Beauty

[just bee]

BH was online the other night reading about people's love of a well-known frozen pizza.  Strangely, BH had never heard of it before.  Similarly, he noticed one of the candies in the bag that I take to work to keep the community candy jar full.  He was intrigued and tasted it.  I heard him gagging and stopped what I was doing to investigate.

Turned out it was a piece of salt water taffy.  He'd never had it and had never even heard of it.  Let's just say he doesn't care for it.

Just when I thought my suspicions had been confirmed (BH is from another planet), I saw a coworker staring at the candy jar.  He hadn't ever tried salt water taffy, either.  Asked me what it was, then tried a piece.  A much different reaction: He loved it.

Well, now to my point.  Here's the list of ingredients of the popular frozen pizza.

Enriched Flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Water, Tomato Puree (water, tomato paste), Imitation Mozzarella Cheese (water, palm oil, rennet casein, modified potato starch, vegetable oil, potato starch, sodium aluminum phosphate, potassium chloride, salt, citric acid, potassium sorbate [preservative], sodium phosphate, sodium citrate, titanium dioxide [artificial color], maltodextrin, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, riboflavin, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12), Cooked Chicken Pizza Topping Pork Added (sausage made with chicken pork added [mechanically separated chicken, pork, salt, spices, corn maltodextrin, caramelized sugar, dextrose, natural flavors], water, soy protein concentrate, textured vegetable protein [soy flour, caramel color], sodium phosphates), Vegetable Oil, Cooked Cured Pork Pizza Topping (Canadian style bacon water added [pork sirloin hips cured with water, sugar, salt, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, natural smoke flavor, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite], ground pork, water, sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite), Pepperoni Seasoned Pork, Chicken and Beef Pizza Topping (pork, mechanically separated chicken, water, soy protein isolate, beef, salt, Contains 2% or less of: pepperoni [pork, mechanically separated chicken, beef, salty Contains 2% or less of: spices, dextrose, pork stock, lactic acid starter culture, oleoresin of paprika, flavoring, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite, BHA, BHT, citric acid], spices, dextrose, oleoresin of paprika, sodium ascorbate, garlic powder, natural flavor, maltodextrin, sodium nitrite, lactic acid starter culture, BHA, BHT, citric acid). Contains less than 2% of: Rehydrated Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese (water, skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, citric acid, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin B6), Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Dry Yeast, Defatted Soy Flour, Spice, Dextrose, Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda, Beet Powder, Rehydrated Enzyme Modified Cheese (water, milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Sorbitan Monostearate, Natural Flavor, TBHQ (preservative), Ascorbic Acid.

WTF?

[aprilskies]

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@just bee wrote:

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@aprilskies wrote:

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Yesterday I had my first sweet in 4 days. I didnt even want it because I was going to wait until the super bowl to indulge but I was visiting relatives and it was coffee and dessert type of night. I just feel pressure in those situations but will start to manage those as well.  Anyway,  I didnt overdo it but the funny part is I didnt even enjoy it.  It almost tasted too sweet.  So, that was good.  I went home and exercised a bit. I wanted to combat the bad with the good. 

Keep up the great work. I have a little catching up to do. 

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@aprilskies 

YES!!!

That's the first thing you'll notice.  Things are suddenly too sweet or too salty.  What I notice when I eat something processed is this:

It tastes waxy.

I actually smell and taste something waxy.  It's like I'm eating a candle.

I first noticed this when I walked past a new pizza place that opened here.  You think I would have smelled oregano, garlic or dough baking in the oven.

No.  I just smelled wax.

I noticed the same thing when I walked past a certain sandwich shop chain.  All I smell is wax.

Even my Stella D'oro cookies that I recently rediscovered.  One variety in particular: The Margherite.

I won't buy them anymore.  It's like eating a crayon.

Trust your senses.

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@just bee, yes isnt that something how tastes do change.  I was having chips for a few days at work instead of sweets and it dawned on me that they just tasted to salty. I finished them but....it might be easier than I think not to get them at lunch next time.

Yes, processed foods do start to feel just that, processed. But I will tell you the one Stella D’oro cookie I really like is called Angelina, Angelica, it is Angel something. But it almost tastes like a cookie I make.  I just limit buying them to when they are sale so it saves me from devouring packages of them. Great with coffees and teas, or just by themselves. 

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@aprilskies 

Is it Anginetti?

I only have access to three varieties -- well, now just two since I can't eat the Margherites anymore: Breakfast Treats and Lady Stella assortment.

BH and I are having this discussion with chips.  Too salty, too greasy, too expensive.

One thing to think about is reducing the amount of fried foods we eat.  Take some time away from them and see what happens when you go back.

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@just bee, Just looked them up, they are called Angelica. 

Uh, the Cape Cod Potato chips are coming up for sale at costco’s. I do like those.  I am going to do my best to leave them at the store.  That is a big bag and I can do the damage in no time at all. 

But yes, chips are starting to feel just as you mentioned, too salty or greasy. But I think everything is getting too expensive. 

[just bee]

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@aprilskies 

Is it Anginetti?

I only have access to three varieties -- well, now just two since I can't eat the Margherites anymore: Breakfast Treats and Lady Stella assortment.

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@just bee, Just looked them up, they are called Angelica. 

Uh, the Cape Cod Potato chips are coming up for sale at costco’s. I do like those.  I am going to do my best to leave them at the store.  That is a big bag and I can do the damage in no time at all. 

But yes, chips are starting to feel just as you mentioned, too salty or greasy. But I think everything is getting too expensive. 

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@aprilskies 

OMG.  I just looked them up, too, and I see that they are similar to the Margherites, but taste like vanilla and orange.  Wow.  That sounds like it would be right up my alley.

I like Italian cookies because they're like a cross between two of my favorites: Traditional cookies and dog biscuits.

Watch out for Costco.  Those big bags of Kettle chips are dangerous, too.  Discipline is a tricky thing.  Remember my addiction to white cheddar popcorn?  People have been bringing popcorn to work -- all varieties and the white cheddar.

I haven't touched it.  It's crack.  If I just try a little I'll be buying the big bags again.  And I'll be scraping that waxy white cheddar stuff off my fingers.

[just bee]

I have West Side Story on.  The rumble's ready to start.  Gotta make more tea...

[AuntG]

Financial Freedom February.  This is the month when I use all my Christmas gift cards (restaurant, grocery, pharmacy and gas station). My end of month budget book should only show my utilities. My Qcard wouldn't have a due date until March so I'm thinking I won't have to write a check out for it either this month.

[geezerette]

I'm somewhat echoing @AuntG.    

Fiscal (and Physical) February.

I did well on curtailing my discretionary spending in January.  When I figured out my monthly outgo yesterday I was rather surprised it was as high as it was--until I realized it was one of those months that my largest credit card ended up getting paid twice in the same month.  So I had some December charges included when I did buy a few unnecessary extras.  That made me feel better.  All the credit cards are paid, meaning no outstanding charges for any orders not yet in their systems.  No orders in the pipeline to be delivered.  So I want to see if I can make the whole month of February with no charges--well, except for normal expenses like gas or automatic payments.

Several of you are concentrating on HEP.  I am too.  I did slip up last month a couple of times with the sweets, but I forced myself to get back on track within the next days instead of crying defeat like I usually do and just continue eating junk.  

For me, probably the biggest problem is refined sugar.  And yes, too much of it can cause joint pains.  A lot of joint pain is from inflammation, which can be caused by refined sugar.  (Not trying to diagnose anyone here.)   My body is riddled with inflammation and arthritis, which is why I have so many pains.  So I've literally been making myself sick for years.  

My best route on eating is making it myself.  All those artificial ingredients and additives make me ill.  I still eat fried foods, but I use olive oil at a low heat.  I'm replacing at least some of the chips with real potatoes.  

As much as I hate to admit it, but much of what my mother used to say about eating a "balanced" meal was correct, at least for me.  I need a little meat/egg, veggies and some carbs.  Not necessarily at every meal, but every day.  I can't let myself get too hungry or I end up eating way too much and then feel sick.  I don't necessarily do the "three meals a day" thing, but I found an eating routine that seems to work for me.  Even then, like @aprilskies said, I have to watch how much I eat, portion my meals and only eat when I'm truly hungry or I just keep eating to excess, even the healthy stuff.

As for the physical part, I have to get off my tookus.  I won't be training for any marathons, but I've tried taking it easy the last few months and my body still hurts.  So, I have to get back to doing my stretching exercises regularly at the very minimum.  And I have to get back to using my rebounder regularly.  That helps keep the pounds off too.  Although I'm also not getting on the scale every day either.  Another thing I finally admitted to myself is that I'm not going to get back to the weight I want (and was years ago).  I can get within five pounds of that, though, if I watch what I'm eating and keep active.  Like the dog, I have a weight goal that I need to keep as I age.

Whatever type of February you're aiming for, I hope it will be Fulfilling for you!  👍🙂

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

BH was online the other night reading about people's love of a well-known frozen pizza.  Strangely, BH had never heard of it before.  Similarly, he noticed one of the candies in the bag that I take to work to keep the community candy jar full.  He was intrigued and tasted it.  I heard him gagging and stopped what I was doing to investigate.

Turned out it was a piece of salt water taffy.  He'd never had it and had never even heard of it.  Let's just say he doesn't care for it.

Just when I thought my suspicions had been confirmed (BH is from another planet), I saw a coworker staring at the candy jar.  He hadn't ever tried salt water taffy, either.  Asked me what it was, then tried a piece.  A much different reaction: He loved it.

Well, now to my point.  Here's the list of ingredients of the popular frozen pizza.

Enriched Flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Water, Tomato Puree (water, tomato paste), Imitation Mozzarella Cheese (water, palm oil, rennet casein, modified potato starch, vegetable oil, potato starch, sodium aluminum phosphate, potassium chloride, salt, citric acid, potassium sorbate [preservative], sodium phosphate, sodium citrate, titanium dioxide [artificial color], maltodextrin, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, riboflavin, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12), Cooked Chicken Pizza Topping Pork Added (sausage made with chicken pork added [mechanically separated chicken, pork, salt, spices, corn maltodextrin, caramelized sugar, dextrose, natural flavors], water, soy protein concentrate, textured vegetable protein [soy flour, caramel color], sodium phosphates), Vegetable Oil, Cooked Cured Pork Pizza Topping (Canadian style bacon water added [pork sirloin hips cured with water, sugar, salt, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, natural smoke flavor, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite], ground pork, water, sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite), Pepperoni Seasoned Pork, Chicken and Beef Pizza Topping (pork, mechanically separated chicken, water, soy protein isolate, beef, salt, Contains 2% or less of: pepperoni [pork, mechanically separated chicken, beef, salty Contains 2% or less of: spices, dextrose, pork stock, lactic acid starter culture, oleoresin of paprika, flavoring, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite, BHA, BHT, citric acid], spices, dextrose, oleoresin of paprika, sodium ascorbate, garlic powder, natural flavor, maltodextrin, sodium nitrite, lactic acid starter culture, BHA, BHT, citric acid). Contains less than 2% of: Rehydrated Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese (water, skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, citric acid, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin B6), Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Dry Yeast, Defatted Soy Flour, Spice, Dextrose, Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda, Beet Powder, Rehydrated Enzyme Modified Cheese (water, milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Sorbitan Monostearate, Natural Flavor, TBHQ (preservative), Ascorbic Acid.

WTF?

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@just bee 

WTF:  "Where's The Food?"  

[geezerette]

My decluttering for January was minimal, basically just odds and ends.  A few old and expired supplements, old shampoo and dog conditioner that I admitted I was never going to use up, a houseplant that's been on death's door for quite a few months and I just got tired of looking at it.  Etc.

I'm also going to toss the pants I'm wearing today when I take them off tonight.  They got a hole when I was trimming bushes.  It's a small hole, but I have so many pants just waiting to replace any of my around-the-house clothes that I'm tossing these.

I'm getting to see the usefulness of not stockpiling.  I bought a bottle of CeraVe recently and within a week was pulling it out to use because the bottle I was using was gone.  What a refreshing feeling.  What a novel idea--not buying something until you actually need it.  😄

Also, I used about half the box of Twinnings tea pods I have and was contemplating buying another box.  Nope, not gonna do it.  No more stockpiling those kinds of things.  I'm so happy I didn't.  My Keurig has been acting up lately and I never know when it's going to work and when it's not.  It's less than two years old and I have decided I have no intention of replacing it with anything.  I don't want to go back to fixing coffee (don't want to keep drinking it), and the tea pods, while tasting good, are expensive.  I can get tea bags for a fraction that taste just fine.  And it's just as easy to make as the pods.  The only reason I got the Keurig to begin with was for my friend, but she has gotten so busy she rarely has time to visit anymore anyway.  And I don't get any other company.  If I ever do, they can bring their own! 😉

I just hope it can hold out until I finish those tea pods!🤞😄

[just bee]

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@AuntG wrote:

Financial Freedom February.  This is the month when I use all my Christmas gift cards (restaurant, grocery, pharmacy and gas station). My end of month budget book should only show my utilities. My Qcard wouldn't have a due date until March so I'm thinking I won't have to write a check out for it either this month.

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@AuntG 

Good one!

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

I'm somewhat echoing @AuntG.    

Fiscal (and Physical) February.

I did well on curtailing my discretionary spending in January.  When I figured out my monthly outgo yesterday I was rather surprised it was as high as it was--until I realized it was one of those months that my largest credit card ended up getting paid twice in the same month.  So I had some December charges included when I did buy a few unnecessary extras.  That made me feel better.  All the credit cards are paid, meaning no outstanding charges for any orders not yet in their systems.  No orders in the pipeline to be delivered.  So I want to see if I can make the whole month of February with no charges--well, except for normal expenses like gas or automatic payments.

Several of you are concentrating on HEP.  I am too.  I did slip up last month a couple of times with the sweets, but I forced myself to get back on track within the next days instead of crying defeat like I usually do and just continue eating junk.  

For me, probably the biggest problem is refined sugar.  And yes, too much of it can cause joint pains.  A lot of joint pain is from inflammation, which can be caused by refined sugar.  (Not trying to diagnose anyone here.)   My body is riddled with inflammation and arthritis, which is why I have so many pains.  So I've literally been making myself sick for years.  

My best route on eating is making it myself.  All those artificial ingredients and additives make me ill.  I still eat fried foods, but I use olive oil at a low heat.  I'm replacing at least some of the chips with real potatoes.  

As much as I hate to admit it, but much of what my mother used to say about eating a "balanced" meal was correct, at least for me.  I need a little meat/egg, veggies and some carbs.  Not necessarily at every meal, but every day.  I can't let myself get too hungry or I end up eating way too much and then feel sick.  I don't necessarily do the "three meals a day" thing, but I found an eating routine that seems to work for me.  Even then, like @aprilskies said, I have to watch how much I eat, portion my meals and only eat when I'm truly hungry or I just keep eating to excess, even the healthy stuff.

As for the physical part, I have to get off my tookus.  I won't be training for any marathons, but I've tried taking it easy the last few months and my body still hurts.  So, I have to get back to doing my stretching exercises regularly at the very minimum.  And I have to get back to using my rebounder regularly.  That helps keep the pounds off too.  Although I'm also not getting on the scale every day either.  Another thing I finally admitted to myself is that I'm not going to get back to the weight I want (and was years ago).  I can get within five pounds of that, though, if I watch what I'm eating and keep active.  Like the dog, I have a weight goal that I need to keep as I age.

Whatever type of February you're aiming for, I hope it will be Fulfilling for you!  👍🙂

---

@geezerette 

I think I'd mentioned that we saw some old friends of ours recently (they had been driving by the house hoping they'd see us) and one of those friends was diagnosed with MS several years ago.  The last time we saw her she wasn't doing well at all.

Well now she looks great.  What did she do?  Radically changed her diet.  She's eating organic meats, no gluten, and she cut the sugar and dairy.  She's drinking powdered goat's milk.  She's changed the way she cooks and uses different spices and seasonings.

Whatever she's doing is making a difference.

I have another friend with MS and she's going through a bad patch.  Medications aren't helping.  Maybe what she needs is a change in diet.