How Bad is Strawberry Milk?

After watching last week's episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution where Jamie went on a mission to remove flavored milk from the schools, I wondered how bad the flavored milk actually was.  So,  I checked it out on Calorie Count and in one cup:

Plain 1% Milk:

102 calories

2.5g fat

12g carbs (12g sugar)

8g protein

Strawberry 1% Milk and Chocolate 1% Milk:

180 calories

2.5g fat

26g carbs (26g sugar)

7g protein

The major (only) difference is the amount of carbs/sugar.  At first glance, it might not seem like that is a big deal, just 14 grams of sugar.  But one teaspoon of sugar is 4 grams.  Thus, the flavored milks have almost 4 extra teaspoons of sugar in one cup!

Unbelievably, the schools defended the flavored varieties saying they increased consumption.  Apparently, the schools are more concerned about children's calcium intake than their sugar intake.  Considering the childhood obesity epidemic, schools might want to rethink that stance.   

The most encouraging part of the episode was when many of the kids that ordinarily would have taken flavored milk started taking the plain milk. They did so because their teacher, after learning from Jamie about the nutritional differences, encouraged them to.  So, even if schools continue to serve flavored sugar milk, we can get our kids to choose the healthier option through education, awareness and encouragment.

Stay Active and Stay Young

"We do not stop exercising because we grow old; we grow old because we stop exercising." - Dr. Kenneth Cooper

Part of my motivation to exercise comes from wanting to put off the inevitable, delaying the eventual inability to do physical activities that I currently take for granted. I remember my Grandmother taking forever (for-e-ver!) to get out of her Buick.  She couldn't ride bikes and by 80, she couldn't climb stairs. I refuse to be that woman. Or at least I refuse to go down without a fight. 

One thing I try to remember is that it is so much easier to maintain fitness than to build it back up from scratch.  Stay active and stay young.

FitRinny Fave: Friendship 1% Lowfat Whipped Cottage Cheese

"It's Gold Jerry, Gold!" 

I love this cottage cheese and barrel through a 16oz container every day or so.  Here's why:

• Light, yet creamy 
• Fluffy and isn't soupy like many other brands
• Only 90 calories per serving
• High in protein with 16 grams per 1/2 cup 
• Only 3 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of fat  
• Like most cottage cheese, it is a little high in sodium, but since sodium isn't a major concern of mine, I'm okay with it.  

I only wish it was from an organic dairy farm.  Sadly not.  

Friendship 1% Lowfat Whipped Cottage Cheese can be found at Giant and Wegman's.

Top 10 Gym Pet Peeves

I wish I wasn't, but I am really easily irritated.  Not sure what that says about me...maybe that I grew up with a Dad and sister who were even more easily irritated, so they called my attention to otherwise trivial noises and behaviors.  I know people aren't trying to get on my nerves and usually they are just oblivious.  The gym has some of the worst offenders.  Here are my top ten:

10.  Squatters --  No, I'm not referring to people doing actual squats.  This is when someone just sits on machines, resting a ridiculously long time between sets.   Either push the weight or get off
9.  Worker-Inners -- "Can I work in?"  Seriously?  There are plenty of other machines and Joe Muscle has to come work in with me on the cable fly.
8.  Sweaters -- Nope, not referring to a wool knit.  These gems leave their sweat pool whereever they go and don't wipe down the equipment after they've used it.
7.  Daters -- people who use the gym as a pick-up joint.  I guess I'm used to it with men, but it is especially cheesy when women do it.  My old gym was full of these chicks who dressed provocatively and talked to any guy who would give them the time of day.
6.  Stinkers -- either because of B.O. or cologne/perfume.  Nothing is worse than getting a big whiff, particularly if I'm already gasping for air doing cardio intervals.
5.  Noisemakers -- Excessive noise, whether grunting, dropping weights or cracking gum.  
4.  Out of shape aerobics instructors -- if you can't make it work for you, why should I believe it will work for me?
3.  Women who only lift tiny, colorful dumbbells.  Come on ladies, you are stronger than that.  I promise, lift heavier...you won't "bulk up."

2.  Chatters -- People who do more talking than working out.  Chatters are especially annoying when they are on the machine next to me.  If you can carry on a full conversation, particularly if that conversation is on a cell phone (major gym faux pas) you are obviously not working hard enough.

1.  Not reracking weights -- This is when men (yes, it is usually men), load up the chest press or squat racks, do their sets and then just leave the weights on the bar.  They are relying on the next person, namely me and my scrawny arms, to struggle with their 45s.  Please, for the love of Pete, just return the plates back to where you found them!  

Did I miss any of your gym pet peeves? 

Getting Kids to Eat More Fruit and Veggies

 
Wash it, cut it up and put it out.

I could just end the post there.  Seriously, sometimes it is just that easy.

One of my kids asked for blueberries, so I bought a pint.  Few days later, the pint still sat sadly untouched in the fridge.  So, I took it out, rinsed the berries and put them in a bowl on the counter.  Gone that afternoon.

We could have apples in the produce drawer for weeks, but if I pull them out and slice them, the kids will eat them.  I've seen some parents pack whole oranges in their kid's lunches.  Are they truly surprised when their child doesn't eat it?  I wouldn't even peel an orange if I only had 15 minutes to eat. 

Even works with veggies.  I buy a head of cauliflower, rinse it and cut it up.  My youngest gobbles it up.  I know it won't always be this easy.  Raw broccoli is still a hard sell in our house.

There are some schools of thought (my Mom) that believe that teenagers should be self-sufficient and be able to prepare their own food.  Well, anyone who actually has a teenager knows that is highly unlikely.  So, I suck it up and do the 2 minutes of work for them knowing I feel better when they eat their fruits and vegetables.

Rowing Past The Competition

Even after years of lifting, my upper body is still pretty scrawny.  My hubby calls me T-Rex because of my disproportionately developed legs compared to my relatively small arms.  So, I love any workout that utilizes my arms and back.  Enter, the rowing machine.  

The other day, I was rowing at a decent pace, but not really pushing myself.  Until...another rower hopped on the machine next to me.  She was about my age, fit and blond.  I immediately started rowing faster and harder.  I watched how fast she was rowing and could tell she was also watching me.  I had originally intended to row for ten minutes, but stayed for fifteen.     

As women, we aren't always encouraged to be competitive, but in sports all bets are off.  I ride harder in my Spinning classes when my girlfriends are riding too.  When other women are lifting nearby, I push out a few extra reps.  I want to be the best, the strongest, the fittest...for me and my own personal satisfaction.   

Morale of the story:  If you are having trouble getting motivated, try working out with someone else...especially someone who pushes you past your comfort zone.  

Ask FitRinny - Where does fat go when I lose it?

Question:  When I lose weight, where does it go?  Bodily functions and sweat?  Does it evaporate?  Where does all that ‘stuff’ go?

Answer:  Everyone has a set number of fat cells determined by genetics.  These fat cells have an almost unlimited capacity to store fat.  They expand when you gain weight and shrink when you lose it.  So when you are thinner, you still have the same number of fat cells, they are just smaller.  Some people have more trouble losing weight because they were blessed/cursed with more fat cells.  For most of us, this set number of fat cells only increases with pregnancy or by gaining A LOT of weight.  The only way to reduce the number of fat cells is through liposuction, but then if you gain weight, it will just get stored in the remaining cells elsewhere.  

Think of fat as stored fuel.  When you are dieting and losing weight, your body is in caloric deficit.  Thus, it taps into these fat reserves.  It uses the fat to fuel bodily functions and then excretes waste through sweat and urine.  

Have a question?  Email me at FitRinny@gmail.com.