#being pressured to eat big amounts of unhealthy food

[therapythoughtstogether]

Focusing on my health

Yesterday I took a bigger dose of a muscle relaxer than I usually do, and boy, I had such a scary side effect...I wasn't producing pretty much any saliva, I had a swallow reflex but there was nothing to swallow and I couldn't properly breathe, it felt like the walls of my throat were sticking together. For several hours at night I had to be constantly taking sips of water because my throat hurt so much and I couldn't swallow.

If you think that a dry mouth cannot be scary...think again. It's not the first time I get a dry mouth while taking this medicine, but it has never been this bad. It was horrible being sleepy as another side effect, really wanting to sleep and not being able to because I had to constantly be taking sips of water. At least all that water helped me pee out some of the medicine. It's early morning and I still have dryness and my throat hurts, but no nearly as bad as last night.

As I said, it was quite a scary experience, especially because it felt like a couldn't breathe. I kept on thinking that I wouldn't want to die like this where I am now...as suicidal as I am. This really reinforced my will to take care of my body and health again. Definitely a reason to keep on staying sober (I think I will probably drink something for New Year but I will keep it moderate) and somehow increase my daily movement and eat healthy.

The food topic is still an issue. I had made soup and a good loaded salad for dinner and this guy asked me if I wanted French fries. Even though I love fries, I politely declined and said I was on a diet. He went ahead and made fries from scratch only for me, a big overflowing plate. I said no anyway. He insisted that I had to eat them (this really reinforces my theory of a feeding k*nk) . I ate like three fries and left the rest. He wouldn't take the plate away...so at some point I just went ahead and put the fries in the fridge. It's hard to stand the pressure, but I decided that I really won't eat things that are not healthy for me unless absolutely necessary, especially in huge quantities. Same goes for alcohol.

[bottlecaprabbitgames]

Weight Loss, Dieting, Medical Shit Goin' On

At the request of @meethisharma , I'm making a big post of like. EVERYTHING I've learned so far since truly trying to lose weight and do better since February of this year. I'm of course going to go into my background as to why I need to lose weight and my life as an obese person, different references I've used to help with my weight loss, dietary changes, THE WHOLE SHEBANG.

So uh. Buckle up, it's a LONG post.

(Also, shout out to Jordan Shrinks over on YouTube, I've followed this woman for years and she is still the biggest inspiration and my favorite fucking person who has helped me shape my routine for weight loss.)

Why did I start trying to lose weight?

I have been obese pretty much my whole life. In high school, I weighed 260-270 lbs. Both of my parents struggled with drug addiction, and that meant that we ate a lot of unhealthy, over processed food as it was the cheapest. I also rarely, if ever, drank water growing up; we mostly had soda in the house, and that's what I drank.

Last year, in May of 2022, I weighed 330 lbs. This was after I had already lost an unknown amount of weight, as I put on a LOT working at McD's given the food was free and I was broke most of the time. This was still not enough for me to start losing weight, but I did start packing my own lunches and at least started eating better. In September, I started my first hotel job, and with the better work and pay, I was finally able to afford insurance for 2023 and start going to doctors like I needed to. I've always had a LOT of chronic issues, but none were ever diagnosed as I really didn't go to the doctor much unless it was an absolute dire emergency.

Timeskip to the first week or two of February, 2023, and I finally get in to see a nurse practioner who will lead me to find my current primary care doctor. I weighed 312 lbs, and she was very... well, blatantly, she didn't even give me the time of day LMAO. She didn't even bother to tell me I was pre-diabetic, I had to find that out from looking at my lab results myself.

Week 3 of February, I get in with the guy who's now my primary care doctor. He's also fat, like I am, and he was also far more direct with me about my situation. As it turned out, I was in like stage 3 hypertension (my blood pressure was 150 smth over 140), I was almost 90% deficient in vitamin D (y'know, the shit that makes your bones HARD), my iron saturation in my blood was in single digits (aka severely anemic, borderline needed a blood transfusion), I was well into my way to being a Type-2 Diabetic (my A1C was 5.8, you need to be 6.4 to be diagnosed), AND... my liver was struggling really, really badly. Side note, he's also a mental health professional, and he's the one who originally diagnosed my severe PTSD and got me in with my therapist.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS NOT IN THE BEST CONDITION. I was actually well on my way to developing early heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, blood clots, like everything I was the MOST afraid of was what I was about to have. Because I wasn't taking care of myself, I was living off of ramen and fast food and processed as shit food all the time, TV dinners... I'd make a meal out of a family-sized bag of chips or a whole roll of crackers and several slices of cheese.

My doctor was very point fucking blank about my outcomes. I could've died if I did nothing. A really horrible way to die, too. He told me that if I wanted to make changes, he'd get me every resource possible he could to help me, but I had to want the changes if they were gonna stick. Keep that in mind, right? YOU have to want the changes needed.

And that's when everything started.

THE GAME PLAN

SO, what did I do to start losing weight? What changes did I make?

Everything. FUCKING everything. My doctor said I needed a low-as-possible sodium diet, so I changed it. I needed to start exercising, so I did. I needed meds and to get into therapy to help deal with my mental health, so I religiously take my meds and I go to therapy as many times as possible each month. He also wanted me to get a daytime job, as my overnights were likely making things worse, and I finally got that done now, too.

A big thing to add here, too: my doctor has not talked to me about BMI. The only thing he has asked me to do is get to 200 lbs. He says so long as I don't drop under 120, he's said it's fine whatever weight I stop on, so long as I get to 200.

But where did I begin? The SIMPLE shit.

I started with ten minute walks. That's it for exercising, I started with TEN MINUTE WALKS. And you know what? It was fucking hard. It still is. It's like pulling teeth sometimes to get me to get up and go take a 30 minute to an hour walk. But don't let these fucking fitness influencers bully you into thinking that if you can't handle pumping iron in the gym for 6 hours straight then you're always gonna be a fat slob or whatever those fuckheads say these days. And, if you don't like walking, if you'd rather lift weights, you can do that too! If you don't want to go to a gym like I don't, order some cheap ones off of Amazon or Walmart. Go cycling or swimming or jumping rope. You don't have to go big and hard into exercise to be healthier. Start small.

Now, diet-wise, I threw myself in it a little too vigorously and I also paid the price of wasting like $50 each payday in shit I didn't eat or still haven't, and I also fucked up my GI tract for a solid month. I was ROUGHING it. Raw-dogged the low sodium diet and it did it back double time, do NOT do what I did. There's gonna be a WHOLE section after this one on dietary shit. Big thing, though? MEAL PLANNING. I don't care if you only meal plan one meal of the day, I only do my damn dinners. Just take time on your day off to batch cook a bunch of shit to be able to eat for one meal throughout the week.

MAKE GOALS. I don't care if the goals you set seem shallow to you or not, make some fucking goals. Keep them on a list you can easily find, especially like on your phone. HELL, keep the list in SEVERAL ways, like a paper on your wall. I have another section planned for like examples and my own goals on down.

EXERCISE

AGAIN, start small. Don't go hog wild and try to do an hour a day at the gym to start; that's gonna burn you out and wear you down before you even get started. Also, you don't need a gym to exercise. If you never wanna step foot in a gym, you NEVER have to.

Start with a five to ten minute walk every other day. You don't like walking? Cool, get some cheap weights (or a kettlebell weight) and lift weights for 5-10 minutes. I just recently got a 5lb kettlebell on Amazon for like $8.55 after tax so I can start doing weighted exercises. (NOTE: don't start with big heavy weights. You'll fuck up your muscles and joints. You'll want to research what weight to start with first.)

I think it wassss two weeks of me walking for ten minutes every other day before I moved to 15 minutes? Now, in May, I can go for an hour at a leisurely pace.

My Routine:

45 minute-hour walk at LEAST 4 days a week.

One day of 30 minute power walking or walking-jogging intervals. I walk along the street I live on, and I do 1/3 of the way jogging, the rest walking.

At LEAST one day using resistance band exercises. Resistance bands are like $10 at Walmart, I recommend using a light one to start WHILE AT YOUR HEAVIEST WEIGHT. Resistance bands work by using your own body weight as the resistance, so it's best to start while you're still at the heaviest.

Hoping to work the kettlebell in on at least three days of the week, doing weighted HIIT exercises (high intensity training).

DIETARY CHANGES

The BIGGEST piece of advice I can give you is to make sustainable changes. The reason diet culture doesn't work is because you can't survive off of diet food for a long period of time, meaning you'll just regain the weight back once you return to a normal diet. Also, carbs are not bad for you. Unless a doctor specifically tells you to lower carb intake, PLEASE do not just suddenly decide to stop eating carbs as you can permanently damage your major internal organs.

Now, I am not on a diet, persay. The changes I've made I plan to keep for the rest of my life. Now, I can only tell you what I do, and not what you should do. I have some formal training in nutrition, and I can give you advice on what not to do, but again, I can mostly tell you what works for me.

NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, HERE WE GO! I am on a low-sodium diet, meaning I do not add salt to shit. I use Accent, a shit ton of seasoning and spices, and I get my canned food no salt added when I can. I also mainly only eat turkey and chicken (mostly chicken), while beef and pork are like... a treat every once in a while. I also get low sodium canned tuna or like... actually good fish sticks. And, as I live on the Gulf Coast, I get fresh shrimp once or twice a month. I also do NOT add sugar to something unless it's a recipe for like bread to feed the yeast. I get canned fruit in 100% juice, or I get it frozen mostly. If I want to add something to make it sweet, I dump fruit in it. I've also recently been adding like... one packet of splenda ALONG WITH FRUIT to my oatmeal. Tastes p good, do not recommend splenda in coffee. Shit's nasty.

I am also a calorie counter and believer. The easiest way to think of calories is like... energy. One calorie is one unit of energy. I HIGHLY recommend using a couple of calorie calculators to help figure out your daily intake, and I use the My Fitness Pal app to keep track of what I eat, especially as I am prone to boredom eating and binge eating, as I do still struggle with disordered eating. I also keep an eye on my macros (protein, carbs, fats), as well as my cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fat levels.

So, what does Cy do for food? A lot but also... not very much, lol. I am a convenience bitch. I ain't here to cook several times a day and shit, I ain't got time for it. I be makin' shit as easy as possible.

I do often drink protein shakes before or after I walk or have an intense workout. You don't have to, just keep in mind you DO need high protein intake before or after working out, to help your muscles repair themselves. I get the cheap af Purely Inspired brand at Walmart, mix it with frozen fruit and milk in my blender.

PLEASE, GOD, DRINK WATER! Drink plenty of frickin water. Your body has to be hydrated and the more water you drink, the less water your body retains as extra. A bit weird, I know, but take it from me as I carry about 10-12 lbs of water weight a day, and it was a LOT more when I wasn't hydrating properly.

I meal prep one meal a week. It's dinner now, so I take a day I'm off, make a big batch of smth, and separate it into like 5-7 containers, freezing some and fridgerating the others. I post recipes and total costs over on @cylentlycrafting , and I get those cheap ass Mainstays meal prep containers. It's like $5 for 5 of em, and I have like... 3-4 sets.

The main meat I eat now is chicken, as it has the highest amount of protein across all meats. I also pretty much exclusively eat whole grain foods (brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole wheat or brown rice or quinoa pasta), and I keep instant brown rice and instant oats on hand. Listen, I'm an impatient ass mfer, I don't have 45 mins to cook some goddamn rice.

I also luv eggies. And cheese. And dairy. Though I typically get reduced fat dairy products, except milk. Reduced fat sour cream, reduced fat cheese, sometimes reduced fat yogurt, but I take any yogurt I can get my hands on.

I use a LOT of canned beans, peas, chickpeas, and tomatoes. I also get frozen broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and carrots as far as veggies go. I also often get chopped romaine lettuce, carrot chips, grape tomatoes, and onions. That is the beginning and the end to the veggies I eat, and best be fucking sure I put red kidney beans and chickpeas in everything almost it. Broccoli, too. Tomatoes.

Fruit wise, I have a LOT of fruit cups and canned fruit in 100% fruit juice, frozen fruit, and I also have a thing for clementines lately. Been eating tf out of them.

Snackies wise, I usually get that big box of baked chips from Lays. Peanut butter and graham crackers. Dark chocolate. Power Crunch protein bars because PROTEIN BARS DON'T HAVE TO BE DISGUSTING!!!!!

I pretty much exclusively use olive oil, but canola oil is also pretty damn good if you're on a budget! Just avoid regular butter, that shit's got so much calories and fat in it.....

Listen, you don't have to go broke buying shit. I tend to allot more money to food than most people because I have a LOT of food issues, and because I commit hard to shit. I have olive oil mayo and butter replacements, I keep low sugar and low sodium ketchup, and I buy expensive ass Lucini tomato sauce. You don't have to. Like I also buy tater tots and off-brand coco puffs and mini wheats.

I have experimented with a LOT of brands in the past few months, which I will probably make another post about eventually? Maybe? Also more budget-friendly shopping hacks and shit given I be trying to save as much money as possible.

GOALS

Listen, like every big project, you need goals. Getting your body healthy is a big project, and you should make goals. Goals on why you want to get healthy, goals on why to keep going even when shit gets hard. I don't care if it's the most vain shit ever, if it's a goal it's a fucking goal.

Here are some of mine:

More clothing options. If I lose more weight, I will be able to fit into smaller sizes and have more choices on what to wear.

SELF CONFIDENCE

Feeling less embarrassed when eating out somewhere.

HEALTH. A large part of me always feeling shitty is my diet and lack of proper vitamins and nutrients.

Prediabetes. I don't want to be like my mom and papaw and have to poke myself multiple times a day nor be reliant on insulin.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The main things I can impress upon y'all:

Build sustainable habits. If you don't think you'd be able to do it for the rest of your life, maybe rethink the habit before it becomes too set in stone.

You're gonna fall off the horse sometimes. You're gonna cheat, you're gonna make slip ups. And that's okay. Don't feel guilty, don't overrestrict or punish yourself for it. You're human, and you're trying, and that's okay. You can only do as much as you're able to right here and right now.

It's a hard and long road. Getting healthy and fit isn't going to be a breeze in the park. This shit is hard, especially if you're building new habits from scratch. But you got this. YOU CAN DO IT.

You HAVE to want this for yourself. No one else can want it for you. It has to be on you and you alone.

You're gonna find people wanting to sabotage you, as horrible as it sounds. Sometimes people feel threatened when others attempt to better themselves, because that person or those persons know they wouldn't put the time or energy into doing so themselves. And, unfortunately, some of those people are your close friends and family :/

TRY NEW THINGS. FAIL AND KEEP GOING. I have tried so much shit in the last few months, and some has stuck, some has not. I have learned I do not like a lot of vegetables, and that's okay. I also make taco salad (from 'scratch') at least two to three times a month. What works, works!

You are going to bloat A LOT when you start amping up workouts. Your body holds extra water and nutrients for up to FOUR WEEKS after you start exercising or start a new exercise routine/build up on your existing one. This is to repair your muscles and joints as they grow.

Scales like to lie, and they won't tell you how much water weight you're holding. And yes, you will be able to tell you're bloated. I never knew of bloating until now and sometimes shit fits weird when I'm majorly bloated. It SUCKS

Measure yourself. Your stomach, chest, waist, hips. All of it. Keep it. It'll be amazing to see how much you've changed eventually.

I actually would LOVE to keep making posts like this. But, here's my current progress:

I am a little under 270 lbs, unsure of how much as I am starting and trying new exercises, as well as my new job being HELLA more active than my old one.

I do have more processed stuff in my diet, but i do try to balance it with healthier food, too. Budgeting is.... hard.

My blood pressure tends to run 110/70 now.

I hope this helps someone out there.

My heart rate has gone down from 100+ bpm, to now it's at 60-75 bpm.

I also drink diet soda now, usually one a day.

[avirael]

Do A’vi and Rael have favorite foods/comfort dishes they like? Or drinks? (Also no pressure to answer right away/at all ‘v’ I just thought it would be interesting to know :0)

Thank you! That’s a very nice question! 💖

In Rael’s case I wrote a little birthday story last december that actually included them being homesick and trying to remember the smell of the carrot cake their mother always used to make for them. She also used to make excellent herbal teas and Rael hasn’t found any other place yet that serves something comparable.

Other than that Rael is not particularly picky or prone to get emotional over something so normal as food. But something that will always remind them of their happy childhood days in the Golmore Jungle is the taste of blackberries and wild strawberries.

-

For A‘viloh the situation is a little different. He likes sweets a lot and is very likely to eat an unhealthy amount of chocolate when he’s feeling unhappy or a big bowl of ice cream (but only on days that are warm enough for that!). The sweeter the better!

There is no particular taste that reminds him of his real family or home, he was too young when he lost both. The food at the Forgotten Springs had always been great but sweets had been a very rare occurrence. A‘vi remembers fondly how Laqa and the other boys often tried to steal dates from their mother‘s food supplies and sometimes - when they hadn’t gotten caught - Laqa would share his loot with him. So you could absolutely say dates are his favourite treat.

[my-perfect-fitness]

Many people in ED recovery spaces tend to talk about how people recovering from EDs should be allowed to be fat, that they should be allowed to gain weight, that it's a natural and healthy part of healing, and that whatever body size their mental health is best at is okay. And I fully agree with the message and think it's important to spread it.

However, we also need to talk about how it's okay for people recovering from restrictive EDs to stay skinny or, in certain circumstances, lose weight as their relationship with food improves and they start eating healthily again.

Regarding restrictive eating disorders, only anorexia nervosa has BMI/weight loss specifically as a diagnostic requirement (significant weight loss is still a requirement for atypical anorexia). People suffering from bulimia, ARFID, or EDNOS/OSFED can restrict food to an unhealthy degree and stay out of the 'underweight' range.

I'll use myself as an example here. For a long time, I've struggled with ARFID. Most of the time, I'd only eat one meal, which was dinner, the only one I couldn't avoid. I did lose weight during my struggles with the disorder; despite all that restriction and weight loss, I was always at the upper end of 'healthy weight' or lower end of 'overweight' even as I was malnourished to the point that the growth spurts I was supposed to have during my teen years never happened (presumably because of my generally unhealthy food choices—when I did eat at all—and lack of exercise.)

I decided to take up fitness, and because of that, I regained my appetite, and my ARFID entered remission. Guess what? I started losing more weight.

You understand what I'm saying here, right? Some people recovering from restrictive EDs will stay skinny even when they become healthy. Some people with restrictive EDs will lose weight when they become healthy.

And guess what? People recovering from EDs who stay skinny are constantly criticized in recovery spaces, have their progress and perceptions of themselves doubted, and are seemingly pressured into gaining more weight than they need to, so people can 'see they're recovering.' Even professionals will refuse to believe someone losing weight/not gaining much weight is 'actually recovering' from their ED.

Let people recovering from EDs stay skinny. Let people recovering from EDs lose weight in their recovery. Let people with EDs recover without gaining more weight. What should matter to you is their relationship with food improving and getting the amount of food they need, not how much they weigh.

If you can't believe that a skinny person can be recovered from their ED, then you care more about your own opinions than helping people recover from the most fatal class of mental disorders to exist.

If anyone's about to say, "You said it shouldn't matter how much someone weighs, but you make such a big fuss out of the fact that people recovering from EDs should be able to be thin without being judged," that's the point. Because the judgment and scrutiny already exist among recovery spaces and need to be called out by name.

And yes, I acknowledge that people may fat-shame someone for gaining weight, even if it's in ED recovery. But two things can be true at once.

[crybabyddl]

TW: disordered eating, body image conversation, insecurity, depression, rambling, relationships.

I just want to know if I’m alone in feeling this or if anyone has any advice or input that would help.

I am the heaviest I’ve been. My BMI is in the healthy range, but I hate how I look. I’ve been trying to eat healthier and exercise more, but it’s causing me to obsess over nutrition labels, calories, sugar, etc.

Living in the US makes this exceptionally harder, because the food regulations are practically nonexistent, so we’re all slowly poisoning ourselves, and nearly every food item, regardless of what it is, has unnecessary added sugars.

Another factor that causes me to stress about my body and my self esteem is the fact that I’m in a relationship. It’s been up and down and I’m not gonna get into all that, but he’s a skinny and lanky guy. He’s into running and bikes long distances for fun. I’m not SUPER athletic, but he and his family were all into cross country running and skiing, and now they are on a biking kick. It’s hard for me to eat around them because they are all built like sticks and I’m not exactly built like that. I’m not overweight, but I have big thighs and my arms could get big if I’m not careful. (maybe it’s bc i’m polish?)

Anyway, his sister is VERY VERY VERY strict about the food she eats, buys, and gives her kids. She tries to push it onto others as well, which has been detrimental to my wellbeing. While she hasn’t said anything directly to me about what I eat, she’s made her stances very clear on processed foods and refuses to give her kids anything that isn’t organic or has artificial ingredients. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, my insecurities cause me to feel like I’m super unhealthy and less of a person that’s enjoyable to be around because I’m not rich enough to be a stay at home mother that can get all my groceries from whole foods and have my own garden and make my own bread and eat at restaurants that make everything in house with only organic and local ingredients. I know it’s mainly my insecurities that cause this, but I’ve yet to learn how to deal with them, so I try to avoid her as much as possible because she’s very intense, self-righteous, and is just good at everything she does and it makes me feel bad about myself.

Back to my boyfriend, he also has some eating habits that aren’t great. Mainly just not eating enough to support the amount of physical activity he does, causing his joints to be weak, as well as digestive issues. Anyway, he’s made it very clear that he’s a “butt guy” (like when asked “tits or ass” he’ll say ass). He really likes my butt and thighs, but those are parts of my body that I’m the most insecure about. I’ve never understood the attraction people have to butts, so that in itself is hard for me. I also just don’t want to be interpreted as having thick thighs or a big ass (it’s not big, but one time he said I have a fat ass as a compliment and it really fucked with my head and I told him how it made me feel and he apologized). I had to explain what cellulite was to him after he said it looked like cottage cheese and didn’t understand why I got upset with him for saying that. He didn’t realize that 90% of women that have gone through puberty have cellulite. I think he still feels the same way, but just knows it’s not a good thing to express. Anyway, knowing that someone perceives me as attractive automatically makes me put pressure on myself to be as attractive as possible at all times, and I always make sure to eat less than him, give him the bigger halves of things we’re sharing, and get healthier options on the menu rather than the thing I want if we go out to eat. Again, none of that feels inherently wrong, but it’s all being thought about and planned in my head, so it’s sort of an act I have to maintain.

I’ve also been on mental health medication most of my life, and up until recently, some of my medications have caused me to have decreased appetite and a faster metabolism, causing me to not be overweight. I could basically eat whatever I wanted and be fine, only bloating when I had PMS. Due to my boyfriend not necessarily understanding mental health (he thinks of it as a label and a limiting barrier rather than an actual condition that can be genetic. Like he doesn’t understand that if I took a brain scan, the levels of certain chemicals would be lower.) I was somewhat “inspired” to stop taking my medication. It started as me stopping taking my Adderall because it was hard to get since it’s a controlled substance and they weren’t filling my prescription soon enough and I’d have to go a few days without it and I’d get terrible withdrawals. Same with Effexor, I felt like a tweaking zombie for 3 days and had the worst migraines of my life when I weaned off it.

ANYWAY, that was all done while consulting my doctor. What wasn’t discussed with my doctor, was me stopping taking my other depression and anxiety meds. I’ve been a lot more depressed, stressed, and unfocused, but there are other factors at play as well. But not taking those meds has caused my metabolism to slow back down and so I’ve gained like, 5 pounds or so. My weight fluctuates 2-3lbs throughout the day, which is bad enough, but I hate how I look and can’t accept myself at this weight. I started taking my Wellbutrin again because it’s something I know helps me and apparently it is one of the only depression meds that doesn’t cause weight gain. I’ve also started taking collagen, biotin, niacin, and vitamin d3 because I started taking them a few months ago, stopped, then read that they could potentially aid in weight loss. Obviously they won’t do much, but better than not trying, right?

So basically, I just know I can’t (and frankly don’t want to) aCcEpT aNd LoVe MySeLf aT aNy SiZe. I’ve had body image issues since age 7, and I’ve never actually been overweight. I did gain a bit of weight as a side effect of medication when I was in grade school for about a year, but right after that, I switched meds and ended up losing a lot of weight, to the point I had random bruises on my shine and had to start drinking Ensure shakes. Anyway, I like to sing so b*llimia isn’t something I want to risk doing often (I’ve done it a few times, but it’s hard and gross, and I’ve only done it when it felt necessary. It’s never necessary, but I was in a dire state.) I’ve been skipping lunch the past couple days, but it just makes me feel worse when I do end up eating something like dinner or a snack, so an*rexia is off the table. I’m trying to exercise more, I’ve been riding my bike, but I hate being perceived even if nobody cares, I care. I just want to be alone and feel safe. I do a series of aerobics/pilates/floor exercises/stretches and bursts of cardio every day. It’s not a lot, but after dropping out of HS in 2019, I became a bit of a recluse and that trained me for covid, and then I spent 2021 going to therapy before finally feeling okay enough depression-wise to start working in 2022. I’ve made a lot of progress, but the two years since have been filled with tons of death/loss, insecurities, a tumultuous on and off relationship (my own doing honestly), and work stress, I’ve become more insecure, more socially anxious, and I feel like I’m not too too far away from being as s*icidal as I was senior year of high school, freshman year of college, and in 2020.

I’m currently unemployed because I had to leave a job I really liked because the business was doing some morally questionable things and I was being treated in a way where I wasn’t appreciated for my own qualities that made me valuable to the team, but rather as someone who should try to be like this other girl who was the boss’s favorite. I made sure to ask if there was anything I wasn’t doing that I should do, and nobody said anything I needed to improve on, and I was appreciated there, but my boss was very passive agressive when addressing the team as a whole and wouldn’t be specific so every “hey everyone, just a reminder…” made me wonder if it was me doing something wrong even when I knew I didn’t do what she was talking about. It made me feel extremely anxious and I ended up having the worst panic attack of my life after leaving a team meeting. I realized I never wanted to feel as terrible as I did for those two hours and I will not work for someone who doesn’t understand how to make employees feel valued for their individual efforts and doesn’t know how to be constructive without telling employees to “be like [name of favorite employee]” and not elaborating. That moment made me feel the worst I ever felt about myself because I’d already been at a low in terms of self esteem, and thank goodness for that honestly, because it made me realize that I refuse to let anyone make me feel any worse about myself than I already feel. So I quit. I’m looking for other jobs.

Anyway, most of this is just context because I don’t really want to go to therapy and I just want to know if there’s something obvious I’m not doing that would help, if I’m just fucked in the head and there’s no hope, or something else.

[afticxs]

TWILIGHT GEARS chapter three

the fluorescent lights of the grocery store buzzed lightly above your head as you drove the cart around, flicking anything that looked appealing to you inside the store.

an upside to the sudden disappearance of your dad, it’s been a week at this point, was your freedom was granted.

one thing you hated was your dad always buying the healthiest options. he was a doctor, fair enough, but you craved a sweet treat every now and then. you think, no. you know you went crazy picking out the sweeter, unhealthier options compared to the healthier ones. if your dad was here, he’d never let this happen.

but he isn’t here, is he?

you hummed to a blondie song you liked, scanning the fridge aisle for fries. maybe burgers too. your dad taught you how to cook as another rule he instilled is that lady’s should know how to cook, so you will to!

was he actually that controlling? seeing the world has opened up your mind.

the week by yourself has made you realise that some things your dad does, wasn’t normal. you knew that being forbidden from going out wasn’t in itself, but just the odd quirk he had.

checking your heartbeat and blood pressure every single day at the same time wasn’t the weirdest thing, it was just unusual. he was a doctor, but seeing the file he kept on you, there was more to it.

dads didn’t treat daughters like experiments.

you shook your head, breaking your thought process and pushed the cart around the corner towards the checkouts. unfortunately, you heard squealing before you saw where it was coming from and nearly rammed a kid over with it.

she let out an uff! sound and looked up at you with a pout and big, green eyes. you gasped and apologised profusely just as a taller figure came round the corner.

you recognised him. it was michael. you smiled at him and he waved.

“fancy seeing you here, y/n!” he grinned as he patted, presumably, his sister’s shoulder. you shrugged, “i ran out of food at home.”

“sorry about elizabeth,” michael apologised, picking the small girl up and letting her sit on his hip, “we were messing around.”

“sorry..” the small girl apologised too in a sweet voice full of innocence. you awed, “no, its fine, i shouldn’t have flung the cart around the corner like that.”

michael looked into your cart, spotting the ridiculous amounts of chocolate ice cream in there along with popcorn, chips and candy. he spotted maybe six decently balanced food options.

“wow,” he smiled, almost sarcastically. his eyebrows twisted as he looked back up at you, “that is a lot of ice cream!”

you shrugged, “i’ve never had ice cream before.. or any of these things for that matter.”

even michael’s younger sister seemed shocked, “it’s so good! its so nice to eat when it’s sunny!”

chuckling and nodding, you told her you would keep that in mind. michael readjusted elizabeth and turned back to you, “well, if you need help finishing all that, i’m a phone call away.”

he noticed your slightly crooked grin. your left eye twitched slightly as your cheek lifted higher on that side.

you debated wether or not you should tell michael what you found out a few days ago, settling on telling him. you planned to call him originally, but it was probably better in person. maybe now was a good time to invite him over for “ice cream”.

just as you went to speak, a man showed up behind the two and put his hand on michael’s shoulder.

they looked so alike. too alike.

“your mother and i checked out,” he stated, before looking at you and smiling politely.

“how thoughtful you are,” the man praised, “doing the shopping for your parents.. i wish my son would offer his services every once in a while.”

catching michael’s glare towards his father, you let out a stiff laugh, “oh, yeah. family shop.”

“we’ll leave you to it then,” michael’s father smiled, his eyes closing briefly, “say goodbye to your friend, we’re leaving.”

the little girl awed, another pout sitting on her lip. she waved, “bye-bye!” and wriggled out of michael’s grasp, running after her dad.

“can you come by my house, tonight?” you suddenly requested before michael could say goodbye, “for some.. ice cream.”

the boy thought it was funny how you tried to look nonchalant when you mentioned ice cream: your eyes looking just above, as if they were trying to find your eye brows, and shrugging. like you were the bad cop using code that the good cop didn’t quite catch onto.

he looked back at his father waiting with elizabeth by the door and looked back at you, “er.. yeah, sure! why not?”

you smiled, “great! i’ll see you later.”

michael threw up fingers guns, imitating the sound of a gun cocking and winking, “cya later, alligator!”

you cringed, giggling awkwardly as you watched him walk off. he had a confidence in his walk, a swagger to himself.

looking past his shoulder, you caught his father staring at you. you froze, meeting his gaze for what seemed like minutes. goosebumps rose on your arms as you finally looked away and pushed your cart rather abruptly to a checkout.

flickering your sights to his spot once more while you unloaded everything onto the conveyor belt, he was gone. you felt a sigh of relief leave you, as did the tension in your shoulders.

you noticed that the belt began to move, so you pushed the cart to the end and waited. the cashier chewed her gum noisily, definitely bored. she looked at you, obviously weirded out or surprised by the amounts of ice cream tubs she just checked out.

however, you offered a wobbly smile as you waited patiently for your total. in the end, you ended up using everything you had with the overload on ice cream.

you even stole the cart. but it never occurred to you that you couldn’t do that.

the wheels jiggled and made the cart rattle along the uneven pavement until you got home. it was a bit of a struggle pulling it up the porch. a big bottle of lemonade rolled into the front garden as one of the wheels hitched on the edge of one of the steps.

you sighed after you had managed to get everything into your kitchen. you barely managed to fit everything into the fridge and still had to deal with the shopping cart.

eventually, it made a home in your garden.

due to the ache in your back, you decided to bathe. you turned the hot tap on, sitting on the toilet seat until it was full. you squeezed soap into the tub, watching how bubbled gradually formed until there was a thick layer of them ontop of the water.

you slid in, exhaling as you quickly got accustomed to the setting. your finger lightly played with the foam that covered you chest.

your mustles relaxed while you closed your eyes and sunk just a bit more into the water. you didn’t realise you fell asleep.

michael’s dad gave you the creeps. you’ve seen him before. the time you snuck out, but when he talked to you and michael had that disapproving look in his eyes.. it gave you the heeby jeebies.

and his laugh. he was clearly the charismatic type. however, his smile held something of a snarl inside it. like he’d practiced it over and over again until he perfected it.

it made you shiver into consciousness.

you noticed your fingers has pruned up, which sort of scared you. your father always made you get out before your fingers pruned.

so you got out.

the bath’s drain gurgled as the water was swallowed in huge gulps. you wrapled your towel around you and walked into your room. there wasn’t too much of a point getting into another set of everyday clothes, so you shoved on some pyjamas. a simple top with a garfield print on it and a completely different pair of shorts.

in the middle of drying your hair, the doorbell rang. you knew it was michael, you invited him over. you brought the towel with you as you quickly went downstairs and opened the door.

you smiled shortly as you rubbed at your hair with the fabric. michael smiled back, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

“the ice cream is in the fridge,” you directed, heading towards the stairs again, “i’ll be down in a second.”

michael nodded, looking around for the kitchen to get the ice cream you invited him over for.

you plugged in your hairdryer, blowing your hair until it was somewhat dry.

when you went downstairs, michael was eating chocolate ice cream out of the tub and watching 21 jumpstreet on your couch.

“i need to show you something,” you told him as he turned around, “um, follow me.”

michael put the ice cream down on the coffee table and rounded the couch to follow you down the hall and to your dad’s study.

[catbreedsblog]

Can Cats Eat Hot Dogs? 16 Facts You May Want To Know

 Could a cat eat a hot dog? Find out about the nutrients in hot dogs, the benefits of feeding them to cats, and the possible risks of doing so. Find out how much hot dog you can give your cat, what other foods or supplements you can give it, and how to keep your cat from eating it by accident. Find out if cats can safely eat kittens, stray cats, or cooked hot dogs, and if hot dogs can cause long-term health problems in cats.

Information about nutrition

Nutritional information is information about the nutrients and calories in a food or drink. This information usually includes the amount of macronutrients (like carbohydrates, protein, and fat), micronutrients (like vitamins and minerals), and calories in a serving size of the product.

Food labels and menus often have nutritional information to help people make smart decisions about what they eat and live a healthy life.

What is in a hot dog?

Hot dogs are a type of processed meat that are usually made from beef, pork, or a mix of the two. Even though hot dogs might have some nutrients, they are generally not thought to be very healthy.

One hot dog (about 45 grams) has about 150-175 calories, 6-7 grams of protein, and 12-14 grams of fat, with about half of the fat being saturated. Hot dogs also tend to have a lot of sodium. One hot dog can have up to 500 milligrams of sodium, which is about 20–25% of what adults should eat every day.

Even though hot dogs have small amounts of vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12 and iron, they are not a good source of these nutrients. Also, some of the things that go into making hot dogs, like preservatives and additives, have been linked to health risks like cancer and heart disease.

Overall, hot dogs can be part of a healthy diet if they are eaten in moderation. However, they should not be relied on as a major source of nutrition due to their low nutrient density and possible health risks.

Advantages and Drawbacks

Cats can eat hot dogs, but it's not a good idea for them to do so every day. Hot dogs have a lot of sodium, preservatives, and other ingredients that can hurt cats if they eat too much of them.

Also, hot dogs don't have the vitamins and minerals that cats need to be healthy. Hot dogs are safe for cats to eat occasionally as a treat, but they shouldn't make up a big part of their diet. It is best to feed your cat food that is made just for cats and meets their nutritional needs.

Benefits of giving cats hot dogs

It is not a good idea to feed cats hot dogs because it can be bad for their health. Hot dogs are processed meats with a lot of salt, preservatives, and other ingredients that can make cats sick. Also, hot dogs aren't nutritionally balanced for cats and don't give them the nutrients they need for good health. So, it's best to give cats food that is made just for them and meets all of their nutritional needs.

Possible dangers of feeding a hot dog

Feeding hot dogs to people or animals can cause a number of problems, such as:

Hot dogs are highly processed meat products that contain a lot of sodium and preservatives like nitrates and nitrites, which have been linked to health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease.

Choking hazard: Hot dogs are round and have smooth surfaces, so small children and pets could choke on them.

Foodborne illness: If hot dogs are not stored and handled properly, harmful bacteria like Listeria and Salmonella can grow. These bacteria can cause food poisoning and other serious health problems.

Cancer risk: Some studies show that eating processed meats like hot dogs may make you more likely to get certain types of cancer, especially colorectal cancer.

Overall, it's best to eat hot dogs in moderation and make sure they are handled and cooked properly to reduce the risks of eating them.

Is it safe for cats to eat Hot Dogs?

No, it's not okay for cats to eat hot dogs. They contain unhealthy additives and preservatives that can hurt a cat's digestive system and overall health. Also, hot dogs have a lot of salt, which can make cats dehydrated and cause other health problems. It is best to feed your cat a balanced diet that has all the nutrients it needs.

Can Hot Dog be eaten by cats?

Cats can eat hot dogs because they can break them down and use the basic nutrients in the meat. But hot dogs are heavily processed and have a lot of things in them that are bad for cats, like preservatives and a lot of salt.

Also, onions and garlic, which are poisonous to cats, are often found in hot dogs. Because of this, you shouldn't feed cats hot dogs often or in large amounts. For a healthy digestive system, a cat should eat a balanced diet of food made just for cats.

Hot dog poisoning in cats: signs

If cats eat a lot of hot dogs or eat them often, it can be bad for them. If a cat eats a hot dog that makes it sick, it will throw up, have diarrhea, stomach pain, get tired, lose its appetite, and become dehydrated. These symptoms can start within a few hours of eating the poison and can last for several days.

If you think your cat has eaten hot dogs or if they are showing any of these signs, you should take them to a vet as soon as possible so they can get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Keeping cats from eating Hot Dogs by mistake

To keep cats from eating hot dogs by accident, keep them out of their reach and in a safe place where cats can't get to them. It's important to remember that cats aren't meant to eat hot dogs, which can cause digestive problems or even cause them to choke.

Also, if your cat eats a hot dog or any other human food by accident, you should talk to a vet to make sure they are healthy and safe.

How many Hot Dogs can a cat eat?

Cats are carnivores and need a diet high in protein from meat, so you shouldn't give them hot dogs or other processed foods. If you feed them a lot of human food, it can cause digestive problems, obesity, and other health problems. Because of this, it's best not to give hot dogs to cats at all.

How much and how often they eat

Moderation and frequency of feeding have to do with how much and how often a person or animal is fed. Moderation means eating the right amount of food at each meal, and frequency means how often meals should be given throughout the day.

People usually eat a moderate and balanced diet by eating a variety of foods in the right amounts throughout the day, taking into account their nutritional needs, age, gender, and lifestyle. In general, adults should eat three meals a day and limit snacks in between meals to keep a healthy weight and avoid overeating.

How much and how often animals eat depends on their species and their own needs. For example, a dog might need two meals a day, while a cat might do better with several small meals spread out over the day. The amount of food given to an animal should also depend on its weight, age, level of activity, and overall health.

Overall, both people and animals need to eat in moderation and eat often to keep their diets healthy and well-balanced.

Options and alternatives

Alternatives and supplements are options or additions that can be used in place of or in addition to something else.

An alternative is a substitute for something that can be used instead of the original. For example, if someone is allergic to dairy, they can choose an alternative like soy milk instead of regular milk.

Supplements are extra things that go with the main thing. For example, taking vitamin supplements can add nutrients to a person's diet that they might not be getting from their food.

In short, alternatives are things you can use instead of the original, while supplements are things you can add to the original that make it better.

Cats can also eat other fruits and meats.

Cats must eat meat, so they need to eat a lot of protein and fat in their food. Even though cats can eat some fruits, they shouldn't make up most of their diet. Small amounts of sliced bananas, apples, and blueberries are all fruits that cats can safely eat.

When it comes to meat, cats can eat chicken, turkey, beef, and pork, among other kinds. But it's important to make sure the meat is fully cooked and doesn't have any bones. Raw meat and bones are bad for cats and could make them sick.

Before making big changes to your cat's diet, it is always best to talk to a vet first. Your vet can help you figure out which foods are best for your cat based on their needs and health.

Food and treats that are sold in stores

Food and treats that are available commercially are foods that are sold by businesses for profit, usually in the pet or animal industry. Different animals, like dogs, cats, birds, or fish, have different dietary needs that these products are made to meet. Commercial pet food can be dry, wet, or semi-wet. Treats, on the other hand, are usually high-calorie snacks that come in smaller sizes.

Depending on the product and brand, the ingredients used in commercial pet food and treats are different. Some product lines may use ingredients of higher quality, while others may use ingredients of lower quality and lower cost. Pet owners should carefully read the labels and understand what these products contain in terms of nutrients to make sure they are giving their pets a balanced diet.

Even though pet food and treats that are sold in stores are convenient and easy to find, it's important to remember that each pet has different dietary needs that may require a special diet or meals made at home. To find the best diet for a pet's needs, it's best to talk to a vet.

Why a varied diet is important

Having a varied diet is important because it makes sure that we get all the nutrients our bodies need to work well. Eating a variety of foods helps us get all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients we need to stay healthy. Eating a varied diet can also help prevent nutrient deficiencies, which can lead to a number of health problems.

A varied diet can also make meals more interesting and fun, which can lead to healthier eating habits and less boredom, which can cause people to eat unhealthy snacks or overeat. It can also introduce us to new flavors and cuisines, which can broaden our taste buds and make mealtimes more fun.

In general, eating a variety of foods is important for staying healthy and improving our overall well-being.

In summary

Even though cats can eat hot dogs, it is not a good idea for them to do so often because they are high in sodium and may contain preservatives and additives. The best way to make sure cats get the right nutrition is to feed them a balanced diet of food made just for cats. If you want to feed your cat people food, talk to your vet first to make sure it won't hurt their health.

Are cats able to eat hot dogs?

No, hot dogs are not good for cats to eat because they are highly processed foods with preservatives and other ingredients that may not be good for their digestive systems. Also, hot dogs often have a lot of salt in them, which is bad for a cat's health. So, the best way to make sure cats get all the nutrients they need is to feed them a balanced diet made just for them.

Last thoughts on feeding cats hot dogs

Hot dogs are processed meats that are high in salt and preservatives, which can be bad for a cat's health. Cats have different nutritional needs than people, and most of the protein in their diets should come from animal sources.

Even though a small piece of cooked, unseasoned hot dog might not hurt a cat right away, it is not good or necessary for its diet. Talking to a vet about your cat's specific dietary needs is always the best idea.

How important it is to get dietary advice from a vet

It is important to talk to a veterinarian about your pet's diet because they are trained professionals who know what animals need to eat. A veterinarian can look at an animal's overall health and suggest a diet that fits its needs, taking into account its age, breed, weight, and any health problems it already has.

A well-balanced diet is important for an animal's health and well-being as a whole. A vet can help you choose the right type and amount of food, as well as when and how often to feed your pet. If you listen to a veterinarian's advice about what to eat, you can avoid or deal with health problems like obesity, diabetes, and digestive issues.

Also, there are many different kinds of pet food, and not all of them are the same. A vet can help you sort through the choices and choose a high-quality food that meets industry standards and gives your pet the best nutrition.

Overall, talking to a vet about your pet's diet is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. It can also make a big difference in your furry friend's long-term health and happiness.

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! When great events happen in our lives, we crave comfort foods; soups are 1 of mine. When the news broke that the ex big boss had passed on, SW and I returned to our favourite ma la tang (soupy ma la) as the heavy rain and strong gusts of wind made the office very chilly. I chose fish, squid, brinjal, baby Napa cabbage, shiitake and king oyster mushrooms, hei mu er (wood ear mushrooms) as well as sweet potato noodles with tomato broth. Over sips of hot soup, we reminisced about the good times with the ex big boss and there were plenty.

I tried a zhnged up (elevated) fish soup with fish maw. Besides the soup, I also ordered egg floss and yam (taro) rice, which was prettier than the last yam rice I had. There were more chopped veggies in this version, including fragrant dried mushrooms, making it more nutritious and delicious! The chewy fish maw soaked up the flavourful broth and added an extra layer of texture to a well-loved local staple. This version of fish soup is one that I would return to the coffee shop for, although I would also like to try as many different versions as possible.

Finally - what I'd looked forward to: returning to the Indonesian coffee joint to try their dishes. I eventually chose ayam bumbu rujak (chicken thigh with pumpkin and baby kailan served with rice) as my main; SW and I shared tahu telur (fried tofu and eggs served with beansprouts, cucumber, lettuce and peanut sauce). Whilst our mains were tasty, the tahu telur floored us with its light and airy crispiness. It tasted so delicious on its own, I only added little dabs of peanut sauce or ate it plain. I would return for this dish alone and have it as a main, perhaps sharing another dish with SW.

As our country steers the population towards a healthier lifestyle, exercise takes centre stage at an upcoming wellness festival. There's another for food, and, besides these large scale events, various communities hold smaller ones so as to engage as well as educate citizens. The WHO has warned about global health deterioration by 2035 if nothing is done now, thus, I'm glad our government is launching nation-wide initiatives to encourage being active and having nutritious meals. This isn't about fad diets to lose weight, some of which can be extreme and unhealthy. It's about eating to properly nourish our bodies as well as exercise to keep our internal organs and digestive systems functioning as optimally as possible.

Personally I don't agree with the demonisation of red meat. It's fine to eat in moderation and, when I have a cold or the flu, it helps with quick recovery, without the need for medication. At my age, 1 - 2 times a week is as far as I'll go and, at times I forget about it altogether. Where is the joy though, if we keep cutting out important food groups and deprive ourselves of nutrients, when we can simply choose to eat it less often? 下次见!

[ultra-maha-us]

Nutritional Advice To Keep You Feeling Better For Life

Knowing how to eat a healthy diet may seem difficult, but once you learn how, it will dramatically improve your health. If you are not sure where you should start, you can end up over or under eating which in turn can cause you to deprive yourself of essential nutrients. The advice below will provide the information you need to know about the nutritional way to eat right.

Don't forget to include meat in your diet. Consuming high-quality protein on a daily basis is important for strong muscles. One of the best sources of protein is meat. It doesn't matter which protein you eat, just make sure you get enough nutrients in your body to provide fuel to grow your muscles. Make sure you get an adequate amount of at least 10 ounces each day.

Canned foods can contain a lot of sodium, especially canned meats. Excessive sodium can cause heart disease and high blood pressure. Be sure to read the label on any canned food product you plan to purchase. Because the majority of processed meats are placed in a salt brine, you can easily reach your sodium intake limit without even realizing it.

Make sure you eat plenty of whole grains. Healthier people generally are those who choose whole grains instead of the nutritionally empty carbohydrates found in processed grains. Some examples of whole grains you should eat every day are: whole wheat pasta, brown rice, whole wheat bread and oatmeal. Whole grains are very high in dietary fiber and also contain lots of nutrients. The same can't be said of carbohydrates that are refined.

A friend can be a great support system while you adjust to a big change in your life, such as your new diet. This can be any individual that has already gone through what you are going through or may be someone who is going through what you are going through currently. It's important to have someone to speak to about it.

Fiber is an important nutrient source that is essential for having a healthy body. It's also been known to help fight against obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Fat and cholesterol are absorbed by soluble fiber, which helps your body get rid of these unhealthy substances before they can produce any negative effects. Men need slightly more fiber than women, 20 and 30 grams respectively. Fiber shouldn't be difficult to acquire as it is found in fruits, veggies and whole grains which should already be a part of your diet plan. You can also get a fiber supplement to make sure you get as much as your body needs.

When you make eggs for breakfast, consider using just the egg white instead of the whole egg. The egg whites are lower in fats and cholesterol than the yolk of the egg. Just two egg whites for every egg you would usually use.

Your well-being and health are very Neurodermitis Behandlung dependent on good nutrition, so making sure you are following a healthy and balanced diet will help you feel your best and look good too. For most people, reducing the amount of sugar in their diet is an important part of a nutrition overhaul. It can help significantly to limit items like fruit juices and sugar-filled sodas. These are culprits when it comes to being loaded with sugar. Avoid them. Reducing or eliminating sugar from your diet will bring about a noticeable change. You will look good and feel good.

Nutritional scientists warn that milled grains aren't a great food choice. Milled grains are convenient, but getting rid of the grain's husk also gets rid of most of its nutritional value. Ask yourself, is it beneficial to get rid of these grains, only to turn around and get fiber or wheat germ? Certainly not.

Natural Greek yogurt makes a great protein source when you are trying to lose weight. Greek style yogurt can be used instead of sour cream in most recipes. Any creamy ingredient a recipe calls for can be substituted by using Greek yogurt. It has a high protein content, so add it to your meals when you do not want to eat meat.

Before you eat packaged foods, you should carefully read the nutritional information provided on the label. Try to skip foods that contain more than 5 percent of fats, cholesterol, and sodium. If you consume these ingredients in excess, you will become far more likely to develop life-threatening conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

You are at a disadvantage in the morning if you don't eat breakfast. Many people think that not eating breakfast is a great way to take in less calories. You may eat more during the day if you skip breakfast. You will probably end up taking in more calories than if you just ate a healthy breakfast to begin with.

Eat a variety of colored fruits and vegetables. Bright colored foods will give you a lot of nutrition. See to it that every meal that you eat contains some fruits and vegetables. Eat the skins of foods if they are edible. They have antioxidants that are good for you.

When cutting back on sugar, remember to cut back on corn syrup too since it is also sugar. In addition, be sure to watch your condiments, a lot of them may contain large amounts of sugar.

A great way to expose your child to different types of food is to take a cooking class together. Exposing your child to different kinds of foods and how they are prepared will help him or her have an appreciation of other cultures.

One idea about nutrition is to cut grains out of your diet for a while. In the past, people ate more natural foods instead of the processed ones most people eat today. Grains have only been in existence for a little while and are a newer sort of invention. You might even feel better once you omit grains from your diet.

[feathers-scales-and-tails]

Been seeing a lot of “backyard eggs are cruel” articles lately, so I wanted to go through a couple of the points they raise and highlight why backyard eggs aren’t inherently cruel.

1) Chicks come from factory farm hatcheries

This point is entirely dependent upon an individuals purchasing choices. The only chicks coming from factory farm hatcheries are production hybrids, so ISA Brown, HYLINE Brown, Utility Leghorn, etc. so long as you don’t purchase these hybrids, you don’t support the unethical factories.

Although private hatcheries have their own plethora of ethical issues, these places are not suppliers to factory farms. The best place to purchase your chicks or pullets from is a private breeder who has good welfare standards. Neither of these options support the factory farms, and the claim that majority of backyard hens come from these factory farm hatcheries is false. I currently can’t name a single person I know with birds from a factory farm hatchery.

2) Male chicks are killed at birth

If you are buying factory farm chicks, yes. However as I mentioned above, few backyard hens are coming from this source. Private hatcheries which sex chicks either sell cockerels cheaper, or sell them in bundle deals for meat birds. Unfortunately private hatcheries are about profit, and believe it or not they can still profit off cockerels.

Private breeders rarely ever sex chicks. It requires specialised training and cockerels are harder to sell, so most sell chicks unsexed. Breeders also want to grow out these cockerels, there needs to be a keep back for the next generation of breeding. Either way, private hatcheries and breeders where a lot of backyard hens are sourced from are not killing male chicks on a large scale.

3) Hens are unhealthy and unnatural due to genetic manipulation

First of all, domestic hens lay more eggs than their ancestors due to selective breeding, not ‘genetic modification’ or ‘genetic manipulation’. Production hybrids are certainly unhealthy, laying over 300 eggs a year causes their bodies to wear out and they’re predisposed to so many reproductive issues. They were bred with the intention of maximum production, replaced after 18 months once this production declines. They are a mess and frankly should not exist.

This is the argument point which always frustrates me the most because, you do realise there are hundreds of chicken breeds right? And just like with dogs, these breeds all have different temperaments, characteristics, and health statuses.

A well bred Wyandotte who lays 200 eggs a year rarely experiences the health issues of production hybrids. These issues are almost unheard of in Sumatra or Sebright who lay 50-100 eggs a year. There are so many heritage breeds out there bred for their longevity, living on average 7-8 years rather than the measly 2-3 of production hybrids.

Most people who keep backyard hens love these birds dearly, these are their pets. Why would someone purchase an unethical production hybrid off the factory farms knowing she will die a horrible death in 2 years, when they could instead get a heritage breed who’ll lay them eggs until she’s at least 5?

I know very few people with backyard hens who keep the production birds

4) Hens are abandoned/killed when production slows/stops

I have yet to meet a single person who has purposefully gotten rid of their hens once production slows or stops.

Production hybrids rarely stop laying unless they are actively affected by reproductive complications, these birds sadly die before they stop laying so owners are definitely not ‘abandoning’ these birds, rather they die long before their time while still pumping out those eggs. Alternatively, heritage breeds will lay for years. We’ve had a 9 year old Sussex still laying eggs. For all the backyard keepers with heritage breeds, the time to ‘replace’ hens is often very far into the future.

This isn’t even raising the point that, these hens are pets. People can eat eggs and still bond fiercely with their hens, people can eat eggs and still value the life of the hen. I don’t think many people are going to turn around and kill their friend suddenly because she stops laying as frequently. My grandfather who used to own a small scale egg farm always kept his old hens who no longer laid, he’d had them for 7 years and that’s an attachment that’s hard to break.

The idea that hens suddenly stop laying eggs one day so people replace them is quite silly, it just doesn’t happen in a backyard setting. Certainly in egg farms, but not with pet hens.

5) Laying eggs depletes nutrients. Hens need to be fed their eggs to get these back

Laying eggs definitely takes up a shocking amount of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. A big one is calcium, the egg needs a lot to shell it, but each egg also needs enough calcium stores inside the yolk to nurture and grow a chicks skeleton. If a hen doesn’t have enough calcium, she’ll draw it from her bones to produce eggs.

But the thing is, she doesn’t need to eat her own eggs to gain this nutrition back. Chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years, and in this time we’ve perfected their diet. There are many fantastic feeds on the market tailored specifically for a laying hens needs! She should be fed a pellet or mash diet, this ensures she gets the correct amount of all the nutrients, whereas with grain she can pick and chose parts and become deficient. Furthermore, chickens aren’t stupid animals. A hen will know if she needs more calcium, and this is why it’s important to offer them oyster shell, limestone, and crushed egg shells so she can eat extra calcium at her leisure.

Sceptical of the feed, or maybe you just think she deserves those eggs back after all her hard work? Well while it’s nice to treat your hens to an egg every now and then, too many can cause many fatal health issues. If she eats every single egg she lays, AND eats a nutritional balanced diet, she’s getting way too much of those nutrients since the feed is already replacing that loss. A really big concern is that she’ll put on too much weight from all the protein in eggs, this can lead to fatty liver disease which kills many backyard hens annually. Maintaining a good weight in your flock is vital to preventing other health issues too such as egg binding and heart failure.

I love letting my hens eat raw eggs, it’s hilarious and they love it. However I actually had to stop because one of my hens Sooty got dangerously overweight and was at risk of fatty liver disease. You might think feeding hens back their own eggs is great for their health, but it should be in moderation, there is too much of a good thing. Unless you’re feeding your hen rubbish, she doesn’t need the eggs since her diet replaces those nutrients daily, and please don’t feed your hens rubbish.

6) We are using the hens. They are not ours to use as we please

I suppose this point holds up depending on your personal beliefs. I personally don’t feel pet hens are being ‘used’ at all, rather it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We give them food, safety, and friendship, so they return that friendship and sometimes eggs.

A part of domestication is that the animal adapts to living alongside us, with chickens it just happened to be the constant access to good food and a safe nest encouraged them to lay more eggs. We can’t change that now, so we may as well use the eggs. A dog or cat domesticated for companionship will provide that, are we abusing those pets as well by taking their companionship?

Also if I’m being quite frank, no one will ever get eggs cheaper by keeping backyard chickens. Feed is expensive, coops are expensive, veterinary care is expensive. Anyone getting backyard hens will have some other motive to it rather than just “I want free eggs” because these eggs aren’t free. Most people want a pet, they don’t want to support the factory farming, or they want to feel more self sufficient, maybe all three of those reasons! People aren’t getting backyard hens with the intent of ‘using’ them for eggs, because it’s cheaper just to buy eggs.

So to sum this up, backyard eggs aren’t hurting the hens! If anything, it’s helping them! Showing support for more ethical means of egg production will put pressure on the large scale egg farms to change ways. Hopefully these unethical practices will be phased out one day, it’ll take time, but one step at a time.

Thanks for reading! Epponnee says this egg is for you, they’re tasty and she wants to share! Please take it or she will keep crowing until you do!

[miekasa]

college boyfriend levi headcanons: exam season

+ pairings: levi ackerman x (fem) reader

+ genres and warnings: college au, fluff, nothing too dramatic

+ notes: this is combination of about three or four requests i got around the similar theme of finals (are you guys okay.... pls drink water omg), so i hope you don’t mind that i combined them!

From the outside, Levi is very composed, even when he’s stressed out. Unless you really know him, it’d be hard to tell he’s going through something at all—whether it be personal or because of school.

Just because he’s good at hiding it, doesn’t mean it’s always healthy lol. It’s not always… unhealthy, either; but one of his coping mechanisms is definitely to keep to himself, in an attempt to try and gain control of all the chaos.

Luckily for Levi, you’ve gotten pretty good at telling whenever he’s hiding something. That, and there’s only so composed one human being can be during finals week lol.

He doesn’t mind being taken care of, but it’s not something he seeks out either. But if you try showing him support, he’ll accept whatever you have to offer.

If you can’t exactly help him with the content of his classes, he’ll still be grateful to know that you’d want to buy him snacks, or study with him, or nap with him, or even just text to check up on him. Little things like that mean a lot to him.

When it comes it you, however, he almost doesn’t ever verbally acknowledge that you’re having a hard time—he only shows it through his actions, and he’ll do whatever he can to make your life easier when things are stressful.

I’ve said it before, but I think that acts of service are probably the biggest component of Levi’s love languages. If you need anything, he’d be happy to get or do it for you, and will even go so far as to volunteer himself to take care of something before you can ask.

Food is a big thing. He’ll buy or prepare food for you while you’re studying, one: to make sure you don’t accidentally forget to eat, and two: to make sure that you’re not living off of take out for two weeks, no matter how tempting it may be.

If you have trouble focusing, he’ll honestly incentivize you like a kid lolol. He’ll tell you to study for an hour, and then you can take a break, or he’ll buy you something from Starbucks or something of that nature. Lowkey, he’s classically conditioning you, but whatever.

Pokes you with his pen if you try to distract him or coerce him into taking a break earlier than your scheduled break-time.

He can also twirl his pen really quickly and does it very absentmindedly when he’s watching a video or something. Lowkey kind of hot, don’t tell him that, though, he’s enough of a menace as it is. 

Plays footsies with you under the table while you’re both doing work. Don’t tell anyone else, tho.

If you’re the kind of person who really ups their coffee intake during exams season, he’s not outwardly going to stop you—not like he could, bye—but he will try his best to either moderate it, or at the very least supplement it with actual food and water in between.

Sometimes though, he simply has to pry the coffee out of your hands, and even though you want to kill him for it, you know he’s right.

“You cannot have three venti drinks with 4 shots of espresso in them in the same day. You shouldn’t even have had two. In fact, one was pushing it. No more.” “Fine, I’ll just drink have a grande instead.” “Over my dead body, hand it over.”

Don’t play with him, he’ll pour your $8 drink down the drain without a single regret.

If you favor energy drinks over coffee, then he’ll act the same way, except worse lolol. He’s not playing games with you, he simply will not let you consume a 5hr energy in front of him, and if he finds your stash, it’s over.

He’ll kind of bully you into taking care of yourself lolol. Either you do it, or he’ll do it for you.

He’s probably more prone to studying in the evening, but he doesn’t strike me as the all-nighter kind of guy, unless he’s completely forgotten about an assignment or exam and absolutely has to cram the day before.

Honestly, he just gets sick of doing schoolwork after a certain hour and would rather be asleep or doing anything else. Which works out for him; because he’s so consistent throughout the semester, his exams are a bit more bearable.

When he sees you staying up late more often, he doesn’t think anything much of it at first. It’s pretty commonplace among college students. He does get a little bit grouchy though, because it means he has less time to spend with you doing something other than staring at work all day.

If it really persists, that’s when he’s going to try and get you to give it up and take a night off, or at least take a nap with him. (Levi likes naps, and I think he really would nap like a kitten throughout whenever he can).

When you’re studying together, he usually finishes his work before you, and if you take too long, he wouldn’t mind making himself comfortable and taking a nap while he waits.

He takes really good notes, and probably writes them over several times when he’s studying, he’s really got it down to a science. That being said, if you’re really behind and you can barely look through your unintelligible notes, Levi would write them over for you.

Yeah, but in doing that he also steals your highlighters. Give them back Levi, if you want a pack of Mildliners, buy your own.

He waits for you after your late classes or study groups, especially in the winter or when it’s dark out. He doesn’t like to let you walk home alone—especially if it’s finals week, because he knows you’re barely running on 5 hours of sleep anyways.

He’ll let you teach him things as a way for you to practice/study and takes very good notes because he’s cute like that, even if he doesn’t know what the fuck is going on.

If your room gets messy in your haze of studying and wallowing, he’ll come over and clean it up, even if you don’t want to, or feel like you don’t have the strength to. He’ll just start picking things up. It helps more than he knows. 

When exams are all over, he takes you out to do whatever you want. Whether it be a nice meal, doing something fun like laser tag, or even just going to watch a movie together; it’s a nice little celebration after all the hard work. 

If he’s feeling the pressure, he stress-bakes. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s an overwhelming amount. His kitchen is practically overflowing with lemon tarts and he just starts handing them out to you and all his friends like he’s a merchant, because he’ll be damned if they spoil.

“You smell like sugar and flour… were you baking today?” “Yes… Psychology is hard and humans are stupid, now here’s a muffin.”

If you really just need a complete break from everything school related, he’ll take you on a long drive. You don’t have to go anywhere specific, but he’ll just drive you around, and you two can get food and talk and talk and talk until you’re barely thinking about school anymore.

Overall, he’s pretty nurturing and particularly gentle with you. He doesn’t like to see you not take care of yourself, so if he has to do it for you, so be it.

[zero00kiryu00]

MHA Unhealthy Habits Headcanon Pt. 1

▵ This headcanon dawned on me while I was thinking about my own unhealthy habits.

▵ You don't have to agree with what I'm about to say here, but please be respectful.

▵ TW for topics relating to mental health and dysphoria. ▵

▵ Deku never allows himself to be a priority. Why would he? As the successor of the former number one hero, Deku has an immense amount of pressure and expectation resting on his shoulders.

▵ Everyone else is more important than him — everyone else’s needs go above his own.

▵ For Deku, coping with stress and anxiety is practically a non-existent concept. The boy doesn’t know when he needs to take a break and refuses to do so when other people suggest that he should relax for a while.

▵ Everything, including himself, is a project for the benefit of others based on external expectations.

▵ Bakugou needs to hydrate, and he knows he does — his quirk is reliant on his body’s sweat, which of course is produced by the water in his system — but he rarely drinks water at all.

▵ He will drink literally anything else before he drinks water, making him the most dehydrated out of any of the other 1-A students.

▵ He won’t get angry when someone reminds him to drink it, but he will absolutely do so begrudgingly and glare at whoever it was the entire time he’s swallowing down the glass of water like a kid after playing outside on a hot summer day, gulping and gasping when the glass is empty.

▵ He won’t drink a second glass of it afterwards for at least a while.

▵ Uraraka likes to give herself small rewards when working on tasks. One of these is food.

▵ She uses it as motivation to complete a task, but because of the nature of things, her so-called motivation is more punishment than anything.

▵ “I’ll eat as soon as I finish this assignment!” She’ll say, working on an essay for class that takes twice the usual amount of time because she can’t stop thinking about Mochi and grilled eggplant, listening to her stomach growling as her focus disappears.

▵ She eventually finishes the essay and goes to eat, but it took way longer than it should have.

▵ Denki’s internal body clock is practically non-existent.

▵ His sleep schedule is so horribly messed up that he can nap anywhere at any given time because of how exhausted he is.

▵ He finds himself staying up late, initially to work on schoolwork to help his grades or to keep socializing with friends.

▵ He doesn’t realize that what he’s experiencing is revenge bedtime procrastination — he just thinks that the nighttime is the only time he can do whatever he wants.

▵ He stays up playing video games, reading comics, or just about anything else to delay his sleep to avoid acknowledging the reality of needing to go to hero training in the morning.

▵ Kirishima’s experience at Fat Gum’s agency was definitely one that helped advance his career as a hero, and he was very thankful for the opportunity.

▵ But with that advancement into his career came a change in his body type — to the point where it was noticeable to other students at UA who commented that “Fat Gum must’ve taught you to eat well!”

▵ Kirishima hates when people point out that he had gained some weight. He knows that it was actually beneficial for his quirk not to be pure muscle, but he can’t help but feel less manly with the bit of pudge on his stomach now.

▵ So he resorts to yo-yo dieting — off and on restricting certain foods in order to keep his muscle mass up and his body fat down, switching to “healthier” alternatives that really just disregard the necessary amount of nutrients he needs.

▵ Iida has an immense amount of respect for himself and the people around him. He admires his fellow classmates, other heroes and mentors in his life, consistently striving to be a better version of himself and a better hero.

▵ On top of that, Iida holds a lot of responsibility, both to himself and to his classmates as class president, which makes it difficult for him to decline something when his plate is already overflowing.

▵ Setting boundaries for himself, letting both others and himself know that he has too much going on, is one of the most difficult tasks.

▵ He'll miss out on social interactions with his classmates to get through whatever extra chore he agreed to do, putting himself at the top of the pedestal for reliability and responsibility, but well below the lowest rung for social growth.

▵ It started out as a joke. A petty way to get back at his dad for being a generic douchebag with lots of cash sitting away in a bank account. Taking Endeavour's platinum credit card didn't seem like that big of a deal.

▵ Todoroki would treat his friends to lunch one day, flashing the bright silver coating on the credit card as he handed it to their server that day.

▵ From there, it became treating his friends to lunch more often, buying things for them that they would complain about needing no matter the cost (especially for Uraraka, who had only basics due to her home life), which then spiralled into buying things for himself that he liked purely on impulse and without thinking it through.

▵ Todoroki's impulse spending became an even bigger problem when he graduated UA and became a pro-hero, spending every last cent of his paycheque on mundane items after paying for his basic necessities.

▵ After all, he has an issue with impulse, not responsibility.

▵ Mina does very well to keep herself presentable and stylish when spending time around people. Her bubbly and flashy outfits are proof enough of that.

▵ But what Mina projects -- a bubbly outgoing personality and a clean appearance -- is not necessarily what takes place behind her bedroom door.

▵ While she keeps herself clean, her space is always a mess, to the point where walking through her bedroom is impossible, unless she's the one navigating through it. There is just enough space for her to walk through an endless sea of school books, costumes, outfits, accessories, and takeout food packets strewn all across the floor.

▵ Since Mina enjoys spending time with friends in their rooms or homes, or at the mall or movie theatre -- literally anywhere aside from her bedroom -- she never cleans her space.

▵ Her school desk, locker, and even her purse are an absolute disaster zone. Denki swore he found a two-week-old sandwich in the back of Mina's locker once.

▵ Part 2 can be found here. ▵

[bunkershotgolf]

Golf Health: Eat Your Stress Goodbye - Stress Reducing Diet By Rob Walters

Enter to win a free month of health and wellness coaching

When you’re stressed out, the foods that you’re turning to are most likely going to be traditional ‘comfort’ foods – think big meals, take-out, fatty foods, sweet foods, and alcohol. Let’s face it – we’ve all found some comfort in a tasty meal and a bottle of beer or glass of wine when we’ve been stressed out or upset about something. However, this isn’t a good permanent solution.

When you’re turning to unhealthy foods you can feel better temporarily, but in the long run, you will feel worse. When your body isn’t getting the right nutrition, you can begin to feel less energetic, more lethargic, and in some cases less able to concentrate and focus. All of this can lead to even more stress.

Foods that Fight Stress

If you’ve been feeling more stressed out than usual lately, it’s important to know which foods are best to choose and which to avoid when it comes to combating stress and helping you to deal with feelings of stress and anxiety. The best way to fight stress is to have a healthy, balanced diet which includes a moderate amount of each of the different food groups.

Filling up on foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, and lean proteins as the basic staples of the diet is the best way to ensure that your body gets the optimum amounts of nutrients to fight both physical and mental health problems. When it comes to choosing the foods to eat, some have a range of great properties which help the body to combat stress. Choosing these stress-busting foods will help to heal and calm your mind permanently, rather than providing a temporary fix.

Some of the best stress-fighting foods include:

• Avocado – Avocados are a creamy and versatile fruit which can be eaten in a range of different ways whether you enjoy it raw, made into sauces, dressings and dips, or in a smoothie. These nutrient-dense fruits have the properties to stress-proof your body, thanks to their high glutathione content which specifically blocks the intestinal absorption of certain fats which cause oxidative damage. Avocados also contain higher levels of vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene than any other fruit, which boosts their stress-busting properties. However, be careful with portion control when eating avocado, as it is high in fat.

• Blueberries – If you’re feeling stressed out and reaching for the snacks, swapping chocolate or chips for one of the best superfoods is a great way to help you deal with your stress levels and achieve a higher level of calm. Blueberries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, especially antho-cyanin, which means that this berry has been linked to a wide range of health benefits including sharper cognition, better focus, and a clearer mind – all of which can help you to better deal with stress.

• Chamomile Tea – Of course, it’s not all about what you’re eating when it comes to managing stress; what you’re drinking can also alleviate or worsen the stress you're feeling. Drinking liquids which are high in sugars and caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks or soda, can actually increase your stress levels if consumed regularly. Chamomile tea has long been used as a natural bedtime soother, and it has also been used in clinical trials, which determined that chamomile tea is effective in reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

• Chocolate – Although it’s usually seen as an unhealthy treat, there is an undeniable link between chocolate and our mood. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can actually make you happier. However, that doesn’t mean that you can start munching on chocolate bars every time you're stressed out – chocolate works best as a de-stressor when eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Dark chocolate in particular is best for you, as it contains more flavonols and polyphenols, two hugely important antioxidants which can help combat stress, more than many fruit juices.

• Beef – Grass-fed beef is not only kinder to the planet and to animals, it’s also good for people, too. Grass-fed beef has a huge range of antioxidants, including beta-carotene and Vit-amins C and E, which can help your body to fight stress and anxiety. If you’re looking for more reasons to spend a little more money on organic, grass-fed beef, it’s also lower in fat than grain-fed beef whilst being higher in omega-3.

• Oatmeal – Oatmeal is great in that it can be a filling comfort food, but also has a large number of healthy properties to actually make you feel better from the inside out. A complex carbohydrate, eating oatmeal causes your brain to produce higher levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, helping you to feel calmer and less stressed. Studies have shown that kids who choose oatmeal for breakfast tend to be much sharper throughout the morning in school compared to kids who had alternative morning meals.

• Walnuts – If you’re looking for a healthy snacking option which will help you to stay better in control of your stress levels, walnuts are a great choice. There is no denying the sweet, pleasant flavor of walnuts and they can be a tasty snack for in-between meals or as part of a desert. A versatile nut, walnuts are great for salads, or add them to a sweet treat such as coffee and walnut cake.

• Pistachios – another food which is great for snacking on and can also help to combat stress and anxiety in the long term is pistachios. Studies have found that simply eating two small, snack-size portions of pistachios per day can lower vascular constriction when you are stressed, putting less pressure on your heart by further dilating your arteries. Along with this, the rhythmic, repetitive act of shelling pistachios can actually be quite therapeutic!

• Green Leafy Vegetables – leafy, green vegetables should be a pivotal part of anyone’s diet. Along with helping to combat stress, leafy greens are full of nutrients and antioxidants which help to fight off disease and leave your body feeling healthier and more energized. Dark leafy greens, for example spinach, are especially good for you since they are rich in folate, which helps your body to produce more mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is a ‘feel-good’ chemical. Making leafy greens a part of your diet will help you to feel happier and less stressed out overall.

• Fermented foods – last but not least, eating fermented foods such as yogurt can help to keep your gut healthy, which actually in turn will help to improve your mental health and reduce stress levels. The beneficial bacteria which are found in fermented foods such as yogurt actually have a direct effect on your brain chemistry and transmit positive mood and behavior regulating signals to your brain via the vagus nerve.

Putting Together Your Diet Plan

Planning your meals wisely is key to not only staying physically fit and healthy, but also to staying mentally strong and being able to best manage your levels of stress. Knowing which foods to avoid and which are the best to reach for to snack on when you’re feeling worried and anxious is important to helping you get control over your emotions and fears.

When you’re feeling stressed, you may be tempted to reach for classic ‘comfort foods’ – usually foods which are laden with sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However, although these foods can make you feel momentarily better, they will actually make you feel worse in the long run.

Having stress-busting snacks such as fresh berries, dark chocolate, yogurt, walnuts or pistachios, or even a fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens in it can help you to feel better in both the short and long term when it comes to stress.When it comes to combating and dealing with stress in the long run, it’s important to make sure that for the most part, you are eating a diet which is healthy and balanced.

In order to stay on track, it’s a good idea to make a meal plan for your week and plan ahead to make sure that you have a good selection of these stress-busting foods in your kitchen to make meals and snacks from when you’re feeling like stress-eating. Making sure that the majority of your meals include foods such as lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier overall, but can improve your mental health and stress levels, too.

A good example of a healthy, stress-busting menu would be:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries or a fruit smoothie with avocado and berries Mid-morning snack: Natural yogurt with fruit or a handful of pistachio nuts Lunch: A whole-grain pasta salad filled with plenty of leafy greens Afternoon snack: Dark chocolate Dinner: Grass-fed beef with vegetables Before bed: Chamomile tea

Of course, you don’t need to stick to this menu – but it gives you a good idea! Remember to exercise good portion control when eating foods such as nuts, chocolate, yogurt or avocado! As the saying goes, you are what you eat – so make sure that first and foremost, you’re filling yourself up with foods which are good for your mental health.

Learn more about being accountable for your health and fitness

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #370

“breakdowns, obscenities, it’s all i wanna be”

Do you have any bad habits you aren’t working on changing? If so, do you ever think you’ll try to break them? Downloading music, for one. I really should just start using Spotify... but my iPod has over 1k songs on it and I just seriously don't want to got through all the trouble. When was the last time someone surprised you with their reaction or behaviors? Hm. I dunno. What kinds of videos do you like to watch on YouTube, if any? I watch SO many different kinds. It used to be pretty strictly let's plays, but I've definitely expanded my watching interests. Now I'm really into watching educational reptile and tarantula husbandry and keeping channels, I watch one woman who is like my weight loss idol (Jordan Shrinks, she is amazing), there's a few vloggers, I enjoy some World of Warcraft channels, and then there's a couple urban exploration guys I like. I also occasionally watch some beauty YouTubers just for their personalities and the art of it. Have you ever reached out to a crisis center for mental health support? If so, how was the experience? Yes, but they were so busy that I didn't connect with anyone before I finally gave up and ODed. When was the last time you did something you were afraid to do, and how was the outcome? Ummmm I don't really know. What is one positive thing you believe about yourself? I care a lot about other people. What is something you have been through that has made you stronger? The breakup. It brought me to the lowest of lows, where every day was a struggle to survive. It taught me I can endure through almost anything, even if it doesn't feel like I can. Other than money, what is something you wish you had more of in your life? Happiness, contentment, being in love, motivation, energy, activities, travel... There's genuinely a lot. IIs there anything that you tend to ignore for the sake of your sanity? I'm very bad at ignoring things. If something is bothering me, it's going to put up a beastly fight to be at the forefront of my mind. What is something you wish was different about your family? I wish we were closer and better off monetarily. What keeps you going lately? The hope for a happy, satisfactory future. Have you ever been in an unconventional relationship (long distance, polyamorous, same gender, age gap, etc)? if so, what challenges did this relationship present, and were they worth overcoming? I've been in a long-distance relationship with another girl. I think the hardest part was that there was not being able to physically be there for each other when one of us was really struggling, and sometimes communication was an issue, not being able to read body language when we voice chatted or hear the tone in which we "spoke" when texting, though I'm pretty sure that's an issue with any online relations. I also feel it's difficult to really build and experience your chemistry with one another when you're not physically with the other person. I still think all these challenges were worth overcoming, though. I in no way regret the relationship and got only good things out of it. What is the most unhealthy relationship (whether friendship or romantic) you’ve ever had? What made it so unhealthy? Do you still talk to each other? I'm kinda torn between Jason and Colleen, but I think my bond with Jason was ultimately more unhealthy because it went beyond love: he was an obsession. Having him with me was the only thing that brought me joy, and I lit-er-a-lly could not imagine my future without him. Like that concept just didn't exist; it was entirely impossible in my head. On his end, he failed to communicate what he was going through emotionally, which only contributed to the damage. I never knew he was struggling because of me. Without realizing it, I put so much pressure on him to make me happy, so to answer the last question, no, we don't, by his decision - and I don't blame him. Have you ever been abusive in any way? Were you able to change or make amends, or, in general, what do you think people should do to make amends in that situation? A neverending battle I have with myself is if how I treated Jason after the breakup was qualifiable as emotional abuse, specifically with messaging him things like "thanks for sending me to the ER" and shit. My therapist reassures me that it wasn't abusive because I wasn't being deliberately manipulative, but rather genuinely hurt and convinced I had been wronged and wanted him to know and acknowledge it. She agrees that it was wrong, which I entirely agree with, but sometimes, I'm still convinced I was abusive. I fucking hate answering this question, so hurrying up: I don't know if he's forgiven me. As for how others could reconcile, that's not for me to say. I know sometimes the answer is to NOT make amends and completely stay away from their abuser. It's not my right to tell others how to cope with their abuse. Have you ever forgiven someone for being abusive or allowed someone toxic back into your life? Did this person change for the better or not? My former best friend Colleen was toxic as all fuck hell, and I let her back in way too many times. No, she never changed. I honesty doubt she ever will, given her pride. When was the last time you did something “meant” for children? Do you think it’s okay for adults to do these things (ie. watch cartoons, have stuffed animals, dress in cute clothing, etc), or do you think there’s an age beyond which it becomes unacceptable - and if so, why? Hmmm... I know this was semi-recent, but whatever it was is evading me at the moment. I personally have zero issue with adults engaging in activities like that; let people do what they enjoy if they're not harming anyone, especially things as innocent as dressing how they think is cute, etc. I would far rather people "act like children" (not emotionally, you know what I mean) than run around the streets selling drugs and shit. What was the last thing to “trigger” you (as in, in a true mental health sense, I’m being serious here) and how did you cope with it? What kinds of things do you tend to find triggering? What do you do either avoid or face your triggers? When I was riding to the sleep study section of the health plaza, where the hospital is, my anxiety spiked quite a bit, recalling all of my ER stays for being suicidal. It didn't help that the psych hospital I visited most is also in that whole jumble of buildings. I dealt with it by reminding myself I was in that area for a very different reason, and Mom reassured me that where I would be staying was more like a small hotel room than a hospital bed, which was true, so that helped. Regarding the next question, I'm not gonna lie to ya, I have a stupid amount of PTSD triggers: certain music, shows, fandoms, places, smells, even tastes of certain foods. I tend to stay away from my major triggers, but I'll *sometimes* fight the tiny ones, because I want that sense of ownership of myself back. If you’re diagnosed with anything, do you feel that it accurately represents what you’re experiencing? Yes. What are some minor physical discomforts that really bug you (eyelash in your eye, a wedgie, rumpled socks, etc)? I'm VERY sensitive to feeling anything in my nose, and it leads to me needing to blow it a lot. I also can't stand having holes in my socks, but since I wear flip flops essentially everywhere, I don't experience this much. Are you ever afraid to admit to liking something because you’re afraid other people will judge you for it? What is the worst that’s ever happened as a result of you liking something different from the crowd? What about the best thing that’s come as a result of a unique interest? Y E P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing really bad has happened because of admitting my interests, other than hearing things along the lines of "I don't get it." It's very odd, just how horribly receptive I am to judgment about things I like when I don't recall a time where I was ridiculed for anything. But anyway, the best thing to happen from sharing interests for me is making a new friend that likes the same thing, and I will IMMEDIATELY be closer to you than most people I associate with once you've helped me past that vulnerable spot of mine. Have you ever remained good friends with an ex? Yeah. Do you have a negative view of mentally ill people, or are you mentally ill yourself? Do you ever call others crazy, insane, etc? Do you ever call yourself those things? I'm mentally ill and empathize heavily with those who suffer themselves. I absolutely do not have a negative look on mental health sufferers; we don't choose to be victims. I'm definitely not a big fan of abusing terms like "insane," because I've fucking been there, and it's not a term to take lightly. I've thrown 'em around before, but I try to avoid it. I don't call myself any of those things nowadays, but in the deepest trench of my depression and PTSD, I honest to God think I fit the definition of "insane." Does it bother you to have people comment on what you’re eating, or do you not care? What are some comments that would bother you, if any? Do you ever comment on what other people are eating or make assumptions about their intakes? YES. JUST DON'T FUCKING COMMENT. I get EXTREMELY self-conscious when my mom does this sometimes when I occasionally need a small snack to hold me out overnight, and I absolutely never will say something to someone else. It's just rude, imo. Well, I guess if someone was really destroying their health and I was close to them, I would out of concern and be very gentle, but when regarding most people? I'm keeping my thoughts to my damn self. Do you like Redbull? I've never tried it and don't want to. I'm not an energy drink fan. Who is the last person you spent money on? My mom. I remember I bought us fast food when we were out once. What are you looking forward to in the next 4 days? G U Y S!!!!!!!!! I GET MY TATTOO TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!! :'''') Also on the same day, I start my TMS therapy, which I have high hopes for. Have you ever gone a whole day without eating? No. Do you sometimes use your music player to help you fall asleep? No, but I did that for years back in middle school. Have you ever had a crush on someone “too young” for you? No. Do you shave your legs more than once a week? Haaaaaaaaa. If you could cuddle with anyone right now, who would you pick? I really wish I could cuddle my late pup Teddy again. :/ I was thinking about that recently. Are you tanned? God no. I never am. Do you try to wear dresses whenever you can? No. I wish I was in a shape where I was comfortable wearing spring dresses again... I had this floral skull one in high school that I adored. Are you wearing something that belongs to someone else? No. Have you ever been called a bitch? Yes. Did you like the person you last kissed when you kissed them? I loved her. Who did you have a meaningful conversation with last? Sara. Do you have feelings for someone? Yeah, but they're like... on a leash, you could say. I don't let 'em run free and wild, and I know that even if nothing comes of those feelings again, it's fine. Are you trying to avoid liking somebody at the moment? I think Jason will be this answer for a very long time, if not forever, given the trauma and all. I have to remind myself frequently that I love his memory, not him, because I don't even know him anymore. It's been YEARS since we spoke. Just like I've changed incredibly, I'm sure he has, too. If you saw life in black & white, would that be okay with you? I mean, it would suck, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. When you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, what kinds of things are you likely to do? How often do you find you have trouble sleeping? I do exactly what you shouldn't do and get back on the laptop. I'd say I most often get on WoW and refresh the auctions I have up because that tends to tire me out because I do that shit manually to avoid any addon mishaps, and I have a looooot to put up as a gold farmer. What was the last lengthy packet you filled out? Something to see if I qualified for a sleep study. Are you a patient person? What is one way you have a lot of patience? What about not very much patience at all? I am NOT patient, at least regarding more trivial things, like sitting in waiting rooms. I do have patience though with other people with more serious things, like getting someone to open up to me. At what time during the day do you tend to feel your best? What about the worst? When I first wake up. It's a "fresh start" and it's nice to feel rested. Plus, I open a fresh can of cold soda as my "coffee" for lack of better word, haha. I'm in my worst mood probably late afternoon/early evening, by which time I am incredibly bored and just dulled down. What was the last thing you did that you wish you could take back or do differently? The last thing... I dunno. How frequently do you stay overnight somewhere that isn’t your own home? What things do you miss about home when you’re away? Do you tend to get homesick easily? Pretty much never. I do miss my room and its privacy when I'm away from home, but I wouldn't say I get homesick all that easily, so long as I have WiFi, haha. Do you tend to eat more in the beginning of the day or at night? Do you have a tendency to snack when you’re bored? If so, what kinds of snacks do you normally go for? Not necessarily the beginning of the day, but definitely more than at night. I am BAD about snacking when I'm extremely bored, but at the very least I'm conscious enough to try and find something semi-healthy, like granola bars, fruits, a scoop of peanut butter, but I also sometimes just eat like... a slice of bread or a tortilla. Horrible choice. I'm a carb fiend and I hate it. If you have any dietary restrictions, do you ever miss foods you can’t have? If not, what’s something you haven’t had for a long time that you wish you could eat again? I thankfully don't have any. I've been craving cheesecake like a madman lately. :< The spicy shrimp fritas from Olive Garden, too. Is there something you still can’t do even though you’re an adult or might be expected to do this thing? I don't have my license, and my driver's permit is even expired. I'm terrified of driving. I also don't have a job, and I can't cook. When was the last time you congratulated someone? Were you happy for them, indifferent, jealous? Uhhh I think someone on Facebook had a baby. Of course I was happy for them. What was the last milestone you reached in your life (graduating, buying a car, starting a family, etc)? What milestone are you going for next, if any? Um... I haven't reached a true milestone in years. Hell, I don't think since I started recovery from the breakup. Do you enjoy getting comments or messages? How likely are you to leave comments or messages for other people? Yeah, it makes me feel cared about. It really depends on the platform on how much I leave other people comments, and I'm extremely shy about messaging, but I'll do it sometimes. When are you most likely to scream (either out of fright, anger, or whatever)? Do you scream or yell often? When was the last time someone screamed at you (or in your presence)? Frustration, for sure. I've screamed into a pillow more than once. I definitely don't yell or especially scream often. I'm sure the last person to yell at me was Mom, but I don't remember about what. What would you say is your STRONGEST emotion? Maybe not the most frequent, but the most intense? And what emotion do you feel most weakly, even if you might feel it more often? I'd saaaay... maybe love. When I love something/someone, I love HARD. I think I experience joy the weakest; it's very muted for me. And lastly, what are you listening to? Is this a band you listen to a lot "The Heretic Anthem" by Slipknot. I wouldn't say I listen to them a lot, but I have been more than usual lately.

[cheemamedicalcomplex]

7 Types Of Cardiovascular Disease

Being the body’s crucial organ, the heart helps to transport oxygen to every part of the body and keeps baleful particles away. Apart from this, it also supplies nutrients and crucial hormones to the different organs of the body. The heart helps in maintaining optimum blood pressure and promotes our well-being. That’s why it’s essential to take care of your heart by eating nutritional foods and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking. In this article know about the different type of Cardiovascular Disease.

Unhealthy eating habits like consuming tobacco and alcohol can affect the heart’s functions. It can lead to increased blood pressure, increased blood glucose, obesity, etc. These are the initial symptoms of cardiovascular disease. These symptoms give you the warning that you are at high risk of heart store or other cardiovascular disease complications. Don’t take the above health issues lightly, as they can become big health problems later on.

As soon as you perceive heart-related symptoms, you should start consuming fruits and vegetables and reduce salt consumption. And bear in mind to consult the best cardiologist near you. They will diagnose the actual heart condition and recommend the right treatment. There are several types of cardiovascular disorders, some of which are the following.

The heart is a special muscle, which beats in a rhythm. The average heart rate of children is 100 beats/min, while for adults normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats/min. But, sometimes heartbeat gets uneven, and this condition is known as Arrhythmia. This problem arises because of smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, anxiety, and a genetic disorder. This condition is also known as dysrhythmia and results in a very rapid or very slow heartbeat. Dysrhythmia can be cured with medication or an ablation procedure.

If you are experiencing heart palpitations, stop eating foods containing caffeine and gluten because they can make the condition worse.

The heart is composed of 4 chambers and four valves; the tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, and aortic valve. These valves help the blood to move correctly from one chamber to another. However, sometimes the valves do not open properly, and this condition is known as Stenosis. The thickening of the flaps of the valve is the main reason behind Stenosis. In such a condition, the heart needs to put extra effort to transmit blood through the affected valve, and due to this, the other parts of the body may not receive sufficient amounts of oxygen.

When the heart valve does not close in the right way and allows blood to leak, such a condition is known as regurgitation. Sometimes this problem is inferior and does not harm the function of the heart, but other times it can be quite complicated. Regurgitation may cause severe heart pain and can lead to heart failure.

A stroke occurs when the brain does not get the required amount of blood supply due to blockage in blood vessels. The insufficient blood supply creates a shortage of oxygen in the nerve cells, due to which these cells begin to destroy. The victim needs immediate treatment in such medical conditions.

A heart attack is a medical emergency in which hearts do not receive optimal blood supply due to blockage in the arteries. This plaque solidifies over time, and the hardening of plaque results in blood clots, which affects the blood flow to the heart.

Many people have a myth that heart failure (or congestive heart failure) means the heart stops working. However, it’s not like that. It is the condition in which the heart keeps pumping but is not able to meet the specific oxygen and blood needs of the body. Cardiovascular Disease or artery disease and high BP is the main cause behind this medical condition. Obese and people above 65 years of age often suffer from heart failure.

The people who eat more fatty food suffer from CAD Coronary artery disease. This health concern is also called ischemic heart disorder. The formation of plaque shrinks them and limits the blood flow to the heart. According to health experts, CAD is the early sign of a heart attack.

Some victims do not have any symptoms of CAD, while some undergo chest pain and breathlessness. Coronary artery disease is a serious clinical condition and should be treated as soon as possible.

Cardiac infection or heat infection is a life-threatening health condition. This health status is also called Endocarditis. Sometimes the outside bacteria and fungus reach the heart via the bloodstream. It can badly damage your heart valves. If the cardiac infection is diagnosed in the early stage, it can be treated with antibiotics. But in case you don’t take this health concern seriously, you may need to undergo valve replacement surgery.

People who already have valve problems or had serious surgery are at high risk of cardiovascular infection. Therefore, they should take extra safety measures; do regular exercise, eat healthy food, limit caffeine, etc.

The Bottom Line:

Treatment for heart disorders depends on the specific condition. If you are experiencing any heart-related issues, you would surely have to change your lifestyle and eating habits. Some heart problems can be treated with medications, while some require surgical procedures. Do not be afraid of a heart specialist recommending you undergo cardiac surgery; it will really help you live a normal life again.

Originally published at https://miska.co.in on February 25, 2021.