2nd Tuesday Call - March 14th, 2017
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:
- Everything Goes Better With Bacon
- Green Beans & St. Patrick’s Day
- Brack Stacy Interview
- Easy St. Patrick’s Day Stew
2nd Tuesday Call - February 14th, 2017
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:
Failed Resolutions
- Don’t feel badly. The majority of people fail in their New Year’s Resolutions by the time the Super Bowl comes around. We’ll talk about why.
Happy Valentine’s Day
- Here’s a chocolate dessert you can make today (or even after work) and eat tonight.
- Let’s talk about why chocolate is good for you and why it’s a popular aphrodisiac!
VP of Anger Management Interviews Dieter Terri
- When you’re a 59-year old woman and weigh 250#’s, you might have given up on ever being thin. Not Dieter Terri. She admits to our VP of Anger Management to being a Weight Watchers “repeat offender.” Then, she describes why she decided the Plan Z Diet would work for her. Down 50# after two rounds, she’s excited to share her strategies for success.
New On-air Spokesperson Samuel
- Samuel is a back-announcer in Bellefontaine, OH. He’s our youngest on-air spokesperson yet. Let’s check in with him on his progress.
7 Ideas to Deal with the Winter Doldrums
- We all get a melancholy in February… especially if we live where the sun doesn’t shine enough. What can we do about it?
2nd Tuesday Call - January 10th, 2017
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
Here's what's on the agenda:
Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday to Zola!
- Zola celebrates a landmark birthday this year. This one has an all-important zero on the end. Tune in to hear what she has to say about aging.
Zola's NEW Thickener Friend.
- There are so many more options for thickening soups, gravies, stews and sauces than flour! And with better results, not to mention lower carbohydrates and even no gluten in some cases.
Dieter Interview
- Listen in to our first dieter interview of 2017. Biggie in North Carolina joins VP of Anger Management Chris, LIVE to talk about his 190lb lose on Plan Z!
Book Report
- Our VP of Anger Management recommends and summarizes Gary Taubes' new book, The Case Against Sugar.
2nd Tuesday Webcast: December 13th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
Tis the Season! This December we will focus on all things winter. And festive!
A Gift For You!
- Every Plan Z dieter will be receiving an electronic gift from Zola. Don't worry, there's a way for you to get it, too. Tune in to find out what it is!
Surviving the Holidays without Gaining Weight
- Holidays can wreak havoc on your waistline...if you don't know what to do. Zola shares helpful strategies on how NOT to gain weight at holiday parties.
Gift Wrapping
- Still plenty of time to wrap gifts in special, easy ways. Zola will show you some of her favorite ways to add sparkle and creativity to gift wrapping.
Vitamin D
- Sometimes called the sunshine vitamin. During winter, many don't get enough Vitamin D. We will discuss what happens if you don't get enough.
White Chocolate Snowflakes
- One of Zola's favorite cake decorations. She'll share her secrets and her recipe.
FSA - Use It to Lose It
- For most folks, your Health Savings Account and FLEX account money expires on 12/31. Zola shares some creative things you can do with those extra dollars.
Dieter Interview
- We interview Melvin, who's lost 130lbs!! Yes. You read that right. ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUNDS on Plan Z! This is certainly 1 interview NOT to miss!
2nd Tuesday Webcast : October 11th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
October - The holidays are coming. Your're planning. Don't try to fool Zola... We know you are!
So let's start with Halloween
- Zola is a big fan of passing out toys instead of candy. They last longer, are low carb and don't cause cavities! Kids love them!!! And guess what... they can be cheaper than candy. So tune in to see what surprises she has up her sleeve... and under her witch hat.
Next up... Thanksgiving
- Zola is going to inspire you with menu options that are low carb. And you'll be proud to serve them! You can still have some of your family "must haves" and make the rest of the dinner healthier but just as flavorful and fun.
Holiday Cocktails
- Take the calories out...and leave in the flavor. Low carb cocktails you can serve and no one will notice the sugar is missing.
Dieter Interview
- Dieter Pam shares her Plan Z Diet successes and strategies with VP of Anger Management, Chris.
Fool You Foods!
- You'll be shocked by what's actually in that can, that just about all of us use over the holidays. It's a Fool You Food for sure! We'll have a couple of others that will surprise you too, and renew your interest in reading labels before you buy.
2nd Tuesday Webcast : September 13th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
September - How to get your diet covered by insurance!
Here's what's on the agenda:
Back to School
Zola has new news from Bob's Mill. They are innovating to help us bake better tasting gluten-free, low carb treats!
She will also be giving us a new recipe for something that can be an after-school snack, even a breakfast... or something to put in kiddies' lunchboxes!
Kitchen Hacks
Wanna make your life easier in the kitchen? Learn some new ways to use kitchen tools to your advantage. Zola will show you some kitchen hacks she found, and even one from her own kitchen.
Dieter Interview
Chris, VP of Anger Management, is lining up an inspiring interview.
And BEST of All!
We have a big announcement in the world of insurance and how Plan Z can help you pay for your diet!
2nd Tuesday Webcast : August 9th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
August - One last summer vacation
Here's what's on the agenda:
Going on one more vacation before the kiddies go back to school?
Here's how to eat on the road... In the car or at airports.
Does your doctor have you on statins? Or do you know someone who is?
These are not the miracle drug they thought!
VP Anger, Chris will give you some startling advice. Tune in for this one!
Dieter Interview
Chris, VP of Anger Management, interviews Dieter Jim — He explains how he's kept off 60 lbs over 2 1/2 years.
The harvest is in!
Fun with green beans.
2nd Tuesday Webcast : July 12th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
July - Eat Your Veggies!
July's Topic Line Up Includes:
- EAT Your Veggies! : Dr. Joseph Mercola and his staff have done a ton of research on which veggies are the best for you. Discover the ones that pack the most nutritional punch. I’ll share some of that data. And I'll tell you how I'm going to change some of my behavior as a result. You may be inspired to make a few healthy changes yourself.
- What's UP with Watermelon? : Kids walk around with watermelon “smiles” all summer long. Watermelon is just water, right? Must be good for you! Well, you might be surprised. I’ll give you the lowdown.
- Dieter Interview : Chris, VP of Anger Management, interviews Dieter Jill — Learn her strategies and the mindset that led to a very successful ZReduction.
- The Plan Z Perks Program is HERE! : Learn about our new loyalty and referral program.
Bizarre Things Celebrities Do to Lose Weight
Celebrities often do crazy things to lose weight.
Luckily, you won’t have to.
Aren’t you glad you have Plan Z?
Cream
Heavy whipping cream has now been approved for ZReduction! 4 Tbsp max per day.
Put it in your coffee, or use it to jazz up your favorite soup. It also makes a nice addition to a special sauce, like the Baked Salmon with a Louisiana Cream Sauce.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
The Grain Brain Lifestyle
Eating your way to better health begins in the kitchen, and that starts by filling your cabinets with the right food. In this video, you'll learn about what's in Dr. Perlmutter's kitchen, like eggs, seeds, and coconut flour, and how to stock your pantry for success.
The Crazy Amount of Sugar in Random Foods
I spend a lot of time explaining to dieters (friends and family, too) that food companies insert sugar into everything. EVERYTHING. But for many people, this concept is hard to visualize. This video shows you precisely how much sugar we’re eating in “everyday” foods.
Angrily,
2nd Tuesday Webcast : June 14th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
June - The Evils of Diet Soda
June's Topic Line Up Includes:
- The Evils of Diet Soda : You’ve heard it before. Diet soda is bad for you. But this new information is going to sink deeply into your core. If you ever think about going back to diet soda, think twice...or thrice. This segment comes with a very scary personal story.
- Potatoes and Blood Pressure : Yes, Zola still loves them. She says she can’t help it -- she's Irish. But now, she treats them with caution. She explains why on the call. She'll also show you how to eat them...every once in a while.
- Dieter Interview : As the radio host of WPKE in Pikeville, KY, Ted Meadows did not have time to diet, exercise...or cook. His success on Plan Z is inspiring to all of us who are juggling a busy life and career while making a dramatic health change for the better.
- The Politics of Food : Recently Vladimir Putin outlined his plan to make Russia the world's "leading exporter" of non-GMO foods. He also harshly criticized food production in the United States, saying Western food producers are no longer offering high quality, healthy and ecologically clean food. Regardless of what you think about Putin’s politics, the fact that non-GMO farming is now such a key part of the international discussion is very exciting (and long overdue). Zola weighs in.
Diet Coke Does THIS to Your Body in One Hour
The only part of this video I disagree with is the end. Telling you to drink sugar water; even if it’s made with honey is not my idea of a good move. I suppose it’s okay if you don’t do a lot of it, and you don’t do it often, but it’s not ideal.
What IS ideal is water. Drink water. Plenty of it. Stay hydrated and you’ll have more energy. Your skin will look younger. You’ll begin to crave water and it will become your favorite drink.
I started off drinking fizzy water, flavored with natural elements. La Croix is one great brand. They make lots of flavors. Another options to get fizzy water and flavor it with stevia drops. You can now find them in the grocery store in the baking section (look by the vanilla) or order them on line. One bottle seems expensive but they last a long time. There are other naturally flavored options now; fizzy or still. Just look for them and make sure they are all natural. They have no calories and no carbohydrates.
And if you’re like me, you’ll grow out of those and want just plain water. I drink mine iced.
Latest advice is to drink half your weight in ounces of water – daily. For many of us that’s a lot more than the old advice of 6, 8 ounce glasses.
Drink up.
Cheers,
Losing My Mind and My Equilibrium
When I was 34 years old (25 years ago) I had a very bad day that lead to more than 4 bad months.
I’m going to tell you a shortened version of the story. I COULD tell you the long story because even 25 years later I remember it like it was yesterday, but I want to get to some new information I want to share as soon as possible.
This story is my nightmare.
I was driving to work one morning. As I drove the car into the parking lot, the cars started to spin. I slammed on the brakes because I was not sure if my car was moving or not. The parked cars all appeared to be moving. Really scary.
I managed to get out of the car and had my husband park it. With his help, I got to the office, called my doc and my husband took me in. Some of the dizziness and spinning temporarily subsided but it was not long before it was back.
The neurologist did some tests. Just early stuff. He gave me a drug that he hoped would allow me to stand upright without tossing my cookies. It worked.
I had to make sure I took it exactly on time, though. If I let it wear off; even for an hour, the dizziness was back and my equilibrium was gone. I could not stand. My head would spin wildly even if I was laying on my bed. Debilitating, for sure. Hard to run a company that way, too.
Then the tests ensued. 3 months of them. I’d go into the neurologist’s office every few days and they’d run tests. They were sort of secretive about what they were doing and, frankly, I was too scared to ask.
They gave me an MRI first. Then they did all kinds of tests where they’d lay me on a table, hang my head off the end of the table and flash strobe lights in my face. They’d look into the back of my eyes with scopes. All kinds of tests.
They just kept coming up with more tests and told me to take the pills. Early on they announced that one of the big side effects of the pills was weight gain. It could not be helped, they said, but they were confident I’d lose the weight again. Little did they know that less than a year before I had been going to a diet doc guru and had finally lost 50 pounds. So far I was keeping it off. I burst into tears and told them they had no idea how hard it was going to be for me to get it back off but again, they said that was really not my big worry and to keep taking my pills.
I gained 28 pounds in a month and gained more as the weeks passed.
After 12 weeks they told me I could try to stop taking the pills. They thought the pills might have worked; others before me took the pills for 3 months and when they stopped, they seemed okay. So I took a shot at stopping the pills but first I insisted they tell me what was wrong with me (or what they thought was wrong with me). I had procrastinated asking and since they weren’t telling, that made me even more scared and hesitant to ask!
Their answer: They speculated on three things.
1. They thought maybe I'd had a stroke and were waiting to see if I had another one.
2. They thought I had Multiple Sclerosis. At my age I was a perfect candidate.
3. They thought maybe I had a brain tumor and they were waiting to see if symptoms progressed.
I about fainted. I was glad they didn’t tell me because I was not sure what I would have done next.
I was off the pills for a few days and nothing came back. Then they told me, sadly, that even though they cleared me of some really ugly things, that they didn’t know what happened to me or if it would ever come back.
No guarantees, but go get on with your life.
I did, and it didn’t come back.
25 years later, I now know what it was. It was aspartame. I was a diet soda fiend. I drank about six diet sodas a day. I ate very little. I kept getting fatter and the latest diet gurus at the University I was working with could not figure out why.
Watch this video and you’ll learn why this happened to me and how insidious diet soda really is.
The only part of this video I disagree with is the end. Telling you to drink sugar water; even if it’s made with honey is not my idea of a good move. I suppose it’s okay if you don’t do a lot of it, and you don’t do it often, but it’s not ideal.
What IS ideal is water. Drink water. Plenty of it. Stay hydrated and you’ll have more energy. Your skin will look younger. You’ll begin to crave water and it will become your favorite drink.
I started off drinking fizzy water, flavored with natural elements. La Croix is one great brand. They make lots of flavors. Another options to get fizzy water and flavor it with stevia drops. You can now find them in the grocery store in the baking section (look by the vanilla) or order them on line. One bottle seems expensive but they last a long time. There are other naturally flavored options now; fizzy or still. Just look for them and make sure they are all natural. They have no calories and no carbohydrates.
And if you’re like me, you’ll grow out of those and want just plain water. I drink mine iced.
Latest advice is to drink half your weight in ounces of water - daily. For many of us that’s a lot more than the old advice of 6, 8 ounce glasses.
Drink up.
Cheers,
2nd Tuesday Webcast : May 10th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
May - Resistant Carbs
May's Topic Line Up Includes:
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- There’s big news on how to eat mashed potatoes and pasta in ZLife and not gain weight.
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- Chris interviews Dieter Sarah from Madison, WI about her Plan Z Diet do-over
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- Plus we’ve updated Zola U and repaired all the links to all the must-see videos.
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- Get connected to information to inspire and inform.
The 5 Big Weight Loss Lies
I started dieting at age 12.
Some of you may know that already.
I know now that 12 years old is too early to go on a diet. At the time, I was worried because I was going to be in my big sister’s wedding and I was afraid of what I’d look like in the pictures. Even then I knew that ‘wedding pictures are forever.” I look at those pictures now and I can clearly see I didn’t need a diet. I was a normal 12 year old budding, little woman.
At the time that I decided to start dieting was the same time those little calorie counting books started popping up near the check out in the grocery store. They were about 3” x 4” and listed just about every food in the grocery store. Next to the food item it listed the number of calories in that item. Nothing else; just the calories.
I bought one of those books with my babysitting money and set about memorizing it. All I really knew was that if I chose to eat the items with the fewest calories I’d lose weight and I’d be “healthy.” That’s what all the commercials on TV were saying.
That methodology of dieting didn’t work for me. Little did I know that even at 12 years old, if you continually restrict what you eat you’ll just slow down your metabolism as your body hangs on for dear life. Your body thinks the famine has hit and tries to survive.
By the time I was 15, I tried eating every three days to lose weight. That worked. I lost 30 pounds in a month. I passed out 3 times in the process. I never told my parents. They had no clue I was teetering on a very dangerous slope in my efforts to fit the image I saw in the magazines.
Fast forward. Over the years, I learned a lot of other things about diet and dieting. I fell into the trap of believing what I heard on TV, read in magazines or the newspaper, or even learned in school, was ‘gospel.’ It had been published so it must be true. It must be correct. It must be right.
Well, much of it, (as well intentioned as the authors might have been), was wrong. Dead wrong.
Here is a piece we just released at Plan Z on the Five Biggest Weight Loss Lies.
These are all things I bought into as I continually tried to lose weight. Unfortunately, it was a losing battle. The more I bought into this stuff the more I gained weight -- until I developed Plan Z.
I hope they will enlighten you, too.
2nd Tuesday Live Webcast April 12th, 2016
Howdy Plan Z Dieters!
You’re a Plan Z Insider. That means you have direct access to Zola and the ZTeam whenever you need us. On top of that, every 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month you have a chance to listen to Zola “live”. Zola will bring you the newest dieting information, discussion of popular recipes coming out of ZKitchen and a whole lot more. Each month we interview a Plan Z Dieter so you can hear about their experience with Plan Z and you have a chance to participate by asking questions or commenting on your own Plan Z story. Register and tune in over the lunch hour.
April - Put Down those Cocoa-Puffs!
April's Topic Line Up Includes:
Chris on Breakfast
- Chris, VP Anger Management will start us off this month talking about “What’s for breakfast”?
- We will share some quick ideas on Plan Z approved breakfast items . . . Definitely not cereal!
- We will also present some research on whether you can skip breakfast with no repercussions.
Can Type 2 Diabetes be Cured?
- Zola will talk about the success rate dieters have getting off their Type 2 Diabetes meds. They not only save money but they extend their lives and improve their quality of life. This is an interesting topic for the Plan Z staff, and there's lots of data to be shared.
Dieter Interview
- VP of Anger Management, Chris, interviews Dieter and Radio Host Dave Stanford about his 40 pound loss in one round of ZReduction. Dave is a great interview. Listen in!
These Are a Few of My Favorite (Green) Things
I’m Irish and particularly fond of St. Patrick’s Day. By the time you read this, Chicago will have dyed the river green and I will have witnessed the event. They do it the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day now, so when the holiday lands later in the week they manage to make an entire week-long celebration. I don’t celebrate all week long but I definitely partake in some of the festivities. I have friends coming from Wisconsin the day after St. Patrick’s Day and we will be laughing all weekend long.
The color of Irish celebrations is Kelly green, so today I thought I’d share some of my favorite things; my favorite green things.
I'll start with emeralds. Not that I have a lot of them. I have one in particular that was my engagement ring. We didn’t do the on-bended-knee kind of engagement. Rather my husband (then fiancé) asked me to stop by the jewelry store with him after work one night. Of course I knew what was going to happen. We were already business partners so there was no way for him to spend that kind of money as a surprise so that was his way of saying it was time.
When we got to the store I was looking at diamonds. I was not paying attention to what he was doing. He eventually called me over. I strolled to the counter and looked down. I said something about how these were pretty colored stones, and he announced he wanted to get me an emerald for my engagement ring. Never occurred to me to go color. I was intrigued. The clerk was intrigued too. She asked why… and my husband related that the first day he met me I was wearing an emerald green blouse and he’d never forget the first time he saw me.
The clerk cried. I beamed.
My second favorite green thing (not necessarily in order) is grilled asparagus. Instead of boiling asparagus, try it on your grill this spring. Spray with olive oil and dust with grated sea salt. Grilled asparagus is better than potato chips any day. Served hot or cold, I promise they will be a hit… and suggest they eat them with their fingers; makes them even more fun.
Up third…the green grass of Ireland. I’ll never forget flying into Dublin. I was told to manage my expectations of Ireland or I’d be disappointed. Oh contraire! They say there are 47 colors of green in the Irish countryside. It was a sunny day when we flew in and I swear I saw all 47. I almost cried. My expectations were blown away.
Pistachios are another favorite green item. Most people don’t think of pistachios as green because they are only looking at the shell. I love the whole experience of cracking them open and eating them. Pistachios have benefits. They have fewer calories, more potassium and more vitamin K than other nuts. They are high in fiber and help lower cholesterol. That’s one mighty little nut.
Granny Smith Apples come in at number 5. Beautiful, round, Granny Smith apples. I use them to make my mother’s apple crisp recipe. The smell of warm apple crisp baking in my oven transports me to times with my mother, and all is good.
And lastly, one of my favorite green things is actually a bug. I love the praying mantis. A praying mantis is a sight to behold. They are really the mantis but since they look like they are praying, they got that added nickname. They are a relative of the cockroach, but I don’t hold that against them. I try to have them in my garden each summer.
Mantids eat bugs. They eat the pesky bugs in your garden, but they might eat the good ones too. They are always looking out for prey; even butterflies, bumble bees, caterpillars, and of course, the females are known to eat their mates after mating. I love an interesting bug.
I wish you all the happiest St. Patrick’s Day. Take it easy on the green beer. That’s an American invention. St. Patrick’s Day, (until recently) was purely a religious holiday in Ireland and a celebration of the Irish culture. I like to focus on the cultural aspects. I’ll be watching Irish dancing on the day. You can bet on that.
Cheers!
From Cigarettes to Sugar
Remember when smoking was fashionable? It seemed like everyone smoked.
You’d see famous actors smoking in movies. Golfers smoked cigarettes as they made their way down the fairways. Nightclubs were filled with smoke, and it was seen as sexy to be sitting in the glow of candlelight and a cloud of smoke with a cigarette in your hand. Chivalrous men flocked to women so they could light their cigarettes.
Cigarettes were seen as energizers. I can remember my dad having a cigarette as soon as he got out of bed. He thought it got him going. Doctors smoked. Everyone smoked.
Then we learned cigarette smoking was an addiction and it was bad for us. We found out smoking causes lung cancer. Everyone knows that now. It has also been proven that smoking can cause bladder, breast, cervical, kidney, mouth, gastrointestinal, esophageal and throat cancer. Smoking also causes coronary heart disease, heart attacks and hardening of the arteries. The list goes on.
Our world changed. You’d be hard pressed now to find a bar or restaurant you can smoke in. Public buildings, private office buildings and public event locations are all smoke free now. Laws have been passed to prevent or deter smoking.
People who smoke are often looked down upon. They are seen as dirty and they smell. It’s not a smell anyone wants to tolerate anymore. No one wants to be exposed to second hand smoke, either.
Yet the Center for Disease Control estimates at 42.1 million people still smoke in the US. How can someone smoke with all the enlightenment available to us now?
Apply this same kind of enlightenment and education to sugar. In 1700 the average human consumed 4 pounds of sugar per year. In 1800 it ramped up to 18 pounds. By 1900 we were up to 90 pounds of sugar per person, per year.
And today… today we, as a population, consume an average of 180 pounds of sugar per year.
Sugar is everywhere, just like cigarettes were everywhere. We have sugar in our drinks, sugar in our food. Sugar is eaten all day long and glamorized on TV, in movies and in our homes. We call sugar a treat, and if we are willing to admit we are addicted to it, we laugh about it and make light of it.
Yet we now know sugar not only makes us fat, it makes us sick. It makes us as sick as cigarettes. The diseases are just different in some cases, but most of them can cause death.
The list includes:
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Gastric and duodenal ulcers
• GURD, and severe indigestion
• Even Alzheimers. Yes. Some health scientists now call it Type 3 Diabetes.
With all this evidence, how in the world can we continue to ramp up our consumption of sugar? Are we really that stupid? Or just that addicted?
The majority of our population stopped using cigarettes. When are we going to put an end to the sugar?
Cheers,