Cyril O

May

2010

Lemming Suicide

Do lemmings commit suicide?

I’ve known that this was not true for decades and still hear references to the fact, in texts, tv, wherever that lemmings commit mass suicide. It is not true. It is easier to find the truth about stuff with the availability of the internet but there is also a lot of false information out there. One of the best sites that I like to check before relaying any ‘truths’ that I’ve been emailed (I rarely forward mass emails – I mean never) is www.snopes.com

Anyway, the source of this totally false information about how lemmings commit mass suicide by plunging into the sea was perpetrated by none other than Disney – well, a filmmaker for a Disney piece called White Wilderness, filmed in 1958. It was entirely faked. So, this has become part of our cultural reference. Even psychiatrists use this datum in evaluating their clients/patients – OK – you are right – psychiatrists will believe pretty much anything you tell them – not the brightest bunch.

Actually there are a lot of websites now that dispel this myth but the reason that I’m adding my few cents worth is that I’ve still heard the reference on the media – even recently – so, thought I’d add my bit.

Generally, if you should get some information and you are not sure of its validity – check the Snopes website – it is pretty good.

May

2010

Do you eat until full?

Recently I have been spending more time at my desk working – less moving around. Although, I was getting some exercise, cycling, swimming, stretching(yoga – sort of), I was still very gradually gaining some pounds. I’m generally pretty comfortable around 180 – 185. One eight-five is my limit, but I was several pounds over that and I didn’t want to get back up to the 212 that I was about 8 years ago.

There are a million diets, some claiming I eat too much fat, or eat too much meat, or eat too much cheese or eat too much bread – well, you get the idea. I think I was just eating too much. There was a datum that I used many times before to trim down: Don’t eat until I’m full. Recently I tended to eat until full.

By ‘eat until full’ I mean that I would sit with a plate of food before me and continue eating until I was full. What happens then is that in five or ten minutes the rest of the food hits the stomach and I’m ‘stuffed’. I’ve over-eaten. That was fine when I was young and active, either swimming several miles a day or doing construction. But not now. So, I make smaller meals and stop before I’ve finished the plate or bowl and wait to see if it is enough. That and cutting out – or at least down – the desserts, has in a few days turned the gaining into losing weight. I want a way to keep my weight down that I can live with my whole life and not have to eat special foods. I eat pretty well and generally take care of myself but do like my food.

I’m not sure where I originally came up with this idea of ‘not eating until full’ – it may very likely have been Adelle Davis but I’m not certain.

How not to over eat:
1. Eat more slowly (this one does NOT work for me).
2. Put less on your plate. (Put your food on your plate and then take some off before you go to the table.)
3. Cook less. If you are used to having 3 potatoes for dinner, cook only 3.
4. Don’t eat in restaurants. Believe me, unless you are willing to leave food on the plate at a restaurant, they stay home and eat – the food will be healthier anyway.
5. If you have to have dessert, have it on certain days and halve the amount that you usually take. Or try and have something with less sugar. Though, just straight less is better than less sugar or less anything else specific.

Apr

2010

Quote from the Upanishads

“As one acts and conducts himself, so does he become. The doer of good becomes good. The doer of evil becomes evil. One becomes virtuous by virtuous action, bad by bad action.”

Apr

2010

Tessa Jones Music

My niece Tessa has an absolutely beautiful voice and is an equally talented songwriter. Check out some of her songs at http://www.myspace.com/tessajonesmusic

Enjoy/1

Apr

2010

Cycling around Glenmore Reservoir

We both had the day off on Monday. I’d been getting out on the bike more so we thought that we’d spend the afternoon and go for a good ride around the Reservoir and then some. Usually, when we go out during the week, there are not that many people about. As this is the first really nice weather that we’ve been having, the trails were quite busy with hikers, walkers, roller bladers and cyclists. We started at the west end and rode around the top for a bit then went down the hill at the west end and along the trail on the south side of the lake. Too many people to see much wildlife but it certainly was a great day.

We stopped for a coffee at Heritage Village on the east end, got a coffee at the Railway Cafe. Sat outside and enjoyed it. And enjoy it we did! They didn’t have any espresso, so I had to have regular coffee – was the best coffee I’ve had in a long time. This is a coffee shop that I would certainly recommend. And it is a great place to stop if you are heading back. Many people will do this because if you try and completely circle the reservoir, you have to go through some residential areas. It is a pretty easy ride – depending on your fitness level you may only have to walk a few short hills:)

We went further up through River Park and eventually exited at 38th coming back west and home. All in all about a 30 km ride.