Posts by margnferg

Forum	Topic	Date	Replies

Health & Support	lexapro?	Dec 18 2008 21:33 (UTC)	4
I started taking it 3 months ago. Same reasons as you - major anxiety, obsessive tendencies, etc. I can't even tell you how much quieter it is in my head now. I still do compulsive things, but more because they are bad habits (which I'm working on). Not doing them doesn't cause nearly as much anxiety as it used to. It hasn't caused any weight gain whatsoever. In fact, initially my appetite diminished for a few weeks. I don't feel fuzzy either. I should mention that I took Paxil a few years back and it was not even half as effective. The best part about taking medicine prescribed by a doctor is that if it doesn't work, or if you don't like it, you can stop, switch to something else, or tweak the dosage (under the supervision of the doctor)! Remember that it isn't premanent. If you don't like it, you don't have to keep taking it! With that in mind, I'd say give it a shot.
Motivation	Key to success?	Nov 26 2008 12:03 (UTC)	24
Eat small meals five or six times a day. Forgive myself if I eat too much one day and don't let it hold me back the next day. Make room for treats. Stay active.
Calorie Count	Yikes! The analysis graphic changed!	Nov 21 2008 19:20 (UTC)	23
Yeah, I dont like it. It's sideways! It's harder to visualize the percents when its sideways like that. Please change it back!
Weight Loss	Can't get a grip.	Nov 04 2008 16:05 (UTC)	6
Check out this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/health/20br od.html
Fitness	Do you wear DD's??? If so....	Oct 31 2008 20:52 (UTC)
I like Underarmour bras. For less expensive, non "engineered" type sorptsbras, I usually just wear two at a time. It's not super comfortable, but it keeps the movment to a minimum.
Weight Loss	4 pounds in 9 days - possible???	Oct 07 2008 23:46 (UTC)	4
You probably can't lose 4 pounds of actual body weight (safely) in that amount of time, but since your body is made up of over 70 percent water, there's no reason why you can't drop some water weight before weigh-in. Simply steer clear of salty foods for two to three days before being weighed (in addition to the plan you are already following). Cutting too many calories isn't really a great solution because you will deprive your body of much needed energy to win your fight! After being weighed, make sure to drink something with electrolytes (gatorade, powerade, etc) but drink it slowly so that your body has time to process it. That way you have enough salt in your system to keep you hydrated during the fight. Best of luck!
Foods	Beware of 100-Calorie Packs, especially if you diet!	Sep 16 2008 21:05 (UTC)	13
The packaging is a problem, not to mention the cost! I buy almonds and snack items in bulk from the health food store and then scoop out a portion, throw it in a washable (tiny) tupperware container and bring it in my bag. That way I always have a healthy, inexpensive, and non-waste producing snack on hand.
Fitness	Question for those with bad knees	May 20 2008 20:23 (UTC)	10
I have bad knees too and my doctor told me to do stationary cycling at a low resistance to strengthen the muscles around my knees. I still can't do squats and those types of exercises, but it has made it easier for me to climb stairs and do all that everyday stuff that used to give me a lot of pain.
Foods	how do you peel a butternut squash?	Nov 21 2007 16:34 (UTC)	7
I have one of those handheld vegetable peelers. There may be an easier way to peel them, but that's what I use. I think it would be difficult and time consuming regardless ot the tool since its such a hard, dense skin. But look on the bright side - it's a workout! Good luck with the dish!
Weight Loss	5'9-ers?	Nov 02 2007 20:45 (UTC)	16
I'm 5'9"! I'm currently at 150. Actually, I've been there for about 4 months. Sigh I think my body is trying to tell me something. Like, "I just wanna be 150!" But on the other hand, I've been eating between 1500 and 1800 calories every day and working out for one hour 6 days a week (cardio/strength training), so I'm hoping I've gained muscle and lost some fat. My clothes def. fit better. I'm a small frame based on my wrists, but i have thick legs and always have, so I sort of consider that I have a small frame on top and larger one on the bottom. If that's possible. I don't have any pictures, but my lowest weight was 130 (and that was a little too low) people said i looked unhealthy. I'd say that 135-150 is just right for people who are 5'9."
Fitness	Backhorse riding?	Oct 11 2007 14:31 (UTC)
Agreed. I did it in competitively in college and it kept me in shape. Riding is great for your core muscles, legs, posture, and arms. You'd be amazed how out of breath you can get just trying to keep a horse at a fast, but controlled pace while making it look effortless - every muscle in your body is fighting to keep from flailing around. I think that riding is a great way to stay physically (and mentally) in shape. Its very challenging.
Weight Loss	Does where you live make you fatter?	Oct 03 2007 18:01 (UTC)	49
I live in NYC and walk everywhere! No car = more exercise. I've lost ten pounds since I moved here. The downside is that when I move back to suburbia at some point, I have the potential to gain it back from being less active throughout the day.
Weight Loss	Anyone else feel like a loser when they go to the gym???	Sep 27 2007 14:43 (UTC)	13
I go to a gym in Manhattan. It's full of beautiful, skinny model-type people. I'm there in my frumpy sweats and large t-shirts, looking all huge and out of place. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong there. But then I remember that I'm there for me, not for anybody else. In the same way that losing weight and being fit is about me - if I'm doing it for anybody else, it won't work. I can't use my fear of "other people looking at me" as an excuse. Because this is about me, and for me. Not them.
Foods	i think im eating to many vegetables?	Sep 23 2007 22:28 (UTC)	6
I agree with hockeygirl. Eating a couple pounds of veggies in a day may keep you feeling full, but you are encouraging a habit of, "I need to eat pounds of food to feel full." Another reason to reconsider: I know someone who ate a lot of veggies for an extended period of time and her skin sort of developed an orange tint from too much beta carotene in her diet! Best to eat in moderation and eat to live instead of living to eat. Also, I don't know if you are eating cooked mushroooms or uncoooked ones, but just a heads up - uncooked mushrooms can be unsafe to eat.
Foods	Has anyone tried "Better'n Peanut Butter?"	Sep 19 2007 19:23 (UTC)	1
I was really excited to try it but found it totally inedible. I decided that I love the real thing and that I'd rather splurge once in a while than try to choke down a whole jar of some gross imitation, simply because it has fewer calories. Needless to say, I chucked it out.
Motivation	Weekend overboard :(	Sep 17 2007 18:22 (UTC)	13
You're not alone. I ate so much chocolate yesterday that I didn't feel like getting out of bed today. It's the worst. I know EXACTLY how you feel. Wey do we do this to ourselves?!?
Weight Loss	Hello and Question	Aug 09 2007 19:44 (UTC)	6
Brushing your teeth after dinner is a good way to curb post-dinner-snacking. It signals to your mind that time for eating is over. Plus, eating with that minty taste in your mouth is sort of gross. I usually forget to do it and end up brushing before bed, but the times I've remembered, it worked.
Foods	no carb lunches?	Aug 07 2007 18:16 (UTC)	1
Fresh salad with any combination of hard boiled egg whites, feta or other cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lean meats (i'm a veg. so I use tofu), balsamic vinaigrette, chickpeas, etc. Salads are where its at! They're filling, delicious, and full of good carbs (not the sugary kind).
Fitness	Learning to run - two days in a row?	Jul 11 2007 19:20 (UTC)	3
riahekans, i just recently purchased this great book called "Running for Mortals." I was going through the exact same thing. I'm in pretty good shape, but I have never been able to run comfortably and I have some knee troubles. I don't normally buy books full of health gimmick, exercise routines, or fad diets, but the book has proven to be a really great investment. It is very interesting and helpful. I'm able to run 2 miles now! It has really great advice about how people can begin running at any level of fitness (and even those with a history of injuries or pain). They guy who wrote the book started out running to the end of his driveway and back! I don't have it with me right now, so I forget how the authors reccommend getting started, but I highly reccommend the book. If cost is an issue, you may be able to find it at the library, or discounted online.
Weight Loss	Strangest binges...	Jul 08 2007 03:03 (UTC)	69
Peanut butter. If I could ban it from my house, I would. But my boyfriend makes PB&J sandwiches to take to work every day. Consequently, everytime I open the cupboard, there it is. Glaring at me. Calling my name. Peanut butter is my nemesis. I wish there was some kind of support group for peanut butter addicts. Then there's cereal. If I'm strong enough to keep my spoon out of the peanut butter jar, it's probably only because I am using said spoon to shovel heaping mouthfuls of a fourth bowl of cereal into my mouth. UGH.
Fitness	Knee Problems from Running	Jul 06 2007 14:53 (UTC)	5
birdy, I'm going through the same thing right now. I started running few months ago and my heart and lungs got used to it much faster than my muscles and bones did. I ended up overdoing it and now my left knee and my right shin have been killing me for a few weeks. I've been reading a lot about this on the net and in this great book I just found called "Running for Mortals." It seems to me that the best course of action is to lay off the jogging for now and give my body time to recover. That means low impact stuff like walking, cycling, and occasionally, the elliptical machine. I'm also using ice at night and the occasional anti-inflammatory after a hard workout (like Advil). I hope you feel better. It's a total drag!!!
Fitness	Knee Problems from Running	Jul 06 2007 14:52 (UTC)	6
birdy, I'm going through the same thing right now. I started running few months ago and my heart and lungs got used to it much faster than my muscles and bones did. I ended up overdoing it and now my left knee and my right shin have been killing me for a few weeks. I've been reading a lot about this on the net and in this great book I just found called "Running for Mortals." It seems to me that think the best course of action is to lay off the jogging for now and give my body time to recover. That means low impact stuff like walking, cycling, and occasionally, the elliptical machine. I'm also using ice at night and the occasional anti-inflammatory after a hard workout (like Advil). I hope you feel better. It's a total drag!!!
Vegetarian	what was/is your reason to become vegetarian?	Jul 05 2007 20:52 (UTC)	21
I won't eat anything that I wouldn't have the respect/courage to kill myself. And since I don't think I could actually kill an animal, I won't eat them. It seems like when a lot of people eat meat, they are so far removed from thinking about the animal that it used to be and the sacrifice that was made in order to have that meat at their meal. They want to eat it, but they don't want to think about where it comes from. I don't tell other people not to eat meat, but I think that they should do it respectfully - instead of eating enormous grand slam breakfasts with bacon and sausage and ham in one meal. Eating meat is a privilege, not a right. It's not something that I want to do, but I think that the people who do chose to eat it should show some respect. That includes not demanding it with every meal, and making sure that the animals they eat are fed healthy foods and have natural lives before they are killed - instead of keeping them in warehouses and pumping the animals full of "non-foods," hormones, and antibiotics. But yeah, overall - I personally like animals too much to eat them. 10 years and counting...
Health & Support	Laparoscopy. the day after	Jun 21 2007 20:46 (UTC)	9
I had my appendix out laproscopically. Ouch! I was in bed for the next week. I was able to resume most of my normal activities (nothing involving strain on the abdominal muscles, however) after about two weeks. Good luck!
Weight Loss	What is your average calorie intake for breakfast?	Jun 15 2007 15:01 (UTC)	13
I eat a half cup of ceareal and a little soymilk (around 100 cals) before the gym, then after the gym, I have a cup of fat free yogurt, coffee, and a piece of fruit at the office. It keeps me energized until lunchtime. If I don't have a little something when I get up, I don't have energy to get through my workout.
Foods	which Yogurt is best?	Jun 14 2007 15:09 (UTC)	13
Fage! 0% Fat. Amazing.
Vegetarian	Pet food	May 07 2007 17:01 (UTC)	11
peink - You're right to be concerned. I agree completely that the pet food industry is awful. Not only do I object to the ingredients, but I take issue with many of their practices, including the inhumae treatment of test animals (esp. in the case of the Iams Company). I fed my last dog Purina dog chow for her whole life. She loved it and I trusted that the ingredients in the food were healthy. But when she developed cancer at age ten, I began to have my doubts about the quality of that food. I read up on it and discovered the possible correlation between poorly processed, low quality pet food and all kinds of health problems. I vowed that my next dog would never eat anything but organic, human-grade food. I also looked into the vegetarian dog food option. Here is a sample of the information that I found, ultimately leading to the decision that my dog should be given a healthy amount of meat - regardless of my pesonal beliefs about killing animals. Cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores: they should be fed accordingly. http://b-naturals.com/Aug2003.php http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/Articles /vegetarian_diets.htm I think that making your own pet food is a great idea! There are lots of great petfood cookbooks out there. I have a friend who makes all her own dog food. If you have the time, it's a great way to ensure that your pet is eating real foods!
Vegetarian	Pet food	May 03 2007 15:06 (UTC)	15
I'd say that it's a pretty bad idea to feed your dog a diet with no meat products. Dogs are omnivorous and require ample amounts of protein to maintain health. As a vegetarian, I don't eat animal products, but as a responsible pet owner, I feed my dog what nature intended for him to eat. Although there are a variety of vegetarian pet food options, they do not provide the complete protiens that dogs need - namely, the amino acid, Taurine. It has never ceased to amaze me that some people are so concerned with animal rights that they would risk damaging their own pets' health because they won't feed them the proteins that they require. People who cannot put their convictions aside for the well being of their pets should not have pets. Sorry for rant - I just feel strongly about this. I'm with avesha - my vet reccommended a human grade pet food called Innova, produced by the Natura Company. http://www.naturapet.com/ They use human grade, natural, and organic ingredients and take extensive quality control measures. The best part is that my dog loves it! It costs more than conventional pet foods, but the food is made in North America and guaranteed to be free of anything that could harm my pet. It's healthy and safe, so I'd say that it's well worth the price!
Foods	What are some weird food combos that you love?	Apr 18 2007 18:37 (UTC)	111
Chocolate and orange juice!
Foods	How often should I "treat" myself?	Feb 16 2007 22:18 (UTC)
Im on a 1600 calorie diet and on the days when I exercise (30 minute jogging or elliptical machine) I allow myself 120 calories of dark chocolate or a couple whole wheat cookies with my evening tea (ginger snaps, oatmeal cookies, etc). No refined sugar stuff! Life's too short to be miserable every day. I'd rather take a little longer to reach my weight loss goal than be totally deprived (which always backfires anyhow).

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