ckish Member

I loved MFP but did not like some of their app updates a few years ago but decided to try it out again. While I was away I encountered mental health issues after a traumatic incident but I'm back and living the app. I am a 60 old happily married woman living about an hour north of San Francisco. I am happy to be back and…

I love to cook and I help people gain confidin the kitchen. If you give me an idea of what things you like to eat and how much you love or dislike cooking I would be happy to help you with shopping lists, recipes, or support on your journey.

Shopping the perimeter of the store and staying out of the aisles excefor specific items you know you need is key. Even buying out of season fruits and vegetables will not break your budget. The trick is actually eating it and not throwing it away. The most expensive produce you'll ever buy is the produce you throw away.…

I have recovered from depression, PTSD, and a full mental breakdown. I am now a a Peer Support Specialist helping others find their recovery. I used EMDR therapy as part of my recovery. I was not allowed to be hungry ever. Even the slightest hunger pains that told me to make lunch created the same hormone my EMDR therapy…

I left a reply but it's gone. Does it need to be approved before it shows up? This is just a test to see if this one disappears too.

Self-care was an important part of my recovering from depression, PTSD, and a full mental breakdown. In order to recover from PTSD I was never supposed to be anywhere close to feeling even the mild hunger pains telling you that you need to eat lunch. I ate nutritiously but still gained a lot of weight. I want to lose…

This is my favorite because it is quick, flavorful, and low in calories so I can eat it in large quantities without fear. http://www.mymotherssecrets.com/thai-peanut-sauce.html

I love to cook and have discovered what meals fill me up and keep me satisfied and which ones leave me hungry in very short order. Although I am trying the slow and steady approach to losing weight and try not to ever cut my calories too much I am surprised that I actually can manipulate my food choices and be full without…

I make an awesome pesto sauce with spinach and cashews. You need a vitamix or powerful blender. Instead of adding oil I thin it down with water. Add garlic and seasonings to taste. I then add a bit of a blended shredded cheese of equal parts romano/parmasan/asiago cheeses. It has been successfully served to many people who…

I have owned a Vitamix for more than 35 years and they are wonderful! I make smoothies, soups, desserts, etc every day using it. I am also a cookbook author and have a plethora or recipes to share. Some are on my website www.mymotherssecrets.com I am just starting to add a section completely devoted to Vitamix recipes but…

The trick is to make a thin crisp crust and use mozzarella with a sprinkle of a blend of parmesan, romano, and asiago cheese. Baking it in a super hot oven with cheap unglazed terracotta tiles from Home Depot will yield a pizzeria quality tasty pizza. The recipe link may look complicated to a novice cook at first but if…

I applaud your strength for articulating your challenges so well. Reaching out to a professional will help you tremendously. Just know we all have challenges and demons we must face. The fact that you are not hiding your problems in the shadows means that you will one day successfully triumph or these difficulties.

When I first started typing my reply there wasn't all the posts that I see now. So, congratulations on seeking medical help. The best motivation I have ever found to come out of my depression, to lose weight, or to pursue my dreams has been and will always be my daughters. When I did not feel worthy of a happy life or I…

Once you recognize you are in a depression it is easier to start to do the things you need to do to come out of it. If you are not feeling like getting out of bed and are devoid of energy it is counter productive to think you will be able to lose weight without coming out of the depression first. Have you talked to your…

I use it as a base for a low calorie peanut sauce. I love making zucchini noodles with the peanut sauce as a side dish or adding grilled chicken, red pepper, and assorted veggies to rival my favorite Thai dishes. Send me a message if you'd like the recipe.

I love to put fresh basil leaves on my wafer thin 6 calorie crackers and laughing cow cheese. It's unbelievable how good it is. Regardless of what I am eating I take the time to plate it really well. I even have some nice specialty plates I picked up super cheap at the thrift store. So even if I'm just having a sliced…

I used to worry about the calories in my homemade pizza until I actually calculated it. It's actually lower in calories than the frozen "diet" pizza my friend lives on and even less than the cauliflower pizza recipes that some people use. Most people who make homemade pizza make the mistake of loading it up with mozzerella…

Thanks for the info. I'm on the way back from vacation and will explore the application more from home.

I like to plan my menus a week at a time too. It helps me to know what to expect so I don't break my calorie budget

I keep some egg salad for a quick breakfast after my morning walk. I spread it on Suzie's low Cal crackers/rice cakes. I also make smoothies or soups in my vitamix. Keeping a veggie tray in the fridge helps for making quick salads.

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My homemade pizza is less calories and tastier than even the diet recipes going around these days. I also love making oatmeal breakfast cookies filled with oats and chopped apples and other fruits but has no sugars or oils/butter. Meringue cookies are basically egg whites and a bit of other flavoring so they are very…

There are approximately 200 calories in a cup of mashed bananas. It is in the MFP database. If you ever have trouble finding the calorie count just google it. You can always add it to MFP yourself.

I love peanut sauce and can eat a large portion easily. So I like to make this recipe which also uses PB2, sugar free peanut flavored syrup, and Walden Farms peanut spread so I can eat the serving size I want and enjoy it guilt free. http://www.mymotherssecrets.com/thai-peanut-sauce.html

Salads work well. I pack a small George Foreman grill and fix chicken and veggies in my room.

The better food choices I make the easier it is to continue to make good choices. There are some foods that if I start eating them I will have a hard time stopping myself from eating every last crumb so I make sure that I carefully control my access to them so I can eat all of it when i do have it. Other foods are easier…

I suggest setting very some ridiculously low goals to start to set the foundation for better habits. For example setting a goal of drinking a large glass of water the first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything else and doing 3 or 5 sit ups EVERY day without fail. These are two things that can start you…

I am a bookkeeper and spend endless hours on computers. I don't have CTS per se but can have pain in my wrists and thumb periodically. So I am very cautious about the exercises I do. I do so me mild stretching and hand exercises. I also use elastic band that allows me to exercise my biceps and triceps without having to…

I keep a small one at my desk in the office so I can grill veggies for a salad. I also use it for paninis too. Once in a while I will also grill some protein at the office too. Basically there is nothing that you can't make on one.