enchantedgardener Member

I'm not sure how to use the fresh stevia leaf as a sweetener. I've purchased stevia in powdered and liquid form at grocery and health food stores. I really liked them. I was told that some brands may have a bitter aftertaste (because the leaves themselves contain a compound that is bitter). All of the stevia extracts I've…

I've eaten many kinds of exotic meats. My favourites are as follows: Buffalo/bison is generally pretty easy to find. The animals are raised on ranches and small farms. Very lean and absolutely delicious. Great for burgers. Rabbit is very lean. You can get farm-raised rabbit in stores. Best used in stews. Moose meat is a…

I prefer black teas myself. I like the flavour of a strong cup of black tea, the bitterness, the tannins. All teas are healthy. They all contain antioxidants and polyphenols. Now, the green and white teas have more of those than do black tea. But, on their own, all teas contain these health-promoting compounds. That being…

I've increased my jogging speed from 3.8 mph to 4.3 mph. I can run 20 minutes on days when I don't have tons of energy and up to 40 minutes on days when I do. I can wear size 14 pants without my tummy bulging at the waist.

Canadian women are the best! I'm an East Coast girl through and through. My milk comes in a bag and that's just fine by me. :)

OMG that is horrible. I don't even particularly like dogs, but I don't think animal suffering is funny. Ever.

I'm not a fan of most plain green teas, but I love green tea with jasmine flowers. The jasmine adds a sweet, floral note without any added sugar. Delicious hot or ice cold. White tea is also rich in polyphenols and ECGCs, so consider it as an alternative to green tea. It has a much milder flavour than green tea and is also…

I'm dating someone but we're not exclusive. I guess that makes me 'available' if not quite exactly 'single'. :)

I'm pansexual, though I do often label myself as 'bisexual' outside the LGBT community. I'm attracted to people across the gender spectrum and really have no preference for one gender presentation/identification over another. I'm a cis-gendered woman. I don't particularly identify as femme, though I suppose I do present…

It's tough. I work in a restaurant, and it's the really busy nights that are hard for me in terms of sticking to my eating goals. When I'm hauling *kitten* for hours at a time, I don't have the time to take a break to eat something healthy. But all that activity is making me feel utterly famished and I feel that I 'need' a…

I don't really think it matters. You're choosing fat from healthy sources - not saturated and trans fats - so that's good. So long as you're eating sufficient calories (sounds like it) and eating a variety of healthy foods throughout the day, it doesn't really matter if one of your meals/snacks is particularly high in fat.…

Because I am in a passionate, loving relationship with myself. I've had depression, low self-esteem, and a very negative self image for most of my life. I've worked hard to change that . It's taken many, many years. But it has really paid off. For the first time in my life I can honestly say I am happy each and every day.…

Congratulations Michielynn! I'm wearing a size 14 today, but 2 months ago my size 16 pants were too tight. I know how awesome this feels! :)

I used to have a lot of pain in my foot arches and heels upon first getting up in the morning and late at night. After being on my feet for a little while the pain would lessen. I work on my feet all day, and I'd actually avoid sitting down during the day because the pain would return after sitting even for a few minutes.…

@tarascooby I sent you a message explaining how to change your settings so that you can track calcium and iron. @everyone Thanks for your advice and input. I don't eat a lot of grains in general, though I have considered adding breads and/or cereals that are iron-fortified to my diet. I need to look into this some more. I…

What type of protein shake is best for you depends on a few things. Whey protein is generally the least expensive and is a very good quality, easily absorbable protein. Unless you are vegan or have dairy allergies, I'd go with whey. Some varieties are loaded with artificial sweeteners, flavours, etc. I personally try to…

You are doing a fantastic job! You deserve to be proud of yourself and the accomplishments you've made so far. :)

Wow! You look amazing! What an incredible gift you've given yourself. The scales don't track the increases in feelings personal accomplishment, self-confidence, happiness, energy levels, and health. I know, however, the improvements in these areas too must be tremendous! Congratulations.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I too do have trouble meeting my protein goal without occasionally using protein powders. Vega One is a great product and is completely vegan. It was created with the aim of being as 'natural' as a dietary supplement can be. Expensive, though. I only use it when I don't have time to eat a proper…

I've been craving sweets a lot less now that I've cut way back on sugar. I tried to completely eliminate all added sugar for 2 weeks and it's made a huge difference. One of my favourite sweet snacks (without too much sugar) is a Quaker's Crispy Minis Caramel Chocolate Chip rice cake topped with 1-2 tsp of peanut butter.…

This is absolutely true! Isn't it wonderful? :)

The thorough chewing of food was popularized by Horace Fletcher and was thought to convey lots of benefits to those who practiced it. 'Fletcherizing', as it became known, was common dietary advice in 1911. The research over the last 100 years does not show that increased chewing conveys any added health benefits. It does…

Margarine does NOT have less fat than butter! That is absolutely false. Read the nutritional information labels or look it up on NutritionData.com: margarine is 99%-100% calories from fat per serving, butter is 100%. The only difference is that margarine has water, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and other junk that makes it…

I'm currently reading Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food. I've been an proponent of 'clean' eating since before the term became popularized. Having grown up in a community where backyard gardens were common, market stands and u-pick orchards lined country roads, and fresh fish was available in season, we ate local foods…

I've never tried a cauliflower cake. Thought I'd share my favourite 'healthier' cake recipe. It's super delicious and only 200 cals (6 g protein, 2 g fat, 17 g carbs) per 1/8. 7 oz soft tofu 1/2 cup honey 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup espresso or strong coffee 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1 tbsp…

I'm not a fan of 'diets'. Usually, what tends to happen is that once the 'diet' is over, the weight returns. When asked about diets, I always encourage others to make healthier food choices. Not a short-term diet, but a permanent change to healthier ways of eating and living. Because that's what will keep you healthy in…

You definitely are not alone! The binge eating is something you've been struggling with for a long time. As such, it's not likely to just 'stop' because you want it to or out of sheer determination. I'd suggest seeing a professional who specializes in eating disorders. S/he will be able to help you figure out and process…

I use a Mio sports watch. It contains a heart rate monitor and doesn't require a chest strap. I'm not sure how well it works in pools, but the website says it is water resistant up to 30m.

I've generally always heard the U.S. referred to as The States. Don't know anyone who calls it America.

I haven't made any plans yet. My boyfriend is out of town and my best friend is away on holiday. Normally I'd try to spend some time with them, but since that's not in the cards I'll have to call up some other friends and see what we can figure out. I will definitely be spending some time either working out at the gym or…