Posts by tygrkat

Dates are high in sugar, but also high in fiber and potassium. I love one or two when I'm craving sweets, or for a  snack with walnuts - I just take out the stone and fill it back up with a walnut half - YUM!

Sweet Potatos are high in fiber, vitamin c, vitamin A, iron, calcuim, and beta carotine - another great choice!

My oil of choice is olive oil, and PAM makes an olive oil based cooking spray, which is fantastic too (although I usually buy the store brand, just as good but about $ .75 less!)

Ugh.

I hate those articles, too. I'm another one who mostly eats healthfully (most of the time - sometimes a cookie or some chocolate sneaks in there, but not to excess), drinks plenty of water, I've been walking on my lunchbreaks since the beginning of the year, and I still have a bunch to lose, too!

Grrrrrr.....

I'm right there with ya.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

For those of us who have really struggled {or still are struggling, like me} this is DEFINITELY inspiring to hear!

I don't remember my bra size when I was at my High School heaviest - 220 pounds, but 38C sounds about right....at my lowest weight of 135, I was a respectable (but flattened looking, for sure ) 36B, now that I'm in the 230-240 range, I'm up to a 42 band, and a C-DD depending on the style of bra.

When I get to my goal weight (180 - for now, then we'll see) if they're too droopy, I think I'll be looking for a good plastic surgeon for a 'refill'.

I love 'the twins' as they are now...maybe a lift would be nice...but I really enjoy having a lush, feminine shape, and I HATE that I generally lose from there first.

Well, I'm going to be 35 this year, and although that certainly isn't old by any means, it's the oldest I've been, and it does feel a little like something major...whether it is or not is all up to me.

Here's my plan to "cope with growing old"...

Do what I can to keep myself healthy, and know that I've earned every grey hair.... those little lines around my eyes and at the corners of my mouth aren't called 'smile lines' for nothing - and anything that indicates a lifetime of smiling and laughter can't be all bad, right?

Also, I keep in mind a conversation I once had - I was good friends with a co-worker, she was in her 60's and I was in my 20's when we knew eachother, and the topic of growing older came up...she let me in on a little secret....the older one gets, the more 'allowable' one's eccentricities become.  Just soemthing to think about ;-)

I have a part-time stay-at-home husband, and it only bugs me when he's snoring away all warm and cozy, and I'm cursing at the alarm clock...

We've had many conversations about how hypocritical it is that no one bats an eyelash if a woman stays home and her husband/boyfriend works and handles the finances, but reverse the roles and he's a deadbeat and she must be desperate to be willing to support her man...what a load of ****! I was supporting 'my household' when I was single - how does adding a man into the equation makes a difference?

That is DEFINITELY not to say that he doesn't 'support' our household as well - we both do our part, and have a well-known gesture to share with anyone who thinks they can define what either one's 'part' should be!

It didn't change anything for me, either (in regards to having sex)...I had a LEEP done in July 2006, and I did notice that {after the two - three weeks the doctor said to wait) my cervix was more 'sensitive' during more vigorous 'activity' with my husband.

Also, the OP mentioned having some weird emotional stuff, and general anesthesia - I had both also. The day of and the day after my LEEP I spent in bed. I wasn't really in much pain, just a little crampy, but I was really lethargic and kinda weepy. I was really nervous before the procedure, so I think all the emotional build-up contributed to my mood, and I'm sure the general anesthesia had a lot to do with the lethargy as well.

As far as getting an appointment on short notice, you may want to try an urgent-care clinic (or Planned Parenthood - they are great about protecting your privacy). They are set up to handle walk-ins and situations that require immediate medical attention, but are not quite severe enough to warrant a trip to the E.R.

If you're presenting with symptoms of a yeast infection, the doctors will take a swab to culture and see what is causing the infection, std or just plain yeast. Either way, they'll probably send you with an anti-biotic and possibly a cream to help with irritation.

You will also want to be sure to have plenty of yogurt to put the good bacteria back into your system, or take a probiotic suppliment. Yeast infections(and other vaginal infections) are caused by an imbalance in the bacteria that normally live in our bodies. Helping to restore the balance will help to alleviate symptoms and help you feel better faster.

Whatever the results, if you've been sexually active without using protection, you should inform your partner and they should be seen by a doctor to see if they need to be treated as well to prevent re-infection and/or spreading the infection to others.

I hope this helps you feel a little less anxious - keep us posted.

Hoping this helps with the OP's link:

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidn t/30419782.html

*eta*

I opened the link and got an error message, but that could be because I'm at work...

Original Post by personaltrainer87:

 

Dark chocolate has more cocoa solids and less sugar.

dark chocolate is also richer then milk and white chocolate, and most people cannot eat as much of it and feel satisfied with less.

Sugar free dark chocolate can be healthy, if it only contains cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and artificial sweetener.

Pure cocoa is PACKED with antioxidants, it has many health benefits, BUT like every thing else you need to eat it in the appropriate quantity

I buy a brand that is actually RAW cocoa, and the only ingredients in my favorite Mint flavor is :

Organic raw cacao butter, Organic raw cacao powder, Organic agave syrup (dark), Organic cacao nibs, Peppermint oil, Himalayan crystal salt.

 

Cocoa and cocoa butter has nothing bad in it, it is the stuff ADDED to it like sugar and milk solids and preservatives that are NOT healthy for you, and also the QUANTITY in which some people eat it is not healthy.

 

 

 

What brand is that? It sounds delicious, and I'm working at taking in less dairy so that looks like a great option for when I want some chocolate (which is most of the time - lol!). I also have a lactose-intolerant person on my winter gift-exchange list and this sounds like a great treat to send along.

Feel free to pm if you don't want to post the brand name publicly - Thanks!

Original Post by gi-jane:

Excess gas sounds like you're reacting badly to something you're eating.   One solution you could try is to reduce your dietary choices down to some very simple ingredients.  Too much fruit can cause digestion problems so cut out all the smoothies and fruit for a while.  Also any chips, luna bars etc.   Breakfast, for example... simple oatmeal.  Lunch... a sandwich and salad.  Supper... some vegetable broth, a bread roll.   For snacks, choose things like toast or crackers... nothing too rich. 

 I'm going to have to agree with gi-jane and most of the other pp's...it could be any number of things, so the best way to narrow it down would be to simplify your diet for a week or two, then gradually start adding back your 'regular' foods until the symptoms show up again. That is a standard protocol for identifying food allergies, and can help when any sort of digestive issues are occuring.  Taking a probiotic suppliment or eating yougurt can help too...