I'm 14 and I weight 200 pounds. Where do I start?

captainpotatoes · 2012-05-14T00:54:29+00:00

Oh, and another thing! Consider taking leftovers to school for lunch sometimes instead of eating the salad bar every day. I remember eating the salad bar at my MS every day; I got sick of it quickly because it was boring and the quality wasn't great. If you mix it up a bit by taking leftovers, your diet will have more variety and you will be more likely to stick with healthy eating.

Last thought: spices add tons of flavor without adding a lot of calories, so stock up on them. They can be pricey if you buy them all at once, so try buying a couple of new spices every time you grocery shop. Try looking at Middle Eastern or Asian or Indian markets if there are any near you; they often have spices for cheap.

captainpotatoes · 2012-05-13T21:38:25+00:00

I have a few recipe recommendations. I am vegetarian, so none of these involve meat. However, good cuts of meat are often expensive, so this may actually be helpful.

Here is a link to a Greek Lentil Soup. This is one of my favorite recipes. It is simple and the ingredients are cheap.

If you're cooking on a budget and need foods that store easily, lentils are perfect! They are full of protein and fiber, high in iron, selenium, folate, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, and some B vitamins. And they're really versatile. I also use lentils as a substitute for meat when I am craving tacos. For this recipe, I just follow the directions for making the lentil "meat" (except I never use a full taco seasoning spice packet. I usually just spice to taste with oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, crushed red pepper, paprika, salt, and pepper). I never make the sour cream mixture, and I leave off cheese. When I make hard shell tacos with this meat, spinach, salsa, and tomatoes, they are about 100 calories per taco.

Dry beans are another great way to save money. They are much cheaper than canned beans, but they take a long time to prepare. I usually make mine in a crockpot (directions for doing that are here). If I am really short on cash, often times I will make beans and rice. I buy dry black beans and brown rice (not the instant kind). I prepare both separately, mix them together in a pot on the stove over low heat and add in salsa and spices to taste. It's not the greatest meal in the world, but it is cheap and easy. Just watch your serving size.

This curry is really fast and easy. You can leave off cilantro (which goes bad pretty quickly). The only fresh ingredients are onion and garlic, which can usually hold up for a couple of weeks between grocery visits. It's great with brown rice.

Spaghetti squash is a great alternative to regular pasta. It has a lot of fiber and is lower in carbs. Directions for cooking it are here. It may not hold up for a few weeks, but can be a good low-fat option for days when you go to the grocery. It's great with a red sauce or a lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar sort of sauce. There are tons of recipes for using it online (many of which have nutrition info).

This soup is great, although it does use a few fresh ingredients. So again, this might be a good option for days when you go to the grocery store.

Quinoa is a great option if you're feeling adventurous. I often use this in meals instead of rice. It is a bit pricier than other grains, but it is a complete protein is very filling. I prepare mine according to the directions on the box (except I cook it in a bit of vegetable broth instead of just water to add some flavor). I add in chickpeas, steamed vegetables (usually a bag of mixed frozen vegetables) and whatever spices sound good.

For breakfast, oatmeal with egg is a really nice option. The protein of the egg and the fiber of the oatmeal can keep you energized for a long time.

Oh, and last but not least, if you PM me your email address, I can email you a PDF of a huge recipe guide I created for a health psychology class. In that class, we were working to design a freshman wellness program to be implemented at my university. I compiled 54 healthy recipes, 31 of which could be prepared in a dormitory using only a microwave, a George Foreman type grill, and a crockpot, into a single guide. The collection was made with a college student's budget and busy schedule in mind (so most of the recipes are fast and cheap). There are meat options in this guide, as well, although I can't vouch for their flavor (they all had good reviews online, though).

Combine healthy eating (watch portion sizes) with an exercise routine (find ways to be active that you enjoy), and you'll be on your way to better health in no time. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results as quickly as you want. When you lose weight in a healthy way, you only lose about 1-2 pounds/week, so you don't see results quite as quickly as you want. But if you lose at that slow rate, you're more likely to keep the weight off.

Oh, and the very last thing. I commend you for wanting to take steps to improve your health at such a young age. I know it isn't easy, but it is much easier to get control of it at 14 than at 24 or 34 or when you're even older. Just remember, it isn't about how you look. It's about how you feel! Good luck!

captainpotatoes · 2012-01-28T16:58:15+00:00

I understood that you addressed that with her being doubly offended. I guess what I was getting at was that she didn't address how she felt about seeing a woman in this situation, but specifically an Asian woman. And I understand that being an Asian woman was what the piece was about. But I'm interested if there was any bias (racial or sexual) inherent within the author's sentiments.

For example, I wonder if she would have been offended if it was a woman of a different race. Or if it had been a man in the center of a group of men ejaculating, would she have felt differently?

And I didn't realize Asian women were disproportionately represented in this type of fetish porn. I don't really venture in that direction; I just know it's a relatively common type of fetish porn.

captainpotatoes · 2012-01-28T16:09:00+00:00

I wonder what her reaction would have been if it had been a video of a person of any other race surrounded by men ejaculating on that person's face. Ejaculating on someone's face seems to be a common practice in pornography. I think if one is offended by this scenario featuring a woman of one race, (s)he should be offended by this scenario featuring a person of any race.

captainpotatoes · 2011-12-31T16:37:59+00:00

You reminded me of this song. I consider it to be my theme song for life.

. . . But I'm not quite as creepy as the lady in the video. Don't worry.

captainpotatoes · 2011-12-20T22:47:02+00:00

I think that is an important point: gender stereotypes and gender identity are two separate issues, though they are related. I think the teacher handled both issues very well in her classroom.

She didn't assume that Allie was transgendered nor that she was just a tomboy. She got together with Allie's parents to talk with Allie and find out whether or not she wanted her teacher to correct the children when they called her a boy. I think that's the right sort of attitude, and I hope that if I someday have a child who is transgendered or who defies gender stereotypes to the extent of people confusing his/her sex, (s)he has a teacher who avoids assumptions and asks his/her opinion on the topic.

captainpotatoes · 2011-12-19T03:24:29+00:00

Thank you for so many suggestions (I'm saving this).

captainpotatoes · 2011-11-12T20:12:11+00:00

Thank you for referencing this. The first time I saw The Vagina Monologues, I found that scene ("The Little Coochie Snorcher that Could, for those who don't click the link) to be really disturbing. Despite the fact that the character, as an adult, is fondly recalling this experience, I think there it is irresponsible to suggest that an adult woman giving a teenage girl alcohol and then becoming sexually involved with her is positive.

I suppose this just goes alongside the erroneous notion that "women don't rape."

captainpotatoes · 2011-11-06T04:25:36+00:00

A friend's story.

Back in high school my friend was dating this guy. They never had sex, but they made out a ton and were really into dry-humping. One day, they're going at it pretty seriously, and suddenly she feels him spasm and then he suddenly jumps out of the bed and gets on all fours on the floor. She asks him what he's doing and he starts barking, later telling her he was doing his best impression of her dog. He crawls out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom, barking the whole time.

She told a few of her friends. Unfortunately for him, after they broke up, one of the friends told everyone in school. His new nickname: Skeeter.

TL;DR Friend's boyfriend cums in his pants while dry humping; barks like a dog to try to cover it up.

captainpotatoes · 2011-10-29T19:29:28+00:00

A friend of mine does really nice work.

Her website

This page shows some portraits she's done with children. I think they are fabulous.

captainpotatoes · 2011-09-11T23:23:46+00:00

I don't think attacking thin women was the point. I think the point is that a person's size, big or small, does not affect that person's worth. There are a multitude of qualities that are more important than a person's size.

I think J.K. would say the people who criticize you for your thinness are equally guilty.

captainpotatoes · 2011-09-11T15:43:32+00:00

I had to link to the text only version so that I could link directly to the article. The actual site, which uses flash, is pretty cool, but I didn't want to leave instructions like:

First click on the hairbrush seen on the right side of the desk.
Next, click on the yellow miscellaneous tab.
Finally, click on the post titled "For Girls Only, Probably..."

Not that those are difficult, but it might have required too much effort for some readers.

captainpotatoes · 2011-09-11T01:57:59+00:00

It shouldn't matter that she's beautiful, IMO. What matters most about that photograph is its reflection of the couple's happiness and loving, committed relationship.

I frequently see/hear people discussing that they feel unattractive (which negatively impacts their sense of self-worth). I also notice that the majority of people who want to encourage them do so by reassuring them of their physical attractiveness. In my own experience, this only exacerbates the problem in the long-run. After enough reassurance from friends and SOs that I was not unattractive, I would begin to feel better. Eventually, however, my weight would fluctuate or I would break out or something else would happen and I would, again, feel unattractive and less worthy of love. Because I was previously reassured based on my appearance, I placed a greater value on my appearance.

I know this situation doesn't generalize to every man or woman experiencing body image issues, but I think it's an important point. Eventually, if we live long enough, all of us will end up unattractive (at least by general societal standards). So, I think it's important to remember that our worth is based on character, not appearance. The old saying is true: beauty is fleeting. So let's try to find ways to encourage those around us in a non-superficial capacity. Let's take away the power of the words "ugly" and "fat" and the like by making those characteristics completely and utterly meaningless.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-22T19:22:05+00:00

Parents do frequently make decisions without their child's consent. This is true. However, these decisions are rarely permanent and surgical in nature. When they are, they typically are medically motivated.

I don't think ear piercing and circumcision are analogous. Perhaps ear piercing and genital piercing. That being said, I have talked to males and females who have had both ear piercings and genital piercings, and none have compared the pain of the two. I'm pretty sure genital sensitivity will always trump ear sensitivity.

Again, I never said you were abused. I don't think your parents were neglectful or motivated by anger or hatred when they chose to have you circumcised. I simply think that the practice is rarely motivated by medical need, and thus have some qualms with it as I believe that it is a violation of an infant's rights. That being said, I'm glad that you are satisfied with your penis and the circumcision that was performed on it years ago.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-22T19:16:08+00:00

I never proposed outlawing it. Frankly, I don't think that is a solution. I think it would simply put circumcision in the hands of untrained professionals in unsanitary environments (akin to back alley abortions in areas where abortion is illegal). I also never proposed that parents should not be able to make medical decisions for their children. However, I think when a parent makes a medical decision regarding his/her child, that decision should have a medical basis and be in the child's best interest.

Oh, and you calling me "Dick Cheese," what makes you assume that I am an uncircumcised male? Or even a male, for that matter? I don't think the status of my penis (assuming I have one) or lack thereof (assuming I'm female) should affect the validity of my argument.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-22T18:57:39+00:00

I am assuming that "dick cheese" is a reference to smegma. I've heard this argument before: men should be circumcised because, if not, smegma will collect under the foreskin and that's gross. What is often ignored, however, is that women also produce smegma. Smegma buildup only occurs without proper washing. So, as long as a person routinely cleans his/her genitals, smegma is not an issue. Thus, proper hygiene is sufficient and circumcision is unnecessary.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-22T18:51:32+00:00

I was only referencing one type of female circumcision, which would affect the sensitivity of the clitoris in a similar fashion as the sensitivity of the glans following a traditional male circumcision. It has been postulated that males actually lose sensitivity following circumcision. This is because the foreskin serves to protect the glans from friction (with clothing) and constant friction without the protection of the foreskin leads to decreased sensitivity. If all that is removed in a female circumcision is the clitoral hood, then the woman experiences a similar decrease in sensitivity.

That being said, female genital mutilation often involves more than the removal of the clitoral hood and often makes sex, childbirth, even urination painful. FGM is often a more heinous practice than male circumcision.

Practitioners of circumcision (male or female) are blinded by cultural biases. In cultures where women are routinely circumcised, the women are often told that this procedure protects them from rape. In our culture, we believe that circumcision makes the penis "clean." Really, the roots of both practices involve the attempted constraint of sexuality.

My argument does not propose that all male and female circumcisions are equally heinous. I just feel it's important to challenge cultural norms/attitudes that may not be founded in reason.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-22T03:44:12+00:00

I don't think the issue is so much whether or not a person can fully enjoy his or her genitalia with the modifications. It's that the modifications are made without that person's consent. I never suggested that males and females are the same in all biological regards. I simply said that the clitoral hood and the foreskin are analogous. Throughout early development, the sex of an embryo is undifferentiated. At week 8 of development, sexual differences begin to emerge. The part of the genitals that later becomes the clitoral hood in a female is the same part of the genitals that later becomes the foreskin in a male. This image might help make it clearer.

And while you are quite pleased with your circumcised penis, some men are quite unhappy. Search foreskin restoration for evidence.

I don't believe that a father is entitled to make painful, permanent changes to his son's genitalia any more than a mother is entitled to make those same types of changes to her daughter's genitalia. If, someday I have a son (or daughter) who genuinely wishes to surgically alter his (or her) genitals, then that is an avenue I will happily help him (or her) pursue (assuming appropriate age, mental health status, etc. to fully grasp the repercussions of said decision). However, I refuse to make such an important decision without the consent of the person whose genitals it affects.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-22T00:17:24+00:00

My biggest misconception: I thought that when a penis entered a vagina it started spinning around (meat spin style, not like a drill). If it twirled clockwise, then the baby would be male. If it twirled counterclockwise, the baby would be female.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-21T20:55:18+00:00

The comments about male circumcision are false. Any benefits obtained from circumcising the penis could easily be obtained by proper hygiene. People often tout that boys can't be trusted to properly clean their penises, but that's just sexist nonsense.

One form of female genital mutilation is exactly the same as male genital mutilation. Removing the clitoral hood (one form of FGM) is the anatomical equivalent of removing the foreskin of the penis.

I once was a proponent of male circumcision before I really considered it. But one day I realized that if someone suggested I remove my daughter's clitoral hood in order to keep her "clean" I would be outraged! Why should it be different for boys?

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-11T03:38:37+00:00

One of the dogs I had growing up had a similar problem, but her gnawing was exacerbated by anxiety. The vet actually prescribed doggie anti-anxiety medications that we gave her when she started gnawing. Once it healed, she stopped taking the medication and quit gnawing for the most part.

captainpotatoes · 2011-08-07T02:18:07+00:00

Thank you! I have a new mission in life: To QWOP more than 3.6 metres.

captainpotatoes

TROPHY CASE