And the winners of the Larabars are…..(drum roll, please…)
1. Ashlei of The Vegster
2. Lauren of Big Red Gets Fit
3. Holly of The Balance Broad
Congrats to the winners! Please send me your mailing addresses, and I will send those goodie bags right out to you!
With an abundant 261 entries (::blink::), I am so sorry there are not more Larabars to go around!! Thank you to all who participated! I truly appreciate all your ping backs, tweets, and angus trivia attempts 🙂
“Angus” Trivia Question Reveal
Angus cattle traditionally have black skin, though there are also red angus and black-red angus. What makes an angus “better”? Nothing! The marbling and grade of beef is dependent upon it’s feed and weight – not the color of its skin. Therefore, all that angus burger marketing is really just a play on words to get you to buy the angus, though there is likely nothing superior in the angus (Busted, McD’s!). Is marbling better? Not in a dietitian’s eyes 😉
That was fun! I loved reading the answers to that trivia question! Pink skin – haha – that was an awesome response!
And this is a fun bit of organic produce information I ran across today. If you’re interested in organics, but not in wasting your money…check this list out [source]. Help prioritize what you purchase organic!
12 Most Contaminated
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (Imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
12 Least Contaminated
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (Frozen)
Pineapples
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (Frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya
I am hoping to catch up with everyone’s wonderful blogs sooner rather than later! Things are nuts, but I sure miss staying up to date with y’all! Our dietitians are beginning the pre-op nutrition consult for lap banding patients and let me just say, lap banding is a hot ticket item right now! And that makes me one busy RD!!
Question: Do you know anyone who has had lap banding? Gastric by-pass? What is your take on weight-loss surgery? If you were an RD, would you recommend it to patients?
Congrats to the winners!!!! 😀
My sister about a year and a half ago and my accountant 3-4 months ago have had the gastric thing done down in the states. I personally think it’s everyone’s choice and I guess if it makes them happy then go for it. My sister had to see a shrink to make sure she was doing it for the right reasons and could handle the consequences.
I’ve thought about it myself but keep turning it down for two reasons: I’ve lost a lot of weight before so can do it again and I like to eat 🙂
Oh Bummer… I was hoping I would win…
Congrats to the winners 🙂
Someone in my Weightwatchers meetings had the stomache stapling and she is still doing well, but she combined it with a new lifestyle approach, I knew someone else who got really sick when he went back to his old eating habits, like hospitalised for a month sick, not really sure what went wrong. I guess if you are morbidly obese it’s an option, but for many I think they don’t get that they will still HAVE to change their lifestyle.
I thought about it for about 2 seconds and realised there is no chance I would EVER have elective surgery, hell I won’t even have it to fix a screwed up ankle, so it’s out for me. I also feel that for me its a cop out, yes for some people it’s a lifesaver but I would rather actually get a handle on what got me here and fix that and change my life on my own than do it via an easy way… I have lost over 55 pounds changing my lifestyle and I’m glad I didn’t go under the knife to do it.
Congrats to the winners!! Especially my sweet bloggie friend HOLLY!!!!!!!! 🙂 YAY!!
My mother-in-law had gastric bypass surgery before I met her. From what I’ve heard she’s lost a lot of weight with it, BUT, she still overeats, which results in her getting sick a lot after going out to eat. So it has not really changed her actual behavior a whole lot. I really don’t think it should be recommended it, personally. I think people need to lose the weight the old fashioned way. Move more, eat less.
yeeeeees!!! Thank you so, so much! I will e-mail you my mailing address right now. 🙂
Well, my mom is actually considering having lap band surgery or gastic by-pass. She wanted the lap band (less invasive), but she went through the counseling and was told she’s more of a candidate for gastric by-pass.
(On a side note, I do know 3 people who’ve had lap band and have lost between 50-80 pounds, with no complications).
I have mixed thoughts on this, for sure! My first instinct is, hell no – don’t go under the knife! But my mom has almost 100 pounds to lose, she’s diabetic, has high blood pressure/cholesterol, and takes 19 pills a DAY. She’s struggled her whole life, been on Weight Watchers more times than I can count, and she’s an emotional eater. I would never wish for her to have surgery or risk her life – but in a sense I am letting her risk her life every day that goes by and she doesn’t do anything to change her health.
Sorry for the novel. 🙂 I worry SO much about my mom…and I just have such mixed feelings about it all.
Frankly, I’m all for weight loss surgeries. If a person can’t lose weight on their own and they are informed of all of the potential risks, then go for it!
SO interesting about the contaminated vs non contam. foods! i buy everything OPPOSITE! lol
Congrats to the winners! I actually bought a LaraBar today and thought of you. I know you would be proud 🙂
I liked your list of fruits and veggies to buy organic. I’ve been seeing that list a lot. I’m curious as to how bad you think it is to consume the “top contaminated fruits/veggies” and not eat organic. I ask because I’m still eating at my college cafeteria which has very little organic produce. From the top list, I have about two apples a day, at least a few potatoes a week, and spinach fairly often too (all of which are not organic). Now obviously having such things every so often would be no problem at all, but do you think my higher consumption levels are of any concern? Just curious, thanks for any input :-).
Thanks for posting that list!! I always wonder what I should buy organic, and what I can save the money on.
I’ll go with exercise and a healthy diet. What the heck is lap banding anyway…hope I never need to find out….. Thanks for the colorful produce info list! Very helpful.
261 entries?! your blog is so popular now, congrats!
Author
I think everyone just wanted Larabars 😉 but thank you!
congrats to the winners, esp ashlei, my girl! guess i’ll have to get my laras from whole foods, oh well, an excuse to go grocery shopping! loved your last q&a post!
congrats to all the winners…lucky people to have it…
Yay! The shout out for the red angus. My preference 🙂 but for raising. You’re right – you shouldn’t really care what breed is on your plate as it makes no difference. Although Holsteins should be kept for the glass ;).
A family friend had gastric bypass. She got a really bad (life threatening I think) infection after surgery. But to my knowledge she has kept off the weight. It was while I was at college and I didn’t recognize her at first for a long time. Someone would have to remind me who she was. 🙂
Congrats to the winners! Larabars are super awesome.
Lap banding. Can’t say that I know much about it. If I were an RD though, I would try to promote lifestyle change over surgery in as many cases as possible. But I know how hard it is for some people – life change requires a LOT of resolve. So it’s a tough call.
I’m not against it, but I would hope that surgery would be a last resort after dieting and exercise do not work. Even more, I hope that counseling is part of the deal so that the patient is dealing with the emotions behind weight gain or the frustrations of not losing it. Otherwise, for many people, any unhealthy behaviors that got him/her into that position, would likely continue and the person would be back at square one.
I never buy organic apples, I should probably get on that!
I would say I’m against unnecessary surgery. Making lifestyle changes is really the most important thing, and is probably a lot healthier in the end.
I wouldn’t recommend the surgery. It’s all about making a lifestyle change.
Congrats to the winners! I actually have been seeing the pre-op nutrition consults for lap bands at my hospital over the last year. I must say that I agree with the procedure on an individual basis. I see some patients who have tried to to lose weight (unsuccessfully) their entire adult life while others who have never really tried to “seriously” lose weight before and are looking for a quick fix.
Yay, I was right about the angus skin color! 🙂
Awww I was so excited to see who won… where’d my name go?!? :p Congrats to those ladies!!
Interesting list of produce and organics. It is often to find contaminated produce for various reasons, even as simple as wind.
As for weight loss surgery I worked as an RD with a clinic in CA as thier Las Vegas contact person. So I eval-ed pts in Vegas since we had limited doctors around. I support it in certain cases and that is up to everyone involved to determine if it is right for the patient. A person who gained 100# last year, in my opinion, if it was due to their negligence, then no, but someone struggling for years and has tried everything and it is well documented they have tried, and they have comorbidities, then yes, they may be a likely candidtae, if they can show pre-op that they can make lifestyle changes.
It’s not something I would recommend unless under extreme circumstances. My clinical prof told us that there just isn’t really a lot known to help in the recovery process, aside from really pushing the protein. She saw several patients die after the surgery. A friend of a friend had it, and her body just has not adjusted well at all . . . now she’s on parenteral feedings and it’s pretty certain that she isn’t going to make it.
What makes Angus different is that they have the a different genetic make-up than other breeds of cattle that make them more likely to marble and to be more tender. And in my eye marbling is the key to good quality meat. 1. it adds the flavor to the meat, 2. not all fat is created equal – the key is look for pieces of meat that are trimmed of exterior fat. According to government guideline there are 29 lean cuts of beef. (A serving qualifies as lean if it has less than 10g total fat, 4.5g or less saturated fat and less than 95mg cholesterol per 3.5 oz. serving.) Look for the cuts that contain loin or round to identify these lean meat choices.
Also, although marketing does play a large factor in your food choices, if you really want a superior Angus product look for Certified Angus Beef.
Happy eating!
http://www.cdycattle.blogspot.com
Thanks for posting info on most and least contaminated fruits and veggies.
We are starting bariatric surgery with lap bands at work. I go back and forth on it. I think in some situations it is the patients only option. But at the same time, there are some patients that think it’s an easy way out, which as you know, it is a lot of work.
Congrats to the winners. I love lara bars!
Congrats to the lucky winners! I actually don’t know anyone who had lap band or gastric bypass…I think I would recommend it in certain circumstances. I think it can be a good last resort option for people who are ready for a lifestyle change.
Congratulations to the winners! By the way, thanks for the organic list 🙂
Yay to winners! I was curious about Larabars so I bought one yesterday just in case I didn’t win 🙂
I know someone who got gastric bypass surgery. I think she’s lost about 200lbs so far. It’s hard to say if I would recommend it if I were an RD. I think people should learn about health first and try to lose weight independently. It is a very drastic solution that I suppose some people need. This is definitely a tough issue for me because I think some people genuinely need it but like I posted in my 100, I have a hard time feeling sorry for people who don’t try. Losing weight is hard. It’s not fun. I know, I’ve lost 50lbs. I know that’s nothing for someone who qualifies for gastric bypass but I guess what I’m saying is it should be a last resort.
My sorority sister had the lap band and my ex bf had the bypass and they are both very happy with their decision. I lost weight the old fashion way, eating healthy and working out hard so I am a tad bias but to each his own. I just hate when people whom have had the surgery pretend that they didn’t and try to preach to others on how to do it! grrrrr
I do know someone that had gastric bypass. She lost a lot of weight and is actually really thin now. However, she had a lot of complications with it. She was in the hospital quite a few times. I would never recommend it because of her experience but I guess it would be the patients choice…
I have seen this organic list before and I use it whenever I go to the store. Thanks for sharing!
I used to read a blogger who had lapband. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the surgery, when it’s life or death. Sometimes it sounds like people abuse it, and get it instead of losing weight on their own, but that is probably just a stereotype!