Coffee Love & Thrift Store Deals
It’s Wednesday! What’s on the agenda guys? I am trying to relish my last days before life gets (more) C-R-A-Z-Y! Training for work begins tomorrow, my bro’s wedding is 8/30 and school starts 8/31! Lots coming up! I am making a schedule of how I will fit in strength training and cardio work-outs based on my upcoming schedule, which leaves very little time for being unproductive (and even less time for sleep and fun lol). Do you guys schedule in your work-out sessions or just aim to fit them in?
Coffee
JavaTurtle on Flickr here
I heart coffee. It’s right up there on the list with chocolate, cheesecake and pizza. And as America’s number one source of antioxidants, I don’t think I’m alone in lovin’ it.
Some possible pros and cons of coffee, per Harvard Medical School here, as relates to:
Blood pressure. Results from long-term studies are showing that coffee may not increase the risk for high blood pressure over time, as previously thought. Study findings for other cardiovascular effects are a mixed bag.
Cancer. Coffee might have anti-cancer properties. Last year, researchers found that coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to get liver cancer than nondrinkers. A few studies have found ties to lower rates of colon, breast, and rectal cancers.
Cholesterol. Two substances in coffee — kahweol and cafestol — raise cholesterol levels. Paper filters capture these substances, but that doesn’t help the many people who now drink non-filtered coffee drinks, such as lattes. Researchers have also found a link between cholesterol increases and decaffeinated coffee, possibly because of the type of bean used to make certain decaffeinated coffees.
Diabetes. Heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as light drinkers or nondrinkers. Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar. A coffee habit may also increase your resting metabolism rate, which could help keep diabetes at bay.
Parkinson’s disease. Coffee seems to protect men, but not women, against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes.
Do you guys drink coffee? How and how often? Do you purchase it from a coffee shop or make it yourself?
If you are a Starbucks lover, you can find all the nutrition information for their coffees here. They also have a list of all “under 200 calories” options, some of which include (based on a tall serving):
- BREWED COFFEE — 5 calories, 0 g fat
- BREWED TAZO® TEA — 0 calories, 0 g fat
- NONFAT TAZO® GREEN TEA LATTE — 130 calories, 0 g fat
- NONFAT CAPPUCCINO — 80 calories, 0 g fat
- NONFAT CAFFÈ LATTE — 120 calories, 0 g fat
- NONFAT CARAMEL MACCHIATO — 170 calories, 1 g fat
- SOY TAZO® CHAI TEA LATTE — 190 calories, 2.5 g fat
- NONFAT CAFFÈ MOCHA – HOLD THE WHIP — 170 calories, 1.5 g fat
Thrift Store Deals
Since I discussed some of my grocery shopping money-saving tips in yesterday’s post, I thought I would share how I save money on clothes purchases, too — thrift shopping! How does saving money fit into the whole health scheme of things? Hey, a healthy bank account gives me peace of mind! All aspects of our lives are so intricately and inextricably wound, don’t you think?
Thrift shopping is something near and dear to my heart as I consider it a treasure hunt I have been embarking on with my mom for as long as I can remember.
My recent purchase, pictured, above:
- Pair of Bongo shorts
- Pair of Roxy shorts
- Pair of Old Navy Shorts
- BCBG shirt
- Banana Republic shirt
Total spent: $20.75
Do any of you go thrift store shopping?
In the News/Blogs
- That’s Fit‘s, “Worst Habits of Runners” (8/18/09) here
- Science Daily‘s, “Neuron’s That Control Obesity in Fruit Flies Identified” (8/19/09) here
- Science Daily‘s, “Whole Grain Cereals, Popcorn Rich In Antioxidants, Not Just Fiber, New Research Concludes” (8/19/09) here
- Diet Blog‘s, “Licorice May Help Cut Body Fat” (8/19/09) here
Give-Away Round Up
- Did you enter my give-away here for some Feed Granola and other loot? ;D
- And yet another Dick’s $100 gift card give away here
- Win some loot for your dog and some Amazing Grass products for yourself here
- Win some Stuffits Shoe Savers here
- Win a $50 Free People clothing gift card here
- Win a box of Lazy Baker Cookie Mix here
- Win a copy of the book Clean Food here
I hope you have a wonderful day!!
<3, The Cranky One
Tags: coffee, saving money, starbucks, thrift stores
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23 People have left comments on this post
I used to make coffee every day but since I started drinking green juice in the mornings I haven’t needed it at all. In fact, I feel more awake during my days than ever before. I do love the taste though, so every now and then I will buy a coffee if I am in the mood. Today was one of those days.
I did my 15 days with nothing but water – my drink of choice on the first day after? COFFEE!
me + coffee = love!
Totally love the thrift store, and frequent them bi-monthly, always spending around $20 for a handful of goods…it’s environmentally supportive, in my opinion as well!
Thanks for signing up for my giveaway….maybe someone could give Trader Joes COFFEE???????
I love a thrift store deal! Almost as much as I love your end of post snippets to keep me in the know. Awesomeness.
For me the coffee cons far outweigh the supposed pros. Coffee is after all just bean soup with drugs in…
I just stopped drinking coffee this week, normally I have 3-4 cups a morning with tons of SF creamer. Going to try to start a family this fall, so I might as well get off the juice now!
Can’t go a day without a morning cup of joe.
Hope your day is great!
Coffee and thrift stores – my 2 favorite things!
I drink a couple cups in the morning, and have a latte in the afternoon. I roast my own coffee, it’s easy and tastes way better than any other coffee out there (other than a specialty roaster).
And thrift shopping – I was doing this a lot as I went through sizes on the way down because I couldn’t afford a new wardrobe every 20 pounds. Now I find that I really like thrift shopping because I can get better quality clothes for the price of new stuff from Target or Kmart. Plus, it fits into my green philosophy
nice job on the bargain shopping!! thanks for the shout out
I love coffee!
Those are some awesome bargains! I may have to start browsing through thrift shops myself…
I la la love coffee! I have a couple cups in the morning with SF creamer, but trying to cut back.
Oh, how I love coffee. I limit it to one cup in the morning on most days, because I HAVE to have it with a bit of cream (and 2 splenda). Every once in a while, I’ll get an iced latte from Dunkin Donuts, skinny of course.
Holy Crap, you have a lot coming up!!!!!
I schedule my workouts. The studies do show that if you schedule them in.. WRITE then in to your schedule, you are less likely to miss. Make an appt. with your health!
OH YES, I love coffee… I am not a Starbucks fan. Too strong! I make mine at home the way I like it & if I go out, I have them water it down! I may get some sugar free flavor but none of the other stuff that ups the calories or fat.
Good luck with the days ahead!
coffee is my one true love — though sometimes it’s a little harsh on my bellayyyy so i only drink a mug a day.. but boy, do i look forward to my hazelnut java every morning .. one of life’s simplest pleasures
Thanks for the list of under 200 calorie drinks. I tend to make my own coffee at home with a french press. Organic, strong, and delicious!
I can’t drink coffee, it makes me too jittery. My morning drink(s) of choice are a green smoothie and Tazo Chai tea, no sugar or milk. Yummy, yummy!
I usually work my work outs in but I need to stop doing that because I find that I usually find some more entertaining to do and then end up doing squats and lunges right before bed.
I am so happy you like thrift store shopping! I used to do advertising for my local Goodwill, which is one of the largest in the nation.
I love all aspects of thrift stores – they are environmentally friendly, help out your community (with the community projects they support), they have good stuff and are reasonably priced!
“Do any of you go thrift store shopping?” I do, I do, I do!!! While everybody else is spending loads of money in retail stores, I’m getting great bargains at garage sales, and thrifts stores. I guess I’m not alone!
Cheers!
Cranky Blogger
Love your blog, especially the links to news at the end – please keep doing that. Sharing your research is really generous. I definately have to schedule my work outs, I work full time, do a part time law degree, I’m renovating our house with my husband and you know – having a life and a bit of fun in there would be nice on occasions. If I don’t put them in my diary they get crowded out by revision or decorating or bobbibg off to the pub with mates. AArrrggh – can’t wait to start back a class, how bout you?
I don’t do coffee.
I’ve wanted to try it, but my mom always said it was unhealthy.
I am a huge thrift store junkie, and garage sale junkie. One of my best finds? A Texas Instrument Graphing Calculator, with the manual for $3.00. Awesome!
I’ve got a serious love for coffee – not for the caffeine jolt but just because I like the taste!
Thanks for linking back
I drink one cup of decaf per weekday – made from the flavia machine at work. I put in a little powdered milk stuff and a packet of splenda. I used to drink tea but they got rid of it and I’ve been lazy about bringing in my own.
And I LOVELOVELOVE thrift shopping. I go to a place called Savers where if you donate anything you can get 20% off. I’ve been known to leave with 100 dollars worth of thrift store clothing (and yes, that’s after the discount). For a while it was needed (I was needing a new smaller wardrobe every season), but now it’s just… I might have a problem. Tee hee.
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