February 2012
January 2012
My new whiteboard calendar arrived!
Just finished filling it out, but I don’t have any pushpins to add my paper notes or drill bits to hang it. Hopefully I can get it on the wall this weekend, but I’ll try to post a pic later. I’m reading through my Hungry Girl Under 300 Calories recipe book right now for certain days on the calendar.
So I was scrolling through your blog, read through your FAQ, and just watched your video regarding your excess skin. As soon as my next paycheck comes in (Friday after this one), I'm donating to your surgery. Maybe it's because you remind me a lot of another one of my close friends, haha, but it's physically paining me to see you need this surgery and not have the funds to get it. Best of luck to you, Risa <3
Thank you. <3 My raffle for donors is still running. I need to make a new post for it when I’m feeling better. I hate having to ask other for money, but it’s really the only way I’ll be able to get my surgeries anytime in the next decade. You are wonderful.
Thumbs up for that vegan argument. I don't get why people can't just be happy that they made their own dietary choices, and not try to push it on everyone else. It's getting as bad as religion. I respect your choices, you respect mine - it's that simple (on both topics :p).
Is it true that your metabolism can burn up to 400 extra calories while you're on your period? I've been reading some stuff cause I have mine now and I heard that it's easier to burn calories while menstruating x:
I have heard that it’s around 200-300 calories, but from what I’ve heard it’s true. I would speak to your doctor about it to confirm.
Any suggestions on how to make natural, plain yoghurt tasty? I'm really struggling with the sourness of the yoghurt. I tried mixing in berries, but Australian berries aren't that good at the best of times.
Sorry, I don’t buy yogurt that isn’t already sweet because I don’t like the flavor otherwise. I’ve heard that mangos really help sweetness. (Tip courtesy of Raptor.) Other than that, I don’t know.
FOLLOWERS! If you have suggestions, please message shrink1ngviolet (not me) with them! <3
What do you think about stress and lack of sleep effecting fat loss? I've been on this journey for over a year now and while I have gotten fit (running 5ks and increased strength) I haven't lost fat as much as I had hope nor as much as others have lost in a year. It's extremely frustrating. I go to school full time and work full time and I eat healthy and workout, but my vices are not getting sleep and usually under eating. It just blows my mind that stress/sleep can effect fat loss.
We all have our vices, and sometimes those little vices can be the one major roadblock to our goals. My sugar addiction is all that ever holds me back. Sadly, yes, stress and lack of sleep can keep you from losing weight. It has to do with the hormones your body produces to survive under such conditions. You should get at least 6 hours a night, 8 when you can. For stress, learn to meditate or take up a hobby. I have started meditation, but crochet is also a big way to relax for me. Taught myself, and you can, too. :) I used to do it in class sometimes under the desk. When doing basic patterns, it’s easy to be clearly paying attention while working with your hands. Now I sometimes do it at my desk at work. lol But yes, finding a way to get more sleep and a way to relax will help with your weight loss.
Doctor Called Me Back
While the medication she gave me doesn’t contain Sulfa, sometimes people who react to Sulfa react to the medication. Great. I get a rare medical condition, then I get a rare allergic reaction to the treatment for that medical condition.
She’s called in a different prescription to my pharmacy, so I’m just chilling for about an hour until I can go pick it up. I still look like an albino giraffe or something with all these spots.
I’m gonna get to answering some PMs and doing whatever work I can to kill the time. But one of the other side effects of both this medication and the new one is severe dizziness. Hopefully the new meds won’t be as bad as this one because I have a hell of a dizzy spell kicking in.
GUESS WHO WOKE UP COVERED IN SPOTS
I have no luck, you guys. New medication for the Fowler’s Syndrome has me covered in spots!!! I can’t even reach the doctor for another half hour. Just sitting here, resenting this crappy body. And slightly itchy.
youtube(.)com/watch?v=uGqZONsnZa8 <-good chest workout. Also resistance bands, opening and closing them slowly and horizontally like hand cymbals (for lack of better example). Also a chest dip, which is like putting your hands on two benches or poles on either side of you and raising and lowering yourself.
Thanks!
But guys, please send these to the lady who asked. :)
(No worries, doll. Still love ya!)
A good chest exercise is to lay flat on your back and raise two hand weights up like you would raise a barbell if you were doing a bench press. Know what I'm saying? It's like bench press lite. Works great. Depending on your strength level, use a weight level that challenges you (so you can comfortably do at least 10 reps and feel the burn).
Yeah, they do that in the 30 Day Shred. I couldn’t think of what it was called. ><
I'm vegan and I totally respect your dietary restrictions (and honestly, just your personal right to choose what to eat) but I do wonder how you feel about the fact that factory farming is undeniably terrible for the planet and for animals. (Not getting on a soap box, I swear!) Do you take that into consideration when purchasing food and try to go for local things (or, I know you're not super affluent) would you if you had the money? Just curious! I love your blog, I really do!
Thank you for speaking to me with the equal respect I would give you. :) Do I think animals are slaughtered in the most humane way? No. But do I think it’s worth giving up all meat? Also no.
If money weren’t a concern, I would purchase the most environmentally friendly meat and other products available. Unfortunately, you know I’m in no decent financial situation. My medications alone tonight cost $100 just for one month’s worth of about 1/5 of my daily pills.
But that’s besides the point. I do think that we need to care for the environment, but I don’t think that boycotting a product is the way to change it. Lobbying for better regulations is a way to make a change. Entering a career field that allows you to change the system is a way to make a change. But when you don’t eat meat… the meat’s already processed. What doesn’t get bought and eaten gets thrown out, which I consider more disrespectful. I’d rather throw out pasta than steak. I believe in that Native American philosophy in which you use as much of the animal as possible. That is how you respect an animal, and that is how you make the food chain and the circle of life more effective, in my personal opinion. (And seriously, if we eat so much cow, why is leather so expensive while hamburgers are so cheap?!) Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the civil discourse! <3
do you have any suggestions for at home chest exercises? i want to strengthen my chest muscles and in turn perk up my breasts a bit (tmi, i know lol). but i was wondering if you knew any at-home chest exercises that called for little (ie. 2-5lb hand weights) to no equipment. thanks! :)
Maybe it’s just because I’m so sleepy, but I really can’t think of anything.
FOLLOWERS! If you have any recommendations, please message this lovely lady directly. I’m sure she’d be much obliged. :)
TV Trades
So Mitch and I have started an interesting habit: trading TV shows. It started with him watching Archer at my suggestion, and me watching Community at his. We both love our new shows now that we’ve caught up to present episodes, and we decided to make another trade: I’m to watch Arrested Development, and he’s to watch Coupling (the British version, i.e. the good version). I suspect we’ll be trading Dexter (for him) for Doctor Who (for me) next.
So I'm following your "battle" with some of these vegetarian people, and I just have to say....you go girl! *high fives all around*
I love and respect vegans and vegetarians. It takes strength to make that kind of commitment. As I’ve said, it’s just the better-than-thou ones that get to me.
Got my cd and I love it! Thank you! ^.^
Yay! *dance*
Hi risa! i just read your post about your doctors visit... im sorry to hear. while these things may get us down so much, just know that youre never given anything in life you cannot handle, and i know you can make it through this! try putting things into perpective (i dont mean this in any kind of condescending way - i try to do it when i am upset) at least you can go to a doctor. and have access to medication. and have the will power to push through! youll be okay! dont get down <3 xox
Thank you.
The picture of the girl who is 125lbs, I'm 125lbs and I look nothing like that. Care to give some insight?
Different heights.
Different muscle mass. (Muscle is denser than fat, so you can weigh more but look thinner.)
Different bone structure.
Different age.
Different body shape.
We all carry our weight differently. Never try to look like someone else because the only person you can ever look like is a version of yourself.
Medical Update
Just got back from the doctor. I’ve been diagnosed with Fowler’s Syndrome.
First described in 1985, it is a cause of urinary retention (inability to pass water normally) in young women. Urinary retention in young women is not common but can be quite debilitating. The abnormality lies in the urethral sphincter (the muscle that keeps you continent). The problem is caused by the sphincter’s failure to relax to allow urine to be passed normally. There is no neurological disorder associated with the condition. Up to half the women have associated polycystic ovaries.
(Source.)
(It did make me laugh a little to add this gif.)
Going back in a month to see if treatment is working. The doctor said that controlling my insulin may help, so I’m starting my metformin tomorrow. I’ve also been put on Flomax, which I then had to get the third degree about at the pharmacy because it’s normally only prescribed to men. Way to embarrass a girl, CVS. There’s another medication, too, that I don’t want to discuss publicly. Nor do I want to discuss what prompted me to go get this checked out in the first place, so please don’t ask.
I’m just very down right now. Somehow still on track with my diet today, at least. If anyone needs me, I’ll be under my blankets.
Hey! Well I just wanna say I got a personal trainer and well I'm kinda scared... I don't know I'm kinda happy but i'm not really one to exercise( i do but not frequently )I'm kinda scared he'll push me to far... Should I be scared...? Whats so good about having a personal trainer? ?
You should never be scared of hard work. A good personal trainer makes sure you have good form, motivates you to push beyond what you think your limits are, and helps keep you on track. If you don’t feel you’re getting this from your trainer, question it.
