This is what I’ve concluded: If you like the taste of sports drinks better than regular water, then it’s OK to drink them. But it’s important to know that a sports drink is really no better for you than water unless you are exercising for more than 60 to 90 minutes or in really hot weather. The additional carbohydrates and electrolytes may improve performance in these conditions, but otherwise your body will do just as well with water.Many isotonic fluids (fluid, electrolytes and 6 to 8% carbohydrate) such as Gatorade claim to re-hydrate and boost energy, but any product containing calories will increase your energy levels. However, the best way to obtain calories is from the complex carbohydrates found in bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and cereals. In fact, the least nutritionally satisfactory way is by eating simple carbohydrates – that is, sugar. Many sports drinks contain large quantities of sugar. This statement bothers me: “In fact, scientific research shows that physically active children will drink more Gatorade than water and therefore stay better hydrated. (Adults also benefit in a similar fashion.)” Of course they are going to be more hydrated. They like the flavor, and will therefore drink more. But, children, and adults alike, do not need the supplements added in when playing in a basketball game for an hour. They need knowledge of pre-grame and post-game diet and nutrition.

Sports drinks are for Professional Athletes

Gatorade said it themselves. This drink, though suitable for daily ingestion, is helpful to athletes who are exercising at a high intensity for 60 minutes or more. The football players were working out in extreme temperatures for hours on end. Fluids supplying 60 to 100 calories per 8 ounces helps to supply the needed calories required for continuous performance. It’s really not necessary to replace losses of sodium, potassium and other electrolytes during exercise since you’re unlikely to deplete your body’s stores of these minerals during normal training. If, however, you find yourself exercising in extreme conditions over 3 or 5 hours (a marathon, Ironman or ultramarathon, for example) you may likely want to add a complex sports drink with electrolytes.

http://www.gatorade.com/history/default.aspx

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/hydrationandfluid/a/ProperHydration.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/850795/is_gatorade_bad_for_you_what_you_need_pg2.html?cat=51

http://www.livestrong.com/article/75369-gatorade-vs.-water/

What is in your Sports Drink?

I know everything in moderation, yes yes yes. But…ingest some of this stuff in the first place? I’m starting to think all this chemically processed, genetically modified stuff is not doing us any favors.

Filtered Water
Filtered water is simply water that has been passed through a filtering system to remove impurities.

Brominated Vegetable Oil
BMV or brominated vegetable oil is added to certain beverages that contain citrus oils. BMV helps prevent the oils from rising to the surface. It also ensures the stability of the flavor mixture. It is derived from soybean.

Sucralose
Some sugar free varieties of Gatorade contain sucralose, a non-calorie artificial sweetener. Sucralose is added simply to enhance flavor and provide sweetness. Sucralose is sold as Splenda.

High Fructose Corn Syrup
The high fructose corn syrup in Gatorade is a combination of two to three carbohydrates. The high fructose corn syrup contributes glucose, sucrose and fructose to the sports drink. Each is added according to results of scientific data to ensure fluid absorption, energy delivery and desirable taste. Instantly addictive, made from genetically modified corn, riddled with pesticides, major cause of obesity and diabetes, feeds cancer, etc. Some call it the “crack” of sweeteners.

Citric Acid
Citric acid is added for flavor and to act as a preservative.

Natural flavors
Natural and artificial flavors are added to enhance the flavor that cannot be supplied if fruit juice or certain spices were to be used.

Salt
Salt, also known as potassium chloride, is used to enhance taste. It is present in Gatorade to help regulate fluid balance in the body.

Sodium Citrate
Sodium citrate is added to Gatorade to enhance flavor and maintain the stability of active ingredients.

Monopotassium Phosphate
Monopotassium phosphate is added as a source of phosphate and has been approved by the FDA as a heart healthy food. It’s a flavor additive.

Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is used in products that contain citric oils. It prevents the oils from floating to the surface of beverages. It is harvested from the stumps of pine and purified to beverage grade gum. The National Institute of Public Health has declared glycerol ester of wood rosin safe for human consumption.

Modified food starch
Hmmmm. Did you know modified food starch is another name for MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)? The “g” in MSG, glutamate, is another instantly addictive product. Gatorade says they put certain ingredients in there products to make them more drinkable or to encourage you to drink more. By addicting us? Thanks, but no thanks! Glutamate may produce many different reactions in people. Some inclusde, cardiac problems, facial tightening, headache, blurred vision, asthmatic reactions, drowsiness, numbness, burning sensations, weakness, and many more.

Artificial Colors
Artificial colors are listed in the ingredients as various dyes or a color with a number. According to Gatorade.com, the colors in Gatorade are present to help consumers differentiate the different flavors. Colors and dyes used in Gatorade are suitable for human consumption as directed by the FDA. The least amount of dye is used to achieve the desired color. Yellow 5. Yellow 5, also known as Tartrazine is derived from coal tar. It appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all food coloring classified as azo dyes. Reactions can include anxiety, migraine, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, rhinitis, urticaria, general weakness, heatwaves, palpitations, feeling of suffocation, pruritus, purple skin patches, and sleep disturbance. In rare cases, the symptoms of tartrazine sensitivity can be felt even at extremely small doses and can last up to 72 hours after exposure. Tartrazine has also been linked to childhood developmental problems like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and obsessive compulsive behavior. It is banned in Norway and previously banned in Germany and Austria as well, but the European Parliament has lifted the ban.

http://www.womenfitness.net/sportsdrink.htm

http://www.womenfitness.net/sports_drinks_whats_extenal.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=z8yvsMmtXuMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Analyzing+Sports+Drinks,+What%E2%80%99s+Right+for+You,+Carbohydrate+or+Electrolyte+Replacement%3F&source=bl&ots=uR996AcTkH&sig=iRyPO6eOmQFx-Ih4pmWllFR80ho&hl=en&ei=s7vVS_neGYLKMunFwYoE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Drink milk!

It has the water, sugars, sodium, vitamins and protein your body needs! Want some sweetness? Add a little chocolate.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sports-drinks/MY01209/rss=10

Too much sodium is a bad thing.

Most people ingest too much sodium and you do not lose enough Gatorade has a lot of sodium.

But a pinch and a dash can quickly add up to unhealthy levels of sodium, especially when many foods already contain more than enough sodium. About 11 percent of the sodium in the average U.S. diet comes from adding salt or other sodium-containing condiments to foods while cooking or eating. But the majority of the sodium — 77 percent — comes from eating prepared or processed foods that contain the mineral. So even though you may limit the amount of salt you add to food, the food itself may already be high in sodium.

The average person ingests too much sodium on a daily basis. If your kidneys can’t eliminate enough sodium, the sodium starts to accumulate in your blood. Because sodium attracts and holds water, your blood volume increases. Increased blood volume, in turn, makes your heart work harder to move more blood through your blood vessels, increasing pressure in your arteries. Certain diseases such as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease can lead to an inability to regulate sodium.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium/NU00284

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

You can stay hydrated by drinking water and eating a balanced diet

Gatorade is a sports drink and is not specifically formulated as an oral rehydration solution. If you’re not eating, then taking your fluid in the form of soup may be a good idea. Also, electrolyte solutions like Gatorade and Powerade may be good options, but for most people, plain water is usually sufficient. But, if you’re replacing your nutrients with a liquid, you aren’t getting what you need from Gatorade. You should just as well be drinking Ensure.

The carbohydrates found in sweetened sports drinks provide energy to help delay fatigue, key word… delay. Sugar and electrolytes increases performance, it doesn’t directly aid in hydration. A sports drink can do many great things to increase energy levels without the complications of digesting and absorbing a meal.

http://www.gatorade.com/frequently_asked_questions/default.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/what-to-drink-when-you-exercise

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_health/health1/1-gatorade-or-water-for-the-flu.htm

I went on a ski trip with my parents, younger brothers and Ben to Winter Park, CO.  Our original plan was to go to Whitefish, Montana. However, two days before we were supposed to leave the weather said it would be highs of 55 and chance of rain in Whitefish… uh oh. My dad changed the plans and the day we were supposed to leave for Whitefish we headed to Winter Park, Colorado. It was my 6th time there, but I still loved every minute of it!

from left: Ben, dad, me, mom, Rob, Jim

While on the ski trip I had a bit of a breakdown about stress. I’ve been slowly getting more and more unhealthy as the days/weeks/months go by. I’m unhappy at my job. So, on March 8th, I told my boss that I would be looking for a new job. Thankfully she told me I could stay until I find a new job. Since then I’ve applied to more jobs than I can remember, unfortunately. I don’t think I’ll get a job until i have my diploma in my hand, which will happen on May 13th. Long time coming.

I can say one thing, since decided to leave, my stress has already gone down. I’ve been in a much better mood and things are starting to look up. However, the job search is degrading and I’m getting nervous about my prospects. But, my body isn’t hating me as much as it has been over the past year, and I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hey, maybe this gluten allergy will go away…one can only hope.

Filed under: Thoughts ]]> http://peaspassthebeans.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/hiatus/feed/ 0 marieoraley The Family http://peaspassthebeans.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/lent/ http://peaspassthebeans.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/lent/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:14:19 +0000 Marie http://peaspassthebeans.wordpress.com/?p=348 ]]> I’m giving up unnecessary internet use for lent and focusing on my health, personal life and career. We’ll see if cutting back on wasteful time sitting at the computer helps. Bye bye facebook, wordpress, twitter, and all the blogs I usually read. Only absolutely necessary internet use at home.

March should be an interesting month.

Also giving up for lent- eating out and eating sweets. That means no Starbucks vanilla soy lattes and Finnish bistro morning glory muffins, OH NO!

I’ll let you know how it goes when I return on April 5th.

Posted 02/09/2010 - Oh Boy - Fred Frost is out here everyday making turns and having a great time. Photo by Kat Gebauer. Bigmtnphotos.com

Time to start pounding the ski-friendly workouts! I’ve been doing plenty of leg workouts to get my running legs back, but I think it’s about time to add some more squats and lunges into the mix. Ben asked me to find him some of the best leg workouts for skiing. I’ve made a compilation from the gallery of workout images at SKI Magazine.

I would [and probably should] go into more detail for each image, but I can remember how to do each, and can answer any questions. I printed out each image and I’m going to tape them to the wall in our basement near our workout equipment. I’m going to tape a straight line down the middle of the basement and do some of the plyometric workouts using the line, and will probably tape some dots on the floor as well to do some of the jumping plyometric workouts I remember from my sprint training and downhill racing days.

This is my favorite:

Doing the whole dot drill (5 separate drills with 5 repetitions each) should take anywhere from 40-70 seconds depending on your skill level. Do anywhere from 2-4 sets.

Up and Back

- Start with feet on D & E

- Jump to C with both feet, then one foot each on A & B

- Come back by going back down to C with both feet, then D & E.

- Repeat 4 more times

Right Foot

- Jump to dot A, B, C, D, E and back, E, D, C, B, A.

- Repeat 4 more times.

Left Foot

- Jump to dot A, B, C, D, E and back, E, D, C, B, A.

- Repeat 4 more times

The nice thing about the dot exercise is that you really can do any pattern you want! Plyometrics are my favorite.

Maggie said it well- “We base our anxieties and worries on our own histories. Just because something happened yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, and … – does not mean that it has to happen today.”

I keep looking to other people for inspiration because I can’t seem to find my own motivation. You’d think having a co-worker ask if I am pregnant would be enough motivation for me to work toward those Carrie Underwood legs… errr…no. If it was nice out a 5+ mile walk would have helped. I can’t wait for spring. SAD is kicking in. I would love for some advice on how to kick the wintery blues.

Lent starts on Wednesday, February 17. I’m trying to decide what I’ll give up this year. I was thinking I’d give up dining out. This would stop me from buying a coffee a day, and little snacks here and there. Ben and I don’t go out to eat that much, it’s the soy lattes, fruit strips and Chinese take-out that add up. Or I was thinking of giving up meat, but I don’t think Ben would be on board with me, and it’s really hard to cook for two as it is. Maybe I’ll give up dairy. That would be really tough. I love cheese! One year I gave up condiments and “toppings”, that was surprisingly difficult, but very do-able. I love peanut butter and buttered popcorn.  What if I gave up a habit, maybe TV or Internet at home? I have a little over a week to decide. I want it to be a big challenge.

Decisions. Decisions.

I think I’ll go throw up now.

What’s been going on since my revelation? I’ve been going to the gym, fairly consistently compared to December and I’ve been working hard at getting my legs back in working order so I can start running again. I’ll be one happy camper when I can start running. I REALLY miss it; as does Ole. He’s been destroying a lot of things lately. Little punk. I was at the gym at 5:45 today, did the elliptical machine for 10 minute while I waited for a treadmill. I hate treadmills, but I’m soooo sick of the elliptical machine. 40 minutes walking up hill and I’m feeling good

I’ve been listening to audiobooks while I work out, it makes the time go by much faster, and it’s the only time I allow myself to listen. The longer I’m working out, the longer I get to listen to my book. I have no shame, I’ve been reading and listening

I had PT yesterday and was told I need new shoes- yeah… I knew that. My ILTB Syndrome is going away, thankfully. However, apparently I supinate to an extreme, also considered underpronating. My physical therapist gave me a bunch of exercises to work on strengthening my hips more, and my stabilizing muscles to try to correct my extreme supination. I feel so much more knowledgable. As soon as my physical therapist clear me, I’m heading to Marathon Sports and I’m getting some new shoes that are cushioned and have a “curved last.” Every Tuesday they have a podiatrist or physiatrist in the store. Lovely

REI has some lovely diagrams and RunnersWorld has a great video supination.

Supination video from Runner’s World.

I finally came up with a resolution for 2010 – I’m giving up my vices. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop eating french fries or icecream. It means I’m going to stop beating myself up about it (after my bet with Ben). If I generally eat healthy, work out, etc… I can allow myself some treats every once in a while, right?

As noted in my “About Me” section, for the past 7 years, I’ve been obsessed with my weight and appearance. I’ve struggled with an eating disorder, self-loathing behavior, ups and downs with weight gain and overall health, etc. I can say that my negative feelings about myself have ended up making me more unhealthy and unhappy than anything else. It’s time to take a stand against  my past. I have to learn to let go of those feelings of inadequacy and shame. Until I can get over how I’ve felt about myself, and how others have made me feel, I’ll never be able to change.  I need to let go of all those negative feelings and start looking at myself with a new light. I can do this, I can be healthy, I am athletic, I am capable of doing whatever I want. I am the only one who can promote change and make the choices that will improve my quality of life.

Inspiration has been drawn from a few people- you could say they are my heroines. Their optimism is incredibly motivating.

Caitlin: “Happiness is a choice”

Faith: “Trust in yourself, love yourself for who you are and appreciate at least one little thing you’ve accomplished each day. Nourish yourself in mind, body, and spirit. Live, laugh, learn, and grow!”

Lynn: “Lynn + Laying Off = No You Won’t Gain 170 Pounds Overnight AND You’ll Feel Better The Rest of the Day and Tomorrow AND You’re No Longer Causing Irreparable Damage!”

Jenna: “I don’t believe in diets at all. I just believe in eating healthy meals that make our bodies thrive. If you listen to your body and feed it when its hungry and let it rest when its tired I promise you there would be less weight issues.”

More on this tomorrow…

The rec was closed last week for annual maintenance. Go figure, right after the new year they close down the rec. I think they do it in hopes that a ton of new years resolutions don’t clog the system. I didn’t mind the week off from my morning routine, I was exhausted last week. Now that the Holiday season is over, I can focus. I struggled a bit between my last post and today. My grandma made a ton of gluten free sweets for me. Ugh. I gained all the weight I’ve lost and hit my 160lb mark. Ugh, again. NO MORE! AS my blog title states, peas pass the beans. I need green food, pronto.

Ben and I have a contest of sorts going on. He wants to lose 34 lbs, and I want to lose 25 lbs. I can’t eat sweets until I read my goal. So, no jelly, syrup, candy, chocolate (NO!) sweeteners in coffee, honey in my tea, etc. I have such an insane sweet tooth, I’ve lost three pounds in a week, since we started this bet. And, when I get down to 135lbs, where I’d love to be, I get to go shopping. And until then, no shopping. That’s terrifying in itself. I love to shop. No, I take that back, I love to buy. Dresses, dresses and more dresses. That’s how I feel. I figure, byt the time I lose the weight I want to lose, I’ll be able to buy a new spring wardrobe.  If I do go shopping or eat desert, sweets, etc, He wins his bet and gets his prize. A prize in which I do not want to participate, sorry Ben.

I found my new favorite breakfast, thanks to Jenna at EatLiveRun. Oatmeal. Thankfully, this is allowed on a gluten free diet. So, for the past 5 days I’ve have steel cut oats, almond butter and either raisins, bananas or blueberries for breakfast. Soooo YUMMY! Thanks Jenna. I now understand your cravings for oats. my morning simple isn’t complete without my Mightly Leaf organic breakfast tea and oats.

So, we’ve both been eating really healthy the past week. Yesterday I had my parents and older brother, his wife and son over for dinner. My two younger brothers were supposed to come, but couldn’t come in the end because of work and class. I tried something new, and it turned out marvelously. I wish I had taken pictures. I’ll make it again some time soon I’m sure, and post pictures. With a little help from a couple other recipes I found online (Whole Foods and Simple Gluten Free) , I came up with my own version.

Lemongrass Sea Bass en Papillote

6-6oz. Sea Bass fillets (Halibut, Cod or other white fish would suffice)
Please choose choose certified sustainable fish
15 to 18 spears of Asparagus, cut in 3 inch sections
3 cups fingerling potatoes, sliced in circles, 1/4 inch thick
3 cups leeks, sliced in circles, 1/4 inch thick
2 cups lemongrass, chopped or shredded finely
Extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Lemon wedges (use lemon left over from desert)
Parchment paper

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Pouch directions and images came from- En Petit Chef

To start, cut as many nice big pieces of parchment paper off your roll as number of fish fillets you’re preparing, somewhere near the 24 x 16″ mark. Fold each sheet in half and cut out a half-heart shape as large as your paper, unfold your hearts and lay them out flat.

Image for Demonstration Only. Taken from En Petit Chef.

Place fish in center of one half of the heart, brush or spray lightly with extra virgin olive oil, lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle 1 table spoon of lemongrass on the fish. Pile  1/2 cup of potatoes and 1/2 cup of leeks and 6 sections of asparagus on the fish. Spray or drizzle with olive oil, lightly salt and pepper again and seal the parchment.

Image for Demonstration Only. Taken from En Petit Chef.

Image for Demonstration Only. Taken from En Petit Chef.

Once you reach the bottom of your heart, twist the point and fold it under so that all of your crimping will stay in place. Repeat procedure with the remaining 5 squares and ingredients.

Transfer pouches to a baking sheet, and bake until the fish is cooked through, about 20 minutes. To plate: You can either place sealed pouch on an individual plate. Use scissors to carefully snip an opening on the top, or open the package and slide the meal out onto a plate.

We served this with brown rice and used the remaining lemongrass and some salt and pepper to season the rice. Also, we used the lemon left over from making the zest to drizzle some juice on the fish after we plated it. Some of us wanted more lemon, some did not. So yummy.

(desert was no sugar added and more like a 2nd course fruit, so it wasn’t technically cheating, but borderline cheating)

Ginger Poached Pears

Ingredients

* 1 (750-ml) bottle sweet dessert wine
* 2 cinnamon stick, broken in 1/2
* 1 1/2 tables spoons fresh ginger, peeled, and finely chopped
* 1 lemon, zested
* 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
* 3 small, firm, ripe Anjou pears, peeled
* Serving suggestion: vanilla ice cream or gelato, blueberries

Directions

In a saucepan large enough to hold all the pears, combine the wine, cinnamon stick halves, lemon zest and ginger. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean and add the bean and seeds to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add the pears and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating occasionally, until the pears are tender. Remove the pears from the liquid and allow to cool.

Continue to simmer the liquid until it thickens and is reduced by half, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Remove the cinnamon stick halves and the vanilla bean and discard.

Place each pear on a small serving plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh blueberries. Drizzle with the lemon, ginger and cinnamon syrup. Serve
immediately.

Wednesday afternoon we left for Madison to stay at Ben’s dad’s for the night. What is usually a 4.5 hour car ride was 8 hours. We got stuck in the storm. Eck! It didn’t help that we brought Ole (Ben’s idea) and had to stop every 2.5 hours for him to go to the bathroom and run around. It’s tough being cramped in a kennel for 8 hours, I don’t blame the poor little guy!

Next day, french toast for breakfast. Thanks gluten free diet ::insert sarcasm:: Ben’s dad likes making it with Panettone using a recipe similar to the one found at ThirdsPlease. We had it once before at his house last spring; right after I found out I had a gluten allergy, he had no idea at the time. This time, however, he either forgot, or neglected to take my allergy into consideration when making his plans. I shouldn’t take it too personally. He couldn’t remember for two years that his daughter was a vegetarian. To his credit, when Ben reminded him, he tried to find gluten free bread, but couldn’t and told us of this when we were on our way. Ben and I stopped at a grocery store on our way to Madison to get some gluten free bread and just my luck, the only bread the grocery store had was Ener-G Light Brown Rice Bread. I do not like Ener-G bread.

Light Brown Rice Bread. Courtesy of Ener-G

Most loaves go in the garbage after two attempts. Sorry Ener-G, prove me wrong, please. I bought it anyway, hoping the fancy french toast mixture would help mask the chalky flavor of the bread. Next morning… nope, no good. Christmas breakfast = nothing fantastic. I dont think it helped that Ben and Tom both forgot when they were making it the next morning and forgot to save some batter for me. Oh well. Ben and his dad enjoyed their panettone breakfast enough to make up for my lack of a flavorful morning. Question for anyone out there. If you were aware that one of your visitors had an allergy, would you plan a meal knowing they wouldn’t be able to eat any of it? Or am I exaggerating?

Guess what was for dinner on Christmas eve… you’ll never guess. Pasta. A huge assortment of pasta, fancy breads and crackers and tortellini soup.  I ate lettuce, lil’ smokies and shrimp for dinner. It simply wasn’t my year for Christmas meals. Probably another reason I lost weight over the Holidays. Lack of eating. From now on, I will ask what is for dinner, that way I can plan accordingly. I should have known better. Oh well. Luckily, Deb, Ben’s aunt remembered from last spring when we visited. She’s such a sweetheart. She had a big assortment of fixings for yogurt and oatmeal. Mmmmm. Ben’s grandparents had a traditional meal, so I was safe with meat, potatoes and carrots. I didn’t starve. No worries.

I shouldn’t focus on food as much as I do. It’s the worst of my many weight issues.

Anyway…

I found a new trick that makes it impossible for me to avoid the gym. I leave all my makeup in my locker. That way I HAVE to go there before work. Good plan, eh? I’ve really enjoyed my mornings at the rec. I finally figured out how to use the elliptical machine without numb toes. Just have to rock back and forth on my feet a little, makes my calves burn, but that’s a good thing, right? Does anyone else get numb toes from elliptical machines? I’m curious. Maybe it’ll go away when I am in shape. Time will tell. I’ve been leaving enough time for my leg workouts and stretches so I can get my iliotibial bands back to normal. I have PT next Monday. Urg.

I haven’t been able to say no to chocolate at work. TOO MUCH CANDY. Here is a Christmas wish to all the staff and faculty in my department – please stop bringing me sweets as a sign of gratitude – I’d prefer a simple thank you I’m not ungrateful. I simply lack willpower!