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Saturday, April 07, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Stupid is as stupid does
Originally published March 17, 2007, in Our Town for the Tracy Press.
The word "stupid" is not one I use often. It was an "ugly word" in my childhood home, meaning it was barely better than profanity. The word still makes me cringe. I’ve even got my husband trained not to use it in my presence.
But sometimes, there is just no other word that fits.
And I’m here now to confess that when looking back on when I fell ill in late January, I am stupefied by my own stupidity.
False sense of normalcy
A lot of gastric-bypass patients talk of being normal, but most of us realize our view of normality is skewed. Normal people don’t eat whatever they want without gaining a pound, no matter what those of us who have been obese tell ourselves. I came to terms with that fact about a year ago.
What I didn’t come to terms with, however, is that I’m not anatomically normal and never will be again. That’s easy to forget after losing close to 200 pounds in a two-year period. My exterior looks normal to the rest of the world. Few people would guess I’ve been morbidly obese for most of my life, and sometimes, I buy into that fantasy.
Take that night in late January when I first realized I was seriously ill. As I mulled over whether I was in serious enough shape to warrant my best friend and husband trekking into the mountains on a work night to pick me up, I had some moments of clarity that didn’t make me feel like the brightest bulb in the drawer.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Trying to convince myself of how silly it would be to have them drive all that way for nothing, I tried to imagine the worst-case scenario. I was one of the few guests at a rural cabin resort. There were no neighbors to hear my cries for help if I were to become truly incapacitated. No phone in the room to call the operator for help. I had my cell phone but didn’t have the manager’s number programmed in it.
Then my thoughts darkened. What if I were to lose consciousness? Nobody would even consider looking for me until an hour after checkout. Looking at the clock, I realized that a lot could happen in the next 14 hours or so. I also knew I was dehydrated, having consumed only about 4 ounces of water in the previous day.
Helping those who help us
I tried to be objective. If I were to pass out, either from the pain or from whatever ailed me, what would emergency personnel think? How would they help me? I didn’t have a MedicAlert bracelet to tell rescuers I was a gastric-bypass patient. My doctors warned me to order one before I even had surgery so that in an emergency situation, it could speak for me if I could not speak for myself. But I never made the time to place the order. It seemed inconvenient to figure out what to have inscribed on it, and though it wasn’t pricey, there always seemed to be better uses of my money.
I considered typing out my medical information and symptoms on my laptop but would medics really think to look there for clues? There was no way to be sure.
I finally called my husband and told him to come get me. Though I still had no idea of the severity of my condition, I realized I was safer at home with someone to help me than all alone in an unfamiliar, isolated area.
Stupid is as stupid does
To be stupid is to act in an unintelligent manner. Ignorance, on the other hand, is to be uneducated. Ignorance is forgivable; stupidity is not.
In hindsight, here were my stupid moves:
The word "stupid" is not one I use often. It was an "ugly word" in my childhood home, meaning it was barely better than profanity. The word still makes me cringe. I’ve even got my husband trained not to use it in my presence.
But sometimes, there is just no other word that fits.
And I’m here now to confess that when looking back on when I fell ill in late January, I am stupefied by my own stupidity.
False sense of normalcy
A lot of gastric-bypass patients talk of being normal, but most of us realize our view of normality is skewed. Normal people don’t eat whatever they want without gaining a pound, no matter what those of us who have been obese tell ourselves. I came to terms with that fact about a year ago.
What I didn’t come to terms with, however, is that I’m not anatomically normal and never will be again. That’s easy to forget after losing close to 200 pounds in a two-year period. My exterior looks normal to the rest of the world. Few people would guess I’ve been morbidly obese for most of my life, and sometimes, I buy into that fantasy.
Take that night in late January when I first realized I was seriously ill. As I mulled over whether I was in serious enough shape to warrant my best friend and husband trekking into the mountains on a work night to pick me up, I had some moments of clarity that didn’t make me feel like the brightest bulb in the drawer.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Trying to convince myself of how silly it would be to have them drive all that way for nothing, I tried to imagine the worst-case scenario. I was one of the few guests at a rural cabin resort. There were no neighbors to hear my cries for help if I were to become truly incapacitated. No phone in the room to call the operator for help. I had my cell phone but didn’t have the manager’s number programmed in it.
Then my thoughts darkened. What if I were to lose consciousness? Nobody would even consider looking for me until an hour after checkout. Looking at the clock, I realized that a lot could happen in the next 14 hours or so. I also knew I was dehydrated, having consumed only about 4 ounces of water in the previous day.
Helping those who help us
I tried to be objective. If I were to pass out, either from the pain or from whatever ailed me, what would emergency personnel think? How would they help me? I didn’t have a MedicAlert bracelet to tell rescuers I was a gastric-bypass patient. My doctors warned me to order one before I even had surgery so that in an emergency situation, it could speak for me if I could not speak for myself. But I never made the time to place the order. It seemed inconvenient to figure out what to have inscribed on it, and though it wasn’t pricey, there always seemed to be better uses of my money.
I considered typing out my medical information and symptoms on my laptop but would medics really think to look there for clues? There was no way to be sure.
I finally called my husband and told him to come get me. Though I still had no idea of the severity of my condition, I realized I was safer at home with someone to help me than all alone in an unfamiliar, isolated area.
Stupid is as stupid does
To be stupid is to act in an unintelligent manner. Ignorance, on the other hand, is to be uneducated. Ignorance is forgivable; stupidity is not.
In hindsight, here were my stupid moves:
- Not seeking help sooner — There is no guarantee that earlier medical attention would have led to an earlier diagnosis, but I knew the dangers of dehydration and the signs of bowel obstructions long before I ever had gastric-bypass surgery. The moment I realized I could not keep water down, I should have called my husband to pick me up.
- Staying alone in an isolated area — When I was told to choose temporary lodging for my business trip, a quiet mountain resort sounded like the perfect getaway. And in some circumstances it could have been. But it was not the smartest move for a woman traveling alone.
- Not ordering a MedicAlert bracelet — Gastric-bypass patients have some serious limitations when it comes to medical care. NSAIDs like Aleve, Advil and Motrin can ulcerate our delicate gastric pouches. Nasogastric tubes, which are inserted through the nasal passage and into the stomach, cannot be used, since access to the remnant stomach is cut off by gastric-bypass procedures. Attempting to insert an NG tube blindly can perforate the gastric pouch — not a good thing. The other benefit to a MedicAlert bracelet is that it can list allergies. Because I’m allergic to a couple of commonly used drugs, that’s something that should be a higher priority for me.
- Not packing my vitamins — What happened to me had absolutely nothing to do with vitamins. However, I know better than to miss a single dose. The malabsorptive nature of my altered anatomy puts me at risk of vitamin deficiencies. There are few things more important than taking my vitamins each day. I knew when I left Tracy that I had forgotten to pack them. I decided that it wasn’t worth the effort to go back home to retrieve them. After all, I was only going to be gone five days. Five days without vitamins would not kill me, but it’s still stupid to rob my body of vital nutrients out of laziness.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
No immunity from complications
Originally published March 3, 2007, in Our Town for the Tracy Press.
I’ve been fortunate since having gastric-bypass surgery two years ago. I haven’t had to deal with nutritional deficiencies, strictures, profuse vomiting or any of the other common problems post-operative patients face.
But my luck, it seems, has limits. And about a month ago, it ran out.
I woke up Jan. 23 like any other day, except I had some abdominal pain. I dismissed it, and made myself some peppermint tea to soothe me. By the time I got to work, though, the pain had increased. Every time I took a drink, I’d feel cramping low in my stomach.
Deciding it must be the stomach flu, I sipped protein drinks throughout the day and figured I’d let it pass.
Something serious
By 8 p.m., I was doubled over in pain. I wasn’t at home, though. I was on a business trip in the Santa Cruz Mountains. So I was alone in a rural cabin and determined to stick it out.
I was up most of the night, fighting both pain and nausea.
I called in sick Thursday and dozed most of the day. I seemed to do OK lying on my right side, and the pain would come and go, allowing me to sleep between spasms. On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain varied from a 7 to 10. I couldn’t get any water down, and I had uncontrollable belching.
By Thursday evening, I could no longer walk and had taken to crawling.
In the previous 24 hours, I had only consumed four ounces of water. Looking at the veins bulging in my chest and upper arms, I realized I had become dehydrated. On top of that, my stomach was distended and felt as if it were in flames.
Finally, I let my husband and best friend drive to the mountains to get me so I could see my local doctor the next day. It took them a few hours to reach me, and my condition continued to worsen. One look in my best friend’s eyes when she saw me told me I looked as bad as I felt. They packed my things while I laid in the bed, barely able to speak without sending myself into spasms of pain.
To get to the car, I had to bend at a 90-degree angle and shuffle the few yards outside. My husband asked why I was walking like his osteoporitic grandmother.
"This is the only way I can walk," I mumbled.
The ride to Tracy was miserable. Instead of going home as planned, we went straight to the hospital. Addressing my dehydration was the first priority. It took three nurses to get an IV in my arm. After that, I was led to radiology for a CT scan. Having to lay flat, even for 10 seconds, was the most excruciating experience of my life.
Afterward, I was hooked up to a bag of fluids and dilaudid, a painkiller 25 percent stronger than morphine. It didn’t do a lot for the pain but it allowed me to sleep.
The diagnosis
The CT scan showed I had a kink in my intestines. I was so happy to have a diagnosis that I didn’t fully process what that meant. I was admitted into the hospital for the night and scheduled to see a surgeon the next day.
After talking with the surgeon, it became clear that I would need a specialist. Unfortunately, there are no bariatric surgeons in Tracy. Finally it dawned on me that Dr. Prithvi Legha, who performed my gastric bypass, was now in private practice in the Bay Area. I had the surgeon contact him for advice.
Everything happened so fast from that point that there wasn’t even time to contact family.
I was transferred to El Camino Hospital in Mountain View the evening of Jan. 25. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was going on three days with an obstructed bowel — a dangerous problem.
Emergency surgery
I arrived at the hospital via ambulance at 9:30 p.m. Dr. Legha was already there and told me his assumption was that I had a bowel obstruction and at least one internal hernia. In laymen’s terms, my intestines had tangled into a gigantic knot and then started to twist inside out. Surgery was the only answer.
"I’m going to try to go in laparoscopically," Dr. Legha told me, "but I think you’re too far gone. I may have to open you up."
I nodded and told him to do what he had to do.
"When are we going to do this?" I asked, thinking I’d be scheduled for surgery the next morning.
Instead, he said, "now," and with that, I was wheeled into the operating room. I hadn’t even been at the hospital 30 minutes.
During the three-hour operation, Dr. Legha first tried a lap procedure, puncturing my abdomen six times. However, my bowels were so swollen and inflamed, he was afraid they would fray and break open. He cut me about five inches down the middle. He discovered two intestinal hernias in addition to the bowel obstruction. My intestines were purple from lack of blood. But I was lucky. As soon as the knot was untangled, they pinked up. I had no infection, no tissue death.
Dr. Legha is not one to mince words. He has let me know numerous times in the past month how close I was to death. Another 12 hours, and somebody at the Tracy Press would have had to write my obituary.
The road to recovery
This is one of the toughest surgeries to recover from. Not only are there incisions to heal, but the intestines must be retrained. It seems they forget to do their job after being shut down for a few days.
I was in the hospital about a week. I had nothing by mouth the first five days, but I wasn’t complaining. The thought of eating at that time seemed an impossible feat. Once it became apparent that my intestines were still asleep on the job, I was given intravenous nutrition to preserve my muscle mass and body weight. I was released from the hospital after moving from clear liquids to pureed food with little problem.
A month later, I’m back at work but still recovering. I’m slowly introducing solid food into my diet, and my body is learning to process it all. Earlier this week, I had to go home early one day after my intestines protested the chicken I had for lunch.
I tire easily, and I struggle with dizzy spells caused by low blood sugar. I’m eating between 6 and 9 ounces of food per day, not nearly enough to fuel my body. At Dr. Legha’s suggestion, I’m trying to consume most of my required protein through supplements. This will prevent my muscles from cannibalizing themselves, and it also keeps the dizzy spells at bay.
The future
This experience has taught me a variety of lessons, many of which I’ll share in upcoming columns. But for now, my focus is on building my strength and improving my health. Can’t expect much more than that.
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Unbearable Thinness of Being a Model
New York Magazine has published an interesting, yet also disturbing look, at the recent controversy surrounding the size of fashion models and its effects on Fashion Week:
http://nymag.com/fashion/07/spring/28149/index.html
http://nymag.com/fashion/07/spring/28149/index.html
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Surgery paves way for career switch
Originally published Jan. 27 in Our Town for the Tracy Press.
imprisoned in her body but didn’t know what to do about her misery. She had tried every diet on the market, with marginal success, and she was tired of it. Then Carnie Wilson’s gastric-bypass surgery success story graced the cover of People Magazine, introducing Leach to a permanent solution to her obesity.
Today, she is feeling fit and fabulous. She’s a published author with a second book on the way, proprietor of an online store — www.bariatriceating.com — that features bariatric-friendly foods and has also started her own nutrition company.
“I am at the perfect place in my life with my health, marriage and business,” she declared during a recent e-mail interview.
Her book, “Before and After: Living & Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery,” is part diary,
part cookbook and considered one of the best bariatric books on the market. Some surgeons
even carry copies to sell to their patients. The book’s success paved the way for Leach’s Web site and online message board, which is motivating an army of bariatric patients to follow her path.
part cookbook and considered one of the best bariatric books on the market. Some surgeons
even carry copies to sell to their patients. The book’s success paved the way for Leach’s Web site and online message board, which is motivating an army of bariatric patients to follow her path.
“It never ceases to amaze me that I have influenced so many people,” Leach said. “I tear up at least once a day while reading an email or letter or post on our message board and love seeing that I help so many find their own inner strength to be successful.”
Leach’s path began simply enough. After surgery, she was determined to find ways to continue
her passion for cooking. She focused her attention on creating delicious high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals and desserts that helped her stay on track. She tested her creations on friends, family and support group members. It didn’t take long for her to build a reputation as a bariatric gourmet, which is how she got her book deal.
her passion for cooking. She focused her attention on creating delicious high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals and desserts that helped her stay on track. She tested her creations on friends, family and support group members. It didn’t take long for her to build a reputation as a bariatric gourmet, which is how she got her book deal.
“Working with HarperCollins has been an incredible experience,” she said. “I happened to be in the right place at the right time with a positive, no-nonsense attitude.”
She created her online store three years ago in an effort to make compliance convenient for post-ops.
“Rather than everyone having to buy (products) from 10 different sources, we gathered all the good proteins and vitamins in one store, so bariatric patients could shop with ease, knowing that everything was the proper nutrition and … actually tasted good,” she said.
She opened a storefront in Pompano Beach, Fla., last year and is now expanding the space for the fifth time.
The other anticipated highlight of this year is the release of her second book, which is in its first round of edits. It’s an update of her first book — complete with newer, easier recipes and new information she’s found since the original printing.
“Even though I wrote the material in the first 18 months after my surgery,” Leach said, “the
basics I outlined are still very solid right now.”
basics I outlined are still very solid right now.”
Leach knows about the value of the basics. She’s maintained a loss of 143 pounds over the past six years, despite a discouraging setback about 18 months ago.
“I had a weight gain over the course of a couple of months that put me right out of my new wardrobe,” Leach revealed. “I knew that I ate properly and had not strayed from the path but didn’t know what to make of the situation.”
Leach admits that she panicked, resorting to denial. She didn’t connect her unexplained weight gain with having had thyroid cancer two years before weight-loss surgery. The cancer required removal of the butterfly-shaped gland in her neck along with a large tumor that was choking her. Her doctors stopped prescribing synthetic thyroid hormones after her bariatric surgery, which is what led to her drastic weight gain.
“I dropped almost all of the weight gain in the first month (after resuming hormone therapy),
and I am now back to maintaining,” Leach said.
But it’s taken a long time for her to go public with her struggle.
“I was embarrassed, even though there was a plausible reason, because ‘thyroid problems’ is the
catchphrase excuse for a lot of people who are fat,” she said. “Lately, I’ve talked about it in public a little, knowing there are probably other bariatric post-ops who have undiagnosed thyroid conditions.”
catchphrase excuse for a lot of people who are fat,” she said. “Lately, I’ve talked about it in public a little, knowing there are probably other bariatric post-ops who have undiagnosed thyroid conditions.”
Leach believes the secret to her success is as simple as consuming 80 to 100 grams of high-quality protein per day and limiting her simple carbohydrates.
“If I eat half a slice of whole-grain bread or even a few pretzels, in a half-hour I’m starving and
looking for more food,” she said. “Even if they are whole-grain carbohydrates, or fruits and vegetables that are healthy but higher in carbs, I find that I can create hunger for myself.”
looking for more food,” she said. “Even if they are whole-grain carbohydrates, or fruits and vegetables that are healthy but higher in carbs, I find that I can create hunger for myself.”
Leach has no patience for those who say they can’t follow her lead because of kids or family members. There are no Doritos or Little Debbie snacks in her cupboard. She cooks for her husband much the same as she cooks for herself.
“I never think of my lifestyle as a diet and do in theory give myself permission to have a taste of whatever I want,” she said. “However, I find that I don’t want to eat bad foods. It’s amazing what happens when you remove the diet stigma and just make it part of your lifestyle.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Living life
Originally published Jan. 13, 2007, in Our Town for the Tracy Press.
It’s been almost two years since I had gastric-bypass surgery. And it’s been about six months since I’ve written a column for print. So much has happened in that time. It’s almost too much to detail. But when I think about it, I realize that’s the point.
I had weight-loss surgery so I could live life instead of observe it. And now that I’ve gotten more comfortable in my new body, living it has taken center stage. I’m hardly ever home anymore. When I am, I’m trying to catch my breath from whatever I’ve been doing.
Here’s a brief rundown of what I’ve been doing:
Being a big kid
My husband and I took a trip with his family in December to the “Happiest Place on Earth.” I hadn’t been to Disneyland since Grad Night in high school. Back then, I was 210 pounds — far from my heaviest weight of 335 — but the difference was still amazing.
I was able to enter the park by walking straight through the turnstiles — no need to shuffle sideways to get my hips through the tight space. My rear end fit comfortably in all rides, and I had no trouble lowering the safety bars on my lap.
My husband and I worked our way through all of the rides in Disneyland in a single day. We ran back and forth across the park and stood in line, all without any problem. The only time we took a breather was for meals. And even then, it was just to munch on a protein bar or some beef jerky — no time for a sit-down meal.
We had a blast at California Adventure, riding grown-up rides such as Soaring over California, Mulholland Madness, Tower of Terror, Grizzly River Run and others. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I felt half my age the entire time.
The bonus was my ability to bond with my niece and nephew like never before. Jennavieve, who is 4, doesn’t remember the plus-size Auntie Tonya very well, but she’s never known me as one to play much. When she was an infant and toddler, I was the cuddly one; my husband was the human jungle gym.
At Disneyland, I was able to take her on rides and chase her around. Her brother, Gavin, who turns 2 in March, seemed to get the biggest kick out of me being silly with him. It’s nice to no longer be a bystander in their lives.
Enjoying fresh air
My husband and I spent most of the summer hiking in Mount Diablo State Park. The scenery was incredible at Mount Diablo, and I loved being able to hike for a few hours without needing to stop to catch my breath or rest my joints.
The only break we took was when we realized we had hiked through lunchtime. We sat on some rocks on the edge of the mountain to enjoy a relaxing meal of protein bars and trail mix.
Even my husband commented on the experience, adding that such activities would never have been an option before my surgery.
Knights Ferry is another favorite hiking spot of ours. We take advantage of the park picnic grounds and barbecue lunch in the shade before heading out to explore the golden hills. The trails can be a little dicey. I often choose to descend hills on my hind end, rather than risk tumbling head over hiney.
Meeting inspiring people
I attended various conferences over the summer that addressed issues of morbid obesity and surgical weight loss. I met my bariatric-world hero, Susan Maria Leach, at a surgical conference in San Francisco. She’s the author of “Before and After” and the owner of Before and After Nutrition. Look for a column profiling her in the coming weeks. I saw Carnie Wilson — looking fit and happy — at the same conference. I spoke with surgeons and others whom I never would have had the courage to meet before I had lost weight.
At patient-focused conferences in Tulare and Fairfield, I met other inspiring post-ops and experts in the field. I learned about advances in bariatrics and new developments in the study of side effects. I made some incredible friends and contacts, many of whom have graciously agreed to be sources for upcoming columns and offer different perspectives on the challenges and successes of post-op life.
As you can see, 2006 was a busy year for me. This one shows no signs of being any different, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Sweet Drinks Put Kids' Health at Risk
According to a WebMD article, drinking lots of soda and juice sets the stage for health problems later in life for children.
The article, which cites a recent study published in the December issue of "Pediatrics," says children who consume large amounts of surgery drinks may suffer from diabetes and obesity as early as the age of 13.
One nutritionist quoted in the article was quick to say the study doesn't mean that all soda is bad — it's just that kids get too much soda too often.
"There is no kid-sized soda bottle, and few 6-ounce glasses at home," said Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "So kids get used to drinking soda in whatever size glass they have at home, whatever size bottle or can -- and that is not a single serving, it's a tureen.
"And no child needs to be consuming a tureen of soda," she says.
She also said that soda and juice is calorie-dense but doesn't fill kids up.
"Nobody drinks half of a 20-ounce bottle of soda and says, 'Whoa, I'm stuffed!'" Bonci says. "The kids consume a lot of calories and are not feeling full. So every other aspect of food intake may stay the same."
The article, which cites a recent study published in the December issue of "Pediatrics," says children who consume large amounts of surgery drinks may suffer from diabetes and obesity as early as the age of 13.
One nutritionist quoted in the article was quick to say the study doesn't mean that all soda is bad — it's just that kids get too much soda too often.
"There is no kid-sized soda bottle, and few 6-ounce glasses at home," said Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "So kids get used to drinking soda in whatever size glass they have at home, whatever size bottle or can -- and that is not a single serving, it's a tureen.
"And no child needs to be consuming a tureen of soda," she says.
She also said that soda and juice is calorie-dense but doesn't fill kids up.
"Nobody drinks half of a 20-ounce bottle of soda and says, 'Whoa, I'm stuffed!'" Bonci says. "The kids consume a lot of calories and are not feeling full. So every other aspect of food intake may stay the same."
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Essay contest entry
This is the essay I submitted to Quick & Simple Magazine that won me the beautiful sapphire-and-diamond bracelet you see here:
"I'm less than half the woman I used to be, yet in so many ways, I'm twice the woman, wife, friend and employee I ever was.
"I've lost close to 190 pounds in the last 18 months with the help of gastric-bypass surgery. Though many consider it to be a coward's method of weight loss, I've never worked so hard in my life. Surgery has required me to focus on myself and my health for the first time in my life.
"I used to consider exercise a luxury I couldn't afford and used that excuse to remain sedentary. I convinced myself that my job was too demanding to allow for planning and cooking my meals, and I often ate fast food daily. I spent many years hiding behind my job, saying that if only it were less stressful, I would have the time needed to lose weight. Then I was diagnosed with obesity-related infertility after a year of trying to conceive. My weight problem was no longer something I could put off to deal with later when life was less hectic.
"It was then that I realized something had to change. I knew bariatric surgery would force me to rethink my priorities. Rerouting one's innards leads to an altered perspective. Suddenly, exercise was a necessity instead of a luxury. Planning my meals was as important as breathing, because protein deficiency would lead to serious complications. Rest became something upon which I depended. Before surgery, I would sleep two to four hours a night, figuring the time most people spent in bed was better spent at the office or trying to catch up around the house.
"Surprisingly, focusing on me and my needs didn't make me lazy or put my job in jeopardy (my biggest fear). These changes have made me more productive. It's amazing how much you can accomplish in a standard day when you're operating on eight hours of sleep and are appropriately nourished and hydrated. I've gone from working 18-hour days to 10-hour days, and my husband loves the fact that he finally has a wife who comes home at night and has energy left over to devote to him. And most importantly, my weight loss and change in perspective have prepared me for the challenges of motherhood -- something I hope to experience in the near future.
"Almost" Famous
I won an essay contest from Quick & Simple Magazine last fall by submitting a piece on how bariatric surgery changed my life. A brief article quoting from my essay (see above) is in this week's issue of the magazine, available at most grocery store and Wal-Mart check stands (in Tracy, you can find it at Wal-Mart and Albertsons). The Jan. 2 issue, which costs $1.59, will be available for sale at least through Saturday.
I'll post the essay I entered in its entirety later today.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
Does being fat make kids stupid?
A recent study out of the University of Florida links extreme obesity in children with low IQ scores.
According to an article on WebMD, the study found children who were 150% above their ideal body weight by age 4 tended to have lower IQ scores and mysterious spots on their brains later in life.
Click here to read the full article.
According to an article on WebMD, the study found children who were 150% above their ideal body weight by age 4 tended to have lower IQ scores and mysterious spots on their brains later in life.
Click here to read the full article.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Recipe: Caramel-Hazelnut Shake
Caramel-Hazelnut shake
2 scoops vanilla Zero-Carb Isopure
1 c. ff Lactaid Milk
3 T. Coffee Mate sf Hazelnut non-dairy creamer
1 oz. sf Torani Caramel syrup
Ice (I use an entire tray)
Add everything in blender but ice and blend together to combine. Add ice cubes one by one to create consistency you desire.
Calories: 335
Protein: 59
Carbs: 16
Fat: 3
Notes: I like using the sugar-free and fat-free Coffee Mate creamers, but I often have a problem in which the amount needed to solicit the flavor I want is too rich for my tummy.
2 scoops vanilla Zero-Carb Isopure
1 c. ff Lactaid Milk
3 T. Coffee Mate sf Hazelnut non-dairy creamer
1 oz. sf Torani Caramel syrup
Ice (I use an entire tray)
Add everything in blender but ice and blend together to combine. Add ice cubes one by one to create consistency you desire.
Calories: 335
Protein: 59
Carbs: 16
Fat: 3
Notes: I like using the sugar-free and fat-free Coffee Mate creamers, but I often have a problem in which the amount needed to solicit the flavor I want is too rich for my tummy.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Overweight? Asthmatic? Australia's army wants you
Click here to read an interesting story on Australia's army lowering its standards to bolster recruitment numbers.
What do you think about this idea? Post your thoughts in the comments section.
What do you think about this idea? Post your thoughts in the comments section.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Recipe: Chocolate-caramel-brownie shake
Chocolate-caramel-brownie shake
2 scoops PD Alpine Chocolate
1 cup ff Lactaid milk
1 shot Torani sf caramel syrup
4 Joseph's sf brownie bites
Ice cubes
Blend liquid ingredients until smooth, add brownies with ice cubes and pulse until same thickness as a Dairy Queen Blizzard (I use an entire tray of ice cubes).
It's important to note that this is not a low-calorie meal. This was yummy, but I would not add the brownie bites in the future -- they add 100 calories and 14g of carbs, which isn't worth it for the minimal flavor boost. Also, I typically use ff Lactaid milk, but dh brought home reduced fat and I didn't realize it. So, the reduced fat milk has 130 calories per cup, versus only 80 for the ff version. The caramel syrup has no nutritional value for a 1-oz. serving.
So, here's the stats for what I actually drank this morning, though you could easily cut 150 calories by making the substitutions mentioned above:
Calories: 420
Protein: 49
Carbs: 38
Fat: 10
2 scoops PD Alpine Chocolate
1 cup ff Lactaid milk
1 shot Torani sf caramel syrup
4 Joseph's sf brownie bites
Ice cubes
Blend liquid ingredients until smooth, add brownies with ice cubes and pulse until same thickness as a Dairy Queen Blizzard (I use an entire tray of ice cubes).
It's important to note that this is not a low-calorie meal. This was yummy, but I would not add the brownie bites in the future -- they add 100 calories and 14g of carbs, which isn't worth it for the minimal flavor boost. Also, I typically use ff Lactaid milk, but dh brought home reduced fat and I didn't realize it. So, the reduced fat milk has 130 calories per cup, versus only 80 for the ff version. The caramel syrup has no nutritional value for a 1-oz. serving.
So, here's the stats for what I actually drank this morning, though you could easily cut 150 calories by making the substitutions mentioned above:
Calories: 420
Protein: 49
Carbs: 38
Fat: 10
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Great finds at Cost Plus World Market
I took an impromptu trip into Cost Plus World Market today, because I had heard the store carried a variety of Torani syrups sweetened with Splenda. I've discovered that such flavored syrups are a great way to add variety to my protein shakes without having to invest in myriad flavored powders. It's amazing how much you can do with basic chocolate and vanilla when you have various flavorings to add to them.
However, World Market had more to offer me than just the Torani syrups. En route to the flavoring aisle, I stumbled upon the store's sugar-free section. Tucked away at the end of an aisle by the candy, I found various sugar-free treats that I had thought were only available on the Internet.
Just about every flavor of Joseph's sugar-free cookies were there. The crunchy, bite-size cookies aren't only great for snacking but also make an incredible low-carb crust for sugar-free pies and cheesecakes. I like snacking on the pecan shortbread, which I also use for my cheesecake crusts. The chocolate-walnut cookies are great as a crust for chocolate pies, and I use the lemon cookies in the crust for my sugar-free key lime pies. The only variety I found today that I hadn't previously tried was the soft brownie bites. I can wait to try them and tell you what I think of them.
Enchantments soft-baked cookies were also available. The store had frosted lemon, chocolate-walnut chunk and snickerdoodle varieties in stock. I picked up the snickerdoodles and will report on them later.
Also available was sugar-free black licorice (no red), gummi bears, Jelly Belly jelly beans and Guylian belgian chocolate. I've heard from other bariatric gourmets that Guylian is the best brand of sugar-free chocolate on the market so I picked up a bar in each flavor to try and use in cooking.
I was so excited by these finds that I almost forgot my Torani syrups. Good thing my husband was there to keep me on track. Though the full-size bottles of Torani are on sale right now for $5 each (regular $5.99), I decided to buy the smaller 5-ounce bottles to try out. Sadly, there was not as much variety in the smaller bottles but I managed to pick up raspberry and caramel. I can't wait to make a chocolate-caramel protein shake. I already know it'll be tasty. For those braver than me, the store had full-size bottles in Irish cream, toffee, vanilla, caramel, raspberry, peach and others -- all sugar-free. There was even sugar-free white chocolate and chocolate syrup.
It was an exciting trip, to say the least. I've spent so much time over the past two years investing time and money buying these types of products on the Internet. Not only is it risky to buy stuff sight unseen for the most part, but it gets expensive to ship glass bottles and heavy packaging.
Knowing I can buy such stuff in Tracy makes life so much easier for me. And it guarantees I'll make numerous stops at World Market in the future.
However, World Market had more to offer me than just the Torani syrups. En route to the flavoring aisle, I stumbled upon the store's sugar-free section. Tucked away at the end of an aisle by the candy, I found various sugar-free treats that I had thought were only available on the Internet.
Just about every flavor of Joseph's sugar-free cookies were there. The crunchy, bite-size cookies aren't only great for snacking but also make an incredible low-carb crust for sugar-free pies and cheesecakes. I like snacking on the pecan shortbread, which I also use for my cheesecake crusts. The chocolate-walnut cookies are great as a crust for chocolate pies, and I use the lemon cookies in the crust for my sugar-free key lime pies. The only variety I found today that I hadn't previously tried was the soft brownie bites. I can wait to try them and tell you what I think of them.
Enchantments soft-baked cookies were also available. The store had frosted lemon, chocolate-walnut chunk and snickerdoodle varieties in stock. I picked up the snickerdoodles and will report on them later.
Also available was sugar-free black licorice (no red), gummi bears, Jelly Belly jelly beans and Guylian belgian chocolate. I've heard from other bariatric gourmets that Guylian is the best brand of sugar-free chocolate on the market so I picked up a bar in each flavor to try and use in cooking.
I was so excited by these finds that I almost forgot my Torani syrups. Good thing my husband was there to keep me on track. Though the full-size bottles of Torani are on sale right now for $5 each (regular $5.99), I decided to buy the smaller 5-ounce bottles to try out. Sadly, there was not as much variety in the smaller bottles but I managed to pick up raspberry and caramel. I can't wait to make a chocolate-caramel protein shake. I already know it'll be tasty. For those braver than me, the store had full-size bottles in Irish cream, toffee, vanilla, caramel, raspberry, peach and others -- all sugar-free. There was even sugar-free white chocolate and chocolate syrup.
It was an exciting trip, to say the least. I've spent so much time over the past two years investing time and money buying these types of products on the Internet. Not only is it risky to buy stuff sight unseen for the most part, but it gets expensive to ship glass bottles and heavy packaging.
Knowing I can buy such stuff in Tracy makes life so much easier for me. And it guarantees I'll make numerous stops at World Market in the future.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Product Review: Better Balance Pretzel Snacks
Kay's Naturals Better Balance Cinnamon Toast Pretzel Snacks
• $2 for a single-serving bag
These thin soy-based snack sticks resemble cereal twigs, but they don't taste nearly as good. According to the package, a bag of these snack sticks offers 120 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 6 grams of fat and 10 grams of soy protein.
At first taste, the crunchy sticks offer a good cinnamon-sugar flavor but the heavy soy aftertaste and sandy texture ensure they won't be something I eat again.
Hit or miss? Definitely a miss.
• $2 for a single-serving bag
These thin soy-based snack sticks resemble cereal twigs, but they don't taste nearly as good. According to the package, a bag of these snack sticks offers 120 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 6 grams of fat and 10 grams of soy protein.
At first taste, the crunchy sticks offer a good cinnamon-sugar flavor but the heavy soy aftertaste and sandy texture ensure they won't be something I eat again.
Hit or miss? Definitely a miss.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Product Review: Water Sensations Liqui-Packs
Water Sensations Clear Liquid Flavor Enhancer for Water
• About $4 for a box of 16 Liqui-Packs
• Comes in the following flavors: Mixed Berry, Natural Peach, Natural Kiwi-Strawberry, Natural Grape, Natural Lemon and Natural Orange
Each Liqui-Pack is meant to flavor a standard 16.9-oz. bottle of water. The flavoring packets have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. In fact, the ingredient list is pretty minimal: filtered water, natural flavor, citric acid, ptassium citrate and sucralose (the official name for Splenda). The idea behind the enhancers is that you can take them with you to use anywhere. Instead of hunting down a vending machine with Propel or Fruit2O, you can just order a glass of water or buy a bottle somewhere and flavor it yourself.
I've tried the mixed berry and natural peach Water Sensations, both in about 20 oz. of water, because I'm not one for super-sweet drinks. The natural peach flavor tasted as if I had sliced a peach into my water. I didn't find it overly sweet, and I will admit that I slurped down my 20 oz. of water faster than usual.
I didn't like the mixed berry nearly as much, but I've never been one to enjoy berry-flavored water. I don't know why, but berry seems like an odd flavor for water to me. I actually ended up dumping it out because it was just too weird for my liking.
If you check out the Water Sensations Web site, www.watersensations.com, you'll find that the flavor packets aren't just for water. There are suggestions for using Water Sensations to flavor iced tea, yogurt, warm beverages and sparkling water. And I'm sure as these little packets gain popularity, the site will offer even more ideas.
Hit or miss? Definitely a hit. I've already bought a box of the peach flavor and look forward to trying the lemon and orange ones as well.
• About $4 for a box of 16 Liqui-Packs
• Comes in the following flavors: Mixed Berry, Natural Peach, Natural Kiwi-Strawberry, Natural Grape, Natural Lemon and Natural Orange
Each Liqui-Pack is meant to flavor a standard 16.9-oz. bottle of water. The flavoring packets have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. In fact, the ingredient list is pretty minimal: filtered water, natural flavor, citric acid, ptassium citrate and sucralose (the official name for Splenda). The idea behind the enhancers is that you can take them with you to use anywhere. Instead of hunting down a vending machine with Propel or Fruit2O, you can just order a glass of water or buy a bottle somewhere and flavor it yourself.
I've tried the mixed berry and natural peach Water Sensations, both in about 20 oz. of water, because I'm not one for super-sweet drinks. The natural peach flavor tasted as if I had sliced a peach into my water. I didn't find it overly sweet, and I will admit that I slurped down my 20 oz. of water faster than usual.
I didn't like the mixed berry nearly as much, but I've never been one to enjoy berry-flavored water. I don't know why, but berry seems like an odd flavor for water to me. I actually ended up dumping it out because it was just too weird for my liking.
If you check out the Water Sensations Web site, www.watersensations.com, you'll find that the flavor packets aren't just for water. There are suggestions for using Water Sensations to flavor iced tea, yogurt, warm beverages and sparkling water. And I'm sure as these little packets gain popularity, the site will offer even more ideas.
Hit or miss? Definitely a hit. I've already bought a box of the peach flavor and look forward to trying the lemon and orange ones as well.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Fat Clock's ticking
Diet Detective, a Web site devoted to fitness a nutrition, has now posted the Fat Clock. The clock, in the upper right corner of the site's home page, shows the escalating weight off all Americans combined.
"It's tied to population and changes about 8 pounds a second," says Charles Stuart Platkin, founder of Diet Detective and a syndicated health-fitness-nutrition columnist, in a recent Sacramento Bee article.
Here's the full story.
Fat Clock says it's time to watch our weight
By DAN VIERRA
Sacramento Bee
Actress Kirstie Alley, one-time star of the Showtime comedy series "Fat Actress," may have lost 65 pounds thanks to Jenny Craig, but thanks to the rest of America, the Fat Clock is piling up poundage.
Diet Detective's Web site has posted the Fat Clock, real-time calculations of the aggregate amount of weight gained by American adults ages 20 and older.
"It's tied to population and changes about 8 pounds a second," says Charles Stuart Platkin, founder of Diet Detective and a syndicated health-fitness-nutrition columnist.
Remember the National Debt Clock that was in New York's Times Square? The Fat Clock is similar. Putting on pounds in a blur of numbers, the Fat Clock had a starting weight of more than 39 billion pounds _ impressive but not enough adipose deposits to alter Earth's orbit.
Crunching numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Platkin hatched a formula to confound Einstein. He spent six weeks perfecting his formulation to determine escalating weight gain.
"There's a lot of research behind it," he says. "It can be seen as a public health awareness tool to see how rapidly we're gaining weight."
But do we really want to know?
"I do," says Delores Bartella, sipping coffee at a Starbucks in Carmichael, Calif. "I truly think American children and adults are eating too much junk food and not getting enough exercise. It's a good thing to remind people."
Peggy Howell, spokeswoman for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, vehemently disagrees.
"It's utterly absurd," she says by telephone from her Las Vegas home. "There was a recent study that said focusing on diets and weight loss is actually counter-productive."
Howell said she believes people shouldn't focus on "how much weight they're gaining every second of the day," but on a healthy diet and allowing the body to "take care of itself."
Statistically speaking, two out of three adults in the United States now are considered overweight, according to the CDC. The number of overweight people ages 6 to 19 has tripled since 1980.
"I hope people won't feel overwhelmed by the numbers," says Platkin. "But policymakers, politicians and health-awareness campaigns out there should take note."
The news that the world is populated by 1 billion overweight people _ more fat folks than the 850 million undernourished people _ certainly is food for thought.
"Obesity is the norm globally, and undernutrition, while still important in a few countries and in targeted populations in many others, is no longer the dominant disease," professor Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina told a conference in Australia recently.
Fat Clock founder Platkin knows obesity firsthand. He once carried 220 pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame and says he was obese all his life until he took charge. Twelve years ago he lost 50 pounds and has kept it off.
"I'm tipping the scales at 165 pounds now," he says. "The quality of life can be horrific when you're obese."
(Dan Vierria can be reached at dvierria(at)sacbee.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
"It's tied to population and changes about 8 pounds a second," says Charles Stuart Platkin, founder of Diet Detective and a syndicated health-fitness-nutrition columnist, in a recent Sacramento Bee article.
Here's the full story.
Fat Clock says it's time to watch our weight
By DAN VIERRA
Sacramento Bee
Actress Kirstie Alley, one-time star of the Showtime comedy series "Fat Actress," may have lost 65 pounds thanks to Jenny Craig, but thanks to the rest of America, the Fat Clock is piling up poundage.
Diet Detective's Web site has posted the Fat Clock, real-time calculations of the aggregate amount of weight gained by American adults ages 20 and older.
"It's tied to population and changes about 8 pounds a second," says Charles Stuart Platkin, founder of Diet Detective and a syndicated health-fitness-nutrition columnist.
Remember the National Debt Clock that was in New York's Times Square? The Fat Clock is similar. Putting on pounds in a blur of numbers, the Fat Clock had a starting weight of more than 39 billion pounds _ impressive but not enough adipose deposits to alter Earth's orbit.
Crunching numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Platkin hatched a formula to confound Einstein. He spent six weeks perfecting his formulation to determine escalating weight gain.
"There's a lot of research behind it," he says. "It can be seen as a public health awareness tool to see how rapidly we're gaining weight."
But do we really want to know?
"I do," says Delores Bartella, sipping coffee at a Starbucks in Carmichael, Calif. "I truly think American children and adults are eating too much junk food and not getting enough exercise. It's a good thing to remind people."
Peggy Howell, spokeswoman for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, vehemently disagrees.
"It's utterly absurd," she says by telephone from her Las Vegas home. "There was a recent study that said focusing on diets and weight loss is actually counter-productive."
Howell said she believes people shouldn't focus on "how much weight they're gaining every second of the day," but on a healthy diet and allowing the body to "take care of itself."
Statistically speaking, two out of three adults in the United States now are considered overweight, according to the CDC. The number of overweight people ages 6 to 19 has tripled since 1980.
"I hope people won't feel overwhelmed by the numbers," says Platkin. "But policymakers, politicians and health-awareness campaigns out there should take note."
The news that the world is populated by 1 billion overweight people _ more fat folks than the 850 million undernourished people _ certainly is food for thought.
"Obesity is the norm globally, and undernutrition, while still important in a few countries and in targeted populations in many others, is no longer the dominant disease," professor Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina told a conference in Australia recently.
Fat Clock founder Platkin knows obesity firsthand. He once carried 220 pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame and says he was obese all his life until he took charge. Twelve years ago he lost 50 pounds and has kept it off.
"I'm tipping the scales at 165 pounds now," he says. "The quality of life can be horrific when you're obese."
(Dan Vierria can be reached at dvierria(at)sacbee.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Monday, August 21, 2006
Poll: Widespread delusion among parents about kids' health
A poll of Canadian parents show they drastically discount the size of their children, a Scripps Howard News Service story reports.
"Parents seem to be looking at the health of their own children through rose-colored glasses," said Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which commissioned the survey.
The poll found that only 9 percent of parents believe their children are overweight. Researchers found that 26 percent of the children of the parents polled were actually overweight or obese.
Here is the full article:
Poll: Widespread delusion among parents about kids' health
By ANDRE PICARD
Toronto Globe and Mail
21-AUG-06
A new poll shows that only 9 percent of Canadian parents believe their children are overweight or obese. That is markedly less than the 26 percent who are, in fact, overweight or obese, according to data collected by a federal agency, Statistics Canada.
"Parents seem to be looking at the health of their own children through rose-colored glasses," said Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which commissioned the survey.
Over all, Canadian children rated poorly in the eyes of adults, with only 6 percent garnering an "A" for overall health among respondents.
But, again, those surveyed had a much higher opinion about the behavior of their offspring, with 40 percent of them earning top marks.
Collins-Nakai, a pediatric cardiologist, said she worries that the self-delusion of parents is cushioning kids from reality and will lead to poor health outcomes.
"I have a very real fear we are killing our children with kindness by setting them up for a lifetime of inactivity and poor health," she said.
The CMA, which represents the country's 62,000 physicians, releases an annual report card to measure public feelings about the health system.
The overall grades vary little from year to year, with two-thirds of Canadians giving the system high marks (A or B).
What is new this year is the report card's focus on child health, a central issue at the CMA's policy convention this week in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
The group is expected, among other things, to call on Ottawa and the provinces to adopt specific targets for improving child health, and to support the adoption of a Charter of Children's Health.
The survey asked what immediate initiatives should be taken to improve the health of children.
Respondents showed broad support for mandatory physical education from kindergarten to grade 12 (92 percent), a mandatory school curriculum on the benefits of physical activity and healthy diet (87 percent), and removing all junk foods from schools (81 percent).
In the poll, parents showed a desire for better nutritional information and warning labels on food, tax breaks on health foods and tax deductions for the fees paid by children participating in sports. The survey also found lukewarm support for a ban on junk-food advertising and opposition to junk-food taxes.
Guido Van Rosendaal, chair of the council on health care and promotion of the CMA, told the conference that Canada has to begin by setting specific and aggressive public-health goals related to child health.
Delegates were also presented with sobering statistics showing that Canada has an infant mortality rate of 5.3 per 1,000 live births, a perinatal mortality rate of 6.3 per 1,000, and a maternal mortality rate of 4.6 per 100,000 live births. These data place Canada in the middle of the pack among developed countries.
Landon Pearson, a former senator and longtime activist now associated with The Landon Pearson Center for the Study of Childhood and Children's Rights at Carleton University in Ottawa, told delegates that Canada has to move beyond the "vague splendid goal of healthy, happy children" and set real targets to improve childhood health.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
"Parents seem to be looking at the health of their own children through rose-colored glasses," said Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which commissioned the survey.
The poll found that only 9 percent of parents believe their children are overweight. Researchers found that 26 percent of the children of the parents polled were actually overweight or obese.
Here is the full article:
Poll: Widespread delusion among parents about kids' health
By ANDRE PICARD
Toronto Globe and Mail
21-AUG-06
A new poll shows that only 9 percent of Canadian parents believe their children are overweight or obese. That is markedly less than the 26 percent who are, in fact, overweight or obese, according to data collected by a federal agency, Statistics Canada.
"Parents seem to be looking at the health of their own children through rose-colored glasses," said Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which commissioned the survey.
Over all, Canadian children rated poorly in the eyes of adults, with only 6 percent garnering an "A" for overall health among respondents.
But, again, those surveyed had a much higher opinion about the behavior of their offspring, with 40 percent of them earning top marks.
Collins-Nakai, a pediatric cardiologist, said she worries that the self-delusion of parents is cushioning kids from reality and will lead to poor health outcomes.
"I have a very real fear we are killing our children with kindness by setting them up for a lifetime of inactivity and poor health," she said.
The CMA, which represents the country's 62,000 physicians, releases an annual report card to measure public feelings about the health system.
The overall grades vary little from year to year, with two-thirds of Canadians giving the system high marks (A or B).
What is new this year is the report card's focus on child health, a central issue at the CMA's policy convention this week in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
The group is expected, among other things, to call on Ottawa and the provinces to adopt specific targets for improving child health, and to support the adoption of a Charter of Children's Health.
The survey asked what immediate initiatives should be taken to improve the health of children.
Respondents showed broad support for mandatory physical education from kindergarten to grade 12 (92 percent), a mandatory school curriculum on the benefits of physical activity and healthy diet (87 percent), and removing all junk foods from schools (81 percent).
In the poll, parents showed a desire for better nutritional information and warning labels on food, tax breaks on health foods and tax deductions for the fees paid by children participating in sports. The survey also found lukewarm support for a ban on junk-food advertising and opposition to junk-food taxes.
Guido Van Rosendaal, chair of the council on health care and promotion of the CMA, told the conference that Canada has to begin by setting specific and aggressive public-health goals related to child health.
Delegates were also presented with sobering statistics showing that Canada has an infant mortality rate of 5.3 per 1,000 live births, a perinatal mortality rate of 6.3 per 1,000, and a maternal mortality rate of 4.6 per 100,000 live births. These data place Canada in the middle of the pack among developed countries.
Landon Pearson, a former senator and longtime activist now associated with The Landon Pearson Center for the Study of Childhood and Children's Rights at Carleton University in Ottawa, told delegates that Canada has to move beyond the "vague splendid goal of healthy, happy children" and set real targets to improve childhood health.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Product Review: Herbalife Products
At the recent ObesityHelp conference in Visalia, I received a sampler pack of numerous Herbalife products from one of the convention attendees.
For those unfamiliar with Herbalife, it's a line of nutrition products available for purchase through independent distributors. The company offers various lines, from weight management to general wellness products.
I haven't yet had the opportunity to try all of the products I received in my sampler pack, but I've tried enough to offer an opinion on them.
Protein Bars ($16.95 for a box of 14 bars)
These bars are fairly standard as far as protein bars go. They have a clay-like texture and are coated in either a chocolate or white candy-like coating. Though calorie count varies according to flavor, each bar offers 12 grams of protein, about 6 grams of fat and about 15 grams of carbohydrate. The bars are sweetened with sugar alcohols, so they are safe for sugar-sensitive post-ops.
I've tried each flavor -- peanut butter, chocolate fudge, lemon and chocolate coconut -- and consider them to be decent. Peanut butter was my favorite. Of all the flavors, I think it had the least protein aftertaste. Lemon was my least favorite. The other two flavors were middle of the road to me.
Personally, I wouldn't consider buying these for myself. They are so dense that I can't eat more than half of a bar, which only gives me about 6 grams of protein -- not nearly enough to make it pouch worthy.
Roasted Soynuts ($10.95 for a box of 14 packets)
These are no different than the average roasted soynut, except they are seasoned with Cardia salt, a low-sodium seasoning. I thought the Cardia salt had a strange taste so I emptied about half a packet of Splenda into my packet and shook it up to give the nuts a salty-sweet taste similar to kettle korn.
I don't think these soynuts are any different or better than the varieties available at the grocery story, but the single-serving packets are handy -- especially if you have a tough time regulating your portions when it comes to snack foods. Each packet provides about 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein -- a very nutritious snack for anybody but especially good for a post-op. And they definitely satisfy any craving for crunch.
Peach Mango Beverage Mix ($10.95 for 7 packets)
This is an instant beverage mix that offers about 70 calories, less than a gram of fat, 2 grams of carbs and 15 grams of protein. I was really excited to try this, and it seemed like it would be good. the powder mixed well in water with a few stirs of a spoon. The finished product was a little cloudy, but it didn't seem too bad. Then I took a sip, which I promptly spit out into the sink. I can't offer any specifics on what I didn't like, apart from everything. The initial taste wasn't good, and the aftertaste was terrible. There was an overbearing protein taste to the beverage, and I couldn't think of anything to improve it. In hindsight, mixing it in a blender with ice and fruit may have made it drinkable, but that would have defeated the purpose of having a convenient drink mix that can be made anywhere.
Herbalife herbal concentrate ($19.95 for 1.8 ounces)
I first tried this product, a thermogenic drink mix that contains green tea, about seven years ago. To this day, it's still my favorite product and it makes a tasty sugar-free drink. I favor the original flavor. The single serving packets are great when you're on the go. Just dump it into a standard bottle of water with a few packets of Splenda mixed in.
For those unfamiliar with Herbalife, it's a line of nutrition products available for purchase through independent distributors. The company offers various lines, from weight management to general wellness products.
I haven't yet had the opportunity to try all of the products I received in my sampler pack, but I've tried enough to offer an opinion on them.
Protein Bars ($16.95 for a box of 14 bars)
These bars are fairly standard as far as protein bars go. They have a clay-like texture and are coated in either a chocolate or white candy-like coating. Though calorie count varies according to flavor, each bar offers 12 grams of protein, about 6 grams of fat and about 15 grams of carbohydrate. The bars are sweetened with sugar alcohols, so they are safe for sugar-sensitive post-ops.
I've tried each flavor -- peanut butter, chocolate fudge, lemon and chocolate coconut -- and consider them to be decent. Peanut butter was my favorite. Of all the flavors, I think it had the least protein aftertaste. Lemon was my least favorite. The other two flavors were middle of the road to me.
Personally, I wouldn't consider buying these for myself. They are so dense that I can't eat more than half of a bar, which only gives me about 6 grams of protein -- not nearly enough to make it pouch worthy.
Roasted Soynuts ($10.95 for a box of 14 packets)
These are no different than the average roasted soynut, except they are seasoned with Cardia salt, a low-sodium seasoning. I thought the Cardia salt had a strange taste so I emptied about half a packet of Splenda into my packet and shook it up to give the nuts a salty-sweet taste similar to kettle korn.
I don't think these soynuts are any different or better than the varieties available at the grocery story, but the single-serving packets are handy -- especially if you have a tough time regulating your portions when it comes to snack foods. Each packet provides about 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein -- a very nutritious snack for anybody but especially good for a post-op. And they definitely satisfy any craving for crunch.
Peach Mango Beverage Mix ($10.95 for 7 packets)
This is an instant beverage mix that offers about 70 calories, less than a gram of fat, 2 grams of carbs and 15 grams of protein. I was really excited to try this, and it seemed like it would be good. the powder mixed well in water with a few stirs of a spoon. The finished product was a little cloudy, but it didn't seem too bad. Then I took a sip, which I promptly spit out into the sink. I can't offer any specifics on what I didn't like, apart from everything. The initial taste wasn't good, and the aftertaste was terrible. There was an overbearing protein taste to the beverage, and I couldn't think of anything to improve it. In hindsight, mixing it in a blender with ice and fruit may have made it drinkable, but that would have defeated the purpose of having a convenient drink mix that can be made anywhere.
Herbalife herbal concentrate ($19.95 for 1.8 ounces)
I first tried this product, a thermogenic drink mix that contains green tea, about seven years ago. To this day, it's still my favorite product and it makes a tasty sugar-free drink. I favor the original flavor. The single serving packets are great when you're on the go. Just dump it into a standard bottle of water with a few packets of Splenda mixed in.
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