Posts by sarahchaarli

Update: I went to a podiatrist who took x-rays and said I had injured my sesamoids (the small bones at the base of my big toe).  It's a common injury and he prescribed anti-inflammatories and orthotics for my shoes.  My shoes are good shoes, he just said that I need additional arch support to take the pressure off the ball of my foot and my toes.  When I put the orthotics in my shoes, it was instant relief from the pain I've been having. 

Original Post by gracie37:

Since this plateau of mine for the last 30lbs does not want to budge, I have called in the professionals! :)

Anyone else use Jenny Craig???

 I've never tried Jenny Craig, but I'm in the same boat as you.  I lost 47 pounds in the first 6-7 months of 2007.  By December, I hadn't lost anything since July and I decided to take the month off.  I enjoyed my month off (only gained 6 pounds) and now I'm back to counting calories.  I'm hoping the month off will have kick-started things for me, but if not, my doctor and I are going to have a chat about what a reasonable weight for me is, especially if my body doesn't seem to want to lose anymore.  Good luck - let us know how Jenny Craig works for you.

My mom pestered me for years to stop biting my nails (I was also a thumb-sucker until the 1st grade when I had to get a dental appliance that forced me to stop).  We tried everything, but nothing worked.  By the time I got to my senior year in high school, I was so sick of my stubby, ugly fingers that I forced myself to quit.  I sometimes catch myself wanting to bite them (I'm 27 now), especially if one is broken and I don't have any clippers or file handy, but I usually stop myself before I do it.  My husband (same age) stopped biting his in the last year or so.  He hated the way his looked too and also how much it would hurt when he was cooking something and the juices got into the open cuts.  I think you just have to be in the right mindset for it.

What if you try not biting one hand (or even just one finger).  Once you've been successful with one, move to the next one and so on until you're completely done.  I'm at the point now that I love the clicking noise of my long-ish nails on things (like my computer keyboard) and not having them makes me feel awkward.

Many of the original consoles have developed horrible problems.  My husbands' friend has one of the first consoles and his stopped working months ago.  He did some research online and found that it was a common problem.  He later found out that Microsoft is aware of the problems (a manufacturing defect and/or original design flaw).  Microsoft said they would fix the problem, if he sent them the console along with $250.  He ended up finding some repair instructions online and managed to open the console and repair it himself.  Works great now.

I would hope that the newer consoles don't have this problem, but you never know.  If your husband is comfortable with computer hardware, he could probably fix whatever problems might develop with online instructions. Also, if you buy it, I wouldn't put the console in an entertainment center with other electrical components.  It does get extremely hot and needs to be in a well ventilated location to avoid overheating.

I am fluent in Spanish and just finished reading this article in La Prensa. The director of the art gallery said, basically, that she is a human being and as such couldn't possibly permit the mistreatment of an animal, especially in her own gallery. She confirmed that the dog ate on occasion and did not die, but escaped the exhibit during the night.

The art exhibit was the artist's way of showing how a homeless, sick dog only gets attention when it's in an art display and not when it's found on the streets. IMO, he honored this dog by including him in this social statement, not mistreated him.

Stray animals are a problem in many countries in the world, including latin American countries. This artist is making a statement about how his culture treats animals is inhumane. Yes, the animal massacre in other countries is horrible, but in the US, we essentially do the same thing - experts estimate that up to 9 million (yes, MILLION) animals are euthanized each year in the US. Other countries just don't have the resources that we have in the US to "humanely" euthanize animals.

What can you do to help? get your pet spayed or neutered; don't adopt an animal unless you are prepared for the responsibility, and make sure you pet has ID tags or microchipped.

Sounds like your 3 year old is just throwing a tantrum to me.  He tires himself out by throwing the tantrum and then collapses from exhaustion.  But if it concerns you, definitely see your pediatrician.  There are other symptoms of diabetes in addition to being grumpy when your blood sugar is low and then crashing after you eat something.  I'm sure you can find these other symptoms online.  I'm not a mother (yet) but I have nieces, nephews, and 30 different families I babysat for throughout my teens and early 20s.  My advice on dealing with him is simply not to keep chocolate in the house (or at least in any location where he can see it or see you eating it).  When he has a tantrum, tell him that you would give him some, but there isn't any.  If he continues to throw a tantrum, let him.  But, whatever you do, don't give him any.  Each time you do that it gives him motivation to do it over and over again.  If you serve "dessert" after dinner, you can take the stance that chocolate is a treat that we enjoy after we eat dinner and not before.  He is 3, after all.  He's going to throw tantrums just to throw them.

As far as your 8 year old and weighing herself - again, consult your pediatrician or even a ped. psychologist (I bet there are even articles or forums on the internet addressing this very question).  My initial instinct is to say yes, it's okay to let her weight herself, but not too often and always with you there so that you can reassure her that she's normal and growing and we all grow at different rates.  I was one of those "early-bloomers" in school and developed curves much earlier than almost all of my friends.  It was hard to see all the other "skinnier" girls in my class, but reassurance is key to helping her feel like it's okay to look the way that she does.  She may be confident now, but that could change and your reassurance is extremely important.  Never tell her or make any kind of reference that she needs to lose weight - she will remember that forever (I know this from personal experience)! No 8 year old should lose weight - they have lots more growing to do and need all the nutrients they can get. 

It's concerning that her school PE class weighs kids that age.  I'd talk to the PE teacher or a school administrator about that and see if they have any evidence of this being beneficial.  Sometimes it's just a matter of questioning something they've "always" done and never really thought about.  Your daughter's pediatrician might also provide some good insight on this issue as well.  Just because your daughter is confident and okay with her physical appearance doesn't mean that her classmates are that way - your questioning this practice might just help protect another little girl or boy from developing a self-confidence issue.  Personally, I think weighing children in PE class is unnecessary and embarrassing (especially when they get to puberty).  Why does a PE teacher need to know a child's weight?  That shouldn't have any effect on their curriculum.