Posts by cafegen

Don't assume that you are at your full height at age 14 or even at age 17. My brothers both grew several inches in their 20s!

Where is that website for kids? Does it say what ages it considers to be kids? 

Original Post by sophiecore:

ive decided to take up yoga. fit that into my work out plan. im trying hard not to be obsessive with weight. i just read shantaram and now im reading eat pray love. some people love it, others hate it. i find it interesting so right now im enjoying it.

what other books can i read that are "spiritual"

I've heard that yoga can be a really intense work out. It doesn't need to have anything to do with spirituality by the way. For a different point of view, try picking up Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion. Keep in mind that praying, like any diet plan wont do a bit of good without eating right and working out!

Some green tea has caffeine-- so if you're trying to avoid caffeine, I'd be careful about that.

I also worry about my sugar intake. I know immediately if I have too much sugar because I feel a bit sick. The other day a woman on the treadmill next to me had a giant jug of something slightly pink that she was drinking and dragging around with her. I couldn't resist asking her what the heck she was drinking. Turns out it was Crystal Light, grapefruit flavor. She said she doesn't like plain water so she drinks mass quantities of that stuff instead. Not sure about that.

I do find that I like bottled and filtered water much better than straight from the tap in the area where I live. So I always keep several bottles filled for an easy grab on my way out or just about the house.

I've also heard that drinking water helps counter high sugar intakes by flushing it through your system faster-- but-- I'm too lazy to actually back that up with any studies at the moment.

I think we all have those moments where we are trying to be more optimistic about life.  First though, I'd like to say I think it is good that you are talking to a professional-- some of us just have moments like that and others of us have a serious depression that will only improve with professional treatment. You are smart to figure out if this is a fleeting thing or something you need serious help with to overcome.

Also you said your parents expect you to have a family. Is that what you want? It's not necessary to raise children to live a happy and fulfilled life if that's not what you truly want-- in fact I think for many people it is the better choice to not have children at all.   At 19 you have a good decade or more before you even need to consider all of that.

You say that your parents are in their 40s. Damn girl, that's still quite young!! Unless they are both disabled, rarely worked and have no insurance, retirement or back up plan, I don't see why you should feel compelled to work in order to meet their needs.  I'm betting that they'd be much happier if you worked to take care of yourself in a career that brings you some measure of satisfaction-- however, I do realize there could be some cultural things here that don't sync with my view and you will have to take into account.

Anyway, I say, go take that walk in a park. Get out and do some things that you like to do. Don't rush through college- those should be fun years before you get too serious about life.

Original Post by didipeep:

 and i'm having ANOTHER birthdya party for one of my grandparents at a chinese/ korean restaurant.... @ a buffet
food options please :(
are tofu low cal?.... same with some chicken?

At the buffet go for the food that is steamed-- You can have limitless steamed veggies and not worry about calories. Watch out for fried and greasy items. Go for steamed rice. Or, eat salad all day and allow yourself to enjoy the whole buffet at dinner. Enter in some of your favorite dishes in the calorie counter before hand to see what they add up to. Just pick a similar brand if need be.

I agree that you will need to learn how to measure your own food and look up calories. Here's some simple tips if your mom doesn't have a food scale-- judge foods by things you already know-- like a can of soda is 12 ounces, you know what a quart or half gallon of milk looks like-- take a peek at the measurements on a stick of butter-- just use what you have already at home as a way to start comparing sizes and weights. Start reading labels too. 

Original Post by flyingpumpkin:

1) The REASON you have to pee every 20 minutes is BECAUSE you don't drink water.

People who don't drink water, or who drink juice, booze or other items exclusively eventually develop a calcified kidney, kidney blockage, and kidney stones. Kidney blockage gives you the urge to pee. Eventually you will pee bits of calcified glass out of your urethra. Sound icky? More icky than drinking a glass of water? It is unhealthy statements about food, like something as benign as water, which is putting people in the kind of unhealthy eating and obesity patters we see every day.

{snip}

I hope your teaching fiction, not biology.

I hope that you don't need to write any papers which require proper grammar. Did you mean to write "you're"?

Also, I'd like to see some references for your first statement especially. I'm all about disproving wrong statements, theories and urban myths, so if you have any real evidence I'd love to see it.

Finally, you do not know this woman's medical history and it is ridiculous for you to make up your own diagnosis for her condition.

Shredded cabbage makes a great base for any sort of stir fry. Just add some Asian seasonings and a package of frozen Asian veggies -- you'll be set.

Original Post by darky1972:

I am so glad someone posted this! The ONLY problem I have found with this site is trying to find USA names for things we eat here!! Swede being one!! Other than that, this site is perfect!

Are you in the UK too?

Here's another couple of helpful hints: crisps = potato chips or chips for short; what you call chips= French fries in the U.S.

Most of my family has a gluten and dairy allergy. Authentic ethnic food is your friend; especially Asian varieties. My favorites are  Thai and Vietnamese -- can't go wrong with a good lettuce wrap!  Also, a favorite for me is Mexican food-- you can find corn tortillas and use them for tacos, chips, tostados and many other dishes.  Salsa is always a safe bet too.

There's other cultures where rice or corn is the focus of the meal. Just do a little research.

Watch out for sauces and read every label. Odd things like chicken broth, soy sauce and tomato paste sometimes have added wheat products.

Original Post by trhawley:

To live long and prosper.

 It's illogical not to.

In additon to the reasons already stated--It's nice to be able to open jars on your own, lift a child or a heavy box, keep up with your elderly grandmother at the mall or enjoy a good hike, preferably in some exotic European city....  

Probably depends on the quality of the product.