I worked for a pharm company in the late 90s/early 2000s in NJ.*
They're not all cheerleader types, and not all women (just as
many men), but they all have "the charm". Thankfully, by then
they had limited the amount of 'perks' they could give for
switching over to their drug. -- I don't like taking pills,
outside of the basics, unless I must.* Then again, I'm
relatively healthy right now.* When I do have to take some kind
of medicine, even antibiotics, I read up on them first.* I
always take them as prescribed, but eat yogurt or kefir to build
back the good bacteria 'cause I don't like how it feels
internally when I don't. I like to know what I'm taking, what
side-effects are, and most importantly, what alternatives are
available.* If I get diabetes and losing 30 lbs may fix it, I'll
shoot for that first etc.* If I can't do it myself, or if it's
ridiculous for me to go to extremes, then I won't hesitate.* But
I always research 'cause I don't like surprises. -- I can't
complain though.* Never been prescribed anything except
antibiotics for the dentist a few times.* I was on zantac for an
ulcer when it was prescription.* It worked (that's before it was
otc).* And Lorazapam for panic attacks when I was like 25 or
so.* Didn't follow the prescription there though* I'd break them
in half and take as LITTLE as possible.* Only needed it for a
short time anyway. -- Well I personally don't have the
dedication as such for that but I don't see doctors unless I
must and that's so far quite rare. I take Zinc on a semi-regular
basis.* I once played around with various doses of different
vitamins and settled on a more or less daily zinc, and I try to
have b12 and Magnesium a few times a week (especially if I feel
I've been low on meat or salad/other veggies). I try to get
between 50-100 grams of protein a day, very little sugar, and I
avoid white flour.* Not exclusive or anything; but when I have a
choice, I avoid them. If I have something bad-fatty, I have some
good fat in the day to balance it. I don't use flouride
toothpaste either - gives me a belly ache (and I know the
chemical properties of flourine and how it reacts to silicon
(one of the main ingredients of gum tissue - why its
waterproof). It may be fine for your teeth, but your gums and
the rest of you, not so much.* So, I remineralize my teeth by...
breathing (#1 tooth remineralization method - your teeth
recalicify without much trouble), massage my gums and brush or
wipe my teeth with baking soda or I'll use a basic toothpaste
now and again* [even with flouride sometimes, but I try to avoid
it] I made my own kefir for a few years but it got to be a bit
much keeping the seed going, so I buy store greek yogurt in the
big tub.* [I used to make my own as well - super-easy to do,
just haven't bothered for a while) -- I think it's awesome
that you have a plan that you're successful at it!* If it works,
it works :)* Best weight loss I had that I was happy with 30 lbs
and that's when I switched to splenda from sugar and stopped
drinking beer every night.* 30 lbs in 4 months and I set my goal
to keep it off for a time before continuing the downward
plunge.* Kept it off so far for about 6 years.* I'm still at my
weight when I was 18 and I got my "college 20" or whatever it
was; but it's still overweight.* I'm 220, and the charts from
the 1950s say I should be 175 - , but 13 yrs ago I got down to
195 through protein stuff (Atkin-ish but I kept the fat lower
and added occasional fruit, veggies and good oils; when the
South Beach Diet came out a few years later I was like, "Woah,
that's pretty much how I modified it") Anyway, when I got to
195, and went to the gym a lot... I started feeling sickish.*
Might have been the dieting or the exercise, but when I bounced
back to 205 I felt much better and then a 2nd bounce back to
220, I felt normal and healthy.* So I'm not ready to try to push
it down further just yet.* I should of course but not ready yet.
I consider maintaining as much of a victory as losing. --
