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10024186205791001584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-20829047645681261292010-04-19T11:31:00.003-04:002010-04-20T13:41:55.290-04:0010 miles ran beeyotches!!!!Goal met! Yesterday I seriously kicked my own ass and ran the Presidio 10, but this year it was the Presidio 10 MILE as opposed to 10K. And I ran it in one hour, 31 minutes and 57 seconds. To give a little perspective on how far I've come, I ran the Presidio 10K in 58 minutes and 27 seconds - a 9 minute 25 second/mile pace. This year, running a little less than four miles further, my pace increased to a speedy (hah!) 9 minute 11 second pace. Now that progress! Some other numbers for you dear readers: I placed 334 out of 714 runners and 212 out of 315 men - pretty much in the middle of the pack. <br /><br />The true fun of the race is the utter beauty of running right against the rocky cliffs of Northern California. There's something about running right across the Golden Gate bridge and seeing the headlands of Marin County and the seeing the tip of San Francisco that takes your breath away. That's a good thing, because this race KICKED MY ASS. It didn't help that a few days earlier when I was doing a training run my calf cramped it at still felt tight. And the course itself kicked my ass with a 1/2 mile stretch where I was running uphill at a 45 degree angle. <br /><br />This was not an easy race for me as I just felt like I had to push for most stretches, except for when I was going downhill. Like my last 10k, I totally felt as if I was just shuffling along and not really getting my stride but I am pretty impressed with my pace. Unlike other races, I was totally spent at the end, although I still managed to sprint the last 200 meters. Knowing I don't train outdoors, I knew my race pace would be much slower than what I do on the treadmill. But this was actually very close to my 9 minute mile treadmill pace. <br /><br />While everyone has different motivations, I find mine to be racing. I always keep up my running knowing that my ass will be kicked on the race course if I don't keep up with my training. The other motivation is blogging about it because it is satisfying to shout to the world I RAN 10 MILES BEEYOTCHES!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-64628703125410885702010-03-25T15:49:00.003-04:002010-03-25T16:07:30.434-04:00I Watch to Mock - RubyYou remember when I wrote about Ruby - The Style Network show about a woman's weight loss journey. I used to watch it to see her struggles to lose weight and her life as a person of size. I knew there were fake elements - like Ruby deliberately torturing herself by going to candy stores - but there were real elements like her trying to stay on track on the indignity of not having a big enough chair to fit you. <br /><br />Sadly, now I just watch the show to mock because damn if Ruby isn't nuttier than a Payday bar and the show isn't faker than Miley Cyrus' mom. <br /><br />First, Ruby has bought into her own hype and thinks she is an Oprah-style role model. Ruby, Oprah was a broadcast journalist and Oscar nominated actress before anyone let her have her own tv show. STARR JONES was a prosecutor with actual knowledge of the law before she got on tv. You got on tv because you lost weight. Losing weight is a big deal and I'm sure it gives you strength and insight but PLEASE, put it in perspective. You act is if the mere fact you're on tv gives you more insight than any other person who has lost weight. It didn't. It just made you luckier. <br /><br />But it hasn't made you smarter. To quote Tai from Clueless "I'm not going to take advice from a virgin who can't drive." The girls in your Girl's Fat Night have a zillion times more experience with sex and relationships than you. They seem to be able to use actual real word to discuss their health (Christmas doctor = gynecologist). They dress better than you (I know low blow but it's true). And they seems to be actively invested in their own recovery (doing the damn 12-step assignments). You can learn WITH them but don't think you have anything to teach them. <br /><br />Also, everything is reality show setup. I don't believe that you and Denny have mad chemistry no matter how much your friend Georgia says you do. It's also hard to believe that were ever in a romantic relationship with Denny for eight years when he was completely harassing Jeff and his girlfriend about not having sex after three months. I don't believe all of these trips to the restaurants because you should know by now that going out requires that you develop skills to cope with not being able to eat anything on the menu. I also don't believe that Jeff is straight but that's neither here nor there. <br /><br />Finally, I am so over your quest to recover your missing memories because: a) it was something so horrifying we don't need to see it on national tv; or b) it was as fake as the rest of the scenarios.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-16078099963974018002010-03-22T16:26:00.002-04:002010-03-22T16:28:39.983-04:00Health Care Reform - One important pointAs all of my facebook pals know, I have been extreme skeptical of the health care reform bill. But someone with diabetes points out how important the rule that noone with pre-existing conditions can be denied coverage OR be charged up the wazoo. <a href="http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2010/03/health_care_reform_how_does_it.html">Here's what this person has to say. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-45864969373704987072010-03-22T11:28:00.002-04:002010-03-22T11:47:21.786-04:00Bittersweet VictorySo this weekend, I did a set of blood tests. You see, my blood sugar readings have been on the high end (120 - 130) and I've been worried that they have been going up. AND I've just been gaining some weight. Nothing huge, but I'm about 10 pounds over my lowest weight last year. So I've been emailing my doctor to get me back on the metformin and he said I should get a batch of blood tests done to see if it's necessary.<br /><br />And the blood tests showed - I'm perfectly fine. <br /><br />My overall cholesterol went down a few points. And everything in the cholesterol panel was well below normal in the "kicking ass" range. <br /><br />AAAANNND - The blood glucose are fine. They are slight higher than before (103 as opposed to 100 and 5.2 as opposed to 5.1) Both in the doing very well range. <br /><br />So in the end, everything is fine and what I really need to do is get my glucose meter recalibrated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-70888296996685132722010-03-15T17:40:00.003-04:002010-03-15T17:42:28.309-04:00This is where our priorities lieI know First Ladies try and avoid controversy like the plague, but it's a bit disingenuous for Michelle Obama to advocate for healthier living when the federal government subsidies are so whack. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/food/146013/why_salads_are_more_expensive_than_hamburgers">Check it out.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-65321358117701993992010-03-14T20:09:00.003-04:002010-03-14T20:31:31.038-04:00Carrots & Couscous, Oh My!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcily9SEigWVjdEzC487xKR76U-UxomoTSvvN0f6OZLObjuWzcV2OF0bWxgvr47Tqg1rcwo-m6iHboxxyqljdoU5lwnC7j0uzRkTO_xW8JOaeunAwEnf9Mb_flnuHP34BTOHK6CEII7KR/s1600-h/DSCN4869.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448648668674831538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcily9SEigWVjdEzC487xKR76U-UxomoTSvvN0f6OZLObjuWzcV2OF0bWxgvr47Tqg1rcwo-m6iHboxxyqljdoU5lwnC7j0uzRkTO_xW8JOaeunAwEnf9Mb_flnuHP34BTOHK6CEII7KR/s200/DSCN4869.JPG" /></a>I've been thinking a lot about my Dad lately, especially because tomorrow is his birthday. He was a really good cook, and was really happy that I was finally learning how and shared a lot of advice, recipes, and enthusiasm with me. So, this weekend I decided to pull one of the cookbooks he gave me off the shelf and give something new a try. I've been thumbing through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/North-African-Cooking-Book/dp/1557882959/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268611687&sr=1-5">this book of North African cooking </a>for months, and it all looks amazing. Tonight, I made a variation of the Moroccan Carrot Salad. By adding couscous, it's become a really substantial side dish that I'll be eating all week.<br /><br />The recipe starts with 1 lb of grated carrots... that was fun. Since trusty cat Cleo has an inexplicable addiction to carrots, she was very happy to get a few little pieces tossed her way.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu-MgsYKuVVwhCuR9B7nNwpo0OFweMZDQ0A1YxobzbQwq41vZ2kXXs2h0VCxyHQwG6Wl5IC5Rgh13qTnWboCQcJNioddQBoPt3nzR2nU5XS_7rjedG2M4rfhSHagrz3H5tmFfAYy8W-aW/s1600-h/DSCN4864.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448648561824651026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu-MgsYKuVVwhCuR9B7nNwpo0OFweMZDQ0A1YxobzbQwq41vZ2kXXs2h0VCxyHQwG6Wl5IC5Rgh13qTnWboCQcJNioddQBoPt3nzR2nU5XS_7rjedG2M4rfhSHagrz3H5tmFfAYy8W-aW/s200/DSCN4864.JPG" /></a><br />That's a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">lotta</span> carrots! You then mix the carrot with raisins, slivered or shaved almonds, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and cinnamon. The recipe also called for rosewater, but even with <a href="http://sseichinger.blogspot.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Scotte</span></a>'s good advice I was thwarted at the grocery store - my Giant doesn't carry it. It seems fine without.<br /><br />I made 1 1/2 cups of plain couscous to mix in with the finished salad. I always underestimate how much couscous really cooks up, and I ended up with a huge amount, so this will last me quite a while.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZgsVuY9GLkftD-Dj2HZAuH3Md8uSRou494LByzts5j9sEg10KRfLu9KfRP4IvDxzdO7IzIpjtQTnJ_P6rVsYBhfdTqcNtOMNpqaOCT-ioRy2seBjzUyXt_pGpf4AekDzhJ9DVDd8iqA-/s1600-h/DSCN4867.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448648553299383394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZgsVuY9GLkftD-Dj2HZAuH3Md8uSRou494LByzts5j9sEg10KRfLu9KfRP4IvDxzdO7IzIpjtQTnJ_P6rVsYBhfdTqcNtOMNpqaOCT-ioRy2seBjzUyXt_pGpf4AekDzhJ9DVDd8iqA-/s200/DSCN4867.JPG" /></a> Here's the finished product, dished out in a lunch portion with a grilled pork chop. I'll look forward to that tomorrow!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToJ8HFmsNY5XvoxbRAjCG1s-oPmhRyDWYr4UbqDm0QlsUgJ8ND9eW2hbGv-vjLSk_IWBkIp9WLK-i1EAiDjU0XlFssQN79TeKCeSTOhySP_kTTxI9h4iH52KmW7YQEaN03wi5Nyd0PISK/s1600-h/DSCN4870.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448648548251412754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToJ8HFmsNY5XvoxbRAjCG1s-oPmhRyDWYr4UbqDm0QlsUgJ8ND9eW2hbGv-vjLSk_IWBkIp9WLK-i1EAiDjU0XlFssQN79TeKCeSTOhySP_kTTxI9h4iH52KmW7YQEaN03wi5Nyd0PISK/s200/DSCN4870.JPG" /></a><br />This carrot salad is really tasty, sweet with rich flavors. I added in extra honey when I mixed in the couscous, which I think was a good move. This would make a great vegetarian dish and a good contribution to a pot luck sometime. I will definitely make it again. Thanks, Dad.Stefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10024186205791001584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-56307996478062414632010-03-01T13:34:00.002-05:002010-03-01T13:35:49.441-05:00Speaking of Fat JocksYours truly ran 11 miles on Sunday in preparation for my 10-mile race in April. I'm still recovering from the run but still, I'm taking names and kicking ass.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-85554603906409758442010-03-01T13:00:00.004-05:002010-03-01T13:10:07.562-05:00This is what an athlete looks like<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KUMG0PfVwRNhliUg1sHfPulh6kG-qy8yKiQ1n4G4PDY-PgTh9VjMHfbXz7wRu9kPZQKZMHb3mkLte6dfcP6OumOXSPUsHYLRNjAID6Kku-kxbn-kuVZeFhMZSk8wZKzBuoJQManPL78/s1600-h/Steve+Holcomb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KUMG0PfVwRNhliUg1sHfPulh6kG-qy8yKiQ1n4G4PDY-PgTh9VjMHfbXz7wRu9kPZQKZMHb3mkLte6dfcP6OumOXSPUsHYLRNjAID6Kku-kxbn-kuVZeFhMZSk8wZKzBuoJQManPL78/s320/Steve+Holcomb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443727087004158578" /></a><br /><br />So this guy won an Olympic Gold medal on Friday in bobsledding. He won a medal that the U.S. hadn't won in 62 years and for those of us who like our men on the solid side, he's total eye candy. <br /><br />His victory really shows how much we need to change our cultural lexicon when it comes to the image of health because it's a guarantee that his BMI would put him in the "overweight" category. Think about it, there are tons of football linemen, shot putters and wrestlers who are built like trucks. They trainer for horus every day and are in peak physical condition, but if most of us close our eyes, someone who looks like this: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIinUKTfYLzcgqPbu4rpsobtE5BlBgT0rE3znIYul-8ByyQfCRCXH8vpOc10OWhIKbLWWJavQCOYAGFeb7MDFTQWSF_rrHqO2pdZ2aiZr-kMrzGHH0ERE0ZPTaOalJmnYD1_Ho7sj2sk/s1600-h/shot+put.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIinUKTfYLzcgqPbu4rpsobtE5BlBgT0rE3znIYul-8ByyQfCRCXH8vpOc10OWhIKbLWWJavQCOYAGFeb7MDFTQWSF_rrHqO2pdZ2aiZr-kMrzGHH0ERE0ZPTaOalJmnYD1_Ho7sj2sk/s320/shot+put.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443728600122246802" /></a><br /><br />isn't what we would picture. Both these people are Olympic Gold Medalists. Both train like mofos and are in peak physical condition. Both are healthy. And both would be labels as overweight. What is wrong with this picture? And it's not the two hotties in the pictures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-72379392040614902072010-02-12T17:01:00.002-05:002010-02-12T17:15:56.429-05:00Others have said it better...So Michelle Obama has unveiled an <a href="http://www.letsmove.gov/">anti-obesity campaign</a>. <a href="http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/feature/2010/02/10/michelle_obama_weight/index.html">Salon's Broadsheet</a> capture pretty much everything I would say about it. <br /><br />I would add to it that the entire framing of "anti-obesity" already gets this program off to a bad start. Because fighting "obesity" is part and parcel with shaming "obese people." Our size is a body trait. Potentially changeable but a body trait nonetheless. Waging a campaign against the way many, if not a majority of Americans, look is pretty problematic. <br /><br />That's why when Stef and I started this blog, it would be about the stuff we do not the way we look. This is not a blog about our shame on the way we look. The way I look may or may not be the result of what I do but what's important is the what I do part. Is it no less of a victory that I've been more conscious about what I put into my body and taken more control of my body in terms of exercise if I didn't lose a single pound? <br /><br />Rather than waging a campaign against something, how about waging a campaign FOR something. Because once you get over that awful anti-obesity frame, the campaign makes sense. It's about not being sedentary and eating a variety of foods that are home cooked. It's about increasing access to healthy foods. All good things that could be packaged as healthy and active living as opposed to anti-obesity. <br /><br />P.S. Where the campaign does go far enough is the access. While it would suck for monsanto, what about increasing subsidies for organic produce and small farmers? It wouldn't cost a damn thing if you took away 10% of what you give to industrial agriculture.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140336419916874888.post-57581699274274413272010-02-08T22:32:00.002-05:002010-02-08T22:50:20.586-05:00Thank Goodness for DiabetesSo I was in Minneapolis this week for work and I was sitting at a coffeehouse with my co-worker. I notice the man sitting next to me was really out of it and sweating profusely. In Minnesota. In the dead of winter. Then I noticed something - his blood glucose meter. Everything clicked and I realized the man was severely hypoglycemic. <br /><br />I asked him if he needed something to eat and he said he was fine. Then everyone around him was asking him if he needed help and he insisted he was fine. My co-worker and i talked about what to do because we could both tell he was not doing well at all. My co-worker then wen to the coffeehouse staff and asked if they could check in on the man. While he was talking to the staff, two women sitting near the counter overheard and came with the management to ask the man for help. As it turned, out the women were nurses and insisted on helping out man. <br /><br />While they were getting the man to drink orange juice, they asked me to check the man's blood glucose since I knew how to use the glucose meter. His reading was a scary ass 36. That is literally Shelby in a coma territory. Thank god the nurses knew how to be insistent. <br /><br />In the end, the paramedics were called and they came and monitored the man's blood sugar as he drank more juice and ate a few brownies. After an hour, the man alert and able to take care of himself. When the EMT checked his blood sugar is was 140 so he was fine. <br /><br />I have never been so grateful to be diabetic and be able to spot hypoglycemia. It's a blessing to have gone through extensive training on living with diabetes (however problematic) and get the support I did to understand the disease. <br /><br />Thank goodness for my disease and hte knowledge it gave me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1