A New Book and a New Rant...

Well, kids; in the last week, using some money I got over the holidays, I went and got a book that's been calling to me to be bought.

And that book is:



















Yeah; I'd heard a lot about this and the series of other books from the same author and after leafing through a copy one day, felt that this would not only be an informative tome to own but also one that could save some lives.

The concept is simple: an overview of some of the most popular modern-day restaurant specialties, grocery store foods, drinks, stuff in your pantry and everyday snack foods that are good for you, bad for you or should be avoided at all costs. Calorie counts, fat counts, sugar counts, sodium counts and carbohydrate counts permeate each page, and every so often you'll find a bomb signifying a "Weapon Of Mass Destruction", signifying that restaurant's particular diet-destroying selection.

As I said, I thoroughly enjoy this book and read it and re-read it every day. This is one of those required reading things that should be in every home, and I'm not saying that because I get a cut of the sales or anything - only because "Eat This, Not That" is just that important a book.

Okay, that was the rave. Now, on to the rant....

When you read a book like this, or anything that goes into detail as to what goes into your favorite foods and what kind of calories and fats you're ingesting that you'd otherwise have no idea of, it's kind of infuriating. They say that you should never go into the kitchen of your favorite restaurant if you ever want to keep eating there. The same goes for books about restaurants and foods, too.

Would you be at all surprised to know how unhealthy restaurants like Burger King, Panera, Pizza Hut, P.F, Chang's and On The Border are? Or there are some single-serving desserts at restaurants that are way over 1,000 calories? Or that some other restaurants pride themselves on having appetizers and entrees that are specially designed to give clogged arteries and congestive heart failure?

It's no wonder there are so many more cases of obesity nowadays; it's not just that there is less restrain and willpower nowadays (there is that), but that so many food makers and servers are willing to pile on and shovel in so much more cheese, sugar, fats and outright junk just to entice people in for a bite that common sense and good health are the absolute last concerns of anyone involved.

If given the choice betwen something that is knowingly healthy and something that tastes good, which would YOU choose? Exactly; thank you.

And it is this that is wrong with people nowadays - if they get a chance to overindulge, nine out of ten of them will do it. So would you - don't lie. You do it each chance you get. Dessert, burgers, anything with cheese or sugar. You do it. Yeah...whatever.

So what does this mean? That people would rather be fat (yep, I said the "F" word) than healthy? I don't think so; but why is it that fattening and unhealthy eats are so much more readily available and accessible than healthy, lean and good-for-you foodstuffs? Is it some kind of conspiracy that bad foods are so much cheaper than healthy? Surely I'm not the only one that's noticed this.

You go into any grocery store and convenience store and what's the first thing you come across: a huge stacked display of pop cases or potato chips or snack cakes on sale. And then you go through and shop; and what are the most expensive foods? Diet foods, lean meals, healthy sweeteners and salt substitutes. Is it any wonder that no one can go on the South Beach Diet or anything like that; have you priced the food for it? Asparagus and ricotta aren't the cheapest things to be had, y'know.

I, for one, am sick to death of all this obesity and fattening stuff going on nowadays - I used to tip the scales at (way) over 200 awhile back but am now down under 180 due to cutting back, eating healthier, making better lifestyle choices for myself and actually going out and getting more exercise (I walk to work every day, eat many more vegetables than I used to, etc.); is it that hard for anyone else to do that? Not really, but it is easier to make the wrong choices if only for reasons of cheapness, laziness and pure sloth. Take it from Mister Cheap Lazy Sloth, right here.

So, what if you're one of the many, many out there who tip the scales, have trouble finding clothes that fit and/or get winded just climbing a flight of stairs? Don't do like so many and go at it all at once and make so many drastic changes in your life that you snap after a week and dive head-first into a pint of Haagen Daaz. Make little changes a bit at a time.

Go for a small walk one day; get some fresh air.

Have an apple instead of a candy bar.

Here's a good one - don't super size. You don't need all of that.

You can fill up on a salad first then eat a meal, since salads will not only fill you up but give you vitamins and minerals and all that good stuff.

Stay away from the fattening dressings; spray on vinaigrettes work just as well and add just as much if not more flavor and spice to your greens.

I'm not gonna preach to you - many of you out there probably get that every day as it is and are sick of it; I know that I would be. Instead, just let it sink in, wash around in your brain and think about it. If you are overweight - slightly or very much - go pick up a book like "Eat This, Not That"; it's easier to eat healthy than you think, and there's lots of little ways to be healthy yourself.

Take it from someone who's been there. ; D

Okay, my rant is over. Back to your lives, people. Me, I'm gonna do some reading.

What to read, what to read...? Hmm...ah! let's compare Big Macs and Whoppers now....

Dope out.

-TGWD