Category Archives: Habits

Good behavior

Accountability, Cravings, Food, Habits, Thought Patterns

Get Thee Behind Me, Little Debbie

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We had another lunch training session at work yesterday and after The Foolish Cookie Incident, I actually started being a little concerned about the boxed lunches a whole 24 hours prior. I was worried about losing another dual to a baked good.

Boxed lunches arrived and I had a great sliced turkey sandwich.  I ditched the top piece of bread and enjoyed it open-faced.  The chip bags were the big single servings (you know – the ones that aren’t really single servings); so, I ate a quarter of those.  The fruit cup was great.  The pasta salad looked good, but I chose not to eat bread and pasta at the same meal.  So far, so good.  Enter the brownie.

The Brownie.  Four square inches of moist, chocolaty wonder, liberally dusted with white chocolate shavings.  If you’re quiet, you can hear the angels sing.

During my Monday Menu Musings, I had explained my problem with the cookie to a coworker.  I just didn’t know if I could face another one down.  At high noon in the bakery, I’m pretty sure that chocolate walnut disc was going to be the faster draw.  That’s when this Great American Woman stepped in and offered to take the bullet for me.

Appearing to be very athletic and fit, she offered, nay, she demanded that I give the cookie to her.  That kind of sacrifice just brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?  Such a sweet woman!  Of course, I must hate her on principle because she’s beautiful and can still fit into her clothes after eating 440 calorie cookies, but she’s still sweet.

Little Debbie nutty barsTemptation is everywhere, all day, all the time, smiling at us from the snack shelf wearing a Nannette Fabray grin and a cowgirl hat.  We can’t get rid of it; so, we have to find effective ways of dealing with it.  After opening the lunch box, I put the brownie behind the lid so that I couldn’t see it.  I left it out of sight until I could run out of there to give it to Rene. At an event last night, I stood with my back to the M&Ms on an exhibitor’s table.  Although out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind, it does make it easier. Having healthful alternatives close to hand is also good.

I’m not trying to tell you that some hummus and baby carrots are better than an oatmeal creme pie because that would just be crazy talk; however, I am telling you that we don’t have to let Swiss cake rolls determine our fates.  Although I ate an oatmeal raisin cookie at that event, it was my only gastronomic sin of the day. At worst, the net effect of that cookie was break even.

And, sometimes, that’s good enough.

Food, Habits

Water, Water Everywhere, But How Much Should I Drink?

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(In earlier posts, I told you that I am no doctor, dietitian, or personal trainer.  Now, you discover that I am no Samuel Coleridge either.  Shocking. Tragic.  I’ll give you a moment to recover.)

I grew up on well water, which is to say water that often tasted like metal.  I hated it.  To this day, it is a struggle for me to choose to drink water.  I rarely buy bottled water because: 1. the plastic waste appalls me, 2. the cost appalls me more than the plastic waste does and 3. the water here neither looks nor tastes like rust. So, it’s to the tap I go.  When I do, I still fight with that five-year-old in my head that says it’s going to taste yucky.

The five-year-old doesn’t get a vote and regardless of the taste, my body needs water.  How much does it need? I haven’t got a clue.  Check five different websites and they’ll tell you five different things.  Here’s my approach:

  • I drink a pint when I first get up to start my system and get rid of the remnants of the dragon that died in my mouth overnight.
    The-Rime-of-the-Ancient-Mariner-picture
  • I drink no more than one carbonated beverage per day. I love Diet Coke; so, this is a real struggle that I sometimes lose in spectacular fashion.  Still, if I win more days than I lose, I figure I get a net-effect win.
  • For every cup of coffee or glass of sugar-free lemonade, I drink an equal amount of water.
  • By keeping a water bottle at my desk, I can sip all day long.
  • For hunger pangs outside of normal meal or snack times, I drink a pint of water.  The human body will often trigger hunger alerts when what it really needs is fluid.
  • When exercising or working outside, I take frequent breaks to drink small amounts.  My body tends to dispel heat poorly leading to heat exhaustion. Without those breaks and small bits of water, I will get a massive headache and may actually become ill. I blame it on the Viking genes.
  • And, finally, when PMSing, I drink more water than usual. Counter-intuitively, this actually keeps me from retaining so much fluid. Plus, the glass keeps my hands occupied so that I don’t choke anyone while I’m grouchy.

Now, let me share my own experience so that you may be forewarned, if need be.  When I first started drinking a lot of water and anytime I go back to it after having an affair with Diet Coke, a couple of things happen in those first few days:

  • My colon freaks out, cramps up and throws everyone out of the bar.  Right. Now. For those other hydrophobes out there, when you first go the water route, do it on a day when you don’t have to leave your house.
  • My feeling of thirst kicks into overdrive.  It’s as though my body realizes that I’m finally listening, giving it what it’s been asking for, and demands more.
  • My complexion looks younger – like a spotty teenager, actually.  I don’t know why that is.  Perhaps the influx of water pushes a great deal of waste through my pores at one time causing an outbreak.  I don’t know, but it clears up fairly rapidly as I continue to push water through my system.  If any of you knows the answer to this, please share with the rest of the class.

The bottom line about making more healthful food choices is to make more natural choices.  As far as beverages go, there’s not a much more natural or basic choice than water.  The earth is made primarily of it and so are we.  Our bodies need it to lubricate our joints, eyes, muscles and digestive system.  They use it to flush out waste products, to transport platelets and nutrients,  to cool us, and a jillion other things.  And while Diet Coke certainly contains water, to say that it’s a healthful drink is like saying chocolate cake is a healthy breakfast choice because it contains eggs.

I’ve tried both of those arguments.  Nice try. No cigar. Let’s have a glass of water.

Cravings, Habits, Thought Patterns

From The Black Knight to Varuca Salt

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What a weekend!  I had planned to be at a family gathering; however, about five hours after lunch on Friday, I became violently ill.  The abrupt and violent onset of symptoms, as well as the timing, lead me to believe that I might have had some kind of microscopic hitchhiker on my lunch of salad greens, raspberries and slivered almonds.  Whatever the cause, I was effectively down for the count until yesterday, at which point, my appetite became Varuca Salt.

This happened a couple of times during my first big reduction.  I would have these cravings that made me feel almost panicky.  And what did I crave?  Red meat, the greasier, the better.  Bratwurst cured the cravings both times.  Yesterday, a small burger made from ground chicken and feta did the trick.

Our bodies will often tell us what they need, I think.  Sometimes we call it “having a taste for” something.  Sometimes we call it a craving.  Whatever we call it, I believe it is direct communication from our bodies addressing some deficiency. The communication I got yesterday was urgent – cellular Varuca Salt screaming, “I want it now!”

While we can’t be at the mercy of cravings, we certainly have to address them because they just don’t go away.  From time to time, my body will tell me that it needs Cheetos.  I’m pretty sure it’s lying to me. Still, I have to address the craving before it becomes a monster.  More often than not, some salted nuts will do the trick.  My body just wanted something salty and it asked for what it prefers: Cheetos – the puffy kind.  But, in a pinch, it will take the mixed nuts.

Ice cream cravings can be addressed with a container of yogurt put into the freezer or even a frozen banana.  Chocolate cravings can be annihilated with a small piece of dark chocolate or even an apple.  It depends on if my body wants the chocolate or the sugar.

veruca-salt-2On occasion, though, cravings have fangs.  You know the ones I’m talking about.  I try all the healthful alternatives, but my body just giggles and says, “Nice try, chica. Now, hustle on down to the store and get me some M & Ms.  Chop! Chop!”  So, I hustle on down to the store.

Here’s where the individual servings come in REALLY handy.  I can get a small bag of M & Ms and that will quiet the craving.  I don’t have to get the King Size or the Front End Loader Size.  The regular one is good.  A single serving of a quality ice cream works.  I find that those tiny Haagen Dazs work better than the same size of some other brands since the ice cream is both richer and denser.  Once I enjoy the single serving, I’m good to go.

The body wants what it wants.  I just don’t always know exactly what it’s asking for when it makes its demands. Still, I can address the needs without becoming a slave to the cravings, creating further ones with sugar crashes or eating myself into bigger pants.

Cooking, Food, Habits, Thought Patterns

You Take It On The Run, Baby

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That thing in your kitchen or dining room, is it: A) a dining table? B) a desk? C) a filing cabinet? or D) all of the above?  I had to go with mostly B for my answer.

We eat at our desks, in our cars, over the sink, in front of the television, at the computer and generally everywhere else but at the table.  Even when we cook it ourselves, mealtime is something we blow through rather than something we enjoy.  Since HOW I ate was nearly as important as WHAT I ate, I found it crucial during my lifestyle change to make a HUGE shift in this habit.  Here are some things I did (and do) to help me get a handle on how I ate:

  • Beautiful outdoor table settingI eat most of my meals at the table.  This lets me concentrate on my food and on my dining companion.  If I’m eating alone, I am able to just appreciate my food, making the meal feel more like an event and less like a footnote.
  • I eat on a plate – a real one that has to be washed and everything.  I use metal cutlery and glass drink containers, even at work. Although my office supplies plastic cutlery and disposable plates, I bought an inexpensive set of cutlery, a glass plate and a glass bowl from Target. In total, I spent about six dollars and it was worth every penny.  My colorful salads look pretty on the plate and it feels like I’m eating a real meal.  The glass plate is also a little smaller than a standard plate; so, my portions can be a little smaller while appearing large. (Plus, I’m not throwing plastic and styrofoam into the waste system!)
  • I try to make my meals look appealing with lots of color and texture, as well as flavor. Use red bell peppers instead of green, or Swiss chard instead of spinach sometimes for a pop of color. Add a couple of crushed almonds, walnuts or a few chunks of apple to your salad for some crunch.
  • I eat slowly, chewing each bite and enjoying the different tastes and textures.  This is important so that my stomach has enough time to communicate with my brain, telling me that I’m full.
  • I experiment with new foods, new herbs, spices and preparation techniques.  I also use stronger flavors like cumin, red pepper, white pepper, garlic, cilantro, dark chocolate, etc.  A little feta or goat cheese on my salad adds a nice kick to those greens!  Those flavors wake up my taste buds and let them know we are having a treat! (If you do this, your coworkers will likely want you to keep a toothbrush, some toothpaste, mouthwash and sugar-free mint gum at your desk, too!  If you don’t much like those coworkers, skip the minty fresh and go double time on the goat cheese. The area of office space available for your exclusive use with increase proportionally.)

Food satisfies an appetite.  If you don’t enjoy the aromas, flavors, colors, and textures, you’re cheating yourself  out of three-quarters of the experience!  That email can wait.  Angry Birds will still be there after lunch.  There’s very little really worth watching on prime-time TV, anyway. Take those 20 or 30 minutes of mealtime to reconnect with your family, your friends, your food and your body. It will be the most enjoyable time of your day.

Habits, Motivation

When You Are Your Own Black Knight

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Of course, one of my favorite movies is Monty Python and The Holy Grail.  And, of course, one of my favorite scenes is when the Black Knight stands at the bridge and declares, “None shall pass!”  About 30 pounds into my weight loss, I realized that I was my own Black Knight.

I was looking for a pair of warm-up pants.  I had bought the whole suit on sale some months before and, while I could locate the jacket, I couldn’t find the pants anywhere.  They had always been too tight and I had never warn them.  Finally, I remembered that I had donated them to Goodwill because I thought I’d never be able to wear them.  Slam on the brakes.  I thought I’d never be able to wear them. I did – no one else, just me.

The truth is, no one else thought that much about my weight.  I’m just not that important in their worlds.  That’s not to say that I don’t have friends and family who love me – I do.  But, none of them were wringing their hands over the fact that I was obese.  Certainly, none of them were losing sleep thinking that I was unable to lose weight.  I’d be willing to bet that it never even occurred to them that I was unable to lose weight. I was the one who thought that.  I was the one who didn’t believe in myself.  I was the one standing in my own way, denying passage.

How sad is that?

black knightSo, the biggest challenge wasn’t necessarily cutting calories or making good food choices.  The biggest challenge was vanquishing the Black Knight.  And, to be honest, it’s a challenge I still deal with at least a little bit each day.  The way to win is not with one swift thrust from The Blade of Logic.  Like King Arthur, I had to strike multiple times – disarming, then, um, dislegging my own Belief Black Knight.  And, like the knight in the movie, even without arms and legs, the demon still threatens to bite my knee caps.  He’s never completely gone, but he’s not nearly as fearsome as he was two years and all those pounds ago.

And for those external Black Knights?  I quote the crazy-talented Pavel Datsyuk: “There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you have got to do is turn around and say, ‘watch me’!'”

So, to both my internal and external Black Knights, I say with all due respect (which is to say very little), “Watch me!”

Cooking, Eating Out, Habits

Dressing Up

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Yesterday, Christina commented, “Isn’t it crazy to look at nutrition facts and realize how many calories things can have?! Especially at restaurants!” Yes, yes, it is.  I think that salads are the biggest mine fields.

You go in, sit down, order a salad so that you can have a healthful meal. A Cobb salad – mmmmm.  Tasty and (at Chili’s) 720 calories.  You read that right. 720.  A Caesar salad with grilled chicken? 650. At Appleby’s, that same salad is 820! WHAT?!  It’s a salad!! The culprit, as you already know, is the dressing.  A grilled chicken Caesar salad at Appleby’s without dressing is a very reasonable 370.

Condiments are flavor boosters; but, we don’t tend to think of them as food.  As a result, we also don’t tend to think of them as having calories.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I pulled out some condiments from my refrigerator:

  • CondimentsKraft chipotle mayo – 1 tbsp – 35 cal
  • Sweet Baby Ray’s honey barbecue sauce – 2 tbsp – 70 cal
  • Sriracha sauce – 1 tsp – 5 cal
  • Vava hot ajvar – 1.4 oz (just over 2 tbsp) – 69 cal
  • Naturally Fresh bleu cheese dressing – 2 tbsp – 170 cal
  • French’s yellow mustard – 1 tsp – 0 cal

Obviously, mustard is a better calorie choice than mayonnaise and just about anything is a better choice than bleu cheese dressing.  Here’s the thing, though – you may adore bleu cheese dressing.  And if you do, there’s therapy available, I’m sure. Um, what I mean to say is that it may be worth it to you to cut something else out so that you can enjoy that on your salad.  Just like it’s your money in your bank account, it’s your calorie budget.  You can choose to spend it how you like.  Buying clothes on Rodeo Drive is going to blast through my budget faster than shopping at my local mall and leave my closet emptier.  Similarly, pouring that bleu cheese on is going to blast through your calorie budget faster and leave your belly emptier.  Still, Armani may be worth it to me and bleu cheese may be worth it to you.

There are ways to have a little of both worlds, though.  I can make my budget go further by dressing up an inexpensive dress with an Hermes scarf.  You can either thin your dressing or leave it on the side.  Rather than pour the dressing over the top, dip your fork into it before each bite.  You get a little of that taste you love without carpet bombing your calorie budget.

It’s your budget.  Just look before you eat so that you can be an informed consumer.

Eating Out, Habits

Not Such a Smart Cookie

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chocolate walnut cookieYesterday, we had a training session during lunch; so, my company brought in boxed lunches from Panera Bread.  Yum!  All of the lunches were half salad and sandwich combos, which was great.  I ate my salad, ate the meat from my sandwich and I ate half my bag of chips.  That would have been a good lunch, and at 221 calories, at a great calorie count. However.

You see? There was this chocolate walnut duet cookie in there, too. (Insert movie music indicating danger.)

I ate half the cookie and congratulated myself on eating only half.  Not so bad, right? Huh.

That HALF of the cookie had 220 calories! TWO. HUNDRED. TWENTY. As much as the whole rest of my lunch!

When I got home, I walked/ran 1.3 miles in 18 minutes.  I burned about 150 calories.  I was gasping for air, sweating like a horse, and smelling like a goat herder.  And I didn’t burn off that half cookie.  It was a good cookie, don’t get me wrong, but, sugar, ain’t NO cookie THAT good.  I should have done what I used to do which was to check the cookie’s nutritional information BEFORE I put it in my gullet.

Plan food. Check the nutritional information before eating. Spend your calorie budget wisely.

Now THAT’S a smart cookie.

Exercise, Habits, Motivation

Baby Steps Count

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When I first started losing weight, I can’t tell you how many people lamented that they, too, would lose weight if only they could exercise.  My thought was that unless you are a quadriplegic, you can. Then, I injured my knee.

I couldn’t exercise in the ways I had been and in the ways I wanted; so, I pretty much just stopped. I pouted, threw a little pity party complete with cake and ice cream….and elastic waistbands until I forgot how I started.

I walked the dogs.

So, you can’t run a marathon.  Walk.  So, you can’t walk far.  Walk a little and build up. You can’t walk fast.  Walk slowly. Walk the dogs. Park further from the grocery store door. Eventually, take the stairs instead of the elevator.  You don’t have to be able to climb Everest today.  It will wait while you work up to it!

I have a friend whose knees are in such hideous shape that even thinking about how they grind and pop makes me shiver.  She can swim. She can do leg lifts.  She can lift weights with her arms. She can still move.

Remember how when we were children we ran everywhere just because we could? We experienced the joy of movement! Find something that lets you feel that joy again. I felt it yesterday just walking from my office to the nearby grocery store.  I felt my muscles waking, stretching, and contracting as they corrected my balance and allowed me to move.  Our bodies are truly wondrous machines!

Heather blossoms
Heather blossoms

After work, the pups and I went to the park and had a nice, long walk like we used to. We felt the warm sun and the cool breeze. We smelled the perfume of the flowering trees.  They spotted a deer and tried to go befriend it (I’m sure that’s what they had in mind). They loved it. I loved it.

It’s a beautiful time of year to start – to remember the joy of moving and the wonder of Spring. It may be a little cliché to say that we should let the season remind us of our own potential, new beginnings and growth; but, why waste a good cliché?  Let’s use it! Let’s start again.

Food, Habits

Let’s Eat – 1

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I apologize.  I meant to publish this yesterday, but awoke with an elephant sitting on my sinuses.  That kind of blew the whole day.  I’m hoping I got you before you did your shopping for the week.

This week, I’m listing seven breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. I am also listing seven mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening snacks.  I am not going to break it down into meals on any given day at this point and I’m not listing calorie values.  My goal this week is to just get the menu put in.  As we move along, I’ll add calorie counts to the meals.  You can then mix and match to get close to your calorie requirement.

This is extremely important: your calorie requirement may differ from mine.  You must meet or get close to your requirement.  As I discovered, if you eat too few calories, you do not lose weight.  You get tired, cold and grumpy.  Nobody likes that.  Eat what you need.  Adjust amounts of ingredients in these meals to ensure that you are eating enough.

Now, here are some ideas for food for your week.

Breakfast:

  • 1 medium egg, whole 2 egg whites, 1/4 cup yellow sweet pepper, 1/4 cup white onion, 2 slices of thin bacon, 1 mini bagel
  • 1 cup of cooked old fashioned oatmeal, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 2 tbsp flax meal, 1 small mashed banana
  • 3/4 cup Cheerios, 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup unsweetened Vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 cantaloupe, 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese
  • 2 whole eggs, 1 slice of thin bacon
  • 1 cup of cooked old fashioned oatmeal, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 2 tbsp flax meal, 1 diced apple
  • 2 square waffles, 1/2 cup of diced strawberries

Morning Snack:

  • 1 serving mango Noosa yogurt
  • 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese
  • 1 medium apple, 1 piece Baby Bel cheese
  • 1 cup grapes, 1 piece light string cheese
  • 1 navel orange, 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese
  • 1 medium apple, 10 almonds
  • 1/2 cantaloupe, 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese
Vary your food choices to keep meals interesting
Vary your food choices to keep meals interesting

Lunch:

  • 4 oz baked chicken leg quarter, 2 cups steamed kale, 1 cup steamed zucchini, 1 cup steamed yellow squash
  • 3 cups salad greens, 1 cup seedless red grapes, 1 oz brie, 5 crushed almonds, 2 tbsp raspberry vinaigrette
  • 2 cups salad greens, 2 boiled eggs, 2 tbsp shredded carrots, 1/4 cup chopped yellow sweet pepper, 10 grape tomatoes, 1/2 cup cucumbers
  • 10 grape tomates, 3 oz mozzarella cheese, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, 1 piece Wasa bread
  • 2 cups salad greens, 1/4 cup red bell peppers, 1/4 cup yellow bell peppers, 1/4 cup onion, 1/2 cup black beans, 1 oz shredded cheese, 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1 can chicken noodle soup, 1 slice Wasa bread, 1 piece Baby Bel cheese
  • 2 tablespoons hummus, 1 cup sliced red bell peppers, 10 baby carrots, 1/2 cup sliced cucumbers

Afternoon Snack:

  • 1 serving mango Noosa yogurt
  • 1 piece Wasa bread, 1 tbsp natural peanut butter, 1 tbsp sugar-free jelly
  • 1 medium apple, 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
  • 5 dried dates, 10 almonds
  • 10 baby carrots, 2 tablespoons hummus
  • 1 piece Wasa bread, 1 piece Baby Bel cheese
  • 1 cup dark chocolate almond milk

Dinner:

  • 2 cups spaghetti squash, 1/2 cup Paul Newman’s Sockarooni sauce
  • 4 oz lean beef hamburger patty, raw baby spinach, 1 slice tomato, 1 slice onion
  • 1 cup chopped chicken, 2 cups salad greens, 1/4 cup yellow bell pepper, 1/4 onion, 1/4 cup salsa, 1 oz tortilla chips
  • 4 oz baked swai, 1/2 cup tropical fruit salsa, 1 cup steamed asparagus
  • 1 sliced eggplant, 2 tbsp lutenica, 2 oz shredded mozzarella, 1 sliced sweet onion
  • baked chicken breast, 1 cup glazed carrots, 1 cup steamed collards, 1/2 slice bacon, 1 tbsp barbeque sauce
  • 4 oz steak, 1 cup steamed green beans, 1 cup steamed yellow squash

Evening snack:

  • small apple, cinnamon
  • sliced, baked sweet potato, cinnamon
  • 1 cup blueberry Kefir
  • 1 cup grapes, 1 piece light string cheese
  • low-fat microwave popcorn
  • 1 serving Oikos caramel yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 serving Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich
Food, Habits

Clean That Plate and Polish Those Bones

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I heard it just yesterday – “All those children starving in Haiti and you’re going to leave that on your plate.”  Sister Paula’s variation for us first and second graders was, of course, the starving children in Africa.  My grandfather advised us to “polish those bones” when Nanny served chicken.  And, at the Doty dinner table, we were encouraged to belong to The Clean Plate Club.  How ever you heard it, I’ll bet you were also told to eat all of the food that you took or that was served to you.

Tacoma, WA, food bank
Shelves at the food bank in Tacoma, WA

Once upon a time, Americans didn’t have refrigerators or the electricity to power them. They had no way to preserve left-overs and, since food was a great deal more scarce then and too valuable to waste, it had to be eaten when served. Fried food was a good thing because it increased the number of calories in a single serving, providing more energy from the same dinner. When my mother was young, she and her brothers picked cotton in Mississippi.  Without that energy, it would have difficult for them to survive, much less work the farm. Waste not, want not.  Of course that is the right thing now, just like it was then.  The problem now, is that our plates are larger, our portion sizes are larger, our food is less natural and more loaded with sugar, salt and other preservatives.  We are eating ourselves to death to avoid waste!

When I first started changing my lifestyle, I left food on my plate at restaurants and even at home.  Even though doggie bags and Tupperware are options, it was physically painful for me to leave the food there. Like Pavlov’s pooch salivating at the bell, I felt physically ill when I went against my dinnertime conditioning.  It’s STILL a struggle and perhaps the source of my compulsion to finish off any open bag of Cheetos.  The thing is: it is essential to get over this false stress response.  I’ve gone back to eating all the food I’m served in a restaurant.  Even if my meal is a salad with no dressing, too much food is still too much food. In the lifestyle change, I halved my food immediately when it was served.  I ate half and brought the other half home.  I MUST return to that habit.  Otherwise, my stomach again looks for massive amounts of food to feel full.  The overeating cycle is re-enforced.

The truth that we know is that we all eat too much.  No one can break that habit but us.  We have to have a Nancy Reagan moment and “just say no” – no quart of salad, no 16 ounce steak, no Man vs Food (in my opinion one of the most disgusting displays of excess on television).  We can bring it home.  If not, the world won’t stop spinning if we just leave it at the restaurant sometimes.

Yes, we are morally bound to help the starving in Haiti, in Africa, and in our own communities (there are far more of them than we think); but, giving ourselves obesity induced heart-attacks and strokes just ain’t the way to do it.