philco41 Member

Ricotta should work, but after putting cottage cheese in the blender, I doubt if you could tell the difference. It's probably the texture you don't care for.

I would think ricotta would probably work, but cottage cheese in the blender would probably be about the same. It's probably the texture of the cottage cheese you don't like.

Grew up in Sylvania, Ohio, near Toledo. Now living in Georgia.

Smoothies--yogurt, and/or apple juice, banana, blueberries, protein powder, etc. Be creative. Kefir--can also be used in a smoothie. Make oatmeal with extra milk. When I lived in Costa Rica, their version of oatmeal was more like an oatmeal soup. Also, tomato soup has also always been a comfort food for me. Imagine makes a…

Thanks for the reply. Glad to see someone with a similar experience. I'm still working on the BP. Diastolic is always low, but the systolic fluctuates by 30 points or so. Good luck with the meds. I've cut my diabetes meds in half, but would like to do more with BP. I've avoided statins so far.

Decatur, GA

What did you used to eat? It sounds like you may be overcompensating or trying too hard. I would think you could add some healthy carbs to your diet without compromising your diet. Whole grain breads or crackers can add some calories and fiber. They are still healthy, probably moreso than a diet depending too much on…

I'm 71 and tell people I exercise, etc. to keep from falling apart any faster. Other reasons is wanting to enjoy my grandchildren as long as I can, and to keep my type II diabetes and blood pressure under control. I also want to avoid going on statins. I've been doing this for some time, but haven't really touched the last…

Start by walking. As you build up more resistance, try jogging a half block or so, and work your way up. The zumba should help build your endurance also, but just walking is great exercise. Start slowly and build up distance and speed. You don't have to rush into everything. Stay active and find what works for you.

I don't count the supermarket or shopping trips. Mostly I too count "intentional" exercise. I also count something like mowing the lawn. So far that's the only non-intentional exercise I've counted. If I happen to be at a mall and have some extra time, I may walk around for 10-20 minutes and count that. I try not to count…

It's amazing what you learn about food, habits and yourself when you start keeping careful track. Yesterday was my birthday and my family took me out to eat. It was the first time I've gone over my allotment in over 30 days on the program, and I was still under 2500 calories for the day, so I don't feel too bad. (It did…

It's important to weigh in at the same time, most suggest early morning. I find my home scale is pretty consistent with the ones at the gym or doctor's office, allowing for differences in time of day and dress. If your home scale is not consistent, look into what is available. Also, make sure it's on a level floor.

Can't help you with the sports bra, but stay honest with yourself and MFP. Record everything you eat and your exercise, be accurate with quantities. Eat healthy foods (MFP will help you keep track,) and you will succeed. I find keeping careful track not only keeps me honest, but provides real motivation. Good luck!

Actually, just read that muscle does not weigh "more" than fat; it's just denser.

It could also have something to do with when and what you eat to use these calories...

I tend to do the same thing. I try to slow down, especially when eating with others. What helps most is concentrating on chewing things sell. Some people like to, or recommend, chewing a certain # of times per bite. I think I've heard 16, 32, even 100. You might try to find a number that works for you. Something that just…

My wife is from Costa Rica and we try to make it back a couple times a year. It's always hard to follow the kind of diet I tend to eat here, and many of my wife's family members like to spoil me, so it's more than just trying to find familiar foods. My suggestions would include working hard at learning the language and…

Maybe a glass of milk or soy milk, but in general I never feel I need to eat all the extra calories I earn, whether it's 90 or 300. I try to be especially careful at night. If I feel I need something to keep my blood sugar from dropping, I'll eat something, but there's no compulsion to max out the allowed calories.

Just reading through posts thinking how glad I was I hadn't ordered any when my wife told me to get the door. It was the girl next door bringing the cookies she had ordered. Fortunately, what she ordered is not likely to tempt me. Glad she didn't get thin mints.

I'm 70 yrs. old, so my experience may not be too relevant, but lately I've found I do better mixing things up. Most of my cardio consists of walking, and I try to walk every day around the neighborhood. At the gym, I like to do maybe 10 minutes of cardio as a warm-up, then do a few sets of resistance exercise, walk a few…

In terms of no-cal sweeteners, I like Stevia. A tiny bit goes a long way.

You have to be careful with juices, too, but I like to mix juice with seltzer. A 50-50 mix is a good starting point. I find that with many juices I can had more than 50% seltzer. V-8 juice is another possibility.

I take my I-pod and often listen to music or podcasts, but if I'm walking or on the treadmill and there's someone to keep me company, I find I may do twice what I intended. And I do like to say hello and visit with people I know. Of course, I'm 70 years old and not nearly as intense as many of the younger people.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Plain nonfat or lowfat Greek yogurt with some berries and a bit of granola makes a great breakfast with a good bit of protein. If you want it a bit sweeter, I add a small sprinkle of stevia..

If you are diabetic, how is your sugar control? If your sugar is well controlled, I wouldn't worry about the fruit. You are also getting good fiber there, which helps with your total carbs.