Vitamin A study

This is SOFA KING ironic. I can't participate in a nutrition study that would provide me with free food because I don't weigh enough.

I'm sorry to say that I can't enroll you in my study because you are too lean! I really appreciate your interest and time.

Thanks,
Ashley
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Tanumihardjo Lab
Department of Nutritional Sciences

Anyway, the point of this study is that the researchers want to look at Vitamin A levels in young, nonpregnant women because they "believe the intake recommendation may be too high".

The study is going to provide participants with groceries for twelve weeks. Deviations from the provided food must be logged, and they definitely aren't allowed to eat anything on a list of Vitamin A-rich foods. (I was happy to see that garlic wasn't one of them...my diet scares vampires.) I spend about $160 per month on groceries...I do eat a lot for a girl and I prefer fresh food, or at least dishes that have SOME fresh ingredients rather than frozen or all-instant meals. I'm not in great shape financially, so the free groceries sounded great on that front even if the menu wasn't all the stuff I like.

I had to fill out a long questionnaire on my eating habits plus the typical short "are you asthmatic/anorexic/alcoholic" health questionnaire. Then I got to sit inside this peculiar chamber called a BodPod that measures body composition...but it makes you feel like an astronaut. (Yes, that's a real picture from the manufacturer and not a starship's lifeboat from a 70s science fiction show.)

Unfortunately, not only am I underweight according to the NIH's body mass index scale, the percentage of fat in my body falls under "Ultra Lean[Women]: 15-18%: Fat levels sometimes found in elite athletes."

WHATTTTT????

I like to go for walks in the woods with my cat. I like cycling with the wind at my back on a sunny day. I like capoeira when I can get over feeling intimidated by the instructors. I swear it's gotta be genetic. My 60+ year-old aunt who's had 2 kids has dresses I can't fit into.

*Looks at bum* There's a little bit of cellulite there! Come on! *pinchpinch jiggle jiggle* The "elite athletes" thing make more sense if I was my sister who's been running cross-country for the last 15 years. It would be more funny if it didn't mean missing out on 3 months of free food...sigh.

Another little irony is that Ms. Valentine told me she's too skinny to qualify as a participant in her own study. Well, if anyone else at Madison reads this, you could try looking up the lab that's conducting the study.

Yes, I just wrote an essay complaining about being too skinny...I'm sure a lot of girls would want to kill me. I just wish I wasn't so blasted hungry all the time *putters off to find midnight snack*