The warmth has turned campus into a giant puddly skating rink. Eep. I fell this AM. Spilled my coffee (sniff). A little cut and bruise, but I'm OK. Hopefully they'll be out with some sand today and make it safer. There is a LOT of snow to go, and until it all melts it's going to be a gong show :)
This morning I was up and in to do my abfest and 35 minutes on the arctrainer. A nice sweaty way to start the morning. I was very tired, but once I got going, all was well.
I think it was my tiredness, but I did see something this morning that made me annoyed at how little women are taught about some basic things and how people expect things to change for them. In the gym change room there are a few (not enough) outlets and mirrors for use to blowdry/straighten our hair and get ready after working out. 2 girls, who looked about 20, were sharing a mirror and outlet (pretty common as there isn't enough of them) and BOTH pulled out huge blow driers and plugged them in and ahd them going at the same time on the same outlet. Before I could put on my old lady undies and go over and tell them to stop, surprise surprise- the breaker blew. They were annoyed - but not at themselves. Here's the kicker - they said "ugh - that happens a lot. Sheesh - they should build those things better. I mean GOD - they blow all the time. Why don't they change that?"
I casually said - "they'd blow in your house too. Outlets are not made to take that much power draw - a blow drier sucks back a lot of power".
They glared at me and said " I know - why don't they change the power stuff" and got ready. Thing is, they didn't apologise to everyone for blowing out the power or tell anyone at the desk. They just complained as they left about how the electrical systems should be improved so that more can be done on them.
Yeah. Sure. Change the Power Stuff. I like to think that everyone and their dog knows that if you put 2 blow driers on one circuit for a bit, the breaker will blow. Which is good, otherwise your panel box would overheat and melt and your house would burn down. No girls they will not change the entire electrical code of north america to accommodate your blowdrying needs.
I'm not sure why this irks me so much - it was just so profoundly snotty and naive.
So - here's your lesson in electricity today: 2 blow driers on one outlet? Too much. Do not pass go. Do not dry your hair.
OK rant over. Off to work :)
I began this blog while learning to run and training for my very first race! Now I'm just your friendly neighborhood mad scientist still trying to live a healthy life...day by day :)
Showing posts with label rants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rants. Show all posts
Pulp Fiction...fitness edition
I admit it -sometimes exercise can be dull. I enjoy most of what I do in my morning workouts, but when my knee flares up and the pool (grrr) still isn't open after repairs, I'm often delegated to 30 minutes on the exercise bike for some cardio. Some days it's all good. Often the news will be on the gym TV. Maybe a cooking show, the Sopranos or even (squee!) the Golden Girls.
Occasionally, like this morning, I'll really be bored and want something to keep me occupied while I pedal that doesn't involve talking to the creepy guy on the bike next to me and the TV's have all been reset to (sigh) sports. Then I dive into the gym's drawer of free "fitness" and "health" magazines to read while pedalling away. I find it makes other people uncomfortable if I spend my time watching them workout, so I figured it would be a decent entertainment.
The more I read them, the more I realize - boy was I wrong. I think my brain actually shrinks ever so slightly as I read them...I'd have probably been better off reading regular crap publications like Vanity Fair. At least I'd know what I was in for...
Over the last few months I have read a variety of "health" and "fitness" magazines and have concluded that 95% of them all spout the same crap:
-Exercises that supposedly sculpt the perfect abs/ass performed by models with minimal muscles
-How high intensity interval training is an exciting new concept that will change my life (yes it's good, but seriously...I know already)
-How diets and diet pills are bad - but oh hey what's advertised on the next page? Grrrr
-insipid articles about how some famous person with a decent body works out and eat's healthy - "they're just like us!" *sigh*
-How I need to lose 10 Lbs.
-How I can lose 10 lbs. In a week. By eating *insert new wonder food here*
-Healthified recipes that might taste good...but most of them are just basics that you'd already know how to make if you cooked from scratch. And some of them would not taste good. I don't care if it's healthy -don't be mucking with recipes to make them bland.
-"sexy" bedroom tips. This also amuses and saddens me. A - how is this fitness related? and B -Maybe I've just got it going on at home but really - do you need to tell people obvious things to do in bed? Is it not fun for you already (you should try harder >;) )? Apparently I am a freak for getting it on a lot as it appears they think most magazine readers are grasping for any mojo action. I've gotta tell you - nothing makes you feel more sexy than being healthy and in shape. I'm not kidding. You can't teach that in a magazine...just work your own mojo people :)
-Inspiring weight loss stories. OK this part isn't so bad. I do like to read about other people getting healthy. It's part of what I like about the Internet - the instant online support in getting healthy and losing weight. What bugs me is the photos. The attitude in most of the articles that this person was less before they were thin. Come on people...shame is never the proper instructional tool.
OK soap box away.
I'm just a bit annoyed at the state of the health and fitness media.
I find it increasingly difficult in my quest to be healthy to get good, true and accurate information on healthy living, weightlifting and exercise that isn't filled with "we're all girls together gosh golly gee" crap or that I'm somehow invalid if I am not stick thin, or can run an Iron Man.
Maybe it's the scientist thing. I don't like being pandered to or treated like a fluffy headed bint.
Just give me facts.
I am hopeful - I have Rachel Cosgrove's book about weightlifting and fitness training that I got as a Xmas gift, that is giving me some ideas and tips about where to go next with this whole fitness thing. It's been recommended to me by healthy fit people that I would be very happy emulating. I'm hoping it will give me some useful information and keep me from injuring myself.
As for the magazines? Well...lets just say I'm not going to get a subscription to anything anytime soon.
crossposted from my other blog...
Occasionally, like this morning, I'll really be bored and want something to keep me occupied while I pedal that doesn't involve talking to the creepy guy on the bike next to me and the TV's have all been reset to (sigh) sports. Then I dive into the gym's drawer of free "fitness" and "health" magazines to read while pedalling away. I find it makes other people uncomfortable if I spend my time watching them workout, so I figured it would be a decent entertainment.
The more I read them, the more I realize - boy was I wrong. I think my brain actually shrinks ever so slightly as I read them...I'd have probably been better off reading regular crap publications like Vanity Fair. At least I'd know what I was in for...
Over the last few months I have read a variety of "health" and "fitness" magazines and have concluded that 95% of them all spout the same crap:
-Exercises that supposedly sculpt the perfect abs/ass performed by models with minimal muscles
-How high intensity interval training is an exciting new concept that will change my life (yes it's good, but seriously...I know already)
-How diets and diet pills are bad - but oh hey what's advertised on the next page? Grrrr
-insipid articles about how some famous person with a decent body works out and eat's healthy - "they're just like us!" *sigh*
-How I need to lose 10 Lbs.
-How I can lose 10 lbs. In a week. By eating *insert new wonder food here*
-Healthified recipes that might taste good...but most of them are just basics that you'd already know how to make if you cooked from scratch. And some of them would not taste good. I don't care if it's healthy -don't be mucking with recipes to make them bland.
-"sexy" bedroom tips. This also amuses and saddens me. A - how is this fitness related? and B -Maybe I've just got it going on at home but really - do you need to tell people obvious things to do in bed? Is it not fun for you already (you should try harder >;) )? Apparently I am a freak for getting it on a lot as it appears they think most magazine readers are grasping for any mojo action. I've gotta tell you - nothing makes you feel more sexy than being healthy and in shape. I'm not kidding. You can't teach that in a magazine...just work your own mojo people :)
-Inspiring weight loss stories. OK this part isn't so bad. I do like to read about other people getting healthy. It's part of what I like about the Internet - the instant online support in getting healthy and losing weight. What bugs me is the photos. The attitude in most of the articles that this person was less before they were thin. Come on people...shame is never the proper instructional tool.
OK soap box away.
I'm just a bit annoyed at the state of the health and fitness media.
I find it increasingly difficult in my quest to be healthy to get good, true and accurate information on healthy living, weightlifting and exercise that isn't filled with "we're all girls together gosh golly gee" crap or that I'm somehow invalid if I am not stick thin, or can run an Iron Man.
Maybe it's the scientist thing. I don't like being pandered to or treated like a fluffy headed bint.
Just give me facts.
I am hopeful - I have Rachel Cosgrove's book about weightlifting and fitness training that I got as a Xmas gift, that is giving me some ideas and tips about where to go next with this whole fitness thing. It's been recommended to me by healthy fit people that I would be very happy emulating. I'm hoping it will give me some useful information and keep me from injuring myself.
As for the magazines? Well...lets just say I'm not going to get a subscription to anything anytime soon.
crossposted from my other blog...
Junk is bad....mmmmmk?
Yet another study out showing how foods bad for us actually cause addictive behaviours. Chemicals released in the brain from consistent over eaters that are the same as those of an addict to heroin. I am annoyed that this has to be scientifically proven, but maybe now that it has in multiple studies it will be taken a bit more seriously. Yes it is harder for some to stop...even when we know it's bad.
Eating some foods can release dopamine in our brain...happy endorphins. The more we get the happier we are. People with addictive personalities can have less dopamine receptors...requiring more "fix" for the same bang. When this applies to food...well, you can guess. Yes it's obvious that unlimited access to unhealthy foods can trigger repeated over-consumption and obesity but it's not just plain eating too much. There can be more to it.
This can be applied to both drug and food addictions to help people deal with their problems...
My beef is that of course not a lot of time is spent on looking at how to help people not eat those things...that's when we just call people weak and fat and lazy.
*sigh*
We need more work effort spent on teaching people how to eat well and fight their cravings for food. Addicts do it. We've done it.
As our food has become much more processed and manufactured and we add chemicals, sugar, salt and fat to make food taste better we are rewiring our brains. We are creating a situation where we are more likely to overeat the very foods that are the worst for us.
It's a fact.
We need to take control of our diet and the quality of the food we eat and help each other. Yes, sometimes food is just food....but I know with some people (like me) it *can* be a whole lot more...being healthy isn't always so simple. I'll let you lean on me if I can lean on you :)
p.s. SCIENCE!!!
Eating some foods can release dopamine in our brain...happy endorphins. The more we get the happier we are. People with addictive personalities can have less dopamine receptors...requiring more "fix" for the same bang. When this applies to food...well, you can guess. Yes it's obvious that unlimited access to unhealthy foods can trigger repeated over-consumption and obesity but it's not just plain eating too much. There can be more to it.
This can be applied to both drug and food addictions to help people deal with their problems...
My beef is that of course not a lot of time is spent on looking at how to help people not eat those things...that's when we just call people weak and fat and lazy.
*sigh*
We need more work effort spent on teaching people how to eat well and fight their cravings for food. Addicts do it. We've done it.
As our food has become much more processed and manufactured and we add chemicals, sugar, salt and fat to make food taste better we are rewiring our brains. We are creating a situation where we are more likely to overeat the very foods that are the worst for us.
It's a fact.
We need to take control of our diet and the quality of the food we eat and help each other. Yes, sometimes food is just food....but I know with some people (like me) it *can* be a whole lot more...being healthy isn't always so simple. I'll let you lean on me if I can lean on you :)
p.s. SCIENCE!!!
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