Be Nice To Me, I Just Gave Blood.

Last night I stopped by a local school and donated a pint of the red stuff. I've donated a few times before, and I'll be donating more in the future. It's probably one of the easiest and most genuine ways to do a good deed.

It usually takes about a half-hour from start to finish and when you're done, you get some time at the cookie and juice table. There's nothing like chipping in to save a few lives to make apple juice and oatmeal raisin cookies taste so good.

In case you were wondering, 60% of the population will need blood at some time in their lives, but less than 5% of the population donates on a regular basis. One pint of blood can be broken down into several components, which means that a single donation can save up to three lives.

As a secondary benefit, some studies show that if men give blood three times a year, they can reduce their blood's iron content and lower their own risk of heart attack by as much as 50%. So, yay for that too.

If you're in the New York/New Jersey area, you can find more info about blood drives (including drives in your area) at the New York Blood Center.

If you're not in New York or New Jersey, check out the American Red Cross at givelife.org.

Thanksgiving Math

Half a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy: 380 calories

Half a plate of stuffing: 470 calories

Half a plate of turkey (3 halves? Hey, it's a big plate): 560 calories

Generous slice of pumpkin pie, with a few cookies on the side: 520 calories

Starting an Afterburn workout program NOW and losing 16-32 pounds of fat in 16 weeks: Priceless (Well okay, it's $59.99, but the life-changing results are priceless. Consider it an early holiday gift to yourself.)


Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

How Boring Is Your Food?

Everyone can appreciate a great meal with bountiful flavors that explode on your palate like taste-bud-sized firecrackers, but unfortunately, some of the most flavorful foods won't always fit into a targeted nutrition plan.

This is especially noticeable when we're reducing calories...the old "cardboard-flavored rice cake syndrome." But everyone can usually figure out at least one meal that they can "tolerate", if not downright enjoy, even when dieting.

Maybe it's scrambled egg whites and turkey in a whole wheat wrap, maybe it's oatmeal and a scoop of chocolate protein powder. For me, it's two whole eggs, 3/4 cup red beans (from a can, thoroughly rinsed), and 1/3 cup grated cheese, all scrambled together. No doubt, I could eat that five times a day. It is yummy for my tummy.

But I digress... or do I? Generally, the more simple you make your nutrition plan, the more likely you are to stick with it.

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek,wrote a great entry in his blog about this topic. I'm not loving the title of his piece, "How to Lose 20 lbs. of Fat in 30 Days...Without Doing Any Exercise", but the content is 100% solid.

Ferriss' basic plan...
Rule #1: Avoid “white” carbohydrates.

Rule #2: Eat the same few meals over and over again.

Rule #3: Don’t drink calories.

Rule #4: Take one day off per week.

That second rule, especially, can be a great advantage. Figure out one or two meals you love that fit into your program, and make them cornerstones of your daily plan. Read over Tim's blog for more details.