Burn that Tofurkey Off

Ok, so I know I was going to post my Turkey Day feast, and I will-I promise, I just have to download the photos. I will try to get to it tonight. Until then, here is some work out inspiration. The first one is celebs working out. People always act like celebs are different then non-celebs in terms of looks and what not, but really the only difference is that they have way more pressure to keep fit because they are always being judged by the public. They also are sort of paid to keep their looks “up”. Anyway, celebs I think are WAY busier then the average person, but they find the time, so that is the real inspiration. You got to act like working out is a part of your job!!!

The next vid is just some tummy and butt exercises! Your core supports your entire body so be good to it. As for your behind-well, I’m not so sure, but who doesn’t want a pretty back side??

Missing you Raw, love Holly J

Dear Raw Food,

We use to see each other all the time. I felt better when you were around. My skin was better. I had crazy energy. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why I turned to cooking you again-because I’m cold and busy-I don’t feel like freakin dehydrating you. Now I’m sick. My face looks awful. What shall I do? I know talk is cheap, but I’m going to come back to you- really really soon. I just need to get through this holiday.

Missin you,

Holly J

Happy Monday everyone. As you can see, I don’t feel too well this morning. I really think its because I’ve run out of my liquid vitamins and also because I have not been eating as much raw. I have a salad pretty much every day, but I use to get a lot more fruit and I’m not these days- no wonder my skin looks like shit. Oh well- we can only move on from here.

Last night I skipped my vegan diet so I could sample an avocado salad at this Japanese Restaurant.

This thing reminded me a lot of cole slaw, with avocado on top. It was very good. I enjoyed it. I honestly do not miss eating dairy/animal products, but it’s fun to forgo the vegan thing now and again-just so I can try different things. My girlfriend and I went down to the MoMa, which was a lot of fun. There was a lot of new stuff there and we walked around for a good three hours. You can imagine why I felt famished by the time we left the place. We went to a Japanese in St. Marks Place. It was very good. I ordered a Mango Sake Slush.

I don’t like to drink very much. I always get depressed after I drink, and I think its just so many calories- that it’s a pointless thing to do. However. every now and again, it is very fun to go out with your friend and kick back a few, just for the sake of it. I had not really drank since I went out for my same friends birthday (I did have a vodka and cranberry a few weeks back, but whatever), so it was nice to just go a little “crazy”. Oh, just in case you’re wondering, I ordered a avocado roll, along with the salad, slush, and a bowl of Miso soup.

I really am tired, but I am determined to get my work out on! Full day ahead of me-need the extra energy boost, and since I am feeling a little sick, exercise can help nix that as exercise is proven to help strengthen the immune system.

Count down to Thanksgiving

Ok, this week is the big Tday!! I don’t do turkey-I don’t dairy and I don’t do wheat or high calorie cuisine-no, not even during the holidays. Keeping all this in mind, I am determined to contribute to my family meal, with some delicious, low calorie, vegan dishes. I wanted to attempt raw, but think I shouldn’t this year-just in case something goes wrong.

I have been scoring the next for ideas, and here what I think I will be making. First off, I will be making salad-ya know the deal, mixed greens, tomatoes, seasoned tofu chunks, and yellow peppers and salted cucumbers chopped very fine.

Now, for the rest of the contribution, here is what I’m thinking. The first recipe is inspired by a blog post over at Citron & Vanille

The recipe calls for walnuts, but I’m allergic to them, so I’m thinking of adding almond slivers instead, and instead of shallots, I’m going to use purple onions. I may add little broccoli florets as well. More then likely to avoid a rice cooking disaster, I’m going to use microwavable wild rice (I know, I know, but I’m a big believer in making things semi-homemade. I’m a modern chef). The next dish I am going to make is mashed cauliflower. My mother may make roasted veggies or mashed potatoes and she said she was going to use vegan friendly products, but I know how my mother goes a little “batty” in the kitchen. Plus I don’t using olive oil, and I know that my mom does. Because I am only one person at the dinner, I don’t feel right in having her make things the way I only like them, so I am going to take matters into my own hands, so we all can be happy.

The mashed cauliflower comes from the blog Food o Mundo

The recipe calls for parm cheese and sour cream, and balsamic vinegar, but I’m nixing those. I’m going to use vegan sour cream and vegan parm, and make a vegan friendly gravy. Vegan cheese and sour cream are mad low in calories, especially when compared to their dairy counterparts, and cauliflower is very very good for you because it has vitamin C and folate and has disease fighting properties.

As for dessert, apart of me wants to make two dishes- wheat free, vegan pumpkin spice cupcakes and peanut butter pumpkin vegan brownies, but I have decided that it will be too much because I know my mom is going to make a lot of pies and whatnot. I’m going for the brownies, and I’m also going to add raw whip cream. The brownies will not be totally vegan because of the chocolate, but the rest of ingredients will be.

Natalie’s Killer Cuisine has a great looking recipe that I have been waiting to try.

I’m going to use Ener-G instead of eggs, and I am going to substitute some of the sugar with some stevia. I’ll also use vegan butter. I have not decided whether I will use the peanut butter you grind yourself or plane old skippy. Probably skippy, just to cut on cost. OR, I can use skinny peanut butter. Yep, think I may use skinny peanut butter.

As for the whipped cream, I found the recipe over at Choosing Raw. I’m going to stick to the recipe given on the blog.

Make sure to check by with me to find out how my creations turned out and to see my own pictures!!!
Special thanks to all the blogs I have mentioned in this post and whose pictures I have used. Make sure to check them out. You can also find them on foodbuzz! They are all very very cool.

Sushi for One

Last night I took myself to dinner after class. I went to this place called Tokyo Sushi. I’ve been there before, and each time I have gone there I have enjoyed my meal. It has been a long time since I have gone out to dinner alone. It was nice. I sat at the sushi bar. The chef gave me a free sample appetizer while I waited for my actual meal. It was cucumber, maybe some spicy type of pickle or relish, with something crispy, rolled up in a piece of lettuce. I’m not sure what it was, but I ate it. It was good.

For my actual dinner, I ordered a cup of miso soup (I have had miso soup SO many times this week-so good), an avocado roll with brown rice and a sweet potato roll with brown rice.

Replacing white sushi rice for brown rice can cost a little more, but it is worth it. Brown rice has WAY more nutritional value, but taste just as good:)

The chef gave a separate little dish of sauce for the sweet potato roll. It was sort of syrupy-very sweet-very good. I used it to dip by avocado roll too;)

Avocado is a perfect food-it has good fat, protein, fiber and health carbs. I use to eat a little avocado for breakfast back int the day.

I really enjoyed my meal, and I ate pretty much all of it- I was HUNGRY!!! Best of it all was that it only cost me $9.99, which I find a real deal.

Next week is Thanksgiving, and I have to figure out what am I going to meet. I have to find some savory vegan, low calorie dishes, that take minimum effort. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I love potatoes, so I’m thinking of making mashed potatoes and parsnips with vegan butter and vegan sour cream. I could just eat that and salad and be totally satisfied. My advice for staying temperate on Thanksgiving day is just to remind yourself that the food is not going to sprout legs and walk off. There is no need to gorge yourself during the actual meal. Realize you’ll be dining ever so fine for probably a month and a half (thanks to the rest of the holidays coming up). If you must try every dish, just try a soup spoon full. This way you can taste a little bit of everything, without going crazy calorie wise. I really want to keep it vegan this year, so I’ll more then likely just be having the stuff I make. My mother will be doing cooking too, she sometimes adds stuff to the food I don’t want to eat. My goal is to keep the meal clean and simple. Lots of fresh vegetables- aka salad. A little bit of parsnips/potatoes, and perhaps a pumpkin cupcake for dessert (which I will be making vegan and gluten friendly).

Ok, I must go.

Wheat Free Fettuccine and Vegetarian Friendly Meat Sauce

Cucina Antica Foods make very yummy sauces and tonight their Vodka Sauce helped me to create s super easy, super tasty, super low cal meal. Unfortunately Cucina Antica uses organic heavy cream in this particular sauce (at least its organic), so this is not a vegan friendly sauce. However, you can use another type of sauce that does not have dairy as apart of its ingredients list. Veganism is still fairly new to me, and sometimes I forget to check the ingredient list on products-opps!! On the plus note, the sauce is only 66 calories for a half a cup serving, which is pretty good, considering that some sauces can pack 100 cals plus, especially ones like vodka sauce.

Fettuccine n veggie meat sauce, with Steamed Broccoli on the side

Ingredients
- One package of Tofu Noodles, fettuccine style
- One serving of Caribbean style tofu
-One bottle of vodka sauce
-One small head of broccoli

(serves 1)

I don’t like to hang around the kitchen just waiting, so I begin to start boiling my water first. As you probably know, it can take a little time for water to boil (because it is a small amount of pasta, I suggest using a smaller pot), so while I allow the water to do its thang, I hit the shower. Note, I take a five-eight minute shower. By the time I am out and dried, slathered in Bath n Body Woks lotion, and in my sweats, the water is good to go. You can lower the flame a little bit while until you are ready to do the noodles. Do NOT place the noodles in right away. They only take 3-4 minutes to prepare, and should be left till next minutes.

Next, steam you’re broccoli. Rice it first and then rip the florets off the stalk and place them into a place that has a little bit of water on a low to medium heat. Cover with a lid, and it will be perfect by the time everything else is ready
The key to this dish is the sauce. If you have read my blog you know I am a big fan of seasoned Tofu. If you’re not into the Caribbean flavor (very spicy), try out some other flavor. I have seen tofu in peanut sauce for you Thai lovers, and you can even find tofu Italian sausage. Choose whatever flavor suits your palette. You could always be brave and do the non-flavored tofu, especially if you feel confident that you know the right seasonings to give it some zip. Tofu is a “canvas” food, which means it takes on the flavor of whatever food you mix it with. It may be also important for me to mention that there are veggie meat substitutes that you can find and many health food stores. Unfortunately, most of these products are made with gluten protein, which you’re more then likely want to avoid if you are sensitive to wheat, such as myself.

Take a serving of tofu (1/4 of the block), and break it up with a fork. Place it and the sauce in a pan, and place it on a medium heat. If you cover the pan, it should only take about five-to eight minutes to heat up. Sprinkle a little basil on top of it if you so desire (I certainly did).

Veggie meat sauce-it looks just like the meat version and taste (in my opinion) even better!

Now bring your water up to a boil again (should only take a minute now), and after thoroughly rinsing the tofu noodles (unless you like that funky smell), place them into the water. I suggest adding a little bit of salt and olive oil to the water (to help with taste and prevent the noodles from sticking). While the noodles boil check the sauce. It will probably be ready. Turn off the heat, but keep the lid on so it will remain warm.

Once the noodles are done, drain, and toss some sauce onto it. I didn’t use all the sauce (hooray for leftovers). Place on a plate, along with the broccoli (which should be complete by now as well).

Just posting these pictures makes me want to make myself the dish all over again. It was seriously that good! I know it looks like a huge meal, and it sort of is, but its so light in calories and is pure vegetable and protein that you’re not going to feel weighed down, just satisfied. This is a meal I recommend if you just really feel like having a nice, warm, comforting meal. I made this when I was done working out and was gearing up to work on a paper for school. If you are wondering how many calories is in this dish, we can do the math together.
A whole package of tofu noodles in 40 calories, and a serving of sauce is 66 calories. That means that is 106 calories. A serving of the tofu I use is 100 cals, which ups the intake to 206 cals. I’m not sure how many cals are in the broccoli. I want to say around 60. So the meal would be roughly between 260- and 300 calories (because of the veggie parm and the vegan butter I had to add because I forgot to put oil in the freakin water and my noodles where sticking). However, the meal is actually less, at least mine was, because I didn’t eat all the sauce, which means I did not eat the full serving of tofu. Anyway, I think it is fair to say this is a pretty healthy, waist friendly meal. Compared to the non vegetarian, wheat versions of this dish you save yourself so much unhealthy fat and calories, it isn’t freaking funny. Seriously, if you’re a pasta lover, dump that wheat stuff and get on the tofu noodle band wagon. I was horrified when I learned how pathetic a serving of pasta was, especially for the calories. Do yourself a favor and hook yourself up with the tofu noodles, where you can eat an actually satisfying serving of it that won’t make you feel all bloated and whatnot-who wants that??

Anyway I am in the middle of writing a paper and watching Beverly Hills 90210 on my DVR. I got to jet.

The busy girl’s menu

I’ve been running around like mad and trying to save money, which means I have been 1)Not buying food as much and 2)When I do, my list are very very simple-as you will see. Anything that takes a lot of time is just not a interest right now. I want to do minimal cutting, minimal chopping, minimal washing or standing over the stove. I’m busy people! I’m busy!

Carrots, purple cabbage, tomatoes and romaine lettuce

Purple cabbage, carrots, avocados and arugula

Instant miso soup-I used to packets (they're only 35 cals a serving)

I’ve been eating a lot of non-dairy ice cream, generally made with coconut milk

Purely Decadent is dairy free, made from coconut milk and so GOOD

Im really into the Mint Chip flavor

I like to use this stuff for my shakes. I use a serving of it, along with hemp powder, mint extract and water- makes a pretty good faux peppermint patty shake.

I attempted to cook something the other day-Broccoli and Noodles.

I first used two small stalks of broccoli and instead of placing them into a little water to steam, I placed them into a pot of sauce, on a medium flame.

I let it cook for a good ten minutes, maybe fifteen. I added some vegan parm cheese when it was done, just so it would be a little more like american italian cuisine.

Don't forget to salt and pepper the sauce

What’s great about this sort of dish is that even though the sauce becomes hot, the broccoli florets only cook a little bit (remember to cook them on a medium low heat-like 4), which works out well, because they sort of soak up the sauce taste, but are still pretty firm when you bite into it, which means that they are still retaining a big chunk of their nutrients-which you want.

I placed my masterpiece on top of some tofu fettuccine noodles.

I don't know why people bother with regular pasta anymore! Tofu noodles are only 40 cals a packet, mostly protien and really very delicious!

Anyway, I hope all of you had a great weekend. I spent mine in my apartment, working on homework. I did break for a little bit on Sunday to work out, and I took some random joy rides, but other then that I have been laying low. I was sopose to go to a party, but I have so much work to get done- I couldn’t go in good conscious. Anyway, I have to go and begin my day-it’s Monday.

Raw Gelato: Product Review

I love ice cream. It is the one thing that I am most likley to break my veganism for. It’s just so sweet and creamy and cool, and just so delicious, that I am sure that even the most die hard vegans can understand that when I have forsaken my vegan ways it is because I have come face to face with ice cream, in no down some delectable flavor that contains peanut butter.

Now anyone who has read my blog knows I love coconut milk and all the new products made from the it, like Coconut Bliss non-dairy ice cream. However, it is nice to have variety and it is for this reason I am presenting to you the most yummy, RAW, gelato, one could hope to find. Have you ever heard of Organic Nectars? Well consider yourself now in the know. This company makes the most creamiest, roll your eyes back into your head with delight gelato, all out of raw cashews, other nut butters and agave nectar.

This treat cost me 8 bucks and some change, but it's under 190 calories per serving and packed full of taste, which makes it worth it!

I came across this stuff today at my favorite health food store. I had been on the hunt for some coconut ice cream, either by So delicious or coconut bliss, but when I saw this stuff I decided I needed to give it a try. The only flavor they had was mint chocolate chip, but that was fine by me, because I’m a fan of the flavor and I figure a little scoop of the stuff, along with hemp powder, coconut milk and a splash of peppermint extract and I’d have one sik chocolate chip milk shake.
When I got home, I opened up the container, grabbed a spoon and sampled a little taste.

Nut butters, raw cashews, raw cocoa and agave make this treat incredible and healthy

What did it taste like?? Like I never needed to step foot into another creamary again! Whomever said vegan food wasn’t as good as animal based food obviously never tried Organic Nectars products. So having said this, run out to your local health food stores asap and see if they carry this gem of a dessert. If they don’t, request it! You’ll be really glad you did!

Butternut Squash Soup for Dummies and The Kind Diet

What’s up people. Before I get to the pics of some of the food I have been making and munching on this week, I wanted to share this vid with you all! Alicia Silverstone has recently come out with a new cookbook. It’s called the Kind Diet. It’s all vegan recipes. I don’t have the book, but from what I have seen from various interviews it looks worth checking out.

For some people, veganism is a way to loose weight. While some people do loose weight when they cut out meat or all animal products, any form of vegetarianism is not a sure fire way to loose weight. Diet that is high in vegetables and fruits tend to be lower in calories then diets filled with meat and diary. However, calories are calories and portions are portions, so one should always be conscious, regardless!

Now on to the soup. A few post ago I gave a recipe for Raw Butternut Squash soup. As you all know, I fully advocate raw living, but on those days you’re just not interested or want to be very simple (complete raw meals that mock cooked meals can sometime require a little prep work), here is a recipe that is sure to please.

Butternut Squash Soup For Dummies

Ingredients
- Butternut squash chopped into chunks
-1/4 cup of coconut milk
-seasons like salt, pepper and spike

All you have to do is chopped up your squash and place it into a pot that has about 1/4 cup of boiling water. Let the squash cook till it is tender- I gave mine 8 minutes, and then drain the pot and place butternut squash into your blender.

Add the milk and blend. You may have to stop your machine a few times (unless you have the ever coveted Vitamixer) just to mash up the vegetable. It will begin to take on a smooth thick consistency. Add your seasonings and then eat!!

If you are like me, and try to avoid the annoyance of chopping vegetables, many supermarkets sell pre-chopped veggies, and sometimes you can find butternut squash already prepped for you!

Buying things pre-chopped can be a bit more expensive, but for me its worth it, because when I’m, hungry, I’m hungry and the less time I have to take making my food the better!

This is a very thick soup, but you won't feel waited down, just satisfied

I didn’t expect to be eating in tonight. I had plans to go out to have Japanese with one of my girls, but she had to cancel. She had a cold:(

The soup was yummy, but I had some veggies left in my fridge and I was afraid they’d spoil, so I made a really simple salad.

Mixed Greens, a chopped tomatoe and a small chunk of seasoned tofu crumbled!

Anyway, I have lots more to share, but I should probably be productive and do homework since I have the opportunity. Some Friday night, right?

Till we post again!

Raw Cereal, gluten free cream of wheat and so much more!

It was some time in the late summer that I decided to enter the world of raw living. I have blogged about this at length, but in short I was intrigued by the health benefits that the diet promised and the ideology behind the lifestyle, which is you are essentially eating life in its more purest form when you eat food raw.

I fell hard for the raw lifestyle, although I kept my diet very simple. I stuck to lots of smoothies, nuts and salads, but I felt my body improving inside and out. My digestive track which has been continually problematic for me in the last eight years was actually doing okay. I was going to the bathroom, my energy was up, I looked better.

When classes started for me I tried to keep up my raw living and overall healthy lifestyle, but as seems the way, I became complacent. I began to eat more cooked foods and while I general kept it vegan, I began to feel not…100%. For awhile I tried to rack my brain on why I wasn’t feeling so good and then it hit me- I hadn’t been eating raw. I was eating a lot of rice, a lot of beans, things of that nature-all good things, but still not raw, not filled to the brim with life. I know my blog deals primarily with food, but in truth I am not a true foodie. I appreciate food and whatnot, but I don’t live to eat and it is not one of my favorite past times. I try to see food for what is really is, which is physical nourishment and leave it at that.

Having said that, I want to eat things that truly give my body all the essential vitamins and minerals it needs, as well as taste. I have been trying to go back to raw as of this week (no more rice, ect), and I already feel better.

Raw food diets can do the following
- Keep cholesterol levels low
-Keep weight low (in a good way)
-Raise energy levels
-Help to keep skin clear
- Boost the immune system

If you want to read more about it, check this site out- Why Raw Food is The Best

Now on to the food!

Before I came to accept that I am very allergic to wheat/gluten, I was a cereal junkie. Oh how I loved me some special K, golden grams, pops, and the ever beloved raisin brand! For awhile, I chowed on my mothers granola, but as many of you who are calorie conscious know, granola is a bit caloric for the measly amount a serving provides, and so I have pretty much cut it out of my diet. In honor of my love of cereal and my love of raw food, I bring to you the following.

Nuthing but Love Raw Cereal

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups of raw thick oats
- 3/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 3/4 cup of raw cashew pieces
- 1/2 cup of raisins
- 4-5 apples, chopped and sprinkled with date sugar and Cinnamon, dehydrated for 4 1/2- 5 hours

This cereal is seriously one of the easiest things to make and so good for you. Dehydrating the apples will be the lengthiest part of it, but do not fear. It only took me a 10 minute phone conversation to chop these babies (and I chopped more then five, by the way), and then I left it up to my Nesco dehydrator to do the work. I placed a little date sugar in a bowl, along with Cinnamon and coated the apples, but you can skip this process if you like, or substitute the date sugar for agave or raw honey or whatever else you may like. You really do not need much, especially if the apples are already sweet.

I like to cut thick chunks of apples for the cereal

The smell of the apples in the machine gave my whole house the smell of apple pie. YUM!!!
When the process was done, I just chose a container and placed a little bit of the oats, seeds, cashews, apples and raisins inside, alternating, so I created a layer of sorts.

This container is so cute and cheap! Check out places like TJ Maxx to find your own for under 15 bucks!

Speaking of cereal, did any of you ever eat cream of wheat growing up??? I sure did. I ate mine during winter time with lots of sugar and cream- I cringe now knowing how bad all that stuff is, but as a kid, I really loved it. The following recipe is another raw cereal, that is reminiscent of cream of wheat. FYI: It’s cold.

Strawberries n Raw cream of Wheat

Filled with fruit and a wonderful source of fiber- a great way to start your day year around!

Ingredients
- 8 fresh strawberries
- 1 frozen of fresh banana
- 3 TBS of Psyllium Husk
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
-1/2 cup of water
* agave or honey or stevia to taste

Place all ingredients into a blender and either freeze contents (in a separate container) for a hour or refrigerate for three hours. You could technically eat this straight after preparing, but the blend becomes thicker with time, which is why I recommend waiting for an hour or so before eating it. The psyllium husk is what makes the cereal thick and also gives it that gritty texture, similar to the wheat grains in cream of cream of wheat. However, psyllium husk comes from a seed and is friendly for those who can not eat gluten products. It is also loaded with fiber!!! It’s a very refreshing cereal because of the berries and the chill temperature it is eaten at. However, the fiber in the husk and the berries helps to keep you full, which makes it a great meal to begin your day with.

I love how it gives the actual appearance of grain, just like cream of wheat

Of course, I have a new smoothie to share.

Berry Intense Smoothie
Ingredients
-1 small container of blackberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1 banana
-5 frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk or 1/2 cup of coconut ice cream
-1/2 cup of water
- 2 scoops of peach fiber
- agave or honey to taste

Berries are filled with antioxidants, which fight against cancer cell growth and aging- who doesn’t want that?!?!?!

I love that purple color!!

berry bliss!!

And finally, for all my salad lovers out there, I tried to create a “tropical salad” tonight.

Mixed greens, broccoli sprouts, nori roll strips, tomatoes, mango, black beans and a mixture of ranch dressing with wasabi mustard

I added some chopped up caribean tofu

Today I took a break from my studies and hit the gym. Instead of doing my usual time on the elliptical, I gave ten minutes to one of the stairmaster machines. I call it the stairway to nowhere, but damn did it make me sweat!!!

This machine will make you sweat like your dancing with Richard Simons!

Ok, I really need to get back to studying for my midterms!

The Pill is Not for Everyone

I was just reading a post from Choosing Raw, about birth control and it inspired me to do my own post based on the subject because I have a lot to say about birth control and I think some people may really benefit from it.

Just before I begin, let me give a brief overview of how oral contraceptives work. Basically the pill has hormones inside of it that keeps the body from ovulating. The pill also promotes thickening of the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to pass through the body to find an egg, which also helps to protect against pregnancy. I know, I know, really freakin gross!

As I have written at least once or twice before, part of the reason I write this blog is that I hope to attract people who were in a similar position that I was in several years ago, where my weight and overall health was a major issue. I not only had trouble controlling my weight, but I suffered from chronic stomach pains, joint problems, chronic constipation, fatigue and my anxiety and depression was up the roof (which I attribute to being in such crappy health). For many people, they are attracted to health food blogs because 1) they are true food enthusiast and 2) they are interested in health. That’s all very cool and I understand that and give kudos. However, I’d be lying if I wrote that that was the reason I blogged, because for me much of my interest in food and health comes from being sick and being failed by my doctors. I hope everyone who stops by here enjoys what they read and sees, but in truth when I write, I write with the hope that I am aiding someone who was in a place that I once was, desperate, semi hopeless and hungry for knowledge that would make them better.

Ok, now that I said all this, let’s get back to the subject at hand. Birth control.

Some people are effected by the pill and others aren’t. This post is really for those who aren’t. When I started taking the pill I did it because I kept forgetting to buy the spermicide inserts and I felt stupid for having sex unprotected, so in efforts to be “adult”, I went and got myself on the pill. Before hand, I had always been wary of the stuff because I had heard it caused weight gain, something that I had no I interest in. When I asked several doctors about it, I was told a mix of things. Some said it was a possibility while others tried to reassure me that the whole “weight gain” thing was a myth. I was skeptical, because I knew that many doctors financially benefit to push certain stuff to their patients, but I got on the pill anyway. Man was a nightmare! Not only did I gain weight, but I was so fucking moody, even my then boyfriend had to comment on it. One day we were watching a commercial about dogs in pounds and I just burst out into tears. I’m sensitive, but not start bawling in public sensitive. The whole action was out of character for me. I knew it was the pill but I felt guilty for letting weight gain and mood swings keep me from being more careful against warding off pregnancy. I tried to stick it out for a few more months, but eventually I just accepted it was a bad option for me and gave it up. Seriously, within a week, I felt crazy better!

For some people (as I said before), the pill will have no unpleasant side effects but for some, it will. What are they? Here they are.

1. Pills that have higher estrogen levels are more likely to make the taker gain weight/retain fluid
2. Certain birth control can raise insulin levels, triggering appetite and also making it difficult to shed pounds
3. The pill can negatively effect ones sex drive
4. Depression and mood swings are not uncommon in users

So in short, I suggest if any of these are concerns for you, I would really think long and hard before you make the pill a part of your life. I would research like mad and really consider whether or not the pros outweigh the cons for you. For me, the pros did not outweigh the cons. I was so self conscious about the extra weight I didn’t want to have sex for the most part. Actually for me, many of my old E.D. way of thinking returned and for the time I was on the pill, I felt as if I was being haunted by an older version of myself, one I had no desire to ever see again. Honestly, if you have a history with E.D.’s I do NOT recommend this method of contraception. All my friends who have had E.D. history and get on the pill have reported the same thing- note, majority of them have stopped taking the drug and are relatively happier for it.
I have always been sort of moody/sullen, but while on the pill I noticed that my moodiness increased and I was a true terror to be around. I regret going on. If I knew then what I know now I would have done condemns and spermicides and left the pills to those who bodies are not as sensitive to that stuff.

Bottom line, research is your friend, so research research research!!! Check out the following sites for starters:

1. Hormonal Birth Control
2. The pill and Weight Gain
3. Stats about the pill