#How to Reduce Sugar Intake

[keepittightsisters]

How to Reduce Sugar Intake: 5 Simple Ways

One of the best things you can do to improve your health is to reduce sugar intake. As a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), I struggle with reducing my sugar intake. Indeed, the sweet tooth thing is real. Some of my friends regularly report feeling tired and sluggish. And some report having more belly fat. OK, let me be honest, transparent, and vulnerable. It’s not just my friends that have…

[saint-ambrosef]

amazing how often you can reduce the sugar in dessert recipes by 25-50% without negatively affecting the end product. i just do it by default now. today i made carrot cake muffins and ended up halving the sugar called for by the recipe, and the end result still tastes sweet and dessert-y.

[biscuitdolly]

˚₊‧ ꒰ა traits and habits that your future self will thank you for .ᐟ 🫧🎀🧁

📧 -> my first long post in a while 🫶 I've had my ups and downs recently but for the most part life has been pretty good.

O1 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ don't overshare.

you don't have to be nonchalant and mysterious, but take a moment to consider your words before you speak. (e.g. "will i regret telling this person this piece of information in the future?")

O2 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ learn how to listen + let people talk.

It's crucial to make others feel heard, even when you might not share their viewpoint. Never cut someone off on purpose whilst they're speaking, it can really hurt someones feelings. if you accidentally cut someone off, always apologize and let them finish speaking once you've said your point.

O3 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ learn how to say no.

i know it's hard not to be a people-pleaser, but learning to say no to things that don't align with you is so important. It can help you avoid uncomfortable, awkward, and even risky situations. Setting boundaries is hard but being taken advantage of is harder.

O4 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ nourish yourself.

Make it a habit to eat meals regularly. Reduce your sugar intake. Embrace healthier food choices. Establish a skincare routine. Treat yourself to a shower after a long day. Stay hydrated. These simple changes can be easily integrated into your daily routine and will significantly enhance your life for the better.

O5 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ process over outcome.

sure, while it's great to imagine our ideal life, simply visualizing it won't automatically lead us to success. It can certainly boost our motivation, but relying solely on wishful thinking won't take us to our desired destination. enjoy the process of achieving your goal rather than just focusing on the end result.

O6 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ focus on yourself.

this is super cliche, i know. but it truly has a significant impact. Picture this -> you're sitting for a math exam, and you glance over at your desk partner's work, only to see completely different answers. You've always admired this person, so you quickly assume your answers must be wrong and decide to change them to match theirs. When the results come back, you discover that your original answers were spot on, but now you've failed because you chose to follow someone else instead of trusting your gut. Just because others are taking a different path doesn't mean it's the right one for you, or that the other person is necessarily "correct". It's important to remember that comparing ourselves to others can lead to unnecessary stress and self-doubt. Stay true to yourself and your own journey!

O7 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ become knowledgeable.

during school, we all learn about basics like maths and english. Exploring fascinating subjects like philosophy, geography, and astronomy can really broaden your horizons. You can also research topics that relate to your interests, such as anatomy, colour theory, fashion history, etc.

O8 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ stop with the shit talking.

talking ill about others is possibly the most unattractive thing you could possibly do. Afterall, what goes around comes around, and it will come to bite you back.

O9 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ kindness is key.

smile at strangers, say hi to people you know in the halls. engage in light conversations and share compliments with those around you. Being recognized as "the friendly one" can lead to countless opportunities for friendships and relationships. Step out of your comfort zone a bit! Just a simple smile can brighten someone's day, often in ways you might not even notice.

1O 𝜗𝜚 𓈒 ݁ ₊ i can't relate to desperation ♪

he doesn't want you? that's fine, move on. certain things just aren't meant to be, so don't push it. if someone doesn't like you, there's nothing you can do about it. why waste your time on some dumb guy?

[fatliberation]

Anti-Obesity Drugs in Sociopolitical Context

Abstract

This literature review critically examines the use of Body Mass Index (BMI) as a diagnostic tool for obesity, highlighting its historical and scientific flaws. The diagnosis and treatment of obesity is heavily stigmatized and reflects deeper socio-economic and racial biases. Fatphobia, or anti-fatness, is deeply rooted in white supremacy and colonial history. I argue that anti-fatness and weight-based discrimination significantly impact health outcomes, rather than body fat percentage alone. The way that the medical system focuses on body size rather than the overall health of patients perpetuates harm and yields even poorer health outcomes. To genuinely improve the lives of fat individuals, we must dismantle anti-fat systems and remove barriers to healthcare, job equity, and basic infrastructure by implementing legal protections, rather than simply promoting weight loss. This review emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to health that considers socio-economic factors and systemic discrimination.

Journal Summary

Recently, two anti-obesity medications, Ozempic and Wegovy, which are primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have shown promise in causing weight loss. The 2022 scientific journal “Ozempic and Wegovy for Weight Loss, Pharmacological Component and Effect” by Abdullah Mohammed, et al explores the pharmacological components and effects of these medications on weight reduction, summarizing findings from existing clinical studies.

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist primarily used to manage T2DM. Clinical studies indicate that semaglutide can also promote significant weight loss. Ozempic's mechanism involves binding to GLP-1 receptors in the brain, reducing food intake and increasing feelings of fullness. This leads to a decrease in body weight and improvement in glycemic control. Wegovy, also a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is the same drug as Ozempic but two times the dose, specifically approved for weight loss for fat people even without T2DM. Administered as a weekly injection, Wegovy has shown effectiveness in inducing sustained weight loss. The STEP trials demonstrated that participants using Wegovy experienced an average weight loss of 15.8% over 68 weeks. Wegovy's pharmacokinetics involve prolonged activation of GLP-1 receptors, enhancing satiety and reducing hunger. GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide mimic the action of the natural hormone GLP-1, which regulates appetite and blood sugar levels. By slowing gastric emptying and promoting a feeling of fullness, these medications reduce caloric intake. Clinical trials have shown that GLP-1RAs, including semaglutide, can result in weight loss from 5% or up to 10-15% of body weight. However, sustained weight loss requires ongoing lifestyle modifications, as discontinuation of the medication leads to weight regain. Common side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Other potential side effects include increased heart rate, fatigue, headaches, and changes in thyroid function.

Obesity as a Disease

How does one get an obesity diagnosis? There is one single criterion used for diagnosing someone with this disease: The Body Mass Index (BMI). A person’s BMI is their weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters, rounded to one decimal place. It does not account for muscle mass versus body fat. For these reasons, the BMI has been widely proven to be an ineffective health measure. The BMI was also never intended to be a measure of health in the first place.

The BMI was created in the 1800s by a statistician named Adolphe Quetelet, who did not study medicine, to gather statistics of the average height and weight of specifically white, European, upper-middle-class men to assist the government in allocating resources. It was never intended as a measure of individual body fat, build, or health (Karasu, 2016). Quetelet is also credited with founding the field of anthropometry, including the racist pseudoscience of phrenology. Quetelet’s L’homme Moyen would be used as a measurement of fitness to inspire, and as a scientific justification, for eugenics (Eugenics archive).

Studies have observed that about 30% of "normal” weight people are “unhealthy," whereas about 50% of "overweight" people are “healthy” (Rey-López, et al, 2014). Thus, using the BMI as an indicator of health misclassifies 75 million people in the United States alone. “Healthy*” lifestyle habits are associated with a significant decrease in mortality regardless of baseline body mass index (Matheson, et al, 2012).

*I put “healthy” in quotation marks here because the definition of an individual’s health is oversimplified and depends on many socioeconomic factors.

While epidemiologists use BMI to calculate national obesity rates, the distinctions between weight classes can be arbitrary. Ever notice that the weight classes on the BMI are nearly intervals of five? In 1998, the National Institutes of Health lowered the overweight threshold from 27.8 to 25—making roughly 29 million Americans "overweight" overnight—to match international guidelines (Butler, 2014). Critics have also noted that those guidelines were drafted in part by the International Obesity Task Force, whose two principal funders were companies making weight loss drugs.

Jackie Scully, Senior Research Fellow at the Unit for Ethics in the Biosciences, University of Basel, in her scientific journal titled “What is a Disease?” states the following: “As the business literature shows, new clinical diagnoses are often welcomed primarily as opportunities for market growth (Moynihan et al, 2002). One recent example of this is female sexual dysfunction (FSD). The huge commercial success of sildenafil (Viagra) for erectile dysfunction in men provides a strong motivation for drug companies to identify an equivalent market (that is, condition) in women. And some ethicists feel that drug companies were, to put it mildly, over-involved in the medical consensus meetings held between 1997 and 1999 that effectively drew up very inclusive clinical criteria for the definition of FSD (Moynihan, 2003)."

How can one diagnose a person with a disease and sell them medications solely based upon an outdated measure that was never meant to indicate health in the first place, especially when obesity has no proven causative role in the onset of any chronic condition? (Kahn, et. al., 2000), (Cofield, et al, 2010).

This is why the term “obese” is recognized as a slur by fat communities. It's a stigmatizing term that medicalizes fat bodies even in the absence of disease. The word directly translates to "having eaten oneself fat" in Latin. Obesity, as a medical diagnosis, doesn’t have much ground to stand on. Aside from being overtly incorrect as a medical tool, the BMI is used to deny certain medical treatments and gender-affirming care, as well as insurance coverage. Employers still often offer bonuses to workers who lower their BMI. Although science recognizes the BMI as deeply flawed, it's going to be tough to get rid of. It has been a long-standing and effective tool for the oppression of fat people and the profit of the weight loss industry.

To treat obesity, patients must eat less. Making someone smaller still means they will be healthier, right?

Fatness and Mortality

The idea that obesity is unhealthy and can cause or exacerbate illnesses is a biased misrepresentation of the scientific literature that is informed more by bigotry than credible science (Medvedyuk, et al, 2017). Fatphobia existed long before fatness became medicalized. Yes, obesity is correlated with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes, but some scientists are looking into possibilities that don't equate correlation with causation. Obesity has no proven causative role in the onset of any chronic condition (Kahn, et al, 2000), (Cofield, et al, 2010) and its appearance may be a protective response to the onset of numerous chronic conditions generated from currently unknown causes (Lavie, et al, 2009), (Uretsky et al, 2007), (Mullen, et al, 2013), (Tseng, 2013). A portion of these correlated conditions are likely brought on by the stress of being part of one or more marginalized groups with little to no support or basic access in society. Weight stigma itself is deadly. Research shows that weight-based discrimination increases risk of death by 60% (Sutin, et al, 2014).

Dieting also poses serious health risks. The reason that these weight loss drugs are so successful by comparison is that dieting is unsustainable and does not lead to prolonged weight loss. Over 50 years of research conclusively demonstrates that virtually everyone who intentionally loses weight by manipulating their eating and exercise habits will regain the weight they lost within 3-5 years, and 75% will regain more weight than they lost (Mann, et al, 2007). Evidence suggests that repeatedly losing and gaining weight is linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and altered immune function (Tomiyama, et al, 2017). If most fat people have historically tried to lose weight their whole lives through dieting, this has major implications on overall health. Prescribed weight loss is also the leading predictor of eating disorders (Patton, et al, 1999).

Another factor that may be impacting fat people’s rate of mortality is that they are being mistreated at the doctor’s office. I have personally heard dozens of stories about doctors refusing to treat or investigate a problem that a fat person came in for until they lost a certain amount of weight, only to discover years later that the problem was unrelated to their weight and has progressed severely because it went untreated. Fat people are often mistreated and looked at with disgust and disdain in medical settings, leading them to avoid going to the doctor in shame or fear of abuse. This can seriously worsen health issues. Fat stigma in the medical establishment (Puhl, et al, 2012) and society at large arguably (Engber, 2009) kills more fat people than fat does (Teachman, et al, 2003), (Chastain, et al, 2009), (Sutin, et al, 2015). This impact is too significant not to be taken under consideration.

Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness

The issue of anti-fat bias is directly rooted in white supremacy. The ideal thin body was constructed as a marker of whiteness and “purity” before any of this was ever made to be about health. Dr. Sabrina Strings has spent her career studying this history. In her book, Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia, Dr. Strings discusses how constructions of race led to the thin ideal. “Over the decades, the rise in biracial children would break down the way that slave owners saw Blackness and whiteness. To combat the hypocrisy they created, owners invented new ways to dehumanize the enslaved population. They made a calculated decision to start putting more value on white physiques versus Black ones. In her research, Strings found that Black women’s bodies were otherized even more than Black males. For colonizers who hadn’t seen diverse body types before, they quickly categorized the Black female figure as ‘deviant,’ ‘greedy,’ and ‘overtly sexual.’ The fact that we still use these terms to describe fat bodies today is all the evidence we need to understand that fatphobia is directly linked to racism, not health. This mindset was also strengthened by Protestantism. Slave owners looked for any way to prove their power over the enslaved people, and they frequently used religion as ‘proof’ of their racist superiority. Additionally, Protestant belief encouraged various ways to become closer to God, which included eating as little as possible. This would resonate the most with white women. They had as much to do with perpetuating fatphobia as their husbands. White women were desperate to show their own power against Black women on the plantation, and the difference between their bodies was the perfect rift. And so began the centuries-old belief that thinness is beautiful, and fatness is ugly” (Sassenrath, 2023).

Revisiting the Journal with Context

Thinness has been an important value throughout history in the United States. Our positive associations with thinness and negative associations with fatness have led to a collective schema that is black and white, good versus bad, beautiful versus ugly, healthy versus unhealthy, and life versus death. This has led the FDA to approve Wegovy as a weight loss drug with haste, after just sixteen months of testing. It is known that going off the drug will result in rapid weight regain, so patients are expected to be on it for the rest of their lives when there have been no long-term studies. We do not yet know if the drug will have long-term effects, yet it has been approved for kids as young as twelve (FDA, 2021). As of July 2024, Novo Nordisk has a market cap of $633.01 billion (Marketcap). 

Wegovy is prescribed along with diet and exercise, which has been proven to lead to weight regain and eating disorders. Patients are being prescribed Wegovy and Ozempic when they are fat, but otherwise metabolically healthy. If this drug is truly a game changer for public health, we should be measuring how patients' health improves over the long-term rather than how much weight they lose. For example, if these drugs improve heart health, they should be prescribed as a heart health medication for patients with heart disease, rather than prescribed as a weight loss fix based on body size alone. With the evidence we have, we know it is possible to be fat and healthy, so these drugs may be solely cosmetic in many cases.

Future

If we want to improve the lives of fat people, we will remove barriers to care, not try as hard as we can to make all fat people disappear. That will never happen. If we truly cared about the well-being of fat people and not their disappearance, we would work to dismantle the systems that oppress them and abolish anti-fatness. 

Currently, fat people have next to no legal protections for being discriminated against (NAAFA, 2023). Fat people are denied housing, (Kariss, 1977) jobs, and receive less pay and promotions legally because of their size (The Economist). They are denied access to clothing, seating, transportation, and other human rights because infrastructure has been designed to exclude them. Fat people have less likelihood of receiving a fair trial (Beely, 2013), and are denied necessary surgeries (Barrett, 2022) ––but not weight loss surgery that amputates the digestive tract. Fat people are denied gender-affirming care (Conley, 2023), in vitro fertilization and reproductive healthcare (Muir, 2024), even adopting children (Carter, 2009). Fat children have been removed from their loving parents because when their diets failed, it was seen as neglect (Badshah, 2021). Fat people have disproportionately high suicide rates (Wagner, et al, 2013), and are facing medical malpractice and mistreatment (Kolata, 2016).

Can a drug fix that?

References

Karasu, Sylvia. Adolphe Quetelet and the Evolution of Body Mass Index (BMI). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-gravity-of-weight/201603/adolphe-quetelet-and-the-evolution-of-body-mass-index-bmi 2016, March 8.

“Quetelet, Adolphe.” Eugenics Archive, www.eugenicsarchive.ca/connections? id=5233cb0f5c2ec5000000009c. Accessed 5 July 2024.

Rey-López JP, de Rezende LF, Pastor-Valero M, Tess BH. The prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity: a systematic review and critical evaluation of the definitions used. ObesRev.2014 Oct;15(10):781-90. doi: 10.1111/obr.12198. Epub 2014 Jul 16. PMID: 25040597.

Matheson EM, King DE, Everett CJ. Healthy lifestyle habits and mortality in overweight and obese individuals. J Am Board Fam Med. 2012 Jan-Feb;25(1):9-15. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2012.01.110164. PMID: 22218619.

Butler, Kiera. “Why BMI Is a Big Fat Scam.” Mother Jones, 25 Aug. 2014, www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/why-bmi-big-fat-scam/.

Kahn BB, Flier JS. Obesity and insulin resistance. J Clin Invest. 2000 Aug;106(4):473-81. doi: 10.1172/JCI10842. PMID: 10953022; PMCID: PMC380258.

Cofield SS, Corona RV, Allison DB. Use of causal language in observational studies of obesity and nutrition. Obes Facts. 2010 Dec;3(6):353-6. doi: 10.1159/000322940. Epub 2010 Dec 10. PMID: 21196788; PMCID: PMC3280017.

Medvedyuk, S., Ali, A., & Raphael, D. (2017). Ideology, obesity and the social determinants of health: a critical analysis of the obesity and health relationship. Critical Public Health, 28(5), 573–585. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2017.1356910

Kahn BB, Flier JS. Obesity and insulin resistance. J Clin Invest. 2000 Aug;106(4):473-81. doi: 10.1172/JCI10842. PMID: 10953022; PMCID: PMC380258.

Lavie CJ, Milani RV, Ventura HO. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: risk factor, paradox, and impact of weight loss. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 May 26;53(21):1925-32. doi: 10.1016/ j.jacc.2008.12.068. PMID: 19460605.

Uretsky S, Messerli FH, Bangalore S, Champion A, Cooper-Dehoff RM, Zhou Q, Pepine CJ. Obesity paradox in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. Am J Med. 2007 Oct;120(10):863-70. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.05.011. PMID: 17904457.

Mullen JT, Moorman DW, Davenport DL. The obesity paradox: body mass index and outcomes in patients undergoing nonbariatric general surgery. Ann Surg. 2009 Jul;250(1):166-72. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181ad8935. PMID: 19561456.

Tseng CH. Obesity paradox: differential effects on cancer and noncancer mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerosis. 2013 Jan;226(1):186-92. doi: 10.1016/ j.atherosclerosis.2012.09.004. Epub 2012 Sep 21. PMID: 23040832.

Sutin, A. R., Stephan, Y., & Terracciano, A. (2015). Weight Discrimination and Risk of Mortality. Psychological Science, 26(11), 1803-1811. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797615601103

Tomiyama, A Janet, et al. “Long‐term Effects of Dieting: Is Weight Loss Related to Health. Socialand Personality Psychology Compass, 6 July 2017, escholarship.org/uc/item/0tv27311.

Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, Lew AM, Samuels B, Chatman J. Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: diets are not the answer. Am Psychol. 2007 Apr;62(3):220-33. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.62.3.220. PMID: 17469900.

Patton GC, Selzer R, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Wolfe R. Onset of adolescent eating disorders: population based cohort study over 3 years. BMJ. 1999 Mar 20;318(7186):765-8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.318.7186.765. PMID: 10082698; PMCID: PMC27789.

Puhl, Rebecca, and Kelly D. Bronwell. “Bias, Discrimination, and Obesity.” Obesity Research, 6 Sept. 2012. doi.org/10.1038/oby.2001.108

Engber, Daniel. “Glutton Intolerance: What If a War on Obesity Only Makes the Problem Worse?” Slate, https://slate.com/technology/2009/10/the-health-effects-of-discrimination-against-fat-people.html 5 Oct. 2009.

Teachman, B. A., Gapinski, K. D., Brownell, K. D., Rawlins, M., & Jeyaram, S. (2003). Demonstrations of implicit anti-fat bias: The impact of providing causal information and evoking empathy. Health Psychology, 22(1), 68–78.

Chastain, Ragen. “So My Doctor Tried to Kill Me.” Dances With Fat, https://danceswithfat.org/2009/12/15/so-my-doctor-tried-to-kill-me/ 15 Dec. 2009.

Sutin AR, Stephan Y, Terracciano A. Weight Discrimination and Risk of Mortality. Psychol Sci. 2015 Nov;26(11):1803-11. doi: 10.1177/0956797615601103. Epub 2015 Sep 29. PMID: 26420442; PMCID: PMC4636946.

Sassenrath, Jenna. “Anti-Blackness Is Anti-Fatness in ‘Fearing the Black Body.’” Bookstr, bookstr.com/article/anti-blackness-is-anti-fatness-in-fearing-the-black-body/ 26 July 2023.

“Novo Nordisk (NVO) - Market Capitalization.” CompaniesMarketCap.Com - Companies Ranked by Market Capitalization, companiesmarketcap.com/novo-nordisk/marketcap/ 2024.

Commissioner, Office of the. “FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Chronic Weight Management, First since 2014.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treatment-chronic-weight-management-first-2014. 5 July 2024.

Karris, L. (1977). Prejudice against Obese Renters. The Journal of Social Psychology, 101(1), 159–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1977.9924002

“Campaign for Size Freedom.” NAAFA, 2023,

naafa.org/sizefreedom. 5 July 2024.

“The Obesity Pay Gap Is Worse than Previously Thought.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/11/23/the-obesity-pay-gap-is-worse-than-previously-thought. 5 July 2024.

Elizabeth Beety, Valena (2013) "Criminality and Corpulence: Weight Bias in the Courtroom," Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 11: Iss. 2, Article 4. https:// digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/vol11/iss2/4

Berrett, Martyn. “More Obesity Discrimination: The NHS Will Deny Non-Urgent Surgery to Obese Patients.” Healthier Weight, 24 Nov. 2022, www.healthierweight.co.uk/blog/more-obesity-discrimination-the-nhs-will-deny-non-urgent-surgery-to-obese-patients/.

LaRosa, John. “U.S. Weight Loss Industry Grows to $90 Billion, Fueled by Obesity Drugs Demand.” Market Research Blog, The Freedonia Group, Inc., 2 May 2024, blog.marketresearch.com/u.s.-weight-loss-industry-grows-to-90-billion-fueled-by-obesity-drugs-demand.

Conley, H. “Studies Show Top Surgery Is Safe for FAT Patients, but Some Surgeons Still Mandate Weight Loss.” STAT, 25 July 2023, www.statnews.com/2023/06/02/top-surgery-safe-fat-patients/.

Muir, Becca. “Opinion: Women with Obesity Are Often Restricted from IVF. That’s Discriminatory.” NPR, 14 Jan. 2024, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/14/1224546666/opinion-women-with-obesity-are-often-restricted-from-ivf-thats-discriminatory.

Carter, Helen. “Too Fat to Adopt - the Married, Teetotal Couple Rejected by Council Because of Man’s Weight.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Jan. 2009, www.theguardian.com/society/2009/jan/13/adoption-rejected-couple.

Badshah, Nadeem. “Two Teenagers Placed in Foster Care after Weight Loss Plan Fails.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 Mar. 2021, amp.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/10/two-teenagers-placed-in-foster-care-after-weight-loss-plan-fails.

Wagner B, Klinitzke G, Brähler E, Kersting A. Extreme obesity is associated with suicidal behavior and suicide attempts in adults: results of a population-based representativesample. Depress Anxiety. 2013 Oct;30(10):975-81. doi: 10.1002/da.22105. Epub 2013 Apr 10. PMID:23576272.

Kolata, Gina. “Why Do Obese Patients Get Worse Care? Many Doctors Don’t See Past the Fat.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Sept. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/09/26/health/obese-patients-health-care.html.

[cryinggirlnamedhelen]

blue lock hcs to make you smile!!!😊

- ness helps stray cats that he finds on the streets. he knows that cats are often a symbol of witches and magic, hence why he’s so fond of them.

- rin has a huge sweet tooth, and had lots of trouble reducing his sugar intake for a healthier and more athletic body. he still secretly eats candy sometimes.

- isagi is canonically very shy and tends to distance himself from people, so he often gets too scared to confess to his crushes, and they always end up dating someone else.

- the reason why ness knows how to cut hair is because he believed in those folktales and myths about needing to cut hair on certain days. his parents didn’t and refused to cut his hair for him, and he ended up having to learn to cut it himself.

- rin gets flustered when pictures are taken of him. his house is full of pictures of sae because he is the more favored, more successful sibling, so there are only one or two pictures of rin in the entire house.

- rin is actually very sensitive and has a hard time taking insults. this is because sae has always complimented him and told him about how good rin was. this is also why sae’s insults to him hurt especially.

- when kunigami’s sisters learned that kunigami would be returning to blue lock, they were ecstatic. but when they saw their older brother on the TV acting so differently, they both cried out of fear that he didn’t love them anymore.

[pastel-charm-14]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ten habits you should start in 2024 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

daily gratitude practice: take a few moments each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for. whether it's the warmth of the sun on your face or the love of your friends and family, cultivating gratitude can enhance your overall well-being and perspective on life.

morning meditation: start your day with a few minutes of meditation to center yourself and set a positive tone for the day ahead. focus on your breath, let go of any tension or stress, and cultivate a sense of calm and presence.

regular exercise routine: prioritize movement and physical activity in your daily life. whether it's going for a walk, practicing yoga, or hitting the gym, find activities that you enjoy and make them a regular part of your routine to boost your energy levels and improve your health.

healthy eating habits: nourish your body with nutritious foods that fuel your body and mind. focus on incorporating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet while limiting processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats.

daily hydration: drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and support your overall health. aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and consider carrying a reusable water bottle with you to help track your intake.

mindful screen time: be mindful of your screen time and its impact on your mental well-being. set boundaries around how much time you spend on devices, and take regular breaks to disconnect and engage in activities that nourish your soul.

prioritize sleep: make sleep a priority by aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. create a relaxing bedtime routine, optimize your sleep environment, and practice good sleep hygiene habits to ensure restful and rejuvenating sleep.

daily movement breaks: incorporate regular movement breaks into your day to break up long periods of sitting and keep your body active. set reminders to stretch, take short walks, or do a quick workout to boost circulation and reduce stiffness.

practice self-care: prioritize self-care activities that nurture your body, mind, and spirit. whether it's journaling, taking a bath, or spending time in nature, make time for activities that recharge your batteries and promote overall well-being.

mindful breathing: practice mindful breathing throughout the day to reduce stress and promote relaxation. take slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, focusing on the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body.

incorporating these habits into your daily life can help you cultivate a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling year ahead. start small, be patient with yourself, and celebrate your progress along the way. here's to a year filled with growth, joy, and well-being! ✧.*

[inclosedwalldelusion]

40 sentences that will teach you more about nutrition than a $400,000 medical degree

From Brett Boettcher @brettboettcher1

40 sentences that will teach you more about nutrition than a $400,000 medical degree.

1) Meat, eggs and animal organs are the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.

2) Bone broth is loaded in collagen and helps repair the gut so you can heal from the inside out.

3) Saturated fat doesn’t cause heart disease, insulin resistance does.

4) Your ratio of triglycerides to HDL is a great indicator of mortality risk; the lower the better. ·

5) Protein is the most metabolically active macronutrient and it isn’t bad for your kidneys.

6) There isn’t quality evidence to show that dietary cholesterol impacts the cholesterol in your blood. ·

7) There is even less evidence to support that total cholesterol is bad for your health since it is inversely correlated to mortality risk. · 4h 8) Walking before and after meals is a great way to improve digestion and reduce blood sugar spikes.

9) Fiber is the last thing you need if you have IBS or diverticulitis.

10) Dairy is great for your health and its saturated fat intake is inversely correlated to heart disease.

11) Most nutritional recommendations were introduced based on profit margins, not health outcomes.

12) Calories in and calories out is all that matter, but some calories make you hungrier (sugar/grains). Other calories (protein) help you burn more calories.

13) Multi grain just means they took 2+ different terrible sources of grain and put them together into one product.

14) Cereal and bread for breakfast will spike your blood sugar and have you starving before lunch. Try Greek yogurt or eggs instead. ·

15) “Intuitive eating” and “listen to your body” makes no sense considering 88% of people are metabolically unhealthy and addicted to food. No one would say “intuitive crack use.”

16) Eating is a stress on your body; The less often you can eat, the healthier you’ll be.

17) Plan your meals around the protein source (with its natural fat) and add a small side of carbs if needed.

18) Eating for satiety is more important than relying constantly on willpower. Find filling foods and avoid foods with addictive properties (ultra-processed).

19) You don’t have to know how to cook. Grill a meat, sauté a green vegetable, bake a potato. Mix and match a million ways.

20) Eating many of the same foods every week isn’t perfectly optimal but it’s likely your best path to consistency and therefore success. ·

21) Becoming more insulin sensitive should be the focus of any health-related nutrition plan.

22) Salad dressings are one of the worst things you can eat for your health. High in calories and inflammatory industrial oils.

23) Eating 5x per day won’t boost your metabolism. If you are trying to gain weight, it’s an excellent strategy.

24) Bacon can be healthy, just avoid the processing with nitrates.

25) Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are two of the best sources of protein per calorie.

26) Carbs are beneficial around a workout. But many sources of carbs are processed and easily overeaten. Focus on single ingredient foods.

27) You can’t be healthy at any size no matter what your mother or liberal arts professor said.

28) Eat a high protein meal before attending social events that are filled with junk food.

29) If eating out, order the food with the highest protein content.

30) The #1 reason people fail is that they don’t prepare. Meal prep, meal plan, have ready to eat protein sources. · 31) The food you eat directly impacts your mental health and processed foods are correlated with depression and mental illness.

32) Processed foods have been engineered to be as addicting as possible. Your taste buds can be retrained with natural sources.

33) “Plant-based” foods are made in laboratories and are an easy way to sell overpriced junk to consumers at high margin.

34) Eating 1 gram of protein per lb of ideal body weight daily will do more for your body composition than spending 30 minutes on the treadmill.

35) When in doubt, if it comes from the center aisles of the grocery store or has more than 3 ingredients, it’s not good for you.

36) Many foods labeled as “keto” “paleo” or “high protein” are far from meeting the intended definition.

37) Your gut is responsible for 70% of your immune system; feeding it sugar and other inflammatory foods is making you sick now and later.

38) Genetics play a role but over 90% of the country has a resting metabolism within 500 calories daily. Being fit is possible for everyone.

39) Flipping the food pyramid upside down is closer to healthy eating than the traditional suggestions.

40) Eliminating drinking your calories is the first change to make when trying to improve your health.

[inmyglowupera]

Mindset shift #2: Plateaus are part of the process and key to the success of longterm weight loss.

Plateaus are not roadblocks—they’re milestones. They show that your body is adjusting to the progress you’ve made so far. Instead of seeing them as failures, view it as a reward for your hard work. As your body giving you a break so you can recharge and reevaluate.

Why Are Plateaus Important to Your Weight Loss Journey?

When you lose weight, your body needs time to recalibrate:

• Metabolism: Plateaus prevent metabolic adaptation, where your body slows down calorie-burning to preserve energy.

• Hormonal Balance: Hormones like leptin (which regulates hunger) and cortisol (stress hormone) stabilize during plateaus, reducing stress on your body.

• Muscle Preservation: Slower weight loss during plateaus gives your body a chance to retain muscle mass.

What to Do During a Plateau:

1) Don’t Rush to Make Changes: Give your body time to adjust to recent weight loss before altering your diet or exercise routine. Sometimes, patience is the key to moving forward.

2) Focus on Restorative Acts: Prioritize sleep management and stress management, as both play a critical role in weight loss. Poor sleep and chronic stress can disrupt hormones like cortisol, which can hinder progress.

3) Celebrate Non-Scale Victories: Progress isn’t just about the number on the scale. Look for improvements in strength, stamina, mood, energy levels, or how your clothes fit.

4) Reflect and Reassess:

Use this time to observe your journey without judgment. Ask yourself:

• What has been working so far?

• What feels difficult, and how can I make it easier or more sustainable?

• Have I become too restrictive or too lenient?

• Are my diet and exercise routines still aligned with my goals and needs?

Plateaus are a chance to adjust and refine your habits to better suit your lifestyle.

5) Consider Upcycling Calories:

Upcycling calories involves alternating higher and lower calorie days to prevent your metabolism from adapting too much. For instance:

• Increase your calorie intake slightly on one day with nutrient-dense foods like healthy fats or complex carbs.

• Return to your usual calorie range on the following days.

This strategy can help reset your metabolism and push past a plateau.

6) Reassess Your Workouts:

Once you feel ready to adjust, start by varying your exercise routine:

• Incorporate new movements or activities to challenge different muscle groups.

• Ensure your workouts include strength training, which boosts metabolism.

• Avoid overtraining—intense workouts with insufficient recovery can increase cortisol, working against your weight loss goals.

7) Review Your Diet: Plateaus are a good time to take a closer look at your eating habits with curiosity and without judgment. Ask yourself:

• Are you eating enough proteins and fibres to help you feel full and well nourished? Did you eat enough healthy fats to ensure proper satiety?

• Are you eating more calorie-dense foods than you realize, such as cooking oils, granola, nuts, nut butters, cheese, or avocado?

• Be careful of low calorie foods. These items are often ultra-processed with artificial sweeteners. Sugar substitute can negatively impact your gut microbiome and insuline response—paradoxically causing you to gain weight. Focus on fresh whole foods and bake your own little treats, even of they are higher in calories they will be more satisfying.

• Have recent stressors, celebrations, holidays, or vacations led to more indulgences than usual?

• Are you underestimating portion sizes or the amount of food you’re eating?

If you feel comfortable and it won’t negatively impact your mental health, consider tracking your food intake for a couple of weeks. Focus on accuracy by weighing your food rather than using cups or spoons, especially for non-liquid items. Be gentle and non-judgemental. The goal is to understand not punish.

If tracking feels too overwhelming, focus instead on visual portion control (e.g., smaller plates, filling half your plate with veggies, or limiting high-calorie extras like dressings).

[thenewsinfinite]

Does Drinking Water Reduce Blood Sugar? Shocking Truth Revealed in 7 Facts

Does drinking water reduce blood sugar? Discover how hydration affects glucose levels in diabetics and non-diabetics, with science-backed facts and expert guidance. Understanding Blood Sugar and Its Role in the Body Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is a vital source of energy for your body’s cells. It comes primarily from the food you eat, especially carbohydrates. After eating, your…

[glorysiren444]

♰ . 𝒹opamine detox & why it’s important

⠀⠀

─── first of all what is the role of dopamine .ᐣ

dopamine acts on areas of the brain to give you feelings of pleasure, satisfaction & motivation. dopamine also has a role to play in controlling memory, mood, sleep, learning, concentration, movement & other body functions.

⠀⠀

─── what is a dopamine detox (fasting) .ᐣ

dopamine detox is a form of fasting from any activities or pleasures that produce dopamine so that drive for quick rewards decreases.

⠀⠀

─── what are the benefits of doing dopamine detox .ᐣ

𝟭 . regulates your dopamine response, so your brain can function at it’s best. when dopamine level is to high it can lead to addiction, impaired decision making & mental health problem,

𝟮 . makes you feel calmer & less anxious,

𝟯 . reduce the risk of depression that social media produces by addiction & comparing your life to other people,

𝟰 . boost your sleep quality & academic performance,

remember: benefits will always depending on the person, so do NOT compare to each other ♥︎

⠀⠀

─── what to avoid during dopamine detox .ᐣ

social media: spending endless time scrolling, liking, & commenting on social media platforms can really mess with our brains because of these little dopamine hits what keep us addicted,

gaming: especially avoid the super stimulating ones. they send our dopamine levels through the roof & make it hard to pay attention to real-life stuff,

eating junk food: high-sugar & high-fat food destroy your eating habits & body, including brain,

caffeine: it gives us that kick, but it also stimulates dopamine, which is why we gotta be mindful of our caffeine intake during a detox,

nicotine, alcohol & drugs: do i really have to explain?

watching shows: binge-watching your favorite tv shows it’s amazing way to spend time & flood your brain with too much dopamine,

⠀⠀

─── how to create a detox-friendly environment .ᐣ

𝟭 . designing a digital detox space

set up an environment that minimizes digital distractions. you can do this by creating a dedicated workspace or relaxation area where you limit or eliminate access to digital devices,

𝟮 . mindful nutrition

it’s important to choose foods that help maintain balanced dopamine levels. this might involve consuming foods rich in precursors like tyrosine (found in lean proteins), clean food & nutrients like antioxidants (found in fruits and vegetables) to support overall brain health and function,

𝟯 . engaging in low-stimulus activities

low-stimulus or low-dopamine activities are those that don't trigger excessive dopamine release. examples include meditation, gentle exercise, reading, or spending time in nature. engaging in these activities during your detox helps maintain a calmer & more focused state of mind, making it easier to resist the allure of high-dopamine behaviors & substances.

creating a detox-friendly environment is crucial to supports your efforts to reduce the impact of overstimulation on your brain's reward system. it sets the stage for a healthier lifestyle and a more balanced relationship with activities that can lead to excessive dopamine release.

─── with 𝑙ove, 𝓋ittoria ♥︎

[navyhealthyglow]

glow up diaries no.1

Hi bae, how are you today?

In relation to my latest post, I decided to write what I already did, so maybe you can gain some inspiration<3

MY GLOW UP GOALS: (until 2025)

⟶ read 3 books - I want to catch up on reading, as I have a deadline in the library, and I also want to read more non-fiction ⟶ stop skinpicking - my skin looked so awful after the last time I really need to stop ⟶ reduce sugar intake by 50% - as someone ADDICTED to sugar, I decided to cut my daily sugar dose in half, so I can get used to eating less of it before I cut it out completely. ⟶ reduce screentime to an hour daily ⟶ implement healthy habits such as: walking as much as I can, drinking 3 bottles of water daily, eating more whole foods

WHAT I'VE DONE THIS WEEK (mon-sat)

finished one book - The Stranger by Albert Camus

this week readings: Crime and Punishment, No longer human

walked over 10k steps: tuesday and wednesday

reduced my screen time by two hours (last week it was 4,5 on average 💀)

cleaned my room a bit

not glow up related but I passed 2 tests at 100 🥰

I'm planning to write daily posts with tasks and what I had done that day, and I'm already planning a second glow up tips post so stay tuned!

Find me here: 🤍💿

#navyhealthyglow - all my og content #navyhealthytips - glow up tips #navyhealthyjourney - my glow up journey

[darkmaga-returns]

Garlic, ginger and green onions have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries to support immunity, balance and disease prevention. Modern research confirms their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

Garlic contains allicin, which helps prevent cancer (especially stomach and colorectal) and supports heart health by lowering blood pressure and preventing plaque buildup. It has antibacterial, liver-protective and digestive benefits, but excessive intake (more than 3–5 cloves daily) may irritate the eyes and lungs.

Green onions are rich in sulfur compounds that fight tumors and antibacterial properties. They help relieve constipation due to pectin content and is used in TCM to treat colds by promoting circulation and sweating.

Ginger contains gingerol and shogaol, which fight cancer by inducing cell death and preventing metastasis. It warms the stomach, aids digestion and balances cold foods—ideal for summer consumption to counteract excessive cold from air conditioning and iced drinks.

Combining garlic and ginger may enhance health benefits. Together, they offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-boosting and heart-protective effects. They may also lower blood sugar, improve cognitive health and reduce cancer risk, but high-dose supplements should be taken under medical supervision.

[catkin-morgs-kookaburralover]

storytime which my figs know about but whatever (and thanks to my beloved boundin for being all worired abotu me. sorry.)

so i had an assignment due yesterday. a care plan worth 15% of my grade for a double credit point unit. anwyay. i didn't touch it, for various reasons up to and including what i'm currently calling situational depression, and planned to get an extension.

fun fact: apparently you can't get extensions day-of, at least for that assignment.

i found this out at about 11am, due 8pm, having not even looked at assignment before then.

so of course i kind of panicked. just a little bit. and opened it up real quick. shifted to desk. put on the kettle and started digging around my music library.

there's this song i like, carpenters of course, "don't be afraid". i cycled through a few other songs before i got to that one, none of them helping me get into the zone.

(anyway i listened to "don't be afraid" on loop 108 times yesterday afternoon, putting it as the top number of plays on my music app, finally surpassing a particular movement of a beethoven sonata (13 second mvt) that has reigned as king for a couple of years. then towards the end, flagging, i switched to a combo of "road ode" and "a song for you (reprise)", because those two songs have to go together musically.)

i was already feeling awful physically because most of my intake the previous day had been cheese, so wheeee dairy and almost-diarrhea as well as reasonably severe stomach pain. stress was making me dissociate a bit as well.

so. caffeine time.

keep working. more caffeine time.

keep working. more caffeine, an unmeasured amount of sugar, and another couple of spoonfuls of coffee because why not. because of a mysterious headache (likely caused by a combination of too much coffee, no food, and dairy the previous day), took ibuprofen.

keep working. more coffee. more headache. more ibuprofen.

at that point i was entirely detached from my body, experiencing symptoms of a caffeine overdose and potentially ibuprofen overdose too (didn't exceed the maximum for ibuprofen in a day, but in that short a time yes, and certainly caffeine), and saying all the stuff that worried boundin. still working on the assignment though while feeling unreal to a complete degree, not just partial, and noting symptoms as an intellectual exercise. was not present in my body at all. oh, did i mention i hadn't eaten that day? i was also experiencing violent nausea.

keep working. song still on loop. headache reducing. time passed and the reaction i was experiencing began to fade. brother gave me chocolate at some point near the end.

completed and submitted assignment about five minutes before i had to go out for the evening. somehow not at all shaky but i could feel all my skin and was inclined towards giggling.

arrived at friends' house. mentor asked how my day had been. i began laughing, explained what my day had been doing, and ended up giggling helplessly. she looked Concerned++ as i hilariously recounted my accidental overdoses x2 and that i hadn't eaten anything except chocolate, sugar, caffeine and ibuprofen that day. i made many jokes throughout the meal but mostly restrained myself overall - i was self-aware enough to know how abnormally i was acting, but it was so hard to avoid these things. inclined to laughter the whole evening, though after eating actual food that didn't contain sugar it did settle a little. later in the evening i impulse-agreed to a thing saturday i didn't want to go to, noted the concerning level of impulsivity and restrained myself from agreeing to anything else.

was offered, and enthusiastically consumed, a quantity of cold roast potatoes, which definitely helped as well.

arrived home less inclined towards giggling, but still violently nauseous; managed to avoid throwing up by the barest of margins. practically inhaled bread and ham, which i found too sweet because it was housed in the same fridge as bananas; found peanut butter for the last slice of bread, which helped. still feeling very ill but suspected i needed it given all the everything - i think this was the right call.

went to bed, yoinked ransom, cuddled him forcibly and eventually managed to sleep, still feeling rather quite hyper.

this morning i am still slightly hyper and mildly unwell but fatigue is balancing the tendency towards impulsivity. am not going to consume either caffeine or ibuprofen today unless something drastic changes or something, and a hard ban on both refined sugar and dairy until i feel more normal again.

bit of a rollercoaster.

[inspoxjournal]

One of my personal goals is getting in shape.

So I've decided that mondays are gonna be my weekly weigh-in days. And I'm about to share my weight from this morning. But let me talk a little about December 19th which is when this goal of mine really came forward full force.

So December 19th we are at a big family dinner at my in-laws and my toddler wanted a piggyback ride. I squat and she climbs on and I struggle to lift us both up. She only weights about 15kg. When I say that I struggled I really mean I had to push for dear life to lift us both up. But it was that or admitting to my whole extended family how out of shape I am. I literally had to push from my toes I'm not even exaggerating! Somehow I managed (insert Michael Scott gif here) to lift us both up rather then die from shame.

Anyway back then I weighted about 81kg (178.5lbs) and I ate whatever I wanted which unfortunately was potato chips and processed candy. Water intake was ridiculously low. As a breastfeeding mum I do have a luxury of extra caloric intake but what I was doing was so unhealthy to say the least.

And so I decided I no longer wanna be a slob and just grab whatever comes to hand when I feel low on energy. So I made some changes.

I started drinking more water. Like every time I wanted candy or felt like munching on something I would drink water or eat some fruit if I was really hungry. Which was beneficial in many ways.

I stoped eating candy, chips and my beloved chocolate. This is hudge deal for me since I'm a sugar junkie. When my husband told my mum that I'm not eating sweets anymore she literally said "That's impossible she lives for candy." But I did it, I went so far that I placed a ferrero rocher ball on my kitchen counter so that I see it every time when I'm passing by. And every time I made a mindful decision not to eat it. And it worked I got hooked on that feeling of being in control!

I reduced my bread intake. I just started eating things that have more complex carbs. I love rice and chicken for lunch, tortilla omlet for breakfast, oatmeal etc. I stay away from grilled cheese (another staple in my pre baby diet), any kind of spreads (because I end up eating a lot of bread with them) and store bought bread in general.

Workouts but I'm gonna make a separate post about that topic soon.

And now I can happily say that I can squat with my velcro toddler on my back!

My weight this morning was 77,4kg (170.6lbs) and I'm proud of that. Current goal is just bellow 70 so I'll be happy with 69,9kg (154lbs)😅 I honestly don't even know how will I look by then so that can easily change if I'm happy with my strength and if I can fit my favourite pre pregnancy jeans! I'm pretty tall 175cm (5'9'') so all the extra weight doesn't bother me much but my bad shape, oh man that haunted my dreams..

[lizzy019]

𝐼 𝒞𝒶𝓃 𝐻𝑒𝓁𝓅!

Confused!Johnny Cade x High!Fem!Reader [Established relationship]

cw -> sex toy usage, squ¡rt¡ng, drug intake, handcuffing, lil overstimulation, very minor injuries

Word Count -> 2K

This idea tho 😏

It seemed like a normal day as always, smoking cigarettes with you in the lot, holding hands and talking about little useless things that you wouldn’t ever need to talk about again. It was sweet, and he loved hearing your voice.

It warmed his heart hearing you talk about things that you enjoyed, things you were passionate about and things you disliked. All of which, he just enjoyed staring at how your eyes expressed such emotion and how your lips moved whenever you spoke. You were his sugar.

“I was watchin’ Mickey with Two-Bit last night, I ain’t gon’ lie, it’s nice seein’ him so happy. It’s rare for us greasers to find that sort of healthy outlet for stress and anger, y’know? I’m happy Two has his stress relief, even if it involves cake and beer.” You chuckled, squeezing his hand gently while taking a small drag of your cigarette.

Watching the puff of smoke swirl before dissipating into the oxygen around you had given you a bit of satisfaction, it looked pretty and the feeling of the cigarette was doing good to get you somewhat high. Johnny didn’t mind, he never did. He was the one who took care of you when you were high out of your mind anyway.

You were getting all giggly, a sure sign that you probably had enough of your cigarettes, but you were too focused on the feeling to care. Your marijuana was keeping you afloat, and he loved it when you giggled at something he said.

Bloodshot eyes were happily staring at him, your expression nothing less of dazed but gleefully blissed. You were dizzy, yet too far gone to see it or feel it.

“Johnnycake.. can you take me home? Wanna have you with me.” You murmured, cuddling up to him in a fit of trying to convince him to fulfill your request.

Johnny just smiled, nodding his head and offering you himself to lean on while he walked you away from the lot to where he remembered your house was. It was a lengthy walk, and it helped to reduce your little high from the cool night breeze alerting your senses back to their regular state.

It had you groaning, reaching back into your pocket to fiddle out more marijuana to smoke and burn out your nerves again, but Johnny gave you this look that showed you an expression of light disdain. So you thought hard, looking at his face while feeling the box of cigs in your hand before you pouted and put the cigarettes back into your pocket.

You’d choose Johnny over anything.

Hand in hand, walking down the barren sidewalks to your house, you found yourself lamenting him leaving, even if just for the night. You squeezed his hand and tugged him through the fence gate, bringing him inside your house with you and smiling in pride of your accomplishment.

You’d opened the door for him, slapping his rear lightly to shoo him inside before following suit. Johnny had kicked off his shoes, and you did the same, watching Johnny hang up his jean jacket and showing you that cute smile of his.

You smiled back, a toothy little grin before you waddled yourself over to him and wriggled your arms around him for a hug. It was warm, and you giggled to yourself when he wrapped his skinny, long arms around you as well.

Despite being able to feel Johnny’s ribcage, the hug brought you a sense of comfort and joy that couldn’t be matched by anyone else. It was warm and held a certain serenity to it that really made you feel secure in it.

To your misfortune, you had to pull away from his grasp and make your way to bed. Johnny disliked you finishing a high without sleep, and who were you to complain about it when your boyfriend was pampering you?

Leading him to your room, you happily sat on your mattress, leaning back and tucking yourself in before blowing him a kiss goodnight. Sure enough, all that energy you had from your high had you feeling more tired than anything, so you closed your eyes and knocked out within seconds.

Johnny smiled so brightly at you, loving how much you smiled and loved him when you were on drugs. Maybe he just liked the way he got to take care of you like you did to him, but whatever it was, he loved you more while you were high even if he didn’t encourage drug use.

Nonetheless, Johnny had his curiosities and he decided to explore a bit of your room. He crossed your dresser, eyes looking with intent as he occasionally peeked into a drawer to spot some panties, which he stole a pair for his own dirty pleasure.

Fortunately during his little hunt, he found a small box you had peeking out from your closet door. So like any curious boy would do, he grabbed the box and looked over at you to check if you were still asleep, which you were, before opening the box and giving a soft gasp.

A small box filled with vibrators, a dildo, some lube, and bondage ties? While Johnny wasn’t expecting that of you, he couldn’t really complain. He even chuckled softly when he saw that you had a butt plug.

Despite being the more gentlemanly kind in his mannerisms, he had to really think about trying some of these toys of yours on you. Should he do it while you’re asleep? Maybe when you’re awake to ask for consent? He didn’t know. Regardless, he took one of the vibrators you had and looked at it intently.

Johnny was.. a bit stunned to say the least. His pretty girlfriend was using inanimate objects to satisfy her desires when he was wide open to anything for her? He was offended!

His hands cradled the piece of plastic in his palms, watching the hefty contraption begin to violently vibrate once its activation button was pressed. Johnny was rather perturbed by how it worked, but he took it and took a pair of soft handcuffs with him before waddling nervously back to where you slept on your bed.

Johnny had now taken a seat beside your half asleep body, his hands gently taking your own and putting them behind your back to cuff them together so you wouldn’t be able to interfere with him. This was what had startled you awake, your eyes adjusting to see in the dim light even if they were bloodshot.

You looked at him incredulously, but your eyes widened and it clicked in your head when you realized what was happening. He was trying to play with you inappropriately? Was this a strange kink he had?

“Johnnycake? What are you doing?” You smirked, looking at him intently and watching his body tense when you caught him.

You paid no mind to whatever he was doing however, simply accommodating to his whims as he nervously held the vibrator. Truth be told, poor Johnny didn’t know what he was doing himself, but he wanted to try this out with you.

“Uh.. sugar, you didn’t tell me you had a bunch of toys you use on yourself. Why d’you use them when you got me?” He asked in a very humbling tone, making you question it as well as you shrugged shortly after his question.

“Does your dick vibrate? I don’t think so, and if it did, I’d probably take you to the doctor’s.” You retorted with a cheeky little grin, flipping yourself more properly onto your stomach and teasingly waving your ass around to tempt him.

Poor Johnny was weak in his confusion and desire, but he gently brought his fingers to spread your pussy lips apart and gently worked the vibrator on your clit and lips. This elicited soft moans from you, contentment and pleasure contorting your expression as you relished in the toy being used by him and not yourself.

The little rapid twitches of the machine working your clit already had your orgasm brewing in your lower stomach, the practically palpable sensation climbing upwards as you tried to steady your hips from wobbling around.

Johnny wasn’t gonna hold back, one hand gripping hard on your asscheek while he turned the vibrator up to the medium setting to work your already needy cunt into a fit of numbing pleasurable release.

Luckily, he did just that. Once the medium setting was selected and was used for just a few mere seconds, the ecstasy of him playing with you with your sex toys, added with the fact that you were still a tad high, everything piled up into a jumbled and rushed release as your pleasure exited your body in liquid form.

Coating Johnny’s hand was now a sheen of opaque fluid, and while it had him stunned out of shock, he was secretly rather prideful inside when he realized he’d made you feel good with your own toy. Maybe more so than you could by yourself.

“Oh sugar, that looked like a good one. You think you got another round in ya? We don’t gotta, but you wanna try with me?” Johnny asked you benevolently, gently wiping off his hand with the panties he stole from you so he could smell them later on.

You hummed thoughtfully, looking at him and nodding before you adjusted your position a bit lower so it was more comfortable. Once you were ready, Johnny turned back on the vibrator and gently began to insert it into your creamy cunny, watching as you shivered at the tingly sensation.

The toy had now penetrated your core, making your inner walls shake from its powerful jitters as you began to really moan and whine for him. While the toy shook up your insides, his thumb began to rub at your clit again, and he watched with rapt attention as his ministrations were causing you great pleasure.

“Oh yeah, sugar, come on. Doin’ good, just hold on a little more for me, yeah? I’ll get you a climax, don’tchu worry.” Johnny praised you, watching you nod helplessly as you succumb to the pleasure he so graciously handed you.

You nodded, dazed and drooling from the feeling of overstimulation. The cuffs had began to dig into your wrists, but you paid no mind to it as you fed off of the congenial ecstasy he provided.

Unrhythmic moans were now freely escaping your throat, resonating from deep within your chest as you felt yourself falling into the endless abyss of pleasure, but Johnny’s hand gently patting your rear in encouragement kept you from falling off that ledge into sheer intoxication of overstimulation.

Soon enough, with a synchronized tweak of your clit and a matched vibration of the toy, you cried out and squirmed when your pussy finally caved into the pleasure and once again, you came all over Johnny’s hand and the sheets.

Huffs and puffs left you while Johnny cleaned his hand, gently taking the toy from you and unclipping the handcuffs as he pressed a gentle kiss to your nape.

“So good sugar, made me so proud.” He murmured, gently rubbing your lower back as you plopped yourself flat back onto your mattress.

Johnny smiled, covering your body with the blanket as he pressed a soft kiss to your wrists which were a bit red from the handcuffs, but you didn’t mind or care. All that mattered was that Johnny was now with you and keeping you company.

“Mmh.. thank you, baby.” You hummed sleepily, your eyes closed as you put a hand on his hip.

Johnny nodded, pressing a kiss to your nose as he looked at you succumbing to your exhaustion.

“O’course, sugar. Sleep well, y’hear? I’ll wake ya up.” He hummed, watching you take the opportunity of good sleep.

Soon, the both of you were now happily asleep in each other’s arms, wrapped in warmth as you two snored gladly in the sweet relief of rest.

[eatmangoesnekkid]

FLOW, CIRCULATION, AND THE LOVER

A Venusian Temple Arts Channeling Most problems related to the female (or male) body are due to a lack of circulation in that area where the ailment is occurring. Also, a lack of circulation will negatively impact your bag and coins. Said differently: in this system, unless you were born into "old money," you must own that the condition of your body is directly related to your quality of life. Circulation is related to your heart, blood, sensuality, sex, passion, deep feeling, creativity, and overall life force energy. And there is no coincidence that there is a large amount of shame and mysticism around the female body and its resourceful capacity for epic circulation i.e. creation and regeneration--not only for ourselves but for the cells of our loved ones and for the collective cells of our village/community. How beautiful, right?! This is what I was channeling in my first book when I wrote "A sensually activated woman is a wealthy natural resource for any community. Pleasure is power." If you are desiring to strengthen your skills as a lover Goddess which is your flow state capacity to create.... anything including tactile abundance like money and better health, without exhausting yourself, the circulatory system has to become your favorite system of the body. It has to be your friend, your loved one. Because the prime quality of a lover is that she knows how to inspire and stimulate circulation or flow states in others as well--a type of muse consciousness. It could be with her compassion, heart, use of language, use of hands, breasts projections, face/mouth/quality of conversation, dance, beauty, singing, etc. Artists, men, women, children, and animals are attracted to muse consciousness in different ways. Improving your circulation helps to not only open your heart (releasing current and ancestral heartache/heartbreak) , but also increases your lubrication and libido, repairs your skin into a suppleness, and keeps your systems healthier. You will not only look better, but you will feel better in a more authentic way. When you smile, it will be truthful and emanate from deep within. Keep your feet and belly warm during winter month. Once your circulation improves, the blockages start to move and issues start to repair. It is the heat and warmth from your energy FLOWING that creates new body narratives. A lover knows the beauty of stimulating good circulation in self and in another. Anytime there is pain or stagnancy in the body, it is an indication of lack of FLOW--meaning--a need for lover energy! A lover has to strengthen her connection to her hands as well. Hand-heart connection is all lover energy. Also the constant necessity of self-massage and self-touch is important for the body of a lover. Also, the skill and service of having your well-placed, prayed-over loving hands massaging the pain points or blockages of another is just as important. A lover also has to be able to relax and fully receive touch by another, whether a professional massage therapist or your lover. Other considerations: Drink water with a pinch of celtic sea salt/green juice. Keep ginger oil or powdered ginger in your apothecary. Use ginger paste (ginger powder/oil mixed with warm water) rubbed into pain or troubled sight or energetic stagnation including bald spots plus reducing sugar intake including *too much* fruit sugar and starchy carbs and dense meats -which slows down your blood flow while increasing some combination of movement, deep breathing, hot+cold water therapy, sauna/spa, sunbathing, walking, and the like are acts incorporated in a life of a lover and those who we care for. Train your mind to focus and stay calm--to be able to drop into deep presence and feel. Do to one thing at time like wash dishes without stopping to do anything else. Presence, an unscattered mind, is a high-skill and quality of a lover. Recalibrating the mindset and belief systems you've been holding onto for 20 years into more lighthearted, open-hearted frequencies are critical.

*I used "she/her" but lover energy is available to any gender in any shape or texture. *

-India Ame'ye, Author