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Episode IV

July 31, 2012
Behavior Change, Food Environment, Scientific Studies
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“Luke, I am your father,” says Darth Vader. I doubt the words I remember from my youth took place in episode IV of the Star Wars trilogy. Even though I owned every action figure and the Millennium Falcon I can never keep track of episode IV coming before episode I. I quit at Jar Jar.

Episode is a funny word. Conjures up an unruly incident in children when I say the word out loud. Try it. “Little Johnny is having an episode.” Something to get past, to make it through, and as Little Johnny’s parents may attest to, an episode is something to survive. I agree.

As I read through a research article yesterday all of the episodic definitions came to mind. Seems that if you suffer through a 30 minute eating episode v. a 10 minute eating episode you are more likely to call that episode a meal rather than a snack. Talk about surviving.  This is important. Although it may seem obvious that if I eat for 10 minutes I’ll eat less as my consumption time is limited when compared to 30 minutes, however, have you ever inhaled a ridiculously high number of calories in 10 minutes? Oh yes. What the current research article points to is the fact that if we call something a meal we eat less later.“I’ve already eaten my meal,” the thinking goes and subtly we are led to consume less later in the day. And with Americans snacking at a rate of 500 calories more than we did 30 years ago calling those snacks a meal may do us some good.

There a few other cues that lead us to believe we’re eating a meal rather than a snack. These include using cloth napkins rather than paper, ceramic plates v. paper plates, real silverware v. plastic, sitting down v. standing (representing the one time I will tell you to sit rather than stand), eating with family v. alone, and consuming high quality food. The last example is left for you to define.

Think of it, if you ate high quality snacks in a 30 minute episode using a ceramic plate and silverware while sitting and chatting with your family you would never snack again. Just remember to wipe your mouth with the cloth napkin when you’re finished and weight control is yours. If only.

Again, each of these examples are subtle cues. They engrain themselves and become part of our habits. The results may not be overwhelming on a daily basis but if we called our afternoon snack a meal maybe we eat a few less calories for dinner. Add those lost calories up over time and they may become meaningful. I’d imagine those cues can be overridden yet definitely food for thought.

This afternoon I will have Nutter Butters for my meal. 3:00 pm sharp.

Here’s Johnny

July 30, 2012
Behavior Change, Food Environment
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Not quite as scary as Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,” but scary to return after a week’s vacation. I’ll tell you what the scale did in a bit. After spending a week on Madeline Island in Wisconsin, not exercising, making new friends, and eating much, some routine I need. I’ll update some thoughts on vacation as the week rolls on. There are more pressing matters to discuss…

The Dark Knight. That’s right. The Batman. What does he have to do with how we eat? Quite a bit. Maybe its not the Batman in particular, but the promise of a thrilling escape draws you in and movie theaters are a battleground for eating environments, habits, and routines. So it was after a week of relaxation and laziness all around that I ventured to the theater with my brother-in-law on Saturday evening (ostensibly after the kids were in bed). A kind text from my partner stated “Children 1. Mom 0.” I was hoping that related to some weird bet on rhythmic gymnastics she had with the kids. Go Olympics!

On my drive to the theater I started a conversation with that little man that resides in my head. “No popcorn,” I said. “Fine by me,” little man replied, “you just ate a homemade, grilled pizza made by your partner. No room in here.” Whew. Glad we had that talk. Popcorn avoided.

A few miles later, doubt. “Are you sure?” little man asked as if to draw that doubt up from the unspoken. “It is a movie,” he kept on. Damn. Popcorn. At that moment the little man had me. I’d be buying popcorn even if I did continue with the discussion and make surely unfilled promises. It’s that easy for the little man in my head to divert me and my lofty goals. Given the right environment. Movie theaters. And hey, I was still on vacation. Kind of.

Think about it. What is the one thing you associate with movies in a theater? Popcorn. The habit is so engrained, if not in each of us, our culture. There it is, in the spotlight of the concession stand. You can get it in a variety of sizes: big, really big, and “are you kidding me” huge (“Make it a combo save 50 cents,” says the teenage server). At the theater on Saturday there was even a sign that read, “We’d be happy to add more butter once you’ve eaten half your bag.” Talk about customer service. Movie theaters are about the experience and for that they need the environment.

Social, relaxed, habit, escape, smells, sounds, lighting. All the food cues that I dread are present in that one location. My brother-in-law stood idly by while I announced that I was getting popcorn. That’s right, announced it to him. As if to say, “Please, stop me. Now.” Not only had the little man gotten me to buy popcorn, he made me fully aware of what I was doing and state it to the broader audience. That’s true power.

I went with the medium. That of the really big variety. Nearly gone by the time the previews were over. Take that.

All kidding aside, movie theaters are designed to do this to everyone. Prior to vacation I spent time on discussing habit identification and strategy development. I desperately need a strategy for movie theater popcorn. The popcorn rings in my head the moment that even the possibility of a movie is presented. I’m sure that I’ve wanted popcorn at one time or another and then found a movie to go to in order to get it. Makes it more acceptable. How about that for rationalization?

In a few minutes the workout will be done and I will face the scale. Vacation. Popcorn. Please be kind.

Post Workout Update: Up 4. Not kind, not evil. A good bucket of popcorn and a wonderful vacation had. Back to work.

Pizza

July 20, 2012
Behavior Change
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On my way to my pattern finding I stumbled into a pizza.  Darn it.  Yesterday brought a fun day as several students and myself worked at a running camp at our university.  Something we do each year, work with the kids in the morning on their gait and then create packets for them all afternoon.  Invariably the work takes longer than I had planned and that’s when pizza shows up.

Yesterday did knock me out of my routine.  After our morning work we had decided to take the computers and head to our house. My partner had a nice lunch waiting and the analyzing began.  A trip to Caribou, the local coffee shop, brought a mid-day jolt.  Three o’clock came and went and for a few more hours we plugged away.  Then came decision time for dinner and everyone agreed on pizza.

Overall, not a terrible day, yet it illustrates a point that I’ve been trying to lead up to all week.  Hopefully we’ve all been able to identify a pattern over the past few days.  if not, keep going.  I’ve identified mine by time, location, others present, and emotion.  Still working on proceeding actions.  Yesterday’s jam session didn’t bring my normal pattern, however, it brought about something similar:  a situation where I didn’t, or felt I couldn’t,  exert enough control.   Maybe I could have suggested something healthier, or take my partner up on her offer to whip something up.  For whatever reason, I went with the college student approach and ordered pizza.

Whether it be the normal pattern, once identified, or the random non-routine day, the best way to approach both would be to have a plan.  To be proactive and think about my reactions in those moments ahead of time.  In that sense hopefully I can follow a script.  This gets back to the cravings that drive our routines.  Is it really cookies I crave at 3:00 pm or is it the distraction they provide?  My guess is it’s the distraction and if I can think of substituting the cookies with a different distraction maybe I’ll have some success.  This takes planning and figuring out what works.  Maybe I could go for quick walk or chat up a colleague.  Something that gets me out of the habit moment yet satisfies the craving.  If those don’t work, maybe it’s not distraction I’m craving, but something else.  I would need to figure that out.  The point is this:  once a pattern is found, we need to figure out what’s driving that pattern, and then think about a solution ahead of time.  I’m not good at this.  Habits are too easy and to develop a new one will take time and energy.  Argh.  However, maybe, just maybe, if I put my mind to it I can get past the habit of Nutter Butters.

Today is Friday and that’s food rule day.  So, speaking of habits, don’t eat something you crave today. See if you can get past the moment of crave and move on.  Baby steps.

Happy Friday.

Whoa

July 19, 2012
Behavior Change
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When I have a day that is not bombarded by cues to eat and rebuffing of those cues it’s worth a blog entitled, “Whoa.” I enjoy days like yesterday. Sort of.

I spent five hours yesterday in interviews. Didn’t leave the conference save a quick trip to the restroom. There weren’t any food distractions in the room. Coffee and water were there, that’s it. No muffins, bagels, or other finger food to stare at me all morning while silently saying, “Come eat me. I’m good. I’m what you want.” Make that screaming at me. Nope, only one small window at the end of the room provided distraction. After wrapping up interviews I spent time focused on a project.

The key to my “whoa” day yesterday was that I was not presented with eating opportunities and by being caged in a conference room my habits were held in check. Couldn’t very easily stand up, say, “my habit is calling,” and walk out. For the day my location helped me out, I ignored the clock for whatever reason, the others around me were not eating, my emotions were focused on the tasks at hand. I never had the chance for a habit to kick in and therefore didn’t have any proceeding actions. Guess I’ll just have to lock myself in a room with no food and with others who don’t eat to battle my habits. Doubtful that would lead to any long term success.

Yesterday did prove a point to me. If I’m immersed in something my habit battles aren’t as fierce. I’m distracted, and combine that with the environment of the interviews and I had a good day. On most days I’m busy in the afternoons but either food is accessible or I’m alone with my thoughts. More information for my pattern finding.

All week I’ve paying attention to my habits. Yesterday I mentioned finding some trends. As they become more clear I need to begin thinking about plans to control those habits. I need to be proactive for if I’m in the moment of a habit with no alternative plan the habit will win everyday day of the week. And sometimes twice. We’ll talk strategy tomorrow. How are your habits going?

Finally, here’s a habit of ours (ours in the sense of the United States) that is spreading. Voluntary inactivity. Ouch. And It kills people more than smoking.

I was a great high school athlete…

July 18, 2012
Behavior Change
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In no way, shape, or form was I great high school athlete, but the things I remember from my distant youth have a tendency to lose their accuracy as I age.  A t-shirt from college also pointed out that all my classmates were great high school athletes as well. The statement ranked #4 on the “Top 10 lies heard at St. Olaf” shirt of my era.  Memories and habits formed when we were younger are incredibly powerful forces and I felt one yesterday as I walked into my mother’s house.

For as long as I can remember I have equated my mom’s house with food.  The reasons for this are varied.  One of my first memories is being in the kitchen with my mom, watching her cook dinner, and listening to MPR.  (Talk about routine, I still listen to MPR every day and often think of the kitchen at 1520 Indian Hills Road.) Later upon returning home from college for visits the house meant free food.  Music to a college student’s ears.  And for years my mom’s house has represented “food that cannot be found in our cupboards at home.” I’m talking snacky food, crackers and cheese, some chips.

Much like SuperAmerica of the day before I could feel the pull of my mom’s refrigerator before walking in the door.  (This is neurological.  Once a habit is formed our brains signal reward before we get it). However, a strange thing happened on the way to said refrigerator.  And it had nothing to do with me trying to be aware or conscious or lofty with my habit identification program. It had everything to do with my mom.

My mom has waged a valiant battle with her weight for some time.  Whether it be walking around the lake of Worthington, MN religiously at 5:00 am for years, attending Weight Watchers, or now working out at a fitness center regularly, she has been a foot solider in the war with her weight.  Some difficult struggles, some amazing successes.  We often talk of nutrition and how to get your exercise.  She lets me preach.

Last week was a good one for my mom, as have the past several.  The scale at Weight Watchers is going in the right direction.  She’s on. Exercising daily and reporting it to me.  And that is what happened on my way to the refrigerator yesterday.  Her.  She did.  My mom.  Gone where the chips, crackers, cheese.  Not because she ate them, but rather because she hadn’t bought them.  Feeling my habit tug and pull I jokingly said, as I glanced through the fridge, “It used to be fun coming here, good stuff in the refrigerator.” Ok, half jokingly.  I moved the milk out of the way, maybe something fun was hiding in there.  No such luck.  She laughed at my silliness and threw a small lifeline, “There are Popsicles in the freezer,” more for my daughter’s benefit then mine I presume.  I pounced on the popsicles, after giving our 4 year old one of course.  60 calorie frozen flavored water just doesn’t cut it when you are Grammie’s house.

My mom’s house represents a powerful habit developed over years.  My brain senses the pleasure prior to my arrival.  Combine this with the other information we’ve looked at this week and no wonder I struggled:

Mom’s house (Location)
2:30 pm (Time of day)
Busy (Emotional state)
Alone (Others people)*
Driving (Immediately preceding action)

*My mom was present yesterday, I wasn’t speaking to her hologram, Mr. Tupac. As was my daughter.  I was alone in the sense that my partner wasn’t there.  My partner exerts a powerful and kind influence on my eating habits.  She’s my gatekeeper and even though I get frustrated at times she gives nothing but support.  I’m starting to see that when she isn’t around I struggle with food.  At the office I’m ok being left to my own devices, for the most part. Home is where I shouldn’t be left alone.  Or at my mother’s. I also have sensed that my habits kick in when I am busy or frustrated, or more aptly when I’m feeling a lack of control (ie some approaching deadlines that subconsciously sit in my mind and cause distraction).

Starting to get somewhere.  This week I have further defined my habits by location (home, mom’s house), time (3:00ish pm), emotional state (busy and frustrated, loss of perceived control), and other people around (nobody).  I’m still working on my immediately preceding actions. I’ll get there.  Habits.

How’s your week?

One last moment from my mom’s.  Her fridge spoke to me.  If it were only this easy not to eat the pie:

Co-Stanza.

Go right, young man.

July 17, 2012
Behavior Change
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Don’t go west, young man. Don’t go east. And most definitely don’t go south. Strange things happen in the south. Rather, go right, and I do not mean politically.

Most people when they enter a grocery store, retail center, department store, or other shopping locale automatically look to the right when they walk through the doors. Thousands of hours of video tape play this out. People walk through the doors, look right, and then carry on. Why? Possibly habit. The fact is we do it, over 85% of the time. We may not know we know do it, a habit we don’t know exists because we’ve never looked for it. Why would we?

From a marketing perspective stores take advantage of this lack of awareness by placing certain items to the right to direct you there as you walk in. Hadn’t planned on perusing the random flower section? Habit.

As we become aware of habits and the cycle they usher us into we can begin to, hopefully, exert some control. Yesterday I mentioned the five things we want to think about when we engage in something we don’t want to, ie a bad habit.

Location
Time of Day
Emotional state
Other people
Immediately preceding action

What did you find? Were things as you thought they would be? Keep going today and we’ll see if a pattern starts to emerge. Here are my experimental results from day #1:

I was not in the office yesterday save an afternoon meeting off campus. The morning was filled with some organizing around the house with my partner and kids, reading of a few books, and some playtime. We were also in full annoyance mode as we had to wait for the refrigerator repair person to show up. (“You’re first on the list, sir, someone will be there between the hours of 8:00 am and noon. The repair person will call ahead.”). Ever been in your house trying to busy yourself for four hours? The food kept calling…

Side note: I know we’ve complained about this for years yet I want to say “really?” Come on. A four hour window? We were the supposed first persons on the list. No call. Showed up at 10:30. Wonder what they were doing for the first 2.5 hours of the day? “Tomorrow’s class will start sometime between the hours of 8 and noon. I’ll let you know.” How would that go over with my dean? I digress.

Made it though the wait, brought our youngest in for her check up. (84th %tile for height, 83rd for weight, 86th for head size. Talk proportionality, let’s hope she can keep it up. Her father lost all proportionality at age 3). Time for a quick drop off at home and off to my meeting. Habit time.

I could feel it coming on. 3:00 pm, although I had a new environment (car) as I was not in my office at the witching hour. I was, however, by myself. My patient partner and monitor was not present. “This can not be good,”‘ I thought to myself. Then the pull came. Like a tractor beam. The dreaded SuperAmercia gas station on the corner of St. Clair and Fairview where they sell so much junk food you’d think it was a junior high school vending machine rather than a gas station. I’d stopped before.

Car (Location)
3:00 pm (Time of day)
Tired, thinking about my meeting (Emotional state)
Alone (Other people)
Dropped of partner and child (Immediately preceding action)

Looks like the perfect fixings for a habit, a routine. I resisted partially because I new I had to write this down today but also because I was acutely and consciously aware of what was going on. It wasn’t easy. Nor was passing the other two convenience stores. My rationalization organ was in full effect. “I’ve eaten well today. I worked out. I was a good partner this morning. I deserve it. I’m smart. I’m beautiful.” You get the point.

Awareness for me yesterday was key. I’m sure I will feel the same habit pull on me today at 3:00 pm. I’ve already identified my pattern by time. Possibly by emotional state and even by other people (I struggle when I’m alone). Location is more difficult to identify for me and by paying attention to my preceding actions I hope to further define my patterns. Once I have this reconnaissance complete, I can hopefully identify my cravings and exert some planned control.

What’s your pattern? Habit? Challenge it. Habits don’t die, they fade. Hopefully they quiet down and are replaced by new ones.

Co-Stanza.

Quick side note #2. You can now follow Salient Dictates on Twitter, @salientdictates. Follow me for fun tips and random thoughts on food and exercise.

Co-Stanza

July 16, 2012
Behavior Change
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In a hilarious episode of Seinfeld George Costanza takes to saying his last name to the tune of the “By Mennen” jingle as he leaves a woman’s apartment (while also leaving his sable hat).  His explanation: if he does this enough she’ll begin to be interested in him without even knowing why.  Put another way, George wants to become her habit without her understanding how she got there.  The woman of interest will simply, and seemingly randomly, sing “Co-Stanza” to herself and crave his company.  Classic marketing.

Last week two things occurred, 1) my family and I went camping on the north shore, and 2) my routine changed.  How are these connected to George Costanza?  Read on.

In his book Power of Habit Charles Duhigg describes the habit cycle.  I’ve written about this book and this cycle in past posts. What follows is my take on Duhigg’s concepts, giving him all due credit.

Quick refresher:  this cycle consists of cues which lead to routines which lead us to rewards.  Like this:

Cues > Routine > Reward

The cues can be subtle, hence their manipulation by marketing teams around the world. Routines are usually more obvious.  For example do you always follow up dinner with desert?  This would be a routine.  Our family has it, usually at my request.  Out of habit. Routine leads to a reward, in the dessert example, sweets and the pleasure of food.  Complete this cycle enough times and it becomes a habit.  And we know how hard habits are to break.

Hold on a minute.  There’s one more key piece to the habit cycle.  Cravings.  These little buggers are what drives the cycle.  For whatever reason we crave something and this kicks the cycle into action.  If we understand this we may have added another tool to the over used metaphorical tool box.

Answer this question: Why do you eat?  Think about it.  Is it because it’s time to eat? Because you’re friends are eating?  Kids? Boredom?  These are all cues in the habit cycle.  I’ll make it personal:

From the time I get up until about 3:00 pm I can control my eating.  I don’t seem too hungry, can limit my consumption at breakfast and lunch.  However, around 3:00 pm, something happens.  The clock is my subtle cue.  This cue led me to our university’s marketplace where I could find cookies.  I’d talk with Harry, the kind manager, grab my Nutter Butter cookies, and be off.  Cookies gone before I competed the 37 second walk back to my office.  The cue (clock) led me to my routine (cookies) and I was rewarded (sweet, joyous taste of said Nutter Butters).  Habit cycle defined.

Habits are difficult to break because our brain likes them.  Saves us mental effort.  Duhigg states that over 40% of our daily actions are driven by habit.  Habits are what allow me to navigate an unfamiliar grocery store and not get too overwhelmed at the yogurt selection:

Without my habit, I’d spend years trying to figure out what to buy.  That being said, we’d better have good habits and we had better understand them.  My Nutter Butter habit added 300 calories a day to my weight challenged day.  And I was powerless to stop it.  Habit.

What I have to describe in my cookie habit cycle is the craving.  The true driving force. Is it cookies?  Really?  Am I really hungry or am I craving something else?  In the mornings, I discovered when I thought about my daily pattern, I am usually busy with a variety of tasks.  Teaching, conversations with colleagues, chatting with students, etc.  in the afternoon however, my world gets a bit more quiet and I am in my office working.  Solitarily. I crave distraction.  A break.  That craving, the need to escape for a few minutes, drives my cookie habit.  It’s not the cookie I wanted as a reward, it was the conversation.  Time to change my reward.

There are days that I am successful in switching out my routine of cookies for conversation.  Some days I fail.  Miserably. What I have noticed is that I am conscious of time, think about what I’m doing, I stay away from cookies.  It’s when I don’t think and let the old habit return that I struggle.

If we can identify our cues and true cravings maybe we can switch out some routines that lead us to eating better. That would be nice.  We’ll experiment in a moment.

What does this have to do with George Costanza and more importantly, our family camping trip?  George created a craving before the woman’s awareness caught up.  ”Co-Stanza” was the cue. She wanted him before she knew she wanted him because he set the right conditions.  During our camping trio my cues changed.  In my office I am in control.  Camping, not so much.  The cooler is right there, full of things we don’t normally have around.  The cooler became a powerful cue and I easily succumbed to few yogurt bars, chips, and an extra beer now and again.

Experiment time. Pick a habit you want to change.  For the next few find the pattern.  Take note of the following when you find yourself succumbing:

You’re location
Time of day
Your emotional state
Other people around
Immediately preceding action

Writing these five thoughts down will lead us our patterns, our routines.  And if we become aware maybe we can change.

Give it a try, we’ll stick to this project and theme all week.

Back to my routine.

When kids cry

July 6, 2012
Food Descriptives, Food Environment, Food Rules
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The current issue of Entertainment Weekly reminded me that 28 years ago this week Prince’s “When Doves Cry” was the #3 song on the pop charts.  Also reminded me that I am aging.  There was Prince just ahead of Billy Idol and Huey Lewis and just behind Duran Duran.  Oh yes, 1984 it was.  It has been an ’80s week here at Salient Dictates, first Heart and now Prince.  I’m standing against a wall in my junior high cafeteria once again.

Speaking of crying, how many police officers do you think it takes to make multiple children under the age of 7 cry?  One.  If you happen to live in Apple Valley, MN and have a few fireworks on the 4th of July.  That’s right, some police officer stopped my brother-in-law mid show on Wednesday and took what she thought were all his fireworks.  The children wept openly yet the police officer didn’t relent, she gathered up those incredibly dangerous sparklers, a bunch of cans that spewed colorful sparks for a grand total of 6 seconds, and a couple of things that go boom.  This in the midst of real cannon like booms just over yonder.  Talk about doves crying.

Here’s what we should all be crying about:

Did you like that transition? Minute Maid Lemonade.  This bottle happened to be sitting on the table (the one of yesterday’s magnetic field fame) on July 4th.  Read the label closely.  Just below the USA Olympic Rings.  ”Put Good in.  Get Good Out.”  Thank you Minute Maid, you not only sponsor the Olympics but you give me good things to drink!  I feel so good now, thanks for giving me so much goodness.

Now, go just to the left of that, and below the nutrition label.  Yes, there it is, the ingredients list.  $10 to anyone who can tell me what the following are:

Natural Flavors, Potassium Citrate, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Modified Corn Starch, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium.

If you are a chemist, you can’t claim the $10.  Since when did HFCS become good?  And yes, i did forget about all the goodness of aspartame.  Yummy.  So good it makes my brain swell.  Literally.  It’s getting bigger as we speak.

“Put Good In.  Get Good Out.” strikes me as a bit odd.  An interesting connection here:  Also on the 4th of July, my brother-in-law had me take a quick 10 question quiz on the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka Obamacare).   After I completed the quiz, I received my score (10/10, thank you), and was given statistics on how others did.  Seems that people who don’t know anything about the law are against it and those that know something about the law are for it.  Across all demographics. Things that make you go hmmmm.  Same thing with lemonade.  I like lemonade and if I took Minute Maid at face value, I’d feel good about drinking it.  But the more questions I ask, the more aware I become, the less I like that lemonade in particular.  Will I drink it if it is placed in front of me?  Probably.  (Damn Higgs Boson thingy) but at least I am doing so willfully.  We all have our vices.  The point is be careful of marketing and especially of taglines when it comes to food.

In discussion with my mother the other day regarding last week’s report on low carb diets, she asked “Well then, what can I eat?”  Such a great question, and it leads me to today’s food rule.  It’s Friday, and here we go:

Today, eat only foods without labels.  Seriously, give it a try.  Apples don’t have labels.  We know what’s in them.  Apple.  Same with oranges, broccoli, and carrots.  Last night my partner made an incredible beet salad.  Who knew I liked beets so much!  And for our 4 month old, try some more breast milk.  The last time I checked breasts didn’t have food labels either.  Must be good for kids.  Minute Maid lemonade?  Not so much.

Happy Friday.

Magnetic Fields

July 5, 2012
Food Descriptives, Food Environment
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God particle found. Life explained. As news confirming the existence of the Higgs Boson has spread across the globe I have personally felt the wave of relief that such a discovery brings. Think, this particle or field, I’m not sure which it is, possibly both, gives deeper meaning and understanding to the world and lives we inhabit. Providing mass to all other quarks, fermions, and other cool sounding things, the Higgs Boson is life itself. Heavy stuff, no pun intended.

I actually felt this field around me yesterday, surprising at it may seem. As I entered my sister and her family’s house for their annual 4th of July gathering a strong yet subtle pull tugged me towards the dining room table. Something was guiding me to the salami, chips, and cheese, and oddly enough, away from the fruit. I’d felt this force before but couldn’t put my finger on it. I was definitely adding mass as I glided through the ether of the kitchen and hovered at the spread of goodies laid out before me. What was this “thing” that was causing my intellect to disappear? Directing me towards the table of over consumption? Adding mass to my body with each passing moment and gesture?

And there you have it. My sense of relief in the latest discovery. That invisible pull has been defined. The Higgs Boson. According to the smart people we now know what gives everything else mass. I was surprised that it wasn’t food but I’m not a physicist. Makes sense that it’s an invisible field that has been driving people mad for decades however. I like to call that invisible field the food environment, but again, I took physics pass/fail at St. Olaf and can’t remember whether I did either. We’ll go with Higgs Boson. Sounds more demented and tormenting than “food environment.”

We now have the answer to the question, “Why in earth did you eat that?” “Higgs made me do it,” we can gleefully respond. The proof is in the pudding, or the ethereal “molasses” as those physicists like to say. No one, not even the scientists, have seen this powerful field, it’s existence is only derived by “bumps” in data, indicating that Higgs had been there, done its deeds, added mass to those who ventured near, and quickly disappeared. The more I think about it, the more this Higgs’ thingy sounds like the food environment. Adds mass? Quickly disappears without a trace? Only perceptible by what’s left behind? As the physics intelligentsia say, “if it walks like a duck…”

All kidding aside, quite a discovery. I’ve already shared my limited understanding, errors and all, so I best be off. More tales of July 4th fun to come.

Alone

July 4, 2012
Behavior Change, Exercise, Food Descriptives, Food Environment
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No, not the classic 80′s hit by the superb sister duo act Heart, rather, alone in the sense of how I felt at the fitness center this morning. Seems the population of the United States, or at least St. Paul, is busying themselves raising flags and gearing up the grill. They surely aren’t exercising. I’m alone. All alone. And yes, that’s present tense. I am currently all alone in my rather large fitness center typing as I sweat over a stationary bike. Can you tell I’m proud of myself?

All arrogance aside I do find it interesting that the place is quiet. Possibly speaks to habit, “Holiday = no exercise. Yes! Sleeping in. Double yes!” who knows. My guess is that people are actually excited about sleeping in and getting together with family and friends. As they should be.

The U.S. census bureau reports that about 33% of all pigs reside in Iowa and that nearly 20% of all cows call Texas home. This means that the hot dogs and burgers we are about to consume likely came from our friends to the south. On our nation’s independence day, I offer my own census, albeit prospective and rather anecdotal. Here is my guess as to what we will consume on this sacred day of barbecues. As in gatherings, not favored southern cuisine:

3 hot dogs. (Average American eats 70 per year). Make that 4 today.
2 hamburgers. In 2010 Americans consumed 26.4 billion pounds of beef. That’s 86 pounds per person.
7 or 8 handfuls of potato chips.
3 quarts of potato salad.
Some baked beans.
4 beers. Or 7. It’s nearly 100 degrees in Minnesota this 4th of July.
2 helpings of ice cream or some other delicious dessert that your neighbor brought over.
1 piece of apple pie.
1 more beer.

Best guess, 17,000 calories. Ok, so that is exaggeration. However, as we celebrate the birth of our nation the conditions are ripe for overeating. Why? Friends, happiness, extended eating hours, proximity to yummy food, and fireworks. All create an environment that may lead us to move our hands to our mouths more frequently than we would on the 3rd of July.

Happy 4th of July everyone! Happy eating!

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