Coke Blinks

Coca Cola recently released this advert, and it is surprising. They officially and loudly profess that obesity is a thing, which is huge for one of the biggest corporations in the world. Unfortunately, that's about all they do: call it a thing, then start spinning it. As expected, they deflect responsibility by (FALSELY) claiming all calories are equal, whether from sugar, protein or fat, and put the responsibility on the consumer. Due to the Internet echo chamber, a response was crafted quickly:

Coke is seeing the future. As I've prognosticated in this forum in the past, Big Beverage and Big Food is looking ahead at a future similar to Big Tobacco, and perhaps know this cycle of correction will come ever faster so they need to get ahead of what's going to happen to their bottom line if they don't act.

It's kind of transparent what Big Bev is doing in fighting the very beginnings of real action to counter-act they damage their product does to consumers. Bloomberg's "soda ban" is going to take affect in a few months, and Big Bev has been raising (probably ineffective) court challenges to stop it, including purchasing the support of the NAACP and Hispanic Foundation. This is particularly sad, as the minorities who are supposedly represented by these groups are also more impacted by the health effects of the product Big Bev is looking to protect. Arguments that the "ban" will effect minority-owned businesses more than the exempt chain groceries like 7-11 should be an argument to close loopholes, not do-away with this progressive legislation. In the end, it's about money, and I suspect the money Big Bev gives to these groups to ensure their support is a drop in the marketing budget.

Meet Drop, the kitty who lives in a bucket!

There can be an argument that perhaps sugary soda is habit forming rather than addicting, but any one who takes the position that the empty, nutritionally void, insulin-revving calories of sugar are equivalent to all other calories are probably trying to sell you something at the expense of your health and well-being. Still, it's fascinating to watch the contortions Big Bev & Food will make in the next year as "soda bans" and increased food regulation become more accepted as common-sense.

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WEEKLY AVERAGE: 1845
Another week of a very low average, again due to flu, then to having to fast due to undergoing a colonoscopy, yick. I wonder if this hickup of low-cal weeks will hurt me, help me, or make no difference in the end.

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MONDAY COUNT: 1440
Woke up feeling OK, ended up napping noon-4:30pm, and got to bed before midnight. Clearly, this flu is on it's way out but not leaving without letting itself be known. Doesn't leave a lot of time for eating, he he. Was tempted to go out for dinner, but once I sat down and got my head straight, I realized if I had restaurant food, that would mean the majority of calories I ate would have more fat, salt, preservatives and less fiber, nutrients and water than is reasonable. Glad I stayed in.

AM SNACK: 8:30am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 10:30am, kolon bloe with whole milk, 280 cal

DINNER: 6:30pm, teryaki chicken meatballs, quinoa, chopped spinach, 7oz diet sprite, 1040 cal

EVENING SNACK: 9:45pm, pretzels, 7oz diet sprite, 120 cal

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TUESDAY COUNT: 935 cal

Had a good night's sleep, nose is 95% clear, head doesn't go fuzzy when I try to walk. However, eating was not in the cards today because....I have my 1st colonoscopy tomorrow! I usually wouldn't speak of this in public, but if I'm not going to frighten readers into thinking I have some horrible eating disorder, better just say it, he.

AM SNACK: 8:15am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 10am, fage whole yogurt with almonds, agave and vanilla, 410 cal

AM SNACK: 11am, apple/carrot/kale/beet juice, 100 cal

PM SNACK: 7-8pm, 64 oz of Gatorade with miralax powder, 425 cal

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WEDNESDAY COUNT: 1580 cal

Had a pint of water in the morning, and by the time I arrived for my colonoscopy, felt ready to go to sleep. After coming to from anesthesia, had cramps and a weird feeling of wellness, and after lying down all afternoon, my appetite didn't return until dinner. When it did, it came back with a boom, but I knew enough to not go crazy. Threw in onion rings, just because I could, and successfully fought some wicked sugar cravings in the evening.

DINNER: 5:30pm, eggplant hero with no cheese, onion rings, house salad, 7oz diet sprite, +/- 1100 cal

EVENING SNACK: 8pm, cheesy poofs, 300 cal

EVENING SNACK: 10pm, pretzel rods, 7oz diet sprite, 180 cal

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THURSDAY COUNT: 2255 cal

Finally relatively back to normal. Lifted weights after missing two sessions, felt noticeably weaker but was able to get through -- wow, it only takes a week to get weaker? Damn.

AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 11:30am, smoothie, 375 cal

LUNCH: 2pm, sardine & avocado on whole wheat toast, roasted broccoli, baby carrots, 7oz diet coke, 640 cal

PM SNACK: 6pm, apple/carrot/ginger/beet/kale juice, 120 cal

DINNER: 8pm, grilled chicken breast, whole wheat cous cous, roasted brussel sprouts, 7oz diet sprite, 820 cal

EVENING SNACK: 8:30pm, cheesy poofs, 300 cal

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FRIDAY COUNT: 3015 cal

Woke up early, got a train out of Penn Station at 7 in the morning to get to Rochester for a cousin's kid's bar mitzvah this weekend. Packed lunch, as Amtrak food is that special blend of unhealthy, terrible and expensive. Nice catered dinner in the evening, guest snackies at the hotel. Didn't feel too bad about over-eating, as it was very social and ate ridiculously small amounts earlier in the week.

AM SNACK: 5:30am, iced green tea, 0 cal

BREAKFAST: 7:15am, multigrain bagel with cream cheese, lettuce, tomato and o ion, +/- 450 cal

BREAKFAST 2: 9:45am, 2 almond butter & jelly sandwiches on whole wheat, baby carrots, 935 cal

PM SNACK: 12:15pm, beef jerky, 120 cal

PM SNACK: 4pm, cheezits, 210 cal

DINNER: 8pm, chicken, potato, broccoli, small salad, 2 rolls, cannoli, water, tea, +/- 900 cal

EVENING SNACK: 10pm, dark chocolate bar, pretzel thins, 400 cal