Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too

03:49 pm - Long time...

No post, but I just lose track of things. So I don't if I ever posted it or not, but I am engaged. I got engaged back in December. We plan on having a small, intimate wedding ceremony and reception. We decided to push the date back from our original leap year 2008 date. We plan on having it the weekend I graduate from college August 2008. So that way my family only has to make the trip once. Also Josh's huge family can just stay put instead of traveling somewhere. Looks like a bad snowstorm on the way! I was hoping my late night class might get cancelled, but no such luck yet. I got in touch recently with some old friends courtesy of myspace. I saw my friend with her kid Maria who I have never met because she lives in North Carolina. Also an old friend from high school who still lives in Tampa. David is doing great. He is currently on-call therapist at a pysch hospital and he is working on his masters. Some time ago according to his pics he took a trip to Australia. I have yet to talk to him since I am busy with school and work. Oh yeah I also added my little sister Jamie. She has shocked the family with her new boyfriend. He plays for the Army band as a drummer and he is 24 while Jamie is 18! My mom and Jan are very displeased. But they always told her to be more independent than a follower. What could be more independent than her current boyfriend? Just hopefully she is smart enough not to run off with this guy and get married. Right now her plans are to head off to college since she got a full scholarship to a very elite college in San Antonio.

Current Mood: content

10:38 pm - Here is the study for those who want to read....

13/07/03 . Jonathan Leake and Andrew Porter . Sunday Times . UK

Burgers are as addictive as drugs

SCIENTISTS have discovered that high doses of fat and sugar in fast and processed foods can be as addictive as nicotine — and even hard drugs.
The research found that foods which are high in fat and sugar can cause significant changes in brain biochemistry similar to those from drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Once hooked, the researchers say, many people find it almost impossible to switch back to a healthy diet, often leading to obesity.

The evidence is to be taken up by lawyers preparing multi-million-pound claims from people who allege that their "addiction" to fast foods has damaged their health.

They say the new research undermines the claims of companies such as McDonald's and KFC that the decision to eat their products is down to "personal responsibility".

The addictive nature of fatty foods has been established by researchers at Rockefeller University in New York who found that regularly eating the products can quickly reconfigure the body's hormonal system to want yet more fat.

They also found that early exposure to fatty food could influence children's choices so that they would always seek a similar diet, increasing the likelihood of obesity in later life.

In another study, to be published shortly, Professor Ann Kelley, a neuroscientist, and Matthew Will, of the University of Wisconsin, traced the biochemical changes in the brains of rats fed different diets.

Those given a high-fat diet became hooked and if the fat was taken away, displayed symptoms similar to those of a drug addict deprived of his or her fix. Fat rats also suffered changes in brain development.

"The research suggests that a high-fat diet alters brain biochemistry with effects similar to those of powerful opiates such as morphine," said Will.

The daily recommended intake of energy for an adult man is about 2,300 calories, of which no more than 35% should come from fat and 11% from added sugars. Women should eat about 1,800 calories a day.

However, a meal at a fast food outlet — burger, chips, drink and dessert — can deliver almost all of an adult man's recommended daily calories in a single sitting. For example, a McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese contains 516 calories. A large portion of french fries adds another 412, and an accompanying large milk shake another 500 calories — while a chocolate doughnut or dessert gives a further 379.

The total is more than 1,800 calories, most of it coming from fat and sugar. By comparison, a leg of chicken with boiled potatoes and peas plus an apple contain about 800 calories, with a relatively small proportion comprising fat or sugar.

Some nutritionists say that it is unfair to blame just fast food firms for surging obesity when 85% of people's food comes from supermarkets. Such stores promote processed foods with high levels of fat and sugar, along with snacks such as crisps, ice cream and chocolate, because they offer high profit margins.

Scientists at the food companies Nestlé and Unilever have also been investigating how snack foods make people binge eat. "We have projects currently running to investi- gate this," a spokesman for Nestle said.

A typical snack such as a standard 34 gram packet of crisps can comprise 33% fat, have high levels of salt and provide 180-200 calories, more than 10% of a child's daily needs. In recent years firms have competed by offering ever larger packets.

The new research will be featured in a BBC2 television programme, Big Mac Under Attack, to be shown on Tuesday. It suggests that high-fat and high-sugar diets can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance that would normally prompt people to stop eating.

John F Banzhaf III, professor of law at the George Washington University law school and who led America's anti- tobacco litigation, said that the findings left companies selling food high in fat and sugar "deeply vulnerable". He has written to six of the world's largest fast food companies warning them of litigation.

"Most of these companies sell this food without any nutritional information, labelling or warnings. A product that is both dangerous and addictive is very difficult to defend," said Banzhaf.

Professor Gary Slapper, director of the Open University law programme, said he believed that the first British legal actions over obesity were imminent. "There is an obligation to make risks clear to consumers and failure to do so makes food companies liable," he said.

In France, fears of a consumer backlash have prompted McDonald's to publish nutritional advice that inactive children should not eat its meals more than once a week.

---------------- Sunday Times Leader: Hooked on hamburgers

As every clothing manufacturer knows, there is large, extra-large and American obese. Visitors to the United States, expecting the finely honed bodies of the Hollywood image, are more usually confronted with a monstrous army of fatties. More than half of adult Americans are overweight and a quarter are obese. American airlines, tired of trying to squeeze enormous bottoms into ordinary seats, have taken to charging obese customers for two seats. It would be easy to laugh, except Britain appears to be going the same way. Our couch potatoes are developing a special relationship with their American counterparts. Obesity costs the National Health Service several billion pounds a year.

Now it seems that the fatties have an excuse and it is one that could rebound badly on the fast food industry. New research suggests that the fat and sugar in fast food are as dangerously addictive as tobacco or some drugs. Foods that are high in fat and sugar lead to changes in the brain's biochemistry. This means that once you are hooked it is almost impossible to give up. Millions of people seemingly wake up each morning craving fixes of Big Macs or Colonel Sanders's finger lickin' chicken. Like all addictions it can never be properly satisfied.

For the fast food firms, this comes at a bad time. McDonald's has closed more than 700 outlets and announced its first quarterly loss this year. One suggestion was that it was being boycotted by international customers angry with America over Iraq. More likely, people have got fed up with fattening food.

All this has made our learned friends excited at the prospect of some fat fees. McDonald's, which has started to introduce healthier foods, is no stranger to litigation. There was the case of the $3m awarded to a customer scalded by hot coffee, and its action against two environmentalists in London which resulted in the longest-running libel case. So far it is ahead; in January, a New York judge threw out a case by teenagers claiming that McDonald's had caused their obesity. But more actions are likely to follow. Fat is becoming a serious legal issue.

10:33 pm - Addictive burgers...

So Josh founds out lots of interesting things in his business class. It definitely shows how corrupt businesses are to survive. Well he found out this study which was published in the UK times. I already sent it out and I am really staying away from fast food like never before. Once in awhile I would give into my cravings, but I don't know why because it wasn't very tasty. It was only because it was quick. Tonight I grilled a chicken breast, had a twice baked potato and caribbean blend frozen vegeatables. All very yummy and very filling!! I doing it one month at a time of no fast food. I started it this October 1st.

Current Mood: determined

11:47 pm - Horrible..

I did awful on my calculus test...But I am moving on and hoping for the best. I took my pysch test which I felt went better. I just want to get through this semester and move on with the next classes until I have my degree. Only another year and half after this semester. Work is work and going fine. I spent Friday and Saturday night with Josh's family which was great. We went to West Marshall high school homecoming football game (Josh's old high school). Josh met up with his friends Pat and Chad. So while Josh and his dad watched the game, his mom and I got to gossip. I love going to football games with her because I am never quite interested in the high school games as I am in the college football games. So we talked about lots of things and Josh's dad gets frustrated that we aren't paying attention. But we just laugh it all. Ohhh scary iccky thing for Josh. Well it seems that there was a girl in high school who had an obesession with Josh. Well she came to the game and now she is a married woman with 2 kids! But yet she is attracted as ever to Josh. Josh tries in every way to avoid her! But unfortunately she has made friends with his family. So we tried to save Josh from her getting near him by boxing in him, Unfortunately he had to videotape his little sister cheering for the half time show. So he went up one bench behind us. At the same time she was walking up and instead of sitting in many available vacant spots. She walked straight up to the bench right where Josh was standing and sat down next to his feet. SCARY!! So I feel for Josh, but I don't feel competitive about this person because she is ugly and very white trash! Now if she was HOT that would be another problem. Well I saved Josh by taking him down to the concession stand and getting popcorn. Then Saturday night Josh and his dad worked on a family reunion slideshow while Josh's mom, his little sister Hannah and I watched "Prime" on DVD. Ultimately I had to take a nap there because Josh and his dad didn't finish with the slideshow UNTIL 5 AM! I still had to work on Sunday morning. Luckily Josh was driving us home, but I am sure he was tired too.

Current Mood: good

08:41 pm - what a week...

2 tests and a quiz have passed me by. I got to enjoy my free Coldstone Creamery Birthday creation. It was yummy! Although it was so big I shared it with Josh. It was mint mint chocolate chocolate chip. Otherwise days are just flying by and getting cooler. I can't wait for the fall weather! It is my favorite season...so full of changing colors.

Current Mood: content

12:33 pm - Awesome game last night

Josh and I went to the first ISU football game of the season. It was great and of course your goofy as hell drunk people. The parking lot was a sea of red and gold. Josh got us row 7 seats which were great. It is amazing how loud we can make the stadium when we are screaming our asses off! Anyways it was a closer game than was comfortable, but ultimately we won in TRIPLE overtime. The crowd went wild!!! GO CYCLONES!! Then there was a firwork display. Oh! Awww!

Current Mood: ecstatic

07:56 pm - Quiz I took...

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. </td> Emergent/Postmodern 89% Modern Liberal 79% Classical Liberal 71% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 50% Roman Catholic 43% Neo orthodox 32% Charismatic/Pentecostal 32% Reformed Evangelical 7% Fundamentalist 0% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

Current Mood: contemplative

08:58 pm - Iowa State Fair

It was great weather for the Iowa State Fair! I had a wonderful and great time. Stacie, Brandon and I checked out the animals of the fair. Josh met up with his family and they checked out different shows. But this was Stacie's first fair so we should see the things that make the fair. The agriculture building is my fave. We viewed the butter cow which is a large cow replica made completely of butter. We viewed the various crops being judged. We saw the Super Bull which is the largest bull of the fair and the Big Boar which is the biggest hog of the fair. We also saw a wonderful display of tigers by a conservation group where they performed by positive re enforcement. Stacie and Brandon called it a day at 7pm. This was after the llama limbo contest which was just funny. So then the rest of the night was spent with Josh and his family. We didn't leave until 10 pm that night. Boy I was beat.

Current Mood: drained

09:35 am - Bad day yesterday...

So I wanted to leave work early, but no I get stuck with the customers who want to stay beyond shopping hours. AAARGGGGH So I ring them up and discover they have left me a huge clothing mess in the dressing room. THANKS U couldn't hang up the clothes at least. HOW HARD CAN THAT BE!!! Finally I leave at 630pm when store closed at 6pm and everyone has left by 615pm. Then I got a cookie cake I am carrying to my car because Josh's brother Nathan is back from Marine bootcamp. It was really cute and it said "Welcome Home Marine" A gust of wind out of nowhere flips my cookie box. NOW I HAVE COOKIE CAKE CRUMBLE!! Could it get any worse I just wanted to cry.... Finally though the rest of the night was better. I met up with Stacie and Brandon and enjoyed a great sirloin steak. Then later that night Josh and I met up with his family to meet Nathan. Everyone still enjoyed the cookie crumble, so not a huge loss...

11:07 am - Adventureland

So I finally made out to the local amusement park this Saturday. I was with Josh, his mom, his little sisters Hannah & Serena and his brother Anthony along with Stacie. We had a great time and the weather was a wonderful 80 with a clear blue sky. I really enjoyed the magic show. Around dinnertime though, we lost Josh's mom when she went to the bathroom. She has a habit of wandering off worse than a 2 year old. Finally after much searching and Josh being very upset with her, we found her. Everyone settled down to eat. Stacie was pissed off about the unsanitary conditions of both Taco Bell and Taco John's. She ate Taco John's and was charged the same for a burrito with beans and extra lettuce the same as if she had meat in it. I could understand her frustration because it is hard to be vegetarian and grab fast food. Although fast food isn't the best sometimes you are in situations where you eat with everyone else. Josh just doesn't eat which isn't the most ideal either. Luckily Josh and I packed a lunch because he is on a carb diet. Lately I haven't been much for fast food. Stacie makes some awesome meals with vegetables. I always come away feeling satisfied and healthy. I should sometime return the favor. Anyways we finally finished up our day at Adventureland. Josh and I rode the skyride where we did some kissing and cuddling. It always makes me feel like a teenager when I am at an amusement park with my boyfriend. He is such a sweetheart. He has his quirks and I have mine, but together we love each other. Adventureland did make me miss Busch Gardens. Their roller coasters ROCK!!

Current Mood: cheerful