Thermogenics is a thing.

It says "BADDASS", must be legit.

Last week, I quoted a not-quite-reputable wimmin's mag as saying:

Studies show that the main compound in chilies, called capsaicin, has a thermogenic effect and may cause the body to burn bonus calories for 20 minutes post chow-down.

The internet seems to agree, this is a thing. Thermogenic effect encourages the body to increase it's heat output, necessitating the use of more calories. Historically, spicy food in hot climates became popular not just for spice's preservative qualities, but because of the thermogenic effect....but not to lose weight. It seems counter-intuitive -- why would you want the experience of heat in your mouth when you live in a subtropical zone? Because when you raise your core temperature, it increases the amount you sweat, therefore increasing the cooling experience as your sweat evaporates.

Funny, I initially assumed the thermogenic effect was silliness, like "fat makes you fat".  Just because you you feel the illusion of heat in your mouth doesn't necessarily mean there is an actual increase in temperature. But there is - in your body. Funnier still, spicy food doesn't have the biggest thermogenic effect. It's, uh, celery.

Celery is one of the best thermogenic foods. First of all, it is very low in calories which is why it is a common staple food for dieters. Aside from this, it also helps you burn more calories thanks to its thermogenic effect. Celery also has a very mild taste which makes it easier to include them in your meals.

So I guess the celery served with Buffalo wings can now be reclassified as a health food?

Eat all 3000 calories on this plate, then burn an extra 300 by just sitting there!

All food takes energy to process and digest, but some take more energy than others. Proteins take the most, about 30% of it's calories, while fats take the least, about 10%. High fiber foods (like whole grains and celery) also take more energy to break down than more heavily processed foods. However, that is not quite what is happening when it comes to the claim of spices increasing the metabolic rate, which controls the speed at which food is turned into energy.

We're all familiar with drugs that increase metabolism. Caffiene is a the most common, speed n' crank are less common but popular among it's dedicated fanbase. I was not able to find any literature that addresses how the feeling of heat from spice translates to the actual heat of increased metabolism, but it does seem to be a real thing, however relatively small and not considered a real effect on losing weight. However, studies do show that on average, people who have spicy versions of a meal versus those who don't tend to eat on average 200 calories less. The spice acts as an appetite suppressant, which makes sense to me. So those BADDASS pills and many other "thermogenic" supplements? They're either some form of speed, or they are just a way to reduce the weight of your wallet.

I've been adding a shot of cayenne to my biweekly juicing, to help with the taste of the beet and make it more interesting. Though I've never been a huge fan of spicy heat, I'm definitely going to BAM! kick a few dishes up a notch in the future.

-----

I skipped juicing by accident on Wednesday, and picked up an apple from a vendor while travelling by bike to avoid discomfort/bonk. Surprisingly, it was really satisfying. Think I'm going to start adding fruit to my rotation of snacks.

Still no pull up, but twice a week before my routine, I do an honest try at one. damn. pull up. Chin up, whatevs. I can jump into a pull up, but that doesn't really count, nor does the set of six chin ups I do with resistance bands around my knee.
-----

WEEKLY AVERAGE: 2434

Thursday's school dinner messed me up, with a scoop of mashed potatoes sending me into a carb spin in the evening. Still, all in all a good eating week and I feel good. I did an early weigh-in on Friday, as the 1st is mid-week, and I was happy with what I saw.

-----

MONDAY COUNT: 2225

Good work out, arms and chest felt rubbery after.

AM SNACK: 7:45am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 10:30am, steel cut oatmeal, 250 cal

PM SNACK: 1pm,  baby carrots, 80 cal

LUNCH: 1:45pm, scallops, string beans, jodhpur lentils, 610 cal
Sautted the scallops in coconut oil, my first use of the stuff. Verdict: delicious. The oil itself tastes like what you'd hope cocobutter skin cream would taste like, but doesn't due to waxes n' skin stuff. In this amount, the coconut flavor was very mild, given to the sharp tones of the old bay seasoning and the strong undernote of fish.

PM SNACK: 5:30pm, apple/carrot/beet/kale/ginger/celery/cucumber/cayenne juice, 170 cal

DINNER: 9pm, shiritaki wide noodles with homemade tomato sauce, chicken meatballs, roasted broccoli, roasted shitaki mushrooms, roasted cipolini onions, spinach poppa salad with miso tahini, water, 815 cal
Skipped stirfrying and went Italian, as I made the sauce today. Pretty decent.

EVENING SNACK: 9:30pm, Fritos, 300 cal

-----

TUESDAY COUNT: 2460

Woke up pleasantly sore. A good eating day that was capped by a double evening snack -- makes me think perhaps I should have a new standard for a 2nd snack -- perhaps fruit instead of commodity-based junk from a multi national conglomerate corporation?

AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 10:30am, fruit smoothie, 400 cal

LUNCH: 2pm,  almond butter and grape jelly on whole wheat, momma salad, water, 490 cal

PM SNACK: 6pm, beef jerky, 160 cal

PM SNACK: 7:15pm, spinach poppa salad with miso tahini, 100 cal

DINNER: 8:15pm, ,grilled chicken breast, sofrito black beans, roasted brussel sprouts & cipollini onions, water, 710 cal

EVENING SNACK: 9pm, Fritos, 300 cal

EVENING SNACK: 10:30pm, cheesy poofs, 300 cal
Was honestly hungry, after suffering through some sugar cravings. Funny how my 1st thought is to EAT SUGAR DON'T REPORT IT GO CRAZY then I quickly come to my senses, knowing not reporting eating after taking the time to write everything down makes this whole effort a waste of time, and is just lying to myself. And, uh, you, dear reader!

-----

WEDNESDAY COUNT: 2070

Good eating day. Forgot to juice right before a bike ride way up town and back, so I stopped at a fruit stand and got an apple, pretty much the only snack I could have gotten that I wouldn't beat myself up about. And surprisingly, it was....good. Hmmmm.

AM SNACK: 7:30am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 9:45am, Fage whole yogurt with agave, almonds, vanilla, 320 cal

AM SNACK: 11:45am, 1 kasha knish mini, +/- 30 cal

LUNCH: 12:30pm, sardine & avocado on whole wheat toast,  momma salad, water, 520 cal

PM SNACK: 4pm, an apple, +/-115 cal

PM SNACK: 8:15pm, spinach poppa salad with miso tahini, 100 cal

DINNER: 8:30pm, chicken sausage, sofrito black beans, whole wheat cous cous, water, 685 cal

EVENING SNACK: 8:45pm, Fritos, 300 cal

-----

THURSDAY COUNT: 3010

Ugh, school.

AM SNACK: 7am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 10:15am, steel cut oatmeal, 250 cal

LUNCH: 12:30, flounder, roasted asparagus, spinach poppa salad with miso tahini, 540 cal

PM SNACK: 2pm, apple/carrot/beet/kale/ginger/celery/cucumber/cayenne juice, 170 cal

SCHOOL SNACK: 4pm, graham cracker cookies, +/- 500 cal

SCHOOL DINNER: 7:15pm, large cesar salad with sauteed chicken breast, shrimp salad, brownies, water, +/- 1250 cal

EVENING SNACK: 10pm, Fritos, 300 cals

-----

FRIDAY COUNT: 2405

Woke up pleasantly sore. Weighed in early, to see if the last Friday of the month is different than the 1st, which this time is a Wednesday -- pleasantly surprised, particularly after yesterday's eating day.

AM SNACK: 6:15am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 10am, Fage whole yogurt with agave, almonds, vanilla, 320 cal

LUNCH: 12:45pm, grilled pork chops, roasted broccoli, spinach poppa salad with miso tahini, 790 cal

PM SNACK: 5:30pm, apple/carrot/beet/kale/ginger/celery/cucumber/cayenne juice, 145 cal

PM SNACK: 6:30pm, momma salad, 100 cal

DINNER: 7:30pm, vegetarian Ethiopian food, +/- 750 cal


EVENING SNACK: 10pm, Fritos, 300 cals

You are a very naughty potato.