Yes, internets, I know it's been *longtime* since I updated. That's probably because I am ignoring the scale right now, as I hit the 180 mark and decided to have no more cake until my birthday. After New Year's, that will also turn into no pie or cookies. I just have some small things at the house to polish off first. I feel guilty not eating them after I spent all that time making/purchasing them! (I'm talking to you, eggnog pound cake and chocolate shoo-fly pie.)
So, I will have to start posting again - at least on Tuesdays and Saturdays, my weigh-in days. *sigh* here we go again.
Tuesday Weigh-in
174.8. Take that, muffins.
I've been more conscious of what I've been shoveling into my mouth lately, and cutting back on the salt (I did put two shakes on my chicken last night), and also on the honey I put in my tea. Since I'm not sick anymore though it takes less tea to keep my throat happy.
My aim for the gym I believe will not start until this weekend, and hopefully will stay put this time! I was also supposed to start back up with karate this week, but I believe I will abstain in favor of my lungs - big G is teaching, and he makes us do triples or whatever they're called around the room. Not so much fun while I'm still hacking up phlegm from my cold. So, in order to keep myself on the right track, I did yoga this morning. ::pats self on back::
I've been more conscious of what I've been shoveling into my mouth lately, and cutting back on the salt (I did put two shakes on my chicken last night), and also on the honey I put in my tea. Since I'm not sick anymore though it takes less tea to keep my throat happy.
My aim for the gym I believe will not start until this weekend, and hopefully will stay put this time! I was also supposed to start back up with karate this week, but I believe I will abstain in favor of my lungs - big G is teaching, and he makes us do triples or whatever they're called around the room. Not so much fun while I'm still hacking up phlegm from my cold. So, in order to keep myself on the right track, I did yoga this morning. ::pats self on back::
Ok this isn't going very well.
Weighed myself today as I was running late yesterday (I know, I know...when aren't I running late?)... 177. I'm so fired from this weight-loss job. Can I hire a Jillian clone?
Apparently she has her own video game? Anywho.
So, I'm going to plan the following changes, and hopefully they will help me follow through:
1) eat at home more - plan at least 2 meals cooked at home per week, pack leftovers.
2) run in the mornings - I had wanted to do this anyway, because the treadmill is just sitting there in the basement all alone, but I need something to go with it. Music, tv, whatever. And since it's going to be very dark in the mornings from now on, I won't be walking out side, since I have a tendency to walk in front of blue cars.
3) yoga at least twice a week - I'm going to try for this at night, when hubs is at school and I won't be embarrassed at him walking in to my butt in the air or anything.
4) crunches, push-ups, jump rope - I'm going to have to add one or all of these every day in order to get my heart rate up, because walking the dogs just ain't cutting it anymore.
5) go to the gym for weight training at LEAST once a week - I can't stand all that $ coming out of my account and for nothing, so I NEED to get my butt in gear and go at least once a week.
I'm coming, pants!
Apparently she has her own video game? Anywho.
So, I'm going to plan the following changes, and hopefully they will help me follow through:
1) eat at home more - plan at least 2 meals cooked at home per week, pack leftovers.
2) run in the mornings - I had wanted to do this anyway, because the treadmill is just sitting there in the basement all alone, but I need something to go with it. Music, tv, whatever. And since it's going to be very dark in the mornings from now on, I won't be walking out side, since I have a tendency to walk in front of blue cars.
3) yoga at least twice a week - I'm going to try for this at night, when hubs is at school and I won't be embarrassed at him walking in to my butt in the air or anything.
4) crunches, push-ups, jump rope - I'm going to have to add one or all of these every day in order to get my heart rate up, because walking the dogs just ain't cutting it anymore.
5) go to the gym for weight training at LEAST once a week - I can't stand all that $ coming out of my account and for nothing, so I NEED to get my butt in gear and go at least once a week.
I'm coming, pants!
Weigh-in, one day late
So, I *think* I'm at 174.8 today. I decided that once a week is not enough, so I'm going to weigh myself on Saturdays and Tuesdays or Wednesdays. I was actually down to 174.2 on Saturday, I was so proud! But today, back up .6 of a pound.
I'm going to have to make a conscious effort to do some serious exercising to break my next plateau or into the next tens (160's), because my headaches due to medication stuff have been horrendous lately, and when I have them I can't seem to stop eating, probably because every receptor in my body is blocked on my migraine meds, haha.
So, here begins the goal of 1. I will do 1 different thing every day, hopefully in addition to a 20-min-or-so walk for the dogs. And when I can't walk the dogs, AM Yoga it is (with scary ponytail guy).
- go to the gym, about 1 hr
- pilates dvd, 30 min
- yoga dvd, 30 min
- The Shred (gah!), 30 min I think
- karate class, 1 hr
Um, I think that's it...can't think of anything else right now. I may start doing the treadmill later in the season when it gets frio. I should really start it now, but it's just so boring in the basement - I'm going to have to see if I can turn the thing around, avoiding the beams on which I may hit my head if the ceiling is low enough, and somehow rig my laptop to sit on the dryer and ...do something. Bones reruns, anyone?
::keep working towards those pants, cat...you can do it!::
I'm going to have to make a conscious effort to do some serious exercising to break my next plateau or into the next tens (160's), because my headaches due to medication stuff have been horrendous lately, and when I have them I can't seem to stop eating, probably because every receptor in my body is blocked on my migraine meds, haha.
So, here begins the goal of 1. I will do 1 different thing every day, hopefully in addition to a 20-min-or-so walk for the dogs. And when I can't walk the dogs, AM Yoga it is (with scary ponytail guy).
- go to the gym, about 1 hr
- pilates dvd, 30 min
- yoga dvd, 30 min
- The Shred (gah!), 30 min I think
- karate class, 1 hr
Um, I think that's it...can't think of anything else right now. I may start doing the treadmill later in the season when it gets frio. I should really start it now, but it's just so boring in the basement - I'm going to have to see if I can turn the thing around, avoiding the beams on which I may hit my head if the ceiling is low enough, and somehow rig my laptop to sit on the dryer and ...do something. Bones reruns, anyone?
::keep working towards those pants, cat...you can do it!::
My September Goal
Pants.
Yes, Pants. These are the Gap pants I tried on last night, and I LOVED the color and feel... however they only had them in a 12. And 12 was too tight. I almost cried. I used to fit a 10!
So, my goal for September is not to wait until they have the pants in a 14, but to work so hard that I can get into those size 12 buggers. This will mean going to the gym, which since I am off of work at noon today, I will try my best to accomplish.
Also, I ate a slice of pumpkin bread and a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks this morning. That's motivation enough. It was almost half of my calories for today. ::shudder::
Yes, Pants. These are the Gap pants I tried on last night, and I LOVED the color and feel... however they only had them in a 12. And 12 was too tight. I almost cried. I used to fit a 10!
So, my goal for September is not to wait until they have the pants in a 14, but to work so hard that I can get into those size 12 buggers. This will mean going to the gym, which since I am off of work at noon today, I will try my best to accomplish.
Also, I ate a slice of pumpkin bread and a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks this morning. That's motivation enough. It was almost half of my calories for today. ::shudder::
My new morning activity
Mister Rodney Yee. I got a "yoga package" at Tar-jay the other day for 19.99 which included the yoga mat, one block, and yoga strap. Yoga strap = belt, basically. Rodney showed me how to use all of these wonderful gadgets on the DVD which was included with the kit. He's kind of scary.
Case in point. Who can do that and smile?
Anyway, day one with my morning yoga was pretty good. My DVD has three items on it, the AM Yoga, the explanation of the props, and maybe a prop workout. I can't remember because I only watched the first two so far.
It starts out with breathing and relaxation, moves onto yoga, and ends with some meditation. Very relaxing. It's somewhat distracting if you are under the mental age of 12 because Rodney's wearing a speedo-type thing. But I'm sure you, dear readers, don't have that problem.
Tuesday Update
176, even.
Well, not as bad as I thought. We went to Olive Garden (aka the house of flour and butter) yesterday for neverending pasta bowl (every time I say that I get the Neverending Story theme song stuck in my head), instead of picnics and such we went out to eat.
I've been doing a lot better with how much I eat and what kinds of food, now I just need to step it up to actually keep losing and keep exercising. I keep thinking to myself, you can be in control of what you eat, and it's not like you're never going to eat that again - just not right now. I have to remember that I can only eat certain things when I've "earned" them, and not just when I feel like it.
So, we'll see how this week goes with my new mantra, tee hee.
Well, not as bad as I thought. We went to Olive Garden (aka the house of flour and butter) yesterday for neverending pasta bowl (every time I say that I get the Neverending Story theme song stuck in my head), instead of picnics and such we went out to eat.
I've been doing a lot better with how much I eat and what kinds of food, now I just need to step it up to actually keep losing and keep exercising. I keep thinking to myself, you can be in control of what you eat, and it's not like you're never going to eat that again - just not right now. I have to remember that I can only eat certain things when I've "earned" them, and not just when I feel like it.
So, we'll see how this week goes with my new mantra, tee hee.
Tuesday Weigh-in
Not good.176.8. Back up. I had such high hopes for this week, but alas.
And then I went and had a bad day at work and went to the dirty caf for Shepherd's Pie. It's a good thing I'm having salad for dinner! At least I got my walk in this morning, and will hopefully be able to do some yoga tonight while basking in the cool breeze that is almost-fall-weather-PA. It's truly fantastic, and it totally motivates me to get out and run, though I feel like I'm neglecting my dogs!
If anyone actually reads this, I need your help for cooler weather workouts: my original thinking was, run in the morning, cut back the dog walks to mon/wed/fri right after work (because it will still be light then for a little while), and gym on weekends. Would that be neglecting the dogs too much? I feel bad, because they are in their kennels all day, and I'd only be walking them a couple times a week then.
On a brighter and food-related note, hubs is taking note of his girth and has decided to eat according to the food pyramid, which means more fruits and veggies in the house. We went to the grocery store the other night and spent about $67, which almost gave him a heart attack (I told him, just wait until you have kids). So, that's getting easier. Now I just have to get into the swing of meal planning again, which after the summer needs to start happening again if I'm going to meet my turkey-day goal of 150. My mom thinks I can do it. Me, I'm not so sure. But I'm sure gonna try.
And then I went and had a bad day at work and went to the dirty caf for Shepherd's Pie. It's a good thing I'm having salad for dinner! At least I got my walk in this morning, and will hopefully be able to do some yoga tonight while basking in the cool breeze that is almost-fall-weather-PA. It's truly fantastic, and it totally motivates me to get out and run, though I feel like I'm neglecting my dogs!
If anyone actually reads this, I need your help for cooler weather workouts: my original thinking was, run in the morning, cut back the dog walks to mon/wed/fri right after work (because it will still be light then for a little while), and gym on weekends. Would that be neglecting the dogs too much? I feel bad, because they are in their kennels all day, and I'd only be walking them a couple times a week then.
On a brighter and food-related note, hubs is taking note of his girth and has decided to eat according to the food pyramid, which means more fruits and veggies in the house. We went to the grocery store the other night and spent about $67, which almost gave him a heart attack (I told him, just wait until you have kids). So, that's getting easier. Now I just have to get into the swing of meal planning again, which after the summer needs to start happening again if I'm going to meet my turkey-day goal of 150. My mom thinks I can do it. Me, I'm not so sure. But I'm sure gonna try.
Tuesday update
Well, I think I'm the same as last Tuesday...175.4 officially, with a 38.5% body fat according to my scale at home. Yup, that's right, lots of fat. Mostly on my backside.
In order for me not to have to buy more pants (maybe one pair for the new fall season since Hubs is sick of my khakis and so am I), I'm going to have to get down to my wedding weight - 160. 5.4 more lbs to go til I hit that goal! I'm not letting myself get any new workout pants either, in an effort to motivate myself - all of the ones I have now are either yoga pants (which I don't want to wear to walk around the neighbourhood) or have shrunk (thanks, tar-jay) so I look like I'm prepping for the flood.
I want workout pants, walking pants really, that I can use in the fall, that won't shrink, and that aren't clingy. Anyone out there on the interwebz have a certain pair they love?
In order for me not to have to buy more pants (maybe one pair for the new fall season since Hubs is sick of my khakis and so am I), I'm going to have to get down to my wedding weight - 160. 5.4 more lbs to go til I hit that goal! I'm not letting myself get any new workout pants either, in an effort to motivate myself - all of the ones I have now are either yoga pants (which I don't want to wear to walk around the neighbourhood) or have shrunk (thanks, tar-jay) so I look like I'm prepping for the flood.
I want workout pants, walking pants really, that I can use in the fall, that won't shrink, and that aren't clingy. Anyone out there on the interwebz have a certain pair they love?
Maybe a vacation will help?
So, stepped on the scale today... 175.2, .6 lbs higher than last Tuesday. *sigh*
At this point, I'm feeling good about what I'm doing, I just started back up on TDP this weekend and am tracking my food like a mofo. But, I guess it wasn't fast enough to help me this week.
I go on vacation Sunday morning (4am, thanks hubs) so next week will be a little bit scary. I've been noticing lately that I don't tend to eat a lot when it's really hot outside or when I'm really hot, so maybe that will help. I just have to remember my goals and not go hog-wild like the last vacation involving food and a beach.
I'm gonna miss the doggies, they are my companion on my walks every morning. It will be strange not to wake up to Leroy whining, haha.
Ok... well, time to go drink some more water, blech. At least some of it is in the form of tea. I do love me some Yogi tea. They come with fortunes on the tab of the tea bag, LOVE it!
At this point, I'm feeling good about what I'm doing, I just started back up on TDP this weekend and am tracking my food like a mofo. But, I guess it wasn't fast enough to help me this week.
I go on vacation Sunday morning (4am, thanks hubs) so next week will be a little bit scary. I've been noticing lately that I don't tend to eat a lot when it's really hot outside or when I'm really hot, so maybe that will help. I just have to remember my goals and not go hog-wild like the last vacation involving food and a beach.
I'm gonna miss the doggies, they are my companion on my walks every morning. It will be strange not to wake up to Leroy whining, haha.
Ok... well, time to go drink some more water, blech. At least some of it is in the form of tea. I do love me some Yogi tea. They come with fortunes on the tab of the tea bag, LOVE it!
I like free.
I was watching Tori & Dean last night (judge quietly) on Oxygen and when I turned the TV on this morning, Oxygen popped back up - with a yoga show! Yay for free yoga shows!
Until now, I had been checking out FitTV, which usually only has Gilad on early in the morning. Nothing against Gilad, he's a fine specimen, but I'm getting more interested in yoga for its calming/breathing/flexing benefits.
The Oxygen show is called Inhale, 6am Est/5am Cen
Here's the FitTV lineup (the only time I have in the morning is 6am to 730, so that's all I'm showing):
6:00am - Gilad's Bodies in Motion
6:30am - Total Body Sculpt with Gilad
7:00am - alternates between Core Max with Cathe Friedrich and hour-long workouts for chest & back, kick punch & crunch, legs & glutes, and muscle endurance.
Until now, I had been checking out FitTV, which usually only has Gilad on early in the morning. Nothing against Gilad, he's a fine specimen, but I'm getting more interested in yoga for its calming/breathing/flexing benefits.
The Oxygen show is called Inhale, 6am Est/5am Cen
Here's the FitTV lineup (the only time I have in the morning is 6am to 730, so that's all I'm showing):
6:00am - Gilad's Bodies in Motion
6:30am - Total Body Sculpt with Gilad
7:00am - alternates between Core Max with Cathe Friedrich and hour-long workouts for chest & back, kick punch & crunch, legs & glutes, and muscle endurance.
I work out... really, I do...
I figured I'd better do a post about the exercise I am currently getting and what I add to my routine, to keep track of what's working and what's not. I know, overeating is definitely not working.
In the mornings, I take my dogs on a walk - usually about 20 minutes, finished with lunges and/or calf raises in the backyard, then crunches and stretching inside. I'm gathering info on stretching, i.e. when, how, and why. I've heard conflicting things lately!
If it's raining, I'm going to start doing a dvd inside, either the yoga-pilates one or the pilates one I have from target. I may have to give the yoga-pilates one back to my friend though (in fact, I'm sure I have to!) so I will be in search of another yoga dvd soon.
After work (9-5, the usual), I have off on Mon-Wed-Fri, so I'll have to go to the gym at least one of those days. It usually takes me about an hour and 15 minutes total (10 min travel, 13 min warmup on the elliptical, weight training, stretching, 10 mins home).
There is also the occasional karate class - Tues and Thurs I work at a karate school so I normally stay for class. There are times that I just don't feel it though. So I'll have to do something to make up for this if I don't go during the week.
I also do one trip do the gym on the weekends, and most of my cleaning is done on the weekends so that adds to the calories-burned count.
I would like to start adding classes at the gym to my repertoire, especially yoga and pilates, since I really need to work on my flexibility and core strength. And breathing, apparently.
In the mornings, I take my dogs on a walk - usually about 20 minutes, finished with lunges and/or calf raises in the backyard, then crunches and stretching inside. I'm gathering info on stretching, i.e. when, how, and why. I've heard conflicting things lately!
If it's raining, I'm going to start doing a dvd inside, either the yoga-pilates one or the pilates one I have from target. I may have to give the yoga-pilates one back to my friend though (in fact, I'm sure I have to!) so I will be in search of another yoga dvd soon.
After work (9-5, the usual), I have off on Mon-Wed-Fri, so I'll have to go to the gym at least one of those days. It usually takes me about an hour and 15 minutes total (10 min travel, 13 min warmup on the elliptical, weight training, stretching, 10 mins home).
There is also the occasional karate class - Tues and Thurs I work at a karate school so I normally stay for class. There are times that I just don't feel it though. So I'll have to do something to make up for this if I don't go during the week.
I also do one trip do the gym on the weekends, and most of my cleaning is done on the weekends so that adds to the calories-burned count.
I would like to start adding classes at the gym to my repertoire, especially yoga and pilates, since I really need to work on my flexibility and core strength. And breathing, apparently.
Mmm, Breakfast
This is the one thing I wait for every spring. No, not breakfast...Strawberries to put on top of my breakfast.
Today, it was Kashi Sunshine something cereal with fresh berries. I really heart these berries. So fresh and tasty, and they don't even need sugar.
Today, it was Kashi Sunshine something cereal with fresh berries. I really heart these berries. So fresh and tasty, and they don't even need sugar.
Information about buying organic, pesticide levels
I gleaned this info from either Health magazine or Real Simple. RS had a great article a loooong time ago which included a list of what foods to eat every day in order to get your RDV's in per the Food Pyramid.
What to buy Organic
1. Apples
A is for apple — and a lot of pesticides. According to the Food and Drug Administration, more pesticides (a whopping 36) are found on apples than on any other fruit or vegetable. In one test, as many as seven chemicals were found on a single apple.
No organic? Peel your apples, and look for apples from New Zealand (it's noted on the little produce stickers), which are treated with half as many pesticides as those grown Stateside.
2. Baby Foods
"An infant's immune, nervous, and detoxification system is less developed than an adult's and more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides," says Elson M. Haas, M.D., author of The Staying Healthy Shopper's Guide (Celestial Arts, $10, www.amazon.com). The green beans, peaches, and apples that go into baby food (and all over your kitchen floor) tend to be treated with chemicals. Organic brands like Earth's Best are available.
No organic? Make your own purees by tossing organic fruits and vegetables into the blender.
3. Butter and Milk
The grains that dairy cows eat are heavily treated with chemicals, which have a residual, though still notable, presence in milk and dairy products. (Milk may also contain bovine growth hormone and antibiotics.)
4. Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes often contain five of the longest-lasting chemicals, one of which is dieldrin, an exceedingly toxic and carcinogenic insecticide. Though it was banned in 1974, residues still persist in soils and are taken up through the cantaloupe's roots and absorbed into the edible portion.
No organic? Thoroughly wash the outside of the melon, since a knife can drag exterior residues through the flesh as you slice it.
5. Cucumbers
In a survey of 42 common vegetables, cucumbers were ranked second in cancer risk and 12th in "most contaminated food" by the Environmental Working Group, a respected public-interest group.
No organic? Peel the cucumbers, since the waxes used to make the skin shiny also tend to hold chemicals.
6. Grapes
Because grapes ripen quickly, tend to mold, and attract insects, growers hit them with multiple applications of various chemicals. The worst are Chilean grapes, which are treated with as many as 17 of them. (Ninety percent of the grapes eaten in the United States from January to April are Chilean.)
No organic? Buy grapes grown domestically; they are treated with fewer chemicals.
7. Green Beans
The Environmental Protection Agency has more than 60 pesticides registered for use on green beans.
No organic? Choose fresh beans over canned or frozen. Wash them well.
8. Spinach
In a certain cartoon, spinach makes muscles. In real life, the chemicals used to treat it may cause cancer or interfere with hormone production.
No organic? Vigilantly wash each leaf separately under running water.
9. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most contaminated of all produce items in the United States.
No organic? Choose local berries over long-distance ones (there's less spraying). The package should say where they're from, or the supermarket's produce manager should know.
10. Winter Squash
Like cantaloupes and cucumbers, winter squash has a propensity to absorb dieldrin from the soil into its edible parts.
No organic? Buy Mexican. The soil in Mexico is largely uncontaminated by dieldrin.
Pesticide scores for fruits & vegetables, tested a couple years ago - a new list "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen" are released every year, I believe, from the EWG (ewg.org)
RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE
(1 would be the worst, with the highest pesticide load; 47 is the best, with the lowest pesticide load)
1 Peach 100
2 Apple 93
3 Sweet Bell Pepper 83
4 Celery 82
5 Nectarine 81
6 Strawberries 80
7 Cherries 73
8 Kale 69
9 Lettuce 67
10 Grapes - Imported 66
11 Carrot 63
12 Pear 63
13 Collard Greens 60
14 Spinach 58
15 Potato 56
16 Green Beans 53
17 Summer Squash 53
18 Pepper 51
19 Cucumber 50
20 Raspberries 46
21 Grapes - Domestic 44
22 Plum 44
23 Orange 44
24 Cauliflower 39
25 Tangerine 37
26 Mushrooms 36
27 Banana 34
28 Winter Squash 34
29 Cantaloupe 33
30 Cranberries 33
31 Honeydew Melon 30
32 Grapefruit 29
33 Sweet Potato 29
34 Tomato 29
35 Broccoli 28
36 Watermelon 26
37 Papaya 20
38 Eggplant 20
39 Cabbage 17
40 Kiwi 13
41 Sweet Peas - Frozen 10
42 Asparagus 10
43 Mango 9
44 Pineapple 7
45 Sweet Corn - Frozen 2
46 Avocado 1
47 Onion 1
What to buy Organic
1. Apples
A is for apple — and a lot of pesticides. According to the Food and Drug Administration, more pesticides (a whopping 36) are found on apples than on any other fruit or vegetable. In one test, as many as seven chemicals were found on a single apple.
No organic? Peel your apples, and look for apples from New Zealand (it's noted on the little produce stickers), which are treated with half as many pesticides as those grown Stateside.
2. Baby Foods
"An infant's immune, nervous, and detoxification system is less developed than an adult's and more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides," says Elson M. Haas, M.D., author of The Staying Healthy Shopper's Guide (Celestial Arts, $10, www.amazon.com). The green beans, peaches, and apples that go into baby food (and all over your kitchen floor) tend to be treated with chemicals. Organic brands like Earth's Best are available.
No organic? Make your own purees by tossing organic fruits and vegetables into the blender.
3. Butter and Milk
The grains that dairy cows eat are heavily treated with chemicals, which have a residual, though still notable, presence in milk and dairy products. (Milk may also contain bovine growth hormone and antibiotics.)
4. Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes often contain five of the longest-lasting chemicals, one of which is dieldrin, an exceedingly toxic and carcinogenic insecticide. Though it was banned in 1974, residues still persist in soils and are taken up through the cantaloupe's roots and absorbed into the edible portion.
No organic? Thoroughly wash the outside of the melon, since a knife can drag exterior residues through the flesh as you slice it.
5. Cucumbers
In a survey of 42 common vegetables, cucumbers were ranked second in cancer risk and 12th in "most contaminated food" by the Environmental Working Group, a respected public-interest group.
No organic? Peel the cucumbers, since the waxes used to make the skin shiny also tend to hold chemicals.
6. Grapes
Because grapes ripen quickly, tend to mold, and attract insects, growers hit them with multiple applications of various chemicals. The worst are Chilean grapes, which are treated with as many as 17 of them. (Ninety percent of the grapes eaten in the United States from January to April are Chilean.)
No organic? Buy grapes grown domestically; they are treated with fewer chemicals.
7. Green Beans
The Environmental Protection Agency has more than 60 pesticides registered for use on green beans.
No organic? Choose fresh beans over canned or frozen. Wash them well.
8. Spinach
In a certain cartoon, spinach makes muscles. In real life, the chemicals used to treat it may cause cancer or interfere with hormone production.
No organic? Vigilantly wash each leaf separately under running water.
9. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most contaminated of all produce items in the United States.
No organic? Choose local berries over long-distance ones (there's less spraying). The package should say where they're from, or the supermarket's produce manager should know.
10. Winter Squash
Like cantaloupes and cucumbers, winter squash has a propensity to absorb dieldrin from the soil into its edible parts.
No organic? Buy Mexican. The soil in Mexico is largely uncontaminated by dieldrin.
Pesticide scores for fruits & vegetables, tested a couple years ago - a new list "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen" are released every year, I believe, from the EWG (ewg.org)
RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE
(1 would be the worst, with the highest pesticide load; 47 is the best, with the lowest pesticide load)
1 Peach 100
2 Apple 93
3 Sweet Bell Pepper 83
4 Celery 82
5 Nectarine 81
6 Strawberries 80
7 Cherries 73
8 Kale 69
9 Lettuce 67
10 Grapes - Imported 66
11 Carrot 63
12 Pear 63
13 Collard Greens 60
14 Spinach 58
15 Potato 56
16 Green Beans 53
17 Summer Squash 53
18 Pepper 51
19 Cucumber 50
20 Raspberries 46
21 Grapes - Domestic 44
22 Plum 44
23 Orange 44
24 Cauliflower 39
25 Tangerine 37
26 Mushrooms 36
27 Banana 34
28 Winter Squash 34
29 Cantaloupe 33
30 Cranberries 33
31 Honeydew Melon 30
32 Grapefruit 29
33 Sweet Potato 29
34 Tomato 29
35 Broccoli 28
36 Watermelon 26
37 Papaya 20
38 Eggplant 20
39 Cabbage 17
40 Kiwi 13
41 Sweet Peas - Frozen 10
42 Asparagus 10
43 Mango 9
44 Pineapple 7
45 Sweet Corn - Frozen 2
46 Avocado 1
47 Onion 1
Post Numero Uno
Yesterday, I was reading a new blog started by one of my Nest acquaintances about getting healthy. She included a "before" pic, which was somewhat inspiring. I've been trying to shape myself up for some time now (I lost 12 lbs last year for my wedding, then gained it all back), and am thinking of different ways to do so.
I also have a lot of random lists/articles dealing with food and health, so I figured a blog about it might be a good idea, and help keep me accountable to people who don't know me but have seen the Platinum Ass. Yes, it's got its own nickname.
And also, I was walking the wieners this morning and saw a full-length mirror outside of my neighbour's house with "TAKE ME" written on it. It seems that the heavens aligned to kick my butt this week. I took it home and put it on my sunporch, and decided I'd take my "before" pictures.
So, without further adieu, here's me: (never mind the wieners, they're attention-dogs)
Wish me luck!
I also have a lot of random lists/articles dealing with food and health, so I figured a blog about it might be a good idea, and help keep me accountable to people who don't know me but have seen the Platinum Ass. Yes, it's got its own nickname.
And also, I was walking the wieners this morning and saw a full-length mirror outside of my neighbour's house with "TAKE ME" written on it. It seems that the heavens aligned to kick my butt this week. I took it home and put it on my sunporch, and decided I'd take my "before" pictures.
So, without further adieu, here's me: (never mind the wieners, they're attention-dogs)
Wish me luck!