[9/21/11] Wednesday Wellness: An Ah-ha Moment

One day during one of my Personal Training classes we were studying how many calories are expended during different forms of exercise.  I learned that I burn 100 calories for each mile I run.

Curious, I went home and looked through my pantry and my sweets drawer to see how many miles I'd have to run if I ate this or that.

Oh. My. Goodness.

One little Hershey's kiss was 25 calories. I'd have to run a 1/4 of a mile for one little Hershey's kiss. That's not even a bite.

I'd have to run about a 1/2 a mile for each Oreo cookie. Hello?

That 1/2 cup of "lite" ice cream? 1 1/2 miles. A 1/2 cup is not very much. At all.

This really changed the way I look at food. Well, most of the time, anyway.  Now when I see something - a treat usually - I think about how far I'll have to run to burn off those calories and sometimes it's just not worth it.

There are some things that are totally worth it, though.

Like this:

 

*Image courtesy of lydzipage.blogspot.com

My all-time favorite Dairy Queen Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard made with chocolate ice cream. Why would you want to make it with vanilla? 

Or this:

*Image courtesy of flickr.com

Olive Garden's Black Tie Mousse Cheesecake. I only eat half, though, because John and I share.

Or brownies made with chocolate chips added, of course.

Or a few other things.

Are you curious about how many calories you expend during exercise?  For a great calculator click here.