I've been tagged!

Thanks to Healthy Perspectives for the tag!

The question is:
List 10 Things You Like About Yourself

I didn't realize how hard it would be to list 10. That's sad, there must be a psychological study in there somewhere!

1. My ability to think logically - not a feat that should be taken lightly! How many forwarded emails do you get daily from friends who SWEAR that Bill Gates is going to give you $100 if you send that email to 10 friends? How many times do you hear on the news about someone who actually SENT their bank account information to their newly discovered cousin in Nigeria?

2. My chili recipe - seriously, its the best. When my mother had given birth to my little brother (I was 16 then), she called me to make and bring to the hospital some of my chili. And I did. And she sat in the bed eating it, even though she had to breastfeed my poor baby brother. Go figure. It's THAT good.
3. my nose - I used to HATE my nose from about age 12 to 20. I really thought I'd get it "fixed" as soon as I could afford it. Somewhere along the line though, I began to appreciate it, and love it. It makes ME, me. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

4. My ability to have fun with my kids - I like that we can really have a gut busting, roll on the floor good time together, but I am still the boss and they respect that. I know some parents who are so stiff and authoritarian, that they can't just laugh and get down on the floor and lose it sometimes. I guess they think that will make them lose power. You have to strike a delicate balance between running your family, and making everyone WANT to spend an evening with you watching dvds.

5. My taste in music - I like pretty much everything, and I think that's a plus because I rarely find myself in a place where I think I'm going to stab myself in the ears if I have to hear one more minute of whatever is piping through the speakers. There is at least one artist of every genre that I really like, not just am aware of, but LIKE.

6. My eternal youth - I don't know what my age is supposed to "feel" like, but I feel much younger inside and look much younger outside. I think the minute I start thinking like I'm old (as I hear some of my friends say), then I will, indeed, be old.

7. My ability to figure things out - no, really, I'm not afraid to take something apart and at least try to fix it, as opposed to just not even trying and waiting on someone else to do it for me. I can't stand helplessness in anyone, man, woman or child.

8. My eyebrows - now I'm getting superficial because I've ran out of things to list. I've had thick eyebrows my whole life, I arch them, but I've never gone pencil thin despite many people trying to get me to. I like them the way they are, although I wish I could figure out how to get those nice thin "tails" on the end, but I don't trust anyone to do it for me, one slip and I'm all messed up!

9. My legacy - my children. I think they will do good things and make a difference in this world, so all of my hard work will be validated.

10. I like that I got tagged! I feel so special! Thank you!

I am going to tag Cleochatra because she is so doggone funny!

Turkey Wraps and more

I love turkey. No, really, I love turkey so much that I wanna marry it and have its babies. Ha! Okay, seriously, I could eat turkey every day of the week, but for some reason, I hate Thanksgiving turkey, I never do turkey for Thanksgiving, I always do cornish hens. I only like deli style sliced turkey but I can't stand big chunks of turkey cut right off the bone.

Anyway, someone who is aware of my turkey fetish sent me a great ebook of turkey wrap recipes, including one for a version of Monte Crisco which is the deep fried powdered sugar sandwich. I don't plan on making that one, but several of the others sound wonderful, like the Middle Eastern Turkey Wrap, and the Mesquite Turkey, Avocado and Bacon Wrap. Although I've never had avocado, I'd be willing to try it if its wrapped by mesquite turkey.

The ebook is from Cargill Food Services, which supplies meats for restaurants. I've never heard of but when I checked out their website, they had more free ebooks of other meat recipes like ribs, steak, and roast beef, plus a bunch of online recipes with a free membership for access. My son was just complaining that I cook boring dinners so I might check out the other ebooks later for some inspiration, but for now I'm excited about trying some of the turkey wraps.

I'll add this ebook to the list, or you can download it here.

Stopping Hair Loss

There's often mention of hair loss as an early side effect of beginning a low carb diet, and then I've also read that it's possible to experience hair loss with ANY drastic change in your eating habits. My hair started to noticeably thin several months ago, but it was always so thick that I figured I could use a little shedding. For such a long time, I was unable to swallow any pills so I hadn't had my usual supplements of calcium, potassium or even a multivitamin. I tried the liquid Centrum multi but it tasted horrible so I just waited until I was able to swallow before I went back to pill form.

It was suggested in several forums that Biotin, a B Complex supplement, was very good at stemming hair loss and encouraging regrowth. The posters I'd read were taking between 2500mg and 5000mg daily, so I purchased the 5000mg capsules and started last week.

I'm happy to report that a mere 7 days later, I can already see the difference. I'm a chronic hair picker, which really doesn't help because I pull my hair out nervously and it comes out from the scalp! After shampooing last night, I got just a small amount in the comb - just slightly above what would be a normal rate of loss when combing wet hair. Then I blow dried, a bare few strands came out in the blower comb. Today, I sat at work and pulled and twisted, and got only a few strands in between my fingers. Definitely a huge difference! At one point before I started the Biotin, I thought for sure I would pull out a bald spot from the way it was just breaking free of my scalp!

I need to find out what foods I can add to my diet to substitute for taking the Biotin, or maybe its an age thing, perhaps I need the extra Biotin as I get older, regardless of what I eat?

I've had super duper thick hair my entire life, so I'm not all that interested in growing all of that back, especially in the summer. But these Michigan winters will really make me want my thick hair back so I'd better stick with the Biotin at least until then.

Another thing - I searched for it for a while before I found it. I'd looked in a couple of drugstores and neither had it, so I was all set to get it at GNC for upwards of $25 a bottle. Then when I was searching for another multivitamin at Walgreens, I just happened to look up on the top shelf and there it was by Nature's Bounty, 60 capsules for only $10.49. BIG difference! So be sure to check your local stores before you pay too much at health product retailers.

Bootleg Fast Food & More

I was given this free eBook of copycat gourmet fast food recipes, so I'm putting it here as a free download. It's not diet, its not healthy, low fat, fat free, low calorie - nunna that! It's pure, delectable, luscious, indulgence - and I really got a hoot out of reading it! Actually, reading it didn't even make me want to eat any, it was just interesting to read the ingredients used to substitute for things like Krispy Kreme, and I could imagine how the recipe would turn out. Some things were hit and miss - like the KK one, you just can't duplicate that. But some others sounded like they might come close, like the Baby Ruth bars where you might get pretty close but at the worse, you'd end up with a bowl of delicious goop to eat with a spoon.

What I thought would be useful, is by seeing the actual ingredients (or impostor ingredients) of some of your favorites, you could figure out ways to substitute certain items for diet versions that fit within your eating plan, and end up with something you might love - and actually eat without guilt!

See the Free Download section to the left. I will add more free ebooks to this section soon.

low carb diet

Everybody do the MySpace spread!

No, its not a new dance or a hip hop dairy product - what I call the MySpace spread is what is commonly referred to as muffin top, its that roll of fat that curls out over the tops of your waistline when you're wearing pants, most notably, jeans. Why I call it the MySpace spread is because I don't remember this type of fat being around years ago - is it new and improved? I remember secretary spread all too well, which seemed to refer to an expanding butt and hips so that you appeared to be sitting down even when you were standing. And of course there's the regular hip and belly fat that's a little more uniform in its structure, you can successfully camoflauge all over that expansive area and nobody knows the wiser - they just think you like big clothes! But what is with all of these otherwise slim and shapely young women with that roll of flesh sticking out from under their tops, sitting above their pants? It seems to mostly afflict young girls between 13 and 22, and what's weird is that they will be mostly slim, flat stomachs, no visible body fat - except for this protruding roll. My daughter had it, and if I had to really guess, I'd say it started around the time she got her first computer, and I mean HERS, the one that went in her room so she didn't have to share and she could just sit there all day - which she pretty much did. Right after school, sometimes right before school, with snacks all around the desk.

I started noticing this fat start to form around her waist, and she noticed it too, but she would come into my room and turn sideways in front of the full length mirror and point out how flat her belly was - and it was oddly very flat, so this roll around her waist was just bizarre. From the side, she was in perfect shape, but from the back, she was...well, a muffin. One of those big ones with the glorious crowns. And nearly all of her friends had it too. That, coupled with the newest fashion trend of low rise jeans and short baby tees, was a disaster to behold. Then you go out in public and you see young women everywhere with the same roll peeking out from the same type of clothing, like it was some college initiation thing and you were walking around on this never ending campus.

I tried to reason that maybe it WAS the clothing that had become popular that just made the "muffin top" stand out more, whereas before, it was more cleverly concealed, but even as the styles relax a little and they return their waistbands to their actual waists - you can still see how the extra fat is causing a squarish look in the waist area.

The only thing I could figure was that with the popularity of MySpace, YouTube and LiveJournal and other such social sites, millions of young girls are spending upwards of six or more hours per day, sitting in their chair, typing furiously on the keyboard - and snacking. Unlike most adults who have to get up frequently and tend to the household, they have no such responsibilities, so they can sit there for hours and hours, and instead of spreading out the way "we" did in our day, for some reason, their body fat is stopping at the waist line and then forming. Could it be the ergonomic chairs that is keeping the fat from going below? The lack of trans fats in their snacks (which makes them taste like crap but gives the impression that you can eat more of them because suddenly they're healthy!) I can't figure that part out yet, because I think the snacks are probably still very much the same as they used to be, but I'll crack that code eventually.

This year is my daughter's Sophomore year in high school so she's suddenly discovered that she's beautiful and that boys are pretty hot! So even though she still spends way too much time on the computer, she started running and cutting back on sugar and snacks, and every night I hear her in her room doing Turbo Jam or Pilates, and her MySpace spread is almost completely gone now. A lot of her friends have also lost theirs as they've joined cheerleading and various other sports, which all lead to less time sitting in those chairs.

I wonder if any of this is connected to the affordability of the unlimited text messaging packages? Because I've witnessed my daughter texting while on the treadmill, believe it or not, and a year ago, text messages were still like too expensive to do so frivolously but now almost everyone can text all day and all night - and they do. But at least they're not sitting down all day. And we got the Wii system which turned video gaming into a virtual workout session.

Hmmmm, I wonder what the next phase will be and how it will shape us?

low carb diet

LC Product Reviews, continued

Finishing up my reviews from yesterday before I got sleepy:

Tumaros Low Carb Wraps: I began replacing bread for wraps as a result of my low carb diet, but years later, even when I'm not seriously committed to my diet, I still reach for a wrap before bread. But some of the wraps out there are just as bad as white bread, and even worse! If you're eating in a restaurant, you may not have any idea of what type of wraps they are using so you can't automatically assume that just because you ordered a wrap with turkey and lettuce that you've done a great thing. And a lot of the LC wraps are just gross, period, so if I'm going to enjoy my meal, I'll just up the fiber and carbs a bit and go for these Tumaros Low Carb Wraps in Sun Dried Tomato & Basil or Spinach. The Multigrain one is just a bit too grainy for me, but these two have a great flavor and texture and they hold up well under my toppings. I've had some wraps where, once the fillings are gone, I leave shreds of the wrap on my plate, but these, I will still nibble on the edges because they're actually GOOD. They also have a Green Onion, Pesto & Roasted Garlic, Salsa, Chipotle Chili & Peppers, and Jalapeno & Cilantro!!! Just typing that has my mouth watering. But my local store, at least the only one I go to, never has all of the flavors so I haven't been able to try them. I might have to order them online. There's a different brand of LC wraps at Sam's Club that's really low in carbs, but they're really moist and sweaty, yuck. And they taste dough-y. If you're not going to enjoy what you're eating, what's the point?


Taco Shells: It's hard to replace the good old taco with any substitutes, so you really have to come correctly if you want me to give up my Old El Paso shells. Tippy Rosa's were about as close as I have gotten in years, and I've tried a lot on recommendation - but that company had the nerve to close up shop and go out of business last year!! That's surprising since they were widely hailed as one of, if not THE best LC taco shells around. Still waiting to hear the truth behind that fiasco. So anyway, I had to find an alternative, and Rosie's Gold were filling that spot - then THEY went out of business too! I had heard that a lot of the LC products were being discontinued and its really disappointing that there aren't enough competitors stepping up to the plate. For now, I'm just using tortilla wraps and having soft tacos until I find something better.


Hard Cooked eggs: Eggs, the staple of the LC diet! And even though boiling them isn't really a big problem, I'm a sucker for convenience. If they make something that eliminates any portion of my work, I want it - in fact, I want TWO of it in case one breaks! So I dove for the small bag of pre-boiled AND preshelled eggs in the dairy section at the market. There were actually three brands, one was Bakersfield(?), Amish Farms and another one, so I guess it doesn't matter which one you get, after all, its an egg, you can't mess it up! It's one thing to sell me hardboiled eggs - but they peeled them too??? A product after my own heart, lol. I love that I can just grab two of these on my way out the door, and also with them already being peeled, you don't have that odor at your desk that emits from cracking the shell of a hard boiled egg, you can now eat in peace. I mean, sure, you could save the money and just boil your own and peel them before you leave home, but what fun is that? The price is comparable - they come in half dozen sizes for less than $2, I could probably spend that on two dozen regular eggs and get more Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi but it all balances out in the end. Since its a fairly new product, watch out for coupons and sale prices as they begin to push the market. I'm not recommending any particular brand since its nothing "new" but just look for them the next time you go shopping if you like the idea of buying them in this style.




Veggie chips: With people trying to avoid the dreaded potato chip, they're turning to what looks like a good alternative, the veggie chip. Hey, its a veggie, how can I go wrong? Blech. Okay, you're eating veggies, but read the label, they're greasy, high in sodium, and dont really taste all that great! You can psych yourself up to believe that they're every bit as tasty as a Lays, but its all in your mind. I was enthusiastic about these so I tried 4 different ones over the last few months, and only one of them made me want more - Roberts American Gourmet Original Veggie Chips. Given, there's slightly more than six brands on the market, but after I found one I could live with, I was happy. They could use a little more salt, but what I actually tried was dumping them all in a bowl and sprinkling seasoning salt on them. That was good. If I had a dehydrator, I'd just make my own and salt them just right, then they'd be fresh and delicious. But doesn't the whole dehydration process take like 725 hours, even with the machine? Anyway, too much time, too much work. Since they've removed the trans-fat from Lay's, they no longer call my name when I walk past them, so there's no danger of me seeking comfort from them!

low carb diet

LC Product Reviews

I've tried a few new products lately and they were surprisingly good for the most part. They're not induction level low carb, but they're low enough and healthy enough to fit in with the LC lifestyle just the same. I'm doing more of a modified LC regimen at this point so I don't try to stick to extremely low levels but instead I choose higher fiber products, as shown below.

Chocoperfection: These bars are all the hype in the low carbing community, so I had to try them. Sugar free chocolate that won't give you the runs, won't cause cravings, and taste GOOD?? This couldn't be true! So I ordered them, waited anxiously for them to arrive, and somehow my kids got into them before I could. But that's really a testament to how they really taste because if the kids will eat them without gagging, then they must be good. I ordered dark chocolate as opposed to milk chocolate, because everything I read had the dark chocolate rating much higher for taste. I had just recently developed an appreciation for dark chocolate since I'd heard about its benefits, although, if I'm in one of my "not caring" modes or a freebie day, milk chocolate is still the king! You can eat an entire bar of this, which is amazing in itself. Mentally, it does something to you to have to always PORTION things off, so here you can relax and eat the whole candy bar - and its a normal size candy bar, not some little diet teeny weeny! My favorite way to eat them is with a handful of salted almonds, goodness, it's incredible. They can be a bit pricey so I highly suggest getting them from Netrition - and I'm not just saying that because I'm an affiliate for them! Compare the prices for yourself and see if Netrition doesn't have everyone else beat by at LEAST $6, and that's nothing to sneeze at!

Go Lean! by Kashi: No, they're not technically Low Carb, but they're high fiber and don't taste like wood chips. I'm not at all interested in their "slimming system" but I have this thing for granola in yogurt, and most everything else I've tried just didn't work. I tried Grape Nuts but they were like gravel, no matter how long they sat in the yogurt, they were rock hard. I tried various other cereals but they were either too flakey or just veered too far away from my eating plan as far as nutrients, price, or taste. Go Lean, to me, is as perfect as it gets when it comes to my beloved granola/yogurt fetish. They have a wonderful balance of chunk size so I can enjoy a handful as a snack - I always hate eating cereal between my fingertips! They're slightly sweet, with something like 7 grams of sugar, but I'm not even eating a cupful with my yogurt so I don't fret the small stuff.

Atkins Advantage Shakes: I have had these in the past but it was always a hit or miss kind of thing. I ordered a bunch of them after my surgery - again, cheaper from Netrition, they're $7.99 a pack at the store, only $6.25 each at Netrition with a flat $4.95 shipping, so I ordered 12 packs. Yes, 12!!! I was planning to drink only that, thinking that I would only be able to drink liquid for two weeks, but as it turned out, I was back to my normal eating habits rather quickly. So I ended up with a box full of shakes that I didn't feel like drinking -- so the kids started drinking them!!! They like them really cold, so I figured, I may as well get SOMETHING out of it since I bought them! They taste pretty good, I think. Compared to Slim Fast and EAS, I think these are my favorite. I prefer the basic flavors like Strawberry, Chocolate Royale and Vanilla, while my kids liked the Caramel Caffe Latte which is like a cold coffee drink. They seem to quell my hunger for a few hours but I couldn't subsist on these throughout the day, I'd definitely have to compensate at some point with a big meal.

Yogurts: I used to be hooked on the BlueBird Lite 85 line of Splenda based yogurts, but they seem to have disappeared from the stores in place of this Superfruit mess. Yuck.Y. I don't like them, don't like the gobs of fruit, don't like the packaging. I want my Lite 85 back. In the meantime, until BlueBird comes back to their senses, I've turned to store brand yogurts like Kroger Lite (fantastic flavor choices) and for my yogurt mix - plain whole milk Meijer brand yogurt! If you're a student of the yoggie revolution, you know all about the draining, the going through rolls of paper towels and pouring off the whey. Just messy. However, for some reason, the Meijer brand needs NO draining. It's so thick and rich that it has very little whey - now I don't know what that means as far as nutritional content or if that's going to make it spoil faster? But I know I'm really loving NOT having to drain and I can just open it, scoop, and mix, and I'm enjoying my yogurt. I have sugar free flavored syrups and Splenda that I mix in and I'm in heaven. The Meijer yogurt is HALF the price of Stoneyfield's which is actually my favorite tasting plain yogurt but at over $4.00 for 32 oz., we had to part ways when I found another. If you don't have a Meijer near you, you might want to check for your grocery store's brand and give it a try, you might be surprised at how it competes with the big pricey brands.

Tomorrow, I'll add two more reviews for the new prepackaged hardboiled eggs and a line of LC wraps that I've fallen for!

low carb diet

Just because its Natural, doesn't make it right

A lot of people are getting into holistic and herbal treatments for everything from skin care to weight loss, and they mistakenly assume that just because something says "all natural" that its safe, or better than another. I admit to falling for that sometimes, it just looks like it would be better, doesn't it?

My mom was big on herbalistic treatments and concoctions, but I didn't learn much about it. The one thing I did take with me was the fantastic healing properties of aloe vera gel. She would use it for everything, and it really is a miracle. So why don't I have any? Because like most other things, I know what's right, I just don't always practice it. Go figure.

Many herbs have a long history of use and of claimed health benefits. An herb, or botanical, is a plant or part of a plant that is used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties. Although they are ‘natural’, herbal products are not necessarily safe or without harmful effects. They may come from plants, but many plants are considered harmful and poisonous. Poison ivy is natural too!

Unlike prescription medicines, herbal products are not tested to certify their safety and efficacy before their marketing. Active ingredients in many herbal medicines and supplements are still unknown. Some have been found contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms or other substances. Without any safeguarding, you can't trust what the heck you're putting in - or on - your body.

Since herbal products are not tested, they may cause certain health problems/complications. It may not be wise to take herbal products if you have any of these medical problems/conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Thyroid problems
• Parkinson’s disease
• Blood-clotting problems
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Epilepsy
• Depression or psychiatric problems
• Liver problems
• Enlarged prostrate gland
• Glaucoma
• History of stroke or organ transplant

Women who are pregnant or nursing should be especially cautious about using herbal products, as well as with people who are about to have surgery. Always check with your health care provider, and do your own research before taking or using anything you're unfamiliar with. Outdated information might lead you to believe that something has been declared safe - and then new evidence may have surfaced that proves otherwise, so it pays to examine it closely, not just once but periodically, before you embark on any special types of treatments.
It is likewise important to consult with your doctor before using herbal products if you are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some herbal products are known to interact with medications in ways that may pose risks to your health.

low carb diet

Extreme Low Calorie Dieting

There's a lot of recent controversy over extremely low calorie diets, such as the Kimkins diet which is causing all kinds of problems in the low carb community. I'll elaborate more on this tomorrow as its very late and I just wanted to get some thoughts out there before I went to bed. But when I say 'low calorie', I'm referring to eating plans where you take in less than 1000 calories per day, and these can even go as low as 200 calories, if you can believe that. That's about the equivalent of two slices of bread, isn't it?

It's incredible, but some people are just that desperate to lose weight. Of course it works, if you stop eating, you'll lose weight, that's a no-brainer - but at what cost? Followers of the Kimkins plan are eating from 200-700 calories regularly and although they are pleased with their weight loss, they don't appear to be thinking logically about the long term effects of this type of dieting.

When I was recovering from my surgery, there were several days that I only drank water or nibbled pieces of cold soft fruit, or drank a shake. These days, I probably had less than 300 calories, but I knew it was temporary so I didn't fret too much over it. However, oftentimes when I stood up from sitting or laying, I was quite dizzy and weak and I could feel my heart beating in my EARS. It scared me, but I wrote it off to the Vicodin I was taking around the clock. Now, with all that I've been reading at this site Kimkins Survivors, I realize that it was likely more closely related to my not having enough food in my system. But I was able to convince myself it was temporary and no big deal - which is what desperate dieters do as they ignore the dangerous warning signs that their bodies want FOOD. Kimkins members even celebrate this unhealthy state by coining the phrase SNATT (for slightly nauseous all the time), apparently, over time, this produces some state of euphoria similar to what hunger strikers feel when they reach the point that they're no longer hungry.

A very sobering realization is that most of us have the choice to eat so we don't have to suffer - but so many people in the world don't have a choice, and they live with hunger daily. In a future entry, I'm going to focus on some of the ways we can help ease hunger in the world for those that don't have a choice.

Tomorrow, I'll present some facts about calorie restriction and the minimums that our bodies need to stay healthy. We get so caught up in trying to be beautiful, but we've got to be safe too. I think we as women fall into this trap probably more than men, but they are certainly slaves to the same mindset.

low carb diet

Walk it Out!

Walking is the natural means of transportation for most every living thing - except those that crawl on their bellies because they have no legs, lol. However, with today’s society full of vehicles, walking has become the thing you do for exercise, not because you have to get somewhere. Whenever I put on my shoes to go walking, my kids ask me - are you working out? Well, what if I was actually going to the store? Is that so unheard of? Not only would we save oodles of money on gas if we walked more, but the inches would drop off so quickly and easily that you wouldn't FEEL like you'd been trying.

Walking has numerous other benefits in our lives. Besides being cheap, almost free, save for the cost of good walking shoes, but really, you can get started walking with just about any pair of comfortable shoes. The hardest part is getting started, if you've been the type that would rather not go anywhere if you had to walk. The weird thing though is that once you start, you won't want to stop!

Health Benefits
Walking is a cardio vascular workout that can help reduce your risk of heart disease; aids in alleviation of depression and lower back pain; increase your muscular strength; improve coronary condition; reduce risks of infection and hypertension; aids in maintaining a healthy weight; and curbs the decrease in bone density. Likewise, it also helps in maintaining flexibility and coordination hence, reducing the risk of falls. Like almost all forms of exercise, it adds better health, zest and longevity to your life.

If its not too hot outside and you can walk to work, you'd feel better at the end of the day. Hard to believe because you're thinking of how exhausted you'll be - but the opposite is actually true. The first few days might wear you out, but after you get into the groove of it, you'll have MORE energy at the end of the day.

Social and Economic Benefits
Aside from the obvious health benefits, walking can also have a very large social and economic impact in today’s society.

In comparison to the cost of operating a car, which is approximately 5,170 dollars a year, walking will cost you little or nothing.

In addition to this, walking alone will also give you more time to spend some time with self and THINK, ponder what's going on in your life and come up with solutions - without the distraction of a car radio or other people in the car talking to you, or worrying about traffic jams. Walking has been shown to improve self-esteem, relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improve mood. Walking, particularly in pleasant surroundings, and also with other people, offers many opportunities for relaxation and social contact.

Environmental Benefits
Moreover, walking is the only form of transportation that will not contribute to air pollution and oil consumption.

Motor vehicle emissions represent 31% of total carbon dioxide, 81% of carbon monoxide, and 49% of nitrogen oxides released in the United States alone, and thus create 60 percent of air pollution. Although individual cars are much cleaner today than they were in the past, now our focus has turned to ways to reduce oil consumption, and less driving is one of the best - if not THE best way - to contribute to this reduction worldwide. Cars and trucks burn millions of barrels of oil, a non-renewable energy source, everyday. If total traffic continues to grow, overall air quality will also continue to deteriorate.

Transportation Benefits
Walking will not contribute to traffic and requires less space than automobiles. Moreover, it reduces the risk of vehicular accidents on the road. Walking can help to reduce roadway congestion. Many streets and highways carry more traffic than they were designed to handle, resulting in wasted time and energy, pollution, driver frustration, and gridlock. Not to mention deterioration of the roads themselves, leading to more damage to the cars, and more county resources to repair the roads - and THEN you get a rate increase in your taxes to pay for the roads that we've destroyed by driving so much! See how its a vicious cycle???

But now I'm thinking - what if half of the people in my city start walking tomorrow? Will the sidewalks be able to handle all of the traffic? Will we start bumping into each other and develop a new sort of "sidewalk rage"? Because I know when I'm walking, I usually have to move over for others, especially people on bikes (which I'll write about later, the benefits of biking, lol), so I can imagine what it would be like if there was actually TRAFFIC on the sidewalks!! I guess that's normal in some cities like NY, but in smaller cities, it would be a totally new experience!

Oh well, either way, walking could only enhance our lives, we just need to find where and when we can fit it into our lifestyles.

low carb diet