ribqah Member

^This. My favorite thing about my current PCP is that she is very quick to refer me to specialists, and it has resulted in a major improvement in my quality of life. Previous general practitioners I saw tried to handle it all themselves -- and they didn't even run the right tests.

As a woman who, for years, struggled with undiagnosed PCOS and severe adenomyosis (which caused an enlarged uterus), I have certainly heard my share of rude comments over the years -- even when my actual weight was normal. I got the "pretty face" comments, the "pregnant" comments (those are tough to absorb when they start…

So in fact, your "stubborn wife" is an excellent cook and goes out of her way to make healthy meals at home...and just splurges when she goes out? Um, yeah. "Heil, OP." You've gotten some good advice here (except for the guy who told you to ask one of her friends about her eating habits -- definitely DON'T do that). But…

You can hire actors if you want looks, too. I don't think it's true that looks are the only thing that attract you to a stranger. Attraction is more complicated than that. I'm not Quasimodo or anything, but I'm not a 10, either -- and I get approached by men in public with a frequency I've never stopped finding surprising.…

I honestly think that good shoes are worth the investment. Good shoes prevent unnecessary injuries that can keep you from being able to work out, and they eliminate unnecessary pain that can demotivate, particularly when people are just starting out. They also help slow the wear on the pads of your feet and lessen the…

Tier One Must Have: *Measuring tape *Food scale *Good shoes *Free weights *Some tool for calorie counting (I used the LoseIt app prior to switching to MFP a month ago) *Numbers: BMR and TDEE Tier Two Should Have: *Blender of some kind (I prefer having a personal blender with multiple blender cups) *Jump rope *Epsom salts…

Now, when you say "trying," do you mean "attempting" or do you mean "extremely annoying, difficult, or the like; straining one's patience and goodwill to the limit: a trying day; a trying experience"? :tongue: Oh, I knew pages ago that you were a Libertarian. Comments about flights and medical costs were not directed…

How do I feel about it? I feel that it doesn't matter how I feel about it. It's not my job to legislate how other people feel about themselves or determine whether they have a right to feel that way. And I certainly can't muster enough arrogance to assume that, by merely taking a glimpse at someone else's physique, I can…

What growing zone are you in?

Well, I'm in the NW, so when it comes to some fruit trees, I do have to choose my varieties carefully in order to have any success -- the Olympian fig, for example, was discovered in this area and, unlike many figs, is cold-hardy and a reliable producer in cool/coastal climates. Fortunately, I'm trained in Google Fu.…

Being dehydrated can definitely make you weak, nauseous...dizzy, too. I can always tell if I haven't had enough water when I start doing a higher-intensity workout. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, so I don't have much more to add, but good luck to you. I hope you start feeling better and stronger soon.

If you like spaghetti squash, you might try growing a variety of spaghetti squash called Small Wonder -- it's a "personal-sized" spaghetti squash (the right size for one to two people), so it doesn't need as long a season as the regular-sized spaghetti squash. I direct-sowed seeds for that one last year and got a really…

Oh, I'm going to start with up-purposing a couple of Goodwill wood furniture finds and making a new address plaque for the front porch, and then, later, I'm going to paint some cabinets.

Ha! It wouldn't be the first time it's happened! Oh, and I inadvertently left the red currant bush of the newly added list. :D

Tomatoes (a large variety) Peppers (a large variety) Green beans Peas Lettuce Spinach Squash (a large variety) Blackberries (have a couple thornless upright bushes and love them) Caroline raspberries Black cherries Tristar Strawberries Mignonette Strawberries Apples Pears White Currants Elderberries Mulberries Blueberries…

Two things: 1. A pound of Calcium Carbonate that I'll be using to make chalk paint for a couple DIY projects. 2. A belated birthday present from a friend who lives across the country from me -- I was told to expect it.

Counting calories using a food scale IS very important, yes. But one thing I would caution your wife about when considering MFP's caloric need estimates is that they are just that: estimates. All these online calculators are. I understand how discouraged your wife is feeling -- I've been there -- but if you've had a full…

@Dragonwolf: Thanks for the warm welcome and the FR! :)

PCOS is a complex disorder and being a syndrome, different people who have it can experience widely different effects. I have it myself, and because it causes systemic hormonal imbalances, it can profoundly affect metabolism as well as cause insulin issues. BUT nutrition and exercise make a huge difference. And you DO need…