this blog has been a bit dead lately, not due to personal lack of activity, but rather lack of time. i'm going to try to get back into it, however. i'm motivated by my recent programming project: training for the apocalypse software. i'm almost done with the first module: a metabolic calculator. i am writing two versions: one which estimates metabolic rate using the Harris-Benedict equations ( the formula takes age, height and weight as variables). the other version will individually compute calorie expenditure caused by resistance exercise, cardio, thermic effect of food, and thermic effect of daily activity.
the metabolic calculator is but a pixel of the big picture - it was mainly a helpful exercise in learning to write mac os x apps. the end goal is a detailed diary.
my other goal in writing this program is to learn more about calories - something i don't think enough about, which is bad because i'd like to lose the bagel belly. the other day, tim and i did a quick rundown of our daily calories and realized that a whopping ONE THIRD of our day's calories came from BEER.
these are the kind reality checks i need in my ongoing attempt to keep from going saggy.
i got some junk mail this week that was actually somewhat interesting. it was a subscription "invitation" from the Nutrition Action Health Letter. i'm all for people naming names and dispelling nutrition myths. the envelope came with a list of samples of corporate crap food, for instance:
- the Starbucks Venti Mocha Coconut Frappucino Blended Coffee with whipped cream has 710 calories and 26 grams of fat (19 of them saturated). "to your heart, it's like drinking two McDonald's Quarter Pounders"
- Chex Milk'n Cereal Bars are made of mostly sugar, nonfat milk, lactose, palm kernel oil, and other additives. it's so-called "nutrition" comes from the vitamins and minerals that are added to these "glorified Rice Krispies Treats".
- half a can of Campbell's red-and-white-label condensed soups contains about half of a person's daily quota of salt.
On the other side of the pamphlet was a list of "Ten Super Foods You Should Eat". Included on the list was Kellogg's All-Bran Original or Post 100% Bran. So then I started wondering if this newsletter was funded by big bad companies trying to slam other companies - not a horrible thing, but I'm sure Kellogg's and Post are just as guilty as General Mills (maker of Chex) of filling kids with sugar-laden cereals.
The newsletter is published by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. With Tim's help, we found their website:
CSPI is primarily funded by the 800,000 subscribers to its Nutrition Action Healthletter and individual donors. Private foundation grants make up approximately 5% to 10% of CSPI's annual revenue of $15 million. Nutrition Action Healthletter accepts no advertising, and CSPI accepts no corporate or government grants.
Further more, the NAH's website is currently blasting Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Blueberry Yogurt Bars, so perhaps I was a little quick to judge NAH for corporate bias.
Could these be the good guys?
Here's something potentially even more interesting: CSPIScam, propaganda from The Center for Consumer Freedom, "a coalition of concerned individuals and businesses working together to promote personal responsibility and protect a full menu of consumer choices."
Read the site and feel the hate.
Can you guess where they get their funding?
Excuse me, are we filming?
Because I feel like I'm in a commercial..
...the kind that's usually about toaster treats or instant coffee: a fast paced morning, trying to get the kids to school on time, and barely a moment to breath. And then I take a bite into my toaster strudel and suddenly the world seems to slow to a lull, and a warm smile of contentment creeps on my face.
Only this isn't about a bullshit toaster strudel, no, this about a sandwich I just ate. It goes like this, in the following order:
1 slice of toasted nine grain bread.
Spinach and artichoke hummus.
Shredded carrots.
2 thin slices of tomato.
A modest helping of sliced red onion.
1 very thin slice of smoked provolone cheese.
sprouts
lettuce
and 1 more slice of toasted nine grain bread.
Absolutely amazing. When I took my first bite, I actually furrowed my eyebrows in surprise at how tasty this was.
I love food.
