Where’d Joob Go?

On April 22, 2011 by Juliet

Truth is, I have nothing to write about.  My focus has been entirely on my training/diet since I returned from Ohio… I’ve been pushing harder than ever and forcing myself into bed at 9 PM every night.  I only have 2 weeks left in my contest season and they are going to be as close to damn near perfect as I can get.

Until such a time comes when I have something cohesive to write a blog entry about, please enjoy some random musings I have had the last couple days:

Here’s a random thought:
Even in the days before I became a health wacko, the only soda I ever drank, which was still pretty rare, was of the diet variety.  That being said, I don’t think I have ever read the nutrition label on regular, non-diet soda (“pop” or “coke” if you are some place other than the east coast of the US. I’ve been told people call any type of soda “coke” in some places).  The other day, I happened to read one and was absolutely horrified that people drink that garbage.  Of course, I was immediately interested and started googling nutrition labels for popular soda brands.

On average there is about 120 kcal and 30-40 g of carbs, all of which are always sugar, per serving.  One bottle of soda usually has 2.5 servings.  Thats around 100g of sugar per bottle of soda. Gross.  I know you guys are going to read this and leave a million comments about the horrors of soda and how you wouldn’t touch the stuff blahblahblah. (LOL Don’t lie. You were about to comment just that until you read that sentence, weren’t you?)  And the thing is, people drink that stuff every day without even batting an eye or thinking about it… and they almost certainly drink more than one serving.

Here’s another random thought:
I think, in theory, the idea of forcing companies to put nutrition labels on the front of a product is a good idea.  However, I am not so sure it would work.  Case and point: I was walking through our Kroger the other day and happened to walk through the bakery section to get to my beloved egg whites in the back corner.  I happened to notice that, due to the containment design of Kroger’s baked goods, the bakers (or whoever) are forced to place the nutrition label right smack on the top of the package.

Where it cannot be avoided.

I picked up some random muffin-type deal out of curiosity and, like with soda, was amazed. 430 kcal per muffin with 20-something grams of fat and some ungodly amount of sugar.  Lo and behold I happened to check out behind a woman buying those muffins.  I think people either just ignore it or don’t care.

Closing (and still random) remarks:

  • I was contacted by Diana Spechler and asked to review her novel Skinny.  I’m about 100 pgs in and really into it so far! I’ll post a review when I’m done.
  • My weight dropped (again). I am now down to 119.  It freaks me out a bit….
  • I saw a product today marketed as a “vegan buttery stick”.  This weirded me out.
  • I have been walking like an old lady since Tuesday.
Category :
Nutrition/Diet
  • http://www.followingfit.com Kristen

    I have serious problems with vegan foods that are meant to replace/taste like the animal-based counterparts. Hence why I do not eat vegan “burgers” unless I have made them myself out of things that would never, in a million years, taste like meat.

    I read the labels on the stuff my students bring into my classroom all the time. They so don’t care. I have a kid who eats a bag of Sour Patch Kids every day, 1st period. Labels on the front wouldn’t change anything. Issues of where we put labels, to me, are moot — people need to be taught how to eat. Period. I have had 4 different people, in the last week, ask me to write them a diet 2 seconds after I told them what I was going to school for in the fall. And I’m not even a nutritionist yet!

    • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

      I think you hit the nail on the head with the latter point. I also think, even if they knew how, they wouldn’t. I get emails from readers all the time, as well as coworkers, etc. asking what and how I eat. If they ask for help I usually give it. Sadly, I’ve found that 99% of the time I answer their questions and they don’t listen or refuse to give up stuff. I STAY HOPEFUL THOUGH! I feel like if I dish out enough info, someone will follow it one day.

      Not that I am qualified to give out dietary advice in any way shape or form.

  • http://studentonahealthcraze.blogspot.com Ali (Student On A Health Craze)

    I think that you’re right, labels on the front of food in supermarkets/bakeries won’t help 99% of people. The only people it will assist are those that would have gone out of their way to check the label in the first place.

    I do agree with restaurants making their nutritional info available, though, as it will help some people make better choices.

    • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

      I like the restaurant stuff too. Not because I think it will help people, but it will help me when I can eat out again :P

      Or at least, it will help me and others who care enough to check. Probably the same people you mentioned.

  • http://www.dianaspechler.com Diana Spechler

    So glad you’re liking it! Thanks for making my Friday. :)

    • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

      Thanks for writing a good book!

  • http://bookwormlifts.blogspot.com Bookworm

    As long as those products keep selling, I don’t feel that they’re going to get healthier any time soon.

  • http://livethefitlife.wordpress.com Kelsey@LivetheFitLife

    I am right there with ya on walking like an old lady… Did a deadlift 1RM today and my legs were SHAKING so badly! I’ve never been a big soda drinker…. The carbonation thing just doesn’t sit well with me! Can’t wait to hear about the book review :) I’ll be looking for stuff to read once my semester ends!!

    • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

      I’ve never tried a 1RM on any exercise. It’s something I have always been curious about but it also isn’t really something I need to know – that and I am afraid of injury during prep.

      And I hate carbonation too! Although I kind of like seltzer water? (Not that I ever buy that either though)

  • http://squatlikealady.blogspot.com Sable

    hahahaa vegan buttery stick? My mind is now FIRMLY in the gutter….

    And weirdly I was also thinking about soda the other day. I’ve always had diet too (it tastes better!!!) and I was wondering…if someone drinks a whole bottle of soda with like 100 grams of carbs, do they feel full? Could a bottle of soda be like a snack for someone?? ‘Cuz I mean it has like 400 calories….

    • http://sweatanddirt.wordpress.com Erika

      haha i’ve always wondered that too, if people feel full afterwards, but i assume there’s just too much sugar in it to leave anyone feeling satiated without a huge sugar crash. but who knows!

      • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

        I doubt it leaves them full. You’re right, it is about 400 calories, but they’re empty calories. It’s like opposite broccoli or spinach! (Since you could eat a whole boat of broc and spinach w/ next to no calories and be full for forever.)

        And I mean, think about the people who go to 711 and get the GIANT sized bathtubs of soda (I cant even call it a cup). That is probably close to 1000 calories and they don’t even notice. This is why I hate drinking my calories.

        RE. vegan buttery stick: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I love you.

        • http://sweatanddirt.wordpress.com Erika

          so i asked my boyfriend about the soda thing since he used to be an avid soda drinker before i came along and set him straight…and he said that soda would make him hungrier and he would actually drink it sometimes to induce an appetite when he knew he needed to eat but couldn’t get hungry. yack.
          and oh god the 711 things. why do i hang out with people that drink those? hahahah.

  • http://sweatanddirt.wordpress.com Erika

    it’s slightly terrifying that people eat like that and have no clue what they’re putting in themselves. on some of those muffins the serving size is only 1/2 the muffin lol.
    with the label thing…people just really don’t know how to read nutrition labels, they don’t know how much sugar is too much or which fats are bad. besides my coworkers, i don’t know many people in real life that know how to read a label. they really need to teach this stuff in school!!

    • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

      I think you hit the nail on the head. A lot of people DONT know. BUT I think a lot of people choose to ignore what they know isn’t healthy.

      I think a class on how to read nutrition labels is a fantastic idea. I bet I could get someone at my gym to offer it for free on a saturday or something. I bet you could get the same at yours too…

      • http://www.followingfit.com Kristen

        I WANT TO TEACH THAT CLASS!

  • http://shygirlinseattle.blogspot.com valen

    Oh my gosh, I was just thinking about this the other day, about the pop that is.
    I was sick to my stomach so I had to run to the store and pick up some ginger ale and was shocked when I looked at the nutrition label. I never drink soft drinks and was never allowed them as a kid. It is siiiiiiiiiiiickening at how much sugar is in the stuff! Which mainly comes from high fructose corn syrup. When I was in high school all the kids around me downed bottle after bottle of pop, ugh.

  • http://ilovefetacheese.wordpress.com ilovefetacheese

    wow, you reminded me of how I would have one regular coke can a day before I got healthier. Its sorta amazing that they can pack 40g of sugar into 12 oz of water. What is the solubility sugar in water…hmmm…holy crap, its 2000 g/L (25 °C).

    That’s just scary. wow.

    Sodas freak me out now. Especially the diet ones, since its basically like pumping your body full of chemicals. I’ve heard in Europe they use real sugar instead of HFCS in Coke like they do in the states and that it tastes better. But yea, I could never get used to the taste of diet coke…I’ve been trying to get my mom off this habit for years.

    I do love diet tonic water…with gin. but thats about it *wink*

    • http://heyjoob.wordpress.com Juliet

      The gin negates the sugar. Trust me – I’m a scientist. :)

      They do make some products here with real sugar! I think Coke marketed it for a while… but in the end added sugar is added sugar. It wasn’t necessarily healthier, just less directly carcinogenic.

      • http://ilovefetacheese.wordpress.com ilovefetacheese

        oh yea definitely not healthier, but i bet it tastes different. I’m sorta curious lol