Posts by almareal

Thank you for the advice.  I just found a website called freedieting (dot) com, they have tools to figure out how much you burn taking into consideration your body fat percentage and activity level.  It said my maintenance is 2071, so if I run a 500 calorie deficit I should average 1500 calories, right?  They also give 7 day calorie cycling plans based on your stats.  Thanks again for the feedback!

Low fat, high protien diet and exercise!  Honestly- there is no magic secret recipe.  It will take some time, but it will totally be worth it.  Melkor will probably hook you up with specifics. 

You can do it!

Original Post by peacelovehominy:

is it terribly expensive to have it tested? i have insurance.... does it cover the cost?

I agree that you should have it tested.  It is not terribly expensive, and your insurance should cover it, especially if you have symptoms of low function.

Original Post by loriklorik:

I think abortion is fine until the thing is actually a person. Thats where people have the major breakdown in understanding... they see the fetus and think "oh, its gonna be a human! so ...i guess its one now!". But they are not understanding or thinking about what actually makes us human (beyond the genes).

What makes a person a person (beyond just a mass of bone and flesh)?

The key difference is the ability to think and be aware. Its sentience that gives us more percieved importance then a cow (even though our bodies are made out of much the same material). The mind is the key issue, a fetus that has not developed a mind is NOT a PERSON (simply a mass of flesh and bone).

But then comes the arguments of "potential human" .... but thats just a breakdown in understanding of time. Without getting too complicated....lets just say you cant lose what you never had....

Every time you have a period you allowed a potential human to die....you could have turned that into a person.... but you didnt...you simply let it die. Same argument, its simply overlooked because people dont care to think about it. Again, cant lose what you never had...."potential" is not the same as what already exists. 

This is a slippery slope.  Are you saying that children with severe developmental disorders or those in coma are not human because they aren't cognitively aware to this (the above) extent?  How do you draw that line without moving it around in different circumstances? 

I think that regardless of the stance one chooses on this issue, it needs to be generalizable and consistent- if not, it is not valid.  I am not saying that I am pro or anti in this issue, I am not trying to change anyone's mind; and I think that too often people have a purely emotionally based response that is not consistent with some of their other views (as Giggle Puppy was pointing out). 

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

Original Post by allie391:

I would not recommend Splenda. You can google it and find all the bad info. on it, so I won't get into it here.

I use Stevia. It's from a plant so it's natural/healthy. I like the Sweet Leaf brand, liquid Stevia. But they do sell it in powder form.

Stevia is horrible for you. Don't use it! It is a mutagen! It causes your internal organs to mutate!! Mostly your liver!

Okay...seriously....

I use Splenda. I love it. I don't have sweet cravings. I lose weight. And I can't have sugar or I do gain weight (insulin resistance). If you don't have problems with it, then don't worry. Some people overreact. If they only knew what was in all of their foods they would never eat.

OMG. Animals crap on vegetables in fields! Don't eat veggies! OMG, bugs crawl on grains when they are in fields! Don't eat grains! Eww! Ewww! Fruits get bugs in them!!! AAAHHH! No more fruits!!!

Seriously.

Are you serious about Stevia? Do you have links you can provide with that info?  Thanks.

I had one once.  It did not taste good and it made my stomach hurt.  I am in the "I would rather eat fresher foods" camp.  Though, if I was unable for some reason to get lunch and one happened to be offered to me, I would do that rather than go without. 

Fresh, whole foods are better for you.  And imo they taste better too.  A bit more work though :)

Good on ya!  That is awesome!

I got into an overeating spiral.  I would do alright during the day, but at night it was like I had no will power and the part of my brain that monitors and stops would just check out.  I would consume way more than double the calories I had eaten during the rest of the day at night.  Usually sweets too.  I have tried to purge before and I can't do it.  I am thankful for that now. 

The first time I said no, I felt so powerful.  Every time you stop that behavior, you get stronger and more able to stop it again.  It become an upward spiral.  And it builds feelings of confidence (at least for me). 

So, good job!