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Cholesterol is actually a beneficial substance. From wikipedia: "hormones produced from cholesterol include cortisol, which is involved in regulating blood-sugar levels and defending the body against infection, and aldosterone, which is important for retaining salt and water in the body. The body can even use cholesterol…
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My parents were always pretty good about sharing the duties. When Mom stayed home with us, and later when she worked from home, it made sense for her to do more of the housework & cooking. But when she went back to teaching full-time, Dad (and we kids, too, because we were old enough at that point) took on more of the…
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My doc has me eating my weight in protein per day. I started out at 300 lb, so ate at least 300g protein per day, and so on. Now I'm down to 250g per day. But that's pretty much impossible without supplemental protein powders. I have 4-6 per day; usually at least one scoop of protein powder in a drink at every meal and…
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Yes, many people say that it's just "calories in, calories out" to lose weight, but that only applies to people with normal metabolisms. The chemical reactions that either burn calories or store them are triggered by various hormones. There are literally hundreds of different chemical hormones in your body, and they all…
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I have rheumatoid arthritis. I'd be very interested in learning more about something like this. I've cured my depression and mood swings and am working on my obesity, all through dietary changes. So I like the idea of modifying my diet to treat inflammation as well. Do you have a particular one in mind? Maybe a site link?
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Yup, my vote goes to the blender bottles with the little wire ball inside. Simple but effective. Easy to clean. I have one at home, one at the office and one in my car!
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Depending on your metabolism, eating fewer carbs and more protein may actually increase your weight loss. My doctor tested me and recommended that I reset my ratios to 5% carbs, 30% fat, 65% protein. For the past 9 months, I've eaten between 250-300 g protein per day. So unless you have some preexisting kidney or liver…
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Plastic surgery is just like any other technology: it can be used, or it can be abused. Using it to correct a deformity, or having a breast reduction to alleviate chronic back pain, or using lipo to allow a 500-lb person to get out of bed & start exercising... those are all good reasons. Getting a breast augmentation…
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Many people believe this (you can't gain muscle while simultaneously losing weight), but it's not true. It's a highly persistent myth based on consideration of the thermodynamics but ignorance of the biochemistry. Our bodies are very, very complex. Facts to consider: 1. You can get calories (which is just a fancy word for…
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My original goal was to get back to my high school weight. But without MFP, I wouldn't even remember what I had for breakfast, much less what I weighed 20 years ago. When I told Mom my weight goal she said "Are you kidding? You weighed more than that when you were 13." Oh, well... (for the record, she wasn't being mean or…
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LOL. That's what I was going to say, too. "I need to stay away from (fill in the blank)... my Aunt Evelyn." She will tell me all about her health problems & how her back hurts & she can barely climb the stairs in her house and her diabetes keeps getting worse, while she's simultaneously shoveling pie & breads into her…
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A chapstick and two handkerchiefs. Yes, real old-fashioned cotton handkerchiefs. With my allergies, if I bought disposable Kleenex I'd spend the GDP of a small country each month just to blow my nose.
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No one can answer this question for you, because it depends on your own particular metabolism and how efficient it is. My doctor tested my metabolism and put my ratios at 5% carbs, 30% fat, 65% protein. I try to keep my daily carbs below 25g and eat at least my body weight in grams of protein per day. And my doctor says…
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I was always told that the standard euphemism is "gardening." :laugh: (I live in a walkup apartment with no outdoor area, so if you see me spending 30 minutes "gardening," well, just draw your own conclusions...)
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:laugh: Yes, this! Have you ever noticed that the fat-free products are usually higher in carbs & sugars? That's because when you remove the fat, food tastes terrible. So the manufacturers add sweeteners, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup... stuff that's a lot worse for your body than the fat would have been. Sigh. Sometimes…
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Right there with ya on the belly. I'm a classic apple shape. To get a suit to fit properly, I need the pants in an 18, but a jacket won't button around my belly unless it's a 22. And getting a dress to fit? Forget about it.
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My family has become a convert to eating cheesy mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes. Take a large head of cauliflower, put it through a ricer or just chop it up thoroughly, steam it for 20 minutes, then combine with 1/3 cup cottage cheese, 1/3 cup ricotta cheese and 1/3 cup of some kind of soft flavored cheese like…
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I have a metabolic condition, so "taking a few days off" isn't really an option unless I want to spend the holidays in a sugar coma. And my family's not *that* bad... :laugh: Actually, I have a wonderful family and I am going to focus on spending quality time with them, rather than on spending quality time with the dessert…
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Me too! Right there with ya!
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BTW, "summer squash" and "winter squash" are blanket terms that refer to many different varieties. Yes, spaghetti squash is a type of winter squash, but if you call around to stores asking for "winter squash" you could get lots of different things... (these aren't the squash you're looking for... move along.) :laugh:
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I love that stuff! You might try under the name "calabash." It's also sometimes called vegetable spaghetti, noodle squash, or vegetable marrow. If you haven't tried it before: it's an ovoid shape, like a watermelon, but smaller. Should be solid yellow: the more yellow, the more ripe. Many people roast it in the oven, but…
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When your friends want to go out, you have to go online first and look at the restaurant's menu to figure out what you can eat. Ordering a meal at a restaurant takes 10 minutes (... with no potatoes... no, no fries either, I'm pretty sure those are made from potatoes... can we substitute a slice of bacon instead of…
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People ask you for your "secret" to weight loss and fabulous hair. :wink: ...and then the minute you say "low-carb," their response is "But isn't that unhealthy?" :explode:
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No one can answer this for you, except maybe a doctor who has done some diagnostic tests. Your weight depends a lot on your genetics. Not just gender and height, but also bone size & density, musculature, & all kinds of other variables. Personally, I'd probably lose a couple of pounds if I ever cut my hair. :smile: And I…
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“In two decades I've lost a total of 789 pounds. I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.” -Erma Bombeck
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Nothing virtual about it, it is ketosis. I try to keep my body in ketosis at all times. AS PRESCRIBED BY MY DOCTOR. So please don't try to tell me that it's unhealthy. Many ill-informed yet well-meaning people, even on fitness sites, get ketosis mixed up with ketoacidosis. The first thing is perfectly healthy, especially…
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Don't get discouraged! Everyone's metabolism is different, everyone's body is different. Some people will lose at a faster rate than others. Slower is actually healthier & more sustainable in the long run, because you're more likely to be just losing fat, rather than fat & muscle. And make sure your weight goal is…
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LOL. :laugh: Way too many geeks / nerds on this thread... I, too, am an "ugly giant bag of mostly water." Welcome! Live long and prosper! Q'apla'!
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You would have to eat insanely high levels of protein for it to have any bad effects. Worry about going under: your body not only uses it for fuel, but also to repair & build your muscles. But don't worry about going over the "recommended" levels. My doctor has been prescribing a low-carb, high-protein diet for decades,…
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I am losing a pretty steady 1-2 lb per week, over 55 lb in 9 months. I don't really exercise much, it was all diet change. My doc did a metabolism test & then recommended that I limit my carbs to fewer than 25 per day, eat at least every three hours, and eat at least my body weight in protein per day. So when I started, at…
