lol, uhm, no :) i don’t know the feeling of mixing up my different coke-variaties :)

but I do know the awful feeling when instead of plain milk, grabbing a cup of fresh “buttermilk”

ugh!

Leonieke, do they have Vanilla Coke in the Netherlands? It hasn’t been out that long over here, so I’m thinking maybe not. Also, Europe has some Coke variations anyway, like instead of Diet Coke, it’s Cola Lite (that always amuses me for some reason)! :)

And EWWWW, Ok, I’m glad I didn’t make the mistake you made! I think yours is worse than mine, lol.

Posted by: Jennifer on January 25, 2005 @ 2:14 PM

Hollar!

yea. we have Vanilla Coke — but only as Vanilla Coke Light :)

over here anything “light” == diet :)

but most of the coke’s we don’t have - like for instance Coke II (I’m one of the few I guess who’d miss Coke II) and Decaf Coke

the “coke-company” product I miss most is Mellow Yellow ;) but b/c of its ingredients it cannot be imported here - somehow Mountain Dew is no problem, but like, you know, BLEH, that’s Pepsi!

(can you tell the one year I spent in the USA was in Georgia?)

Hehe yea I figured out the light=diet thing, but it’s funny that they change that word. I guess Europe isn’t as “diet” obsessed as we are in the States.

Hmm, I haven’t tried Coke II—I like my Coke to be full of sugar and caffeine! I hate the taste of diet products anyway :) Don’t even know if I’ve had Mellow Yellow—Mountain Dew is the more popular brand here, although I agree with you, Pepsi is NASTY.

Posted by: Jennifer on January 26, 2005 @ 8:49 AM

Coke II is the now-dead New Coke. After New Coke bombed, they re-released Coke (rebranded as Coke Classic) and made New Coke Coke II.

Coke II was just as full of sugar and caffiene as Coke Classic. It just tasted more like Pespi.

Ohh, oops. I didn’t bother looking it up to see what it was. I guess I just assumed it was that “low-carb” stuff that all the soft drink people started pushing.

But honestly, why on earth would I want a Coke that tastes like Pepsi when I HATE Pepsi?! Well, ok, it’s not so bad from the fountain and it’s got more carbonation than usual, but in the can or bottle it’s just gross. Hmm, I guess that’s why it failed, huh? ;)

Posted by: Jennifer on January 26, 2005 @ 10:05 AM

The low carb coke is Coke C2. A little confusing, indeed.

It failed for pretty much that reason. People who like pepsi will drink pepsi. people who like coke drink coke.

I don’t much like either of them. I’m a Dr Pepper man.

Oh, duh! :) Do they even still sell the low-carb stuff? I don’t even pay attention.

And Dr. Pepper, huh? Are you sure you don’t prefer Dr. Starr or Dr. Skipper?

Posted by: Jennifer on January 26, 2005 @ 10:45 AM

Or Dr. Rocket! But no, they all are weak compared to the real thing - Dr Pepper. No “.”.

Dr Pepper - It’s the Real Thing!

low carb coke? What’s that? You must be joking! So what’s left then? No sugar, no caffein…just how much can you reduce this beverage to? Low fluid?

Lol, oh no, there is still some sugar and stuff in there. But their whole deal is that it’s “half the carbs, half the calories, and half the sugar”. Of course, the only carbs in Coke ARE sugar, so it’s a bit redundant.

And I wish I were joking, but here is a link for proof.

In case you didn’t know, there was/is a whole Atkins Diet craze over here. Everyone is afraid of carbs. It’s ridiculous.

Posted by: Jennifer on January 26, 2005 @ 2:24 PM

Yeah, I know about that low-carb-thing. The Atkins-diet is being reviewed very critically over here, most scientists say it’s crap. But, hey, it’s in fashion! Next year we might have a “multi-sugar” or “double-fat” or “low vitamin” diet. Who knows? ;-)

hmm .. how about drinking some water next time?

*G*

Actually, the Atkins diet most certainly isn’t crap. Many nutritionists thought it was crap over here for a very long time, but as a community, they’re slowly changing their tune.

Ok. Here’s my caveat. I’ve spent a LOT of time studying eating habits, nutrition and diets. I suggest the people who poo poo diet fads have probably never been fat or had a serious problem with their weight.

The fundamental reason that people are fat is because they consume more calories than they use through physical activity. That net calorie surplus is stored as fat.

The Atkins diet works (and it does work as millions here can attest to) because proteins and fats are blood sugar neutral. That is: they don’t affect insulin production which is a key component of hunger.

Using that logic, I could just eat bacon all day for every meal and lose weight and that would work. A fat person would probably lose quite a bit of weight on that program. Of course, you would invite a host of other problems with that unbalanced diet (namely liver failure).

There are other diets too. Calorie counting is a time tested one too. With this, you could eat all your calories in popsicles and lollipops and, yet again, lose weight. This would likewise invite many physical problems.

So my point is this: If you follow Atkins and you ONLY count carbs, you’re probably being foolish. But the diet is excellent af fulfilling its stated goal, namely losing weight. To simply say it’s “crap” doesn’t help matters. Certainly not when the alternative is being 400 or 500 pounds. Calling it crap just demonstates a profound misunderstanding of the problem. And, indeed, much of the scientific community fails to understand the problem. I understand why. They were never fat. I’m not saying they’re idiots, just that they need to rethink their approach.

Ooh, Franz those other diets sound great! Actually, I think that might be my eating method anyway! ;)

M, didn’t your dad go on Atkins or something?

I admit, I know nothing about diets….I eat stuff that is bad for me and manage not to be fat. I would probably die if I had to follow a diet. And I don’t know, cutting out an element your body uses seems sorta bad. Your body needs SOME carbs, just like it needs some fat and other stuff.

Hehe all diets must be crap, cuz there are still too many fat Americans, despite the trendiness of the diet.

Posted by: Jennifer on January 27, 2005 @ 8:55 AM

We got the Vanilla one too.. and the one with citron and the one with …

nothing beats diet cherry coke though.

Except for maybe NON-Diet Cherry Coke! Diet stuff sucks. Embrace the sugar. :)

Posted by: Jennifer on January 27, 2005 @ 4:23 PM

I’d just like to point out that Dr Pepper doesn’t have all this newfangled fad tastes like lemon, lime, vanilla, chocolate, cowbell, because Dr Pepper is great and unimprovable as it already is. To change it would not only be folly, but could very well alter space and time in a horribly frightening and negative way. It’s that dangerous. Dangerously good.

It also has the added bonus that Diet Dr Pepper tastes more like regular Dr Pepper. More than what, no one knows, but it also proves the point that Diet soft drinks are irregular.

It’s true, Diet Dr Pepper is the best diet drink out there. It tastes the least diet. Very nice comment, Kev!

Posted by: Jennifer on January 27, 2005 @ 4:57 PM

Maybe the people who have never been fat (aka the ones who disbelieve fad diets) might be the ones to ask about how to not be fat. Just an idea.

I just don’t like diets because it’s just one more way of being lazy. People could stand a little exercise. Not walking or ten pushups or whatever, but real exercise. It makes fad diets a little less necessary.

I’ve never been fat. I’ve never been overweight. I’ve always been decidedly underweight. Do not ask me how to lose weight. For most people, eating like I eat would be a recipe for weight gain. I’m sure I’m not healthy, I’m sure my cholesterol is ridiculous for someone my age, etc etc.

Fad diets don’t work for a reason — They’re not called fad diets because they’re populare, they’re called fad diets because people go on them for a month or 2 and then lose interest. They think all these diets are quickfix. Theyre not. The only real way to lose weight and keep it off is to change your habits. Eat less. Eat less carbs, fat, calories, etc. Eat lots of good foods with lots of nutritional value. Less red meat, more fish. Less grains, more veggies. Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.

I mostly agree, Kevin, but I think you underestimate what people could gain by mimicking us. Sure, most people should not eat the incredible amounts of Coke, pasta, and pizza I do, but even if they did they would note that I eat a snack between meals about once every three months. There are just trade-offs. I also exercise to some extent, and cut back on my eating when I’m not exercising.

But really, I’d say there’s just something fat people don’t seem to get. For one, they have little commitment to losing weight (in all fairness, most people have little commitment toward anything), but they also say things like this:

“I think I’m just gonna get a salad. Which do you think is better for you, the French dressing or the Ranch?”

What kills me…just KILLS me…is when I see someone who is overweight pondering the menu at a fast food place (strike 1) then goes up and gets a chicken sandwich combo, supersizes it (strike 2) and then gets….a diet coke. (strike 3)

It’s just madness at that point.

No one should follow my eating habits either. If I ever got fat, I’d be screwed! I eat bad foods, although admittedly I eat small portions, don’t eat fast, and don’t really eat snacks.

As long as I don’t start gaining weight I’m not going to change—I’d hate to have to start eating healthy foods! And yea Kev, I never understand how people think they can eat all the unhealthy food they want, but as long as they pair it with a diet soda they are fine!

And of course the best part is that fast food salads are almost worse for you than just eating the burger.

Posted by: Jennifer on January 28, 2005 @ 9:37 AM

2 years ago, I lost 40 pounds and my dad lost 65.

1. I eat loads of fast food. I get the Chicken strips or nuggets, or 2 cheeseburger meal at McDs and Super size that shit with my diet coke. Not only that, my doctor told me last visit that I’m in ideal health. It’s possible to eat healthy, you just need to use your brain.

2. People are physiologically different. What works for one person certainly would not work for another. I went on a calorie counting diet, changed my habits, and now i don’t diet anymore. Each must adapt his or her own program for healthy eating.

3. I eat more fat now, than I did before I lost weight.

4. Rigerous excercise is actually usually a poor method of losing weight. The moment you stop excercising (if you don’t change your other habits), you gain the weight back.

I really think that thin people who’ve never been fat should be ignored. Fat people are food addicts. Would you tell a cocaine addict to get help by doing what someone who’s never had the problem does? I doubt that would be the best rehab program.

Oh thanks, so now you’re telling everyone that people like me are not valid and should be ignored!

But I guess I don’t understand food addiction. I don’t really get eating just to eat. I can’t even tell you how many calories or how much fat I consume—I really don’t keep track.

And dude, you drink way too much diet coke! Does that make you a coke addict? :)

Posted by: Jennifer on January 28, 2005 @ 1:36 PM

The Kevin Lose 10lbs. in 4 days diet plan:

1)Go hiking in Sequoia for 4 days.

Easy!

I lost 10 lbs in 4 days. I have gained back about 8 — and its been about 18 months.

notice i said cocaine and not coke. i originally typed coke and the thought ran through my head, wait… i’m one of those.

M-Unit, your four reasons just point out to everyone why you have a hard time keeping weight off. I think the pinnacle was number four, where you said rigerous exercise is actually a poor method of losing weight. Brilliant.

People are usually fat because of poor eating and exercise habits. They require a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. That’s why fad diets don’t work (because people quit). If you exercise to lose weight and then quit exercising, of course you’re going to gain the weight back.

Food addicts. Good one. It’s *just* like cocaine. I mean, this stuff is genius.

Dre, I don’t have a hard time keeping off weight. As soon as I decided to lose weight, I lost it and kept it off ON THE FIRST TRY. Did you? Did you ever have to?

You obviously don’t understand a damn thing about obesity. Obese people tend to eet >4000 calories/day.

So let’s take your brilliant excercise strategy for losing weight: Run 5 miles a day. That’s like removing ~750 calories from your diet. So we’re at 3250 calories. Ok. Let’s make up the other 1000 calories with a diet. Now this person is losing weight and is eventually headed towards a better (though slightly chubby physique). Ok. Now their ankle goes out. In fact, they probably have some osteogenic arthritis because of their obesity, which will make their joints fatigue pretty quickly. So they stop excercising. Including their diet, their total intake is now 3000 calories. Care to guess what happens? That’s right… they gain weight and lots of it. 2 pounds a week, in fact. Thanks Dre, you’ve solved NOTHING long term. The point is that everybody stops excercising. There needs to be a plan for when that happens.

Moderate excercise (walking a mile or two) will certainly make healthy living easier but its an afterthought and not the critical piece of a weight loss program. The critical issue to address will ALWAYS be portion size. Have you tried telling an obese person to stop eating? I invite you to do so. My dad was in a class with all sorts of obese people. Guess what, they ran it like a drug rehab center.

So… nice try Dre. Your attitude is exactly why the nutritional community has completley failed in recent years at promoting good health. The problem is primarly a psycological one and not a physiological one, and your “of course you’re going to gain the weight back” speaks volumes to the ignorance of that community. Everybody stops excercising. Especially as they get older. Even when I do, I’ll still be 170 lbs.

Lastly, let’s compare our records. How many people have you helped lose weight and KEEP IT OFF? My dad and I are at 8 who’ve kept it off for a year or two and have developed proper habits so they’ll keep it off forever. How about you tell me your “genius” track record.

Hey M, in your example though, wouldn’t that guy still weigh less than his initial weight? Since now he’d be eating 1000 calories less?

And ok, I’m doubting Dre has been fat, but you know, you weren’t exactly the poster boy for obese. And I don’t think you have the same problem with food—diet coke, maybe, but not food.

Eating 4000 calories boggles my mind. I probably barely manage 1000-1500.

Posted by: Jennifer on January 31, 2005 @ 1:43 PM

Yes he would weigh less. But as soon as he (or she for that matter) started gaining weight en masse, the diet program and calorie reduction would eventually go by the wayside. That tends to be what happens with yo-yo dieting. As soon as the program starts to break down, the dieter gives up.

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