Work Smarter Not Harder, You Overachiever Freelancer

I used to think that since I could write online 24-7, I should. Wrong. Burnout, exhaustion, health issues ensued. I am learning to work smarter, not harder. I think it's part of what kept me on antidepressants, overachiever that I am. Are you a work-a-holic? Here's what works on a site called Bubblews that I write for.
 Why Five Bubblews Posts a Day is Better Than Ten 

Safe Natural Fat Burners, Diet Supplements that Helped Me Drop to Size Small

Besides baby fat, I never had a weight problem. In early adulthood, I weighed 117 pounds at 5'4". Then health issues, two stillborn babies, depression and antidepressants caused me to put on over 110 pounds (see photo right). I have since taken off 85 pounds and dropped 5-6 sizes without drugs or surgery (see photo right). I use several strategies including diet supplements. But wait, I said no drugs? Yes, supplements I use are natural, fruit-based, doctor-approved and available in grocery stores (no online-only or mail-order like some diet scams). Here's what I take.Fat Burners, Diet Supplements that Helped Me Lose 85 Pounds - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com

 

Online Weight Loss Support Group, Challenge

I lost 87 pounds and am dieting to get 13 more pounds for my 100 pound goal.I didn't use drugs, surgery, or and expensive weight loss program with special food. Losing weight cost me nothing. But one important part is support. I won't pay to join a program, but rather I look free support options. I started a writer weight loss support group at Bubblews, a blogging-article platform I write for. Here's more info on that Bubblews Weight Loss Support Challenge

Self-Doubt, the Deceiver and Crippler Within

I'm not always sure how I come across or how I appear to others. But on the inside, I am a bundle of insecurities and fears. I wrestle with these demons every day, with more or less success.

Self-doubt is a frequent flyer through the passages of my mind. I don't think it's paranoia. I don't suspect people of dark designs or think I deserve things I'm not getting. The terrorist lives inside me. She is an implacable, sometimes cruel, autocrat that never allows me to feel satisfaction for doing a good thing. That's expected. But she's all over me if I foul up. She can get me so twisted around that I can't judge a mountain from a molehill.
Do You Know What I Mean? Does That Make Sense?

FDA Says Pregnant Women Should Not Use Opioid Painkillers

Now for your daily dose of no-duh news. Opioid painkillers are bad for babies, says the FDA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it's upping labeling on opioid analgesics to warn pregnant women about dangers to fetuses.

Moms who take opioids, like Vicodin, Dilaudid, OxyContin, or wear pain patches with drugs like Fentanyl or Duragesic, deliver these drug to their unborn babies in utero. Chronic maternal use during pregnancy can cause NOWS--neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Aka, drug-addicted babies.  FDA Says Pregnant Women Should Not Use Opioids--Obviously

Misconceptions about Sleep Apnea: Being Fat Causes OSA

In 2010, at 46, I was diagnosed with OSA--Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In OSA the nasal passages collapse during sleep, causing the apneac to choke and gasp for breath. Sometimes, like in my case, this happens hundreds (even thousands) of times a night. Because I was 100 pounds overweight, people have assumed I had sleep apnea because I was obese. That's a dangerous, potentially lethal misconception that only fat people get sleep apnea. From my own experience several factors disprove that. First, I lost 83 pounds and my apnea is just as bad, maybe worse. Here are other reasons. Misconceptions about Sleep Apnea: Being Fat Causes OSA 

Diet Tip: Make Mid-day Lunch Your Biggest Meal

I have lost 82 pounds. It's taken me about two years to do it. Along the way I have picked up tricks and tips that help with weight loss. Lots of people have asked me how I did it. I'm passing on diet strategies under the +Diet-tip-of-the-day and +Dietrecipeoftheday tags (you can click these to find the whole series). Today's tip: make lunch, or your midday meal the biggest one. Diet Tip: Make Mid-day Lunch Your Biggest Meal
 

Diet Tip of the Day: Share, Brag, Shout it Out

I'm dieting to get rid of 100 pounds gained and only have about 20 pounds to go. Every day I write a +Dietrecipeoftheday and +Diet-tip-of-the-day to share. Today's tip is: brag about weight lost. I was just discussing this with my eldest daughter. I was explaining why I post a lot of weight loss pictures on Facebook, how I tweet that I've lost 80 pounds and how I share my news a lot.

Maybe you've been wondering too why I do this (if you've read my articles). It's simple. I feel good and want to share how good weight loss feels. I want not only to tell, but show, how it works. Is this bragging? Maybe, a little. But as my daughter pointed out, it's no different than a alcoholic getting a 30-day sober pin. Or an athlete sharing about a win in a game. Or an artist displaying her work.
Diet Tip of the Day: Share and Brag

Living Al-Anon Slogans: Take Care of Yourself, Do What's Best for You

Anxiety and I go back a long way. Fear has been a constant companion, if not a friend. Panic attacks have ruled me and fight-or-flight characterized my behavior. The picture on the left is me deep in anxiety mode. I was not happy and it showed. Thanks to 12-step recovery groups like Al-Anon, I use past tense. I am learning to take care of myself so negative feelings don't control me. Picture on the right is me a few months ago, much happier, despite being in menopause Here's how.

Cast out false fear. My old modus operandi was others-driven. I'm not saying being others-centered is all bad. Obviously parents need to put kids first. And unselfishness is good for relationships. To an extent. But that wasn't how I did it. Living Al-Anon Slogans: Take Care of Yourself, Do What's Best for You

 I lived in constant fear of upsetting, angering, disappointing and failing. Fear consumed, overwhelmed and exhausted me. I got physically ill. Fear will always be my most challenging nemesis. Combating it means stepping way outside my comfort zone. But if I don't, the zone only gets smaller. Self-care means bearding my lions.

Air Conditioner Helps My Allergies

 I've been battling allergies all my life. I had testing done in 2010 and found that I'm allergic to just about everything but animals. I have skin and nasal allergies. Since moving to this house in 2000, they've escalated. I have a theory that it's due in part to a tannery located near us. That's being torn down now and I've noticed allergies are worse (itchy, watery eyes, breathing problems, itchy skin).  Air Conditioner Helps My Allergies