I love rice pudding

This weekend I basically did homework, with a small break to build tonnes of little gingerbread houses and trains with my neices, and ate rediculous amounts of rice pudding at family supper. And we got sent home with the leftover pudding. Oh. Yeah.

Mmmm. :)

Today is my MSc bi-annual progress meeting. I'm hoping it will go well. I've worn my pirate boots and a skirt for luck :)

This morning I was up and did my leg and ab workout as well as 30 minutes hard biking - tried to keep it between 80 and 90 rpm the whole time. A delicious breakfast of yogurt, blueberries and granola and I'm here with my coffee ready for my day. After my big presentation meeting today I have another huge assignment due tomorrow, so it's gonna be a LONG night.
But things are coming along...it's the last official week of classes. THAT is a very cool thing.
It means it all has to end soon.
For realz :)

Have a great day!

Workout tunes today: Beck - The Information

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!!!

another reason fat = poor health : Arthritis

I was helping J shoot a segment for one of the shows he works on last night to spend a bit of time together (let's just say he's been working too much lately) and the main guest they had on the show was very interesting - the topic of the day was arthritis. The guy being interviewed was one of the top researchers in the nation and one of the things he touched on really struck me...he pointed out the the fact that being overweight puts excessive stress on joints, leading to increased acute arthritis, at a much earlier age than it would normally be seen. So not only is being large and sedentary a problem, but it is like a self repeating circle...eventually you won't be *able* to move around at much of any sort of a normal level as you'll be out of shape AND in pain. your body would truly be a prison...and losing weight with arthritis pain would be a true challenge and test of endurance. I'm not sure I would have the fortitude. This struck me so deeply, as I have seen this in my sister in law already but never put it together. Her weight is over 350 and she is already having difficulty with stairs and driving a standard car, in addition to her being winded from walking farther than a block or two. She is less and less active as time goes on, and complains of aches and pains. She also now has to sleep with a mask on at night due to sleep apnea, and was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. This just drove home the inevitability of her having this to look forward to. Sad...as a large number of her health maladies are largely preventable if she could lose even part of her weight. She's tried, but had a hard go of it and has never really kept at it. It is discouraging...losing so much weight is no simple thing. To me, I just don't see how living in a painful body is not a huge wake up call to become more healthy. It's what triggered me and I only had about 40lbs to lose. I worry for her... I want my brother and her to have many happy years together.
Here's a scary thought - The guest on the show went further to say that the general 10% increase in obesity (and trend towards even greater numbers) in the Canadian population will likely lead to a 25% increase in arthritis in the next 20 years. For something like arthritis that can be addressed early, this is remarkable...

This has really given me a kick in the pants to be more active. It's also gave me the reminder to look after myself and not push too hard. The guest also said that stressful injuries from overexercise and "going back too soon" after injury, particularly in the ages 15-40, is a leading cause of painful joint damage resulting in more severe arthritis later in life. I don't want my body to be a prison, or depend on arthritis medication to live a better life...I want to look after myself.
So I ask you all: Would you make the commitment to look after yourself too? There's so many reasons to do even little things to benefit your health. Not perfection...not uberfitness or diet. Just practical healthy diet and some activity in your life. Please. For me? I worry.

My goal for november is to be kind to my body.
...and back to work.
*ahem*
Gotta go...