Mmm, You Can Really Taste The Ethyl Methylphenylglycidate
amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol, anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid, cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac essential oil, diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl butyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyl lactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate, ethyl propionate, ethyl valerate, heliotropin, hydroxyphrenyl- 2-butanone (10% solution in alcohol), ionone, isobutyl anthranilate, isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methyl heptine carbonate, methyl naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mint essential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate, orris butter, phenethyl alcohol, rose, rum ether, undecalactone, vanillin and solvent
If you’re wondering what the above collection of chemical goodness and the nutrition label represent…would you believe a McDonald’s strawberry shake? Yes, that’s right; no strawberries were harmed in order to provide you with that cold, creamy, strawberry goodness you’re slurping up throught that straw. In fact, no strawberries came anywhere close to being sacrificed (well, the shake IS pink) for the edification of your taste buds…and that represents exactly what I’m trying to come to grips with.
One of the things I did while I was on vacation was to read Morgan Spurlock’s Don’t Eat This Book. You remember him, right? He’s the guy who brought us Super Size Me, in which Spurlock chronicled living off nothing but McDonald’s food for 30 days. Don’t Eat This Book covers the same turf while expanding on some of the points Spurlock made in the movie. I was supremely disturbed by the movie, but for some reason, the book made an even greater impact on me. I’ve spent the past few days thinking about my relationship with food, and I’ve begun to realize that I am headed down the same road that so many Americans are.
Like many Americans, I’ve allowed myself to fall into a relatively sedentary lifestyle, and my eating habits have fallen into a predictable pattern. Instead of cooking good, wholesome, healthy food, I tend to eat whatever is most conveninently and readily available. While I don’t eat at places like Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Burger King, I do eat at Subway a lot. I’ve managed to lull myself into thinking that by doing so I’m somehow eating “healthy”. In reality, while Subway’s menu may in fact be healthier than the garbage served by McDonald’s, et al (they do put fresh vegetables on their sandwiches, eh?), it’s still fast food, and it can still be loaded with fat and chemicals.
I work hard, and I’m fortunate to have a job that’s reasonably physical. It’s hardly a substitute for a program of regular exercise, though, and I’m coming to understand that while I don’t need to be in marathon-running condition, I do need to do a better job of making certain that I get better and more regular exercise.
More than anything, though, I need to change my relationship with food. Yes, regular exercise will help me to lose weight, but if I’m to reduce my risk of heart disease and certain cancers, I really need to improve and permanently alter my relationship with food. I love pizza and ice cream as much as the next person, but when I look at myself in the mirror, I see someone who, while certainly not obese, could benefit by losing 25 pounds. I’m fortunate to be larger than your average bear, so an extra 25 pounds might not appear to be a big deal. As I head into middle age, though, those 25 pounds certainly aren’t going to help.
I’ve always promised myself that, if I could help it, I would not die of a heart attack. What I see in my behavior and my diet currently certainly isn’t helping me to keep that promise. Ultimately, we all leave this world feet-first, and I realize that I’m no different. Nonetheless,I see no reason why I need to increase my risk factors any more than I absolutely have to.
What I’ve finally decided to do is to try and change my habits a little bit at a time. Experience has shown me that making several large, wholesale changes can be a recipe for failure and frustration, so I’ve decided to start slowly and see if that doesn’t yield better results over the long term. To begin with, I’m going to make a concerted effort to eat less processed (and fast) food. This means eating more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, and more lean meats. I’ve never been opposed to eating fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s just that it takes more forethought and more effort.
This morning, I went for a short walk. My goal is to continue this and over time begin using the free weights and the Bowflex machine I have in the garage. If I can lose those 25 pounds over time, I’d be ecstatic. I’m also going to work on changing and improving my eating habits. I have no plans on turning into a zealot, but I think I do owe it to myself to make the changes I think I need in order to improve both my health and the quality of my life.
I no longer have any ambition to spend long hours in a gym, which I’ve done in years past. My goals are not to bulk up, although I wouldn’t mind looking better naked. Ultimately, I want to be as healthy as I possibly can, and I want to give myself every opportunity to live a long, healthy life. I’ve always said that I want to be able to walk 18 holes when I’m 75. Perhaps now I should begin working on not only making it to 75, but also on being able to walk those 18 holes.
If today really is the first day of the rest of my life, here’s to hoping that it’s going to be a long, healthy, and joyous life.
