Tree72 Member

My standard morning coffee is 1/2 c. 1% milk and 1 tsp. turbinado sugar, then fill the rest of the 16 oz travel mug with fresh coffee. On weekends I use half and half instead of milk. And I've been experimenting with different types of coffee. Some require less modification than others. Finally found one I can drink…

Wow! Fantastic story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I love how you talk about your feelings and the process, the fact that it wasn't one big decision, but a lot of little ones.

I wear RGPs, so have to take them out every day. Wish I could wear the soft or disposable ones; they are much easier on your eyes. :(

I love my digital food scale. It's so much easier to use and clean up than measuring cups (and more accurate too). It helps me make sure I'm getting enough protein and not too much of things like peanut butter or cheese. I especially love using it for making my protein smoothies; just put the blender container on the scale…

My favorite way to use it is in a bowl of oatmeal (usually steel cut). It's also tasty in protein smoothies made with banana and milk. I also like to use it in some baked goods (adds protein and a nice flavor). Personally I can't stand it in Greek yogurt :( The flavors of the tangy yogurt and savory peanut butter just…

Thank you so much for sharing your story. You are absolutely amazing. Living with depression can really make the rest of your life more difficult. But you have chosen to value yourself and live the life you want to live. Congratulations. I wish you all the best in the future and hope you accomplish all your goals.

There's lots of great suggestions here. One of my current favorites is a recipe I slightly modified (to a single serving size) from another post on the forums. It's called a crustless quiche. The basic recipe is 1/2 c. cottage cheese and 1 whole egg. Then you can add whatever you like for flavor. I usually sprinkle in a…

I definitely find benefit to taking a week or so off from high intensity exercises (running and heavy lifting). During that time, to keep myself active and motivated, I will take walks and do yoga or dancing. I need to stay physically active to help balance my moods. But my body also sometimes needs more than a day or two…

I like to wear my hair very long. When I was in college I tried it shorter (waist length) with bangs. It was definitely a learning experience. I don't regret it, but don't plan on going that short again. I've also had it all the way to the floor, and didn't like that much either. My personal preference is somewhere right…

I don't know that either one has just plain regular frankfurters, but the Bilinski brand chicken sausages (http://www.bilinski.com/products.cfm) and Aidell's both have nitrate/nitrite free offerings. The pineapple hot dogs by Aidell's are quite tasty. (http://www.aidells.com/product/14025)

I'm one of the people who wouldn't worry too much about that small amount of sugar. How ripe were your bananas? They get sweeter as they get more ripe. If they just had some brown spots, try another batch with ones that have gone mostly brown. And if you don't have spices in your current recipe, you might try adding a…

Things I try to always keep on hand: Eggs egg whites (just egg whites in a carton, not egg substitute) milk (1% organic) half and half cottage cheese Fage 2% plain Greek yogurt 2% cheese (Cheddar or Monterrey Jack usually) apples berries (various kinds depending on what looks good at the time) other fruits in season…

I wear something that resembles a bra to work and sports bras at the gym. The rest of the time I go without. I'm quite flat chested but have a huge rib cage and I've never been able to find any real bras that fit at all. If anyone knows where you can get a 40 or larger in an A or AA cup, please let me know. The only reason…

These look fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe.

Those things terrify me. So I always stop. I'm desperately clinging to one handrail though, so plenty of room to get by on the other side.

I use this one, http://www.biochem-fitness.com/powders.html in the "natural" flavor. They also have vanilla and chocolate, but those have additional flavorings and sweeteners added.

It would make sense. Nicotine is a stimulant, even more so than caffeine. So it could definitely have an effect on your metabolism. But giving it up is so worthwhile for your overall health. And it's good for your budget too. :happy:

Mocha... I love chocolate, and I love coffee, but can't stand them together.

I think the trainer was clueless (and useless). To help put things in perspective check out this web page http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages. It's a visual guide with pictures of real people that shows varying body fat percentages. Body fat percentage is a useful number to help determine how fit…

Congratulations! You were still out there and it sounds like you were enjoying the day. And an improvement against last year's time is great. :flowerforyou:

My favorite way to eat it is in a bowl of steel cut oats. I use 1 serving (1/4 c.) oats, 2 Tbsp. PB2 (or chocolate PB2) and 1/2 to 1 tsp. of raw sugar (or 1/2 Tbsp of honey or 1 Tbsp of maple syrup). For a treat throw in a Tbsp of chocolate chips or dried cranberries. Tastes like a warm oatmeal cookie. :happy: It's also…

I haven't tried it yet, but your post made me curious about it. I love pasta and am always looking to try "healthier" options. According to their website, which lists all the nutritional information including ingredients, it contains dried sweet corn, dried carrots, and dried squash. The standard definition for a "serving"…

Roasting is my current favorite way to prepare veggies. Just cut up your veggies of choice, drizzle lightly or spritz with olive oil, and sprinkle on a bit of salt (and other seasonings if you like - I love a bit of garlic and onion powder). Place the veggies on a single layer and roast in a 375 degree oven. It will take…

This sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

I frequently use the 2% Greek yogurt in recipes that call for sour cream. Mostly for me this is in things like muffins or pancakes. They always turn out great, tasty and fluffy like they should.

I like to have a variety of things, some salty and some sweet. Jerky (beef, turkey, etc.) can make a nice low cal snack if you aren't too worried about sodium. If you're bringing a small cooler, then grapes, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, already sliced apples or peeled oranges, and hard-boiled eggs are some options. (You…

If you're going for less clothing, how about Hawaiian tourists? Swim trunks/shorts and Hawaiian shirts for the guys and swim suits with a sarong/wrap for the ladies. You could add plastic leis and hats as finishing touches. Relatively cheap and comfortable.

You may want to check out http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/. All her recipes are vegan (no dairy or eggs), and many have low or no fat options. She even has a few that don't have any added sugars (usually using bananas or dates for sweetness). I'm not vegan and have very few food intolerances, but still really enjoy some…

All I Need by Awol Nation

It's a matter of your personal priorities. I can't even handle a total of an hour a day commuting; just feels like I'm wasting my life and don't have time for anything but work. So if I were in your situation I'd either move or take the city job. The first job definitely sounds more fulfilling. Your description makes it…