"If it comes through a car window, it's not food."
~Mike Huckabee
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Moderation
A friend is about to launch a program at church that is designed to both raise money for a charity and to help members lose weight. I offered my help and wrote a list of simple weight loss tips. Thinking about this upcoming project and the number of individuals in the US who are either overweight or obese, it dawned on me what is at the core of this epidemic: Americans have lost sight of the meaning of moderation. When it comes to our cooking, eating, and dining out habits, we don't understand that term.
We only believe in excess. In restaurants, portion sizes are now double or triple (or even more) what they were a generation ago. Although serving sizes are listed on grocery store packaging, we blatantly ignore the labels and consume until multi-serving packages are empty. We take seconds (and sometimes thirds) at mealtimes, eat large desserts, and then snack between meals and before bedtime. We are constantly surrounded by food, most of which is high in calories, fat, and sugar. All this excess leads to and sustains weight gain.
Even when we choose to diet and try to cut back on our food consumption, we go all out. We have fads: low-fat and low-carb are the most recent. In embracing these diets, we don't eat less, we continue to eat to excess, just within a particular food group. Once a woman I know who was supposed to be dieting was noshing on a bag of candy. When she saw the puzzled look on my face, her response was, "It's okay; it's low-fat."
Even if we manage to lose weight on these plans, there tends to be a boomerang affect. These unhealthy diets lead to rapid weight loss (often it's just water loss). Most of these diets are unsustainable over the long-run and we return to the eating habits that caused the weight gain in the first place.
So many individuals have an all-or-nothing attitude towards their weight and eating. Either they are on a diet, where they are extremely restrictive in when and what they will eat, or they develop a laissez-faire attitude where the belief is that "I'm not on a diet so I can enjoy eating all the junk food I want."
What we need to do is develop a mindset that is based on moderation. No food or food group is outright forbidden, it's just we need to keep an eye towards moderation. Having this approach to food allows for enjoyment of food AND long-term weight loss. A win-win deal.
We only believe in excess. In restaurants, portion sizes are now double or triple (or even more) what they were a generation ago. Although serving sizes are listed on grocery store packaging, we blatantly ignore the labels and consume until multi-serving packages are empty. We take seconds (and sometimes thirds) at mealtimes, eat large desserts, and then snack between meals and before bedtime. We are constantly surrounded by food, most of which is high in calories, fat, and sugar. All this excess leads to and sustains weight gain.
Even when we choose to diet and try to cut back on our food consumption, we go all out. We have fads: low-fat and low-carb are the most recent. In embracing these diets, we don't eat less, we continue to eat to excess, just within a particular food group. Once a woman I know who was supposed to be dieting was noshing on a bag of candy. When she saw the puzzled look on my face, her response was, "It's okay; it's low-fat."
Even if we manage to lose weight on these plans, there tends to be a boomerang affect. These unhealthy diets lead to rapid weight loss (often it's just water loss). Most of these diets are unsustainable over the long-run and we return to the eating habits that caused the weight gain in the first place.
So many individuals have an all-or-nothing attitude towards their weight and eating. Either they are on a diet, where they are extremely restrictive in when and what they will eat, or they develop a laissez-faire attitude where the belief is that "I'm not on a diet so I can enjoy eating all the junk food I want."
Of course, we have the other end of the spectrum - those who develop eating disorders in their quest to control their weight and their lives. I'll leave this complicated topic to the experts.
What we need to do is develop a mindset that is based on moderation. No food or food group is outright forbidden, it's just we need to keep an eye towards moderation. Having this approach to food allows for enjoyment of food AND long-term weight loss. A win-win deal.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Going Vegetarian
A blogger I follow has recently read a book about the meat industry and, as a result, has decided to become a vegetarian. Read her post here.
As a teenager, I was a vegetarian but somehow, in my twenties, I drifted away and became a carnivore. However, about eight years ago, I came down with a serious case of food poisoning from some chicken I had eaten. I began to explore the food industry, read a number of books on the subject, and realized how far I had strayed from my own moral beliefs. Some of the books I read discussed the conditions under which "factory animals" live and die. I was horrified and vowed to never eat meat again.
This past year, my husband made the decision to become what he calls a "farmitarian." He will only eat meat from animals that he has either personally raised or hunted. That way, he knows the animals lived a normal and decent life before making the ultimate sacrifice to become food on his plate. II believe if more people know the horrendous conditions of the corporate animal factories, we would have either 1) more vegetarians or 2) a huge public outcry with a demand for more humane treatment of animals. Further, once you see the condition of factory farms, you'll understand why we have so many food recalls and become very concerned about your health and where your food comes from.
For those interested in this topic, there are a number of books available. Here are a few titles to get you started, plus a movie to watch:
Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Market by Gail A. Eisnitz
Mad Cowboy by Howard F. Lyman (made famous by the lawsuit against Oprah)
Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser
Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy
Earthlings is a movie (available for viewing online) that I've heard is called "the vegan maker." I haven't had the heart to watch it because I already know how we torture and abuse animals.
Another book, the China Study by T. Colin Campbell exposes the truth behind diets based on animal products and discusses the benefits of a vegan diet.
I hope a few of my readers are open-minded enough to look into this subject, to realize the horror that we're supporting, to possibly become vegetarians, and to share this hidden truth with family and friends. What you don't know can hurt you - and our furry and feathered friends.
As a teenager, I was a vegetarian but somehow, in my twenties, I drifted away and became a carnivore. However, about eight years ago, I came down with a serious case of food poisoning from some chicken I had eaten. I began to explore the food industry, read a number of books on the subject, and realized how far I had strayed from my own moral beliefs. Some of the books I read discussed the conditions under which "factory animals" live and die. I was horrified and vowed to never eat meat again.
This past year, my husband made the decision to become what he calls a "farmitarian." He will only eat meat from animals that he has either personally raised or hunted. That way, he knows the animals lived a normal and decent life before making the ultimate sacrifice to become food on his plate. II believe if more people know the horrendous conditions of the corporate animal factories, we would have either 1) more vegetarians or 2) a huge public outcry with a demand for more humane treatment of animals. Further, once you see the condition of factory farms, you'll understand why we have so many food recalls and become very concerned about your health and where your food comes from.
For those interested in this topic, there are a number of books available. Here are a few titles to get you started, plus a movie to watch:
Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Market by Gail A. Eisnitz
Mad Cowboy by Howard F. Lyman (made famous by the lawsuit against Oprah)
Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully
Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food by Gene Baur
Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money by Erik Marcus
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser
Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy
Earthlings is a movie (available for viewing online) that I've heard is called "the vegan maker." I haven't had the heart to watch it because I already know how we torture and abuse animals.
Another book, the China Study by T. Colin Campbell exposes the truth behind diets based on animal products and discusses the benefits of a vegan diet.
I hope a few of my readers are open-minded enough to look into this subject, to realize the horror that we're supporting, to possibly become vegetarians, and to share this hidden truth with family and friends. What you don't know can hurt you - and our furry and feathered friends.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Quote for the Day
"Let us take care of the children, for they have a long way to go. Let us take care of the elders, for they have come a long way. Let us take care of those in between, for they are doing the work."
~Old African Proverb
Saturday, October 23, 2010
What Really Matters
Today I'm going to spend recovering from an event I helped my husband and others host at our church. This past week my house has become disordered, so I need to work on getting it cleaned and organized. Even though having my home tidy and organized it something I strive for, it's really a small matter in the grand scheme of things.
Last night was an amazing event. Our church hosted a sold out (500+ tickets) concert featuring best-selling contemporary Christian artists Todd Agnew and Pocket Full of Rocks. The concert was a fundraiser to benefit Danita's Children, an orphanage in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. We were fortunate that the orphanage's founder, Danita, and the U.S. Director, Sheree, were able to attend. After a brief video presentation, Danita gave a very moving testimony about her work in Haiti. As a result of this concert, Danita's Children will have over $12,000 to help feed, clothe, house, and educate her children. In addition, at least 13 children received individual sponsors which will bless both the children and sponsors.
It's hard to believe that just over a year and a half ago, Danita's Children was just a web site to me. Now I have the privilege of calling both Danita and Sheree good friends. They are incredible women, as are the missionaries who live with Danita in Haiti. After seeing them last night, I realized I must get back to Haiti. My husband and I have been planning a trip for some time, but haven't nailed down the details. Now I know it's essential that we get back there, even if it's for a brief visit. It's because as time passes, you forget about what's really important. I find myself getting caught up in trivial aspects of living this rich American life and I forget what it's like for most of the world, especially for our neighbors, the Haitians. I need to get back to Haiti so I can be reminded of what really matters.
Last night was an amazing event. Our church hosted a sold out (500+ tickets) concert featuring best-selling contemporary Christian artists Todd Agnew and Pocket Full of Rocks. The concert was a fundraiser to benefit Danita's Children, an orphanage in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. We were fortunate that the orphanage's founder, Danita, and the U.S. Director, Sheree, were able to attend. After a brief video presentation, Danita gave a very moving testimony about her work in Haiti. As a result of this concert, Danita's Children will have over $12,000 to help feed, clothe, house, and educate her children. In addition, at least 13 children received individual sponsors which will bless both the children and sponsors.
It's hard to believe that just over a year and a half ago, Danita's Children was just a web site to me. Now I have the privilege of calling both Danita and Sheree good friends. They are incredible women, as are the missionaries who live with Danita in Haiti. After seeing them last night, I realized I must get back to Haiti. My husband and I have been planning a trip for some time, but haven't nailed down the details. Now I know it's essential that we get back there, even if it's for a brief visit. It's because as time passes, you forget about what's really important. I find myself getting caught up in trivial aspects of living this rich American life and I forget what it's like for most of the world, especially for our neighbors, the Haitians. I need to get back to Haiti so I can be reminded of what really matters.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Blogging
I've had an "off" few weeks and haven't felt I've had a lot to blog about. Not that there's not a lot going on, just not much to share on the blog. Part of it, I believe, is the season. It's fall here and the days are getting shorter and shorter and shorter....Not my favorite time of year. I find it harder to get up in the mornings and even harder to motivate myself to take on any large projects. I was able to check off a few large items on my To Do list. I spent one afternoon washing my SUV and the front porch rockers. Another afternoon I weeded one of my front flowerbeds, something I had put off far too long. Yesterday I finally sat down and hemmed two pairs of pants I recently purchased.
It's funny when you make a To Do list. Some of the tasks look so simple, like "hem pants." However, the steps involved in actually getting the chore done can take several days. I started to hem two pair of pants on Friday. First I had to try them on with the shoes that had the right height heel to make sure I did indeed need to hem them. Next I had to tear out the old hem. That involved getting out my sewing kit and finding my embroidery scissors. Once the hem was out, I had to cut off the excess fabric. I had to try on the pants again to make sure I didn't trim off too much. By this time I was interrupted (by what I can't recall) and had to put everything away for the day. The next day I was able to trim the pants and begin the process of pinning. Of course, I had to try on the pants (with the right shoes) again to make sure I had the right length. I only did one leg on one pair to make sure I didn't waste time pinning up to an incorrect length and having to start over. At some point, I realized I didn't have the right color thread and wasn't going into town for a couple of days, so once again had to set aside the project. Well, yesterday, I finally had everything ready to actually hem the pants. So they're now done...except now I need to iron them.
So, since my life has revolved around checking off these mundane chores on my To Do list, I haven't had a lot to blog about. I felt bad that I missed out on Blog Action Day this year. It focused on water, which is a very important issue. I really wanted to do a post on that topic but didn't have time to research it as I was busy checking off the work I needed to get done to finish a class. As far as my blog is concerned, I want to return to my previous theme of editing my life. I plan to organize how I use this blog and what I blog about so I have some consistency for my readers. Please stay tuned for a little more order to this blog. And hopefully a little more inspiration.
It's funny when you make a To Do list. Some of the tasks look so simple, like "hem pants." However, the steps involved in actually getting the chore done can take several days. I started to hem two pair of pants on Friday. First I had to try them on with the shoes that had the right height heel to make sure I did indeed need to hem them. Next I had to tear out the old hem. That involved getting out my sewing kit and finding my embroidery scissors. Once the hem was out, I had to cut off the excess fabric. I had to try on the pants again to make sure I didn't trim off too much. By this time I was interrupted (by what I can't recall) and had to put everything away for the day. The next day I was able to trim the pants and begin the process of pinning. Of course, I had to try on the pants (with the right shoes) again to make sure I had the right length. I only did one leg on one pair to make sure I didn't waste time pinning up to an incorrect length and having to start over. At some point, I realized I didn't have the right color thread and wasn't going into town for a couple of days, so once again had to set aside the project. Well, yesterday, I finally had everything ready to actually hem the pants. So they're now done...except now I need to iron them.
So, since my life has revolved around checking off these mundane chores on my To Do list, I haven't had a lot to blog about. I felt bad that I missed out on Blog Action Day this year. It focused on water, which is a very important issue. I really wanted to do a post on that topic but didn't have time to research it as I was busy checking off the work I needed to get done to finish a class. As far as my blog is concerned, I want to return to my previous theme of editing my life. I plan to organize how I use this blog and what I blog about so I have some consistency for my readers. Please stay tuned for a little more order to this blog. And hopefully a little more inspiration.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Pencil Cups
We all have one, right? Are you also like me, where you reach for a pen or pencil only to find that the pen has dried up or the pencil's eraser is nonexistent? What do you do with these pens and pencils? Odds are, you put them back in the cup and then fish around for one that functions. Soon, you have a cup full of pens and pencils you can't use. It's really such a little thing, but sometimes a big frustration. So, today I've decided to edit. I'm going to go through every one of my pens and pencils and discard all that are defective or that I just don't like to use. And I'll fill my cup only with writing instruments that work, and work well. End of frustration.
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