I’m feeling better, a lot better. I think Lily is, too. Thank you for all your well wishes, especially for my baby girl.
I took another day off from working out yesterday as I have an 8-miler planned today. I’m going to be really realistic with everything and not over-do it!!
I caved and went to the chiropractor with this neck pain I’ve been experiencing. He took x-rays and thinks it’s something with the nerves in my neck. I’m experiencing some numbness, tingling, and obviously, soreness. I have another appointment this morning to go over my x-rays and get some relief through manual stimulation. Well, hopefully I’ll get some relief.
Yesterday was so wonderful being away from work. I spent time in the garden and soaked it all in. For me, gardening is so spiritual. When I see things grow it’s so raw, so natural, so amazing…magical. I can’t help but feel more alive during my time in the garden than any other time during the week. It’s rejuvenating and so real.
GARDEN UPDATE!
Up comes the broccoli…a mere 6 days after being planted
kale!
spinach!
onions!
potatoes!
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Have you seen this Slim Fast ad? If not, take the few seconds to watch…and become enraged.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3iQkvQYSs]
Thank you, Ashley for bringing this ad to my attention. I don’t see ads much because I never watch TV that is not stored on my DVR, allowing me to fast forward through all the commercials. Thank goodness, I couldn’t handle seeing this all the time.
Question: Have you seen this ad? Do you think this is good advertising on Slim Fast’s part, or just completely wrong?
I do want to say that after seeing that commercial, I can GUARANTEE people believe Every. Last. Word. People WANT the quick fix, not the daily sweat session and balanced diet. Join my fellow RD, Gina, and myself combat such advertising. Gina has great directions here on how to help. Thank you in advance! This may seem insignificant to you, those who are educated on gimmicks, but people believe advertisements as such. Promise.
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I got a great reader question this week, and I wanted to share because it is an excellent, common question.
Chelsea: What is the health benefit of eating fresh veggies versus frozen ones? I am not talking about the veggies packaged with sauces, etc, just plain veggies purchased in a large freezer bag. I live alone and generally only cook for myself, so I find that keeping bags of frozen veggies in my freezer can prevent me finding rotting veggies in my fridge that were hiding behind the milk.
My response: Our technology is able to preserve ALL nutrients in the freezing process so there is no real benefit to fresh over frozen. The only problem arises if frozen vegetables are over-cooked and nutrients are destroyed in the heating process. Warm your vegetables slowly and stir them throughout. Ideally, use a stove over a microwave simply because you can better control the temperature.
Great question!
Question: What makes you feel completely at peace in the world?
Happy weekend,
I.CANNOT.BELIEVE.THAT.AD. The nerve…
BTW, your garden looks great and I’m happy to hear Lily is feeling better! Where is Villa Ravenna? I’ve never been there.
Author
51st and Sheridan, I believe! http://www.villaravenna.com/
Thanks, I can’t wait to try it out!
What an interesting ad. As a marketing major, I think that it was very clever on their part, but… as a nutritionist… ah! Everyone seems to want the magic pill for weight loss, etc.– and I don’t blame them… but no one even takes into account what the those “fast results” do to our precious bodies!!! Even more so, these ads teach the greater population, that having a weight loss bar is good for our health. Double ah!
I never watch TV, so I never see commercials… Thank you for bringing this ad to my attention attention, and talking about it!
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I agree! Smart, but bad, bad, bad! Thanks for your comment!
Ugh, are you KIDDING me? This commercial plays to all people’s desires for that quick fix without having to take too much responsibility. The part I love the most was where at the end of the ad there was this tiny type at the bottom that said “Weight loss of more than 1-2 lbs per week is not recommended. Get 30 minutes of exercise per day.” Who is going to read that?? They’re just going to watch the ad and have hope that Slimfast will do the work for them. Grrrrr! Thanks for bringing this ad to my attention, Nicole. I never watch TV much anymore, so I’d miss this otherwise.
I’m so glad you and Lily are feeling better. I hope your neck can get some relief soon!
Ohhh, don’t you love gardening?! We also put in a bunch of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant last night. Your garden looks great.
I put a link up to your buffalo mac and cheese on my blog. I think I have some family and friends that would appreciate it.
Enjoy your weekend!
Quick fixes do not work. This ad is misleading and just plain ridiculous.In my line work I am always asked about these shakes and supplements etc. I educate my clients on the pitfalls of these. Eat whole nutritious foods and exercise. I will help anyway I can.
That ad is pretty good about summing up with slim fast is trying to do. But I think, at the same time, slim fast is not a very good form of weight loss because it’s not a true lifestyle change. Unless you’re into sipping on chalky smoothies and starving for over half the day…
Awwwwwww, what a sweet pic of Lily!! 🙂 Makes me smile!!
“Who has time to slim slowly?” Umm, every single person on the face of this earth, that’s who. There is no race. If someone wants to be slim for something like a wedding, reunion, etc. they need to take responsibility and do it the right way and accordingly plan months in advance for getting fit and HEALTHY. Ugh, slim fast makes me want to throw up.
Awww, so glad to see your sweet girl enjoying the weather 🙂
That ad– grrrrr. The Kardashian diet pill ads are really pissing me off right now too. Ugh.
Your dog is so freakin’ cute and I love the composition of that picture with the brick wall fence etc.
Hope that you’re feeling better soon and I’m also wondering if you’ve tried acupuncture before.
I like your question about peace and can’t believe that an answer didn’t immediately pop into my mind. Today’s answer is — long walks which clear my mind and make me feel connected. The bubble bath/reading combo is not too shabby either.
6 months to healthy weigh loss actually sounds pretty quick to me. I can’t imagine eating a couple of bars, a couple of shakes, and only one meal a day. RIDICULOUS and not sustainable.
Your garden is looking good. I’m glad you and Lily are better.
That add is so misleading and just puts an awful message out. There is no quick fix and I wish these companies would stop putting out that message.
What makes me feel most at peace in the world is cuddling with my Babies, nothing better.
Gardening makes me feel so alive too! It’s one of the few places where I just really zone out into what I’m doing, kind of like a meditation. I love your description of gardening as being “raw” and “magical”! Bringing to life the food that goes on your plate and gives you life is such a wonderful experience. Hope your 8-miler went well, and happy weekend!
Okay where to start…that ad is so wrong on so many levels!!! I want to shout from the rooftops that weight loss and sustainable healthy lifestyles are about SLOW and STEADY changes in exercise and nutrition…not shakes filled with artificial crap!! But it is not surprising…we live in a world where everyone wants the quick fix and everyone is jumping on board. Even Jillian Michaels has a diet pill on the market (SHAME ON HER) and everyone is looking for the fast way to lose weight. No one wants to take the time or the effort to make the changes that can lead to a life of NEVER dieting! I mean who wants to diet? Why not just life a life of healthy eating, exericse and treats in moderation? Why would you willining put forgein and unknown chemicals into your body? Okay…off my soap box…sorry…I just get so irritated!
I hadn’t seen the ad before this. It didn’t shock me as they are all pretty much the same. Playing with people’s heads. I’d do Atkins again before trying that Slimfast one as at least with Atkins I could eat!
Nice looking garden!
Wow! One balanced meal! I wish all people could understand that it is about balance and consistently choosing healthier options. Not a quick fix. And it’s advertisements like that that hinder people from understanding how to get healthy.
I am jealous of your garden! I want to do one. We don’t really have the yard for it!
I tweeted the message, so annoying! and slimfast just tastes gross anyways 😛 What annoys me most is even if people lose with these diets they have no chance of maintaining, no one can eat that way forever and usually gain more besides.
Garden is looking great, I can’t wait until I can eat out of mine.
Saw your profile on another page. Glad I read your well-written and informative blog. Look forward to following you here. Cheers! Best of luck with your garden, I wish I could garden, but condo living is not condusive to that.
Author
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
I too hate those kind of adds!! I had to post on here and tell you how upset it made me when I was just watching Food Revolution and during the commercials was another stupid slim fast add. There are so many mixed messages in the media. Here I am watching this show that is promoting eating right and living a healthy lifestyle, they take a break and I am bombarded with being told all I have to do to have the “perfect” body is to eat some glorified candy bar and drink a “shake”. So frustrating. It makes me angree that my little girl is going to grow up having these messages thrown at her all the time.
Sorry for the long ramble. After struggling with an ED for the last 12 years these things make me angry and I will do anything to keep my daughter and any future children for having to deal the hell of an eating disorder.
oh my sorry for all the typos is my last reply. It is late and I was a little worked up about the issue.
Hope you are having a great weekend!
What a great post girl! And I love that you are into gardening! I have been thinking about and wanting to create my own once all of the rain stops here! 🙂 I think it would be awesome to grow your own fruits and veggies!
Nice to know that your feeling better and so is lily…and your garden looks very beautiful now nicole…have a lovely day, take care
Yay, I’m glad Lily is doing better! Wow, I’m in awe of your beautiful garden, Nicole! I know what you mean too — it is almost magical to see things grown like that before your very eyes. I hadn’t seen that commercial before, but wow…it sends such a horrible message!
Wow–your garden is doing great!! And oooh Lily always makes me smile 🙂
That commercial is just ridiculous–they always borderline push limits with commercials, especially with weight loss!