Apparently Adults Never Grow Up

Gossip. Why do people do it? It seems like an activity one would grow out of after high school or maybe even college, but the gossip never stops!

I graduated from college about three years ago. I was in a sorority and everyone knows that a large group of girls living under one roof is a simple recipe for a successful gossip ring.

After college I assumed (incorrectly) that the gossip would cease once I entered the real world. Everyone’s a grown adult, secure in themselves, so there’s no need to talk behind one another’a back, right? Wrong. The workplace is like a sorority, it’s a breading ground for people wanting to know everyone else’s business.

My workplace is a lot better than most about gossip because most of the people in my company really do get along. But, I’ve got friends who have left work crying after hearing something another co-worker said about them.

Give me a break people! Grow up and worry about yourself. Stop talking about other people – it only better illustrates your own insecurities.

Have you ever had a bad experience with gossip? Everyone has!

Can Versus Fountain???

I’m having a diet soda dilemma: can or fountain? Let me explain. I usually prefer the canned diet soda but lately I’ve been gravitating more towards the fountain sodas. Why? The gas station across the street from my apartment has the best ice! Who knew ice could make a vast difference in my diet soda preference? Chick-fil-A and the Great American Cookie Company are two establishments that have got some great ice.

Another possibility, as I noted in a previous entry, different low-calorie sweeteners are used in cans versus soda fountain:

“Aspartame is used in most canned drinks, while a blend of sweeteners is used in most fountain varieties. Something about how the sweeteners' properties react with the storage of the different versions. Perhaps the poster prefers the taste of aspartame in their drinks vs. the taste of the other blends.”

Any thoughts on this matter?

Fat and I Are Fighting and Fat is Winning

Well, I’m back from a weeklong trip to Naples, Florida. Don’t get too jealous – I spent all of my waking hours in meetings, learning about nutrition, weight loss, consumer opinions about food, etc. The meeting was wonderful and I feel like I gained a lot of insight about my field, nutrition communications. I also feel like I gained a lot of weight. My pants that fit before the trip no longer zip shut.

The other bad thing was sitting in these meetings and glancing out the window only to see people enjoying the beautiful 70-degree weather on the beach or in their boats.

I’m guessing I gained about 2 to 3 pounds this week. With the heavy breakfast, appetizers, calorie-laden dinners and open bars, gaining weight at work functions in pretty much par for the course. This time of year it’s hard to decide whether I should try to lose some weight before the holidays get into full gear or if I should give up and try again in the new year.

Any thoughts?

Fighting the Football Season Fat

I’m back with more tips from the Seattle Times on how not to gain weight during football season:

After your first round, order a diet soda or water. Yea for diet soda!!!

Choose the foods that are most satisfying in the smallest quantities. For me, that’s a strong cheese. A little blue cheese on a cracker goes a long way because of its strong taste.

Don’t waste calories on foods you don’t like. I’ve done this so many times! I’ll be sitting at the table, munching on something I don’t really even like, simply because it’s in front of my face. Sometimes, I even have to go so far as to sit on my hands to avoid eating things I don’t like.

Try asking for half orders. I’ve been trying a modified version of this strategy lately – I eat with guys. Have you ever noticed how much guys eat? I order something and my guy friends end up eating half of it anyways so it saves me the energy of trying to resist temptation.

Move bowls of nuts or other high-calorie snacks on the bar out of reach. I always do this with the breadbasket because I’m a carb fanatic. I take one piece of bread and move the rest of the basket to the end of the table.

I'm Beginning to Look Like a Linebacker

My friends are football fanatics. Although I make fun of their extreme devotion, I must admit that I am a true Georgia Bulldog at heart and football season is my favorite time of year. Although the Bulldogs are stinking worse than an adolescent boy’s smelly sock this year, we always frequent the same pub on Saturdays to cheer on our team.

Here’s where the problem comes: bar food and drinks. A college football game (or any football game, for that matter) is not the same without a satisfying beverage and some fatty food. Unfortunately, as football season comes and goes, so does my body. I’ve gained seven pounds this football season and I blame it on stress eating during the games. Thanks UGA.

For those football fans out there and even those who hate football and just like the bars, below are some helpful comparisons to help you choose the “best” bar food, with some help from the Seattle Times:

Onion rings vs. French fries vs. cheese fries
Personally, I would go with the onion rings but the article encourages readers to go for a small serving of the French fries but expect about 500 calories for 6 ounces. Ouch. Of course the onion rings contain about 1,500 calories in a basket. Double ouch.

Pretzels vs. bar nuts vs. Asian rice crackers vs. Goldfish
My choice: bar nuts. Peanuts pack some heart healthy fats but you’ve got to watch your portion sizes. The reporter also suggests the peanuts or the pretzels, which contain 110 calories per ounce. I really don’t like those Asian rice crackers so at least I’m okay there.

Olives vs. Hard-boiled eggs
Yuck to both of those for me. Olives are on my top 5 list of foods I hate most in the world. But, according to the article. Four olives only has 30 calories while a hard-boiled egg has 75 calories. Either way, they both pack some nutritional value so if you’re having a martini, feel free to munch on the olives in your glass.

I’ve got some additional comparisons and other helpful bar tips for you tomorrow. Take care.