Posts by oreo2424

I have often found that if I am not hydrated enough, it is difficult for me to get through a run.  I feel sluggish.  When I am well hydrated though, I feel much better. 

There are so many factors to why you might feel that way though.  There were many good suggestions here before me!  Temperature also effects me.  I live in the Washington, DC area, and it's usually pretty humid here.  In winter it hurts my throat and chest to run in the cold outdoors, which stinks, because the run by the Potomac River is just as pretty in winter as in spring, especially after a light snowfall.  In summer, I can feel super sluggish because it gets hot and the air gets thick.  Then there are internal issues.  You could be super stressed, or tired.  Your body could be reacting to some other issue like an illness that hasn't completely manifested itself yet, so you don't know.  There are just so many factors!

Original Post by huggitbear:

Why do people say things like that?  "You parted your hair on the side."  Um, yeah? What are you trying to say??  Comments like that make me defensive.

 Maybe they just want to acknowledge that they notice the little things you do on a daily basis?  Maybe they aren't rude, or trying to be, they just want you to know that they notice you.  It's much nicer to be noticed than to be completely ignored.

Original Post by limitles:

Please read my posts carefully before you reply..... this is ridiculous!

And being a vegetarian is a good health, moral and environmental choice! :) Why not!

Your wording in this was a bit offensive to those of us who include animal products as a lean source of protein. I don't think anyone needs to be nasty about it, but I just wanted to point that out. The OP titled the post in a vegetarian manner, but once you read through the actual post you would have seen the reference to chicken and eggs. I think some people are offended because you really do seem to be pushing your beliefs along with giving out advice, which can rile people up.

I never thought about wearing a baseball hat.  It actually seems like a good idea.  I have very smooth hair and whenever I run my ponytail is constantly coming undone no matter how tight I wrap it!  So as I'm running I'm trying to put my hair back up and keep my elbows from knocking out pedestrians.  If I put my hair through the back of a hat I don't think I would have to worry about it, although I don't know how I would feel without a ponytail holder because I wear my hair up every day.  It's become an extension of me and I'm not sure how I would feel with losing it. 

I can't really understand booty shorts or boobie tassels, but are you sure you are at a gym and not at pole-dancing class?  That may explain it.  You have me on the lipgloss.

When I was swimming in college (Division 1) my coaches recommended the zone diet for all of my teammates and me.  It is not a "diet", but a method of eating a healthy and balanced "diet".  As in, your daily diet is spelled out pretty clearly for you.  What is out and what is in is carefully explained. 

This was about 7 years ago, so it's not the same anymore, and their website seems to be geared mostly toward selling things, which I abhor, but if you are able to pick up the book, it is a really great read.  I'm sure they have come out with newer versions, but the original was great and it had whole sections geared toward people who are considered "athletes".

http://www.zonediet.com/

The concensus seems to be that a low-carb diet is not really beneficial for an athlete.  Fruits and veggies have carbs, but they aren't the same as whole wheat pastas and whole grain breads.  Lean sources of protein are great too.  You have 2/3 of a healthy diet for an athlete down.  You are just missing the 1/3.  If you have a deficit you will lose weight.  Maybe before you just ate too much.  If you cut down the amounts of food you are consuming, you should still lose weight.  The Zone Diet is big on teaching portion control, which is why I thought about it in this case.  You should check it out.

YAY! You sounds so READY and EXCITED!  That's so great!  It is so tough to start getting healthy.  Congratulations on your strong beginning.

I remember thinking a few months ago that if I had continued swimming and running at the pace I had started in September of 08, I would be strong, thin, and totally fit already.  That was my wake-up call.  I keep that thought in my head all the time.

If I stop, I'm just going to have to start again, and I will have to wait that much longer for my results.  If I continue now, it will feel good when I reach my goals and realize that I don't have to wait anymore and that all that time I spent on living healthier really paid off!  I can't wait until that day!

Original Post by elle909:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-118 9956/Why-crash-dieting-DOES-work-Surprise-evi dence-suggests-best-way-slim.html

I found this quite refreshing - read it in the paper the other week and looked for it online. It's all about studies that show that your metabolism isn't always screwed up by low cals x

 

 I read this after I posted.  I understand the point, but the biggest problem with "crash-dieting" is that it's a "diet" it's not a life change and it is difficult to make the necessary changes after the "diet" is over.  Many people go back to their old eating habits and gain all the weight back, sometimes more which leads to yo-yo dieting. 

Most Calorie-Count users are here to learn about long-term life changes and teaching themselves to relearn how to eat food to fuel the body, which is the only tried and true way of losing and sustaining weight loss.  It's the sustainingthat "crash-diets" can't teach you.  I could go on about obesity, deficits, plateauing, and long-term effects of diets, etc., but I'll stop now as there is so much information in the forums already there is no point in me being any more long-winded than I already am.

Thank you for the article, elle909.  It was interesting.

Welcome back!

Everyone is different, but I find that setting goals really helps me.  I signed up for a triathlon with Team in Training.  Having the date in my head helps me get out of bed at 4:30 am to go to swim practice.  Having all my friends and family know about it means everyone (especially my boyfriend) ask me about training and what I'm doing.  When I'm lazy and sitting on the couch my boyfriend says, "oh yeah, this is going to help you on race day," then rolls his eyes.  It's a pretty big motivator to get on my bike or put on my running shoes!  He sometimes follows me outside and takes pictures and ALWAYS tells me how proud of me he is which is the biggest incentive I have to keep going.

I also started doing things with people I care about, like rock-climbing with my dad.  It's expensive, but we love it.  I also started playing tennis with a friend, I help a friend with diabetes with his workouts, and I planned a few white-water rafting trips for the summer.  All those things make working out fun because I also get to spend time with my friends and family.  It's good to have someone you are accountable to.

1 Cup Cottage Cheese, 1/4 Cup Non-fat Plain Yogurt, 1/2 banana sliced.  It reminds me of when my Mom would make me cottage cheese and sour cream with bananas when I was little.  It sounds weird, but I loved it.

Usually I eat some sort of ceral with milk and fruit, oatmeal, or yogurt with fruit and granola.  I decided to switch it up today.

On really good days when I have a bit of time I spray a pan with non-stick spray and fry and egg, breaking the yolk in the beginning and flipping it before it gets brown, then heat a small piece of canadian bacon (ham) in the same pan (I always feel guilty about the ham).  I then toast a whole-grain english muffin and have a little breakfast sandwich.  Sometimes I even put a little fat-free or low-fat cheese on there.  It's yummy, and usually around 300 calories.

Can we clarify whether we are discussing the importance of buying organic due to avoiding pesticides, or to increase the flavor of the fruit?

Organic fruits may taste better than fruit grown in a field using traditional farming methods, but I was under the impression the OP was talking about pesticides.  Once I reread it I realized it was never specified.

I said in my previous post that I had a list at one point.  It was a shopping list pad that had the same information as the information in the blog found at the link below.

http://fallenmonk.blogspot.com/2007/06/not-ev erything-needs-to-be-organic.html

This is about avoiding pesticides though, not increased flavor.

Anyway, as someone who buys organic as much as possible, it's interesting to me to see why people don't!  I'm glad people responded to the OP!  I'm not a stickler for organic, I just prefer it.  I even indulge in the occasional McDonald's (gasp) which is definitely NOT organic!

A good rule to go by is if you peel it (for fruit), it doesn't have to be organic.  I had a list of things at one point that pointed out things that should always be organic, and things that it isn't such a big deal.  Berries are probably something that you should buy organic if you can.  I try to eat only organic berries and most fruit actually except bananas, mangoes, and avocado.  I mean, you take the peel off those!  I don't peel my apples, but I definitely peel my bananas!

As for the prices, it depends on where you live.  Some farmers markets specialize in organic fruits and vegetables.  As the other poster said, sometimes you can find organic fruits at a regular grocery store.  As for it being cheaper and not fresh, go in-season.  All fruit is fresher when it is in-season in your area. 

I like to get a bunch of pre-cut veggies and bring them to work with me for a little mid-morning snack with low-fat dressing or hummus.  Then I found out about sugar snap peas.  They are 35 calories for 85 grams and they are so delicious there is no dipping needed!  I eat them with grape tomatoes, all plain!

P.S. I looooooove raspberries!

Overall, this really is a poorly written and poorly worded article, although some of the statements are true, they are not conveyed well.

I am very glad that I, along with most of the commenters feel that 1,050 calories a day is way too low for the average person.  It is.  Education about diet and exercise is so important, and it's nice to see people so intense about not crash dieting!

Elf, I'm with you.  "I could care less..."  If you could care less, then you care.  The correct usage of this phrase is: "I couldn't care less...", as in: I don't care because I couldn't care any less than I do right now. 

This bugs me more than anything else.  There are a few more, but I can't think of them right now.  I'll just cringe later when someone at work says one.  Spelling mistakes and such irk me too.  I don't know why I let other people's speech and spelling bother me.

I have a Victoria's Secret Bikini hanging up in my closet.  I pass by it every time I go through my closet to the bathroom (my closet connects my bathroom and bedroom).  I also take my progressive pictures in that bikini.  I'm hoping to make a flip book of me fat to skinny.  LOL.

My motivation is actually a little black dress I bought on sale a few months ago.  It is only a few sizes away and it's beautiful!  I keep the bikini there for mini motivation, but that sexy dress is my real motivation, plus, I really want to be able to do a triathlon, and I can't train effectively at my current weight.  I'm trying, but I know that once I lose a bit more I will be able to really train hard!