You've got to love chemical thermodynamics... (and a Diet Cook button??)

I am trying to read through my chemical thermodynamics text book before my class starts this fall (the class with the very difficult professor). During my reading, while attempting to stay awake, I read the following passage and cracked up laughing. I could not believe what I had just read. Since the passage references exercise and dieting (sort of), I just had to share it with you all.

Excercise is great for improving muscle tone and thereby firming up sagging tissues, but exercise is not an effective way to lose weight. A 1-hour brisk walk over average terrain consumes only about 580 kJ of stored energy, which corresponds to about one-fifth of hte energy content of a quater-pound hamburger on a roll. The two most effective weight reduction exercise are (1) the isometric exercise in which the teeth are tightly clenched in the presence of fattening foods and (2) the two-handed pushaway from the dinner table before the second helping or the dessert arrives. The energy values of some common foods are given in Table 7-4. The message is that calories (or better, kilojoules) count. (from Chemical Thermodynamics, Peter A. Rock, copywrite 1983).

AMAZING!


One other thing that has cracked me up, which I wanted to share with you all. On the microwave at work there is a "Diet Cook" button. I was quite perplexed by this, and my conclusion was that it only cooked half of your food forcing you to eat less. I finally Googled the manual and found out it is for lower calorie TV dinners. Apparently the regular frozen food button is not idea for diet frozen food. Interesting...

The gym this week has been great. Caitlin and I have done our weight work-outs, but have slacked on the cardio. The weight work-outs have felt really good at least. We also changed up the way we're doing the plank, which seems to hurt even more (no pain no gain!). We do a one minute plank on our elbows then move up to being on our hands (push-up position) for another minute. Eventually we are also going to add lifting each leg for 30 seconds, but my dear friend accidentally dropped a knife on her foot and putting too much pressure on that foot is painful. Next week I am house and dog sitting for someone on top of studying for a test to get a license for work. We will probably not go to the gym in the mornings due to my having to let the dog out on a schedule, but we plan to both work-out at home.

I have more London pictures, which I will try to upload tonight. I am spending tomorrow and Sunday painting! Chris and I painted last weekend after we bought new bedroom furniture. I can't wait for it to arrive! I hope you all have a very Happy 4th of July! I'm looking forward to hanging out with my dad's family.