Meat and Sleeping

Workout Songs - I really love working out to Underoath, I have alot of underoath on my mp3 player, so thought I’d share their latest video with you, Underoath aren’t for everyone but I’ve been a fan for nearly 10 years now. I’ll make a playlist of my favourite workout songs and post it soon.

Breakfast:

• 1 banana
• 1 apple, sliced
• 1 tbsp organic peanut butter
• large mug of green tea

Lunch:

• 1 hard boiled egg
• 2 celery sticks
• 1 cup greek yougurt, strawberry flavored, with wheat germ & flax seeds
• cup of green tea
• glass of water

Dinner:

• 4 pieces of sushi (just the fish and rice kind…nigiri I believe?)
• brown rice with raw peas & carrots
• water
   

Pill Capsules: Would love these, with something to attach to a keychain… and maybe if they were decorated so they were a little cuter.

So I was eating a gigantic piece of chocolate when…

I saw that the latest catalogue for Anthropologie had arrived. Naturally, I’m too poor to get anything from there that is not on sale, but I started perusing through potential fall bargains in the June edition of: “if only you were rich.” When suddenly, I came across this photo. This girl looks so elegant. And LOOK! She’s eating something! Granted, she’s probably not actually eating whatever this is. So, to make a long story short, I saw this picture, put the damn chocolate back, and walked upstairs. That’s true inspiration for ya. 

Here’s the full catalogue if you find yourself stuffing some food in your mouth on this fine evening:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?navAction=jump&viewall=true&id=CLOTHES-CATALOG3&cm_re=May_11-_-053011_hmpg_catalog-_-catalog1

Woot! I celebrated by eating a chocolate donut, a small piece of berry crumb cake, a chocolate chipper from Panera, and an iced grande cinnamon dolce latte. And half a bag of cheddar popcorn.

Don’t worry, there was some space between these things. A couple minutes, at least.

they’re called mio, and they’re really neat! they take your heart rate, tell you how many calories and grams of fat you burn in a workout, how many minutes you spend in, above and below your target heart rate and your average and max heart rates during a workout! the best part is, if you touch and hold the outside of the watch face, it takes your heart rate right there! it also connects to the computer with this chest strap thing and you can upload all of the information to a website.

hopefully i can have it all worked out by friday, because there’s a big pile of instructions i still need to read!

The Boss is having a rough night. She’s thrown up four times in the last six hours, and she has a slight fever. So far, no bloody stool or eardrum-rupturing screams. Just a kid who’s too hungry to sleep yet too sick to eat or nurse.

I hope she’ll be okay.

Today wasn’t too terrible, health wise. For breakfast, I had two slices of ham and a pickle (we were all out of eggs). Lunch: chef salad with low calorie/low fat dressing. It was a very scrumptious salad, I’ll be having another one later. I had some pistachios for a snack, and a lemon-pepper pork chop and green beans for dinner. For dessert, I had honey roasted peanuts, and thought I was doing quite excellently until my dad gave me cherry pie and vanilla ice cream. I didn’t want to be rude, since it was so sweet of him to make it for me, so I had it. Dessert has always been my weakness. Overall, I think it was a good day. 

Something that’s been helping me is thinking, “Would I rather have this now or be skinny later?” And more often than not the answer it in favor of the latter. Another thing that was helpful was thinking of my daily carbohydrate allowance as money. Do I want to spend that ‘money’ on potatoes at dinner, or on ice cream at dessert? Since I’m a fan of dessert, the answer is almost always in favor of ice cream. :P 

Hopefully tomorrow will be another good day! I’m feeling optimistic about the future. I hope you are too. 

Today was a very big slab of proof in just how far my body has come since moving to NYC. Yesterday, inspired by an episode of Anthony Bourdain trekking around Boston, I ordered a pastrami sandwich after work in a nearby deli. Oh my fucking god, was that thing full of meat. It looked more like a cave where a small monster could hide out, rather than a sandwich. I ate it with relish, over stuffing myself, but enjoying the taste anyway. I sincerely regretted that decision however, at 2 in the morning trying to go to sleep with a lump of meat in my tummy. If I’d been in Orlando, this wouldn’t have been a problem. My bedroom was built within the garage, where we kept an extra fridge for all of our food. So I often fell asleep in high school and my early college years, after self medicating with slabs of meat, potatoes, sugary drinks, and whatever else I could get my hands on. I went to sleep better with food in my belly. 

But those days are far over. My bedroom now lies 3 stories high of any food source, and I took up dog walking as a job which did an immense job of exhausting my body in all the right ways. My cousin also doesn’t eat a lot of red meat, so most of my diet turned into heavy vegetables, and fruits. The occasional fish or chicken, maybe turkey pops in too. Slowly but surely my body changed gears, and I happily went along with it. Seeing how much ‘damage’ one pastrami sandwich could do to my mood/body chemistry/sleep habits really sort of shook me up and made me appreciate all the changes I’ve been able to make for myself.

Man, I love New York.

So this evening, I went and took a nice jog/walk over to my local park. I managed to jog the WHOLE way there (super impressive), and I made a lap around, and surprised myself again by deciding to make another lap. I had to only walk that one though, because my core muscles were kicking up a storm and making it hard to breathe. 

Ugh, my life. Such in a good place. Years ago I would have never imagined my stringing praises of physical exercise. It’s taken me a while to get where I am and appreciate it now, but it’s been all worth it. When I run, swim, walk, or do yoga, I think, “This isn’t just for me. This is for my kids, my future self, my family, or the person who might one day get my organs when I die.” I don’t just do it for me, I do it in a communal sense. And cause it just damn well feels good by the end of it. Even though the first 5-10 minutes can be fucking wack and I feel miserable. But it picks up after that!

Tonight

Among wine’s recently discovered benefits are: improved heart health, less plaque accumulation in arteries, better bone health, cataract prevention, decreased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, possibly cancer prevention and more. The miracle ingredient appears to be resveratrol, a naturally occurring substance found in grape skins, that has antioxidant effects (meaning it wipes out compounds in the body that can damage DNA and lead to disease). However, more isn’t necessarily better. While the American Heart Association recommends up to one glass of wine per day for women and two for men, filling your bubble glass to the brim won’t keep the grim reaper away. Most studies say one 5-ounce serving is sufficient. There’s no clear evidence pointing to one varietal being better than another, so go with red or white — whichever your taste buds prefer.

So since iv’e been back in California my diet has changed greatly from when I was in New York. In New York I was on the poor mans diet i.e. lots of pasta, pb&j’s, and whatever vegetables I could get my hands on plus miles upon miles of walking a day. This lead to me losing about 7 pounds. Since I have been back in California and living at my parents house I am now able to get my hands on whatever food I want which sounds great but also makes it easier to fall of the horse since now I actually have the ability to eat more food…

But being able to notice the weight I have lost has helped keep me on track to my goal of 5 more pounds. I have been incorporating more salads into my meals with plenty of raw chopped vegetables * The less cooked your vegetables the more benefits you get out of them* and drinking more water through out the day which has always been a bad habit of mine. Also, more whole grains which has been pretty easy, cheerios and oatmeal in the mornings. 

People always complain about how hard it is to eat healthy now a days but I think its never been easier. It’s really your own choice and no one else’s fault as to what food you put in your mouth. So think about what you are eating, and what benefits it has towards your health. Even though eating fat filled meals with no vegetables in sight hasn’t effected you right now it will always catch up with you in the end. 

So eat healthy! I promise not only will it help with weight and overall health it will make you happier in the end. 

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

Shifting the balance in the war on cancer:

Cancer genomics, the study of the human cancer genome, is, according to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health, “a search within ‘cancer families’ and patients for the full collection of genes and mutations - both inherited and sporadic - that contribute to the development of a cancer cell and its progression from a localized cancer to one that grows uncontrolled and metastasizes (spreads throughout the body).”

Modeled after the Human Genome Project, the 15-year long process to sequence all 3 billion base pairs in the human genome (a virtual blueprint for a human being) that ended in 2003, the Cancer Genome Atlas is a collective database as scientists and academics attempt to sequence the entire array of genetic mutations that cause every known type of cancer.

According to Eric Lander, one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project, the number of cancerous genetic mutations is finite because the number of base pairs in the human genome is finite.  “The key is finding the Achilles’ heels for the mutations in these pathways.”

So, I guess I should do an update on my life? Seeing as half the time, this blog consists of gifs, random pictures and constant liveblogging. of course I’ll put it in a cut seeing as, I’m not about to spam people that don’t really care about these little details.

• I just got a part-time job as hostess for macaroni grill at the Orlando International Airport. I’m excited to a certain extent, and at least with this I can start saving for graduate school. 
• I’m not doing speech language pathology anymore. I guess, I just don’t like it as much as I thought I did. Instead, I’m going to get a masters in elementary education and then a PH.D in elementary education so that I can teach in a post-secondary/university setting. I love to work with children for sometime in my life, but I’d love to become a college professor in the long run, and so therefore a PH.D is needed!
• Of course, not just needed. It’s wanted. 
• Some people in my life may not agree with this choice, but at this point in my life? fuck them, if you aren’t going to die for me, then you sure as hell are not going to live my life. 
• I’m still playing nurse for my mom. She’ll probably be in bed and out of work because of her surgery. I don’t mind really, she’s one of the only people who hasn’t taken advantage of me so it’s the least I can do.
• I’m still single as fuck. I’m honestly okay with it, but I get those few moments throughout the day, where I really miss sex. I mean, seriously. It’s literally been almost 2 years. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME. I’m not actively trying to date anyways, so it’s not like it is an accidental dryspell or something. It’s technically on purpose? Just untill I can trust someone to get that close to be again. I’m not the one night stand type. 
• I’m still screening my dad’s phone calls. 

People came and I taught. 

it went pretty well. 

I ended up timing it perfectly. AND I did laps afterward. Which was good. I didn’t get to do a lot of laps because I had to go work, but still. I did do some laps. 

Um, I will post my aerobics workout sometime. I have to get ready for a practice I am helping at. 

Especially from those of you who know more about health foods~ T_T;
message me for more details ok? super need help and its killing me coz i feel so damn stupid~ T_T; (no anons pls~ i need to get back to you in your askbox~ >.<)

Erfahrung mit epotenzmittel.com:

Kaufen mit epotenzmittel.com

Fracking and Cell Phones: Evaluating the Real Risks: Two hot-button topics: the potential...

Loads of exercise again, I’m feeling extremely tired now and i know I’m going to really ache in the morning.

Dumbell situps- 10 kg - 1 set at 40reps, 1 set at 50reps.

Dumbell curls up to 15kg now. 3 sets of 9

Benchpress (freeweight)- 40kg- 3 sets of 9

Benchpress (pully system)- 70kg- 3 sets of 9

a ton of other stuff too. No running at all today but i done alot of boxing training and bag work so that is cardio. I feel like I’m doing quite well this week- No exercise tomorrow, just a chill out with my friends Ed and Jamie. As usual, I love your messages :)

6/8/2011

Tips to help me not eat off my schedule…

NOTE: I do not intend these to be substitutes for not eating; these are simply things that help me NOT to cheat on my meal plan (eating between breakfast and my AM snack). 

• Paint your nails. If your nails are freshly painted and wet, you’re not going to want to mess them up by eating
• Brush your teeth. A lot of food tastes gross when you have the minty toothpaste taste in your mouth.
• Wear lip gloss. If you’ve got something sticky on your lips, you will be super conscious of what you put in your mouth
• Drink water-it fills up your stomach. However, don’t drink too much at once, because it’s not healthy. 
• Chew on ice cubes. This helps me a lot because my mouth is tricked into thinking that chewing = food, plus you’re getting water.
• Chew sugarfree gum. Once again, this is a chewing thing, plus it tastes yummy. If it’s mint (peppermint or spearmint-spearmint is my favorite, though) it serves the same purpose as toothpaste
• Have a cough drop. Once again, these leave a strong taste in your mouth that will turn you off from food. Just make sure you get the sugarfree ones. Also, my dentist told me that sucking on cough drops increases saliva flow in your mouth, which reduces bad breath!

Full of sickness and pain/ trying to erase the stains on my memory/ leaving me to falter through the misery you’ve caused/ see through sickness and health I promised to be there/ but I broke that vow months ago/ only to chase the happiness I had/ leaving the past ills in the past they perpetuated/ ad grew into things unseen/ and some days I just want to spill it all but my pride wont let me/ see my health is just one of my problems/ and to e healthy is a goal/ but to be healthy is to be happy/ and the outside things glisten/ my insides can be dark/ and now it is my time to embark on this journey of life/ to gain happiness & health.

Fast Food + Coffee = Worst Combination for Our Health

I am finally at a stable healthy weight.  I’m proud to say that I look healthy and fit, and work hard at it.  It took a long time to get better… and my body is finally working on my side recently.  Even in sickness there is always the seed of health.  Don’t fight to destroy the sickness, but strengthen the seed.  Nurture it and feed it and keep it well.  It will grow and the sickness will diminish.  The sickness will become the seed that can, but won’t, because the environment doesn’t permit it.

For a week I will be doing a low-carb diet.

Hopefully it gets me to my 1 gw. If not then oh well… I want to be healthy & I’m only willing to do this for a week every once in a while. 

If you want me to post my meals for this diet just leave me a message so i know.  :)

I will update my weight as it changes!

Song of the Week

“Die Slow” by HEALTH, from Get Color

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Pelvic Pain

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So, it’s been about a week since I started over.  I actually didn’t start hardcore exercising/’dieting’ until the 5th. And with the exception of chinese takeout last night for dinner, I’ve been doing SO well.

I’m eating right, and my stomach is finally getting over the constantly starving stage that happens you’re not as eating as much as you used to. I’m usually pretty hungry in the late morning, but I have a schedule for eating that helps me stay on track. I get hungry again in the afternoon, but it usually goes away after I exercise. Half the time after a workout I’m not even hungry anymore! (I still eat though… gotta keep the metabolism going and NOT push myself into starvation mode).

I had a REALLY good workout today. I’ve been doing comcast OnDemand ten minute workouts.. one for abs/back and one for legs. So I did that, and 30 minutes of jogging/walking, and 10 minutes of yoga to stretch after my run.

I weighed myself this morning, which I shouldn’t have done, and saw that I’ve gained two pounds. I should not be so hung up by a number on a scale. I should be focusing on how my body is changing. It’s only been 4 days and I’m already noticing changes. I have more muscle definition in my thighs and upper arms… the little flabby bits on my body are getting tighter/disappearing… my slight double chin is much much smaller, and I just feel better in general, until I remember that damn number. I wish I could get over the weight and focus on the good things.

So.. good things. I’m doing awesome at eating, exercising is going well and I think I’m starting to really look forward to pushing myself, it’s nice enough to run outside (which means a tan!!), and my flabby bits are disappearing!

Can I just warn people about LVAC.

Today was legs and cardio.  We had to cross the scary Junction Bridge again over to the River...

Wear it… (whatever the|your taste)

Diseases that cause breathing difficulties. http://dld.bz/pYCF health

So I can do some crunches when I wake up?

my biggest fitspiration is Jamie Eason. She’s beautiful, smart, and truly motivational.

know a person who has stopped alcohol with sudden confusion and seeing abnormal things. Seek medical help. http://bit.ly/bYRrSr health

I feel lopsided lately.

Curious... am I obsessed?

i have been feeling a severe lack of motivation lately. i guess it feels like i have been stuck in the area of 142-145 for a few weeks and I just want to bust through to the 130’s and maybe ill feel better about myself.

lately i have also been struggling with whether i just want to do this as fast as possible (severe calorie restriction), or whether i want to take my time, be healthy and work slower but a lot more steadier. to be honest tho… i really just want the extra weight off as soon as i can get there but i am so scared i will just be “skinny fat” instead of looking actually thin.

i will do anything to get past 139 tho…. last summer my bf bought me some lipo 6 black. i think i still have some and i might use them to get through these few lbs. i dont really like how they make me feel but i think it might be worth a try if just for a week or so.

Finished jogging with my boyfriend! I am tired hot happy and feel very accomplished:)

totally worth it.

-running with 2 dogs keeps your going- 

I’ve managed to only eat 200 calories so far today. I’m waiting for tonight when my family and I go to Red Robin for my graduation dinner. I’m at Red Robin’s website trying to build the healthiest good-tasting meal I can. Hahaha :)

4 strawberries with nutella: 100 calories 

total: 550

outtake: 400

net: 150

i reallyy wanted to just give up and eat everything I saw….so glad i didn’t!

heya, i’m looking online for some good workout regimens, does anyone know of some good sites on which i can find some good exercise regimens and diet plans? also does anyone know of a good daily food intake tracker site?

I’m at 207.2 lbs, which means I’m 7.3 lbs away from officially hitting my first major goal.  I cannot wait; I plan on throwing myself a kick-ass party when I hit it.  I mean, Jesus, Panda Dynamo has lost 57.4 lbs so far.  That is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

I realize I’ve been rather hesitant to ruffle any feathers on my Tumblr…yeah, that’s not gonna fly anymore.  The whole point of this damn thing is to be able to rant, vent, rave, and (for me) process all that’s going on around me.  I shouldn’t hide that I love yaoi and hentai, or that I love the gym more than sex, or that I’m a shameless flirt.  And I most certainly shouldn’t hide being a nerd girl (Han shot first, btw).

I shouldn’t hide that I still have feelings for Abraham and Franklin (they’d be stupid not to know).  But I’m moving on.  It’s better than nothing.  And I probably will find better.

I shouldn’t hide how inwardly comfortable I am with my sexuality, even though I outwardly react like Barney Fife.

Anything else?  I’ll think on it.  But I’m no longer ashamed to post anything about what I like or don’t like.

Rest day. 
I missed running, thoughhh! :D Excited for running tmwww :D :D :D  

Food
Breakfast: Porridge with chopped apple and soya milk
Lunch: Mashed potatoes, veggie crisp bake, meat-free burger (just the burger no bun)
Snacks: Oat crackers, raisins, fruit smoothie
Dinner: Vegetable soup (carrot, celery, cabbage, broccoli, leek, noodles)
total:1670 kcal

Exercise

Infographic: Doctors on Drugs

Mono eating - the practice of eating one particular food for an entire meal, in sufficient quantity to produce satiation until the next meal.

This can be seen in nature. Animals usually eat one food, and one food only, until they’re full. There are no “recipes” containing 5+ ingredients in nature.

Benefits:

• Optimal digestion, absorption, and assimilation
• Better able to recognize when you are satiated
• Enhances your senses, so that you’re able to pick up specific tastes in your food
• Helps you avoid addiction to stimulation and overeating
• Doesn’t leave you tired and dull, instead: Awake, Clear head!
• Simplicity. Preparation is as easy as cutting a watermelon in half and eating it with a fork.

Examples:

• 4 Bananas (480 calories)
• 3 Mangos (390 calories)
• 1/4 of a Watermelon (340 calories)

It might take some time for your stomach to adjust to you eating such large amounts of food, since we are generally used to eating concentrated, high-calorie meals. This is where blending is a huge help. For example, I usually fix up some Banana Milk.. one of my favorite Mono-Meals. Be sure to “chew your smoothie” so that you get some saliva in with the food, and drink it slowly.

One of my faves to start with!

Oranges make me happy. 

Top 10 Best AND Worst Foods

What are SideEffects and recovery from a lumbar puncture, spinal tap http://bit.ly/czJbjR health

Cheating today like a badass with all the extra fruit. 

Breakfast: Vega Superfood Pudding, Strawberry, 1/4 of a Grapefruit

Snack: Watermelon, Peanuts

Lunch: PB&J Sandwich (only 200 cals! Soo happy :D)

Snack/2nd Lunch: Bean Burrito at some place my friend took us to. It was seriously amazing because, they make all of the food there themselves. You can really tell the difference!

Dinner: 1 Tsp Balsalmic, 1 Tsp Olive Oil, Tuscan Spices, 1/2 Mini Whole Wheat Bagel, Collard Greens, Tofu, Carrots, Red Bell Pepper, Celery, Cauliflower

Dessert: 3 Strawberries, 1 Apple, Some Chunks Pineapple

I’ve always had body issues. They stemmed from my parents constantly trying to push me into diets and telling me that I needed to lose weight. They don’t do it so much anymore. The reason I’m bringing this up is because yesterday I realized something: my mom also has body issues. I don’t know why this never occurred to me before. I was weighing myself for weigh in Wednesday and she was telling me how I should be exercising and eating right. This is when I started to get annoyed with her. She told me that she didn’t want me to get mad at her because she knows how I feels. 

I’ve always been fat. Your father has always been skinny. I understand the struggle. I know what people think of us.

Then we both weighed ourselves, and we’re literally less than a pound apart. I never thought that my mother, a strong, independent woman, would have body issues. For all these years, I thought my parents were being highly critical. I guess they care.

(Daily Mail Reporter By MARK DUELL) — An abnormal growth of blood vessels on her left eye could have blinded her. But Christian couple Timothy and Rebecca Wyland relied on faith healing instead of taking infant daughter Alayna to a doctor.

Couple Timothy and Rebecca Wyland, members Oregon City congregation the Followers of Christ, relied on faith healing instead of taking infant daughter Alayna to a doctor

Her condition has now improved under state-ordered medical care but her parents have been convicted in Oregon of felony criminal mistreatment.

Alayna was born in December 2009 and developed the blood vessels that covered her left eye and threatened her vision.

But her parents belong to unorthodox Oregon City congregation the Followers of Christ, which relies on faith healing.

So rather than taking their daughter to a doctor, they relied on prayer, anointing her with oil and laying hands on her.

Clackamas County sheriff’s deputy Emile Burley testified in May that he made a child welfare check at the family home in June 2010, and instantly noticed a ‘large bulging area’ on Alayna’s left eye.

It was ‘the size of a golf ball, maybe a little larger’, he said - and photos shown in court suggest at one point that it was as big as a baseball.

Her parents said in another hearing last July they wouldn’t have willingly taken her to a doctor because it would violate their religious beliefs.

Around 20 supporters from their church were in court to hear the verdict, made by the jury in an hour, and sentencing was set for June 24.

Two other couples from the same church whose children died from untreated ailments have been prosecuted in the last two years.

Jeff and Marci Beagley got 16 months in jail after their son Neil, 16, died of complications from an untreated urinary tract blockage.

The Beagleys’ daughter’s husband, Carl Brent Worthington, was jailed for 60 days over the death of his young girl Ava, who had bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection.

They are expected to receive probation or some jail time, although the maximum jail sentence for first-degree criminal mistreatment is five years.

But the Wylands were the victims of inflexible bureaucrats and religious persecution because of their faith-healing beliefs, Mark Cogan, defending, said.

They were loving parents who fully cooperated with court orders, taking the child to the doctor and giving her prescribed medication, defense lawyers added.

But this defense was just a smokescreen, Christine Landers, prosecuting, said.

The couple had more than six months to seek medical attention before the state intervened but they did not because of their faith, she said.

The Wylands are the third couple from the same church to have been prosecuted by Clackamas County in just two years.

The Followers of Christ was founded in the 1890s in Kansas but moved to Oregon City in the 1940s.

The devout followers firmly believe that the power of prayer and the laying on of hands - where ministers lay their hands on believers while praying - can cure illnesses.

It’s thought that some followers secretly visit traditional doctors - but if found out, they are likely to find themselves ostracized.

Original Article

5 Best Natural Sources of Calcium for Healthy Bones:

Collard Greens.  Leafy green vegetables are one of the most healthful sources of calcium and magnesium.  One cup of boiled collards contains a whopping 358 milligrams.  Kale, broccoli, Swiss chard, bok choy and turnip greens are full of calcium, too.  The one exception is spinach, which has a high concentration of oxalate, making it difficult for the body to absorb calcium. 

Baked beans.  Beans in general are a great source of calcium, as well as a hearty non-animal protein.  One serving of baked beans contains over 100 milligrams of calcium.  Navy beans, white beans and garbanzos are also full of calcium and magnesium, as are soybean products like tofu.

Oatmeal. Surprisingly, two packets of instant oatmeal contains between 100-150 mg of calcium, and more magnesium than a cup of collard greens.  Quinoa is another calcium-rich grain.  Try either for a healthy breakfast.

Sesame seeds.  Just one tablespoon of sesame seeds contains about 88 milligrams of calcium, and about a third of the daily value for magnesium. Make sure to buy the unhulled kind, though, as it’s the seed’s hull (outer shell) that contains most of the nutrients.  Try grinding them up like flax seeds and adding to breakfast cereal or soups and salads.

Almonds.  Almonds are a nutritional powerhouse, providing a dense source of protein and fiber, along with calcium and other minerals necessary for building strong bones.  Just one serving has 750 milligrams of calcium.  Almonds, plain or mixed with dried fruit, make great snacks by themselves, or try replacing your jar of peanut butter with nutrient-rich almond butter.

This pretty infographic brings to light the profitable, and sometimes shady, relationship between pharmaceutical companies and doctors.

WETHEPEOPLE Dont Gain Weight on the Job http://ping.fm/o2g7B health diet tcot weight job heart...

the sight of anything sweet literally makes me gag.  YES

splits

think breakfast is my favorite meal of the day: wheat berries, Greek yogurt, banana, raisins and peanut butter

Indonesian worker slaughtering a dog for a meal. A meal of dog meat and rice is believed to cure skin disease and boost vitality, and is sold for 99 cents.

Interesting to compare, in America we are told that a healthy diet is subsidized by meat and dairy, when in fact a diet of over 5% protein is unhealthy because of its excessive, and proven carcinogenic effects.  To put that into perspective, some fruits and vegetables with the lowest amounts of protein generally range at about 7%, still higher than the necessary protein intake.  An over-abundance of this protein from animals results in heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancers which are almost unseen in areas of the world that exist off of a whole food diet.

Having healthy skin also includes staying away from certain foods. Below are the worst foods for skin and should be avoiding or at least consumed in moderation.

Coffee. Can’t live without your morning Starbucks? You might have to in order to avoid the high levels of caffeine and sugar that can cause oily spots and rob your body of moisture. Try getting one of their many teas instead.

Salt. No surprise here, too much salt can also dry out your skin and lead to other health problems. It is often found in chips, pretzels, and even many soups have a high salt count. Try substituting a small amount of sea salt in recipes that call for regular salt.

Greasy foods. Also not a shocker, the oils found in these foods contain a high level of saturated fats and little to none of the essential fatty acids. These foods can include pizza, cheeseburgers, or anything fried. If the bag or box you bought it in is soaked in grease, this is not a good food for your skin or body.

Alcohol. No one ever said getting healthy skin was easy. It can also dehydrate your skin, especially after over indulging. Many drinks, such as daiquiris and margaritas, can also contain lots of sugar. Those who must have a drink should stick to light beer or a clear liquor mixed with water or plain soda.

White starches. These include items made with white flour such as bread, pastas, and rice. They can raise insulin levels causing inflammation in the skin. This sort of food also takes the place of whole grains, which can contain high amounts of selenium.

Soda, this includes Red Bull and similar drinks. Getting your eight glasses a day from soda can do damage to your skin. The sugar and artificial elements make it more difficult for your body to hydrate. Lipton and Pepsi offer a sparkling green tea that makes a great substitute.

Processed meats. These can be full of nitrates, salt, hydrogenated fats, and many other harmful ingriedients which are damaging to the skin. Any processed meat, such as bacon, hot dogs, sausage, anything found in a Hot Pocket, and similar products can be full of these. If you’re not sure, flip the package over and read the ingredients to see if it passes the test.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by emaciation, a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight, a distortion of body image and intense fear of gaining weight, a lack of menstruation among girls and women, and extremely disturbed eating behavior. Some people with anorexia lose weight by dieting and exercising excessively; others lose weight by self-induced vomiting, or misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

Many people with anorexia see themselves as overweight, even when they are starved or are clearly malnourished. Eating, food and weight control become obsessions. A person with anorexia typically weighs herself or himself repeatedly, portions food carefully, and eats only very small quantities of only certain foods. Some who have anorexia recover with treatment after only one episode. Others get well but have relapses. Still others have a more chronic form of anorexia, in which their health deteriorates over many years as they battle the illness.

According to some studies, people with anorexia are up to ten times more likely to die as a result of their illness compared to those without the disorder. The most common complications that lead to death are cardiac arrest, and electrolyte and fluid imbalances. Suicide also can result.

Many people with anorexia also have coexisting psychiatric and physical illnesses, including depression, anxiety, obsessive behavior, substance abuse, cardiovascular and neurological complications, and impaired physical development.

Other symptoms may develop over time, including:

• thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
• brittle hair and nails
• dry and yellowish skin
• growth of fine hair over body (e.g., lanugo)
• mild anemia, and muscle weakness and loss
• severe constipation
• low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse
• drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
• lethargy

TREATING ANOREXIA involves three components:

1. restoring the person to a healthy weight;
2. treating the psychological issues related to the eating disorder; and
3. reducing or eliminating behaviors or thoughts that lead to disordered eating, and preventing relapse.

Some research suggests that the use of medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics or mood stabilizers, may be modestly effective in treating patients with anorexia by helping to resolve mood and anxiety symptoms that often co-exist with anorexia. Recent studies, however, have suggested that antidepressants may not be effective in preventing some patients with anorexia from relapsing. In addition, no medication has shown to be effective during the critical first phase of restoring a patient to healthy weight. Overall, it is unclear if and how medications can help patients conquer anorexia, but research is ongoing.

Different forms of psychotherapy, including individual, group and family-based, can help address the psychological reasons for the illness. Some studies suggest that family-based therapies in which parents assume responsibility for feeding their afflicted adolescent are the most effective in helping a person with anorexia gain weight and improve eating habits and moods.

Shown to be effective in case studies and clinical trials, this particular approach is discussed in some guidelines and studies for treating eating disorders in younger, nonchronic patients.

Others have noted that a combined approach of medical attention and supportive psychotherapy designed spe-cifically for anorexia patients is more effective than just psychotherapy. But the effectiveness of a treatment depends on the person involved and his or her situation. Unfortunately, no specific psychotherapy appears to be consistently effective for treating adults with anorexia. However, research into novel treatment and prevention approaches is showing some promise. One study suggests that an online intervention program may prevent some at-risk women from developing an eating disorder.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov

Homemade Strawberry Milk

1 Cup Strawberries (Either fresh or frozen), sliced

1/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Water

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 Cups Skim Milk

In a medium saucepan, boil strawberries, sugar, water, and vanilla extract for 10-12 minutes, or until the strawberries release all their juices and the mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat and run the mixture through a fine mech sieve (save cooked strawberries to put on yogurt, ice cream, or pancakes). Refrigerate the syrup until cool.

Stir together the syrup and milk (if too sweet, add 1/2 cup more milk to dilute the flavor) and serve in chilled glasses. 

*Can you tell I adore strawberries?

? Mary-Kate

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g., binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating. This binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g., vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics), fasting and/or excessive exercise.

Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their age and weight. But like people with anorexia, they often fear gaining weight, want desperately to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy with their body size and shape. Usually, bulimic behavior is done secretly, because it is often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame. The binging and purging cycle usually repeats several times a week. Similar to anorexia, people with bulimia often have coexisting psychological illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and/or substance abuse problems. Many physical conditions result from the purging aspect of the illness, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, and oral and tooth-related problems.

Other symptoms include:

• chronically inflamed and sore throat
• swollen glands in the neck and below the jaw
• worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acids
• gastroesophageal reflux disorder
• intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
• kidney problems from diuretic abuse
• severe dehydration from purging of fluids

As with anorexia, TREATMENT FOR BULIMIA often involves a combination of options and depends on the needs of the individual.

To reduce or eliminate binge and purge behavior, a patient may undergo nutritional counseling and psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or be prescribed medication. Some antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), which is the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating bulimia, may help patients who also have depression and/or anxiety. It also appears to help reduce binge-eating and purging behavior, reduces the chance of relapse, and improves eating attitudes.

CBT that has been tailored to treat bulimia also has shown to be effective in changing binging and purging behavior, and eating attitudes. Therapy may be individually oriented or group-based.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov

WETHEPEOPLE Dont Gain Weight on the Job http://ping.fm/o2g7B health diet tcot weight job heart diabetes food militia exercise SGP

Healthy Weight Loss Tips.

So, I went thrifting Mermorial Day afternoon, as I mentioned in an earlier post, and I snagged quite...

So my aunt finally came back from the Philippines and got me the body tape measure that I ask for (which was surprisingly hard to find in the US). I therefore measured different areas of my body and didn’t really feel good about the results. 

I’ve been trying to seriously get to my ideal weight since the beginning of 2010. Although, I didn’t get really into it until last summer and the progress has been slow. I would lose some pounds then gain it back, lose it again, then gain it back. In 17 months, I have lost between 10 to 15 pounds total, which means I only lost less than a pound a month on average. Eek. Granted, I wasn’t as serious about exercising and eating right this year and I didn’t really get a gym membership until October 2010. I just feel like I should be further along now.

So now, my grand plan is to lose 20 to 30 pounds before grad school starts, which is in 3 months. 40 pounds by the end of the year in all and another 30 lbs by the start of next summer.

You can do the math if you’d like, by my ultimate goal is to weigh under 130 and my waist line to be no more than 28 inches. That’s not some arbitrary number that I picked out, that’s how much I need to weigh in order to have a normal BMI.  I know that’s possible for me because that’s my weight and waistline during Sixth Grade. 

However, sometimes I feel like I put all this hard work of going to the gym three to four times a week, 45 minutes to 90 minutes and 350-800 calories burned each time. I eat brown rice and whole grain pasta, I cut down on meat, I try to eat more vegetables and fruits, I take vitamin supplements, and I eat reduced fat/calorie sweets. I reduced my alcohol intake immensely after college and I walk at least a mile a day in downtown dc between my bus stop and my work place. 

And yet, all these hardwork is not reflected on the scale. And after I took my measurements, I’m larger than I thought. I know when I look into the mirror, my face, thighs, hips and arms look smaller and I have more muscle. I also now fit into Forever 21 regular L size dresses that are not stretch fabric and medium size belts from H&M. Work pants and jeans that I bought last Christmas are now loose by at least size bigger to me. I guess ultimately, that’s what matters, but the numbers are frustrating. 

I guess, I know, the area I need to work on is portion control, snacking, and cutting down on sweets and junk food. I love chocolate and ice cream, what a girl can do? But do, I must. 

Despite the cookie baking temptation (and falafel munching as I ate it hence the 8 falafels =[ ) I still managed to do really well!!! :D

I now realized I forgot to put the 1 T of soy sauce that was on my tofu in there which adds 8 cals, 1 carb, and 1 protein. I’m trying to tell myself crossing into the 1200’s by 7 calories is completely okay but it will be the first time I eat 1200 or more since I started this diet and I’m a bit anxious because of it. On the flip side I measure under so there’s a good chance something else wasn’t as high as I though. PLUS! My fat today was so great, only 20 grams DESPITE 13 for the falafel incident!!

Maybe I need to start working harder. 

You know how people always say that you won’t be successful with weightloss unless it’s for the right reasons?

I’m afraid that I’m doing mine for the wrong reasons.

I have never had a boyfriend.  I honestly think it’s because I’m bigger.
I was also picked on for my weight from 6th grade through freshman year.  But then I learned how to dress myself and made some friends, so the bullying stopped.

I want to lose weight to prove all of those mother fuckers wrong.
i want them to see me and say, “Damn.  That’s Ali?”
I want them to want me, and then I want to shut them down, just like they did to me.

haters gunna hate. :]

• No eating past 7pm.
• No eating at any restaurant that has a drive-thru.
• No ice cream. (I work at an ice cream shop. Yikes!)
• Lose 5 pounds minimum.
• Run at least three days each week.

Healthy Weight Loss Tips.

1. Do not starve yourself.
I cannot stress this enough. Number one it is horrible for your body, but you’ll be shocked to know it doesn’t even work. What happens is that when you are lacking food, your body goes into starvation mode to keep you alive. It will cling onto everything you eat and turn it into fat, so instead of losing weight you’ll actually gain weight. After a while you will eventually start to lose, but when you are comfortable and go back to eating you’ll gain it all back, and maybe end up even bigger than you were previously. It soon turns into an obsession that is very hard to get out of. You will hurt yourself and your family&&friends.

2. Drink lots of water.

3. Eat lean meats like chicken and fish.
Try to grill it or pop it into the oven rather than frying. Do not add a bunch of sauces, but you can season it to your desire - Just make sure to not add a lot of salt.

4. Eat lots of vegetables.
I’ve learned that when you are making your plate, it is a lot healthier to keep vegetables a staple rather than carbohydrates or meat/fish. It keeps you full longer and its less fattening. Make sure it’s a lot of greens!

5. Get sufficient sleep.

6. Slowly cut back on the ‘junk’.
Do not take it all out at once! If your having a few chocolate bars a day, slowly reduce it to only one a day, then when you feel confident you are keeping your cravings under control, make it only once a week. Find out what foods you absolutely love and feel as though you couldn’t live without, and make sure you let yourself have a little bit once in a while. This i not a diet, but a life choice, and you are allowed to have a little bit of junk, as long as you don’t binge on it. This makes losing weight a lot easier knowing that you can still have some of the things you like.

7. Eat in moderation.
It is a lot easier to not overeat if you get a smaller plate to use. Pile up your food on that small plate and your brain thinks that your having a huge meal, so it makes you feel full easier. Also, if your daily life allows it, try to eat little bits throughout the day. It keeps your metabolism running and you end up burning more calories in a 24 hour period.

8. Exercise!
If you are serious about this, then you need to do some. Don’t do a lot all at once because by the end of the week you’ll be burnt out and likely give up like i have done many an occasion. Start out with cardio - 20 min. a day. Then slowly build up to 30 min. and then even an hour once you get a hang of it. Add strength exercises, like lifting weights and things of that nature. If you are a woman do not fret over it. It is extremely difficult to get ‘bulky’ unless your shooting testosterone into your bloodstream :D Hahaha.

I will likely add more to this list, but for now i’ll stop. I’m getting quite the headache (as usual. haha.) but if you can think of anything please send it in the ask box and if it is good i’ll add it to the list! Thank you.

…i hope i get followers, …hahaha.

weighed myself today

I just did the first level of Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. I loved it! It was challenging enough that I felt like I was really getting a work out, but I was never at the point of “death”. I’m excited to see how intense the other 2 levels get, and to see how long it takes me to master all 3 of them.

Also, Jillian cracks me up because she’s kind of shaped like a boy. I don’t say that to be mean or to make fun of her. I LOVE Jillian Michaels! But she’s not overly curvy and she compensates for it by leaning to one side and sticking out her hip to show off her waist. It reminds me of the sort of things I do in a fitting room when I’m trying on clothes I’m not sure if I like. “If I stick my left hip out like this, raise my hands over my head, cock my head and squint these pants look really good on me”.

This is what motivation can do. The first image is from my freshman year of high school. By the time I graduated I weighed in at 255 lbs and I hated myself. I had wanted to lose weight for a very long time but just kept gaining. My home life wasn’t great so I made any excuse to go out…which usually meant eating with friends… my living situation changed just after high school. I no longer lived with my mom but with my boyfriend. After moving around a few times we ended up with a couple of room mates. It was Kyle and I and Nikki and Nick. Nikki was already super fit and she was going to Planet Fitness so I signed up and we started going together. We kept each other motivated and ran every day. I have lost 90 lbs. 

Just did

• 50 sit-ups
• 20 leg-ups per leg
• 10 push-ups (something I need to work on)

Might get the treadmill out soon and do a 15 min run.

Start getting back in shape. I really fell off of the bandwagon for a while and seeing half naked girls around Jersey really doesn’t help my self esteem. I am ready. If anyone has any tips, I’d be in love with you forever. I always have the hardest time staying focused. 

I usually stay at the same weight for a few weeks, then finally drop some off toward the end of the month. So I’m at the annoying “I’vebeenstuckatthisweightforever” stage now. So aggravating. Especially because my weight is always hovering 1-3lbs above what I actually weigh all the time. I guess it’s water weight from salt, but it’s still really discouraging.

Also it’s like, it doesn’t matter how much extra I work out, I still lose the same amount of weight. So why bother working out? I’ve been kicking my ass lately, working out in little bursts 2-3 times a day, yet I still lose the same amount of weight as when I don’t work out at all. Ughhhh.

I think I might try upping my calories. Maybe cause of my workouts, I’m not getting enough. Problem is I feel fine with my normal 1,200-1,400 calories so I’m going to have to eat when I’m not even hungry. Sigh, I’ll try anyway though.

If you have any recs, please send me, or reblog if you are fitness / weight loss and I WILL FOLLOW THE BEJEESUS OUT OF YOU. :D

Today I weighed in at 209.8. Two days ago I was 215 and struggling to get over this slump I’ve been in. I’m calling this a “fake weight” because it was only achieved from eating something bad and being horribly ill for over 24 hours straight. :P Part of me still takes great satisfaction in it, but we’ll see what I even out at on Tuesday LOL:P

I just began to cut them out of my diet.  I’m suspecting that they may be the culprit behind the severe brain fog that I’ve been experiencing lately.  D:

turns out i’m doing something right.  i’ll post the actual weigh in on monday.  

feeling good, everyone!  

What we are about

Most beginner runners start out using a run/walk technique because they don’t have the...

I’ve been thinking about trying P90X for a while now. I think I’m finally in good enough shape to try it. 

I tried the original P90 program a couple years ago and it was pretty good.  It’s a lot less physically demanding but I was still too fat to do the all the yoga work.  lol

I heard Insanity is good too.  My friend Mark raves about it.  After one workout his clothes are completely soaked in sweat. 

“Success is not a race, be patient.

Time keeps on ticking...

As much as I would love to believe it, there is probably no way I lost 2.2 pounds yesterday, because I ate french fries and a lot of other garbage.  I still think I probably did lose weight, but overall, my weight loss has been a little high all around, because I think I’m eating fairly healthy, I haven’t felt sick at all.

Anyways.  I think I might trade that yoga mat in for a scale.  BUT! I do feel skinnier today! 

I had forgotten how much I love this dress. Even though one of the straps is broken and janky in the back (just a tiny bit), paired with some nude wedges, I think it should look pretty good. No bra…again…Today will be an excellent day. Fasting. I’m feeling inspirational.

LUNCH!!!

Multiseed deli roll (yes the top half was not in the picture!)

Deli ham, spinach, cucumber.

grapes, strawberries, apple and blueberries :)

Anything is possible

Anything can be. 

-Words of Wisdom

I have OCD in regards to numbers. Say for example, i’m on an exercise machine, the calories/kms/time all have to be multiples of 5 (100, 345, 450 etc) before I get off. Same goes for music volume in the car and on the television.

Which is why today, June the 5th, is a perfect day to start. So my healthy eating and regular running starts today. Well when I wake up, considering it’s 1am at the moment. I’ll be eating to fix my iron and allergies and running to fix my weak back.

And incase you were wondering, the goal is perfectly flat and toned abs (24/7).

I’ve decided I looove my body when it’s covered in clothes, I just don’t like the way I look naked. 

These were  taken yesterday night. 

I’m tooootally diggin how my body looks here.

• Find Motivation! Surround yourself with people who support healthy eating!
• Relate exercise with relaxation and stress relief. Music helps immensely, so fill up your iPod with all of your favorites!
• Go with sugar free or fat free ALMOST always - check labels and compare nutritional content! Just because it says *FAT FREE!* or has other healthy words on the packaging doesn’t always mean it’s better for you.
• MOST of your daily carbs and calories should come from fruits and vegetables.
• Protein Source: egg whites and white fish (Absolutely no red meat.)
• When cooking with oil, try to “keep it fresh, keep it clean” as much as possible, but remember both olive oil and coconut oil are proven weight loss aides in addition to other great health benefits!
• Stay within 1000 to 1200 calories per day and also shift your intake amount from day to day, too, to keep your body guessing. Use a weight loss calculator online to figure out how many calories you need to consume per day and subtract 550 calories. Sparkspeople, caloriecount, bodybuilding.com are great tools.
• To help with bloating, don’t exceed 800mg of sodium a day.
• Stick with skim milk or unsweetened Almond Breeze.
• Alternate Greek yogurt with traditional yogurt to receive the maximal calcium and protein benefits from this extraordinary nutritional source.
• Stay away from dried fruits and remember that sometimes even starchy vegetables can wreck a diet.
• Following a balanced diet high in fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein might leave room for some cheese depending on your weight loss goals and any existing health conditions, but generally try to steer clear of it.
• ALWAYS eat breakfast and make it the largest meal of the day. “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” Think about it.  Why would you need a huge meal at the end of the day when you’re getting ready to relax and go to bed?  You need energy at the beginning of the day. 
• Stay busy! Keep your mind occupied all day. Be productive. You’ll spend less time wondering what else there is to eat and ultimately burn more calories anyway.
• To stay full throughout the day by drinking lots of water, plus black coffee and tea. Don’t ever drink your calories, unless you are doing a meal replacement or something.
• NO FAST FOOD! None. There is no such thing as healthy fast food - even the lighter choices have so many preservatives it’s just not worth it.
• Hold the sauce and skip the salt - condiments, creamers, etc.. the secret calories they add sneak up on you quicker than you may realize.
• When grocery shopping, if it comes from a box it should probably stay there.
• Tip: When you are having a horrible sweet tooth and you feel like you are going to binge try “Nestle fat free hot coco” its only 20 calories.
• Another tip: Keep Sugar free Gum with you at all times.
• ALWAYS track what you put in your mouth, you’ll be surprised what foods are preventing you from losing weight.
• Shooting for a loss of 20lbs at a time is a great way to get discouraged.  Baby steps.  Aim for a pound or two at a time and just take it a week at a time.  And then keep at it.
• Weigh yourself every other day, not 50 times a day.
• Don’t deprive yourself give your self a treat once a week (whether its your favorite candy bar or a slice of pizza this might even cause you to lose more weight because you will be giving your metabolism something new to break down causing it to work harder and faster. BUT if you are going to eat something bad make sure it stays within your calorie intake for that day!
• If it’s past 6pm or you have already reached your calorie count for the day and you are absolutely hungry, safe foods to have during those times would be 2 cups of Original Air popped pop corn or any of the following: Strawberries, Cucumber, Green Beans, Celery, Sugar Free/Fat Free Jello, Lettuce, Green Pepper, Blueberries, Radishes, Broccoli, Egg whites.

Next time you feel the urge to binge remember to binge on SMART food. These are all negative calorie foods:

apples ~ apricots ~ artichokes ~ asparagus ~ beet greens ~ beets ~ blackberries ~ blueberries ~ broccoli ~ Brussels sprouts ~ buffalo fish ~ cabbage ~ cantaloupe ~ carrots ~ cauliflower  ~ Chinese cabbage ~ chives ~ clams ~ cod ~ cranberries ~ cucumbers ~  Damson plum ~ dandelion greens ~ eggplant ~ endive ~flounder ~ frogs legs ~ garlic ~ grapefruit ~ grapes ~ green beans ~ honeydew ~  lemons ~ lettuce ~ limes ~ loganberries ~ mangoes ~ mushrooms ~ muskmelons ~ mussels ~ mustard greens ~ nectarines ~ okra ~ onions ~ oranges  ~ parsley leaves ~ parsnips ~ peaches ~ pears ~ peas ~ peppers ~ pineapple ~ pomegranates ~ prunes ~ pumpkin ~ quince ~ radishes ~ raspberries ~ red cabbage ~ rhubarb ~ rutabagas ~ spinach ~ squash ~ strawberries ~ string beans ~ tangerines ~ terrapin ~ tomato ~ turnips ~ watercress ~ watermelon

*Disclaimer: Original text by undressedskeleton - edited a bit by me because there were a couple of things I just didn’t agree with.

i ate like a shit tonnnnn. hahaha 

I can’t believe the first week of the summer semester is over already.  So far, my classes aren’t so bad and have been really fun.  My math class is kind of odd as the instructor reminds me of Prof. Trelawney from Harry Potter.  It’s all ok though.  I only have three more weeks in that class before I’m done with math.  Which is good.  I don’t think I could stand to take this particular course in a 16 week semester.

On the subject of school, I found an interesting article this morning.  It lists the top grossing majors and the lowest money makers.  I’m ok with the thought of not making a ton of cash as long as I do something I love, but it is still intriguing to see where the “real” money is made.  You can find the article HERE.

Completely off the topic of school, I’m down another 2 pounds!  I’ve lost nearly 60 pounds from my heaviest and can’t wait to see the finished product when I get down to my ultimate goal!  If you are heavy and want to lose weight but don’t think you can, just remember that the only person holding you back is yourself.  I had to get out of my own way before this change and I couldn’t be happier about it.  Next to going back to school, dropping my fat card is the best decision I’ve ever made!

-4lbs.

Remember how I said I’m gonna lose 30 pounds? I didn’t lie. In less than four months, I have lost 16 pounds, just by counting calories and dancing. I would get sick, and it would set my goals back, but I’d always get back up on my feet to kick even more ass than before.

My diet hasn’t been the best, but it’s a slow process, and I can proudly say that I went with the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich and fruit cup at Chik-fil-a rather than the spicy chicken sandwich and waffle fries. I enjoyed every bit of it too, and without the bloaty, post fast food stupor I’d usually be in.

Indulgence is a fleeting thing. Why constantly give in to a craving when the taste will be gone in a matter of minutes?

This summer break, I’m challenging myself to lose 10 pounds. That’s five shy of my ultimate goal weight for August. I’m going to work hard for it, and even getting close to it will make me happy. I’m hoping that by next week I’ll be in the next digits.

Any support is welcome. :)

Sore today. Boo :(

Food

Daily milk 3

B. Shredded wheat 4

Two slices brown toast 4

Jam 2

L. Two slices ham 2

Salad 0

Dressing 1

Pear 0

D. Mexican Beef Pan Fry and white rice 13

Snacks

One banana 0

20 pistachios 4

One tsp honey 1

Total 34

Exercise

Day 8 of the 30 Day Shred

Moo xx

breakfast: bagel with cream cheese (300 calories)

random: spoonful of nutella (100 calories)

lunch: 1/2 sandwich at barnes and noble (250 calories)

dinner: slice of pizza and glass of pepsi (250 + 150=400 calories)

total: 1050 calories

outtake: 600 calories (yoga)

net: 450

ugh….it’s not that i ate too many calories, just the ones i ate were sooo unhealthy =\ oh welll i’ve been soo good lately, so one iffy day won’t ruin everything…gonna wait a few days to weigh myself again i thinkk

and this bikram yoga….omg it’s amazing! everytime i go i leave feeling soo much better than the day before….i have a feeling this is gonna become an addiction this summer (a healthy one at least!!) I seriouslyy recommend you try it if you have a studio near you!!

Every time I eat I feel so guilty afterward :(

Apparently eating 500 calories or less a day will result in 1 lb lost per week … I think I am going to try doing this. And I will also go back to only having coffee in the morning, and only one cup.  Tea the rest of the day. And gallons of water.

Today my total caloric intake was 689 calories (I love the calorie counter on my phone). That’s not too bad at all. I’ll do some exercise tonight, since I missed it the past three days :( … but I feel like work sometimes makes up for not exercising, since I sweat so much there.

NO EXCUSE.

I want to look super hot this summer, or at least by the time I go back to school.

PS. I got a new swim suit … it’s floral and so cute :D I’m very pleased with it.

My mom has been telling me to lose weight and all that since i was like 12 so she was pretty damn excited when i told her i was trying to lose weight.

My dad doesn’t really care.

Day Four- Your greatest fears about weight loss?
Day Five- Why do you really want to lose this weight? Are you doing it for you?
Day Six- Do you binge? If so, explain why you think you do.
Day Seven- Do your parents know you’re trying to lose weight? Do they care?
Day Eight- Your workout routine:
Day Nine- Did people ever make comments about your weight in a negative way?
Day Ten- What was the hardest thing you gave up during this “weight loss.”
Day Eleven- Your favourite thinspo blog and why!
Day Twelve- What do you normally eat?
Day Thirteen- Are you losing weight in a healthy or unhealthy way?
Day fourteen- What’s your UGW? When you expect to reach it?
Day Fifteen- Are you vegan or vegetarian? If so, has this helped you lose weight? If not, would you ever consider turning vegan or vegetarian?
Day Sixteen- When did you first decide to lose weight?
Day Seventeen- Do you have an eating disorder?
Day Eighteen- What food is your weakness?
Day Nineteen- When is the last time you ate fast food?
Day Twenty- Favourite diet?
Day Twenty-One- What are your clothing sizes?
Day Twenty-Two- What was your lowest weight? How and why did you gain?
Day Twenty-Three- Did the media play a role in your wanting to lose weight?
Day Twenty-Four- How do you feel about the terms pro-Ana/pro-mia?
Day Twenty-Five- Have you ever purged? If you have describe your first
experience.
Day Twenty-Six- What excites you most about reaching your ugw?
Day Twenty-Seven- How do you deal with being around food?
Day Twenty-Eight- Do you want that “gap” between your legs? Why?
Day Twenty-Nine- Your definition of beauty.
Day Thirty- 10 facts about you! And now, what are your stats?

NOTHING

If you give up anything you love completely, you increase your risk of falling off the wagon. Giving something up is a short term solution, but it doesn’t form long-term habits. I’m going to use something unhealthy that I love as an example: macaroni and cheese.

I love mac and cheese and always have. I not only love it on its own, but I love putting stuff in it, like basil, or salsa, or bacon, or black olives and shredded chicken. It makes everything better.

It also has 600+ calories in a box. And that’s with nothing added to it.

Before I was eating healthy, I would make mac and cheese at least once a month. When I made it, I’d eat half the box to start with, and a lot of the time I’d go back later and eat the rest. I’d eat the whole box in one sitting.

Mac and cheese is terrible - it’s simple carbs, fat, and dairy. It’s highly processed and full of preservatives and sodium. It is, in fact, Bad News Bears on the diet front.

But if I gave it up totally, I’d just cave. The next time I made mac for the kid I watch, I’d end up scarfing his leftovers. Or I’d resist for months, and then one day I’d be at the cafe down the street and see mac on the menu and think, “Oh, I’ve been so good. I deserve to treat myself to this tasty thing I love.”

And then I’d eat the entire fucking bowl. And it would probably be even higher in calories than the boxed version.

If you love something, don’t cut it out of your life, but watch yourself with it. Read the label and find out what the actual portion size is. Stick to the portion size listed, and count the calories.

You can also find lower-calorie ways to make the same thing and have it be just as good. Sometimes I make homemade cheese sauce and put it on cauliflower instead of pasta. Other times I cave and buy a box of Kraft dinner, but I buy the white cheddar kind. You can make the white cheddar mac and substitute fat free plain yogurt for the butter and milk in the preparation. It shaves off some calories and it’s delicious. I honestly like it more than regular macaroni and cheese.

“Reblog if you support weight loss in June.”

Last summer, I never would have worn this tank without a cardigan.  It was also pretty uncomfortable because it was so tight.  Now it’s actually a little big, and I feel great in it. :)

and to celebrate I just made the nastiest hot fudge sundae with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and a blend of peanut butter/hot fudge (duh) so hot it just melted the entire cup of ice cream.

I’m only 1lb away from losing 50altogether, though, after this, I might be like 2 or 3 or 8000 lbs away.

also I am going to be so sick later but my God is it worth it.

I’m okay with that?

Wish it was more, for my first week weighing in, but hey, its 4 lbs I didn’t have last week.

Detox Diaries: Day 14

Eating is going really well today! I’ve had a plain croissant, a few pieces of dried mango, and a glass of Emergen-C. Plus lots of iced tea, and cold water, of course :)

Total is about 300 calories. And I’m not hungry. At all. I feel totally full right now! I think it’s all the drinks. Iced tea filled me up, and Emergen-C was extrememly filling, and only 25 calories (and put it in a huge glass, so there was more to drink).

We’re having sandwhiches for dinner tonight, so that’ll add up, probably. Potato salad is my weakness! But it’ll probably add up only about 400-500 if I skip the chips (which I hopefully will!)

Feeling really good today! I’ve done a few squats (50), and I actually did a lot of walking today—amazing how much you walk around when going on a shopping trip!

Totally optimistic about all this :)

I don’t fear losing weight. I fear gaining weight.

http://theinbetweengirls.wordpress.com/

http://fight2thefittest.wordpress.com/

Walk through the country side today.

Photo

Here you go!

Whenever I feel like binging (I get cravings a lot), I do all of these things.
• Go brush your teeth. Chew gum. (Careful, make sure it’s sugar free and don’t have too much. It still has calories, but very low) Minty. Food would taste disgusting with that.
• Chug a cup or 2 of water. Maybe you’re not hungry. Maybe you’re just dehydrated. 
• Consider if you want to binge because you’re actually hungry, or just emotionally hungry. If your stomach is rumbling, go have some carrots or something healthy & low cal!
• Think about your goals, your thinspiration, all of the reasons you want to lose weight. Think of how binging will feel good for about 5 minutes, then make you feel awful the entire week. Think about how good it will feel if you resist.
• Drink green tea! (no sugar)
• Come on tumblr! Look at all the motivational quotes, success stories and pictures. 

Do all or some of these next time you want to binge. :) Remember, it’s not easy, but it’ll definitely be worth it! 

Also, anyone can message me if they’re feeling too tempted and I’ll motivate you to resist! Just ask for my msn, fb, skype etc. :)

Would anyone be interested?

I liked my outfit today.

Hmm.. This is hard because all I really try to think of is the good things that come of it.

I’m afraid that I’ll have a hard time maintaining and I’ll become fat again.

That was not a pretty time of my life.

Enough babble, here is my routine for the day, which is still somewhat challenging as I cannot move smoothly through every pose transition quite yet, but how awesome is it that I KNOW next week it’s going to be much easier? =D

AM Workout <— Did this in the morning, before I showered/ate

1) Morning Yoga for Flexibility - Beginners (7 min)

2) Yoga for Balance - Beginners (5 min) 

3) Strength Building Yoga - Beginners (7 min)

4) Weight Loss Yoga - Beginners (10 min)

5) 4-Week Strength Building Yoga - Intermediate (7 min)

Total:  36 minutes. Goes from stretching out your limbs to building balance and strength. The latter part of the routine sequence makes me sweat + loosens up my body for the rest of the day.

PM Workout <—— Did this before I ate dinner :) MMM Got my stiffness from furiously writing/thinking for 5+ hours!!

1) Yoga for Flexibility - Beginners (5 min 30 seconds)

2) Yoga for Getting Out of Your Way - Intermediate (11 min)

3) Cardio Yoga Challenge 1 - Beginners (4 min)

4) Get Ripped Abs from Yoga - Beginners (4 min) <— note, you need a yoga block, and this stuff HURTS

5) Yoga for Balance - Beginners (5 min) 

Total: 30 minutes. Stretches you out, works you through poses that require more flexibility, targets your abs and then winds down with some simple stretching/balancing. Did the cardio yoga video for the first time today O_O

I switch up my routines every day, depending on how my body is feeling and what areas I would like to improve on. If a new routine is hard, I will generally keep it in my rotation until it is comfortably doable. I like Tara because I can pick and chose exactly how much I want to do and how hard I want to work :) While this usually would make a lazy girl like me pick the easiest 3 routines and just repeat that every day, I’ve found that I’ve grown to search for a challenge after the easier stuff is done, and I actually LOOK FORWARD to starting new routines that look difficult so I can perfect them!  Bravo!

And that is my first Yoga Routine + Progress Monday!! :) Am I cheesy to say “Namaste” at the end?

So I’ve been sick ever since I had that dish yesterday. So I had to change my plans about the...

Cassandra said all along not to eat bean sprouts!!

ask for password

got off track for about almost half a month now, though it feels like a month. now, i have to restart everything over again. WTH man. so not cool. it was going great then i hit a plateau and got injured. everything sucks when you’re in rehab for an injury. you can’t do the things you normally do and at high intensity/level. having to start small and low and gradually build up. it’s messing with my mentality. i feel like i’m not doing much.

the things you got to do when injured. i hate it. it’s so hard to cut down on the food i take too since i’m not moving much. :( i’ve gained weight, i now weigh more than i ever did! ‘cause i ate the same amount of food but with less exercise. let’s up that starting tomorrow it’ll slowly go back to the way it was before all of this happened.

small goals, one at a time (no particular order):
1) no eating after 8pm
2) eat when i get to school (tuesday)
3) exercise every other day (doesn’t have to be intense of long)
4) drink more water instead of munching 
5) mini workout when i wake up
6) detox once a week 

“It’s not the food in your life, it’s the life in your food.”

This is the shit I come home to.

But now, at least a decade after many of us have been using cell phones, the IARC comes out and says they're "possibly carcinogenic." Why did it take so long to come to this conclusion? And, perhaps more importantly, why wasn't this work done before we all started spending 19 minutes a day talking on our cell phones?:

The truth is that for most technologies, we don’t wait around to see what the long-term effects will be. We don’t put cell phones on the shelf for a decade or so while epidemiologists carry out controlled studies on their potential carcinogenicity. Most of us — Americans especially, as native early adopters— want the new, and we worry about the potential consequences later.

via Cell Phones: How Precautionary Should Our Principles Be?, Bryan Walsh; Time Magazine

::

Why now, the article asks? Probably because it was a lot easier to sell the phones and associated (expensive!) services after diminishing the brouhaha of “paranoid” freaks who everyone knows are just “out to ruin the fun!” It flabbergasts me that the article does not suggest the financial angle a lot more than it does. Also flabbergasting is blaming the American consumer for wanting newer and better as if they pursue those wants in a vacuum.

So, we are moving next month (38 days from today). We just found out for sure that we were moving 6 days ago. I am a very stressed out person right now. We went to the new town last Wednesday to try to find a place to live. This meant we ate out for lunch and dinner so my diet wasn’t going to great for the day. Problem is, since then I can’t stop putting food in my mouth. It seems like I’ve lost all self control. I haven’t even been able to limit the diet soda I’m drinking. Usually I’m fine with one at dinner, lately I feel like I’m drinking one all day long. To be fair, I printed out a pre-made moving checklist and one of the items was “Start using up food you have stored so there is less to move”. Now I walk through the kitchen telling myself “Well, I don’t want to have to pack this”.

Tomorrow’s plan calls for lots of water, lots of veggies, and no junk.

Banana rolls and Superman/Banana are my BEST FRIEND! And so is core synergistics! My favorite position for sure is lunge-kickback-curl-press. I was rockin’ and rollin’ with my weights and sweatin’ more than Richard Simmons ever could in his short shorts.

Challenge: After this workout, attempt to sweep the floor swiftly with a broom. Tighten your core and obliques. You will feel the burn! :P

So I’ve been sick ever since I had that dish yesterday. So I had to change my plans about the whole diet. But I’m still trying to eat just healthy food, just cooked. I had an apple and a little banana though…Oh! I had watermelon as well :D teehee. The cooked food I had though was brown rice and some pinto beans. I ate the brown rice a couple of times when I was hungry. I told myself, screw my whole time limit about when I should eat and stop eating…I’m going to eat every time I feel hungry, even if it’s just a little until I’m not hungry anymore. I can’t suffer the way I did last night ever again. I was so weak and I couldn’t movie…I had a bad case of…”loose motions”…that’s how I’ll word it because I’m embarrassed about it. I also had a bad headache and felt dizzy…I even almost threw up a couple of times. I was dragging myself and I couldn’t breathe, I just felt so weak. It took me about 5 hours to feel a bit better. I still have a bit of the “loose motions” but I’m much better than yesterday. I don’t care if I have to gain weight to recover my skin and health in general.

I figured something. If my parents, well family, won’t help me with my journey and buy food I need to recover, I’m going to find a job so I can buy it myself. I think it’s the time to find a job at least until school starts again (That’s the only time my parents really give me any pocket money). At least it’ll keep me occupied and stuff for the summer and I won’t feel like a lazy butt. I thought I won’t ever get a job any time soon, not unless I finish my education…but I’m desperate to get better. I mean, finding a job is going to be quite hard these days…but I’ll try my best hunting for one.

Tues: Snack 2

Okay, so it’s finally sunny, and I finally have the motivation I need to get in shape. I found a really interesting workout routine in Fitness Magazine, and it seems pretty straightforward. It consists of 8 toning exercises and cardio for three weeks.

• Week one: 2 sets of 8-12 reps of each exercise, twice a week on nonconsecutive days, and five days a week of cardio for 25-35 minutes.
• Week two: 3 sets of 8-12 reps of each exercise, three times a week, and five days a week of cardio for 35-45 minutes, doing the cardio before the exercises.
• Week three: 3 sets of 15-20 reps of each exercise, three times a week, and five days a week of cardio for 45-55 minutes doing the cardio before the exercises.

I feel like this, plus eating regularly, will actually get me in shape and get me excited to exercise more for the rest of summer. Also, I know I need more of a routine during the summer because otherwise I’ll just sit around lazily.

This starts out tomorrow, wish me luck! :)

And did day 8. I have never worked out for this many consecutive days before in my life. Ever. The most I had ever worked out before was two or three times a week. Now that I’ve started doing this and I’ve gotten into a routine with it, I know that I have to do it every day, no excuses. I guess it also helps that I won’t let myself take a shower until after I’ve done my workout. ;) I have to shower every day, and I should do my work out everyday, so it only stands to reason that if I want to shower, I have to make myself get off my behind. 

Today has been a lazy day. I slept in until 11 (which I haven’t done in quite a while), and then just sat around watching Doctor Who. I just finished the series with the Ninth Doctor, and can I just say that I think Christopher Eccleston is delish? David Tennant and Matt Smith are attractive (granted, I’ve only seen a few episodes with Tennant, and none with Smith), but I’m pretty sure Nine will be my favourite. x_x Let me go ahead and reserve the right to change my opinion once I get all caught up, though. 

They were DELICIOUS! And since they weren’t fried they were nearly fat free. Delicious! If anybody wants the recipe just let me know! :)

Next recipe to try… chocolate zucchini cake… mmmm ;D

Height:5’4

CW:121

GW:115

GW:110

UGW:105

When I was willing to spend the rest of my life being unhappy I was at least proud of my breasts. I used to be a 40DDD and now the measurements get smaller and smaller. I’m becoming a little obsessed.

The one thing I loved, my large, soft breast are deserting me. I keep using all of these online calculators to find out what size I should be wearing. I’m so afraid to actually walk into a store and have them measure me. I don’t want to have small breasts.

And there is NOTHING WRONG with having small breast. I’m not trying to say anything about anyone with small breast—you probably rock them like a boss—but I realize that my weight was such a problem for my self-esteem and when I did find something to like about myself I went all out. As a plus sized woman I could always say that I had a beautiful chest and now that I feel like it’s slipping away I’m freaking out.

I’ve let my breasts be the only thing about me that was beautiful for so long. What do I do now?

—Taylor, 193lbs

Still haven’t weighed myself. Tomorrow.

Exercise: 4 miles to and from school, a 45 minute bike ride and a mile walking into town.

Food: 

Breakfast: Strawberry yoghurt, strawberry fruit flakes, cornflakes

Lunch: low fat cheese, low fat spread, ham, low fat crisps, low fat coleslaw sandwich

Dinner: salmon salad

Drinks: Water, teax3, diet coke 

skinnypurple: before and during

still about 9lbs to go

ok

I placed 1st in weight loss for my branch and 3rd overall, including 6 other branches.

I’m feeling pretty great about it! I think im going to post a video tomorrow. :) :) OH YES!

Tues: Snack 2