bliss2009

Posts by bliss2009

Forum	Topic	Date	Replies

Foods	How to make greek yogurt taste better (w/o sugar)?	Jan 09 2009 04:24 (UTC)	3
Have you tried Capella drops? They are awesome, a couple of drops gives you major flavor in anything - I use them in plain non fat yogurt and it tastes better than regular yogurt. capellaflavordrops dot com
Weight Loss	*A NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU ~ Challenge Sign-ups*	Dec 15 2008 22:23 (UTC)	32
Member Name: bliss2009 Height: 5' 3" Starting Weight: 207 (CW 193 - will update 1/1/09) Goal Weight: 120 (6 week goal will be 8 lb) I'm excited to join the challenge!
Motivation	Small changes lead to Big rewards...	Dec 06 2008 03:38 (UTC)	27
I changed from venti non-fat, no-whip white chocolate mocha at Starbucks (490) to either a tall skinny caramel latte (90) or a large regular coffee with 2 tbsp half and half (50)
Weight Loss	Need some advice	Dec 05 2008 16:48 (UTC)	4
I agree all those fruits and veggies are healthy and I really want some grapes now. But it's best not to exclude parts of the food pyramid from your diet. Some protein, carbs and fat are necessary... maybe try adding them in small amounts at first as was suggested. I wanted to throw this out there too - losing 4 lbs in a month is actually fantastic... especially without exercise. The general recommendation is that 1-2 lbs per week is healthy, and you're losing 1lb per week. May not seem like that much, but try holding something that weighs a pound and think about how that came off of you! Times 4 in your case! The only 1-lb suggestion I can think of is a 4-stick package of butter, which I guess is apropos in an ironic kind of way.
Foods	I no longer heart Starbucks. Yeah, I said it.	Dec 05 2008 16:24 (UTC)	8
Last night my friend and I met up at Starbucks just to chat - we had this planned a while ago - and I got a tall skinny caramel latte - 90 calories and it was really good!!!!! Starbucks I officially heart you again.
The Lounge	Weight Loss Blogs	Dec 04 2008 21:38 (UTC)
pastaqueen.com poundy.com :)
The Lounge	My Daughter is overweight - Looking for suggestions	Dec 04 2008 21:04 (UTC)	28
I agree with justlaura. I would be hesitant to tell your daughter you have concerns about her weight specifically. Maybe instead, put it forth as a concern over her health and nutrition and/or level of physical activity... which really is the same thing, but sounds a whole lot better and doesn't have the same impact on young self esteem. It's obvious you only want the best for her and KUDOS for taking such a thoughtful approach to it. The steps you've already taken are great.
Weight Loss	OMG meals/snacks you used to eat	Dec 04 2008 20:19 (UTC)	14
entire bag of doritos (not the snack size bag, either) entire package of oreos, choc chip cookies, etc 12 or so graham crackers (the whole un-broken pieces) slathered in peanut butter and marshmallow fluff 2 or 3 pb and fluff sandwiches on white bread hitting fast food for all 3 meals, plus eating snacks whole bag of sweet 16 donuts (how do I love thee... let me count the ways...) a meal at Taco Bell - 3 soft tacos, a spicy chicken burrito, cheesy fiesta potatoes, 2 caramel empanadas a meal at McDonald's - double quarter pounder meal, large size, plus a 10 piece nuggets with ranch a whole medium thin crust pizza 2 or 3 american cheese and butter sandwiches on white bread whole bags of peanut m&ms - not the individual, but the big bags that are like 5"x8" or so large fries and a large vanilla milkshake (this is honestly my #1 favorite meal, and I will probably allow myself to have it once or twice a year, I love it that much) 4 or 5 chocolate dipped granola bars at once I'd get a huge bowl (like mixing bowl size), and take that, a box of cereal, and the gallon of milk to the living room, sit in front of the TV, and have myself a never-ending cereal bowl, many times til the box was empty a whole bag of Totino's pepperoni pizza rolls used to make a box of regular Kraft mac n cheese, then eat it all Cinnabon Caramel Pecanbon - 1100 CALORIES, 56 GRAMS OF FAT a loaf of french bread, a tub of butter, a knife and myself would walk into the living room... and only the plastic bread sleeve, the empty tub, the knife and myself walked back out 4 to 6 frosted strawberry pop tarts entire bag of cheddar cheese pretzel combos (not the small bag) used to drive to Taco Bell, buy two tubs of the nacho cheese, then go to Hardees and get a large curly fry to dip in it 2 or 3 packs of Little Debbie swiss rolls made brownies, then ate about 1/2 the pan a 6" meatball sub and 6" tuna sub from Subway, with a bag of chips and sweet tea x17star17x this made me LOL: "I'd make 2 batches of cookies. One for the dough, one for the cookies. I'd take 2 baked cookies and put a ball of cookie dough between them, squish, and EAT. My cookie cookie dough sandwich. Gawd.." I cannot BELIEVE I never thought of this! LOL!!! Looking at this list makes me feel quite uncomfortable. I can remember the "food denial twilight zone" I'd go into. I would know deep down that this was not normal or healthy, but I would smother those thoughts and completely ignore them and just stuff food zombie-like down my gullet. There are no doubt a hundred other things I can't even remember.
Weight Loss	Birth Control cause weight gain?	Dec 04 2008 19:36 (UTC)	3
Actually certain birth control can cause weight gain in and of itself. For instance, conraceptives such as the Mirena IUD (which contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic form of perogesterone, a natural hormone which is meant to stay in balance with estrogen in the body) can cause estrogen dominance which can cause weight gain - it's even listed on their side effects on the pamphlet. I'm actually having my IUD removed next week after 4 years, because I don't want even a possibility of the weight gain side effect inhibiting my weight loss. I plan to go on a low dose BC pill, which I was taking last time I was able to succesfully lose quite a bit of weight. "In the prescribing information for Mirena, weight gain is listed as a common Mirena side effect seen in clinical studies, occurring in at least 5 percent of women (an exact percentage is not given)." - http://women.emedtv.com/mirena/mirena-and-wei ght-gain.html I was 199lbs at 9 months preg with my daughter 4 years ago. At my 6 wk postpartum, I was down to 166 and had the IUD inserted. I was still following the same diet and exercise plan as during the 1st 6 weeks, which was very healthy, and was also nursing my daughter, however within a few months I was back up to 190, and there I have been stuck ever since. After doing a lot of searches online, I have found literally hundreds, if not thousands, of women with the same story, which finally has me making up my mind to take it out. Not trying to make this thread about me or a certain BC - but just saying that in my opinion it is possible for BC to affect our hormones and in doing so can cause real side effects including weight gain/difficulty or inability to lose weight.
Weight Loss	How to inspire an important person....	Dec 04 2008 18:14 (UTC)	1
Congrats to you for making it to your goal! I can't wait to say the same. :) I agree with tronjo, maybe turning her on to CC would be helpful. This site has literally changed the way I perceive dieting or as I now know it, a lifestyle change. The tools, motivation, and success stories on the forums are awesome. Maybe recommend this site, emphasize that it's FREE (yeah! love that!) and ask her, if nothing else, if she will simply log her calorie intake for 3 weeks. I know that really has opened my eyes. I haven't heard of Leslie Sansone but it sounds like that might be a good option, or the Half-Assed book. Then maybe also get her a little something that's not weight-related so she doesn't get overwhelmed, would be my suggestion. :) Good luck!!!
The Lounge	Religion!	Dec 03 2008 21:41 (UTC)	332
Original Post by santonacci: Original Post by bliss2009: How could you discuss, say, "Oliver Twist" if you never actually read the book? Or even the Cliffs Notes? Isn't that why they invented movies? And what's wrong with referring to the animals on the ark as "pets"? OK then, let me edit that to include "Or watched the movie". Same difference - if you don't know the contents you can't really converse on it. I've never seen Jaws (seriously) so I don't know what's in the movie and couldn't debate a single thing about it. Who did invent movies, anyway? I feel like I once knew that. Google, here I come... I think what's wrong with calling them pets is that they weren't pets. "Pet - any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately." He didn't take Fido and Miss Kitty... he took a male and female of each species, and I doubt he had domesticated the lions, for example.
Weight Loss	Should I continue eating to reach my min 1200cal intake?	Dec 03 2008 21:12 (UTC)	1
Original Post by freshbakedpi: Original Post by bliss2009: Telling an anorexic to eat more, or a bulimic to quit throwing up, honestly does no good at all and really, why bother even posting a reply if that's all you have to say? Actually, jas & I share the same eating disorder. I responded more than just "eat more" or "stop binging" in her other threads. She posted 3 threads earlier yesterday & was given a lot of very good advice. This is exactly why she needs to post in Health & Support. People in this forum don't assume the implications of posts like this, or know it's comming from someone with an ED, and will give her advice that could be harmful to someone with an ED. You're right, I have seen quite a few other posts by her since I came across this one. However, I'm interested to know what advice you think I have given that would be harmful to someone with an ED. If I did, obviously that was not my intent and I'd want to know to avoid passing it along in the future. If you just took exception to an opinion that happened to apply to one of your posts, then that's a different issue and it wasn't meant to offend you.
Foods	I no longer heart Starbucks. Yeah, I said it.	Dec 03 2008 21:06 (UTC)	12
Original Post by katydoll: Original Post by bliss2009: Original Post by fallingstars27: Well, honestly, look at what you are ordering: white hot chocolate. What exactly did you think it was made from? Last time I checked, whole milk and creamy white chocolate syrup were not diet-friendly. Order it with fat-free milk, half the syrup and no whip cream. That should help. You don't have to give them up completely. Like I said, usually my order is for a non-fat, no-whip white mocha. I know whole milk is high in calories! Seriously, didn't know how mad the white mocha stuff was! When they introduced the new signature hot chocolates, my favorite barista (lol) Thad encouraged me to try one and enthused "yeah and they're made with skim milk!" Now, I don't know if he said that b/c he knows that's what I always ask for and he figured he'd just put it out there like that and make mine that way, or if some of them are always made skim, but that carried over into my assumption that the white hot chocolate wouldn't be that bad. Assuming that, I decided since I was getting a tall and not a venti, I'd let myself enjoy the whipped cream - I didn't know that adds like 120 calories! I wish I had all the calorie counts of everything memorized, since to assume makes an out of of you and me and all that. Lesson learned, I don't think it makes me a dummy or anything, just someone who is trying their best and still slips up at times. Anyway, this morning I had a large normal coffee, with 2 tbsp of half and half and splenda... 50 calories and I actually enjoyed it more b/c it's yummier when reheated. I'm still going to look for that nutrition sheet so I can enjoy the lighter versions every so often. Cutting back isn't the worst idea anyway, save some money and help my diet at the same time. The signature hot chocolate is a mix made with non fat, water, and this coco mix (im sure it has some butter and milk in it too I'll have to check at work) If you ask they will gladly even do have sig. hot chocolate and half non fat. It won't come out as rich but it will cut your calories X) Thanks! Ya know, I don't really unheart Starbucks. They make delicious things that I can enjoy in moderation, and now that I have heard so many suggestions, I will have lots of new things to try. :) Except that breve thing, which sounds addictively rich and delicious, and therefore dangerous.
The Lounge	Religion!	Dec 03 2008 21:00 (UTC)	335
I'm a Christian, so people who proclaim God is a myth and that religious folks are ignorant do make me uncomfortable... JUST MY FEELINGS... but I also follow the tenet of not judging others for their beliefs, and don't think that not being religious or not believing in God makes you a bad person. Just like saying you are a Christian doesn't mean you act like one or are a good person. My personal belief is in God and the Bible and I have faith in them. In my opinion, with so many different beliefs (and not believing is a belief in and of itself if you think about it) the main thing is we all need to be tolerant and accepting. You don't have to agree with anyone, but if you want to be accepted/respected with your beliefs, you should be willing to accept/respect others with theirs. It's only fair. In my opinion, you don't assume that because someone is Christian/religious that they are stupid, ignorant or zealous; don't assume that because someone is an atheist that they are evil. Saying God is pretend like Santa Claus is disrespectful, in tone if nothing else. If you can't be accepting, at least be respectful. to quote 'swamp rat' - "noah and his family (and of course all their pets)" - please, please don't allude to the Bible if you are going to be flip or sarcastic or actually think that the animals Noah took on the ark were his "pets". In order to debate on any literary work, I think the first order of business is to read it. How could you discuss, say, "Oliver Twist" if you never actually read the book? Or even the Cliffs Notes? I hope I said "in my opinion" enough times.... lol
The Lounge	Holiday yard decorations	Dec 03 2008 20:08 (UTC)	14
While I personally like just the white lights on my house, I absolutely love seeing the crazy, overboard decorations - the more the merrier! I think the giant inflatables are tacky as all-get-out, but the people who have them must have tons of holiday spirit and my kids think they are completely mind-blowing. lol
The Lounge	Coolest name you've ever heard?	Dec 03 2008 20:04 (UTC)	73
I love the names Cadence, Calliope, and Aisling for girls...of course my fave is Sophie since that's my daughter's name. For boys I think my son's name is nifty, Ian... also like my FIL's middle name which is Gray. I saw Xander on a previous post and I really like that! My son's middle name is Alexander which is pretty close.
The Lounge	Crafts for Three-Year-Olds?	Dec 03 2008 19:57 (UTC)
Nice idea! Check out crafts.kaboose.com, they have a ton.
The Lounge	A live-in LOLcat?	Dec 03 2008 19:37 (UTC)
Original Post by cellulitedelight: I think my kitty, Whiskey, aspires to be a real-life LOLcat. Everywhere we look, there she is. If we're in the kitchen, grabbing a snack, she's on top of the freezer staring at you or in a random cabinet. If you're in the living room she's on top of the book shelf staring at you, and these bookshelves are like eight feet tall. If you're in a bedroom, she's in the closet, on a shelf staring at you. Or in a drawer staring at you! Hell, if you're in one of the other random rooms she's sitting on top of the door staring at you. The scariest yet? If you're in the shower she's right there, on top of the shower door, just sitting and staring at you. I feel like she's waiting for me to snap a picture or is trying to be a pedobear. Everywhere we are, and it's usually when we start to get intimate that we notice her, she's sitting somewhere above you, staring! I'M SCARED. Maybe she wants a cheezburger. Or, since she seems to love sitting on top of everything, perhaps she aspires to a ceiling cat caption? lol
Weight Loss	Should I continue eating to reach my min 1200cal intake?	Dec 03 2008 19:21 (UTC)	3
OP, I agree if you're not hungry on that few calories the answer is to eat more. I had an ED in my mid-teens, and I understand/remember the mindset that goes along with it. People who haven't experienced it probably mean well, but it is a very skewed perspective that you get with an ED that can be frustrating to others - these are mental disorders that change the way your brain operates; you have a fear of and obsession with food. Telling an anorexic to eat more, or a bulimic to quit throwing up, honestly does no good at all and really, why bother even posting a reply if that's all you have to say? Sorry if I step on any toes there, not trying to be rude but it would hurt my feelings to get a reply like that if I truly had an ED and was struggling with it. I'm also not trying to be condescending if I'm saying something that anyone already knows. Just wanted to put it out there. Anyway, 'jas' please think of your health - that few calories will wreak havoc on your body, causing damage to your heart and many other issues. Check out this chart, and please try hard to take care of your body! http://www.helpguide.org/images/eating_disord ers/anorexia_clip.gif
Weight Loss	Loosing 11 pounds by christmas...??	Dec 03 2008 19:08 (UTC)	3
To lose 11 lb by Christmas you'd have to lose 1/2 a pound per DAY. 11 lbs divided by 22 days = .5lb per day. There is no healthy way to do that... in fact there really isn't any way to do it period, because cutting your calories to the point of getting that much of a deficit (1750 cal deficit per day) would slow/shut your metabolism down and you'd probably maintain or even gain. You should not have more than a 1000 calorie deficit per day; otherwise you are just going to shoot yourself in the foot so to speak. Edited to say - I'd like to lose 11 lb by Christmas too! lol But we have to think of the end result we want and not sabotage our efforts.
Foods	I no longer heart Starbucks. Yeah, I said it.	Dec 03 2008 18:08 (UTC)	18
Original Post by fallingstars27: Well, honestly, look at what you are ordering: white hot chocolate. What exactly did you think it was made from? Last time I checked, whole milk and creamy white chocolate syrup were not diet-friendly. Order it with fat-free milk, half the syrup and no whip cream. That should help. You don't have to give them up completely. Like I said, usually my order is for a non-fat, no-whip white mocha. I know whole milk is high in calories! Seriously, didn't know how mad the white mocha stuff was! When they introduced the new signature hot chocolates, my favorite barista (lol) Thad encouraged me to try one and enthused "yeah and they're made with skim milk!" Now, I don't know if he said that b/c he knows that's what I always ask for and he figured he'd just put it out there like that and make mine that way, or if some of them are always made skim, but that carried over into my assumption that the white hot chocolate wouldn't be that bad. Assuming that, I decided since I was getting a tall and not a venti, I'd let myself enjoy the whipped cream - I didn't know that adds like 120 calories! I wish I had all the calorie counts of everything memorized, since to assume makes an out of of you and me and all that. Lesson learned, I don't think it makes me a dummy or anything, just someone who is trying their best and still slips up at times. Anyway, this morning I had a large normal coffee, with 2 tbsp of half and half and splenda... 50 calories and I actually enjoyed it more b/c it's yummier when reheated. I'm still going to look for that nutrition sheet so I can enjoy the lighter versions every so often. Cutting back isn't the worst idea anyway, save some money and help my diet at the same time.
Foods	I no longer heart Starbucks. Yeah, I said it.	Dec 03 2008 00:55 (UTC)	38
Generally speaking, I order non-fat/skim no-whip white mocha... even that has I think 390 calories in the grande. Today I wanted to avoid the caffeine since it was 4pm, but rather than just go decaf I went for the hot choc. I guess I was thinking of my swiss miss 160 cal powder and water, instead of whole milk plus syrup plus whip. All in all, more my fault than Starbucks' I guess... but still, empty calories I'm better off without except as an occasional treat! 'mrandrzejak' thanks for the compliment! I too wish that all food establishments were required by law to provide full nutrition info, with take-home versions so I can log it all on CC. lol
Weight Loss	Alli pills	Dec 02 2008 22:59 (UTC)	3
I tried them for a short time. I think their real purpose is as a motivator... who wants to leak orange oil from their anus? That does happen if you go even slightly over the fat intake allowed! If you're at home, it's gross, but you can change. Imagine it happening at Old Navy. Not that I speak from personal experience. Of course not... For the most part I stuck to the low fat plan and had no problem, but then I started thinking... if I eat low fat, these pills are not doing anything. Why not just eat low fat and not take the pills? They are not meant to be taken so that you can eat all the fat you want and have 1/2 of it blocked because the side effects of that are just too extreme... in my opinion at least. Maggie
Weight Loss	Confused about the burn Meter	Dec 02 2008 22:51 (UTC)	1
The big number on the bottom is how many calories you have burned from 12:01am to the present moment, including the "just to live" calories plus any activity you have logged. The top number is the total number of calories you will burn in today's 24 hour period, based on your "just to live" plus logged calories. HTH! Maggie
Weight Loss	Find your twin on CC!	Dec 02 2008 22:24 (UTC)	404
Need me a twin! Age 27 Height 5' 3" CW 190-200 GW 120 Small/medium frame Started CC 11.22.08 Maggie
Weight Loss	Does anyone here think that girls look better a little mushy?	Dec 02 2008 05:14 (UTC)	3
Great point freshbakedpi - remember too that these ladies are around 6' tall - you have to be about that to get that loooong stretched out torso. Me, I'm 5' 3", and never in any possible future will I look like that, it's physically impossible! On the subject of mushiness... the term doesn't offend me at all, I totally get it. However I don't want to BE it. I want to be slim and firm... for sure NOT skinny-fat! But I don't want to look in the mirror and think, "Mushy". Nope. Not after all the work I am doing for my new body. I'm a size 14 right now, have an hourglass type figure with boobs and a booty, which I don't want to lose. However, I'm a 38D and would like to ideally be back to a 34B. My goal weight is 120 and I think I have about 80 lbs to go though I haven't weighed in months... could be more or less, but I'm scared to find out it's more. My ideal is also Jessica Biel, I think her body is incredible... she still has a womanly shape, boobs and a butt, but is so strong looking and toned without having creepy visible musculature. Talk about someone we do not want to emulate... how about Madonna? Ew. http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_03/M adonnaDM2606_468x737.jpg
Weight Loss	1000 calorie per day deficit... what's the true story?	Dec 02 2008 04:29 (UTC)
I appreciate all the info - this really sheds some light on it for me. I am 5' 3" and estimate I weigh 200 lbs (I last weighed several months ago and began my diet about 3 wks ago) so I do have quite a lot to lose. I need to be in the 105-120 range I believe. I do want to lose the weight in a healthy, long-lasting (like, forever) way so I am striving for 2 lbs per week. I've had plenty of energy, sleeping well, no weird side effects, normal bathroom habits. I wouldn't say I eat an ideal diet but it is not all fast food or high fat/carb stuff... I have fruits and veggies and protein etc. Are there indicators to watch for that let you know if you have gone overboard and your metabolism is slowing down? Sometimes it feels like after so many years of dieting, I know so much yet so little... it all gets confusing after a certain point.
Motivation	What do you consider...	Dec 02 2008 04:20 (UTC)	1
Thanks - I was starting to get the impression that it wasn't too accurate a system! I'm mainly relying on calories in vs out and letting that be my guide. I am LOL about the pie and celery... eating just peas all day... these are things not outside the realm of possibility for me at one time! Anything to justify the bad habits!
Motivation	I would like to find mutual support here from others like me with over 40lbs to loose	Nov 26 2008 20:08 (UTC)
Liz, I'm so sorry for your loss. I have the utmost respect for you wanting to take care of yourself to be there for your daughter. I actually have well over 40 lb to lose, but I'd still like to be your "buddy" in this new lifestyle! I estimate my weight at around 200 (have not weighed in months b/c all the number does is discourage me about how far I have to go). I am 5' 3" and my goal is 120, a weight I maintained with ease before having my first child. Since then it's been a constant yoyo from about 180-200. I hope to reach my goal in Sept 2009 by losing 2lb per week thru diet and exercise, the healthy and slow/steady way. It's disheartening at times to think how far you have to go, but I've only been at it a little over 2 weeks so I'm trying to go easy on myself! Maggie
Motivation	Help me get started... please!	Nov 26 2008 19:13 (UTC)
Welcome! I've found that my biggest anti-motivator is the scale. Now many people are opposite, but this is true for me. I have gained and relost the same 10-20 lbs for 4 years, mostly because I would lose a few, then weigh one day, see I'd gained a lb or 2, and get so frustrated I'd give up and go eat 5 soft tacos. LOL Now my new way is, I have a general idea of my weight, and that is from a few months ago. I did not weigh prior to starting this new lifestyle, and don't plan to until my current size 14s are no longer wearable (because they won't stay on!) This way I know that when I weigh, I will be THRILLED with what my scale says! I have been logging every single thing on this site and it has made it a no-brainer for me, and kept me happy seeing how much of a calorie deficit I have at the end of each day.