I prefer to run outdoors and do yoga than workout at a gym, but I do pay for a gym membership. For me, my 24 hour fitness membership is necessary so that I can exercise before work (starting around 4 AM) a few days each week. Plus, I got a GREAT deal on a 2 year gym membership from Costco.
I think Ashley was just trying to stem the inevitable backlash that comes from admitting that one wants to be healthy on Wisebread. It's a surefire way to get people screaming at you about how unAmerican you are.
I suppose one could live without an inside bathroom and running water too, but: Why?
A microwave does NOT use nuclear radiation! It uses electromagnetic radiation, the same as the radio waves from your cell or cordless phone, though obviously much stronger.
I wholeheartedly concur with avoiding the abomination that is microwave popcorn, preferring my Stir Crazy and popping it in olive oil. Doesn't even really need butter when done that way.
However, many foods are much more healthful when microwaved. Vegetables lose less nutrition, leftovers dry out a lot less. I like microwaved "baked" potatoes a lot too.
According to Wikipedia: "Spinach retains nearly all its folate when cooked in a microwave; in comparison, it loses about 77 percent when cooked on a stove, because food on a stove is typically boiled, leaching out nutrients. Steamed vegetables tend to maintain more nutrients when microwaved than when cooked on a stovetop. Bacon cooked by microwave has significantly lower levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines than conventionally cooked bacon."
And what on earth is wrong with boiling tea water or reheating coffee in the microwave? It's quicker, more energy efficient, the coffee is better for not being scalded, and it saves washing a pot.
I don't eat TV dinners. I have pretty healthy eating habits, and one thing that contributes to that is the ability to quickly prepare from scratch a tasty meal instead of going for convenience food. My microwave certainly assists me in that evdeavour.
If Ms. Watson wants to be without this modern convenience, fine. I certainly wouldn't want to be without mine, unless it's because I'm camping.
I've been mostly fine without one for 3 years now. My tiny apartment kitchen didn't come with one and there's really no room so I've done without. I thaw stuff on a stainless steel steak platter and have always used my electric kettle for water even when I had a microwave. I miss it occasionally for leftovers that don't hold up as well reheating on the stove or in an oven, or when I'm hungry and in a hurry. I also don't have kids--many of my friends seem to use their microwaves mostly for kid-related things.
I am a nightowl and really hate getting up early in the morning. It came from years of working on the nightshift in the medical field. I really do find that I function better when I go to bed around 1 a.m. in the morning and get up between 8 and 9 a.m. The downside to being a night owl is that by the time you actually get going with the nitty-gritty, business hours are half way done.
I installed a dual flusher for my toilet. #1 only uses a 1/2 flush. cost me $20 at Home Depot (but you can do some research online too). I don' t know how much it has saved me but I like the idea of using less water to flush liquid. My boyfriend's fraternity has since installed them in all 4 bathrooms.
Could not agree more. I notice that during my premium work hours 7:30AM-11:30AM and 6PM-8PM I can get done triple what I can during the rest of my day. I'm not sure why my bio-rhythms operate this way but I know that it can be a great time management tool for me. I also notice that if I force myself to get a physical workout in around 3:30 this can make a big difference to my productivity levels.
I don't pay for a gym membership. Instead, I use a free website called "Training Mobs" to find cheap and free workouts in the area. I don't have a recurring bill, I meet cool people and I NEVER get bored. It's at www.trainingmobs.com
I pay for a gym membership, but the reason I chose the gym that I did, is because many of the classes are taught outside. See, I am a big fan of working out in the sunshine, but I am also a big fan of the group exercise classes. Within my group of friends, I am the only one who seems to work out! So, it is a much cheaper option for me to pay for a gym membership and take the classes that come with it, rather than pay extra for a trainer or bootcamp group, which can charge a lot. No matter what you do, though, It's important to stay healthy! In fact, we just wrote a great post at Mango about staying healthy, on a budget! Check it out: http://blog.mangomoney.com/how-to/healthy-waist-healthy-wallet-12-good-f...
I refuse to pay for a gym membership. Instead, I go online to find the best places to walk/hike/bike near home and work. I get to discover new neighborhood features I'd totally miss in a car. I do pushups in the park and triceps dips on park benches. A park near my house has a chinup bar, so I use that as well. I have a small set of free weights I use at home. In the winter, I dance a lot...I do pay for dance lessons then, with the money I save by not paying for the gym. This fall I also plan to get back to horseback riding.
The only reason I have a microwave is for my husband. I've never liked it. I would rather heat food on the stove then zap it with radiation. Even cold pizza I reheat in the oven; it gets gross otherwise. Thanks for this post. Down with the microwave!
We've been sans microwave for at least 5 years & don't miss it either. About all we used it for was heating cups of water for tea in the morning and the occasional bowl of popcorn. But an electronic teapot heats water just as fast (especially considering it heats 4 cups' worth in one go), and stovetop popcorn tastes better & is ready just as quickly. [Actually, my spouse despises microwave popcorn and we really like not having the house smell like it.]
And since we live in an older house, any time we used the microwave we had to have just about everything else on that circuit turned off, or we'd trip the breaker. So not having one is much more convenient for us.
Good post. One comment though, I couldn't help but notice that you describe your being vegan in the past as a negative thing ("neurotic"). Being Vegan is not about being neurotic or restrictive. Its about enjoying a slew of veggies, grains and beans, improving one's health, and minimizing harm to the animals and the planet.
I am sorry to hear that your experience was a negative one, but it can be positive too. I've been a vegetarian for 5 years and became vegan last year. I do not miss meat and dairy products one bit. My cholesterol went down, I lost weight and I am feeling healthier than ever.
Agreed. For me, it is between 5-7am. Not sure how I became a morning person, but I am incredibly focused and able to get more done in those two hours of the day than in the next 8 combined....an overstatement, but not too far off. It is also not just quantity of work but quality. I am at my most creative and inventive in the early morning, and able to crank out my best work.
I had a friend who got rid of his microwave a few years back. Not sure if he kept up with that or not, but it was always kind of amusing to hear him talk. Really, though, you could live without it, it's just the convenience factor of everything.
I liked the facebook update.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/carrotrunr/status/89127479670882304
I prefer to run outdoors and do yoga than workout at a gym, but I do pay for a gym membership. For me, my 24 hour fitness membership is necessary so that I can exercise before work (starting around 4 AM) a few days each week. Plus, I got a GREAT deal on a 2 year gym membership from Costco.
Remind me not to invite you to my birthday party, sourpuss.
I think Ashley was just trying to stem the inevitable backlash that comes from admitting that one wants to be healthy on Wisebread. It's a surefire way to get people screaming at you about how unAmerican you are.
I suppose one could live without an inside bathroom and running water too, but: Why?
A microwave does NOT use nuclear radiation! It uses electromagnetic radiation, the same as the radio waves from your cell or cordless phone, though obviously much stronger.
I wholeheartedly concur with avoiding the abomination that is microwave popcorn, preferring my Stir Crazy and popping it in olive oil. Doesn't even really need butter when done that way.
However, many foods are much more healthful when microwaved. Vegetables lose less nutrition, leftovers dry out a lot less. I like microwaved "baked" potatoes a lot too.
According to Wikipedia: "Spinach retains nearly all its folate when cooked in a microwave; in comparison, it loses about 77 percent when cooked on a stove, because food on a stove is typically boiled, leaching out nutrients. Steamed vegetables tend to maintain more nutrients when microwaved than when cooked on a stovetop. Bacon cooked by microwave has significantly lower levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines than conventionally cooked bacon."
And what on earth is wrong with boiling tea water or reheating coffee in the microwave? It's quicker, more energy efficient, the coffee is better for not being scalded, and it saves washing a pot.
I don't eat TV dinners. I have pretty healthy eating habits, and one thing that contributes to that is the ability to quickly prepare from scratch a tasty meal instead of going for convenience food. My microwave certainly assists me in that evdeavour.
If Ms. Watson wants to be without this modern convenience, fine. I certainly wouldn't want to be without mine, unless it's because I'm camping.
I've been mostly fine without one for 3 years now. My tiny apartment kitchen didn't come with one and there's really no room so I've done without. I thaw stuff on a stainless steel steak platter and have always used my electric kettle for water even when I had a microwave. I miss it occasionally for leftovers that don't hold up as well reheating on the stove or in an oven, or when I'm hungry and in a hurry. I also don't have kids--many of my friends seem to use their microwaves mostly for kid-related things.
Excellent list of freebies. I just might have to sign up for a few of these.
I am a nightowl and really hate getting up early in the morning. It came from years of working on the nightshift in the medical field. I really do find that I function better when I go to bed around 1 a.m. in the morning and get up between 8 and 9 a.m. The downside to being a night owl is that by the time you actually get going with the nitty-gritty, business hours are half way done.
Thanks for the link love for Canadian Finance Blog!
I installed a dual flusher for my toilet. #1 only uses a 1/2 flush. cost me $20 at Home Depot (but you can do some research online too). I don' t know how much it has saved me but I like the idea of using less water to flush liquid. My boyfriend's fraternity has since installed them in all 4 bathrooms.
Could not agree more. I notice that during my premium work hours 7:30AM-11:30AM and 6PM-8PM I can get done triple what I can during the rest of my day. I'm not sure why my bio-rhythms operate this way but I know that it can be a great time management tool for me. I also notice that if I force myself to get a physical workout in around 3:30 this can make a big difference to my productivity levels.
I don't pay for a gym membership. Instead, I use a free website called "Training Mobs" to find cheap and free workouts in the area. I don't have a recurring bill, I meet cool people and I NEVER get bored. It's at www.trainingmobs.com
Can't wait!
I pay for a gym membership, but the reason I chose the gym that I did, is because many of the classes are taught outside. See, I am a big fan of working out in the sunshine, but I am also a big fan of the group exercise classes. Within my group of friends, I am the only one who seems to work out! So, it is a much cheaper option for me to pay for a gym membership and take the classes that come with it, rather than pay extra for a trainer or bootcamp group, which can charge a lot. No matter what you do, though, It's important to stay healthy! In fact, we just wrote a great post at Mango about staying healthy, on a budget! Check it out:
http://blog.mangomoney.com/how-to/healthy-waist-healthy-wallet-12-good-f...
I agree with Kate, if you make sure you turn it off every night that is to me the number 1 energy waster. Takes a couple of seconds if that.
No, I am a student so I have free access to my school gym.
I refuse to pay for a gym membership. Instead, I go online to find the best places to walk/hike/bike near home and work. I get to discover new neighborhood features I'd totally miss in a car. I do pushups in the park and triceps dips on park benches. A park near my house has a chinup bar, so I use that as well. I have a small set of free weights I use at home. In the winter, I dance a lot...I do pay for dance lessons then, with the money I save by not paying for the gym. This fall I also plan to get back to horseback riding.
The only reason I have a microwave is for my husband. I've never liked it. I would rather heat food on the stove then zap it with radiation. Even cold pizza I reheat in the oven; it gets gross otherwise. Thanks for this post. Down with the microwave!
We've been sans microwave for at least 5 years & don't miss it either. About all we used it for was heating cups of water for tea in the morning and the occasional bowl of popcorn. But an electronic teapot heats water just as fast (especially considering it heats 4 cups' worth in one go), and stovetop popcorn tastes better & is ready just as quickly. [Actually, my spouse despises microwave popcorn and we really like not having the house smell like it.]
And since we live in an older house, any time we used the microwave we had to have just about everything else on that circuit turned off, or we'd trip the breaker. So not having one is much more convenient for us.
I just saw that my Article "8 Tips to Exercise at Home" was mentioned on Wise Bread, thanks for featuring my Article.
Andrea
Good post. One comment though, I couldn't help but notice that you describe your being vegan in the past as a negative thing ("neurotic"). Being Vegan is not about being neurotic or restrictive. Its about enjoying a slew of veggies, grains and beans, improving one's health, and minimizing harm to the animals and the planet.
I am sorry to hear that your experience was a negative one, but it can be positive too. I've been a vegetarian for 5 years and became vegan last year. I do not miss meat and dairy products one bit. My cholesterol went down, I lost weight and I am feeling healthier than ever.
I understand you CAN do all of those things sans microwave, but the microwave uses less power than a lot of those options - especially the stove.
Agreed. For me, it is between 5-7am. Not sure how I became a morning person, but I am incredibly focused and able to get more done in those two hours of the day than in the next 8 combined....an overstatement, but not too far off. It is also not just quantity of work but quality. I am at my most creative and inventive in the early morning, and able to crank out my best work.
I had a friend who got rid of his microwave a few years back. Not sure if he kept up with that or not, but it was always kind of amusing to hear him talk. Really, though, you could live without it, it's just the convenience factor of everything.