We are all familiar with the idea of keeping a food journal to keep track of the foods we eat when we are trying to watch our diets. It's a great idea and it actually does work.
Today I have been introduced to a new way of looking at what, when and how I eat. For today, I am engaged in the prep work for a colonoscopy that I will be having tomorrow. My solid food intake for this day consisted of one egg, scrambled, and eight vanilla wafer crackers. That's it. And that was all prior to 12:00 noon. It is now nearly 7:00 P.M. If it weren't for all the liquid floating around inside me right now, I'm sure I could describe myself as famished.
Much like an addict, I find myself mindlessly reaching out for something to munch on. Not necessarily out of hunger, although I am hungry, but more out of a sense of, I don't know, something to do with my hands. Vague thoughts of food keep floating in and out of my brain.
Yes, I will admit, my number one desire right now is for some roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy and a scoop of macaroni and cheese. A weird combination? Maybe. I don't care. That's what my body craves right now.
Every time I go to my refrigerator for my next glassful of that soapy liquid, I see another great food item staring back at me from the recesses of my refrigerator. Almost anything looks good (make that great) to me right now.
Tomorrow, when I'm thinking more clearly, I will take time to ponder this mindless eating concept in depth. Just how much do I reach out and grab something to eat without giving much thought to why I'm eating it or if I'm really hungry? What steps should I be taking to overcome that bad habit?
Tomorrow, I will work on this one. Right now, I have more pressing concerns.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Looking at the Gloomier Side of Life
We are constantly being admonished to "cheer up" and "look at the brighter side of things" and "keep a positive attitude." I'm all in favor of optimism. I think it keeps the world moving forward in a progressive direction. However, let me just take a moment to put in a few good words about gloom and despair.
No, I'm not depressed or down on life. Far from it. However, as the old saying goes, "Misery loves company." A great way to develop camaraderie with friends, family and co-workers can be by grumbling. Yep, if you want to get a load off your chest, nothing beats complaining about the boss, casting aspersions on the political leadership or even grumbling about the spouse or kids.
Knowing that others are in the same boat as we are in terms of facing economic woes, dealing with family life drama or worrying about the future of the universe can go a long way to making us feel better. In fact, if we find ourselves in the midst of a good, old-fashion gripe session with our peers, we just may find the strength of laugh about all the worries that were getting us down.
Fake enthusiasm does no one any good. So, if you have a complaint or a worry, let it out in the open once in awhile. You just may find the strength and support from others to face another day - honestly, openly and without the need to pretend everything is great if it's not.
No, I'm not depressed or down on life. Far from it. However, as the old saying goes, "Misery loves company." A great way to develop camaraderie with friends, family and co-workers can be by grumbling. Yep, if you want to get a load off your chest, nothing beats complaining about the boss, casting aspersions on the political leadership or even grumbling about the spouse or kids.
Knowing that others are in the same boat as we are in terms of facing economic woes, dealing with family life drama or worrying about the future of the universe can go a long way to making us feel better. In fact, if we find ourselves in the midst of a good, old-fashion gripe session with our peers, we just may find the strength of laugh about all the worries that were getting us down.
Fake enthusiasm does no one any good. So, if you have a complaint or a worry, let it out in the open once in awhile. You just may find the strength and support from others to face another day - honestly, openly and without the need to pretend everything is great if it's not.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
G20 Summit in Pittsburgh - One View
On this day, the leaders of the world are gathered together here in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the purpose of convening to discuss the economic state of the globe at the G20 Summit. It's an exciting time, here in the 'burgh, but an anxious one as well. For all intents and purposes, the day to day life of the Golden Triangle and the downtown district of the city, as well as several nearby communities located in the South Side of the city and the North Shore on the opposite bank, has been brought to a near stand still.
Many downtown office buildings are closed for these days, some with the foresight to board up their windows before leaving for a forced vacation period. Those who chose to remain open are often operating on a skeleton crew as those with vacation time to spare are choosing to remove themselves from the heart of the action. School districts whose students and bus routes must intersect with the city have chosen to close for a few days.
What, you may wonder, is the purpose of avoiding this high energy, world altering, history making event? It's simple. The citizens of Pittsburgh have been preparing for a huge influx of protestors from all over the globe with agendas ranging from unemployment, green energy and global outsourcing to just plain, everyday garden variety insanity.
It is this later group that is of the greatest concern. Legitimate protests, legal outcries against the many and varied injustices of the world is a noble cause. By and large, the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of protesters here in Pittsburgh fall into this category.
The fear, however, is that a media smorgasbord of attention from around the world will provide the perfect venue for the next deranged psycho, mass murderer or international terrorist organization to stage their latest stunt and receive the maximum attention.
Let's face it. There is a certain small, okay, minute segment of humanity that waits anxiously for their "15 minutes of fame" to quote a Pittsburgh legend, Andy Warhol. The time and place to make a dramatic assault against the status quo and go down in history in the process is when the eyes of world can see and report every detail.
And so, this day has finally come. Many desire, hope and pray that the events of these few days will indeed be historic and world changing - in a positive way. Many will also breathe a sigh of relief when life here in Pittsburgh returns to normal and going out to lunch in the middle of a busy work day no longer means sharing the coffee shop with a SWAT team, a crew of probable undercover agents and a troup of National Guard.
Many downtown office buildings are closed for these days, some with the foresight to board up their windows before leaving for a forced vacation period. Those who chose to remain open are often operating on a skeleton crew as those with vacation time to spare are choosing to remove themselves from the heart of the action. School districts whose students and bus routes must intersect with the city have chosen to close for a few days.
What, you may wonder, is the purpose of avoiding this high energy, world altering, history making event? It's simple. The citizens of Pittsburgh have been preparing for a huge influx of protestors from all over the globe with agendas ranging from unemployment, green energy and global outsourcing to just plain, everyday garden variety insanity.
It is this later group that is of the greatest concern. Legitimate protests, legal outcries against the many and varied injustices of the world is a noble cause. By and large, the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of protesters here in Pittsburgh fall into this category.
The fear, however, is that a media smorgasbord of attention from around the world will provide the perfect venue for the next deranged psycho, mass murderer or international terrorist organization to stage their latest stunt and receive the maximum attention.
Let's face it. There is a certain small, okay, minute segment of humanity that waits anxiously for their "15 minutes of fame" to quote a Pittsburgh legend, Andy Warhol. The time and place to make a dramatic assault against the status quo and go down in history in the process is when the eyes of world can see and report every detail.
And so, this day has finally come. Many desire, hope and pray that the events of these few days will indeed be historic and world changing - in a positive way. Many will also breathe a sigh of relief when life here in Pittsburgh returns to normal and going out to lunch in the middle of a busy work day no longer means sharing the coffee shop with a SWAT team, a crew of probable undercover agents and a troup of National Guard.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Finding the Drive
I work with the same 24 hours in a day that everyone else on the planet has at their disposal. In that time frame I must work, eat, sleep, spend time with my husband and carry out the numerous chores and activities that come along with life in the twenty first century.
For me, one of those activities is regular attendance at the local gym. My modest goal of five hours a weeks may seem puny to some but, for me, it is a healthy option that requires more than a little determination on some days. Lately, I have found myself in that state of struggle. I know I must go; I actually want to go. Somehow I find myself concocting a long list of excuses why I can't possibly go today.
The obvious danger of this practice is obvious.
So far, my will to survive and stay healthy and active has outweighed my subconscious desire to become a couch potato. At least so far. I feel good, sitting here, proud to say I have done my spinning, my body sculpting and my yoga today. An awesome accomplishment if I do say so myself. But the struggle to get out of bed early on a cool, chilly, nearly autumn morning was almost more than I could bear.
I must add a new goal to my "To Do" list of life. That new goal is to find a level of excited motivation to do what I know must be done. And, to do it with anticipation and joy, not dread and foreboding. Wish me luck.
For me, one of those activities is regular attendance at the local gym. My modest goal of five hours a weeks may seem puny to some but, for me, it is a healthy option that requires more than a little determination on some days. Lately, I have found myself in that state of struggle. I know I must go; I actually want to go. Somehow I find myself concocting a long list of excuses why I can't possibly go today.
The obvious danger of this practice is obvious.
So far, my will to survive and stay healthy and active has outweighed my subconscious desire to become a couch potato. At least so far. I feel good, sitting here, proud to say I have done my spinning, my body sculpting and my yoga today. An awesome accomplishment if I do say so myself. But the struggle to get out of bed early on a cool, chilly, nearly autumn morning was almost more than I could bear.
I must add a new goal to my "To Do" list of life. That new goal is to find a level of excited motivation to do what I know must be done. And, to do it with anticipation and joy, not dread and foreboding. Wish me luck.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Customer Service at its Most Mediocre
Having just spent 10 days on vacation, I must confess to having experienced an inordinately high level of exposure to fast food and restaurant meals. I usually pride myself in paying close attention to health, diet and nutrition, but sometimes expediency outweighs good judgement and we are forced to make choices we wouldn't ordinarily make.
Now, first of all, there are a number of relatively healthy options to be had in the fast food realm and in restaurants in general. I am aware of that. And, actually, my gripe is not with quality of offerings. Rather, I have to state, somewhat woefully, that I have just spent 10 days dealing with some of the surliest and most inefficient service people I can ever imagine.
I have had my order delivered incorrectly, slowly, sloppily (once actually dropped before arriving at my table) and never once with a word of apology or concern over the issues involved. I have had to deal with numerous service personnel who could not speak the language of the people they were waiting on. In one instance, I feel sure I would still be waiting for my check if I had not walked over to the cashier and insisted on paying my tab so I could get on with my life's work.
Should I blame it on the staff shortages that plague every area of the world's economy? Maybe. But there is something more. I see a lack of pride in one's performance. No one wants to endure a McJob forever, but surely the attitude that every job is worthy of one's best efforts is not a dying philosophy that only resides in the dinosaur generation of which I am a part.
I can only say that I am relieved to be safely back at home, in the confines of my own kitchen, preparing food I know and trust and pleasantly greeting my husband as we sit down to a healthy meal that both satisfies and pleases our palates.
Now, first of all, there are a number of relatively healthy options to be had in the fast food realm and in restaurants in general. I am aware of that. And, actually, my gripe is not with quality of offerings. Rather, I have to state, somewhat woefully, that I have just spent 10 days dealing with some of the surliest and most inefficient service people I can ever imagine.
I have had my order delivered incorrectly, slowly, sloppily (once actually dropped before arriving at my table) and never once with a word of apology or concern over the issues involved. I have had to deal with numerous service personnel who could not speak the language of the people they were waiting on. In one instance, I feel sure I would still be waiting for my check if I had not walked over to the cashier and insisted on paying my tab so I could get on with my life's work.
Should I blame it on the staff shortages that plague every area of the world's economy? Maybe. But there is something more. I see a lack of pride in one's performance. No one wants to endure a McJob forever, but surely the attitude that every job is worthy of one's best efforts is not a dying philosophy that only resides in the dinosaur generation of which I am a part.
I can only say that I am relieved to be safely back at home, in the confines of my own kitchen, preparing food I know and trust and pleasantly greeting my husband as we sit down to a healthy meal that both satisfies and pleases our palates.
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