The Healthy Thread

[AlmostThere]

I rarely use any purfume as I can't stand constantly smelling the scent. I, too, don't care for other people, women or men, wearing it either. I don't mind the smell of laundry soap or dryer sheets. I would much rather smell that on a person. I totally agree on the cigarette stench. I can actually smell it from the outside of a vehicle when one passes me when I'm walking. I, too, love the smell of the fair food. All that deep fried stuff, popcorn, kettle corn, frying onions. I always have to have a BBQd turkey leg, minus the bbq sauce. lol I know, but that's me. I'm more of a purest, I guess.

[Redetotry]

Unfortunately many more people today react to smells, especially people who are chemically sensitive. Things others can barely smell are over powering to them. My reaction to especially the laundry products is I get very hoarse and my mind gets totally scrambled. There has been some research into the connection between scented products and all the learning problems kids have today. Symptoms can include dizziness, fatigue, rashes, hives, watery eyes, sore throat and chest tightness. Questions about scented products have been raised for decades but what the new studies emphasize is the lack of regulation in product labeling. Six products tested recently by researchers gave off at least one chemical considered toxic or hazardous but none of those chemicals were listed on product labels. All products tested were top-selling brand names.
Linalool, the most abundant chemical in perfume and fragrance products, is known to cause lethargy, depression, and life threatening respiratory effects.
The sad thing is nothing is being done to regulate these dangerous products. For anyone concerned or interested, this is an older but good article.
http://www.herc.org/news/perfume/sweet_poison.htm

[JanetA]

100 % whole wheat flour is good to cook with,, but you have to be particular w/ what you cook w/ it. I have found that cookies work well with it and also things like banana nut bread,, etc.. things like that.

if you don't like the consistency of your cakes made w/ 100% whole wheat flour,, just mix it with white flour about half and half. Regulate your portions w/ trial and error. The thing about white flour is that it is refined and all the healthy parts have been scraped /refined away. Same for white rice. Try whole grain rice too. Whole grain anything is much healthier than anything "refined" or "enriched". These are things I learned when I was in the Prism program for healthy living. I lost 35 lbs on it in about 6 months. Then I moved in w/ my parents and got depressed and started eating sweets again. My greatest downfall.. But i will waver back and forth from eating healthy to transgressing. That's just ME, I guess.

Luck to all of you who are trying to get healthier! I could write a book ! Wish I could stick to it! Guess that will come when I'm out on my own and don't have the stress!!!!!!

I think if it doesn't happen soon, I WILL lose what's left of my mind!

[BarbaraRose]

I took a look in the mirror the other day and realized that I am getting a lot of winter flab on my tummy and thighs. Then this morning, I tried to put on my jeans and they didn't fit. I weighed myself and discovered I have gained 10+ pounds over the past few months! So I went to the store today and bought a bunch of fruits and veggies. I am replacing my nightly chocolate chip cookies with fruit and cottage cheese. Also salads with lemon juice instead of dressing. I have to replace my white bread with whole wheat bread. Gotta cut out the donuts for breakfast! I have been reading that eating a lot of foods with fiber is healthy and helps with weight loss. I wish I didn't hate oatmeal so much. I may try to force myself to eat it until I finally get used to it. It isn't so much the taste (no taste as far as I am concerned), but the texture. It seems like I am trying to chew bits of wet paper. Yuck! I love Malt-O-Meal but end up drowning it in a ton of butter and sugar. Also gotta figure out some way to exercise too. Will have to check out the exercise room downstairs and see what they have that I can get started on. Just can't be seen by the pool this spring with all these bumps and bulges!

Oh, by the way, found out that I have too much estrogen in my system which is causing all my peri-menopausal symptoms, so am now taking a natural hormone cream (progesterone). My symptoms seem to be getting better already!

[Liz]

My brother & SIL are visiting this weekend. My SIL has been very overweight. I haven't seen her since Oct. and she looks great! Found out she's been following a diet called "Slim Solutions" under the care of a doctor (Internal Med.). She has to visit the dr. every week, but it is really working. The diet consists of 12 (1oz) proteins, 3 veg. (total 1 1/2 c. cooked), and 2 fruit servings a day. No refined sugars, no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. No corn, carrots, peas (due to sugar content). No OJ. She was given a physical exam before starting. I'm sure there's more detail....these are just the general things she told me. I served & ate meals within her diet this weekend and lost 1 # already.

I won't go to dr. for the whole plan...don't need to lose that much, but may try to stay away from the foods to avoid for awhile.

[snowball]

Barbie
you might try this with oatmeal I personally haven't but the Irish oats I think is what they are called they take longer to cook so would think there would be more texture with that type. I like oatmeal as does dh but he is fussy with his foods so haven't rocked the boat when it comes to oatmeal...occasionally I put in my bowl some cranraisens and nuk them a bit (in some water) drain off the water put the cooked oatmeal in then add sliced almonds to it...I love it that way and if dh is gone then I will cook the cranrains in with the oatmeal. but you know if you just simply don't like oatmeal find another way to up the fiber something that you enjoy..if you don't like it you won't stick to it
sheila

[mitch5252]

Barbie, for more fiber, try the Fiber 1 products - especially the little square cereal (name escapes me, but they're delicious) and their fiber bars. There are now several other brands that are packed with fiber, too. Also, try the Special K Protein Plus cereal. Chock full of fiber and lots of other good things. These all have more fiber than oatmeal. I'd give the Irish oats (steel-cut oats) a try, too - totally different texture than regular oatmeal.

[carold]

They've got 5 minute steel cut oatmeal-found it in Publix. Try adding fruit and/or cinnamon and a little skim milk. carold

[BarbaraRose]

They've got 5 minute steel cut oatmeal-... carold

Do you know the brand name? I like the '5 minute' thing!

[AlmostThere]

I've switched to the McCann Irish steel cut oatmeal. They offer the long cook and the instant. I buy the instant but be forewarned, both are horribly expensive! I do love the texture and flavor, though, so I splurge.

Liz, the diet menu you described is almost exact to the Healthy Weigh program I was on a year ago, only differece I see was I allowed only 9 oz of protein and more veggies (4 cups of fresh or 2 cups of cooked). It all boils down to common sense choices and portion size, I believe. We should eat to live, not live to eat, and I guess I should change my signature quote.

[BarbaraRose]

Maybe I will adopt your signature line Love my cookies!! However, I have been trying very hard this past week to eat better. No cookies, chips, brownies, donuts, etc. I've been trying cream of wheat for breakfast at work now. A little bland in flavor but better than oatmeal. I am eating more salads with no fat dressing, veggies, fruit, etc. Lost 2 pounds this week (maybe just a fluke tho, as it is a little soon for any real weight loss). My tummy has been a little sensitive lately and I get a burning sensation both before and after I eat, which makes me feel like I am hungry but doesn't go away when I eat. Is there a good (ie; healthy) snack out there? I am so used to my munchies and now all I have at home to munch on is salad stuff. Need something more filling and satisfying. I just keep telling myself it will all be worth it to fit back into my shorts this summer!

[sharon]

Apples with peanut butter works for my evening snack. The apple gives vitamins and fiber and the pb gives MUFA's which helps to get rid of belly fat. Sometimes I switch off and have a banana with pb. Strawberries with cool whip....hardly any calories and tastes great. Once in a while I smear a tsp of hot fudge on my banana, also loaded with MUFA's. (The chocolate, that is). Check on line for the "Flat Belly Diet". Lots of good suggestions there, and the diet works great! It's from Prevention Magazine. If you're interested, don't buy the book, pm me your address, I'll send it to you and after you've read it you can just send it back to me. Or we'll send it on to someone else who wants to read it. I trust that eventually I'll get it back.

[retiredhappy]

And who decided that we all want our shampoo to smell like orange, apple, citrus, avacado, etc. I DO NOT want to smell like a salad. Whatever happened to just the smell of clean hair? And there's nothing quite like the smell of wet dogs is there?

[JanetA]

PLease! NO wet dog shampoo fragrance for me!

[carold]

Traveling around so much, I run into about everything and at different times of the year. Developed dry eyes last year, but by the time I was on the west coast-totally gone-must have been the oaks here in FL. So far, the only thing I'm definitely allergic to is SHRIMP Ate it a lot as a child, but became allergic while at college.) Tried the "after 10 Years" idea, but broke out and had trouble breathing. Can eat any other shellfish And, I love the smell of Old Spice on a guy. carold