The reason I like that book I’m reading right now is it gives me more to think about. I eat so many things without noticing what they do to my energy levels. I have a big year coming up, lots of travel for the book, and it’s really important to me not to bonk in the middle of an event. People tend to like their authors awake and lively. Only rock stars get to look all haggard and bloodshot in the mornings.

I like throwing these issues out there to you guys because I get responses like Lady T’s about her orange juice experience, or Diana’s about her need for meat, or Annette’s about hucksterism, or yours about your own quest to get rid of some of the junk.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m interested in people’s experiences and opinions about all sorts of different issues. And if it means I have to expose some of the weird ways my own mind works to draw some of those stories out, well, I guess that’s the price I’m willing to pay.

So if y’all think I’m weird for these chocolate and coffee and sugar ideas I float, you’re always welcome to say so. I can take it. I view all of our lives as this one continuing experiment.

Re sugar, good luck. I’m a fanatical label reader and it’s in damn near everything in one form or another, one ‘ose or another, or some type of corn syrup. It’s awful. I cut partially hydrogenated oils out of my diet awhile back (which cuts most prepared foods out) and lost a couple pounds, though I didn’t do it for that reason. That stuff is BAD for you. Mayor Bloomburg said so, and NYC will be healthier for it. But giving up processed sugar completely? I’ve gotta wonder if that’s even possible in this day and age without becoming a hermit and growing all your own food.

Re coffee, I’ve got a read for you:
“Memoir from Antproof Case” by Mark Helprin

Diana, are these ‘red meat cravings at certain times of the month’ coinciding with full moons by chance?

My dad quit smoking cold turkey after slipping on black ice and breaking his ankle.

I’m going to pose this to the lawyers and recovered lawyers - do we have a legitimate defense for breaking smoker’s ankles? It’s saving their lives!

i’m with you diana, my body is pretty good at indicating its nutritional needs, although i don’t always listen. i’ll take a look at robin’s book just for fun but must admit i’m a bit jaded because of andrew weil, md. i went on his website to see if i could find a calculation for recommended calcium
intake based upon age, gender and weight. i took the brief “nutritional test” offered on line.

what hucksterism–apparently i need limitless quantities of innumerable supplements just to get out of bed in the morning, all of which are conveniently avaivable through that very website. very disappointing experience