The Summer Games Are Unhealthy

If you are like me, you are spending more time in front of the TV lately because of the Olympics.  It seems odd that something that is possible because of some of the most awesome athletes and healthy people in the world could drive the rest of us to endless hours on the couch. 

As a "new" athlete, I find absolute joy in watching the tough endurance events such as swimming and track & field.  I am also looking forward to the Triathlon and Marathon events! 

I understand that it costs money to broadcast the Olympics covering hundreds of events with cameras and commentators (not that we see even 1/3 of them).  Money means sponsors and commercials. 

The two biggest sponsors for the Olympics are McDonald's and Coca-Cola.  Think about it.  How much soda of any kind does Michael Phelps drink?  How many trips to McDonald's does Gabby make after working out with her gymnastics coach?  I bet the marathoners skip the whole Paleo eating idea and just have a Big Mac when they need a snack.  My hunch is that Jeff Ford has no idea what he is talking about.  That is probably why he is doing Ironman Triathlons and not going to the olympics, right?

OK, I am officially talking out of my bum as they might say in London.

The truth is, while I thank the big, unhealthy sponsors for paying NBC millions of dollars, it is like advertising down jackets and winter wear on local Aruba TV.  One has nothing to do with the other. 

Coca-Cola was the premiere sponsor for the torch relay.  I assume they threw in mandatory stops for insulin for their athletes that carried the torch? 

McDonald's actually has the world's larget McDonald's within the Olympic village.  Who is eating here?

The reality here is that WE made them the gigantic companies they are.  We drove through their drive thrus and bought too much of their food.  We have had too much of "A Coke and a Smile" for far too long.  We have created the monster.


Well, I think an event is coming on....I need to get to McDonald's and get a Coke and a few sandwiches before it starts.

Confronting A Problem

So many people face challenges with addiction today. Whether that addiction is substance or if that addiction is food, there comes a time when you have to own up to why you are where you are. I think back to some of the reasons I used to give for my weight gain.

“We were poor and I worked 3 jobs.”

“Money is tight so we have to buy cheap foods which are unhealthy.”

“My work is crazy and I have to eat out all of the time.”

“I don’t have time to work out.”

I used to say all of these things. Never did I admit to anyone that I would binge after going through one or sometimes even 2 different drive thrus! There were times that I could not decide what I wanted to eat so I would just visit both! Sometimes, I literally would realize how embarrassing it was to order that much food for one person and therefore would split it between 2 stops. I even ordered 2 drinks a few times to make it look like I was bringing it home to someone else. I even reached the point in early 2011 where I would rush out of work too late to get home for dinner but early enough to make a Chinese buffet or Old Country Buffet before they closed. Restaurants were chosen based on my knowledge that I would leave – not full – but completely stuffed. I knew who had the biggest portions!

WARNING:  Prepare to wince and groan….I decided to add up a few usual stops for me at fast food restaurants. Note – I always would have diet soda (to offset of course) so no need to add into the calories.

• McDonald’s. One of my favorite combinations was a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese combo which is 740 calories for the burger, 380 for fries (1120 total). But the meal would not stop there. With this, I’d probably get a filet of fish a well for 380 more. Meal total: 1500 calories.
• Another order at McD’s was to ‘downsize’ my combo to the Big Mac. Then I’d have to add 2 additional sandwiches. Big Mac (540), fries (380), filet of fish (380) and topped off with a Mc Chicken (360). Total: 1,660.
• How about breakfast at McD’s (sometimes in the same day as one of the dinners or lunches above). Steak, Egg and Cheese bagel (710), hash brown (150), 2 sausage burritos (600), large OJ (280). Total: 1,740 (that is a half of pound of weight for those playing at home)
• Let’s change it up to Taco Bell. I have some favorites there such as a Grilled Stuft Burrito (880), 7 layer burrito (500), 2 hardshell supremes (400). Total: 1,780.
• I could come up with 15 combos at taco bell – but let’s do one more: Two ½ pound cheesy potato burritos (1,090), volcano burrito (780), crunchwrap supreme (540), cheesy fiesta potatoes (270). Total (OMG….2,680).
• Let’s try Taco John’s: 1 meat and potato burrito (520), small potato ole (480) 2 beefy burritos (880), 2 crispy tacos (340). Total: 2,220.
• One more Taco John’s: 2 beefy burritos (880), 2 crispy tacos (340), regular super potato ole (1,090!). Total: 2,310
• Burger King: Double Whopper with cheese (950), chicken sandwich with heavy mayo (850) and 1 double cheeseburger (450). Total: 2,250.
• How about a sit down restaurant? Applebee’s (which incidentally is one of my favorites now for LOW calories meals). I used to get wings (710) and riblets platter (1,820). Total: 2,530.

I have not even started with the list I could create. What about business trips where there were fast food places that I cannot get at home? All the more reason to binge to try everything! I have not covered White Castle, Sonic or Wendy’s.

I realize that everyone with weight problems did not do this to themselves like I did. Chances are that except in rare cases, there was some reason a person gained so much weight like me. I get it….it is an addiction. It is also a beatable addiction. I crave these foods frequently. Just typing them out makes me salivate. Seeing the numbers also convinces me that I do not need it and I know I can live without it. In fact, I feel better than I ever did when I was eating like that on a daily basis.

It will be hard for me to press ‘PUBLISH POST’ on this. As I read it, it is utterly embarrassing how I treated myself. This will get posted though because I have found that talking about my past behaviors and writing about them is therapeutic. I have nothing to hide. The past is just that. I have today to deal with and will look forward to tomorrow. You can do the same!

Burgers and Fries and Beers, OH MY!

Fast food and beer? I saw this story today in USA Today. I am so torn on this decision. As many of you know, fast food was one of my biggest obsessions and vices. I LOVED….fast food. Pick a restaurant, any restaurant. I can name you my top 10 items right off the cuff. That of course was the ‘Old Orracle’.

On one hand, I think introducing beer and wine will exacerbate the problem of too many calories in a meal with the addition of the beer and wine. On the other hand maybe it will drive some parents away with their children which would be a good thing. Keeping that taste out of the mouths of our children would not be a bad thing. I realize there is still the drive thru to get a bag of calories. Speaking of the drive thru, does that mean I can get a beer to go….maybe I will reconsider my abstinence from fast food! Of course I am kidding.

One thought was about the wine. Are they getting ‘good’ wine or are they getting Mad Dog 20/20? Perhaps Mogen David or Boone’s? I can see some low-roller hitting the joint for a burger and some tater tots and throwing in some Mad Dog but any real wine snob would not drink those lowly wines. On the other hand, I highly doubt most of your wine aficionados eat many meals at Sonic or Burger King.

If times are really getting tough enough for fast food eateries to have to boost sales with alcohol, I guess that means we are eating less of that junk food. Maybe it is just the lack of money from the Orracle that has driven this deficit in their cash flow!