Supercharge your Diet!

A study finds dieters who did this one thing lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t….


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Keeping a food diary -- a detailed account of what you eat and drink and the calories it packs -- is a powerful tool in helping people lose weight, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
The study involving 1,685 middle-aged men and women over six months found those who kept such a diary just about every day lost about twice as much weight as those who did not. The findings buttressed earlier research that endorsed the value of food diaries in helping people lose weight. Companies including Weight Watchers International Inc use food diaries in their weight-loss programs. "For those who are working on weight loss, just writing down everything you eat is a pretty powerful technique," Victor Stevens of Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research in Portland said in a telephone interview. "It helps the participants see where the extra calories are coming from, and then develop more specific plans to deal with those situations," said Stevens, who helped lead the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The technique also helps hold dieters accountable for what they are eating, Stevens said. The study involved people from four U.S. cities: Portland, Oregon; Baltimore, Maryland; Durham, North Carolina; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Their average weight loss was about 13 pounds (6 kg). But those keeping food diaries six or seven days a week lost about 18 pounds (8 kg) compared to 9 pounds (4 kg) for those not regularly keeping a food diary. The average age of people in the study was 55."Keeping a food diary doesn't have to be a formal thing. Just the act of scribbling down what you eat on a Post-It note, sending yourself e-mails tallying each meal or sending yourself a text message will suffice," Dr. Keith Bachman, another Kaiser Permanente expert, said in a statement.
They were asked to eat less fat, more vegetables, fruit and whole grains, exercise 180 minutes a week mostly by walking, attend group meetings, and keep a detailed food diary. "Keeping a food diary doesn't have to be a formal thing. Just the act of scribbling down what you eat on a Post-It note, sending yourself e-mails tallying each meal or sending yourself a text message will suffice," Dr. Keith Bachman, another Kaiser Permanente expert, said in a statement.

GA$ PRICE$

The price of gas is fast approaching $4 a gallon here in Texas, and it's got me wondering: how do gas prices work anyway? Who decides that price, WHY does it keep rising, and where exactly does my money end up after I've filled my tank? If you're wondering the same thing, this nifty web-site sums it up nicely: http://www.howstuffworks.com/gas-price.htm


Also, instead of wasting gas wandering around town to see who has got the most affordable fuel, this website: http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip&src=Netx lets you type in your zip code, then promptly tells you who's offering the cheapest gas in town (and how to get there!) CHECK IT OUT!


Now that you understand what you're paying for, and where to get the best price in your area, DRIVE SMART! Here are some tips to help you drive green, and get the most for your money: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=434587

Affordable Summer Vacations

Summer vacation? Who has the time – OR the FUNDS – for THAT anymore? In the midst of rapidly rising gas and grocery prices, summer school classes (5 chapters in ONE week? REALLY?!?!), and the gazillion other things we’ve all got going on, I was desperate to salvage the possibility of escaping to some place enticing during the summer – EVEN IF it was just for a day (or even a few hours)! That’s what summer was meant for –right? Well, come to find out, there are TONS of fabulous, affordable places to have a summer adventure RIGHT HERE in the DFW area, and one tank of gas beyond! Check out THIS awesome list of 55 One Tank Getaways, complete with links, maps, and things to do once you arrive: http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/daytrip/

If you’re looking to vacate just for the day, there’s PLENTY to do in Dallas and Fort Worth, too! This list will hip you to 50 Fun & Free Things to do in Dallas: http://tourtexas.com/dallas/dallas50free.html And, if you’re feeling REALLY adventurous, check out THIS list of Funky Things to do in Dallas: http://dallas.citysearch.com/roundup/41297/ It includes a laundry-mat/bar/music venue called Bar of Soap. WHY NOT have a rockin’ good time while waiting for your laundry to dry?

Fort Worth also hosts a myriad of local charms. THIS list: http://www.igougo.com/attractions-l1207-things_to_do_in_Fort_Worth.html includes the The Modern Art Museum, where kids can participate in a FREE ART LESSON one Wednesday a month! And, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame - the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trail blazing efforts.

And, there you have it! As it turns out, The Lone Star State has plenty to offer in terms of affordable summer excursions! I hope this list inspires at least a little bit of fun in your summer ahead!

Need to Save Money and/or Gas?

Go to the commuter website to find helpful hints about how to increase fuel economy and to find the cheapest gas prices around Denton. http://www.twu.edu/o-sl/studentcenter/commuter/sub_pages/gastips.html.

COMMUTER NET

PLANNING ON LIVING AT HOME? Want to meet other off campus freshmen? Check out COMMUTER NET. Not only will you be able to fulfill your English and History requirements, but also these courses are reserved only for Commuter NET students. In addition to reserved courses, social events and study groups are organized just for Commuter NET students. Living Learning Communities (LLC) at Texas Woman’s University provide student learning opportunities outside the classroom that strengthen student intellectual and personal growth. Designed to integrate curricular and co-curricular experiences, they complement and extend classroom learning by fostering faculty and student interaction enhancing the intellectual and personal development of the commuters. Upper class students, who are LLC alumni, serve as Peer Advisors (PA), assisting in the University 1011 course, organizing study groups and social outings in coordination with the Director of Commuter Services. To download the Commuter Net application go to http://www.twu.edu/o-sl/studentcenter/commuter/sub_pages/orientation.html.

Freshman Orientation

Join us for Freshman OrientationJune 12-13, June 16-17, July 14-15, July 18-19 or August 7-8, 2008. For more information, go to http://www.twu.edu/o-sl/Orientation/.

Commuter Spring Events

Tue 2/5 Commuter Break MCL 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Wed 2/6 Commuter Break ASB 4:30pm- 6:00pm
Sat 2/23 Open House SU 8:30am to 2:00pm
Tue 3/4 Family Night SU 207 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Wed 3/5 Commuter Break MCL 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Thurs 3/6 Commuter Break ASB 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Wed 3/12 Apartment Fair SU 11:00am - 1:00pm
Tue 4/1 Commuter Break ASB 4:30am - 6:00pm
Wed 4/2 Commuter Break MCL 4:30am - 6:00pm
Mon 4/21 Commuter Breakfast ASB/MCL 7:30am - 9:00am
Mon 4/21Commuter Break MCL 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Tue 4/22 Commuter BreakfastASB/MCL 7:30am - 9:00am
Tue 4/22 Commuter Lunch SU 207 12:30 - 1:00pm
Tue 4/22 Commuter Break ASB 4:30pm - 6:00pm