My Year-Round Fail-Safe Gift-Buying Guide

I found this email in my inbox the other morning:

Dear Lacey,

A coworker gave me a book for Xmas. The note says, "this is one of my favorite books..." I've started reading but, as I arrive at page 10, I find no motivation to continue. I suppose I'll forge ahead for at least a chapter or two. But what does one do when given a gift full of meaning but one is unimpressed with that meaning?

Good question, friend, and one we all certainly find ourselves asking at one point or another. The short answer is to thank the person, place the book on your shelf, and forget about it.

Sack of Potatoes

What do you do with a bag of potatoes that’s nearing the end of its shelf life? 

Good question. 

I am notorious for: 

1. Ignoring the question and letting the potatoes go bad. 

2. Making and eating a monosyllabic dinner (ketchup is a vegetable, right?). 

3. Giving up and making a bowl of frosting instead.*

Here’s an inventory of what I did last night: 

Black Friday

Before I turned off the TV to go to bed last night around 11 PM, I caught two breaking news stories:

1. People have been lining up at Best Buy in Burbank since Wednesday morning, and they are getting excited to go inside.
2. Several people were injured at a Walmart in Los Angeles after a woman sprayed them with pepper spray when they got near the merchandise she was going after; ambulances were having a hard time getting through the parking lot because of all the traffic.

Both of these stories are fairly disconcerting to me. Whether or not you enjoy Thanksgiving, this is one of the incredibly rare holidays where virtually everyone has the day off. Why not enjoy that time off instead of stressing yourself out over a new TV?

Perhaps more to the point, why do you need a new TV in the first place?

The reality is, you probably don't. The average American household has more TVs than people. Data from a completely non-scientific study, consisting of my living in America for nearly 29 years, indicates that the average American household as more crap lying around than they know what to do with. So why this obsession with buying new things? And why do we feel that taking on debt is a viable option?

It's just not healthy!

More to come.

Saving the Earth ...kind of

Did you get your free bag at Target yesterday?

I did.

Blogging Isn't Easy

Am I right, ladies?

I've been in a bit of a funk lately after my schedule got thrown off due to car troubles (not mine), alumni events, and a touch of the flu, among other things. But now I'm back and ready to get back into it! Here are some highlights from the past few weeks:

1. For the first time in a LONG time, I exercised six days in a row! I kettlebelled three days with Ryan Shanahan, and did yoga with Rodney Yee the other three. And by "with," of course I mean I rearranged my living room furniture and did my KettleWorX videos (all three!), and my favorite dvd:

note: I will now be sourcing through image links, where appropriate; click the image to see the source

I love this dvd because there are 5 different "workouts" to choose from (are they called workouts in yoga? doesn't really seem appropriate...), each focusing on a different type of pose - i.e. standing poses, forward bends, back bends, etc. They're not too long, but difficult enough to feel like you did something substantial (at least for me).

Another milestone for exercise was I upgraded from the 7 pound kettlebell to the 10 pounder! They were on sale at Target and I figured, what the heck. After using it for a week, which was a bit more taxing but not completely horrible, the 7 pound one felt so light! I couldn't believe how heavy it felt when I first started!

The best part is - I used to dread doing the yoga video because some of the poses are hard, I didn't want to get up early, etc. Now that it's a break from kettlebelling, I actually look forward to it and enjoy how relaxing it is compared to squatting a million times in a row.

The worst part is - I haven't done a full six days again since that week. But I did make time for Rodney this morning, and I am planning on seeing Ryan again tomorrow!

Things I will go into more depth on later:

2. I've been making a point to go grocery shopping. It may sound silly, but I hate going to the grocery store even for a few things, and I hate a big shopping trip even more. Because I hate shopping, when I do go I try to stock up on things. Since I'm trying to be healthy, this usually means too many fresh vegetables and fruits than I care to eat going bad, and me eventually throwing them out. So I've been making lists based on the weekly add, coming up with new things to eat, and making sure I don't overbuy (or forcing myself to eat fresh foods before they go bad). I will share some of my new, low PPV recipe favorites in the coming weeks.

3. I finally got a chance to try the oatmeal options at both McDonald's and Starbucks. More on this later, but I prefer Starbucks hands down, even if I wasn't earning stars by buying it.

4. One word: Easter candy!!

5. The new season of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution premiered on Tuesday night.* I'll be interested to see what he comes up with locally, because ever since I watched Food, Inc. I've been trying to figure out how the heck I'm supposed to buy grass-fed, free range beef in LA.

6. Oh yeah, I watched Food, Inc.

I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of anything else right now. Stay tuned for more on 2-6, as well as the rest of my semi-healthy life!

*I haven't forgotten that I gave up TV for Lent - I don't watch anything before 8pm, and I only watch TV on purpose (i.e., this would be good research for my blog).

Small Packages

In honor of the company's 40th birthday, Starbucks recently unveiled a new logo:

Not really a big deal to most, but I work in the design industry where there is always commotion over rebranding

To celebrate, for a few days Starbucks offered one of their new "Petites" with any drink purchase:

 

  

Basically, they are trendy, bite-sized minidesserts.

Minidesserts seem to be exploding among restaurants, and Starbucks has jumped on the bandwagon. In a recent interview with the Seattle Times, Annie Young-Scrivner, global chief marketing officer at Starbucks, said:

"Our research shows that customers are looking for that little something in the afternoon. They don't want it to be very big. They just want a couple of bites of something to complement their tea or espresso or other beverage."

The reasoning experts give for this growing trend seem simple enough:

1. Money
People are eating out less, and dessert on top of that is a superfluous expense. Minidesserts are relatively cheap.

2. Choices
Restaurant patrons are now able to sample several different desserts for the price of one large dessert, without having to share several plates.

3. Calories
The growing trend toward "healthy" eating and living says that smaller portions are healthier. The Petites at Starbucks are even advertised as being "all under 200 calories."

Let it be known, I do not condone this source

Under 200 calories? Should I really consider that bar low?

A whole bagel with light cream cheese is under 200 calories. So are six cups of popcorn. And what about all those 100 calorie packs full of junk food?

source

Completely by accident, we did end up going into Starbucks during the celebration and getting our free Petites. We chose one Red Velvet Whoopie Pie and one Tiramisu Cake Pop.

Neither was very good.

The cake pop had the consistency of raw cookie dough, and the whoopie pie cakes crumbled in my hand as I ate. They both tasted like your basic, store-bought baked goods (i.e. slightly fake and not as good as it looks).

The nutritional information for all of the Petites is not yet listed on the Starbucks website, but based on my calculations, I think it's safe to estimate that each item they offer is roughly 5 PointsPlus Values.*

Wait, what?

I eliminated 95% of the drink menu trying to pare down my PPV to 2 or less for a drink, and you're throwing in a one-bite treat that is worth 5 PPV??

The worst part is, the same Seattle Times article by Michelle Locke equates the new dessert trend with changing snacking habits:

"People who once packed a bag of trail mix or brought a banana to tide them over the 3 o'clock blahs now may pop into a quick-serve restaurant for a snack wrap or other small menu item."

So instead of a filling 5 PPV worth of trail mix, or a 0 PPV banana, people are buying one bite of cake, on top of the 4 PPV+ drink they're already splurging on, that likely won't keep them satisfied through the end of the day, all of which will likely cost upwards of $5? Seems healthy to me!

Says Kathy Hayden, food-service analyst for Chicago-based Mintel research company, on the snack food trend:

"I don't think anyone's losing weight from them. I think that they're a nice little extra."

Really, Kathy, you think so?

*The Lemon Sweet Squares are probably the best option at 3 PPV.

The full Seattle Times article is here

Find 200 snacks under 100 calories here

Give it up!

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

While my mom likes to tell the story of her childhood friend giving up carrots for Lent, the true spirit of the tradition is to give up something that will be a sacrifice or struggle to do without, something we normally think we need, for the six weeks prior to Easter.

When we think of fasting now, we generally think of food. It has lately become trendy and even considered "healthy" to go on a fast (or "cleanse"), at least here in LA.

I don't think this is quite what the 4th Century Christians had in mind...

source

Yesterday I received an aptly titled article in the mail, where Rev. Dr. Paul R. Smith writes:

"The original idea of a fast was to train yourself to take control of your bodily appetites, and keep them from controlling you. No one is in actual control of his or her life who cannot say 'no' to something they want to do. But most of us have allowed the majority of our appetites to control us. . . we think we have no real choice but to go ahead and indulge."

 Are we really in control if we can't stay out of the restaurant in the first place??

source

I have given up different things for Lent in the past, and everything has revolved around food: Chocolate, soda, ice cream, candy, baked goods, fast food and caffeine.

This year, when I thought hard about what would be a real sacrifice and would have the greatest impact on my daily life, I decided to give up TV.

This will be a huge struggle for me. I am currently only semi-employed and work from home, so the majority of my day is spent alone in my living room. And while food is something I can logically think about in terms of calories, fat and fiber, TV is more abstract and passive, which makes it easy to overlook the repercussions.

I can, with conviction, understand that eating donuts every day will make me gain weight; it's hard to elicit any tangible consequences when tempted to watch TV. I have been known to turn on the TV in the morning while I eat my breakfast and, knowing full well I have things to do, sit there watching all day, accomplishing nothing.

Help!

source

In his article, Smith goes on to write:

"Some of the things [we crave] . . . are clearly destructive, others are good things. It doesn't really matter. We have a responsibility to control them all. . . . The clear and certain evidence that we are not healthy is any situation in which the control goes the other way - our bodies overrule our minds and spirits." [my emphasis]

This Lenten season I am going to take back control over my body when it comes to watching TV. Instead of zoning out I will:

• Exercise first thing in the morning instead of stalling and avoiding it
• Walk to a coffee shop or the library to work instead of being distracted at home
• Read books I have been meaning to read
• Listen to new music to avoid a lonely house
• Pay attention to what I eat because I am not distracted by the TV
• Write about it here!

Whether or not you are a spiritual person, Lent is a perfect time to take inventory of your life and, for six weeks at least, win back control over one unhealthy habit.

Are you giving up anything for Lent? How will it impact your daily life?

All that glitters...

I recently discovered that if you register your Starbucks gift card online you earn one "star" for every purchase you make with it. After 5 stars, you get free syrup and soy milk (usually 60 cents).
After 30 stars you get a gold card with your name on it!

Sign me up!

 

I don't know why, but I really want that card!

I got a Starbucks card for my birthday and transferred the balance onto this beauty:

The (STARBUCKS)RED card, designed by Jonathan Adler

For every purchase made with this card during 2011, Starbucks will donate 5 cents to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. So I'm earning stars AND donating 5 cents.

How very First World of me.

The only problem is, while I like the idea of earning stars and getting that golden ticket to exclusivity and perks, I don't particularly like coffee. (Let's be honest, black coffee is just gross.) I do, however, like coffee drinks - lattes, mochas and macchiatos - which can only lead to trouble.

Let me break it down for you with a few of my favorites:

1. Weight Watchers PointsPlus Values (PPV)*

• Tall white chocolate mocha** - 10 PPV (!)
• Tall mocha - 8 PPV 
• Tall cinnamon dolce latte - 7 PPV
• Tall cinnamon dolce latte (no whipped cream) - 5 PPV
• Tall caramel macchiato - 5 PPV
• Tall nonfat vanilla latte - 4 PPV

I won't even bother with any Frappuccinos, am I right ladies?

2. Cash Money

• Tall white chocolate mocha - $3.55
• Tall mocha - $3.15
• Tall cinnamon dolce latte - $3.55
• Tall caramel macchiato - $3.45
• Tall vanilla latte - $3.15

prices may vary by location

3. Conclusion

While not completely horrible as an occasional treat, Starbucks coffee drinks are a waste of money and PointsPlus Values when consumed on a regular basis.

And it doesn't help that Starbucks keeps reminding me to buy, buy, buy:

"Only" 23 stars to go! Doesn't that progress bar just make you want to scream?

Even if I got the cheapest thing on my list, 30 x $3.15 = $94.50, and you know it won't stop there.

(Oh, did I mention that to keep your gold status you must continue making 30 purchases per year each consecutive year? Might be time to rethink my priorities...)

I needed to find a low-cost, low-PPV drink, and fast! And drip coffee is out of the question!***

4. New Drink Options

This is what I came up with:

• Tall skinny vanilla latte - 2 PPV, $3.15
• Tall shaken iced tea - 2 PPV, $1.50
• Tall iced coffee with milk (any kind) - 2 PPV, $1.95

The skinny drinks, while low in PPV, are not any cheaper than their fat counterparts.
I'm not the biggest fan, anyway; I think the syrup tastes like chemicals.

I may switch over to iced tea when it starts getting warmer out, but I find that I drink iced tea much more quickly than coffee, because it's so sweet. The bitterness of the coffee reminds me to slow down and savor what I'm drinking rather than mindlessly sucking down empty calories.

For now I have been ordering the tall iced coffee with soy milk (which is free since I have over 5 stars). Even sweetened and with 2% milk it's still only 2 PPV, and the soy gives it a little extra flavor. And at $1.95 a pop, the iced coffee presents a much more reasonable yearly budget for both my wallet and my waistline.

What is your favorite drink at Starbucks? Do you dare calculate the PointsPlus Value??

*In case you are not familiar with the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus program, participants are allowed a set number of PPV per day, the lowest possible allowance being 29 - which is, of course, MY total daily allowance.
**All drinks built as-marketed unless otherwise specified. 
***Although I find it too disgusting to drink, black drip coffee is 0 PPV. Hooray!

On Kettlebelling

One Sunday afternoon I was flipping through channels and stumbled across this gem:

How had I never heard of this before? A coworker and I had been talking about going through the P90X program together, but I was skeptical from the beginning. I wasn't sure how much equipment I would need to buy, I wasn't thrilled at the thought of diving head-first onto the hardwood floors of my small apartment (you've seen the commercials), and frankly I didn't really think I'd stick to a program where the average user's end goal is to look like this:

source

The KettleWorx program seemed like something I could handle: three 20-minute workouts a week, with new workouts each week, six weeks total to finish the program, and all I needed to buy besides the dvd's was a kettlebell (and a mat, which I already had).

 kettleworx

After a little bit of research, I decided to buy the program from Amazon. This was pre-Christmas, and since I was going home for two weeks for the holidays, I decided to start after I got back.

Not-so-fun Fact: I gained 7 pounds over Christmas!

So... the third week of January rolled around and I decided to give the thing a go. I started with the Cardio video, with the understanding that the workouts increased in difficulty over the six weeks, and therefore the week one workouts would be easy and suited for someone who, say, had been sitting at a desk all day for the past three years.

omg.

Kettlebell workouts involve a lot of squatting. An excellent exercise, but not something you should be doing for 20 minutes straight while swinging a seven-pound weight over your head after not squatting aerobically for over five years.

source

Toward the end of the first set of exercises I could feel my quads starting to give out. About 30 seconds into the second set I literally squatted down, did not get up, and fell on the floor. There was no way I was going to finish this video. I managed to pull myself up onto the couch, wrapped myself in a blanket and did not move for three hours.

Three hours!

As someone who was always mostly a "fit" person growing up, this was discouraging, to say the least.

Understandably, I decided to go back and start slow with the KettleWorx series. I want to be able to at least get through an entire workout without stopping!

I've done the first workout on the Core and Resistance a couple of times each, usually one workout a week. I haven't even attempted the Cardio one again - I am freaked out about having to do something important the next day and falling on my face.

I did the Core video today - my goal is to do the Resistance one on Friday, and then start with Cardio again on Monday. I will keep you posted on my progress!

FYI, I am using this GoFit kettlebell that I bought from Target:

I am already thinking about buying a ten- or fifteen-pound for the arm exercises, but for the squats the seven-pound is fine for now.

It's hard to be healthy!

...but you knew that.

If you're anything like me (and if you're taking the time to read this, I'm guessing you are),
you want to be healthy. You intend to be healthy. You even try to be healthy.

But when it comes to actually being healthy - to consistently making healthy choices about diet, exercise and lifestyle in general - it's just. plain. hard.

When I told a friend I was starting this blog it went something like this:

me: I'm starting a blog. It's called Healthy Isn't Easy. Isn't that a good name for my blog?
friend: [stifling laughter] Healthy Isn't Easy? As you're eating a bowl of frosting??

It's true, I was eating a bowl of frosting.

I came to have a bowl of frosting because, well... I made it.
Yes, I made a bowl of frosting with the specific intention of eating it straight from the bowl.
My rationalizations were these:

1. I made relatively healthy choices all day, and I really wanted dessert.
2. Frosting was the simplest thing to make - only four ingredients, and easy cleanup!
3. I would only make half of the recipe, which would be half the calories!
4. The frosting was low-fat! It was healthy, really. I used 100% juice instead of milk.
5. I had, in fact, made the frosting the night before, and this was leftover frosting.
Wow! Such self-control! I am doing so well!

These are, of course, all poor excuses to binge on pure sugar and fat at 10:00pm when I should have been going to bed. In retrospect:

1. One can make healthy choices that include eating dessert, but this was not one of them.
2. The easiest solution, as we all know, is not usually the best or most healthy solution.
3. A halved batch of frosting is still more frosting than no frosting.
4. Who are you trying to kid?
5. I give myself credit for not eating the entire bowl in one night, but the self-control should have been exercised when tempted to make the frosting in the first place.

To finish the conversation:

me: I'm starting a blog. It's called Healthy Isn't Easy. Isn't that a good name for my blog?
friend: [stifling laughter] Healthy Isn't Easy? As you're eating a bowl of frosting??
me: But that's the whole point!