I walk around 'singing' this all day!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A Major Milestone
So I've been steadily increasing the distance I bike so that I can make it to campus without dying half way through. I'm up to 8.2 miles round trip. I could probably go further, but I'm a weinie and want to wait for the bf's assistance on NC-107. At any rate, like I've said before, my driveway is steep and the drive to my driveway is steep. I can manage riding out of my driveway (because I still have all my energy) but I've never managed to ride back up the drive to get back to my house. UNTIL TODAY! WOOHOO! I just about passed out, but I made it! :oD I should treat myself to something wonderful...maybe a day off from the field. ;o)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sunday Weigh-In
And for all the world to see! I asked myself my reasons for posting my stats and I realized if I hadn't done well this week, I probably wouldn't. I also know that there's more accountability and I'm more likely to stick with it if I post my numbers every week.
Two things I did early last week: I joined My Food Diary (http://www.myfooddiary.com/) and it has really helped. Also, I went and bought a kick-ass scale that measures one's weight, body fat %, and hydration level.
Starting weight: 147.2
Goal weight: 128
I picked my goal weight by figuring out my "ideal weight" on MFD (122-135). And then I just took the "median" of those two numbers.
Here's how I did this week:
So I lost 4.3 lbs over Tuesday through Sunday. My body fat percentage has been all over the place and I'm not sure why. I figured it would go down instead of up. Unless I'm losing weight because I'm losing muscle. But that doesn't make sense to me either since I exercised more last week than I have in a while. As for the big jump on Tuesday, I did weigh myself at a different time on Tuesday. All of the other days have been in the morning.
That's it! If I do as well next week I'll be in the 130s. That would be exciting since I haven't been there since last summer. :o)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
My nemesis
I was curious to see what low-calorie alcholic drinks are out there and thought I'd share what I found:
1. From mecinenet.com:
How Many Calories in Popular Cocktails?
So just how many calories are in your favorite cocktail? These calorie counts for popular alcoholic drinks are approximate, based on popular recipes, but may vary depending on ingredients and portions.
Pina Colada (6 oz): 378 calories
Mojito (8 oz): 214 calories
Cosmopolitan (4 oz): 200 calories
Chocolate martini: (2 oz each vodka, chocolate liqueur, cream, 1/2 oz crème de cacao, chocolate syrup): 438
Margarita (8 oz): 280
Green apple martini (1 oz each vodka, sour apple, apple juice): 148
Martini (2.5 oz): 160
Port wine (3 oz):128
Bloody Mary (5 oz): 118
Red wine (5 oz):120
White wine (5 oz): 120
Alcohol-free wine (5 oz): 20-30
Beer (12 oz): 150-198
Light beer (12 oz): 95-136
Ultra-light beer (12 oz): 64-95
Champagne (5oz): 106-120
Coffee liqueur (3 ounces): 348
Godiva chocolate liqueur (3 oz): 310
Wine spritzer (5 oz): 100
Eggnog with rum (8 ounces): 370
Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps (8 oz): 380
Hot buttered rum (8 oz): 292
Spiced cider with rum ( 8 oz):150
Mulled wine (5 oz): 200
Vodka and tonic (8 oz): 200
Screwdriver (8 oz): 190
Mimosa (4 oz): 75
Gin and tonic (7 oz): 200
Long Island iced tea (8 oz): 780
White Russian (2 oz vodka, 1.5 oz coffee liqueur, 1.5 oz cream): 425
Mai Tai(6 oz) (1.5 oz rum, 1/2 oz cream de along, 1/2 oz triple sec, sour mix, pineapple juice): 350
Rum and Coke (8 oz): 185
Rum and Diet Coke (8 oz): 100
Mike's Hard Lemonade (11 oz): 98
Medically Reviewed December 17, 2007.
2. From clubplanet.com:
The best low-calorie cocktails:
Vodka Cranberry: Otherwise known as a Cape Codder, this classic drink not only has few calories (about 65), but the cranberry juice also helps flush alcohol out of your system—just make sure it’s the light kind. For an extra splash of flavor without adding calories, squeeze a lime wedge in your drink and rub it around the rim of the glass.
Light Beer: Beer is a slippery slope: think of how many beers you can down in a night versus the number of mixed drinks you can handle, and both are equally as calorie-laden. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re going to drink beer, make sure it’s light— both in calories and color. Darker colored beers (think a hearty mug of Guinness) pack more calories than their lighter counterparts. Two good options to reach for: Michelob Ultra (96 calories) and Miller Lite (98 calories). Sure, they may taste like beer-flavored water, but the diet-conscious drinker does what s/he must.
Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne: Take a cue from super-slim model Kate Moss who sips this dry champagne whenever she goes out. The drink only has 60 calories a glass, so you can have three times the bubbly for what you would normally ingest in a single glass of regular champagne.
Mojitos, Done Right: There are plenty of ways to slim down this refreshing, summery drink made with muddled mint leaves and rum: make sure the bartender uses fresh lime juice and ask her to hold off on the sugar, substituting it with Splenda instead. You can also swap out the club soda for Fresca, a citrusy-carbonated beverage that has a negligible 2 calories per every 8 ounces. A health bonus for this low-calorie cocktail: this drink is rich in antioxidants thanks to the lime and mint juices.
Watermelon Martini: While some sugary martinis contain enough calories to classify as dessert (they don’t call it “liquid lunch” for nothing), this fruity, pink concoction of vodka, simple syrup, and pureed watermelon is the smarter choice, clocking in at a mere 125 calories. Nightclubs such as Lotus and Level V craft the cocktail exactly this way, so you can be sure they’re not slipping anything unwanted in there. To cut calories even further, request that it be made with agave nectar instead of simple syrup, which has fewer calories and requires a smaller amount for the same level of sweetness.
Margarita, Redux: At a whopping 400 calories, a frozen margarita may not be worth its salt-rimmed glass after all. While a margarita on the rocks (170 calories) is a considerably better option, try mixing tequila with Crystal Light lemonade and Sierra Mist Free or Diet Sprite Zero for a drink that tastes like one without all of the calories.
Diet Tonic Drinks: No matter which 80-proof liquor you choose as a base (gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, and vodka), they all have the same nutritional value of around 65 calories and zero fat. What matters is the mixer you choose to pair it with—that’s where the sugars and calories that contribute to your side tire lurk. The most popular pick, tonic water, is one of the highest sugar mixers out there, so make sure to replace it with diet tonic or club soda and you’re in the clear.
The Maggie McQuade: Get your sweet fix with this saccharine-tasting drink, named after the stylish (and skinny) twenty-something who created it, which mixes vanilla vodka with diet ginger ale.
Vodka and Diet Red Bull: When made with sugar-free Red Bull, this popular club-goer staple will help you keep slim (it’s only 75 calories) and buzzing all night.
White Wine Spritzer: Sure, it may be the preferred drink of your Great Aunt Ethyl, but maybe she’s smarter than you think: diluting your drink with club soda or sparkling water means you get more glasses for fewer calories (around 100 each round). Stick to dry wines, which contain fewer calories than their sweeter counterparts.
Water: Okay, so this isn’t a low-calorie cocktail, but it's important to start your night off with a no-cal glass of agua and continue to have one between every drink you order. Water helps you maintain hydration so you’re not chugging cocktails to quench your thirst, fills you up, and allows you to monitor the amount of calories you consume throughout the night. Plus, it prevents you from having a hangover the next day, so we say cheers to that.
3. glamour.com has a great slideshow of 'instead of this...have that' at http://www.glamour.com/health/slideshows/2007/03/bestworstdrinks?slide=1
1. From mecinenet.com:
How Many Calories in Popular Cocktails?
So just how many calories are in your favorite cocktail? These calorie counts for popular alcoholic drinks are approximate, based on popular recipes, but may vary depending on ingredients and portions.
Pina Colada (6 oz): 378 calories
Mojito (8 oz): 214 calories
Cosmopolitan (4 oz): 200 calories
Chocolate martini: (2 oz each vodka, chocolate liqueur, cream, 1/2 oz crème de cacao, chocolate syrup): 438
Margarita (8 oz): 280
Green apple martini (1 oz each vodka, sour apple, apple juice): 148
Martini (2.5 oz): 160
Port wine (3 oz):128
Bloody Mary (5 oz): 118
Red wine (5 oz):120
White wine (5 oz): 120
Alcohol-free wine (5 oz): 20-30
Beer (12 oz): 150-198
Light beer (12 oz): 95-136
Ultra-light beer (12 oz): 64-95
Champagne (5oz): 106-120
Coffee liqueur (3 ounces): 348
Godiva chocolate liqueur (3 oz): 310
Wine spritzer (5 oz): 100
Eggnog with rum (8 ounces): 370
Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps (8 oz): 380
Hot buttered rum (8 oz): 292
Spiced cider with rum ( 8 oz):150
Mulled wine (5 oz): 200
Vodka and tonic (8 oz): 200
Screwdriver (8 oz): 190
Mimosa (4 oz): 75
Gin and tonic (7 oz): 200
Long Island iced tea (8 oz): 780
White Russian (2 oz vodka, 1.5 oz coffee liqueur, 1.5 oz cream): 425
Mai Tai(6 oz) (1.5 oz rum, 1/2 oz cream de along, 1/2 oz triple sec, sour mix, pineapple juice): 350
Rum and Coke (8 oz): 185
Rum and Diet Coke (8 oz): 100
Mike's Hard Lemonade (11 oz): 98
Medically Reviewed December 17, 2007.
2. From clubplanet.com:
The best low-calorie cocktails:
Vodka Cranberry: Otherwise known as a Cape Codder, this classic drink not only has few calories (about 65), but the cranberry juice also helps flush alcohol out of your system—just make sure it’s the light kind. For an extra splash of flavor without adding calories, squeeze a lime wedge in your drink and rub it around the rim of the glass.
Light Beer: Beer is a slippery slope: think of how many beers you can down in a night versus the number of mixed drinks you can handle, and both are equally as calorie-laden. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re going to drink beer, make sure it’s light— both in calories and color. Darker colored beers (think a hearty mug of Guinness) pack more calories than their lighter counterparts. Two good options to reach for: Michelob Ultra (96 calories) and Miller Lite (98 calories). Sure, they may taste like beer-flavored water, but the diet-conscious drinker does what s/he must.
Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne: Take a cue from super-slim model Kate Moss who sips this dry champagne whenever she goes out. The drink only has 60 calories a glass, so you can have three times the bubbly for what you would normally ingest in a single glass of regular champagne.
Mojitos, Done Right: There are plenty of ways to slim down this refreshing, summery drink made with muddled mint leaves and rum: make sure the bartender uses fresh lime juice and ask her to hold off on the sugar, substituting it with Splenda instead. You can also swap out the club soda for Fresca, a citrusy-carbonated beverage that has a negligible 2 calories per every 8 ounces. A health bonus for this low-calorie cocktail: this drink is rich in antioxidants thanks to the lime and mint juices.
Watermelon Martini: While some sugary martinis contain enough calories to classify as dessert (they don’t call it “liquid lunch” for nothing), this fruity, pink concoction of vodka, simple syrup, and pureed watermelon is the smarter choice, clocking in at a mere 125 calories. Nightclubs such as Lotus and Level V craft the cocktail exactly this way, so you can be sure they’re not slipping anything unwanted in there. To cut calories even further, request that it be made with agave nectar instead of simple syrup, which has fewer calories and requires a smaller amount for the same level of sweetness.
Margarita, Redux: At a whopping 400 calories, a frozen margarita may not be worth its salt-rimmed glass after all. While a margarita on the rocks (170 calories) is a considerably better option, try mixing tequila with Crystal Light lemonade and Sierra Mist Free or Diet Sprite Zero for a drink that tastes like one without all of the calories.
Diet Tonic Drinks: No matter which 80-proof liquor you choose as a base (gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, and vodka), they all have the same nutritional value of around 65 calories and zero fat. What matters is the mixer you choose to pair it with—that’s where the sugars and calories that contribute to your side tire lurk. The most popular pick, tonic water, is one of the highest sugar mixers out there, so make sure to replace it with diet tonic or club soda and you’re in the clear.
The Maggie McQuade: Get your sweet fix with this saccharine-tasting drink, named after the stylish (and skinny) twenty-something who created it, which mixes vanilla vodka with diet ginger ale.
Vodka and Diet Red Bull: When made with sugar-free Red Bull, this popular club-goer staple will help you keep slim (it’s only 75 calories) and buzzing all night.
White Wine Spritzer: Sure, it may be the preferred drink of your Great Aunt Ethyl, but maybe she’s smarter than you think: diluting your drink with club soda or sparkling water means you get more glasses for fewer calories (around 100 each round). Stick to dry wines, which contain fewer calories than their sweeter counterparts.
Water: Okay, so this isn’t a low-calorie cocktail, but it's important to start your night off with a no-cal glass of agua and continue to have one between every drink you order. Water helps you maintain hydration so you’re not chugging cocktails to quench your thirst, fills you up, and allows you to monitor the amount of calories you consume throughout the night. Plus, it prevents you from having a hangover the next day, so we say cheers to that.
3. glamour.com has a great slideshow of 'instead of this...have that' at http://www.glamour.com/health/slideshows/2007/03/bestworstdrinks?slide=1
Friday, August 1, 2008
The rare occasions I enjoy my research
If only snails came with text bubbles...
I tell people all the time that if I wasn't doing my research in such a beautiful place, I would go crazy. No joke. Insanity would have slowly taken hold had the following not occurred: 
3. Seeing all kinds of cool rodents (I had a picture of a dead vole stuck in a trap, but I'll spare you the horror.) Here are some pictures of some (but not all).
Southern flying squirrel
Red squirrel
I tell people all the time that if I wasn't doing my research in such a beautiful place, I would go crazy. No joke. Insanity would have slowly taken hold had the following not occurred: 1. Sneaking up on a mother black bear and her two cubs by accident while checking traps (It scared the living daylights out of me, but it's a great story!)
2. The most amazing sunrises
3. Seeing all kinds of cool rodents (I had a picture of a dead vole stuck in a trap, but I'll spare you the horror.) Here are some pictures of some (but not all).
Carolina northern flying squirrel
Southern flying squirrel Red squirrel4. Seeing the leaves change with the changing seasons
5. Getting in the back of a pick-up with a man holding a rifle who had just shot a rattlesnake. Grrrrr! >o[
6. Witnessing tons and tons of bees "drunk" off of filmy angelica. It must be a trade-off of some sort because the risk of predation goes up sky high when they're like that.
7. And finally, (I'm sure there are others I'll think of later) today I got to see loads of swallowtails (butterflies) chilling on the side of the road. I tried to take pictures with my phone (forgot my camera at home) but they didn't come out. :o( I also tried to remember what they looked like so that I could identify them, but that was a ridiculous idea. At any rate, it was really cool.
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