It's all a big SCAM

GM Salmon

2010-09-27T16:56:00.006-04:00

Its been so long since I've blogged. I think it's been about a year and a half since my last entry! Well, a lot has happened since then. For starters, I had another baby boy! Now I'm a mother of three.

Though I'm much busier now juggling three children, you would think that little time would be left for much else. The truth is, its more important now than ever before to learn more about food safety and food policies in this country. After all, I have a growing family I need to take care of and I worry about what food will be like in the years to come.

Last week I read an article in the WSJ that both shocked and outraged me! It was about genetically modified salmon and how it's currently in the process of getting approved by the FDA! Currently there are three GM crops on the market; corn, soybeans and sugar beets. GM Salmon, if approved, would be the first genetically modified ANIMAL to appear in our grocery stores -and what's worse - it wouldn't even be labeled. This is a VERY big decision for the FDA. It will set a precedent for future GM animals. Here's the link to the article from last week's WSJ:

Gene Altered Fish Closer to Approval - WSJ

Here's another good link too. It's a kickass letter to the FDA written by a like-minded individual:

An Open Letter to the FDA

Please spread the word! We can't let this take place if we care about the future of our foods and our children. If you're on Facebook please Like This.

So the search for the truth continues. Stay tuned...

Competing in a Figure Competition - Again?

2009-01-04T21:32:00.008-05:00

For some reason I am afraid to even put that down as my title for fear of jinxing it. :P Obviously I am unsure whether or not I should compete in a figure competition again. I'll admit it - it's all FEAR based. I should know that I am a lot stronger than that. I have proven myself before. So what if I am not in contest shape - I'm getting so much stronger now and can lift more than I ever have before.

But do I really want to go through it all again? The post-competition stuff really took its toll on me and it was probably one of the hardest times of my life. Harder than childbirth, more difficult than dealing with death (gee that sounds a little dramatic, I know). But the mental and physical changes that take place during it all are so grueling that I don't know if I want to put myself through it all again. And what's worse is that very few people can relate to what you are going through. At least with childbirth so many people experience it.

Back in September I kind of decided that I wasn't going to compete again because I wanted to be "normal" again, but I tried to be "normal" again for a little while; eating whatever I wanted and drinking if I wanted while still weight training/exercising, but I quickly learned that it just wasn't possible to do that. Let's just say that it affected me in every way shape and form - mentally, hormonally, physically. I was more tired, my skin wasn't the same, I was starting to feel depressed, the list goes on. All because I changed my diet!

So I relearned something that I have always known deep down but did not want to believe - that you have to have the right balance between diet and exercise to lead a healthy lifestyle and to stay in the game - that is figure competing. Not to mention if you want to have the energy to train right. So what if I can't have my cake and eat it too. I know that my body and my mind are happiest when I eat clean, abstain from drinking and stick to my training/workout regimen.

To compete or not to compete? That is still the question.

Post-Competition Bloat

2008-08-02T13:10:00.015-04:00

Okay so I am definitely NOT posting pics right now because I have a serious case of post-contest bloat! You know, I read about it and for some reason I didn't think I would fall victim to it, but lo and behold - I have. Five pounds have quickly attached themselves to my gut just ten short days after my first figure competition.

It appears that this whole experience is a constant learning process and what I have learned is that I NEED a goal/plan/event to keep me on track. So should I sign up for another show? That I am not sure about. But I must admit there is a show in 8 weeks that I'm considering doing. I will keep everyone posted on that. I am not sure I want to put my family through the ringer again. Those couple of weeks leading up to the competition I was a total B!T$H!!!

So in the meantime I will try and stay on track and figure out a new short-term goal. Perhaps I will focus more on the modeling now. And speaking of which, check out my latest pics from a fashion show I was in last weekend! It was called "Skin 08" and it was an event to help support the Karmanos Cancer Institute. It was totally fabulous!

http://www.detroitfashionpages.com/been_shot/been_shot-629.asp

My First Figure Competition! MORE PICS!

2008-07-21T09:50:00.008-04:00

My First Figure Competition!

2008-07-20T21:52:00.007-04:00

I know it's been a while since I last published a post, but what can I say, I was totally immersed in the world of figure competing!

For the past three months I have been training and dieting for what would be one of the most exhilirating experiences of my life! It was just yesterday, at the Redford Theatre in Detroit, where I went on stage and competed in my very first figure competition. And not only that, but I placed 5th in my class and even got to take home a trophy!

The whole day was surreal to say the least. Arriving at the theatre, getting ready, loading up on sugary sweets before stepping on stage; it was an event to remember.

My little trophy is sitting on my kitchen table. Every time I look at it, it's a reminder of what a long way I have come. I set a goal and I stuck with it. Despite all of the ups and downs, I made a commitment and I followed through!

And to top it off, I was browsing through the local newspaper online and found this. The photo speaks for itself! :)

http://multimedia.detnews.com/pix/photogalleries/newsgallery/07202008michbodybuilders/index16.htm

HFCS why is it bad for you

2008-06-05T06:39:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people/companies/corporations out there that still believe that we, as consumers, are STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

We all know that HFCS is bad for you. For starters fructose, unlike glucose, does not effectively shut down the hunger signal, so an individual will not feel sated as easily. This makes it tempting for consumers to over-eat, and benefits fast food producers. And secondly, fructose does not stimulate insulin release as well as glucose and contributes to insulin resistance, which can result in diabetes.

So why is it even a question these days of whether or not HFCS is bad for you? I'll tell you why. We are talking about a billion dollar industry here and the big guys on top are terrified that they are going to lose all of their "hard-earned money". So instead of pulling their hazardous product off of our grocery store shelves, they just fund new research to state that HFCS is actually good for you.

Their is a website called HFCS Facts.com that should definitely be visited at least once especially if you want a good laugh. They claim that there are many health benefits to high fructose corn syrup. Yes, believe it or not there is a complete website dedicated to making you believe that HFCS is your friend. They mention that it keeps food fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast and energy bars moist, enables baked goods to brown better and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments. Wow, this all sounds so great. Of course, only if you're naive.

So I dug a little deeper and saw that these statements were backed up by a woman named Audrae Erickson. In an article she recently had published in The Wichita Eagle she reiterates the health benefits of HFCS as well as it's safety. She boldly states that high-fructose corn syrup is safe and no different from other common sweeteners such as sugar and honey. She then redirects the reader to the website I mentioned above (HFCSfacts.com) for more information and to read the latest research. This must be true right. I mean why would this woman have any alterior motives anyway. She's only the President of the US Corn Refinery Association. Ha!

So I did just that. I looked at the research, studied the findings and read through to find out who was actually funding these research studies. As it turns out and believe me, I was not surprised, I found that studies like these were quite often funded by grants given through companies like Pepsi. In addition, these findings are always supported by researchers and/or advisors that are connected to National Sugar Institutes, Corn Refinery Associations and HFCS producers like Archer Daniels Midland.

It just goes to show, don't believe everything you read. Except food labels of course.

To read more about Tania and join her in her quest to uncover other food scams, click here.

Before and After Weight Loss Pictures

2008-05-22T08:02:00.013-04:00

I hate to toot my own horn, but it occured to me that it's been exactly one year since I got the okay from my doctor to start working out. I am happy to report that I have lost all of my baby weight and then some! In fact, I am the size I was when I first met my husband back in 2000.

But size is not the only thing that matters - I am stronger than I ever have been, have the metabolism of my dreams and a body fat ratio that is officially in the "athletic range".

Don't let me fool you though - just because the weight is off doesn't mean that I am in the clear. There are many, many ways to sabotage a healthy lifestyle. And anyone who has lost a significant amount of weight understands the fear that accompanies weight loss success. It's definitely bittersweet. No one wants to see all of their hard effort go to waste.

I definitely have a huge fear of gaining it all back (even gaining some of it scares me). Everyone knows that losing the weight is only half the battle. Maintenance becomes what my old Peace Corps buddy Paula would call, "a daily struggle". But enough of the negativity! I am here to tell you that if you have baby weight to lose or just weight you have gained throughout the years, you can lose it too.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have one of the biggest appetites on the planet. That is why if I am not careful I will gain back the weight in a heartbeat. In fact I always tell people that if I were on a deserted island all I would want is a lifetime supply of buttery scones. LOL. So if I can do it, so can you!

All it takes is a little bit of effort everyday and the desire to actually care about your body and what you put inside of it. You only have one body so treat it well.

To read more click here

Corn Market Prices

2008-05-20T19:47:00.008-04:00

If you haven't already heard, corn prices are rising. So does this spell the end of high fructose corn syrup? I certainly hope so.

Rumor has it that high fructose corn syrup will go up in price but hardly enough to notice. Or so they say... Especially in products like cereals, baked goods, snacks, etc. I find it very difficult to believe this especially knowing how much HFCS is used in virtually every type of product in the supermarket. I'm no expert, but I am finding that food prices are rising across the board.

"Experts" on the other hand, say that we will see a high price increase in meat and dairy products! The argument is that prices will escalate due to the massive amounts of corn that is used in cattle feed. Maybe it's time to go vegan?

I just cleaned out the last bit of high frutose corn syrup from my cupboards. The sneaky devil was hiding in my stewed cans of tomatoes. Dog nabbits!

And speaking of tomatoes, there is talk that the Heinz Co. is going to cut back on their use of high fructose corn syrup in their infamous bottles of ketchup. They are not going to take it out completely, but hope to use less in combination with a riper tomato to get a less expensive formula. And you need not worry, they claim that they will not be genetically engineering a new type of tomato. Someone will have to let me know how that ends up tasting. There's no way I'm going to try it.

To read more click here

Starting a Daycare - I Don't Think So!

2008-05-17T12:58:00.006-04:00

For those of you who know me you know all about my days as a home daycare provider. When Sasha was born I wanted to stay at home with her while making a little extra cash to help out with the bills.

I always said the Peace Corps was a cinch compared to this job. It was the toughest job in the world, both physically and mentally. But I stuck with it. For a few years at least...

It was definitely a learning experience and for years I tucked away all of those memories, ideas, tips and valuable information. Until now!

So with that I am so excited to announce that I have co-written an e-book! It's entitled: Start Daycare - Develop Nervous Twitch. LOL

Click here - starting a daycare

Have a great weekend everyone! Get out there and enjoy the weather.

Why Does Diet Coke Float?

2008-05-07T08:26:00.007-04:00

Okay, okay I'm sure you would much rather read about my ever shrinking breasts, but I couldn't resist discussing the most ridiculous ad campaign I've ever laid eyes on!

It's Diet Coke's new ad campaign which I happened to spot on the side of a bus going through lovely downtown Birmingham. It was a photo of a can of Diet Coke inside a coffee sleeve with the words, "Good Morning" above it. Upon laying eyes on this I was outraged! So much so that I almost felt compelled to cover my daughter's eyes.

As it turns out there are seven different posters, each one featuring the "iconistic" can of Diet Coke in a new way. The first one is the one I just mentioned, the second one suggests that it's a peaceful, soothing drink to take before a challenging yoga class, the third is entitled "Three Hour Meeting" and shows three cans of Diet Coke ready to be consumed during that high pressure work situation, the last one I don't even get. It shows the same can with the words, "Sparkling or Sparkling on top". Here is a link to the "Good Morning" ad if you care to see what it looks like.

Do we really need these soda manufacturers giving us ridiculous suggestions on how to poison ourselves at a faster pace? It's one thing to recommend it while you're at a party, but to suggest you drink it upon waking up, at work and at the gym is totally asinine.

I hope that when the soda execs are laughing their way to the bank because they've fooled some more people into thinking it's okay to drink pop all day long, that they don't trip on hundreds of millions of unwarned, innocent, afflicted consumers across the broad face of planet earth that have died from aspartame poisoning.

By the way, the reason Diet Coke floats is not because of its density and blah blah blah, it's because it's poison I tell you! Not to mention, if you're trying to keep your girly figure it will most definitely increase your appetite!

And with that I must go, but I will wish you good luck. It's a jungle out there!

To read more click on this link: http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

Weaning From Breastfeeding - It's a Done Deal

2008-05-04T21:14:00.012-04:00

I am so happy to announce that as of two days ago I have officially weaned Alex from his beloved boob!

It was easier than I thought it would be. We went from six feedings a day to three. Two weeks later we took it down to one feeding a day. We did this for a week and then on Friday morning we were done! I am so happy to have my boobs and my body back. If you count the pregnancy my body hasn't really been mine in two years!

To celebrate I had "several" margaritas last night and it felt great not having to worry about the alcohol affecting my milk supply. So now I can be a total lush and not worry one bit about it...Ha ha - just kidding.

I'll admit a little part of me is sad; our one on one time was really special. But at the same time I know that it's something that had to happen eventually. Everyday he will gain more and more freedom. It's just the way life goes. And speaking of which, he is now officially walking as well!

Jeff was also sad that I weaned the baby. And it's not because he is going to miss the precious site of his wife feeding his youngest child. No, not at all. It's because he knows that in a few short weeks my boobs are going to be nonexistent and resemble little deflated ballons.

Oh well, you can't win them all!

To read more click here

is it possible to lose 10 pounds a week

2008-04-30T21:25:00.008-04:00

Is it possible to lose 10 pounds a week? Maybe if you're on the Biggest Loser and you're working out 4 hours a day. But if you live in the real world the truth is it can take anywhere from one to three months to lose ten pounds. And that's with a ton of hard work and discipline.

I've struggled with my weight my entire life so I know first hand how hard it can be. I was a size twelve (almost fourteen) in college and then a size two after I served in the Peace Corps. When I worked in "Corporate America" I fluctuated between a size four and a size six. And then came the pregnancies. I gained thirty-six pounds with my first pregnancy and forty-five with my second. One year later, I am back down to a healthy size and weight not to mention I can do twenty straight real pushups!

So here are my tried and true tips if you want to lighten your load:

Eat whole, natural foods free of artificial sweeteners and preservatives (and yes that includes high fructose corn syrup)
Always, always, always read labels when shopping for food
Don't drink your calories
Increase your fiber intake
Drink plenty of water every day
Limit your dairy intake and opt for lower-fat versions of cheese, yogurt and milk
Always keep a healthy snack handy and make sure to stash some in your car and at your desk at work
Under no circumstance should you eat fast food (there is a 99% chance that there will be HFCS in there among other awful things)
Eat fruit and/or vegetables with every meal
Limit your alcohol consumption as much as possible, but if you must, try not to have more than two drinks per week
Make time to exercize 4-5 days per week making sure to include plenty of weight training
Eat every two and a half to three hours
Skip dessert and instead opt for fresh fruit or herbal tea
Stop eating three to four hours before you have to go to bed
Get plenty of sleep

These are the things that worked for me. It's not rocket science. It's just a little hard work and a lot of planning. Make time for yourself! Your family will thank you for it.

To read more from Tania click on this link: http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

Genetically Modified Corn

2008-04-30T08:18:00.005-04:00

I had a really interesting conversation recently with a friend from the YMCA who while growing up in Iowa worked summers on a farm. She assisted the farmers with, yep, you guessed right, genetically modified corn!

Imagine my surprise when she uttered the word "corn". I think it happened in slow motion. Needless to say, I was really excited to learn more about this. We spoke for about ten minutes and what I learned was quite disturbing.

She talked about how at age thirteen , for eight hours a day and for $5.50 per hour she was responsible for cross pollinating the corn stalks. She went on to explain that it had to be done at a precise moment or else it would not turn out and it would "go to waste". Which presented another issue all together - "What happens to all of the corn crops that do not turn out?"

I wish I could have spoken to her more, but I had to run. Nonetheless it was interesting to learn that:

1. They hired kids so young to do this type of work

2. The kids were occasionally exposed to pesticides and herbicides when sprayed on the crops

3. So much thought went into cross pollination which to me seemed so unnatural

4. The end product is inedible! It's not the corn on the cob that you and I think of, but a dry, bitter corn used for processing and livestock feed

Am I the only one who is disturbed by this?

I can't wait to talk to her more. Maybe I could even get her to do an interview to post onto my blog! Stay tuned for more...

To read more from Tania click on this link: http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

List of foods without HFCS

2008-04-30T07:07:00.008-04:00

Would anyone be interested in helping me put together a list of HFCS-Free Foods? I think it would be a good list to compile so that all of us busy folks can use it as a reference when shopping at our local supermarkets.

Obviously foods that are sold in Health Food Stores are going to pretty much be free of HFCS. That also goes for anything labeled organic. So I'm talking more about when you go to a regular supermarket and you have 15 brands to choose but you don't have all the time to read each and every nutrition label/ingredient list. Or for example, you run into your pantry to grab a jar of stewed tomatoes which you've used for years and then happen to wonder if it's high in sodium and when you read the label find out that there is HFCS in it! You start freaking out and shouting profanities. That's hypothetically speaking of course. :P

I'd like to start the list with a product my friend Amy told me about recently (pictured above). It's Aunt Millie's Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns. Not only do they taste good, but the they are high in fiber too. But the most impressive thing if all is their packaging. Right on the front of the package in big bold letters it says "HFCS free". Now that's enough to win my vote! I love it! Finally companies are getting smart. But between you and me, I might still take a glance at the ingredient's list just to be double dog sure. I mean, I'd hate to have another stewed tomatoes incident. Oops, did I just give myself away? I really wasn't shouting profanities, I have small children in the house for goodness sake!

In any case, I'm still not over it. Just when I thought I had it all figured out...From now on I'm checking all canned foods. By the way, it was a can on Del Monte Stewed Tomatoes. I'm not sure if Contadina is the same. I'll have to check it out.

Do you want to add a product to the list? If you are 100% sure it's free of HFCS let me know. Drop me a comment and I'll add it. Thanks in advance!

To read more click on this here

Been Caught Stealing

2008-04-29T07:30:00.005-04:00

"Buckle Up", I said to my daughter for the third time before pulling out of the parking lot. It was what I like to call "prime time". It's when the kids are fed, rested and about an hour away from their next meltdown.

Protein shake in hand, we dart out to "Kroger", the local HFCS infected grocery store because we are out of milk, diapers, canned mandarin oranges (Alex's favorite) and sweet italian sausages - a staple in my husband's diet.

We get to Kroger and DAMMIT, we need to find a restroom. It's what I get for drinking a half gallon of water during my workout with Pam. Ok, now that that's taken care of we can get down to business. Milk? Check! Diapers? Check! Italian sausages? Check! Canned light mandarin oranges? Uh-yeah, looks like we have a problem.

When we get to the isle I can't find the light variety that is free of high fructose corn syrup. I know they carry them so why can't I see them? So I proceed to climb the shelves at Kroger to get to the top shelf because I am determined to find them.

My 5-year old daughter, of course, saw this as her BIG CHANCE to remove a toy from it's packaging and claim that she had "found it". I have to admit that in the past if we've been out an about and she's found a crusty old toy somewhere I have been known to say, "great honey - you can keep it". But this time was different. What she didn't know was that I had caught a glimpse of that toy before beginning my relentless hunt for the light canned mandarin oranges.

I scolded her and told her that what she was doing was stealing and that it was wrong to steal. After she apologized I hear someone sternly clearing their throat behind me. When I look over I see older woman, probably in her mid-70's, who is staring at me, fuming and she says, "ANY DAY NOW!"

Well talk about bad timing because I chewed this woman's head off for not wanting to move 12 inches to the left. There I was raising my voice to this woman as she motioned to ram her shopping cart into mine! OK so maybe I overreacted just a wee bit when I told her, "Does it look like I have eyes on the back of my head!"

Now that the dust has settled all I have to say is this: If it weren't for the damn corn syrup taking over America I would have my mandarin oranges and not this image of an evil old woman trying to attack me with her shopping cart

To read more from Tania click on this link: http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

why are bees dying?

2008-04-27T17:23:00.004-04:00

Has anyone seen the commercial for helpthehoneybees.com? It's a campaign created by the ice cream maker, Haagen-Dazs to help the University of California to research an alarming decline in the bee population. I wonder if this is really happening or is it just some big hoax like Y2K?

Is it really possible for the beloved bee to become extinct in our lifetime? (Cue in the movie trailer voice) "Imagine a world without bees?" No bees = No honey. It would mean no honey glazed doughnuts, no honey baked ham, no honey mustard, no Honey Nut Cheerios. Not to mention, honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of all the food we eat. So perhaps there would be no apples or pears.

Yes it would be a sad, sad day if we ever had to part ways with the beloved bee and say goodbye to the golden, gooey natural sweetener it produces. But what would be worse is that according to Einstein we'd all be dead in 4 short years! This quote by the way has been spreading across the internet like wildfire with the intent of course, to get our attention. And it's been working. But you need not worry, I dug a little deeper and found out that Einstein never said such a thing.

So what would replace honey if the day were to ever arrive? No, Don't say the "H" word! I did hear that Monsanto was making a honey-flavored aspartame. Or we could genetically engineer squirrels into making honey. That would be interesting. I bet it would be slightly nutty too. Yum!

To read more from Tania, click on the link below: http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

parenting tips

2008-04-27T11:28:00.008-04:00

What do you do when your five year old child wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, has three timeouts by the time its 11am and is not listening to a single word you're saying? Not to mention that you have a severe headache and all you want to do is run away?

A. Drink a liter of vodka

B. Go to the gym and sweat out all your frustrations

C. Insert your head into the refrigerator and slam the door shut

D. Write a new blog post

E. All of the above

Obviously I chose "D". Although "E" sounded very tempting too. :) Okay I am already feeling better.

But lets get serious here. As parents our job is to do everything we can to raise good, well-rounded children so they can grow up and be upstanding members of society. We are expected to not only discipline our kids while being impeccably consistent, but to also manage the house, the chores, the social calendar, the sporting events and the schooling. Not to mention, you have to keep yourself groomed and decent looking so people wont think Quasi Moto has escaped from Notre Dame.

So what do you do when you feel like there is nothing else than can be squeezed out of you? Especially a day after you have rewarded yourself with a bi-yearly "mom's night out" and you're exhausted and cranky? So much so that you don't even have time to reminisce about your old college days when you could wake up on a Sunday morning and do absolutely nothing.

There is so much advice out there in bookstores, on the internet, from other parents and of course the type we all love most - from our own family. But here are some tips that I am going to use to remind myself of what I need to do today.

#1. Lead by example - If I remain calm, cool and collected then my kids won't think that's I have lost control and therefore not try to take advantage of me.

#2. Keep them busy and entertained - Today we are going to get out of the house and have some fun. I think we'll take the kids swimming and then maybe to a park or go for a walk.

#3. Give them clear guidelines - I think I remember Super Nanny saying that kids need to know what to expect next. They don't do well with unpredictable situations.

#4. Make sure the leaders are on the same team - I will make sure to set time aside today so I can talk with my husband and strategize on handling future situations.

#5. Squash any insecurities - I will make sure to tell my children how much I love them so they can feel secure and happy.

If you have any other tips, please feel free to send them my way.

Over and Out!

To read more from Tania, click on the link below:
http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

cleaning products - Good Enough to Drink?

2008-04-24T08:35:00.010-04:00

I took the advice of a friend yesterday and decided to blow bubbles for my 1 year old son Alejandro, as a way of encouraging him to walk. When I started blowing bubbles, I quickly realized that the bubble blowing solution was a little watered down. So I put the bottle down and in an awesome display of super mommy ingenuity I picked up my new organic, all natural, non-toxic, dishwashing detergent, poured a little in a kid cup and attempted to blow bubbles again.

Much to my dismay, this did not work very well either. Without hesitation I gave up my efforts, put the soap-filled cup down and before I knew it, Alejandro was long gone. While I was "troubleshooting" with bubbles he was rummaging through daddy's leftover spaghetti in the next room.

Needless to say I gave up and decided to just sit and play with Alejandro. Two minutes later we hear a scream from the guest room that sounds like "Chucky" that scary red-headed doll from the 90's was attacking my daughter. Seconds later we see flashes of a 5 year old running around the living room, holding her tongue and yelling at the top of her lungs.

As it turned out, she took the glass that was laced with dishwashing detergent, filled it up with water and took a big swig. Within seconds Jeff and I were scurrying to find instructions on the bottle and debating whether or not to call poison control. Three minutes later we finally spotted the small print on the bottle that said, "In case of ingestion, do not induce vomiting; drink plenty of water to dilute". And so that's just what we did. By bedtime we made sure Sasha drank at least 16 ounces of water. In addition to that she had about five ounces of milk. Phew! I was really proud of how we handled that. All was good in the world.

Well at least for a second or two hours to be exact. At midnight, get this...Sasha woke up, walked to the bathroom and peed five feet away from the toilet! All while sleepwalking! Oops, better throw in a load of laundry. A woman's work is never done.

I suppose the lesson here is that you never put a child to bed with a full bladder. I suppose the other lesson is, just because it's organic, doesn't always mean it's good to eat. :)

To read more from Tania, click on the link below:

http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com/

dangers of hfcs and "King Corn"

2008-04-24T02:46:00.004-04:00

Shortly after the movie "Supersize Me" came out in theaters, McDonald's started phasing out their "Super Size". This marked a pivotal moment within the fast food industry. It meant that one voice, one person could compete with a billion dollar industry and win! This day gave me hope and reassurance that we, no matter how big or small, could make difference in our world.

For those of you who have been faithfully following my new blog you know that I am passionate about doing away with the evil High Fructose Corn Syrup. I am so sick of finding it in practically every product at the supermarket and hate the fact that if I want to go out to dinner the odds of me ingesting this poison are pretty high.

Ladies and gentleman, my prayers have been answered! Today I heard about a new documentary entitled, "King Corn" and it's all about - you guessed it - High Fructose Corn Syrup.

After reading the reviews I am that much more excited to go see it. It's about two young guys who decide to move to Iowa, grow an acre of corn and follow it through the food system. What they find out is eye opening. The documentary also discusses obesity in America as well as the farming industry.

It's a movie like this, I'm hoping, that will change the way America feeds its loyal citizens for many years to come.

If anyone is interested in going to see this film let me know. Let's rally up the troops! For more information on the movie itself, check out my list of favorites!

http://itsallabigscam.blogspot.com

facts on ice cream - Is it making you fat?

2008-04-23T07:31:00.004-04:00

Every year it's the same thing. I spend all winter and spring getting in shape for the summer and as soon as the weather starts to get warm I have this incredible urge to eat ice cream.

If I were a single person it might be a little bit easier to resist the temptation. But as a mother of two children who happen to love the stuff it can be a bit of a challenge. To make matters worse, my husband LOVES ice cream too.

I have tried practicing self control when heading to the local Dairy Queen or Cold Stone Creamery. But who can resist the amazing aromas that eminate from these delicious establishments? Certainly not me. Cold Stone Creamery is the worst (or really the best I should say). The sweet smell of ice cream and cones practically knocks you off your feet when you're simply walking past it. It's impossible to resist!

Did you know that the average American consumes an average of 23.2 quarts of ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, ices and other commercially produced frozen dairy products every year! It should come to no surprise that ice cream consumption is highest during July and August. Did you further know that July is National Ice Cream Month?

How are you supposed to compete with this and avoid gaining weight in the summer time? It's definitely a challenge. Even if you order something small and "light" you will inevitably start seeing changes in the way your pants feel. And how often can someone choose the light version when everyone else is going all out? For me that means ordering the butter pecan on a sugar cone or the chocolate chip, also on a sugar cone. Regardless of what choice I make I inevitably start to pack on the pounds and just in time for National Ice Cream Month!

This year I think I'm going to avoid ice cream all together. I'll do whatever it takes! Whether that means reading "Skinny Bitch" again or watching reruns of "The Biggest Loser", or thinking about Alli's weight loss on the show. Starting today, I declare war on ice cream!!!

Doing Away with the "Chuletas" (Pork Chops)

2008-04-22T15:09:00.003-04:00

I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine about foods we ate while growing up that we hold near and dear to our hearts. In my case, I grew up eating a lot of traditional Puerto Rican dishes which quite often were not the healthiest. They were high in saturated fat, loaded with cholesterol and certainly not a part of a healthy diet.

Without a doubt, whether it was a birthday or a holiday, or maybe even an ordinary day we would eat things like rice and beans (with a pork base of course), fried plantains, fried pork chops and the Puerto Rican version of the meat pie - called an "empanada".

Typically when you're young and active you really don't have to worry too much about packing on the weight from those typesof foods. In my case I did worry. At age twelve I remember exercising with Jane Fonda so that I could be slimmer like some of my friends and sisters. Weight was just something that was frequently on my mind.

I knew I didn't want to grow up and be overweight like a lot of women in my great big Puerto Rican family. But how was I to do that if I didn't change my diet?

As I got older I realized that I needed to make some changes. By the time I was a sophomore in college I was about 30 pounds overweight and nearly a size 14! Not to say that a size 14 doesn't suit some people, but in my case it did not!

The sad truth was that if I wanted to lose the weight I had to make some sacrifices - and so I did. I gave up my "chuletas" (GASP!) along with most of my favorite home cooked Puerto Rican dishes.

Needless to say, the weight came off. I am now a size 4 and I feel great! I have to be honest though, not only can I smell a pork chop hit a frying pan from a mile away :), but I do indulge once in a blue moon (2 weeks ago to be exact) and still manage to keep a healthy weight. As long as I don't start to do it everyday I think I'll be okay.

Don't trust the scale - If it's too good to be true it usually is

2008-04-21T20:06:00.008-04:00

2008 started off with a bang! It was the first time ever that my New Year's Resolution did not involve losing weight of any kind. By Christmas I had shed the 45 pounds I had put on during my second pregnancy. You can imagine my relief when I finally did not have to worry about lower back pain or sore shoulders from lugging around very large breasts. When I reached my goal it was time to celebrate.

To top it off I even asked my trainer Pam to do a Body Fat Ratio test and a BMI test to see exactly where I was at. I was happy to see that all of my numbers were great. My body fat was what I was most proud of - It was 19% - officially in the "athletic range"!!!

For the next couple of months the number on the scale stayed the same. This however gave me a false sense of confidense that I could eat and do whatever I wanted. And so I did! I started baking desserts nearly every day. Thanks to the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook and the Food Network I had the inspiration and the tools to do just that. Everyday was an adventure! I made cookies, scones, brownies, cakes and even pies. And though I wouldn't eat it all, I would eat more than I should have especially because it was organic and therefore practically guilt-free. It wasn't long before I started feeling differently. But again, the number on the scale was the same so I didn't really worry too much.

Needless to say, my daily dessert FIESTA came to a screaching HALT when my trainer tested my body fat again. I was DEVASTATED to find out that my body fat ratio had gone up by 2% even though I still weighed the exact same amount. Damn that scale! I should have known it was too good to be true!

Talk about a reality check! From now on I will be a little more mindful about what I put into my body even if the numbers on the scale are the same. Effective of today, I vow to get my body fat down to 18%. By Memorial Day I want to be just as buff as Jillian Michaels. As for the desserts, maybe I will treat myself when reach my goal. I think I can go 5 weeks without eating dessert. How hard could it be???

Ketchup - The Health Benefits of Lycopene and Corn Syrup :)

2008-04-20T17:03:00.006-04:00

Anyone who has a child knows how important it is to have ketchup in the house. My daughter puts it on everything from the obvious hamburger and hot dog to the more unlikely turkey and cheese sandwhich. While we are at home it is easy to control what type of ketchup we use. Of course we only buy All Natural Ketchup with natural sweeteners.

Going out to dinner on the other hand is a different story. You'll be hard pressed to find anything other than the high fructose corn syrup infused bottle of Heinz Ketchup on the table. Planted in the middle of the table as if to welcome you to its world of dreaded poison. So what do you do when your child gets his or her hamburger and reaches out without hesitation to the horrible red bottle?

At first you might think, "Well ketchup contains lycopene, an antioxidant associated with decreased cancer risk. That's healthy right?" Wrong! In my opinion that's just as bad as having a Big Mac and a Diet Coke to lose weight.

I will not allow the ketchup companies to fool me into thinking that they are selling me a healthy product because it contains lycopene. Not me! No way Jose!

In the meantime I will definitely be one of those women that will bring her own bottle of natural ketchup everywhere she goes. If only they were available in little packets...

Related Links

The Murky World of High-Fructose Corn Syrup
http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html

Diet Danger: High Fructose Corn Syrup
The Effects of Corn Syrup Aren't So Sweet
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=486

What is Worse Than Sugar? "High Fructose Corn Syrup"
http://www.noweightgaincookbooks.com/worse_than_sugar.htm

Gaining Weight on Vacation

2008-04-19T15:58:00.017-04:00

No one wants to gain weight while they are on vacation. You want to be able to enjoy the sunshine in a little bikini and sip margaritas on the beach, but you don't want to look like a piggy while you're doing it. Lets see a show of hands of all the people who want to pack on a few during their vacation? ...Bueller? ...Bueller? No hands. That's what I thought.

So we escape for a week in sunny Florida to enjoy a little R&R. We hang out at the beach for a few days, we visit the Naples Zoo and we even go Alligator Hunting in the Florida Everglades. Every meal is an adventure so of course every time I order food I go ALL OUT! As the days go by I notice that my pants are fitting a little bit tighter than they did when we first arrived. I was pretty upset by this turn of events especially because I've been working out so hard at the YMCA. So I decide to change my ways and not drink or have dessert for the rest of the time I am there. Of course my willpower goes right out the window! Instead I decide to wait until I get home to try and lose the 3 pounds that crept up on me.

Now that I am back home I have made a plan - No Drinking, No Ice Cream, No Dessert, No High Fat Meals. I want to eat clean and get back into shape. It has been 4 days since we have been home and so far so good. And to add a little more pressure to the whole situation, my trainer told me that she wanted to check my body fat ratio a week from Monday - so the game is on! I mean, heck, if Ali Vincent from The Biggest Loser can shed over 100 pounds and look super buff in 4 months - then I think I can lose a measly 3 in a couple of weeks.

The Biggest Loser - Chew on this!

2008-04-09T00:49:00.002-04:00

Am I the only one who is bothered by the fact that the trainers on NBC's The Biggest Loser ie, Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper, recommend that the contestants chew on Wrigleys Extra Sugarfree Gum to supress their appetites? Don't they know that aspartame actually INCREASES appetite. Not to mention, there is a horrible list of side effects some of of which include, nausea, dizziness, severe migranes, depression, irritability, and insomnia, just to name a few.

I think if they really cared about those poor Biggest Loser Contestants they would recomment something healthier like sipping on green tea. Or how about drinking water. But they don't and why is that? BECAUSE ITS ALL A BIG FAT SCAM!!! They sold their souls to Wrigley's. Now that is just outright wrong!

For more information on all of the lovely side effects of aspartame click on the link below
http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

Healthy bread in Michigan? Like finding a needle in a haystack.

2008-04-08T22:37:00.002-04:00

So I run into Kroger to pick up some last minute things for a last minute dinner that involves hamburger buns and had one hell of a time finding some that did not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. I was absolutely outraged! Unless it is a sweet bread, I really think there is no need to add sugar to bread - PERIOD! Should it really be a pain in the ass to buy some regular, wholesome hamburger buns without having to go to WholeFoods and spending an arm and a leg? Even Brownberry buns that look wholesome are just a bunch of HFCS poisoned crap!

I have two children under five and going grocery shopping is not always easy. In fact, it's usually a race against time. I do not think it is too much to ask to want to quickly grab a bag of bread and be able to trust that the store is not selling you poison. There is just not enough time in the day. By the time you find what you are looking for, the baby is screaming and the five-year old is nagging about how she has to go potty! High Fructose Corn Syrup should be outlawed! I think it is what is making America so fat!

Next project - shop for breadmaker.