As most of you know, or if you didn't now you do, I drink way too much Diet Dr. Pepper. I have been wanting to cut back, and reading this article 2 days after Halloween helped. It is exactly what has happened to me. I crave more sweets and carbs when I drink the soda, and then I need to wash it down with more soda. I also look like I'm in my 2nd trimester :) but have not gained weight, just a lot of belly fat :( Too much info, but it is just too true. Read the article and it all makes sense :(
The health effects of diet soda
You may come to the conclusion that diet or sugar-free soda is a better choice. However, one study discovered that drinking one or more soft drinks a day — and it didn’t matter whether it was diet or regular — led to a 30% greater chance of weight gain around the belly. Diet soda is filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin. These artificial sweeteners pose a threat to your health. Saccharin, for instance, has been found to be carcinogenic, and studies have found that it produced bladder cancer in rats. Aspartame, commonly known as nutrasweet, is a chemical that stimulates the brain to think the food is sweet. It breaks down into acpartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol at a temperature of 86 degrees. (Remember, your stomach is somewhere around 98 degrees.) An article put out by the University of Texas found that aspartame has been linked to obesity. The process of stimulating the brain causes more cravings for sweets and leads to carbohydrate loading.
A little hard to see, but I have bottom braces on. And if you think they look blue, then you're right. I wanted to do some color bands, but not too crazy, so I went with blue. I will get the retainer for the top after Thanksgiving. I will only have to wear it at night, so I went with a white one with red hearts. They make it so much more fun for the kids now. They feel weird, but I am sure I will get used to them.
Wicked Witch, Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow, and Sophie as the lion
The yearly photo by the front door
the last few minutes trick or treating, sugar high
We're off to see the wizard!
Nicole as Alice and Paige as the wicked witch
Seth and Kelly carving for the contest.
Seth and Kelly winning the pumpkin carving contest!!!
Every year our city has a pumpkin festival just down the street from us. They have inflatables, food vendors and games. The kids had fun running around and loved the snow cones. I even saw Rainn Wilson from The Office wandering around with his family. :)
Spirit Day at Paige's middle school! can you guess her school colors?
Sophie's new favorite spot.
Oops! you caught me! chocolate ice cream!
