Thursday, March 28, 2013

Three Things Thursday

1. I had a dream last night about a 5 mile race I have coming up in May.  I dreamt that I ran it in 35:22 which is slower than the last two years I have ran it.  I was very very disappointed in my dream. I don't want to be slower!  Somehow I ended up third overall in the race, which that time would never allow.  It does make me more determined to work hard the next 6 weeks until the race!

2. I continue to be amazed at how many people think just because a food says it is "sugar free" means it is somehow okay to eat or better for you, or even good for you.  Most of the time it is empty calories and depending on what is making it sugar free it is BAD for you, especially for kids.

I already was mostly avoiding it, but after having a conversation with an ENT surgeon a couple weeks ago about it, I am now going out of my way to make sure my kids avoid it too. 

Aspartame has been linked to headaches, depression, mood disorders and increased hunger in kids. (source)  HERE is another great article talking about all the different kinds of non-natural sweeteners and problems associated with them.

I originally cut out artificial sweeteners when I was pregnant, but have become a little lax since.  They are in over 6,000 food products...including toothpaste and kids medicine.  So I think I will just try to keep it to a minimum and not bring anything into my house that say "sugar free" on it.

3. Last night when I got home from work it was BEAUTIFUL out.  A perfect spring evening.  Made me even crankier that they made us stay late at work to learn how to play get along with hard to get along with surgeons.  I really love my job and the people I work with, but I don't love staying late for things like that when they take away time from my family and playing outside in such beautiful weather. 

What is your take on artificial sweeteners?
Any race dreams lately?



20 comments:

  1. How about taking up your lunch hour to deal with employees that don't get along? Similar and just as annoying. I mean really, folks, grow the heck up!

    I'm all about real stuff--real butter, real sugar. I figure real is way better than the fake crap.

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  2. I use splenda now but hoping to convert to more of a natural sweetner. I know it is bad for me. I have tried not using as much. great post. I hate staying at work any longer than i have to.

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  3. Not a fan of artificial sweeteners, but I have to admit to drinking things that have them:( I need to get back to drinking just water, but sometimes I just want flavor! Hate staying late, especially if it's nice outside. Usually my "athletic" dreams are of me being in slow motion on the soccer field and everyone else going regular speed. I never get to the ball fast enough. Not sure what it means:/

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  4. I hate race dreams like that! They remind me of the typical "test" dream where you can't remember any answers on an important exam.

    Blech on the artificial sweeteners...really fascinating what it had to say on Splenda. I do use stevia and I am hoping it is ok?!

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  5. Once I linked artificial sweeteners (aspartame & sucralose) to my ongoing headaches, I cut them out of my family's diet, completely. It's frustrating how many products they get thrown in, though. Lately I've seen them in foods that aren't even labeled "Sugar Free" or "reduced sugar"!
    I love that your dreaming brain gave you a specific finishing time. lol.

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  6. We don't eat artificial sweeteners either. I think they taste horrible for one and I love real sugar :). We are cutting out HFCS food products now, too.

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  7. We avoid using artificial sweeteners too. I use regular sugar for baking and we use Stevia for our coffee. It's supposed to be all-natural and I haven't read anything bad about it.

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  8. I avoid artificial anything! Not always though - it does slip into my diet in the occasional processed food, and this is the reason I normally avoid them too. The closer food is to it's source, the better I reckon!

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  9. I've cut out sweetner in my coffee but still use sweetened creamer. Also cut out diet pop and sweet tea for lent. I haven't really missed them and won't ben going back to them any time soon. I know that I drink WAY too much Crystal Light but I'm going to have to change that. I'm starting a sugar detox Monday with no processed foods, added sugars, or artificial sweeteners.

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  10. I do my best to avoid artificial sweeteners - so not a fan of the taste!

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  11. No race dreams....yet. I am sure that they are coming soon! :/

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  12. all of those sugar free or low fat or fat free things scare me. Bring on the fat and real sugar! I prefer real ingredients over food scientist created things.

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  13. I'm with you on artificial sweeteners and aspartame does give me headaches. Ugh sorry you missed out on the beautiful afternoon. Hope for more afternoons you can enjoy to make up for it! :0)

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  14. I use Truvia if I'm sweetening my own stuff. At one point I switched to regular soda because I figured it was still better for me than the diet stuff...but yea I know neither of them is good for me. The main issue was when I did that I had like 1 soda a week...but then I started drinking more and had to switch back to diet due to calories. I'm back to trying to cut out soda all together again. So far so good, 4 days without one. I'm still alive :)

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  15. Ive never had a race dream. :) That one you had sounded interesting!

    Artificial sweetener. That stuff is just plain gross. I do not buy anything that contains aspartame, stevia, truvia (yes I know those *via's are "natural" but they also taste like crap) etx because they taste artificial, and like chemicals and leave an awful chemical coating in my mouth. GROSS.

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  16. It was exactly the same with me. I cut out artificial sweeteners when I was pregnant, and while I've relaxed that a bit since giving birth, I find that I really didn't miss them. I rarely consume it any more. The more I learn, the more they kind of freak me out!

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  17. SOOO true about artificial sweeteners. I used to use wayyyy too much splenda to try and cut calories and now I have finally kicked that chemical crap for good.

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  18. I always have race dreams and they are never good! Something always goes terrible wrong like I forget my SHOES or can't find the start.

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  19. I can't talk about articial sweetners as I'll get upset. Currently I use liquid Stevia in my coffee and for cooking its sugar in the raw or honey

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  20. Duh, sugar free is like if it says "lower in fat" or eating anything without the bread, instant health food! I have been pretty bad with artificial sweeteners and now that we are thinking about starting a family in a few years I want to cut down and eliminate them (which so far I have been!).

    Anxiety dreams are the worst. I have them about everything! Use that motivation to crush your race :)

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