Gloss Before Grazing

Everyday, I get emails from Skinny and the City (SATC). Yesterday's email was written by Chloe, SATC's fashion & beauty expert, showcasing a new lip gloss called "Huge Lips, Skinny Hips." Now, I'm a huge fan of lip gloss. Just last weekend I was all over Sephora in search for my next new best friend (since I'm almost all out of my current lip gloss). I almost bought one that changed colors depending on my mood, but had to put it down because of the ridiculously long line.

This lip gloss, really caught my attention though. "Huge Lips, Skinny Hips" actually has a nautral appetite suppressant called Hoodia (similar to glucose) that fools your brain into thinking you're full. It would be great for me for work when I have those random cravings for "office snacks" every hour or two. The thing with this product, however, is that Hoodia is not FDA approved which makes me question Hoodia's efficacy. But for whatever reason, it's still something I want to try. Even if it'll cost me $20.

Now on an Registered-Dietitian-to-be standpoint, I'm still also considering eating nutritious snacks between meals to keep my metabolism going and not about to starve myself if I'm truly hungry just because of this lip gloss. It's give or take really.

What's your take on things they're coming up with these days?

Gloss photo courtesy to http://gallery.mailchimp.com/804e76a0eaef38119562d27ed/images/fb_purplelab.jpg

To Sue, Or Not to Salt? - THAT is the Question

I like Denny's. I really do. I have nothing against Denny's. In fact, if there was one near my house, I would probably go there as often as I go to IHOP. But even with IHOP, I don't go there very often either.

I also have a family history of hypertension. Irrelevant? No.

Just yesterday, a consumer activist group sued Denny's Corp saying that their menus should disclose the "dangerously high" sodium levels in its meals. The recommended amount of sodium intake for most Americans is no more than 1,500 milligrams daily according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, not 5,000 milligrams which some of Denny's meals contain.

But at the same time, if you have hypertension, isn't that your responsibility to find out what foods you should and should not eat? I looked to see if Denny's offers nutrition information for their menu items, and they do. They have six pages worth. If you're watching how much sodium you take in, shouldn't you already know which foods are high in salt? Shouldn't you already know that food that you eat outside of the house will probably more salt? Am I out of line to say that it is every American's responsibility to take care of themselves? Or is it just because we are demanding more?

I know what you're thinking. If McDonald's can put all the nutrition facts on every single one of their products, why can't Denny's? Well, for one, Denny's doesn't serve their food "to go". It is a dine-in restaurant. Now if you ask for nutrition information and they don't have any in their building? Well, that's a whole different story.

What's your take on this matter? And what can Denny's do to fix this problem?

Photo courtesy http://mealticket.blogs.citypaper.net/blogs/mu/files/2009/02/dennys.jpg

Milking Your Parents' Insurance

The National Academy for State Health Policy reports that 30% of those aged 19-29 are not insured. For those of you who are more visual, that's 3 out of 10 of your friends who would have to pay hundreds of dollars if they were to accidentally dislocate their shoulder during a basketball game or rockclimbing or whatever floats your boat (knock on wood x 3)... just for x-rays. Three out of your ten friends who probably shouldn't go skydiving with you anytime soon. That's not cool, not cool at all. I'm 24, and as of August 2009, I, too will also be uninsured and have no intentions of getting a job until October (and no, it's not because I'm lazy, I have to study for the board exam to become a Registered Dietitian!). Health insurance that I had paid $700 for 8 months and feel like I didn't even use (which is probably a good thing so why am I complaining) will be gone. For those two months, I should probably stay in. Probably skip skydiving and hang-gliding and whatever else my friends had in store to do. This age range is the fastest growing segment of the population to be uninsured. That's us. This is our problem. What are we going to do about it?

Luckily for us, 34 states have now passed laws requiring insurers to allow children to stay on their parents' health insurance plan well into their twenties or even age 30 in certain circumstances. I'd like to find out if this applies to me, who was "kicked out" of my parents' health insurance at the age of 22. That was my cut-off. That was my transition into adulthood. This is good news. Although, keep in mind that there are some limitations. For example, you can't be married and have children of your own and still be under your parents' insurance, regardless of your age.

So, with that said and done, this still won't solve increasing health care costs, nor will it stop kids from getting sick. Just the other week I had read that "1 in 4 adults in Illinois are obese". That, too, applies to me. Obesity increases our risks of many serious diseases including diabetes, heart problems, sleep disorders, cancer, and much more. In this case, prevention really is key, and I'm ready to do something about it.

Photo courtesy http://waysideyarc.org/images/home%20page%20group.jpg

Sleep. It Does A Body Good.

Sleep by Salvador Dali
Photo courtesy http://en.easyart.com/art-prints/Salvador-Dali/Sleep-5668.html

I just slept for 13 hours. 13 HOURS. Usually I'd feel guilty by the time I woke up. For not being productive. Usually I'd feel guilty for not going out to see my friends on a Friday night, some who I haven't seen for almost a year now. This morning, I did not. This morning I felt great! Why should I feel guilty for sleeping after working 45 hours and commuting 2 hours a day? I shouldn't. Period.

See, here's the thing. You caught my last post about being scared of the idea of coming back "home". And now that I am home, it's kind of cool to have a better idea of what I want to do with my life. I remembered my old life. How I'd stress out over the fact that there was more than one event going on in one night. How I'd feel obligated to go to everything I was ever invited to. Now? Not so much. Not after living in Saginaw, Michigan for half a year. I'm able to prioritize more. I'm able to draw lines, for myself, for my own sanity. I'm not obligated nor being forced to do anything. So why stress about something that shouldn't be stressed about?

This is why I slept. This is why I could care less what the whole world was up to on my first Friday night here. This is why I "ditched out" on my friends just to get in 13 hours of sleep. I'm tired! I've been tired! And I'm surprised it took me so long to figure out that one should sleep when he or she is tired. Duh, Mon. DUH!

I woke up this morning feeling totally refreshed. I ate a breakfast for champions: 1 over-easy egg, 2 oz spam, 3/4 cup white rice, (because I'm Filipino and Filipinos eat rice for every meal) 1 pancake and a glass of OJ. And then I looked up why sleeping is good for you. Because I had to defend my case just in case anyone bothered to argue with me for sleeping too much. Not that anyone would...but I did it anyway. :)

They call it, The Dream Diet: Losing Weight While You Sleep.
"Until doctors do know more, most experts agree that if you are dieting, logging in a few extra hours of sleep a week is not a bad idea, particularly if you get six hours of sleep or less a night. You may just discover that you aren't as hungry, or that you have lessened your craving for sugary, calorie-dense foods."

Moral of the story? Sleep. It does a body good.

Spam & eggs photo courtesy http://www.dakinesbbq.com/images/spam_and_eggs.jpg

Sick to My Stomach?...I Think Not

For a long time coming now, I didn't know what to do with my life. I know, I know. I'm over-exaggerating. I know that what I choose to do after this internship does not necessarily mean I have to do it for the rest of my life, but I also want to make sure I make the right decision, even if it's just for the time being. I understand that things will change. They constantly change every 1.2 seconds in my little world. And it's scary. But it's inevitable. I am fully aware of all that.

But here's the thing. I need to choose a path. I've been going down this road, and the part where it splits can be seen from a distance. It's coming up. It's the next step. And you know what? I'm at that point in my life where I do have to choose. Will it be the smooth, paved path? Or the bumpy road with no boundaries?

It's been really stressing me out. This time of my life. I don't want to screw it all up, especially when I've come this far.

• OPTION #1 - Smooth, paved path: To get a job as a Clinical Dietitian in a hospital and/or acute care setting.

• OPTION # 2 - Bumpy, boundary-less path: To get a job as a Registered Dietitian working for a public relations agency.

I've been advised to go down the smooth, paved path. Because it's safe. Because it's the next step. Because it's what you did to become successful. And don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm against working as a Clinical Dietitian, I actually genuinely enjoyed my clinical rotation. I know, for a fact, that it's something that will grow on me, that I will eventually learn to love. The thing is, there's something stopping me. That gut feeling that makes you nauseous because you know, deep down, that it's not really the path you want to go down on. I don't want to feel nauseous for the rest of my life. I'm choosing not to.

Sick to my stomach? ... I think not.

Tip of the Week: 18 Ways to Impress a New Employer

Photo courtesy http://www.all4humor.com/images/files/Bumpy%20Road.jpg