Okay, I totally slipped and had some fast food recently. I don't feel that bad about it because I don't do it regularly but I will cop to it. However, my guilt isn't what I want to share about the experience . . .
So I walk in and there's this older white guy standing in front of the cash register. I ask him if he's in line. He shouts, "No, I already ordered. They're telling me I have to wait 15 minutes for some chicken."
I look behind the cash register and see a whole lotta chicken up there. I figured he must have ordered something special. So I ask what he ordered, so I don't order the same thing. He shouts again, "I just ordered some chicken! And they're telling me it's going to take 15 minutes! What the hell is that!"
At this point, one of the women behind the cash registers decides she has had enough of Old Man Chicken. "You know, sir, you don't have to be rude about it!"
This only eggs him on. "I shouldn't have to wait 15 minutes for my chicken! I just want my chicken. You need to have the chicken ready. This is dinner time, you all need to be prepared."
Another person behind the register interrupts him. "Look it's busy! We have a lot of orders!"
"That doesn't matter," says Old Man who is now actively gesturing and approaching the counter, "It doesn't take 15 minutes for some chicken!"
I of course am feeling a little guilty. Did my harmless question about his order poke the bear? Have I incited this riot?
The cashiers and the Old Man proceed to go back and forth for another minute or so, until the manager comes out. I wonder to myself where she has been this whole time as they have all been engaged in a rather loud argument. She appears scared.
Again the Old Man lodges his complaint: he does NOT want to wait 15 minutes for chicken.
The manager offers him his money back. He takes it, but proceeds to let the manager and the entire staff know that he is "going over their heads with this." He tells them he hopes they all get fired. They don't seem too concerned.
I guess the lesson I got from this experience is that not only are fast food restaurants bad for your diet, they're really bad in general.
Oh, and don't EVER make an old man wait 15 minutes for chicken.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
You Are Where You Eat
I have realized that one of the most powerful weapons against tempting foods is the nasty environments that often accompany them. Here are some places that have decent, but unhealthy, food that I will never go to again because the environment made me sick:
1. The Chicken and Waffles Place (Jack London Square, Oakland): So I've been here 3 times - the first 2 were okay, I had some good food. I think the name "chicken and waffles" automatically implies it didn't have a lot of healthy options so I don't think I have to go into detail on the food. Anyways, so the third time I'm there, we sit in a dirty booth, and it's the middle of the day so the daylight is shining brightly on the faded tapestries and questionable stains on our table. And the food just reflected this - everything just looked and tasted, well gross and unclean. I can never go there again and thinking about it makes me sick. I'm all about supporting Black-owned businesses but I think that it's better for my diet if I don't go there.
2. Taco Bell (Telegraph/West Grand, Oakland): One night I go, order my favorite (Mexican pizza) and bring it home, very excited. I eat Mexican pizza in layers - the first layer on top of the shell which is cheese and tomatoes, then the first layer of shell, then the meat and beans layer, and then the bottom shell. I have been doing this since I was a kid. Well this particular night, as I am eating my first layer, I notice a hair. Now, I'm not initially shocked because if you know anything about me, my hair sheds a lot all the time, and I find it everywhere. But this wasn't my hair. How do I know? Because it was BAKED into the cheese mixture. It had been there a while and thus could NOT be mine. I am disgusted and throw it away (and the $5 I used to pay for it). This particularly Taco Bell and I parted ways after that. I'm not going to lie and say I haven't been there since, but it took about a year and I've only been there maybe 5 times at the most over the last 4 years (and at least 2 of those times I was with other people who wanted to eat there because it was the only place open past 3am).
3. Ahn's Burger (West Grand/Bellevue, Oakland): Now this one is recent. I love their greasy hamburgers, thick milkshakes and crinkled fries. But I have always gotten it to go. I go with my friend recently and we eat inside the restaurant. Big mistake. I saw things I hadn't seen before - such as the area where they keep the money is right next to the grill. I'm no Safety Inspector (anymore) but that doesn't seem hygienic. I see little washing of hands. The whole thing just was unappetizing. I haven't been back since and I have lost my desire for the cheeseburger.
4. Whole Foods (Oakland): So the one time I eat here was the one day all the cleaning people seemed to have the day off. The only table available is available because someone has clearly spilled something sticky and pink on the floor underneath it. I have to scrounge for some napkins to clean off the nasty table. Whole Paycheck is expensive, but the money you spend there clearly doesn't go to cleaning up the dining area.
Now, it is NOT a bad thing these places are off my radar - except for Whole Foods, they were all unhealthy. And Whole Foods is expensive so it'll save me money to not eat there again. I'll miss walking down the street to get a burger or the strawberry lemonade at the Chicken and Waffles place. But no meal is worth hair in your cheese or something sticking to your leg. It's just not.
1. The Chicken and Waffles Place (Jack London Square, Oakland): So I've been here 3 times - the first 2 were okay, I had some good food. I think the name "chicken and waffles" automatically implies it didn't have a lot of healthy options so I don't think I have to go into detail on the food. Anyways, so the third time I'm there, we sit in a dirty booth, and it's the middle of the day so the daylight is shining brightly on the faded tapestries and questionable stains on our table. And the food just reflected this - everything just looked and tasted, well gross and unclean. I can never go there again and thinking about it makes me sick. I'm all about supporting Black-owned businesses but I think that it's better for my diet if I don't go there.
2. Taco Bell (Telegraph/West Grand, Oakland): One night I go, order my favorite (Mexican pizza) and bring it home, very excited. I eat Mexican pizza in layers - the first layer on top of the shell which is cheese and tomatoes, then the first layer of shell, then the meat and beans layer, and then the bottom shell. I have been doing this since I was a kid. Well this particular night, as I am eating my first layer, I notice a hair. Now, I'm not initially shocked because if you know anything about me, my hair sheds a lot all the time, and I find it everywhere. But this wasn't my hair. How do I know? Because it was BAKED into the cheese mixture. It had been there a while and thus could NOT be mine. I am disgusted and throw it away (and the $5 I used to pay for it). This particularly Taco Bell and I parted ways after that. I'm not going to lie and say I haven't been there since, but it took about a year and I've only been there maybe 5 times at the most over the last 4 years (and at least 2 of those times I was with other people who wanted to eat there because it was the only place open past 3am).
3. Ahn's Burger (West Grand/Bellevue, Oakland): Now this one is recent. I love their greasy hamburgers, thick milkshakes and crinkled fries. But I have always gotten it to go. I go with my friend recently and we eat inside the restaurant. Big mistake. I saw things I hadn't seen before - such as the area where they keep the money is right next to the grill. I'm no Safety Inspector (anymore) but that doesn't seem hygienic. I see little washing of hands. The whole thing just was unappetizing. I haven't been back since and I have lost my desire for the cheeseburger.
4. Whole Foods (Oakland): So the one time I eat here was the one day all the cleaning people seemed to have the day off. The only table available is available because someone has clearly spilled something sticky and pink on the floor underneath it. I have to scrounge for some napkins to clean off the nasty table. Whole Paycheck is expensive, but the money you spend there clearly doesn't go to cleaning up the dining area.
Now, it is NOT a bad thing these places are off my radar - except for Whole Foods, they were all unhealthy. And Whole Foods is expensive so it'll save me money to not eat there again. I'll miss walking down the street to get a burger or the strawberry lemonade at the Chicken and Waffles place. But no meal is worth hair in your cheese or something sticking to your leg. It's just not.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Lessons from Lieutenant Dan
Last Monday I got some bad news. And I took it pretty hard.
In fact I was angry. I was angry at God. And I totally had a moment like Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump."
So, Lt. Dan has become disillusioned. He lives his life expecting to die on the battlefield like all his ancestors before him. However, instead of dying in the Vietnam Way, Lt. Dan loses his legs and is confined to a wheelchair. Instead of being happy he is even alive, Lt. Dan gets depressed and down. Forrest tries to pick his spirits up and invites him on his fishing boat, but Lt. Dan is still just despondent. And it doesn't help that Forrest's boat doesn't catch any fish. However, one night it storms and Lt. Dan has it out with God. He climbs to the top of the boat's mass and says, "Okay, it's you and me, God! You and me!"
I had it out with God last Monday night. I was just so angry and disappointed and frustrated. And I sat on the floor of my bathroom expressing those feelings out loud. I was honest and maybe said some things that I shouldn't have said. But me and God were having it out.
After Lt. Dan has it out with God during the storm, the boat suddenly starts catching fish and Lt. Dan is happier, more hopeful.
Tuesday afternoon, I got more hopeful news. And I immediately knew it had something to do with what happened on the floor of the bathroom on Monday night.
I'm not saying life is perfect now - it wasn't for Lt. Dan. After all, he still couldn't walk. But sometimes just the presence of hope is sooooo meaningful. Just being able to hang onto a sliver of something is great. But most importantly, it's meaningful to have evidence that when everyone else writes you off - including medical professionals or other experts with letters after their name - God has a degree and a level of knowledge that supersedes all that. You just gotta have faith.
And maybe sometimes you have to "have it out" and be honest with yourself about your faith (or in my case, the lack thereof) in order to get to a place where you can feel comfortable with just believing.
In fact I was angry. I was angry at God. And I totally had a moment like Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump."
So, Lt. Dan has become disillusioned. He lives his life expecting to die on the battlefield like all his ancestors before him. However, instead of dying in the Vietnam Way, Lt. Dan loses his legs and is confined to a wheelchair. Instead of being happy he is even alive, Lt. Dan gets depressed and down. Forrest tries to pick his spirits up and invites him on his fishing boat, but Lt. Dan is still just despondent. And it doesn't help that Forrest's boat doesn't catch any fish. However, one night it storms and Lt. Dan has it out with God. He climbs to the top of the boat's mass and says, "Okay, it's you and me, God! You and me!"
I had it out with God last Monday night. I was just so angry and disappointed and frustrated. And I sat on the floor of my bathroom expressing those feelings out loud. I was honest and maybe said some things that I shouldn't have said. But me and God were having it out.
After Lt. Dan has it out with God during the storm, the boat suddenly starts catching fish and Lt. Dan is happier, more hopeful.
Tuesday afternoon, I got more hopeful news. And I immediately knew it had something to do with what happened on the floor of the bathroom on Monday night.
I'm not saying life is perfect now - it wasn't for Lt. Dan. After all, he still couldn't walk. But sometimes just the presence of hope is sooooo meaningful. Just being able to hang onto a sliver of something is great. But most importantly, it's meaningful to have evidence that when everyone else writes you off - including medical professionals or other experts with letters after their name - God has a degree and a level of knowledge that supersedes all that. You just gotta have faith.
And maybe sometimes you have to "have it out" and be honest with yourself about your faith (or in my case, the lack thereof) in order to get to a place where you can feel comfortable with just believing.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What, No Parade?
I stepped on the scale this afternoon. I'm down another pound.
I have lost a total of 12 pounds.
And I don't think anyone noticed.
Not that I expected balloons or confetti to fall down from the sky - my initial goal is 20 lbs. so I haven't hit my goal. But dammit, I'm 8 lbs. away!
Can a sister get a high five? A pat on the back? I'll take a terrorist fist bump!
This reminds me of a Chris Rock joke. In one of his comedy specials, he talks about men who take care of their children and how they want accolades for it. Chris says, "That's what you supposed to do! Take care of your kids, pay child support. What you want a cookie?!?"
I'm not necessarily doing this for the fanfare - it's for me. But man, sometimes recognition feels good. Until then, I'm assuming that the scale is the only one that is happy - because now when I get on it, I don't want to kick it.
I have lost a total of 12 pounds.
And I don't think anyone noticed.
Not that I expected balloons or confetti to fall down from the sky - my initial goal is 20 lbs. so I haven't hit my goal. But dammit, I'm 8 lbs. away!
Can a sister get a high five? A pat on the back? I'll take a terrorist fist bump!
This reminds me of a Chris Rock joke. In one of his comedy specials, he talks about men who take care of their children and how they want accolades for it. Chris says, "That's what you supposed to do! Take care of your kids, pay child support. What you want a cookie?!?"
I'm not necessarily doing this for the fanfare - it's for me. But man, sometimes recognition feels good. Until then, I'm assuming that the scale is the only one that is happy - because now when I get on it, I don't want to kick it.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Trigger
Life is really funny.
I had a bit of a break from my healthy living journey. I didn't start drinking soda or eating french fries. But I had another moment where something made me feel sad and my first reaction was, "F*** my diet and exercising today."
I think they call this a "trigger."
I have recognized that it is one subject category that really affects me. Like it can either make me really, really sad or it can make me really, really scared. Either way, when I'm in it, I do not think about trying to live healthy. I am super distracted.
I am not sure what to do about my trigger. But I do feel good about recognizing that I have one.
I had a bit of a break from my healthy living journey. I didn't start drinking soda or eating french fries. But I had another moment where something made me feel sad and my first reaction was, "F*** my diet and exercising today."
I think they call this a "trigger."
I have recognized that it is one subject category that really affects me. Like it can either make me really, really sad or it can make me really, really scared. Either way, when I'm in it, I do not think about trying to live healthy. I am super distracted.
I am not sure what to do about my trigger. But I do feel good about recognizing that I have one.
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