It's the Heat - Part 3

OK, I've made peace with the calories verses Calories thing. I understand why the scientific community needs a very tiny and very precise measure of heat; and I can understand why using such a tiny measure for food energy would be impractical. No one wants to say "I've been eating over two million calories a day, and I've got to cut a half million calories from my diet if I'm ever going to lose weight." I don't know why the neologists couldn't come up with a different word, but it's too late now.

I've got one more thought along these lines and then I'll look for something else to think about ... I promise. A pound of fat contains about 3500 Calories. An average person burns about 100 Calories per mile walked, so a pound of fat will carry you along for 35 miles. Wow! If you are 30 pounds overweight, you have enough stored energy to walk about 1,050 miles. That's right, one thousand and fifty miles! It sounds kind of discouraging at first, but it also showcases the incredible efficiency of the human body. Think of the things you can do while you burn that much stored energy! And remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

It's the Heat - Part 2

I've had a little time to assimilate that whole calories verses Calories thing. I made the following post to our "go green" newsletter at work:

May 17th, 2013 is "Bike to Work Day".

Gasoline contains about 30,000 Kilogram Calories (the kind we use to measure food) per gallon. A car that gets 30mpg burns about 1000 Kilogram Calories per mile. The average person burns about 100 Kilogram Calories per mile walked – ten times more efficient than a car. When you ride a bike, you burn about 30 Kilogram Calories per mile. That’s about 33 times more efficient than a car. Biking really is the green way to travel ... and it's good for your heart!

Yup ....... Yup ........

Redneck Radio Antennae.

... and yes it really works! Note the free plugs for Craftsman, Memorex, and DC 101. I wonder if they pay for this kind of product placement?

But will it Float

"Honey ... the scale says I'm putting on weight again. Do I look like I'm getting fat?"

"Uh ... No ... You know, muscle weighs more than fat."

"Yeah, that's right. Maybe it's some sort of density thing."

"Yes dear. That's it. I think you're getting denser!"