All last weekend.
I was offered sugar products three times, and I said yes every time.
Sigh.
I had been doing well. Except for fruit bars, I had not been eating sugary foods. I was drinking my protein shakes, and I was happy. Feeling good. I wasn't missing my sugary snacks like I thought I would.
But when I was offered sugar, I ate it with only a little hesitation. On Friday night, my friends that I was spending the weekend with brought me a chocolate milkshake from Sonic. We were having a late take-out dinner, and the milkshake was a beverage designed to keep me from getting too hungry before the food arrived. The fact that it was a pre-meal snack was helpful, because it meant I didn't drink the whole thing, so I wouldn't get too full. But damn, it was good. Too delicious.
Then I spent time with my mom over the weekend, and she gave me belated Valentine cookies. My mom is famous for her sugar cookies, and she makes them four times a year: for Hanukkah/Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, and Halloween. She gives them to family, friends, co-workers, doctors and dentists. They are made with real butter and either sprinkles or icing, and they are truly sinful. I asked her to give me a small bag because I am trying to cut down on sugar. I ate three cookies last weekend. I guess it could have been worse. I could have consumed the whole bag.
So far at work I have walked away from multiple bags of candy. But the real test came on Monday, when someone brought in donuts. I had wondered if I would be able to resist donuts. I got my answer: a resounding NO! Well, maybe I would have, but a co-worker brought me one because I didn't know they were there. And I couldn't be rude and say no, right? I couldn't tell her to take it away after she had been so kind to think of me. But really...I would have run right over and taken one myself if I had known about them. I think there would have been very little hesitation. It was a busy, stressful day, and I wolfed that thing down like I had been wandering in the desert for a week.
But since then I've been back on track. I had protein shakes on Monday night and last night. I still need to find a substitute for the fruit bars. But I feel like I'm back on the wagon. I'm not too upset with myself. I never claimed I was giving up sugar entirely. I know there will be times when I eat something sugary. I think I'm just upset that it happened four days in a row. But still, cutting down on sugar has been easier than I expected.
librarianintx
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Friday, February 19, 2016
Survivor Season 32 - Episode 1
The Survivor top brass has figured out that medical drama creates interest and gets people watching and talking, so although the main theme of this season will be another installment of "Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty," the secondary theme will be "Medical Drama."
We were "treated" to two illnesses on the premiere episode of Season 32: Brain tribe member Aubry suffered through an anxiety attack exacerbated by heat exhaustion, while Brawn tribe member Jennifer experienced a thin but long bug burrowing itself in her ear canal, which caused bleeding and great discomfort. Luckily, both women pulled through their difficulties without needing medical assistance, and they each performed well in the combined immunity / reward challenge.
There are six members in each of the three tribes, but I'm scratching my head over where three of the eighteen participants have been placed. Former Big Brother contestant Caleb is undoubtedly a good looking dude, but I think he belongs in the Brawn tribe, not the Beauty tribe. Alecia is a wisp of a girl that I would have put in the Beauty tribe, not the Brawn tribe. And no offense honestly, but Tai in the Beauty tribe? I would have put him in the Brain tribe. As someone who grew up in Thailand, he will probably be the most equipped to deal with surviving in this remote part of Southeast Asia.
The first challenge was grueling, especially considering that only the Beauty tribe had fire, so water must have been a concern for the other two tribes. The challenge involved diving for paddles, then turning a boat into a truck, then solving a puzzle. Brawn and brains were required for this event, and the Brain tribe came in first, winning immunity and a big basket of fire-making products. Brawn was sent to tribal council, mainly for two reasons: Darnell dropped the goggles at the beginning of the challenge, and Alecia was like a deer in the headlights when it came to solving the puzzle. So their tribe mates put the two of them on the chopping block. The first vote ended in a tie, but Darnell's torch was snuffed out in the re-vote. I think the tribe made a mistake. True, Darnell dropping the goggles was a costly error. But the Brawn tribe needs brawn, both at camp and in the challenges. Alecia is by far the least brawny person in that tribe.
librarianintx
We were "treated" to two illnesses on the premiere episode of Season 32: Brain tribe member Aubry suffered through an anxiety attack exacerbated by heat exhaustion, while Brawn tribe member Jennifer experienced a thin but long bug burrowing itself in her ear canal, which caused bleeding and great discomfort. Luckily, both women pulled through their difficulties without needing medical assistance, and they each performed well in the combined immunity / reward challenge.
There are six members in each of the three tribes, but I'm scratching my head over where three of the eighteen participants have been placed. Former Big Brother contestant Caleb is undoubtedly a good looking dude, but I think he belongs in the Brawn tribe, not the Beauty tribe. Alecia is a wisp of a girl that I would have put in the Beauty tribe, not the Brawn tribe. And no offense honestly, but Tai in the Beauty tribe? I would have put him in the Brain tribe. As someone who grew up in Thailand, he will probably be the most equipped to deal with surviving in this remote part of Southeast Asia.
The first challenge was grueling, especially considering that only the Beauty tribe had fire, so water must have been a concern for the other two tribes. The challenge involved diving for paddles, then turning a boat into a truck, then solving a puzzle. Brawn and brains were required for this event, and the Brain tribe came in first, winning immunity and a big basket of fire-making products. Brawn was sent to tribal council, mainly for two reasons: Darnell dropped the goggles at the beginning of the challenge, and Alecia was like a deer in the headlights when it came to solving the puzzle. So their tribe mates put the two of them on the chopping block. The first vote ended in a tie, but Darnell's torch was snuffed out in the re-vote. I think the tribe made a mistake. True, Darnell dropping the goggles was a costly error. But the Brawn tribe needs brawn, both at camp and in the challenges. Alecia is by far the least brawny person in that tribe.
librarianintx
Thursday, February 18, 2016
The Grammy's
I really enjoyed watching the Grammy's this year, and have for the past several years. I am kind of an awards show freak. I say "kind of" because I don't watch all of them, and I don't have the time to watch the red carpet arrivals like I used to. My favorite award shows are the Emmy's, because I watch so much television, and the Grammy's, because I like music. I also like the Golden Globes, because it's about movies and tv, and I like watching tipsy celebrities trying to navigate their way through the maze of tables to ascend the stage.
I don't consider myself an entertainment whore, but I like to see who arrives with who, and what everyone is wearing. Even though Joan is gone and the show isn't the same, I watch the Fashion Police to see if I agree with their best and worst dressed at the awards shows.
Some of my favorite aspects of the Grammy's show:
1) I like how the Grammy's often have singers or groups perform together. Sometimes its someone new on the scene singing with a legend, like Sara Bareilles sharing the stage with Carole King. Sometimes they pair two new performers. And sometimes its about about a bunch of powerhouses coming together to create magic, such as when Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, and Nile Rogers got everyone on their feet and dancing to "Get Lucky." This year the audience was grooving to a medley of Music Cares Person of the Year Lionel Ritchie's songs, performed by John Legend, Meghan Trainor, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Tyrese, and the man himself.
2) The Grammy's introduces me to performers and songs that I might not have listened to otherwise. I think I am much more open-minded than I used to be about music. I know that I'm not a fan of most rap or country, but I watch every performance on the Grammy's, and I'm often surprised by what I like. This year I really enjoyed Little Big Town's rendition of "Girl Crush," and it has played in my head off and on all week.
3) It warms my heart to see industry people celebrating each other. I know a lot people think celebrities are vapid and don't deserve the fame and money that they have, but I don't necessarily agree. Sure, some celebrities are assholes. But lots of regular people are assholes too. I think singers and musicians work very hard, and they deserve to enjoy the money that they earn. I like seeing people celebrating each other's accomplishments and achievements, and appreciating each other's music. It was great to see someone like Dave Grohl smiling and swaying to "All Night Long," for example. And I know a lot of people think Taylor Swift is a spotlight grabber, often jumping out of her seat and going crazy when someone else wins, or dancing energetically in the audience. But I like that she is so enthusiastic. She doesn't just sit in her seat and look bored. She is fun to watch. And she is close friends with Ed Sheeren, so she was genuinely thrilled when he beat her for Song of the Year on Monday night.
4) The Grammy's in particular used to be quite out of touch with the people who buy and listen to music. I'll never forget when Jethro Tull won the Grammy in 1988 for Best Hard Rock / Metal album. But now I think the Grammy's are much more in tune, pun intended. Rapper Kendrick Lamar was the big winner of the night, and Taylor Swift won Album of the Year. In addition, one of the most popular songs of 2015, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" won Record of the Year.
The Grammy's telecast is always a long show, and I went to bed slightly past my bedtime. But it was worth it.
librarianintx
I don't consider myself an entertainment whore, but I like to see who arrives with who, and what everyone is wearing. Even though Joan is gone and the show isn't the same, I watch the Fashion Police to see if I agree with their best and worst dressed at the awards shows.
Some of my favorite aspects of the Grammy's show:
1) I like how the Grammy's often have singers or groups perform together. Sometimes its someone new on the scene singing with a legend, like Sara Bareilles sharing the stage with Carole King. Sometimes they pair two new performers. And sometimes its about about a bunch of powerhouses coming together to create magic, such as when Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, and Nile Rogers got everyone on their feet and dancing to "Get Lucky." This year the audience was grooving to a medley of Music Cares Person of the Year Lionel Ritchie's songs, performed by John Legend, Meghan Trainor, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Tyrese, and the man himself.
2) The Grammy's introduces me to performers and songs that I might not have listened to otherwise. I think I am much more open-minded than I used to be about music. I know that I'm not a fan of most rap or country, but I watch every performance on the Grammy's, and I'm often surprised by what I like. This year I really enjoyed Little Big Town's rendition of "Girl Crush," and it has played in my head off and on all week.
3) It warms my heart to see industry people celebrating each other. I know a lot people think celebrities are vapid and don't deserve the fame and money that they have, but I don't necessarily agree. Sure, some celebrities are assholes. But lots of regular people are assholes too. I think singers and musicians work very hard, and they deserve to enjoy the money that they earn. I like seeing people celebrating each other's accomplishments and achievements, and appreciating each other's music. It was great to see someone like Dave Grohl smiling and swaying to "All Night Long," for example. And I know a lot of people think Taylor Swift is a spotlight grabber, often jumping out of her seat and going crazy when someone else wins, or dancing energetically in the audience. But I like that she is so enthusiastic. She doesn't just sit in her seat and look bored. She is fun to watch. And she is close friends with Ed Sheeren, so she was genuinely thrilled when he beat her for Song of the Year on Monday night.
4) The Grammy's in particular used to be quite out of touch with the people who buy and listen to music. I'll never forget when Jethro Tull won the Grammy in 1988 for Best Hard Rock / Metal album. But now I think the Grammy's are much more in tune, pun intended. Rapper Kendrick Lamar was the big winner of the night, and Taylor Swift won Album of the Year. In addition, one of the most popular songs of 2015, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" won Record of the Year.
The Grammy's telecast is always a long show, and I went to bed slightly past my bedtime. But it was worth it.
librarianintx
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