healthkicker's Healthkicker

I'm Not Depressed Anymore: Should I Still Be on Medication?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:59:00 GMT

Three and a half years ago, I went through a bout of Major depression. Major depression is defined by persistent feelings of loss or sorrow, a loss of interest in activities, significant changes in sleep patterns and weight, and difficulty concentrating. I had all of those symptoms. I couldn’t sleep and I lost twenty pounds in about five weeks. With the help of an excellent therapist and medication, I was able to heal and move on with my life.

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What's Your Favorite Health Snack?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:01:00 GMT

This post was submitted from an anonymous user.

I'm trying to get healthier but I can't help and snack basically all day long. I'm hoping to try and find some healthier snacks so that way, when I'm eating in front of the TV or while I'm on the phone, I don't have to feel so guilty about it!

I love anything with granola or dried fruit, but it doesn't always hit the sweet tooth that I have.

What is a good, healthy snack?

Is It an Eating Disorder or a Relationship Disorder?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

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This article was written by Joshua Rosenthal for the Huffington Post.

Most Americans have been on a diet at some point in their lives. Even if they're not overweight--it's hard to resist the temptation to look like the hottest celebrity whether they're on the low-carb, no-carb or cabbage soup diet. We're bombarded with advertisements touting the benefits of the latest dietary craze. If you're on a diet now, you're not alone. But I'm going to fill you in on a little secret that could very possibly change your life and the way you look at food.

As you have probably heard countless times before, most diets don't work. Let me rephrase that, most diets are not sustainable. Can you imagine never eating a piece of bread again, or living on cabbage soup? In fact, studies have found that depriving yourself of certain foods will just have you craving more. Can you relate?

The problem is most Americans have an all-or-nothing approach to life. Our bodies are very smart. When we completely cut one food out we have intense cravings. People think they should resist their cravings or if they give into them they're weak. I encourage you to be kind to yourself. Listen to your body. More Here...

You are FAT!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Last week in my abnormal psychology class we started up the chapter on eating disorders. Today we wen't over Bulimia and Obesity. Obesity is not regarded as an eating disorder yet but it's going under consideration. Our professor asked us our opinion on the subject and here is mine (real quick and short):

I don't believe obesity should be looked down upon and obese people shouldn't be made to feel ostracized. But we should in no way help them feel better about their condition. By sugarcoating the problem we only become enablers. I might be fat but I don't want fat to be okay.

First off we treat fat like it's a bad word by hiding it. Instead of fat we call ourselves "curvy," "plump," or title ourselves as "more to love." More Here...

Hey Guys! What's Your Honest Opinion About Skinny Models On TV...?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:05:00 GMT

I know a lot of girls want the body of a skinny supermodel, but what do men really think about it?

(1) “I’d die to have a girlfriend that looks like her.”

(2) “A bit too skinny for my tastes and possibly unhealthy, but hey, she’s still got the body of a supermodel.”

(3) “Waaay to skinny. I don’t want to date a woman who looks unhealthy and may be starving herself.”

(4) Other Opinions.

What’s your opinion?

Can Eating The Same "Healthy" Food Every day Be "Unhealthy"?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:30:00 GMT

I have to admit that when I like something, I tend to “obsess” over it. For instance, if I like a certain song, then I will listen to it over and over again until I get really sick of it and can’t listen to it anymore. It’s usually the same case when it comes to food, too. Unless I’m eating with friends or other people (either going out to eat or ordering in), I generally go to the same place when I’m eating alone (usually a salad bar at a deli near my apt.; I go to this place so much that I even get a discount now). I don’t eat the exact same food for dinner every night, but there still isn’t much variety in the food I choose; it’s mostly chicken, salmon, veggies, and a little bit of almonds sprinkled on top. I think my choices are pretty healthy, but I wonder if eating similar foods for dinner almost every night is a good idea.

What do you guys think? Are your meals pretty varied, or do you tend to stick with similar foods each night?

Okay, Maybe I'm a LITTLE Nervous About Swine Flu

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I wrote a while back (here!) about how I am not afraid of swine flu. Well, my tone has changed and so has my opinion.

While the swine flu is a nationwide (and even global) epidemic, I live in New Jersey and just found out that - officially - 20 people have died from swine flu... and what's even worse is that my state only has half of the vaccine supply that is needed.

Although I am a little sick of hearing about swine flu, I do think that people are continuing to brush it off even though it's obviously claiming lives. I wonder though ... how many lives does the regular flu take away each year? Is it comparable to the swine flu?

Either way, I know that I'm definitely going to be more precautious about my health for the next while. Until the swine flu has subsided, you can count me out of anything that's going to jeopardize my health.

Are you taking the swine flu seriously, or do you see it as just another illness?

A Bit Odd Thing I Noticed At The Gym.....

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

I don’t really know about other gyms, but I’ve noticed something weird about the people at the gym I go to. So my gym has four floors; the top floor being the lobby where you check-in, the third floor the locker rooms, the second floor the weight room, and then the bottom floor is where all the cardio machines are located.

When I hit the gym every morning, I walk down to the locker room and change into my gym clothes, then walk down to the bottom floor and do cardio first. Then, I walk two floors up and do some weightlifting. For me, I always take the stairs because I think it complements my “actual-workout” I’ve done (it’s actually pretty hard when you have to walk up and down the stairs several times, especially after my workout). But I’ve noticed that More Here...

Are You STILL Haunted By Your Halloween Candy?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:30:00 GMT

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Regardless of whether your kids brought it home or if you have left-overs from shelling out, now that Halloween is over, are you panicking about having all that candy in the house? If so, here are some great suggestions to help you stay on track!

1. Go through the candy and pick out all the pieces that are not your favorites and get rid of them immediately. That means throw them out, or get in the car and drop them off at collection places for food banks.

2. Now that you’ve narrowed down the stash to just your faves, put what you are keeping in the freezer. Better yet, put them in your neighbor’s freezer - they’ll be much harder to get at there! More Here...

I Think Cigarettes Suck

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:40:00 GMT

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My sister got caught smoking cigarettes by my mother, who is not someone you want to get caught by. A year or two ago when I found out that my sister smoked cigarettes, I wondered why. I had tried one before and it sure didn't taste good. She wasn't pressured into it, and it was her own personal choice. Maybe it looked cool in the movies, and maybe she wanted a way to relax, but hey, why not try some yoga or something? Cigarette smoking is a horrible habit, and to be addicted to it is horrible.

Did you know that every eight seconds that someone dies from tobacco use? Putting these "cancer sticks" in your mouth is so life threatening. Teens may not think so right now, but how about thirty years later when you develop lung cancer? And its not just you who you are affecting, its the people around you. Because I am around my sister when she smokes, I am getting second hand smoke, and who knows, maybe I'll get lung cancer instead of her. People affect everyone around them, and its selfish to only think that youre hurting yourself. More Here...