A Shocking Discovery Unwrapped in Holiday Snack Food

Unwelcome Presents in Snack Food Ingredients

I am so bummed about Bugles!

I used to love this snack food as a child but seldom eat them these days. Most of the time I come across Bugles is around the Christmas as a party snack food.





Reading food labels has been a habit for me for the last 1-2 years, and I decided to take a peek at the Bugles label. I was mainly looking for the usual things such as

• Serving size 
• Calories per serving 
• Fat per serving 
• Fat content - saturated vs unsaturated 

Bugles didn't show me much that I didn't already expect such as a calorie content of 160 calories per 30 gram serving. Why don't the companies quantify in # of Bugles in a serving? It's a major hassle to weigh out chips on a kitche scale. I suspect that the serving size is around 12 to 15  Bugles based on some other chip labels that do give chip counts per serving.

However, the biggest surprise for me were the ingredients list in Bugles. The two main ones that caught my eye were

• Degermed yellow cornmeal 
• BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) 

The degermed cornmeal is basically the same a white flour. It is cornmeal stripped of all the fiber. I'm sure the glycemic index for it is higher than less processed cornmeal.

BHT is a preservative, not unexpected. I recognize toluene as a chemical compound from college organic chemistry, and it is not something that I would ever want to eat especially knowing now that  embalming fluid and jet fuel also contain BHT.

Sadly, Bugles and I must part ways now. I ate my last chip yesterday. The lesson that I learned again yesterday and share here is the lesson to always read labels not only for servings and calorie information but also to investigate what you are eating. 

I intend to eat less processed foods, foods without perservatives, and more whole grains this coming New Year. How about you?

Better Health: A 2012 Family Christmas Gift

Make Health your 2012 Family Gift 

The highest goal of a parent or grandparent is preparing our children for a life more successful and abundant than the life we live. Health should be considered one of the most important signs of success in life. As you and your family celebrate Christmas and the holidays, commit to gifting you and your family with the gift of better health in 2012.

Decades of medical research demonstrates a strong link between obesity and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. It is a fact that these conditions will appear in many
adults as we age. Many adults require medications to treat these life-threatening conditions. Yet, medications are the main method that should be used to control obesity-related problems. A more healthy lifestyle is a factor that all people can employ to improve type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure, and reverse obesity.




Begin your Family Christmas Gifts that will lead to better health for all in 2012 right now. These are simple yet powerful suggestion that will benefit everyone in the family.

Commit to Healthy Eating 

Buy freshly grown foods and seek well-balanced food choices. Make it a point to eat family meals together as often as possible. Eat healthy foods with your family and be the leader in trying new foods. Choose reasonable size food portions.

Eliminate routine snacks and look for healthy snacks without hydrogenated oils, white flour, or corn syrup.  Avoid using sweets as rewards.

Exercise Together

Exercise doesn't mean weight lifting or running on the treadmill. A family game of basketball or a brisk walk are simple ways to get more exercise when done regularly. There is a variety of other fun and inexpensive ways to stay active such as jumping rope, making an obstacle course, or climbing on a playground jungle gym that helps to develop strong muscles and burn calories.

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Heart Health Begins Early

High cholesterol and artery inflammation seen in young
overweight children 

Will today's pre-schoolers be heart patients in their 20s? 


A recent medical research study showed alarming findings. Overweight kids who participated in a national health screening had blood markers linked to heart disease.

The health survey showed abnormal cholesterol levels and levels of substances linked to inflammation and  blood vessel damage.

While this study doesn't mean that damage is definite or that a heart attack is around the corner, the study does have some important implications. As parent's it is vital to care for our children's health. Childhood obesity is linked with a number of health problems including high blood pressure, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, and hip problems. The toll of prolonged time at an unhealthy weight will eventually catch up and impact a child's health in young adulthood.

Beginning a family-wide change in diet and fitness is the best Christmas present that a parent can do for themselves and their overweight children.

"Skinny Vinny" in the News

Vinny Hickerson gains new fame after Biggest Loser

Vinny came close but didn't win a prize on the Biggest Loser. However, the fame and recognition he achieved from the show's appearance has given him a new label as a handsome guy. 


Vinny was one of the most likeable, if not the most likeable, on BL Season 12. The publicity he got from appearing on the show will undoubtedly help him with a career in music.




Ultimately, the health and new life that he gained from the show is a greatest "prize" that he won. I wish him the best and hope he gains and progresses with more success in his life.

Biggest Loser Season 12 Finale Summary

Congratulations to John Rhode for winning season 12. Below are the stats on the players. I want to dig into the stats a bit more in future posts.



FINAL THREE 



John Rhode Age 40
Starting Weight: 445
Weight at finale: 225

Total weight loss: 220 -  49.4%




Antone Davis Age 44
Starting Weight: 447
Weight at finale: 245

Total weight loss: 202 -  45.2%



Ramon Medeiros Age 27

Eliminated week 10, qualified by winning marathon
Starting Weight: 355
Weight prior to finale: 245
Weight at finale: 201


Total weight loss: 154 -  43.4%



AT HOME FINAL THREE 




Jennifer Rumple Age 39
Eliminated Week 6
Starting Weight: 330
Weight prior to finale:228
Weight at finale: 185
Total weight loss: 145 -  43.9%





Vencent "Vinny" Hickerson Age 27


Eliminated Week 11
Starting Weight: 426
Weight at finale: 242

Total weight loss: 184 -  43.2%



Patrick Ferrari Age 26
Eliminated Week 3
Starting Weight: 387
Weight prior to finale: 296
Weight at finale: 236
Total weight loss: 151 -  39%







OTHER ELIMINATED PLAYERS

Week 1 


Deborah "Debbie" Lounds Age 60
Starting Weight: 239
Weight prior to finale: 215
Weight at finale: 206
Total weight loss: 33 -  13.8%

Week 2 



Ohn "Johnny" Forger Age 65
Starting Weight: 328
Weight prior to finale: 269
Weight at finale: 231
Total weight loss: 97 lbs - 29.6% loss


Week 4 

Mike Danley Age 62
Starting Weight: 309
Weight prior to finale: 239
Weight at finale: 223
Total weight loss: 86 -  27.8%

Week 5 

Courtney Rainville Age 24
Starting Weight: 270
Weight prior to finale: 205
Weight at finale: 183
Total weight loss: 87 -  32.2%

Week 7 


Jessica Limpert  Age 26
Starting Weight: 254
Weight prior to finale: 185
Weight at finale: 174
Total weight loss: 84 -  33.1%

Week 8 

Joe Mitchell Age 46
Starting Weight: 348
Weight prior to finale: 230
Weight at finale: 215
Total weight loss: 133 -  38.2%

Week 9

Bonnie Griffin Age 63
Starting Weight: 254
Weight prior to finale: 186
Weight at finale: 177
Total weight loss: 77 -  30.3%


Week 11

Sunny Sinclair Age 41
Starting Weight: 277
Weight prior to finale: 181
Weight at finale: 171
Total weight loss: 106 -  38.3%


Week 12


Rebecca "Becky" Comet Age 51
Starting Weight: 238
Weight prior to finale: Sorry didn't record this info
Weight at finale: 150
Total weight loss: 88 - 37% loss

Marathon and one week until finale

Biggest Loser Season 12 marathon start

I was really looking forward to the marathon after last week's program. The marathon does discriminate against older players as well as players with leg or hip injuries. Unfortunately, the hips, knees, and ankles will take a beating if you're obese. This season's contestants have shown that to be true.

I hope that they continue the marathon concept tradition with subsequent shows. I like the concept that a person can be eliminated and work hard at home to regain a spot. Perhaps, they can create a multiple challenge that includes weight loss, knowledge, and physical challenge as a pathway to the finale.

Ramon won the marathon and joined two others for the finale. He has shown great effort this season; however, he is a long-shot for winning. It will be interesting to see what becomes of his relationship with Jessica in the future. Will it endure after all the Biggest Loser attention fades?

"Crazy Courtney" made an appearance in the marathon and again showed her hang-up for Bob Harper. She seems to have continued with weight loss, and I'm glad to see the stress fracture has healed. I'm sure she will offer some great material next week with the finale. Will Bob need a restraining order in the future?

Boston Johnny's alter-ego

It was fun to see Boston Johnny (aka Burgermesiter Meisterburger) in the marathon. It took him and Debbie over 12 hours to finish it, but they did finish - what heart, what optimism!

And speaking for heart and competition - what about Coach Mike. The guy finished in 9th or 10th place!

ELIMINATION

Becky did not deliver weight loss at the final weigh-in - only lost 10 lbs since going home. She strongly demonstrates the challenge that all players (really everyone who is on a weight loss journey) faces when living "real life".

The competition between Antone and John will be great. I personally like Antone, and I hope he wins. However, I suspect John will be the more likely winner. However, I agree with Dolvett that it is likely that John will regain his weight. I think he is still a wounded person who needs balance and healing in his life.

Update on at home player

I was searching news on Biggest Loser and came across a story on Joe Mitchell who was eliminated in week 7. He is working hard for the at home prize.