Peanut Butter and Nuts.

I am lactose intollerant and have weird reactions to all sorts of things. However, I'm not sure if peanut butter and/or nuts are a problem for me. Though the other day I had quite a few almonds and the next day my skin's texture was worse and my face looked fatter and redder. I had also eaten some jam that had sugar in it, which is something I tend to avoid. That night I also had a 24oz. lo-carb monster energy drink. I get bloated like a mother when I have peanut butter or almonds, which I think is normal, due to the high % of protein, but am wondering if my body doesn't tolerate them as normally as it should. Takes my body a long long time to rid them from my system, even with digestive enzymes and exercise. If I have less than 10 almonds in a day I'm usually fine, depending on what else I've eaten. Obviously that would be an answer, to just have a couple every now and then, but I am curious how peanut butter and nuts affect you? And do you have other intollerances or allergies as well, if nuts are a problem for you? I've been debating whether or not to avoid peanut butter/nuts completely, so give me your views.

Progesterone and Breast Development

So I'm on my third packet of YAZ birth control, and first week of my Wiley Progesterone.

AND... I can tell my boobs are either trying or starting to actually develop. I've had breasts for a while, but they've been 32 AA and A, nothing big. I'm a big fan of push-up bras, just because they make me look like I have boobs when I wear them under t-shirts. I've been reading a lot about progesterone and its roll, and one of the man things it's in charge of is breast development. Ha, no wonder I've never had real, developed breasts--I've never had high enough progesterone. Makes sense to me.

I'm not sure what to think of breasts, though. Having struggled so much with body-image and obsessions, I've never learned to appreciate breasts, and have loved not having them. I have mixed feelings. To the eyes of everyone reading this, I'm sure this sounds ridiculous, but if my boobs were to grow, I don't know if I would be ok with it. My sister got to a DD in high school, my mom got to a D in high school. I workout the most and eat the healthiest (I do know cardio helps keep breasts fairly small). But I.. I just don't know how I feel about it. If they were to reach a B-cup, it would take so much to be emotionally ok with that. Retarded, yes, but I've never wanted large breasts, and I've always felt like mine were too much. So now that my breasts are hurting and I realize I may be going through what I'm supposed to be going through as a female, I'm not naturally ok or excited about it.

I don't know what kind of insight I'm hoping to get out of that, if any, but maybe if you developed late or had a hard time with developing breasts, or just hate having large breasts even, you could tell me what it's been like for you. :] And what I should do to appreciate this process if that is really what's happening.

Amazing Website to Record Food Intake!

A place to record all food-intake, physical activity, thoughts of the day, etc. in the most efficient way:


www.thedailyplate.com


That place is like my brain on a computer, it's amazing. What I love is that you can see an overview of % of your calories--amounts that went to protein, fat, carbohydrate, etc. and can see the summary for that week. I think it'd be a real help in those who are using diet as a way to clear up acne or keep skin under control, because you can clearly see when you ate what type of food and how you reacted.

If you'd like an example, this is my page on the site: www.thedailyplate.com/users/profile/myartisfashion

I know I love it :] Hope some other people find it useful as well.

Statement of the Day!

Statement: Skin Issues.

(I don't know how to post video directly here, so you will have to click the link above)

Increased Body Image Issues due to Acne

Having struggled with eating disorders, I have come to find that acne is something that triggers me into eating disorder behavior/weight loss. Not really to detract from the acne, but because the acne seems to induce a more magnified perception of myself in every aspect: hair, skin, teeth, body, etc. When my skin is at its worst, I often turn to weight loss, and continue to feel fat and disgusting--unless my skin is perfectly clear, then I feel good about my body. Makes so much sense, doesn't it? (joke. it makes zero sense.)

So without going on and on about this, the quick summary for me is this:


Acne = increase in "feeling fat" = weight loss methods = lose weight = not happy with body

Clear skin = much more positive body-image


I have to work tremendously hard on these issues, but man.. acne affects far too many inner-emotions. [in negative ways]