jpketz

The conventional wisdom is that moderate consumption of wine (or any alcohol for that matter) has some proven health benefits. Basically, people who drink moderately live longer (keyword "moderately"). A drink is defined as 12 ounces (oz.) of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits and males under age…

As with most compulsive disorders fessing up to the problem is a HUGE part of recovery. You've not only done that but you've made yourself intensely aware of even the smallest details of your eating--which means you've taken control. I'm SO impressed. You've wrestled your denial to the ground and kicked it's *kitten*.…

Actually Weight Watchers uses that technique pretty effectively, if you ask me. (Lots I don't agree with about the WW program, but that's another discussion). They reward the first 5 lbs. lost, and every 5 lbs. after that up to your 10% goal (if I remember correctly). And then when you meet your goal weight it's obviously…

I'm not a health professional, just do a lot of reading.... Fruit is loaded with simple carbohydrates and very high glycemic, which depending on how you metabolize sugar, can be problematic if you're insulin resistant or pre-diabetic. On the plus side, the fiber you get in whole fruit is a good thing, as are the vitamins…

Your revulsion at MacDonald's "food" is appropriate and nice to hear. After reading "Fast Food Nation" and Michael Pollan's "Omnivore's Dilemma " (a must read for anyone who cares about what they eat and where it comes from) I haven't been to a fast food place since (going on three years). Part of that decision is purely…

I second that! I don't know anyone at my gym, hardly ever even interact with people there, but just being among other humans in one place doing something healthy does something to counteract the tedium of a treadmill or stationary bike. If you just don't like gyms environments or you've already invested in equipment for…

I always obey the first commandment of exercise..."if it hurts, don't do that". I've had surgery on both knees and even though I can ride a bicycle 100 miles in a day, I can't walk more than a half mile or so without knee pain. Cycling, swimming, and the elliptical trainer are all pretty knee-friendly exercises, if it…

The previous commenter may have nailed it....I hit a plateau after about 3 weeks so I cut back my exercise and ate more cals and dropped 2 lbs. immediately. I know it's counter-intuitive but it makes sense in the context of how metabolism responds to sudden increases/decreases in calories. Also, and I hate to bring it up,…

Okay here's a question...I cycle quite a bit, at least three times a week and during the peak of the riding season as much as 150-200 miles/week. I gained some weight during the off season which I'm now trying to lose but I'm no kid and getting my metabolism going is kinda like starting a '53 Pontiac on a cold day. The…

You gotta love Oatmeal! (It deserves to be capitalized). It's got fiber, some protein, lots of micronutrients. It can be eaten raw, cooked or in a smoothie and most important....it's filling. Plus, if you're a teacher, you're most likely on your feet and burning some serious calories in the first part of the day...500 cals…

Oops. Sorry. Too early to be pushing buttons. Anyway...the thing is, muscle burns more calories than fat. The more you build muscle, the more calories you need, thus the more you burn "in the background" so to speak. And of course having a strong core helps you in your cardio routine, as well as with just carrying…

I feel your pain. I've struggled with night time cravings off and on for years. I can offer some conventional wisdom which has helped me but this is a tough one and you're definitely not alone. Watch the sleep meds, too. They're fine for establishing a rhythm but overuse can backfire on you. 1. Make sure you're eating at…

It's pretty easy when you do the math... If you're me you need 1940 calories/day to just park your butt in a recliner and watch TV. That's what they call your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and there's a formula that takes into account your weight, height, sex, age, ATM PIN number and bunch of other stuff. MFP calculates…

You're an inspiration. Welcome.

Congrats!

Having some protein and/or fiber with every snack or meal is good way to maintain that "full" feeling longer. There are a number of "bars", like Cliff Bars, Lara Bars, etc. that have enough protein and fiber to last a while, although using them habitually as meal replacements isn't a great idea. I try to stay with the bars…

I can relate. I get resentful, maybe even a little rebellious when I first start managing my eating but I think most of it comes from a feeling of deprivation and is pretty normal. To the extent we are emotional eaters, the deprivation feels even worse. It feels very young, like I'm 9 years old being told I'm grounded. I…

Because of the recent spate of topics related to hunger and how often to eat, etc., I thought I'd share this... Two new studies have determined that subjects who eat three meals per day as opposed to just one can develop health risks including higher blood sugar and blood pressure. The link to the (abridged) story is here:…

To reiterate what several people have said... It's advisable to eat 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day, not allowing more than 3 hours between them. It can be hard to get into that routine, but you'll really notice a profound difference in the way you feel if you're prone to blood sugar crashes. Also, having a little…

Don't know about the Chromium beyond antecdotal reports but to date, I haven't run across any solid evidence that green tea (Wu-Long is the latest craze) contributes to any meaningful change in metabolism. or contributes to weight loss. Having said that, I love the stuff! I drink at least two cups/day of Wu-Long and I…

You're obviously willing to start paying attention to what you eat and that's the first step. You're on the way to becoming healthy and fit. Congratulations, Melissa. Take a deep breath, be kind to yourself and settle in. It's a lifetime commitment and it takes time to stop the momentum of unhealthy habits and build new…

Fox News does it for me. Guaranteed 10-20 BPM increase in heart rate. But hey, at least you have monitors in the machines! Jealous. :frown:

I quit smoking many years ago but have struggled with other addictions since—food probably chief among them. Through it all I've always managed to eat well, if not too well, and have a passion for fresh, healthy, food. I also love to cook so I'm always looking for new ways to integrate my bi-weekly Planet Organics delivery…

Sometimes I think the battle is really not so much against willpower but vagueness. Thanks for sharing your experience. 4 lbs. and counting.

Progress not perfection!

Almost anything at Jamba Juice, anything but "just coffee" at Starbucks, et al.

What you're experiencing is not uncommon. Embarking on weight loss can be a little like turning around the Queen Mary—your body takes time to adjust to the new demands you're placing upon it metabolically. It may be a good idea to find out what your resting metabolic rate (RMR) is and work from that number to determine how…

You seem pretty young from your photo... wait until you get a little older and your cartilage starts to disappear. For those of us with bad knees it's a gift from above and about the only cardio machine (besides the stationary bike) in the gym that gets your HR up there without the high joint impact of a treadmill. And…