Oyster Joke...and some seriousness too!

People at my office love cheesy jokes...we seem to not be able to get enough of them. One of my co-workers...just told me this joke the other day...get ready...cause it's so corny and cheesy...it's so pathetic, I think that is what makes it funny:

A female oyster walks into a bar and sees a cute, male oyster eyeing her up and down. She walks over and says, "Is that a pearl in your shell or are you just happy to see me?"

Yep...that's the kind of jokes we like people. We're sad. We're pathetic. Welcome to our world.

And now...since I am a vegetarian and all...I'd thought I share some of the dangers of eating raw oysters. I know the reputation...and "why" people eat them. I don't eat oysters anyways...being veggie and all, but for certain people who have high-risk conditions, it can be really risky. Gulf oysters which are eaten raw can be dangerous for people with diabetes, liver disease, cancer, stomach problems, etc. I was surprised to hear about the diabetes. I have diabetics all throughout my family. My mom was a diabetic, my dad is a diabetic, my aunt is a diabetic. I guess it can lead to infections and serious illness from a bacteria that is in the oysters. They say the bacteria is killed when it is cooked, but if you eat it raw...not so much.

So, I know raw oysters are supposed to help people get into the MOOD and all...but think about it next time and order something else off the menu!

I Am An Animal Documentary

I recorded a documentary months ago on HBO...and just got around to watching it yesterday while I was home and off work. The documentary is called, I Am An Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA.

So, I am going to share some of my thoughts on this documentary....and in full disclosure, I am a vegetarian and a pretty radical one at that. I have been a vegetarian 100% since sometime in 2001...and don't see myself eating meat ever again in my life. It's a choice I made first for health reasons (even though I have seen some of the most unhealthy vegetarians in my life...) and then became a vegetarian for social/political reasons. I'm not vegan...I eat cheese and eggs (only cage free/free range eggs). I don't wear leather, etc.

Now, I consider this my own personal opinion...and I don't feel the need to put my beliefs about eating meat onto other people. I think everyone has to make their own choice...and if someone else chooses to eat meat, that doesn't offend or bother me. I hate the smell of meat...the idea of the BBQ smell makes me nauseas. But, I don't think my beliefs need to be your beliefs.

Okay...so about the documentary. It's about the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and their foundress, Ingrid Newkirk. First off, it's not a documentary for the faint of heart. I was watching it while I was working out on the elliptical...and numerous times I had to look away. They show a lot of horrible images of things that are done to animals. Newkirk said she believes it is the most effective way to truly effect people. Some of the images were heartbreaking to me.

I admire Newkirk's passion about something she believes in...I truly do. I think many people have beliefs, but when you actually ask them to do something about their beliefs, they fall short. It is either too hard...or it risks too much, etc. Newkirk felt animal rights was important, so she gives everything to it and I admite that dedication and passion and "stick-with-it" attitude.

However, I also believe she is insane or in some way mentally ill. I think in the end, she hurts the movement. She says openly in the documentary that she has an anger button and when it is pushed...she reacts strongly and often without thinking. I don't think that is someone who should be in charge of such a political charged movement as PETA. She goes over the line and therefore makes a mockery of what she is actually trying to accomplish. I would never join PETA...never again...I did once and realized that I supported their ideas, but not their actions. Newkirk says that the crazy tactics need to be used because it is the only thing that works...she says that breaking into someone's store and throwing fake blood on all the clothes will animal products has worked...has gotten designers to work with them, etc. Maybe it worked, but does the end justify the means. If you think all animals should be treated humanly...don't forget that humans are animals too.

The documentary also showed a lot of undercover investigating that the organization does. They showed how their workers will get employed in the chicken/turkey/beef factories...or the research facilities...and then record what they see. PETA them will bring it to the press...and report anything that breaks the law or is cruel to animals. I think that is great work because so many times...these industries go unchecked. If you ever wanna know what can or more likely is in your beef...go read Fast Food Nation. If you'd prefer to not know, so you can still order the Big Mac and swallow it down...don't read it. I think it is important that as consumers...we know what is going on.

However, because PETA does all this showboat/crazy antics...who is going to believe what they say? When people see an expose from PETA, they think it is another ploy or trick. I know that I don't take what they have to say as face value...because they play too many tricks. So, I think that Newkirk might get more media attention with her antics, but it isn't necessarily a good thing.

And my last pet peeve (pun intended) about the organization...is one of the celeb spokespeople. Pamela Anderson is one of the people who speaks out on PETA's behalf...A LOT. She's in the documentary. I have seen her all over the internet...I've her in print ads and what not. She says she is a huge supporter or PETA and all they do. Hmm, really? Anyone know why I might think this is a problem? Well...Pamela Anderson has been clear and open with everyone in America about how often she has had breast implant surgery. She did it a few times earlier in her career...and then she took them out...and then a little over a year later, she put them back in. Do we really think that there wasn't a bit of animal research that went into making sure that breast implants were safe for humans??? Of course it was researched on animals. So, Pamela Anderson walks around saying how great PETA is...and PETA champions her as a sponsor, but at the same time...she is carrying around breast implants that she has had put in numerous times. It's such a hypocritical thing to me...and we know how I feel about hypocrits. And, I am more disappointed in PETA than I am in Pamela. PETA basically says that if you don't follow them 100%...you are the enemy, but they accept Pamela Anderson as one of their champions. Nope, sorry...don't think so. I know she gets good press...and people flock to her ads where she is wearing next to nothing, but well...what's more important...the movements integrity or having a flashy, pretty face???

I thought the documentary was interesting...and brought up a lot of things for me to think about. It confirmed for me why I am a vegetarian and why it is important for me personally, but it also brought up why for many reasons, I don't stand behind organizations like PETA.

Alright...I am off my veggie soapbox...for now!

FS Weigh-In: 7/23

Hey everybody....it's Monday and that means that it's my official weigh-in day for the diet, etc. As I have said before, I have been reading and doing Dr. Ian Smith's Fat Smash Diet. I am really liking it...it's eating a lot of natural and really healthy foods. A lot of the food tastes really great too. There is this recipe for taco beans which just knocks my socks off...I sometimes have to be careful because I will eat too much of it.

I have been doing this diet for almost a month now...and so far, so good. Now, I haven't been perfect, but close to it. I did have a day where I made a big plate of tacos with crunchy shells and lots of cheese (even though I wasn't supposed to eat the shells and wasn't supposed to eat that much cheese), but I survived.

So, enough babbling...what were the results:

I lost 5 more lbs. when I stepped on the scale this morning. I had lost 4 lbs. before starting Fat Smash, I lost 6 lbs. in Phase 1 of Fat Smash and now I have lost 5 more...for a total of 15 pounds lost. Right now I want to lose 45 lbs. in total...so I have lost 33% of my goal in ONE month. That really kicks ass. I couldn't be happier.

I am now officially in Phase 2 of the diet...which means I could add meat back in (if I wasn't a vegetarian), I can eat a little bit of cheese everyday, I can drink one diet soda a day (which I don't plan on), and I can eat a cup or so of cold cereal if I want (but probably won't do that either)....but that cheese...I don't see myself saying no to that!

The one thing I really need to make sure I am doing is exercise. I didn't exercise much last week...because it was that girly time of the month and I just didn't feel like it. But, I know I need to. My goal this week is to workout at least 4 days out of the week.

That's a check in for me..on how I am doing at losing this extra pudge! Happy Monday everyone!

What do you do if you just can't stand veggies?

I have been doing this Fat Smash diet for almost a month now. The main focus of the diet is eating tons of fruits and veggies, whole grains and not eating any refined carbs, etc. I am really liking it. One of the main things I like about it is that it is very vegetarian friendly. One of my coworkers was giving me a hard time about all the fruits and veggies that I eat. He basically pretends he is allergic to fruits and veggies. lol He knows it is unhealthy, but well...he still doesn't believe in eating actual vegetables. We ended up getting on a conversation about how he gets all the things he needs. You know, those things like vitamins, minerals, nutrients, etc. He said he takes them in supplement or pill form. He says he used to take this "green" pills to get his veggies. I imagine he takes things like Drink My Daily Veggies, etc. I think fresh fruit and veggies are the way to go, but if you don't get enough...I think supplements like this seem like a pretty good idea. Plus, if it is a liquid like this type, it is absorbed much easier than a pill form.

So, if you are not getting your standard fruit and veggies each day...check them out, it might be just the solution you need.

counting calories...

I have been working on increasing my fitness level for years now...sometimes doing well and sometimes not so well. I spend a lot of time calorie counting, etc...since I try to log every single thing I eat. One, I know myself well enough...if I don't write it down, I will eat more than if I do. And two, it helps me see what kind of foods I am eating and what results it gets. MyFitnessPal.com has a free calorie counter where it can add up all those pesky calories in a day. It has a feature where you can search for foods and what their caloric intake is. I think this site is pretty cool because it brings together features of a bunch of sites I already use. Hey, if I can find all these things in one place...that's pretty sweet. So, if you are interested in finding out just how many calories you are eating everyday...and finding out what exactly is in those calories, etc...check out MyFitnessPal.com and their calorie counter. I am definitely signing up...and starting to use them to count those pesky daily calories!

P.S. Don't forget the site is completely, 100% free....not free for 30 days or free if you buy some product...it's 100%, all the time free. It's just a great tool to help people track their food and lose weight the healthy way!

Interview Me!

Hey everybody....TC had this "Interview Me" thing over at her site and she asked if anyone wanted to play along....and of course, I am always game. She asked me these 5 questions, here are my answers.

1) You are currently trying to lose weight. What is your diet/exercise
plan? What words of wisdom would you have to share.
Yes, I am trying to lose weight. To be altogether honest it has been a struggle all of my life, but in reality...I have only tried to do something about since about 2000 or so. I just got fed up with being heavy and unhealthy...and how it was limiting my life. I have lost and gained weight since then...and been successful and then fell off that lovely wagon. It's so hard...sometimes.

My plan...well, my plan changes ALL the time. I am always tweeking it a little here...a little there, but when you get down to it...the nuts and bolts of my plan is eat less, move more. I track what I eat...I eat about every three hours...and I eat high volume, high quality foods. I also look to workout (cardio and weights) 3-5 times a week.

Words of wisdom? For someone who has had success and had stumbling blocks...I often wonder if I have any. For me, it's a head game. It's not about the food and the exercise...it's about the negative messages I give myself about my health, my body, etc. And that's the tough work and it's the stuff that trips me up all the time. So, if I had any word of wisdom is that to look inside while you are changing the outside.

2) You are a vegetarian. How long have you been one? What motivated this
decision?
I sure am. I have been a vegetarian since the year 2000...at least in some sort. I begame veggie in 2000...had a couple slip ups and then in 2001, I became a veggie girl for good...not a bit of meat has touched my lips since then. I am not vegan, but I am a 100% vegetarian...no fish, no chicken, etc. I don't eat gelatin (animal product), I don't buy leather shoes, etc.

My motivation...at first it was diet. It makes sense that I became veggie and starting looking at weight loss at the same time. But quickly it became about animal rights issues. I just don't find it necessary to eat living animals to sustain myself. Now, I am not obnoxious about it...I don't judge anyone else's decision to eat meat...but for me, it just isn't an option. And people have asked, I can't ever see myself eating meat again...ever.

3) Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up when you were 5,
10, and 20?
When I was 5 I wanted to be a dancer...I was dancing at the time and thought it would be the best career ever. I some grew up and realized what kind of profession it actually is...and I ended up quitting dancing so I could be home on Thursday nights and watch The Cosby Show (I just think that's hilarious).
At 10: Hmm...I don't know. I think I just wanted to play and skin my knees and be a kid. No ambition at all.
At 20: Well, that's about when I actually saw my career...I was volunteering in homeless centers and soup kitchens. I was getting politically active and voicing that I was a feminist, etc. It's the first time I could see myself as a social worker, as a political organizer. Before 20, I wanted to be a teacher...and then I saw that I could teach in other ways.

4) You enjoy going to movies. What was the earliest movie you remember
seeing in a theatre? Have you ever been to a drive-in? How many movies do
you own?
Love movies...just love escaping into someone else's world for a bit. I remember going to see Star Wars-maybe Return of the Jedi...and my brother getting so scared (he's 2 years older), he put the bucket of popcorn over his head to shield his eyes. I would have been 6 at the time. I am sure I saw movies earlier, but that's my first movie memory.

Yep, love drive-ins...one, cause they are cheap and two, cause they are fun (minus the bugs). I went last year...or maybe the summer before. I went to see War of The World and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, so it must have been the summer before.

I barely own any movies...since I am the cheapest person alive. I rent, not own. I own...15 movies or so. I have to REALLY love a movie to own it.

5) You are granted three wishes - what would they be?
One- the end to hunger and poverty. I think it's one of the greatest injustices of the world...how so many people live in constant poverty. We have the ability for everyone to have food and shelter, but it's the haves and the have nots. It's just a devastation problem to me...and one that a capitalist society unfortunately needs in order to function and sustain itself.
Two- the end to the war in Iraq. This war breaks my heart, so I would want it to end and have the nation and the world start to heal.
Three- I'll make one personal...I would like to wake up and not have that nagging voice in my head that I talked about up there...I would like to have confident and esteem with my body, health and weight. I just can't imagine that freedom.

Ok..now that you officially know that I am long winded. Phew. Sorry...and thanks to everyone who is still reading this.

And...If anyone else wants to play along:

Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Organic and Health Food Guide

This was an opportunity over at PayPerPost.com...I didn't get to select it in time, so I'm not able to make a quick buck of the topic, but I am going to write about it anyways since I found it valuable.

It is a guide for finding organic or health food stores in your area or when you are away on vacation. I clicked on the NY sites and immediately found a organic store near me that I didn't know about.

So...it didn't make me a few dollars, but I know a lot of health minded people read this site...so please feel free to use this to find a bunch of health food stores near you!

Cravings....

I was looking at some blogs this morning and I ended up responding to TC who asked if anyone had ever tried being a vegetarian, etc...cause she is considering it.

What was interesting...is that I ended up writing something I wasn't even really aware of until I wrote it. I have been a vegetarian since sometime in 2001...and not a touch of meat has touched my lips since that date. I started being a veggie girl sometime in 2000, but didn't get all hardcore about it until 2001...and there were some slips up when I had some chicken strips or a burger, etc. So, I count my years of being a vegetarian since 2001...since that is when I truly committed.

What I realized is that...I sometimes will crave meat...if I see an advertisement for some new special, etc. If I remember how much I liked the chicken strips at Applebees...or if someone brings in a great beef chili for one of our pot lucks. The smell of something I like will give me a craving...it will make my tummy rumble. But, no matter what...eating meat is not an option for me. Those chicken strips must be great...they smell fabulous, but in no way can I even consider eating one.

What is interesting...is that I have a pizza craving...and a sweet tooth. On my 30 Day challenges...especially for the candy one, I often fail. About Day 20 (sometimes earlier)...I will end up breaking down and buying some chocolate or getting some jelly beans, etc. I have rarely been able to make it 30 Days when it comes to chocolate and pizza...but I haven't eaten meat for 6 years.

But then I thought some more...I almost always give up pizza and candy for lent...and I am usually very successful at it. So, I came up with a pretty good conclusion. I can give up things...and have incredible resolve...when there is a reason why I am giving up something. I don't eat meat because I can't support it...believe it to be wrong, no matter how yummy it might taste. I don't eat pizza and candy during lent...because it is a period of sacrifice before Easter, etc. I'm not catholic, but I like stealing their idea.

It's really an eye opening realization...and something that makes me think. Is my health and fitness not good enough of a reason? I am giving up pizza for 30 Days right now...because it is good for my health and helps me on my path to where I need to be. I think I need to remind myself of the good reasons behind these challenges when I get a craving and my tummy starts rumbling for a cookie or some ice cream. Mmmm...cookies! *winks*

Anyways...

The Raw Food Diet

I have often been intrigued by the concept of the Raw Food Diet...since I am a vegetarian and have been one for about 6 years now. So, I think after the 1st of the year...I am going to make a move over to the Raw Food way of looking at things. I ordered the Raw Food Detox Diet and requested the Complete Book of Raw Food from the Library. So...I am going into research mode...about the diet, what it consists of, if it is realistic, etc.

The Raw Food Diet intrigues me for a couple of reasons:

1. I LOVE fruits and vegetables...I can't get enough of them. So, I don't really think this would be all that hard for me. I think I would really enjoy eating all those crisp fruits and veggies all the time. People say eating raw is pretty hard...and some things will be...eating out, etc...but since I am already a vegetarian...I don't think it will be as hard as it would be otherwise.

2. One of my major problems when it comes to dieting is processed food...when I go through periods of buying crap things like candy and bags of chips, etc. If I was committed to Raw Food...that would be something that I wouldn't be able to eat.

3. Another problem that I tend to have with dieting is eating out...I go through periods of eating dinners from take out or fast food places. And...that would really limit that if I was doing the whole Raw Food thing.

4. I wish I was starting this in the spring or summer...since I would have so much more options for fruits and veggies...at the farmer's market and such..if it wasn't winter time. But I know that oranges and grapefruit and apples and broccoli and cauliflower and cukes and carrots, etc...etc...etc....will be available. I am excited to think about this diet and spring and summer though...it almost makes my mouth water now!

I do have some concerns about the diet...and I hope to read the books and get some insight.

Concerns:
1- I want to make sure I am not protein deficient. I might need to break from the Raw Food...and drink a protein shake a day or so...to make sure I am getting what I need.
2- I know this diet will end up being expensive...buying fresh fruits and veggies will hit my pocketbook...kind of. If I made myself figure out how much I spent last year on fast food, take out, pizza and crap food from the grocery store....I can easily afford to eat Raw Food.
3- I need to know the specifics of it...what foods to eat when...when is something considered raw or not. Is baby corn raw or is that cooked??? And...I also am looking forward to the Detox book because it gives you a way to slowly inch into eating Raw Food...instead of just jumping in 100% because I know that would be too much of a shock on my body and my system.

So...my new health, fitness plan....is Raw Food. It's out there, but it might be the perfect thing that I need.