I'm down six pounds with a little more than two more weeks to go.
I probably won't be able to hit the goal of losing 10 pounds in 10 weeks, but I'll be close.
As my editors can confirm, I usually push my deadlines as far as I can. So maybe I'll be more like 10 pounds in 12 weeks.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Capoeira
Last night I went to a class on capoeira, a Brazilian martial art.
I initially told a friend who has become a self-described "capoeira addict" that I would go to watch. And yet somehow last night I was attempting cartwheels. Not quite sure how that happened.
The class was a little out of my comfort zone. Grace and coordination are not exactly my strengths.
But I enjoyed myself. And I obviously worked some different muscles, because I am sore today.
Here's a cool multimedia package of what capoeira is supposed to look like, although you can trust me on the fact that I looked nothing like these people.
THURSDAY UPDATE: I take it back. I am REALLY sore today. The back of my calves feel as if someone has repeatedly kicked me.
I initially told a friend who has become a self-described "capoeira addict" that I would go to watch. And yet somehow last night I was attempting cartwheels. Not quite sure how that happened.
The class was a little out of my comfort zone. Grace and coordination are not exactly my strengths.
But I enjoyed myself. And I obviously worked some different muscles, because I am sore today.
Here's a cool multimedia package of what capoeira is supposed to look like, although you can trust me on the fact that I looked nothing like these people.
THURSDAY UPDATE: I take it back. I am REALLY sore today. The back of my calves feel as if someone has repeatedly kicked me.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Week 7 update
Yikes, only three more weeks to go in the Mayors' Challenge. Good luck everyone!
An update from the folks coordinating the challenge:
Getting Outside: Now that the weather is beautiful again, take advantage by getting your exercise outdoors! Enjoy a walk in the neighborhood, invite friends over for a game of volleyball, shoot some hoops with the kids or kick a soccer ball around the yard. You can work in some extra steps and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Walk for Your Heart: Research shows that 30 minutes of walking per day can bring down your blood pressure. This small amount of physical activity can also regulate your blood sugar, help control your cholesterol and make you healthier in general.
Health on the Web: Find healthy recipes and other tips here.
Mark Your Calendar: Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to finish off the Mayors’ Challenge with the Get Healthy Guilford walk on Saturday, April 14. The event will take place from 1-3 p.m. at Festival Park in downtown Greensboro. Come out and enjoy a 30-minute walk on one of eight beautiful downtown Greensboro trails.
Success Stories: "Happy to tell you that I lost 21 pounds… I am so glad to be a part of the challenge ... I look forward to meeting all April 14." -- Lori Collins
Do you have an experience from the Mayors’ Challenge you’d like to share? If so, simply email your story to us at: www.gcmayorschallenge.org
The Mayors’ Update: Our mayors have lost more than 50 pounds so far with just three weeks to go!
An update from the folks coordinating the challenge:
Getting Outside: Now that the weather is beautiful again, take advantage by getting your exercise outdoors! Enjoy a walk in the neighborhood, invite friends over for a game of volleyball, shoot some hoops with the kids or kick a soccer ball around the yard. You can work in some extra steps and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Walk for Your Heart: Research shows that 30 minutes of walking per day can bring down your blood pressure. This small amount of physical activity can also regulate your blood sugar, help control your cholesterol and make you healthier in general.
Health on the Web: Find healthy recipes and other tips here.
Mark Your Calendar: Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to finish off the Mayors’ Challenge with the Get Healthy Guilford walk on Saturday, April 14. The event will take place from 1-3 p.m. at Festival Park in downtown Greensboro. Come out and enjoy a 30-minute walk on one of eight beautiful downtown Greensboro trails.
Success Stories: "Happy to tell you that I lost 21 pounds… I am so glad to be a part of the challenge ... I look forward to meeting all April 14." -- Lori Collins
Do you have an experience from the Mayors’ Challenge you’d like to share? If so, simply email your story to us at: www.gcmayorschallenge.org
The Mayors’ Update: Our mayors have lost more than 50 pounds so far with just three weeks to go!
Chinese food
Seriously, I might not ever go out to eat again.
Well, that's a lie. But this was in the news last week if you didn't see it:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The typical Chinese restaurant menu is a sea of nutritional no-nos, a consumer group has found.
A plate of General Tso's chicken, for example, is loaded with about 40 percent more sodium and more than half the calories an average adult needs for an entire day.
The battered, fried chicken dish with vegetables has 1,300 calories, 3,200 milligrams of sodium and 11 grams of saturated fat.
That's before the rice (200 calories a cup). And after the egg rolls (200 calories and 400 milligrams of sodium).
"I don't want to put all the blame on Chinese food," said Bonnie Liebman, nutrition director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which did a report released Tuesday.
"Across the board, American restaurants need to cut back on calories and salt, and in the meantime, people should think of each meal as not one, but two, and bring home half for tomorrow," Liebman said.
The average adult needs around 2,000 calories a day and 2,300 milligrams of salt, which is about one teaspoon of salt, according to government guidelines.
In some ways, Liebman said, Italian and Mexican restaurants are worse for your health, because their food is higher in saturated fat, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
While Chinese restaurant food is bad for your waistline and blood pressure — sodium contributes to hypertension — it does offer vegetable-rich dishes and the kind of fat that's not bad for the heart.
However — and this is a big however — the veggies aren't off the hook. A plate of stir-fried greens has 900 calories and 2,200 milligrams of sodium. And eggplant in garlic sauce has 1,000 calories and 2,000 milligrams of sodium.
"We were shocked. We assumed the vegetables were all low in calories," Liebman said.
Also surprising were some appetizers: An order of six steamed pork dumplings has 500 calories, and there's not much difference, about 10 calories per dumpling, if they're pan-fried.
The group found that not much has changed since it examined Chinese food 15 years ago. That's not all bad, Liebman said.
"We were glad not to find anything different," she said. "Some restaurant food has gotten a lot worse. Companies seem to pile on. Instead of just cheesecake, you get coconut chocolate chip cheesecake with a layer of chocolate cake, and lasagna with meatballs."
The group says there is no safe harbor from sodium on the Chinese restaurant menu, but it offers several tips for making a meal healthier:
—Look for dishes that feature vegetables instead of meat or noodles. Ask for extra broccoli, snow peas or other veggies.
—Steer clear of deep-fried meat, seafood or tofu. Order it stir-fried or braised.
—Hold the sauce, and eat with a fork or chopsticks to leave more sauce behind.
—Avoid salt, which means steering clear of the duck sauce, hot mustard, hoisin sauce and soy sauce.
—Share your meal or take half home for later.
—Ask for brown rice instead of white rice.
Well, that's a lie. But this was in the news last week if you didn't see it:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The typical Chinese restaurant menu is a sea of nutritional no-nos, a consumer group has found.
A plate of General Tso's chicken, for example, is loaded with about 40 percent more sodium and more than half the calories an average adult needs for an entire day.
The battered, fried chicken dish with vegetables has 1,300 calories, 3,200 milligrams of sodium and 11 grams of saturated fat.
That's before the rice (200 calories a cup). And after the egg rolls (200 calories and 400 milligrams of sodium).
"I don't want to put all the blame on Chinese food," said Bonnie Liebman, nutrition director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which did a report released Tuesday.
"Across the board, American restaurants need to cut back on calories and salt, and in the meantime, people should think of each meal as not one, but two, and bring home half for tomorrow," Liebman said.
The average adult needs around 2,000 calories a day and 2,300 milligrams of salt, which is about one teaspoon of salt, according to government guidelines.
In some ways, Liebman said, Italian and Mexican restaurants are worse for your health, because their food is higher in saturated fat, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
While Chinese restaurant food is bad for your waistline and blood pressure — sodium contributes to hypertension — it does offer vegetable-rich dishes and the kind of fat that's not bad for the heart.
However — and this is a big however — the veggies aren't off the hook. A plate of stir-fried greens has 900 calories and 2,200 milligrams of sodium. And eggplant in garlic sauce has 1,000 calories and 2,000 milligrams of sodium.
"We were shocked. We assumed the vegetables were all low in calories," Liebman said.
Also surprising were some appetizers: An order of six steamed pork dumplings has 500 calories, and there's not much difference, about 10 calories per dumpling, if they're pan-fried.
The group found that not much has changed since it examined Chinese food 15 years ago. That's not all bad, Liebman said.
"We were glad not to find anything different," she said. "Some restaurant food has gotten a lot worse. Companies seem to pile on. Instead of just cheesecake, you get coconut chocolate chip cheesecake with a layer of chocolate cake, and lasagna with meatballs."
The group says there is no safe harbor from sodium on the Chinese restaurant menu, but it offers several tips for making a meal healthier:
—Look for dishes that feature vegetables instead of meat or noodles. Ask for extra broccoli, snow peas or other veggies.
—Steer clear of deep-fried meat, seafood or tofu. Order it stir-fried or braised.
—Hold the sauce, and eat with a fork or chopsticks to leave more sauce behind.
—Avoid salt, which means steering clear of the duck sauce, hot mustard, hoisin sauce and soy sauce.
—Share your meal or take half home for later.
—Ask for brown rice instead of white rice.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Greensboro's biggest loser
Tina Firesheets had great stories yesterday and today about the Greensboro man, Ken Canion, who was on the NBC reality show "The Biggest Loser" and how his life has changed.
He's now helping others in Greensboro, including his wife, to lose weight.
He's now helping others in Greensboro, including his wife, to lose weight.
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