timpicks Member

Just finished Howard Zinn's "The People's History of the US": interesting but grueling. Needed to lighten up so am currently reading "Freaky Deaky" by Elmore Leonard and am in the middle of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series with my 10 year old son. Next are short stories by Mavis Gallant.

I'm on MFP every day and am highly motivated to get more fit and lose another ten pounds or so. My diary is open and I try to log as completely as possible. I make my own yogurt, eat lots of veggies, rarely eat breads, and try to entirely avoid deep fried foods and white potatoes. Other than that I am quite sane. If anyone…

For a vegetarian, you don't eat many vegetables. And you skip a bunch of meals while not logging what you eat in others. Not judging, just observing.

I don't disagree with most of the posters here saying that it's OK with moderation but have a different perspective. I have drastically reduced my bread consumption for just over a year. It has totally changed how I eat. Bread is such a convenient bad food delivery system, and not eating it helped me improve my choices. I…

I'm going sledding in Central Park! Have fun at the mall.

Try to find something that you like just as much but doesn't have quite as high glycemic impact. A dark chocolate Snickers bar is better, and dark chocolate covered almonds are better still. Fast metabolizing sugars will delay your progress and increase your frustration, and denying yourself will make you unhappy. If you…

The primary benefit for most people with normal digestive systems is that by not "washing down" meals with liquid, you tend to more fully chew your food. I had never thought about this until told by a friend who does this. And I definitely tended to wolf stuff down, especially when hungry. So while I still drink liquids…

Help me Jebus!

It's the Captain Kirk look. A good friend of mine has a similar problem. Ok it's me. Belly fat wherever it resides is the toughest but most important to lose health-wise. My strategy is regular strenuous aerobic workouts while keeping a healthy diet and it has helped a lot, though it has taken a while. I don't believe…

Their dark chocolate peanut butter cups are unbelievably good and I don't even like Reese's! I hide them and have one as a reward when I have had a good day. Eating just one is tough, but it is such a self-affirming test of willpower. I can do anything if I can stop after one of these little goodies. Oh, and if I don't…

I'm in! SW: 184 CW: 178 GW: 173 (for end of Feb) GW: 165 (before summer) Weigh in Dates: 2/1 -178 2/7 2/14 2/21 2/28

My perfectly round head.

I get that this site is big on being supportive, and while that is great and my intent in this comment, I don't see the point in providing counter-productive "atta girl" stuff in your case. Yes, seven pounds of weight loss is a terrific result that demonstrates your resolve, but you are correct in your concerns. I looked…

Agree that you should talk to your doctor before launching into something based on MFP iron counts. I'm surprised that there is little mention here of green leafy vegetables as an iron source (e.g., broccoli, kale, spinach, quinoa is pretty good too). Yes, you have to eat other foods to make sure that it is properly…

I make my own yogurt. It's easy, cheap, and delicious. You can make it from any culture you like and it is tastier and fresher than anything you can buy in a store. I mix with walnuts, cinnamon, flax seed, and fresh fruit (berries are best) and eat instead of breakfast cereal. I used to be starving by 10:30 but now am fine…

I started smoking early. We actually had a smoking lounge at my high school--hard to believe, right? I was a pack a day guy on and off for most of my life until I had kids. Then I cut down to a few a week and thought I was doing great. My heart and coronary arteries didn't agree. A little health scare three years ago and I…

@Kristen82 Thanks, and Elvis was better when he was all cranked up. I saw him several times but he never matched his performance from '78. I forgot two other great ones so it's a dirty dozen, not a top ten: David Bowie Diamond Dogs Tour (sneaked away from summer camp to the Hartford Coliseum) Devo at Bginnings in…

In no particular order: Nirvana at the Coliseum with the Breeders Sly and the Family Stone in Central Park, unadvertised concert with the Eagles, John Sebastian, and Melissa Manchester Tricky at Irving Plaza Lucinda Williams the night "Car Wheels..." was released at Tramps The Clash (whenever, wherever) Elvis Costello at a…

Dried fruits. Each innocent little dried apricot is 20 cals! Raisins are about 80 cals per ounce! And lots of sugar. They are still healthy foods but you need to watch your consumption if you are trying to lose weight.

I bike commute and it takes me about an hour a day. I don't coast and do about 18 mph on clear flats with a heart rate that averages 85% of my max . According to MFP that burns about 800 calories, but since I have to get to work anyway the workout doesn't take up much additional time.

You have motivation. You just need a positive way to accomplish what you know you need to do. So put together a list of healthy things that you can eat that you like and exercises that are fun. Try to avoid processed and restaurant foods as much as possible and do some challenging physical activity every day. Eat whole…

My doctor recommends it, and I liked the taste and ate it for a while, but stopped because I don't like the idea of eating food that is processed in a way so that it is not digestable. But I think their carb claim is legit if cooked properly.

I used to be able to buckle down and lose 10 lbs. in a flash. Ah, memories. It definitely gets harder as you age. I'm 53 and here are my keys: 1. Effective dieting is not about denying yourself things you want; it is about positive alternatives to unhealthy choices. Find healthy foods that you like and eat well. And yes,…

Most mornings I eat homemade non-fat yogurt with flax seed, walnuts, cinnamon, and whatever fruit is on hand (berries are best though). You can make up a batch, toss in a paper cup, then grab 'n' go in the AM. I find that I am much less hungry mid-morning than I used to be when I ate a more carb-centric breakfast like…

A major reason to eat yogurt is for the digestive benefits of the active bacteria in it. The older the yogurt, the less active the bacteria are. So even if a yogurt is still edible for perhaps weeks after the sell by date, it is better to eat it while it is fresh.

I make my own yogurt from skim milk. It is easy, tastes great, and I know exactly what is in it. I use a yogurt maker, but you don't have to--all you really need is a $3 kitchen thermometer and some glass containers. Just heat up a quart or two of skim milk to between 170 and 180 degrees (10-12 minutes on medium heat for…