KISSMYCOOKIE- Page 41

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:42am

A giant HUG for Cookie!

When Cookie puts his arm out, Addy comes running!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:46am

my arm appears to be making its rounds....

A SQUOOSH for Addy always!

And scrunches for PJ!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:49am

Oh, Cookie... you're asking for trouble with that statement!

Thanks for the hug... haven't had one in a while. I've missed them.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 1:55am

where will it show up next?

[cturtle]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 2:04am

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 8:47am

*tiptoes in with a cup of coffee for Cookie, who was up kind of late last night*

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 8:52am

Triple espresso time this AM.

And Addy--the day I decide to go out in a turban: do me a favor and shoot me.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 8:53am

only if you talk too much...

I vote for hats! You can't go wrong with hats!

[beacon1]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 9:21am

Good morning, Cookie dear...

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 9:50am

beacon... you just make me giggle, because even when you're being sweet I think you're plotting something...

[beacon1]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 9:52am

LOL...

always keep 'em guessing... :o) That's my motto (just ask Mr. Wilson!)

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:19am

I'm guessing Mr. Wilson would smile at that...

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:22am

set up the caffeine drip please...

*scrunches all around*

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:25am

A strong cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast for Cookie!

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:26am

Yes, Cookie eat well! Keep up the food intake for the muscle growth!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:28am

I spy Mr. Varley on my thread! What a treat and an honour!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:29am

Hey, Cookie. Still lovin' that avatar.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:32am

pumping it for you, baby...

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:34am

*ahem*

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:36am

sweetie, you get both arms

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:41am

Addy, come on! It's nearly my birthday. Can't Cookie pump just once for me?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:44am

are you trying to delete my thread, mister?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:46am

How come Cookie can build muscle with chocolate while I have to cut down on carbs and do protein and veggies? IT'S NOT FAIR!

[aliceripleysnumber1]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:57am

Hi cookie! Can I feel your bicep? *blushes*

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 10:58am

Mmm...chocolate. The product of the cacao tree has been winning fans since Aztec leader Montezuma introduced the beverage (chocolate candy as we know it didn't appear until the 1800's) to the Spanish conqueror Cortez, who subsequently took it home to Spain. (While the original drink was rather bitter, the Spanish made a few creative innovations - using sugar instead of chilies, and adding cinnamon and vanilla).

What is it that makes chocolate so irresistible? A large part of chocolate's allure, of course, lies in the taste - a deliciously rich concoction that satisfies the most intense craving. But several chemical reactions are also at work. For one thing, chocolate stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasureable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles.

Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin, that acts as an anti-depressant. Other substances, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, have a stimulating effect. However, the truth is that scientists are still not positive how the over three-hundred chemicals contained in chocolate make us feel so good.

Harmful Effects?

With so much going for it, it's unfortunate that chocolate has developed a bad reputation on the health front. Confirmed chocoholics often worry that indulging their craving will lead to everything from rotting teeth to acne, not to mention the need to lose a few pounds.

Fortunately, scientists are beginning to disprove some common myths about the dangers of eating too much chocolate. For example, it is not true that eating chocolate can cause acne or make it worse. Nor is chocolate the threat to healthy teeth that it was once thought to be. While both cocoa and chocolate contain sugar, they also have properties that work against sugar's tendency to produce the oral bacteria that eventually leads to dental decay. In fact, researchers at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, have concluded that milk chocolate is one of the snack foods that is least likely to contribute to tooth decay, since it contains phosphate and other minerals.

Furthermore, while chocolate may not be the most healthy snack around, it does contain a number of nutrients. High in potassium and magnesium, chocolate also provides us with several vitamins - including B1, B2, D, and E. As for calories, no one is going to claim chocolate is the quintessential diet food. Still, the average chocolate bar contains approximately 250 calories - low enough for a dieter to enjoy one as an occasional treat. Besides, indulging your chocolate craving from time to time can help prevent the bingeing that is a dieter's worst enemy.