I'm keeping a log...day 13

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 1 order of fries from in n out
- 2/3 of a milk shake
- 50 pringles
- 1 slice plain cheesecake
- 1 slice chocolate chip cheesecake
- 12 dark chocolate m&m's
- 4 wheat crackers

Horoscope: Something small seems to tip the balance and get you the attention you deserve -- though maybe from some rather surprising people! It's a really good day to leverage your reputation.

Seven Cups of Coffee a Day May Lead to Hallucinations (Update1)

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Consuming the caffeine in seven cups of instant coffee a day may leave you more likely to see, hear and smell things that aren’t there, U.K. researchers said.

People who drink at least 330 milligrams of the stimulant a day were three times as likely to have hallucinations as those who consumed less than 10 milligrams a day, Durham University researchers found in a study of 219 college students published today in Personality and Individual Differences.

The study, the first to link caffeine and hallucinations, explored the relationship between high caffeine consumption and an increased release of cortisol, a stress hormone believed to contribute to delusions, lead researcher Simon Jones said. It forms the first step toward examining nutrition as a factor in the occurrence of hallucinations, he said.

“Given the link between food and mood, and particularly between caffeine and the body’s response to stress, it seems sensible to examine what a nutritional perspective might add,” Jones said in a statement.

It may also be that people under stress and more susceptible to hallucinations are also more likely to consume high levels of caffeine, Jones said in an interview. Caffeine is also contained in tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and some foods.

“There would be no real reason for me to stop drinking tea,” said Jones. “I don’t see a reason to change a moderate intake.”

Starbucks

The amount of caffeine linked to hallucinations in the study would also be equivalent to about seven 8-ounce cups of brewed black tea or about 3 1/2 8-ounce cups of brewed black coffee, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site. One 16-ounce Starbucks Corp. drip coffee also has 330 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Starbucks Web site.

Starbucks spokeswoman Tara Darrow declined to comment in an email, saying the Seattle-based company was aware of the research but hadn’t been able to review how it was conducted.

The U.K. researchers used surveys to assess daily caffeine intake and past experience with hallucinations. Cigarette smokers, known to be more sensitive to caffeine, weren’t allowed to participate, and volunteers’ stress levels and proneness to hallucinatory experiences were taken into account.

Nine of the 22 people in the highest-caffeine group reported hearing disembodied voices, compared with three of the 22 people in the lowest-caffeine group, Jones said. Participants also reported seeing things that weren’t there and sensing the presence of dead people.

To contact the reporter on this story: Naomi Kresge in Zurich at nkresge@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: January 14, 2009 08:57 EST

I'm keeping a log...day 11

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 6oz diet pepsi
- 15 sour cream onion pringles
- tiramisu
- ice cream

Horoscope: You should feel free to say 'yes' to almost anything that comes your way today -- as long as it's vaguely reasonable! It's a great time to start new projects of all kinds, so don't be timid.

I'm keeping a log...day 9

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 1 whole poppy seed muffin
- 6oz diet pepsi
- 15 sour cream onion pringles
- 1 pepermint

Horoscope: No matter what you're trying to learn, you ought to be able to get the facts today. Your mental energy is tapped into something larger and that makes it much simpler to get what you need.

I'm keeping a log...day 8

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 6 oz diet pepsi
- 8 dark chocolate m&m's
- 15 sour cream onion pringles
- small serving fat free caramel corn

Horoscope: See if you can keep your workplace from exploding with tension today -- people are much more difficult to work with, but that just means you'll look that much better when you pull it off!

I'm keeping a log...day 7

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 20 oz mountain dew
- 1 klondike ice cream sandwich
- 20 dark chocolate m&m's

Horoscope: You don't mind a challenge every now and then but today it all seems rather gratuitous! People are tossing up roadblocks for no good reason and you've just got to deal with each one as it comes.

I'm keeping a log...day 5

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- diet pepsi about 6 oz
- a piece of worthers butterscotch
- some fat free caramel popcorn

Horoscope: You're going through quite a lot today -- largely internal! You may find yourself up high or down low without a moment's notice, but you can expect any given situation to reverse a few times.

I'm keeping a log...day 4

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- some fat free caramel popcorn

Horoscope: You're feeling much less serious than usual today and that's just right for most people and their energy. Have fun and play around with the folks around you -- then get back to work tomorrow.

2009 I hope it's fine...

So I decided that I need to lose a little weight this year and limit my intake of junk food. I have temptations at work (ice cream in the freezer and candy at my desk) will make it a bit of a challenge. I love chips and have two containers of Pringles in the file cabinet.

I am trying to also cut down on the beverages that I drink and don't drink. I would like to drink more water each day. Even if it is tea. New year new me and that's how I'm going to look at it. I know my life is boring and no one reads it, but at least I'm documenting my life and the changes in my life that I'm trying to change.

My best Christmas present was a Phi-Ten necklace that I wear on my wrist and I have since ordered a proper bracelet and sleeves to help my arms.

Horoscope:

I'm keeping a log...day 2

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- a chewy chocolate fudge
- some fat free caramel popcorn
- 4 dark chocolate m&m's
- dried chili flavor mango

Horoscope: Shopping might be a good idea today, as long as you've got the time to really compare deals. You're in the right frame of mind to save yourself quite a few bucks and a friend could use your services, too!

I'm keeping a log...day 1

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- wasabi peas
- dried chili mangos
- 4 dark chocolate m&m's

Horoscope: It's incredibly easy for you to keep yourself locked in focus like a laser beam -- your great mental energy keeps you disciplined and engaged. If you don't have any crucial projects, pick something fun!