Dollars to donuts there will a tray of something similar to this on the staff room table within the first couple weeks of the school year. Who can resist these amazing temptations? It's funny how your radar just zones in on stuff like this? Word gets out quick, "Hey, make sure you get into the staff room a.s.a.p. - someone brought in these awesome desserts!" Knowing we might be heading for a diabetic coma doesn't even slow us down from making a bee-line as quick as can be to the staffroom.
Of course, I'm just as guilty as the next person with leaving tempting things to snack on in the lunch room at school. I've just been thinking about that . . . guess I'll have to make some serious changes there, too. I'm sure the gals at school would appreciate some healthier options.
All I can think of is . . . "all that hard work of jumping on the rebounder . . . out the window!" My self-control has definitely been getting better, but I have noticed something about myself. It sure is hard to stop at one! lol I'm sure that's the case for most people. You think you can, but seriously . . . not an easy feat. Especially, if it sits there and you walk by it time and time again. At home, put "goodies" away - out of sight, out of mind (mostly) - but I have been known to eat stuff frozen! And I'm not even a big sweet eater! It's almost like my brain thinks . . . if it's there . . . it must be eaten! Not sure. But, that is what ends up happening. Again, if I have time on my hands and it's sitting in front of my eyes . . . for sure - a deadly combination for me.
I've been doing really well with my snacking at home. If I bake something (I try not to do that too often) . . . I no longer make the double recipe version (so there are some for other days). Typically, I try to have only have one piece and then my gang at home, inhale the rest - problem solved. These days, we only have desserts or sweeter things once or twice a week - mostly on Sunday when the whole family is together. I haven't been going out very often for breakfasts or lunches and when I do - no appetizers or desserts. Not really missing it - but I do make sure I order a pot of tea to finish off the meal. Seems to work pretty well. Some days, I can look at menus and feel like ordering 80% of everything on the appetizer side of the menu - I DO MANAGE to restrain myself - good
thing - the fat and sugar counts
are
probably through the roof
on most of it.
As I said, it's pretty hard to show restraint when it comes to sweet and savory things. Honestly, the best course of action sometimes would be, to not even take that first bite. Once you start, not so easy to stop. But, realistically, I know that is easier said than done. There are times when you just can't avoid the treats. So, if you can't or don't want to, at least try your best to cut back on the amount or types of items. Self-control is not easy some days (or a lot of days) but as you take babysteps . . . it does get easier. Like most things in life, eh?
It's crazy how addictive sugar is. And what is even crazier, is how sugar affects your body and how little added sugar you are actually allowed to have, according to health and medical specialists. As I mentioned in an earlier blog - what is sugar not in? It's virtually everywhere and it sure doesn't take much at all before you have surpassed your daily limit.
This is a woman's daily limit for added sugar -
When you see the number of grams of sugar listed - you have to stop thinking of it in terms of grams (most of us don't really think it through as to how much that REALLY is.) Start thinking of GRAMS in terms of TEASPOONS of sugar Those little juice boxes might ONLY have 28 grams of sugar but that really means - 7 teaspoons of sugar. Would you really mix 7 teaspoons of sugar into your child's drink. That is pretty much we are doing. Remember - these juice boxes have had the juices processed - they have less nutrients and no fibre. This applies to even the 100% fruit juice boxes. It's not uncommon for juice boxes to have only a percentage of real juice - often they add in more sugar and minerals / vitamins (sometimes, artificial). Studies have shown that children are drinking less water (so important for them) . . . they want the colourful, handy dandy juice boxes. Good habit to have them kick - buy them a cute/cool water bottle instead. Save yourself a pile of money, to boot. Sometimes, using them just makes sense (picnics, travelling) but for most days . . pass!
Keep the sugar in mind when checking out the packaging on your favourite treats. It's super easy to forget how much a gram is when you see it listed on the side of a box. One little gram. Doesn't sound like a lot, but they add up and when you can start dividing those grams by 4 and see what they look like in terms of teaspoons - it really does wake you up. Hopefully, it makes us think twice on our choices. There's a lot of options out there - don't settle. One of those regular packages of Skittles -
47 grams of sugar. That's almost
12 teaspoons of
sugar
(or 12 sugar cubes) in someone's lunchbag. Maybe the small bag might be a better idea, if candy is a "must".
I see kids of all ages in schools drinking that Sunny D - there's 8 teaspoons of sugar for you - not to mention the added vegetable oil. What's with that?
Kool-aid Jammers - 5 teaspoons of added sugar, chocolate milk - 6 teaspoons of added sugar.
I've decided that the unsweetened orange juice we have been buying is just not a good idea. We'll eat the orange, thank you. One glass of that oj is 6 teaspoons of sugar. That's my allotment for the day! No wonder we are overweight!
In the old days, I'd easily scarf down an O Henry Bar at the movies but now I'm thinking twice . . . 31 gm of sugar. That would mean me eating almost 8 teaspoons of sugar. What about those large slurpees (and I'm not even talking about the really big ones) that people LOVE to pick up on a super hot day . . . 23 teaspoons of sugar. Are you seriously telling me that you'd willingly stand at the kitchen counter and down 23 teaspoons of sugar out of the sugar bowl? Same dif.
Recently, I heard a neurologist, who has been doing extensive research on memory loss / Alzheimers (an issue for my family already) say that these have been linked to flab around the waist and obesity issues - yet more reasons for me to stop packing on the pounds. It's surprising how obesity is on many people's minds these days. For good reason. From the Childhood Obesity Foundation:
"Currently, 59% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese. Cities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were significantly higher in overweight/obesity population than the national average for adults.
There has also been a dramatic increase in unhealthy weights in children. In 1978, only 15% of children were overweight or obese. By 2007, Statistics Canada found that 29% of adolescents had unhealthy weights. Most adolescents do not outgrow this problem and in fact, many continue to gain excess weight. If current trends continue, by 2040, up to 70% of adults aged 40 years will be either overweight or obese"
No one expects us to stop eating sugar but being a little aware of what you are putting into your body is always food for thought! I hope that you will seriously give some thought to portion control and especially, sugar consumption. Less IS more!
Side note: To find your Body Mass Index (BMI) - check this site out:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html
I am considered overweight - surprise, surprise - my tight pants already told me that. But - I'm less than I was a number of challenges back. No one would probably have guessed (or maybe I'm just kidding myself) - that I've gained 40 lbs. since I was first married (Oh, the good life). It helps to be tall - you can hide it easier! Slowly, the weight has creeped on and slowly it's coming off. Learning self-control - even though it has been baby steps - is still a good thing. I'm thinking that I'd really be quite ok with losing 15 lbs. That is my goal, anyway. Starting to feel healthier already with the few pounds I've already lost. I'm actually scooting up the stairs with laundry in my arms without huffing and puffing - YIPPEE!
Food for Thought:
This your allotment of added sugar for THE DAY!
If you remember nothing else - remember these two things:
SUGAR NOT BURNED CONVERTS TO FAT
Of course, I'm just as guilty as the next person with leaving tempting things to snack on in the lunch room at school. I've just been thinking about that . . . guess I'll have to make some serious changes there, too. I'm sure the gals at school would appreciate some healthier options.
I've been doing really well with my snacking at home. If I bake something (I try not to do that too often) . . . I no longer make the double recipe version (so there are some for other days). Typically, I try to have only have one piece and then my gang at home, inhale the rest - problem solved. These days, we only have desserts or sweeter things once or twice a week - mostly on Sunday when the whole family is together. I haven't been going out very often for breakfasts or lunches and when I do - no appetizers or desserts. Not really missing it - but I do make sure I order a pot of tea to finish off the meal. Seems to work pretty well. Some days, I can look at menus and feel like ordering 80% of everything on the appetizer side of the menu - I DO MANAGE to restrain myself - good
thing - the fat and sugar counts
are
probably through the roof on most of it.
As I said, it's pretty hard to show restraint when it comes to sweet and savory things. Honestly, the best course of action sometimes would be, to not even take that first bite. Once you start, not so easy to stop. But, realistically, I know that is easier said than done. There are times when you just can't avoid the treats. So, if you can't or don't want to, at least try your best to cut back on the amount or types of items. Self-control is not easy some days (or a lot of days) but as you take babysteps . . . it does get easier. Like most things in life, eh?
It's crazy how addictive sugar is. And what is even crazier, is how sugar affects your body and how little added sugar you are actually allowed to have, according to health and medical specialists. As I mentioned in an earlier blog - what is sugar not in? It's virtually everywhere and it sure doesn't take much at all before you have surpassed your daily limit.
This is a woman's daily limit for added sugar -
6 teaspoons or 24 gms a day
(A juice box can be up to 28 gms. That basically means that I would have drunk my daily limit with one little juice box.)
(A juice box can be up to 28 gms. That basically means that I would have drunk my daily limit with one little juice box.)
FYI - 1 teaspoon sugar = 4 gms
Men = 9 teaspoons daily
I would think those amounts could vary a bit, if you are physically active.
Men = 9 teaspoons daily
I would think those amounts could vary a bit, if you are physically active.
47 grams of sugar. That's almost
12 teaspoons of
sugar (or 12 sugar cubes) in someone's lunchbag. Maybe the small bag might be a better idea, if candy is a "must".
I see kids of all ages in schools drinking that Sunny D - there's 8 teaspoons of sugar for you - not to mention the added vegetable oil. What's with that?
Kool-aid Jammers - 5 teaspoons of added sugar, chocolate milk - 6 teaspoons of added sugar.
I've decided that the unsweetened orange juice we have been buying is just not a good idea. We'll eat the orange, thank you. One glass of that oj is 6 teaspoons of sugar. That's my allotment for the day! No wonder we are overweight!
In the old days, I'd easily scarf down an O Henry Bar at the movies but now I'm thinking twice . . . 31 gm of sugar. That would mean me eating almost 8 teaspoons of sugar. What about those large slurpees (and I'm not even talking about the really big ones) that people LOVE to pick up on a super hot day . . . 23 teaspoons of sugar. Are you seriously telling me that you'd willingly stand at the kitchen counter and down 23 teaspoons of sugar out of the sugar bowl? Same dif.
Recently, I heard a neurologist, who has been doing extensive research on memory loss / Alzheimers (an issue for my family already) say that these have been linked to flab around the waist and obesity issues - yet more reasons for me to stop packing on the pounds. It's surprising how obesity is on many people's minds these days. For good reason. From the Childhood Obesity Foundation:
"Currently, 59% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese. Cities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were significantly higher in overweight/obesity population than the national average for adults.
There has also been a dramatic increase in unhealthy weights in children. In 1978, only 15% of children were overweight or obese. By 2007, Statistics Canada found that 29% of adolescents had unhealthy weights. Most adolescents do not outgrow this problem and in fact, many continue to gain excess weight. If current trends continue, by 2040, up to 70% of adults aged 40 years will be either overweight or obese"
No one expects us to stop eating sugar but being a little aware of what you are putting into your body is always food for thought! I hope that you will seriously give some thought to portion control and especially, sugar consumption. Less IS more!
Side note: To find your Body Mass Index (BMI) - check this site out:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html
I am considered overweight - surprise, surprise - my tight pants already told me that. But - I'm less than I was a number of challenges back. No one would probably have guessed (or maybe I'm just kidding myself) - that I've gained 40 lbs. since I was first married (Oh, the good life). It helps to be tall - you can hide it easier! Slowly, the weight has creeped on and slowly it's coming off. Learning self-control - even though it has been baby steps - is still a good thing. I'm thinking that I'd really be quite ok with losing 15 lbs. That is my goal, anyway. Starting to feel healthier already with the few pounds I've already lost. I'm actually scooting up the stairs with laundry in my arms without huffing and puffing - YIPPEE!
Food for Thought:
THIS IS WHAT ONE EX-LARGE SLURPEE LOOKS LIKE.
A mere 36 teaspoons of sugar. Cut back and make them an occasional treat or maybe just a 12 oz. (only 12 teaspoons - lol).
If you remember nothing else - remember these two things:
SUGAR NOT BURNED CONVERTS TO FAT
4 GRAMS OF SUGAR = 1 TEASPOON OF SUGAR
See you next week for Challenge #21 - Learning to be OK with OK.
Images by: sweetbakes4u.webs.com; servewell.co.uk; articlesofinterest-kelley.blogspot.com; survelas.info; www.hsmm.ca/wp/wp-content/.../how-sweet-it-is-healthy-start.pdf ; weelicious.com; thatsfit.com; en.wikipedia.org; dominickspizzaedison.com
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