I’ve become a reading machine — Mark got me a Kindle Fire HD for Christmas, and I’ve been mowing through books like it’s my job. I always loved reading, but, — this may sound terrible — holding books has become tedious to me since my hands are so small, and the books I want to read are usually pretty big. I was spending more time fumbling with the book to get a comfortable grip than I was reading. But the Kindle Fire is the perfect size, and I love it (so far). I even made a cute case for it (complete with glasses-wearing hipster deer):
Lately I’ve immersed myself in a series of books, documentaries, and articles related to health, nutrition, and fitness. I’ve obviously got a vested interest in these topics, but I’m not an expert. And up until now the opinions I’ve formed on these subjects were based on my own personal experiences and ideas, and not scientific research or expert sources.
However, I’m making a concerted effort to change my approach to forming my opinions on health, nutrition, and fitness (and other aspects of my life). In fact, I’ve become so interested in nutrition that I’m debating on whether I want to continue my masters degree in graphic design, or switch to a nutrition-related scientific field. The latter would require me to take some basic undergraduate science classes before pursuing a graduate degree, and the former could be done AND I could supplement the degree with my interest in nutrition by taking 2-3 classes in nutritional biochemistry or nutritional science in addition since my graphic design degree requires several non-degree credits.
And, as I mentioned last week, I will be having regular guest posts from a registered dietitian, and a nutritional biochemistry student (or, as I like to call her, an “expert-in-training”). If I do take a nutrition class, I’ll share info with you. And as I read more books and watch more documentaries, I’ll review some of them for you.
Anyway. Long explanation. And to go with that long explanation for my sudden interest in research, I have a long list of materials that I’ve read and watched in the past month that have helped me begin to form more educated opinions on the matters of health, nutrition, and fitness. I’ve got a bunch more in queue (mostly to read).
Film
Written Word
- Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch *** This has changed my life. I’m going to start a read-along with this book VERY soon.
- I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson
- Sweet Poison by David Gillespie
- Food Rules by Michael Pollan
- The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
- In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
- Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels (and an endocrinologist — because, Jillian is NOT an expert on nutrition either)
- Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes
I also picked up a lot of free K-12 science books on subjects that my school was lacking, or that I failed to take in high school, such as biology, nutrition, and basic chemistry. I’m hoping that my newfound interest in very (very) basic nutritional biochemistry will help me gain some of the knowledge that I missed in grade school, and that I can finally be friends with a science. That, and I hope some of this knowledge will help me not feel so stupid when my friends, who are mostly engineers, are geeking math and science.
Again, I’m far from an expert, but I’m hoping to start to back up my opinions that I share with you with examples from experts.
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What do you geek?
21 Responses to immersion.
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Hi there. I'm Calee (pronounced CAL-e). If that's too hard, just call me Cal. Also known as chimes or the chimes. I'm 28ish, a designer, a runner, a self-proclaimed fitness queen, a craftster, a foodie, a music snob — some might call me a hipster. Here's the unabridged version.
I “geek” the very same things you talked about here . . . which ultimately led me to enrolling in classes at IIN. I’ll be graduating next month (gahhhh!), and will be a certified health coach! Yay! I still have my “day-time” job (teacher), as I spent a lot of time working on that, but I just couldn’t ignore these other topics that I was passionate about researching. Who knows where this will take me now, but I have loved pursuing/studying/researching what interests me! So cool that you enjoy some of the same things!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance recently posted..Honey Balsamic Turnips
It’s funny because everything and everybody keep(s) leading me back to that. I’m worried I wouldn’t be able to get a job that I enjoy with that certificate/degree/whatever you’d call it, but I know it would be very interesting for me to study.
Cute hipster deer!!
I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on Vegucated and Forks Over Knives! I’ve read a few books on your list. I have all of Michael Pollan’s and got to see him speak about 4 years ago (and sign my books!). I totally geeked out when I met him.
I geek out over food, spices, beer, etc. And FONTS.
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted..Tomato+Balsamic Bulgur Salad
I really enjoyed vegucated, but forks over knives and a few of these other movies blend together. I didn’t like how they showed ONLY the bad animal treatment in vegucated. It is possible to eat meat that’s humanely treated, and from an animal that’s possibly actually happy (if there is such a thing — I think so, Barney is pretty happy).
So jealous you met Michael Pollen! Very cool!
I read and watched very similar stuff before and during my change in diet and learned so much. I also happened to visit China around that time and experienced first hand a lot of what people talk about as it relates to nutrition (since the chinese have been adopting many of our bad nutrition habits). It’s very eye-opening!
Heather @ Better With Veggies recently posted..Want to get Pretty Muddy…for Cheaper?
Yes — I can’t remember which movie i saw that tidbit about China adopting our Western diet, but it was frightening.
Love that case! Hipster deer!!
Jessica recently posted..Happiness Highlights of the Week
The Kindle Fire is so amazing-I got one for Christmas and I can’t put it down! Thanks for listing those books, too. I’ve been looking for a few new ones to download and study!
Amanda @KnotLiving recently posted..Twice Baked Potato, Microwave Style
no problem! they’re good ones.
Calee (@chimes) — life + running recently posted..WIAW: The best salad I have ever, ever had.
Thanks for the suggested reading list! I will get these downloaded ASAP!
No problem! Add to that “why french women don’t get fat” and “why we get fat, and what to do about it”. I have a bunch more in queue that I want to read, including those.
Calee (@chimes) — life + running recently posted..WIAW: The best salad I have ever, ever had.
I’ve been getting interested in health topics lately as well but I’ve struggled to know where to look for the best informative, non-biased information. Thanks for the book suggestions…I’ll take a look!
P.S. I would take nutrition classes if I were you. I wish I had in retrospect…the topic is so interesting to me now!
Alex @ Alex Tries it Out recently posted..My 1-year Blog-O-Versary!
You bet your cute little butt that I’m planning on it. I dropped 2 of my classes (as I know we discussed) but one was a food/nutrition class. I’m thinking about taking 2 classes over the summer or fall so I can get financial aid to get a new computer (yeah, not how you’re s’possed to do it, but a long-term loan is better than a short-term credit card bill with high interest, and my lappy is dying). Anyway. long response there, but i’m going to! I might even sign up for the class I’d dropped (if there’s room) yet this semester if my grad course isn’t too terrible. I think I’ll have time, and I can get the financial aid and get my laptop (I sound like a terrible person! haha).
Calee (@chimes) — life + running recently posted..WIAW: The best salad I have ever, ever had.
Lol good! I really do wish I would’ve.
And no judging, my roommate used to use her financial aid money to go shopping for clothes. Yours is legit, at least.
And macs are freaking expensive, so I don’t blame you there. (Best to buy in the fall to get the full student discount/add ons.)
Alex @ Alex Tries it Out recently posted..My 1-year Blog-O-Versary!
haha i might be trying to do it now … mostly because there was an intro class that is online this semester, and i feel like it’s going to fill up in the fall since it’s a complete intro class.
Calee (@chimes) — life + running recently posted..WIAW: The best salad I have ever, ever had.
I’m sure you can handle it, you seem pretty on top of things. And that’s probably a good point…intro classes in fall always fill up!
Alex @ Alex Tries it Out recently posted..My 1-year Blog-O-Versary!
Considering that I’m reading a bunch of nutrition stuff in my spare time … I think I’ll be okay. I opted for the 100 level class over the 300 level class I was originally enrolled in … I figured that’d be easier. I’m hoping that since I’m a grad student i’m exempt from the biology pre-req b/c i didn’t ever take any hs biology …
Calee (@chimes) — life + running recently posted..WIAW: The best salad I have ever, ever had.
Yeah you should have a good footing already. Hope so. I don’t think biology would be a lot of fun! (And I bet it’d be hard.) I never took biology either. Took chemistry because I thought I wanted to grow up to be a darkroom photographer…lol.
Alex @ Alex Tries it Out recently posted..My 1-year Blog-O-Versary!
I always feel like I never read because I’m not finishing actual novels. But the reality is that I read ALL.THE.TIME! I’m constantly reading health and nutrition related articles and books. I’ve checked out basically all the nutrition documentaries from our library and love them all. I’ve watched them all from you list above. My favorite was Fresh! I’m such a nerd I even take notes while watching them! Lol. I haven’t completed it yet, but am working on a round-up/summary/my take post of the documentaries I’ve watched lately.
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