hiiii!
some of you might remember me, my name is lauren (: i was here a bit over the summer but things got hectic... lots of dramatic family issues. i sort of temporarily forgot about my weight loss...sorta. i am actually in a really big mess with depression right now - its a thing where i know i have it but i haven't been diagnosed for it because i don't want to be on any more pills than i have to (metformin and loestrin24FE at the moment) and i feel like if i lose weight and fix some of my other issues, it might ease up... although my body image isn't the only reason for the way i've been feeling.

anywho, i've decided to start trying again. i've been wary of it because i have no place to exercise, or atleast that's how it feels. people tell me, "go on a walk!" "do some crunches!" "lift weights!" and i'm like, "how about NO?" why? because i do not want to take my big butt out into the cold (although i have been thinking more of it lately) and i do not want to do crunches because i just don't like them and i don't have money for weights, so there.
i also don't have money for a gym, which really disappoints me sometimes, but i'm a teenager and i have no control over it, so i guess it all sucks for me!

but i'm one of those people who has an excuse for everything when she's confused or hasn't figured out the whole plan yet :P so i've been trying to come up with a way to exercise but i haven't yet, other than walking. i've read that it's best to exercise in the morning... should i be like my P90X-ing math teacher and wake up at 4AM (she seriously exercises this early) to go on a powerwalk!? ****, if i wake up that early i'll surely have ample time to do my hair and makeup afterward, which takes me oh, you know... an hour.

really, though, does anyone have any ideas? what on earth do you do to exercise when your family is super tight on money?

another thing i would like to report is that i am very much liking my metformin and my birth control. my loestrin24FE hasn't given me any trouble whatsoever, which is awesome for me, because the first birth control i was on turned me into a psycho and made me gain 15 lbs. since i haven't been monitoring my weight much (although i know i've probably gained some, since moving back in with my dad, because i now have friends who are close and want to take me to mcdonalds all the time) i don't really know how much the metformin has helped. however, although i don't know if this is the meds or just my brain tricking me, i do feel somewhat happier and more energized when i take my metformin than when i forget and don't.

the good news about my mcdonalds predicament is that my driving friends have just been grounded for being naughty teenagers (i'm an angel! i don't get grounded!) so now i won't have to worry about that!

*big heavy exhale* now that half of my post is done, let's move on to the other things i'd like to discuss... *big heavy inhale*

does anyone have any breakfast ideas? i've found that i really enjoy eating on the go because 1. i do not overeat, 2. i love breakfast food way too much to cook it every day, 3. i just don't have time to cook every day so what i've been eating has fueled me until lunch...however, i don't know how good it is.
because i usually only have a few minutes to grab something and get out the door, i've been taking a water bottle, a can of V8 fusion, 1 - 2 string cheeses and a handful of pretzels. it works to keep me energized and i dug in my memory for some of the teachings from my Insulin Resistance Diet book, and thought, "cheese is protein, pretzels are carbs, kay lets go to the bus!" i added the V8's in because i like thinking i get a nice serving of fruits and vegetables (although i haven't researched to see if this is for real yet or not, is it? i always thought V8 was good stuff...) with the water, i just drink that throughout the morning until lunch when i get a new one... 'cause i like water.

and SO, my other concern is this...
so breakfast goes fine, lunch goes fine, and everything's good. and then i come home from school and i get HUNGRY. it's either real stomach hunger, or just plain old head hunger. most of the time it's the head hunger that screams "CARBS! CARBS! CARBS!" and i consequently feast upon the junk food available in my house. does anyone have any good ideas on how to fix this, other than locking myself out of the kitchen?


thanks! i know this was a really super long post, but that's what happens when you leave for five months and come back...

Wow that is a lot of energy bouncing around there! HAHA

Welcome.

Just a few things. Seriously go for a walk. that will help lots for exercise. You do not need to get up at 4am and walk in the dark and cold, do it after school

Stay away from V8 Fusion. Read and article a few weeks ago, it is one of the highest sugar/calorie drinks out there, disguised as healthy. String cheese is good, oatmeal is good

Carbs trigger hunger (the bad ones anyway). Check out some of the other forums, there are food suggestions everywhere, there are also exercise ones.

Other than that welcome!

Walking is free, you can do it anytime. If you have an ipod or mp3, plug in and dance around. You can find line dancing videos on you tube. Weights, fill up some empty 1/2 gallon or gallon jugs, with water, free weights. There are yoga videos on you tube. Go to the library and read mags, like Shape, Womens Fitness, etc, take notes. Go to the library and read mags, like, Shape, Womens Fitness, etc, and take notes on the workouts.
I found a great Power Yoga work out in Shape a few months ago. I do it in a 10x10 space, it's a killer, but it's working.

As far as breakfast, my mornings are very hectic, so my go to, is 98% ff turkey or ham lunchmeat, on Sara Lee 45 calorie whole grain bread with a swipe of low fat mayo, fresh spinach, a slice of tomato and a slice of fat free cheese.

Welcome back!

I'm also all about easy meals. Apples are great for me -- easy to carry, doesn't spoil easy, don't get easily mushed, and I can eat the skin (no peeling required!).

I also cook boiled eggs (good protein!) ahead of time and then take them to go with me. A little harder to eat than the apple, but it's a good low-cal way of getting filling breakfast.

I would also stick to water, no juices.

Your afternoon CARB craving is because your lunch is probably too high in carbs and you need a protein snack in the afternoon. Those eggs might come in handy then. But really, anything with protein -- peanut butter and celery is a good option too. Cheese and apple. Greek yogurt plain with fruit. Cottage cheese (full fat) with fruit. Smoothie with protein powder.

Welcome Back! I am most definitely NOT a teenager anymore, and I can't afford a gym either. So, I have been using the local high school. I just head out there in the evening, and walk/jog now for a mile, then walk back. Luckily, I live in the city, so the High School is 4 blocks away.

If you are attending high school, can you just get there a little early, or stay a little late and walk on the track? Also, if there is a sports program, they probably have a gym somewhere on campus. It is an option (maybe not a great one, but an option)

The fusion drinks taste great, but LazyLioness is right. They are sugar traps. I am not exactly sure how PCOS shows its symptoms, but I am on metformin too, and juice drinks are definitely not good choices for me.
Breakfast that may help is,
hard boiled egg, or egg white, string cheese, an actual apple, orange, or some other piece of fruit or vegetable. (The idea is to be chewing your calories, rather than drinking them... helps with the feeling full thing) I just did the math on that and If you had the whole egg, one piece of string chees and an apple, you are looking at 222 calories. A little light in calories, but you can add extra things to bulk it up.

By the way, I think it is fantastic that you are on here looking up information and taking a role in your health so early on. It is an important habit, and will help in the long run. Good luck!

Wow...
Ok here's what I do -
I have NO money and spend any on Great fresh food... Packaged stuff has too many additives that can secretly make you hungry and addicted!!!
Exercise - Shcirerf - Great Idea... I use Tins/cans dog food as free weight... can start light and work your way up to the big tins! or use anycontainer that can contain liquid or sand - and just get your body moving - thats the important thing... even things like if you're standing doing the dishes? put some music on and move... everything counts!!
Breakfast?? well i personally hate a high protein breaky but know that its better for me!! eggs are great - can be boiled the day before. or fresh fruit (but watch those high in fructose!! like grapes!) high fibre - apples!! or even better RAW vege!! carrots, celery, broccoli-
Best of luck if you would like some good recipes let me know!

Here is a link (it's a good, health related link!) to a ten minute workout that anyone can do, barring any health concerns: http://www.fitsugar.com/Home-Workout...Minutes-248857

As for brekkie... I have a meal replacement. But I have trouble with breakfast most days. Even if my stomach says huuuuungry, my mind is like, eeeewwwww. So, yes, meal replacements for me.

thanks guys (((:
i found protein shakes in my fridge, so as for breakfast replacements... well, they didn't do much for me. atleast not all morning. when i get hungry i get to feeling kind of light-headed and sick... it's not fun. i feel like going into hybernation. so i drank one, it was 300 calories, and it didn't keep me sustained until lunch, so i was like meh. i tried it, didn't work, oh well.

i really like the cheap weight ideas HAHAH! thanks P:

anyway, i agree with you JMsilver, breakfast isn't my thing either. i love breakfast foods, but in the morning? no way.

as for the gym at the high school... of course we have the track, but the walk to the high school itself would be long enough (i live in the urbs.) we have a weight lifting room, but no actual gym. i totally wish we did. ):

i've also been remembering to take my 3rd nightly metformin dose... i feel a lot better lately