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June 11, 2006
The Average Weight of An Almond Is 1.2 Grams
Little MR writes:
I hate to tell you, but to most people, weighing every little thing you eat and eating an exact number of calories a day would seem weird. My five minute a day diary regimen seems wacky enough to most people.
That's true, to most people, that would seem weird. That's fine with us! We are not doing this to impress anyone. We are doing it to slow our biological aging. We're weird, we're okay with that. MR really does eat 1913 a day, and he weighs everything. He doesn't estimate that a head of lettuce = x calories, he actually weighs it and puts it into software. It doesn't take very long at all, as our other commenter pointed out... no longer than cooking by recipies out of a cookbook. A lot less time than making the gourmet meals that my father and step-mother often cook. I weigh and measure everything except when I go out, when I am very aware that I am eating many more calories than when I eat my own food at home.
I have, however, determined the average weight of the Trader Joe's raw almonds, so I now count them out. But MR just proved yesterday that I was slightly off... 10 g was 6, not 8 almonds. I have a tiny baby scale that I carry around and can use when at work, and I also keep a measuring cup at work to measure my cup of nonfat plain yogurt on my lunch salad.
It's true -- we're unusual. I am used to being unusual. I'm a union organizer -- most people don't know that those still exist! I'm an assertive, aggressive woman -- that's weird! Haven't had a TV since 1986. I like skinny guys -- that's not exactly average. Being unusual is the norm for me, and MR is even weirder than I am.
Posted by april at June 11, 2006 6:45 AM
Comments
Hi April!
I know this is a sort of personal question, and only indirectly related to CRON practices, but I am doing research for my grad degree on media consumption and how it affects education in children and I wondered if you could tell me why you gave up TV in 1986?
Many of the people I have interviewed, as well as research articles and newsmedia articles, have mentioned that they lost weight as one benefit of giving up TV. (All those food and drink advertisements affect us whether we realize it or not, not to mention that if we are in front of the TV we most likely are not spending much time moving about or engaging in more productive activities) In my own life I have found that I sleep better and eat less when avoiding television viewing, not to mention that in grad school, I simply don't have time for much passive "entertainment".
Could you tell me a bit about the tv-less aspect of your life and what benefits and drawbacks (if any) that you have noted over the last 20 years?
Thanks so much!
Ariel G.
Posted by: Ariel Glenn at June 12, 2006 1:11 PM
Hi April,
My question is the same as Ariel. How do you survive without TV???
I find I can't live without one. But, conversely I am just like you; I do write everything down....what I wear, what I eat, to do lists, ect....
I must sleep with TV on and Mom, Dad, and sis are just like me, maybe it's an Italian thing. I can totally foresake a beautiful beach day for an all day couch movie day. I love TV, I am very entertained by it.
I do hit the gym 3-4 time a week...so I don't think I'm a couch potato and I work 55 hours a week. I think TV is a source of relaxation for "me" because I run the rat-race all week.
CR - new person
Carmela :)
PS - I saw the TV clip with you and MR. I think you guys are very normal people, you just want to detail your food intake and you are willing to take that extra step.
Posted by: Carmela at June 14, 2006 6:30 PM
Hi April
I also don't watch TV. I didn't grow up with it because of bad reception where I grew up. Then during college I didn't want the distraction. Then I find most of the content inane, and I'm too busy with my life.
April, your comments about how skinny guys in Brooks Brothers look hot is a cute comment. Maybe I should give Brooks Brothers another chance. They definitely have good quality clothes. Just conservative, though.
Cheers
Arturo
Posted by: Arturo Veve at June 17, 2006 1:09 PM