There are a few things you can do to help this statistic, of course.

1. Open your windows.
2. Use safer cleaning products.
3. Eat more fruits and veggies. (Since I've been back on the South Beach Diet, I think I've eaten about 20 servings of veggies per day.)
4. Use sunscreen.
5. Get regular exercise.

So, my friends. What do you think of this statistic? Do you think it is reflective of us having a higher level of stress, or indoor air, or sitting on our butts too much?

I'd love to know your thoughts.

Nicole

Kelly asked…. “What are your thoughts on sugar and caffeine? Good, bad or you don’t care?

Hey girlfriend. Sorry it took so long to reply. I've had a heck of a sore throat this week. I think it's nothing but allergies, but it's making me just curl up on the couch watching HGTV much this week.

This “gimme” question is actually a tough one for me. On a recent blood test, my doctor thought I might be pre-diabetic. This would make perfect sense since every time I do the South Beach Diet, I drop 10 lbs in a week, so a low-glycemic diet might actually be what my body needs.

I'm straying from your question a bit, because, this also fits with that food plan I promised to tell you about. This would be a really cool idea for a Work at Home Mom to start if she had access to a restaurant kitchen.

I'm getting my meals delivered from a company called Fitness Solutions Now. The food is made locally and I pick it up every Saturday. I get 20 meals per week, which is 5 days worth of food. I eat every 3 hours and it's working quite well. I'm still exercising every morning, too, but I hadn't been losing at all doing just that even though I eat a healthy diet — soo… this is working much better. Plus, while Joe coaches football, I am pretty close to a single mom, so having my food ready in the fridge makes my crazy week a little more manageable.

My gym said that your weight is decided 20% by exercise and 80% by diet, so I though that was interesting. The funny thing is that I'm eating a LOT more than I used to on this meal plan, and I've lost 5% body fat in under a month. So, obviously it's helping my metabolism to speed up and burn my food more efficiently.

So, to make a short story long… I do try to avoid sugar as much as possible, including fruit. If I do crave sugar or fruit, I make sure to get it in before 10 am so it's not spiking my blood sugar while I'm inactive at night or in bed. (Of course, my wine has sugar, but I'm not giving it up!)

Caffeine doesn't bother me much, although our mutual friend, Diana, has shared some interesting information about it that has made me try to limit my caffeine intake, as well.

The thing that I'm still confused about is the talk about how artificial sweeteners are bad for you, too. Diana has an interesting post about that, too. I'm undecided in that, other than the fact that I won't give it to my kids, so, maybe I shouldn't be drinking it myself. (Otherwise, I feel like a hypocrite when they ask and I say “No, it's bad for you” and I keep drinking it.)

So, that's my answer, girlfriend.

I know I've been pretty tough on you with my questions, so here's an easy one for you…

What's your favorite TV show these days? And, what do you do for fun?

Talk soon, my friend.

N

(Keep an eye on Kelly’s blog for her reply.)