Hi there,
I have to tell you that none of us are doctors, and even if we were it would be unethical to diagnose or treat you here.
This is what I found:
\"CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material.\"
Basically, your arteries are like tubes that go to your heart so it can pump the blood through your body. Things we eat as well as genetic traits, things passed down from your parents to you, can clog these tubes. When they get clogged, it\'s hard for them to get enough blood to your heart.
Given that you\'re only 16, it\'s really not likely that you have coronary artery disease, though heart problems can be genetic. Are you on any medications? What \"weird stuff\" has your heart been doing? Are you overweight or underweight? Do you eat a lot of junk food? Do you have family history of heart problems?
There are a lot of possibilities as far as what\'s wrong with your heart. Without more information no one can so much as guess at a diagnosis.
Please, please, please see a doctor if you\'re worried.
DO NOT try to self-diagnose!

Siren

As the poster below me said, everyone has a different pain tolerance. I have a high pain tolerance and a tattoo about the size of my palm on my back, right between my shoulder blades. It took a little over an hour, I think, to get it done.

On a scale of 1-10, mine hurt at about an 8 for the first 20 minutes, and then was more like a 4 because I got used to it and numbed up - then all I felt was the vibration from the machine. I didn't even feel the needle. It felt like cat scratches at first, though, which I was also used to, as I have a cat who likes to play a little rough...

Most of my tattoo is right over my spine and some on my shoulder blades - anywhere over bone hurts more because there's less padding, and the machine vibrates a LOT. On bone, it feels like the needle is going into your bone and shaking your whole body. Once there's a little bit of fat, though, it's a lot less intense.

Honestly, you probably won't wanna hear this, but I wouldn't recommend getting a tattoo on your hand unless you're prepared to be judged, including by every future employer. I might suggest getting one on your foot, or on your hip, on your arm - somewhere that you can cover up if you so desire, or show if you also desire. That element of control might be important in the future.
I was going to get mine on the back of my neck, but at the time I was doing a lot of performing. I wanted to be able to put my hair up and not shock my audience.

Then again, I'm not sure what you're planning to get, and mine is a big butterfly made of music symbols and tribal lines. If it's, like, a little tiny heart or something, you could probably get away with getting it on your hand. If it's something bigger though, I'd reconsider the placement.

Siren

Well, frankly, you answered your own question. Your comfort was and still is food. But you know what's cool? You don't have to give that up. The key to losing weight is not removing food - just to be smarter about it.

You're young, so I know you can still adjust your metabolism. At your height and weight, actually, you'll have a lot of luck if you just tweak your lifestyle a little. You didn't give us a lot of information about your current eating and exercising habits, so I'll just give you the basics here. This is what I did, and I lost weight quickly, hit my goal, and it's stayed off.

* Eat a small meal every three hours, or a healthy snack. Something to keep your metabolism moving. You've gotta teach your body to use what you put into it quickly and effectively.

*Try to keep your calorie intake at around 2,000 a day. It's a lot more than you might think.

*Do not - I repeat, DO NOT - cut anything out of your diet. Keep all of it, but in real serving sizes, or small portions.

*The poster below me is correct in the sense that protein is important, but protein can also store as fat if you're not exercising. Lean protein like fish, eggs, chicken, turkey, lean beef, etc. helps to build lean muscle, which is what you eventually want.

*Along the lines of exercising, if you're not doing any of it, it's summer right now in most places. Grab your iPod and go for a walk. No speedwalking necessary, you don't need to jog (at least not yet). Just something to get your body moving.

*Grab a friend, if you can, and try something new that'll get you moving. My boyfriend got me into rock climbing (well, wall-climbing), and it's way fun and empowering. Not only that, but it's something for us to do and enjoy together.

*Last general tip - after you eat your small meal or healthy snack, listen to your body. If it's telling you it needs more food, wait 20 minutes and see if you're still hungry. If you are, grab something very small, like an apple. After that, wait your three hours, and then eat again.

Now, on a personal note, I am so, so sorry for what happened to you. The stress of all that could easily cause you to retain more weight than you normally would. But if you change your lifestyle, you'll feel better.

As long as your solution isn't a crash diet that you can't keep up for a significant amount of time, there's no way you'll gain more weight back. But, if you take my advice, don't consider this a diet. Consider it a change, and a step in a healthy direction.

But, as I'm sure you know, your mental health is just as important, if not more so, than your physical health. Have you considered counseling at all? Most insurances cover that quite well, and you've gone through a LOT. I've seen people go into inpatient settings for less than what you've dealt with. Please consider your mind in all of this - not just your body. It's an incredibly powerful tool.

Now.

You've admitted you have a problem. You're asking us for advice, so you've started to seek help. You even acknowledge the fear getting in your way. Ultimately, what needs to happen is a conscious decision to confront your problems head-on, and fix them.

I can imagine it's overwhelming to think about tackling this, but it's clear to me that you want to. So, my best advice to you is to take it one step at a time. There's no need for a drastic change right this second. Take it slow. Next time you have a craving for chips, grab some carrot sticks and dip instead, or a few pretzels. That's all that needs to be done that day. Then, next day, when you want something sweet, instead of chocolate or ice cream, have apple slices with caramel dip. Then at some point, if you like, get rid of the dip and just eat the apple. Make sense?

Anyway, I realize this is getting long and I've given you a lot of babble to go through, so I'll end it here.

If anything I said needs further explanation, feel free to drop a question in my inbox, or message me on AIM (SirenCytherea). Just make sure you IM me more than once so I know you're not spam, and let me know you found me here.

If I don't hear from you again, I wish you the best of luck. Be strong. You CAN do this.

Siren

I have to disagree with Lola on one aspect: DO NOT CUT CARBS OUT OF YOUR DIET.

Just so you're aware, I speak from experience with this. Granted, I was only 20 pounds overweight when I started doing this stuff,

Carbohydrates are like fuel for your body. Complex carbs (like pasta and bread, etc) AND simple carbs (like fruits) are both key sources of energy, but go for whole grain complex carbs instead of white. You want to make your body work harder to use what you put into it. If you want to get a handle on your diet, keep every part of the food pyramid in it, but eat small meals every three or four hours, even if you're not hungry. After awhile, your body will start learning that it needs to use what you eat quickly. This will speed up your metabolism, which will cause you to lose weight pretty quickly.

Keep in mind that eating less won't help you. It may even slow things down. Don't worry about counting calories - just use good judgment. Don't eat until you're full; eat much less, and if you think about going back for more, wait 20 minutes and then decide if you're still starving. If you can wait three hours to eat more, do it.

As for what to drink, again, use good judgment. If you drink milk, drink skim. Natural sugars are fine, sugar free is good, and water is best.

As busy as you are, I guarantee you've got half an hour somewhere. Speedwalking (if you don't like running) is good exercise. Cardio will be key for you. I started running one mile every day, and my body toned up like crazy, and quickly, too. Running works more quickly, but speedwalking and running work the same muscles. The more of your own body resistance you can use, the better. That is, instead of using a machine at the gym, use your own body. Go for a walk or a jog outside and enjoy the world. Listen to some good music and just let your mind wander. It can be pretty relaxing if you let it. =)

This is a lifestyle change, not just a "diet." If you do this, you'll feel SO much better. As far as how to motivate yourself, make up your mind to do it, and just stick to it. Remind yourself that everything is fine in moderation - you don't have to cut anything out of your diet, just make a couple of changes. You may find that it's not as difficult or overwhelming as you think.

Good luck. Feel free to drop a question in my inbox if you'd like more feedback.

Siren

I'm glad to hear you got help, and that you're doing better. I don't mean to be rude, so I apologize if I come off that way, but I'm 5'4", I'm 120, and I'm pretty skinny. You don't need to weigh that little. Ideal for your height is actually around 135, give or take five pounds or so.

I was anorexic, and believe me, eating less doesn't make you lose weight. If you're 15, and you want to lose weight, you must speed up your metabolism, and you're still young enough to do so. If anything, you should be eating small portions every few hours, and starting a light exercise routine. I know everyone hates it, but running really helps you tone up. Now, keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat, and if you can get yourself running (even just a mile every couple of days at first, which, even if you're not too speedy, shouldn't take longer than about 15 minutes), you'll gain some muscle. Hell, even speed walking - that and jogging work the same muscles. Running is just faster.

I know we're different, but my measurements are pretty slim, and that's with me barely working out right now. I eat constantly (but I nibble, so I'm not eating full meals), and when I have time, I run a mile. I feel good, I feel strong, and because I run, I can eat pretty much anything I want...seriously, my diet consists of candy and bread recently. I haven't gained a pound.

Keep in mind, though, that weight is just a number. More important is size, and how you feel. I remember when I was bigger I was pretty uncomfortable in my own skin. When I started working out and eating a little better, I felt better, too.

If a problem is that you have trouble eating small portions, try using smaller plates and bowls. Chew gum. Replace one habit with another (instead of continuing to eat, when you have the desire to, walk away and go on line for awhile, or something).

Or, conversely, instead of trying to convince yourself to eat less and control the quantity, maybe give yourself permission to eat more often. You won't be hungry, and your body will be forced to burn what it uses faster, which helps you lose weight.

If you need any more tips or information, feel free to IM me on AIM (SirenCytherea). Just IM more than once so I don't think you're spam.

If I don't hear from you, I wish you happiness. =)

Siren

I agree with Adviceman49. You DEFINITELY need to follow up with that doctor.

I do want to add, though, because you say it happens no matter what you do to your eyes (or don't do), that it could be a histamine reaction - that is, it could be allergies. I had my eye do something similar once, and that's what it was.

Try some over-the-counter Benadryl and see if that doesn't make some kind of a difference. If it does, you need to talk to your primary care physician about starting some kind of allergy medication.

**Just a disclaimer: none of us are doctors here, including me. I can only make suggestions based on my own life experience.

Hope this helps somehow. Good luck, feel better.

Siren

Not a good idea.

You didn't provide your age, height, or weight, so there's no way for me to tell you if you'd lose the weight quickly. Going on what I generally know, however...
5-6 pounds is a lot of weight to lose even in a month, unless you're seriously overweight. Yes, your weight can fluctuate a few pounds due to water weight gained/lost, but what you're proposing is ridiculous, and extremely unhealthy.
Even if you could lose the weight, you wouldn't keep it off. You could try pretty much any unhealthy fad diet and you might lose a pound or two. If you're anywhere near your ideal body weight, though, you'll be out of luck.
I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just speaking from experience. I tried fad diets in the past. Now I run at least a mile every day and eat healthily, and over the past two months, I've lost maybe two pounds...but that's because I'm 5'4" and 120, with a lot of muscle mass. I'm pretty much at my ideal weight. Makes it hard for my body to lose any extra.

If you want to look good for your date, drink lots of water, don't overload yourself with carbs, stay away from refined sugar/sucrose, and hit the treadmill for 20 minutes per day (provided you're not an avid exerciser. If you are, try upping your cardio by 5 or 10 minutes, or doing a different type of cardio). You won't lose 5-6 pounds in a short time by doing these things, but you'll feel thinner and stronger. Even better, if you can keep it up for longer, you might eventually lose the weight you want, AND you'll keep it off.

Please be healthy and smart about this.

Siren

Just wondering, did you recently switch to Yaz from something else?
I was on Yaz for awhile and the EXACT SAME THING happened to me. I had been on Yasmin28 before for years, but switched because of insurance.
I'm not a doctor, or anything like that, but it might be too low a dose for you. Call your gyno ASAP and let him/her know what's going on - he/she might be able to come up with a different pill for you to try.

Good luck!

Siren

Just FYI, nothing I say can be taken as professional medical advice, as I am not a doctor. I do, however, work with a bunch of them, and I'm familiar with asthma.
If you're having THAT much trouble, you should be on a steroid inhaler, or medicinal steroids. Also, I don't think a nurse at the ER can tell you what's wrong with you, legally.
If you overuse anything, there's a risk of psychosomatic withdrawal. That is, your mind causes your body trouble because psychologically, you need it. I seem to remember having trouble with an inhaler similar to Albuterol when I was little - it made me dizzy. It might just not be the right inhaler for you. There ARE other options, and your doctor should be open to switching you.
However, the symptoms you're describing really don't sound like withdrawal to me. They sound like your body not getting enough oxygen. Therefore headaches, therefore chest pain, and therefore numbness. The headaches could be, but they could also be from oxygen deprivation...you know? These symptoms you're experiencing should ABSOLUTELY NOT be overlooked, and even though you clearly overused your inhaler, these should not be brushed aside as withdrawal.
What other inhaler are you on? If these two aren't working for you, prednisone might be the way to go. The stimulant will help open your airways.
Here's my advice:
You MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST talk to your doctor, and ask about steroid treatment. Like, call the place where he/she works the second you wake up tomorrow. If your doctor isn't available to talk to, tell them to page him/her because you're having some serious problems with your medication and need his/her advice, like, yesterday.
If the other inhaler you're on is a steroid inhaler, ask about prednisone. This problem you're having is SO not okay, and your doctor needs to manage you better. But he/she can't do that unless he/she knows what's going on with you. So open up the lines of communication, and get yourself some help!!!

Siren

Hey, glad you like my advice. Hopefully this measures up. =)

You sound pretty normal. I'm 21 - I sometimes have my period for two days, and I sometimes have it for eight. I'm on birth control, too. Bodies are weird, especially those with hormones raging through them.
Brown blood means it's the end of your period, the uterine lining trickling out, and all that. The brighter red the blood, the faster the flow, and the closer to oxygen. Brown is the color it changes to when it has some time to sit. Red is the color blood changes to when it's exposed to air.
If you're feeling weird, or you're really concerned, ask your doctor. He or she would be happy to answer any questions you have, I'm sure, if you want a professional opinion. (Mine is not professional, simply experience-based.)
Are you having any abnormal pain? Any nausea? Any strange marks down there, or anything? Did your period come too early, or too late? (Keep in mind that if you aren't on birth control, your period can be EXTREMELY irregular. The only reason to be concerned about that is if you're sexually active. If that's the case, I suggest a pregnancy test just in case, because it's better to be safe than sorry.)
If none of these are true, then I'd bet good money that you're fine. You're just suffering from a condition called Adolescence. =P
In layman's terms, you're sixteen. Chances are things won't be exactly the same every time it happens. If you have a light period and nothing feels wrong, be happy and roll with it. =)

Hope this helped.

Siren

Many problems, many levels, but none of us are doctors. We CANNOT legally or ethically diagnose you. If you believe there was blood in your vomit, you need to go to the ER, like, yesterday.

Further analyzing - First problem (#1): you were hungry and didn't eat. Second problem (#2): You didn't eat and started drinking. Third problem (#3): You've been skipping breakfast.

Further detail: #1 - LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If you're hungry, chances are you aren't giving your body enough nutrients. Therefore, it craves more of the necessary fuels. Therefore, you get hungry.
#2 - Alcohol is an irritant, and a poison. If you drink on an empty stomach, chances are you'll puke. Food acts as a buffer for the poison, and stops it from doing as much harm as it normally would. If you must drink, PLEASE do it responsibly and intelligently. It's not worth making yourself sick just for a buzz. Seriously. If you have one or two drinks instead of enough to make you puke, you'll find you feel much better.
#3 - Food is fuel for your body like gasoline is fuel for a car. You need it, plain and simple. The best way to keep yourself healthy and to even help yourself become healthiER is to speed up your metabolism. You can do that by eating small, balanced meals every three or four hours. It forces your body to work faster to digest what you put into it, and therefore catches up with itself. It's tried and true. I lost - and kept off - 20 pounds by doing that. Also, working out for two hours isn't always the best idea, unless you're on a sports team. Your body stops responding healthily to a normal workout after about an hour, MAYBE an hour and a half, ESPECIALLY if you're not eating enough. If you're serious about physical improvement, you need to eat. Better to work out smarter, not harder. But, I digress. Skipping breakfast will, if anything, SLOW DOWN your metabolism. Breakfast gives it a jump-start. Eating something early on gets your metabolism moving, and you can keep it moving if you take care of yourself, eat well, and eat often.

In short, my advice to you is to take care of yourself. EAT before you drink. LISTEN to your body. TAKE CARE of your body. It's the only one you have.

Siren

First, I want you to know that I'm speculating, and not a doctor. I'm familiar with Tramadol and chronic pain. I'm just giving you the facts as I know them. I am, like everyone else here, not a doctor (yet). I suggest, if you have any concerns about your medication, that you contact your doctor and ask him/her about the mood swings. In the meantime, here are some of my thoughts:

Adviceman could be correct - it might not be the medication that's causing the mood swings, but the pain, or lack thereof. I have a pain problem, and I was given total relief from it for about five minutes at one point, and when the pain came back, I was totally miserable, and hated everything.

However, it makes sense that you'd feel great on Tramadol. It takes the edge off the pain by working on serotonin. As far as I know (and have researched), Tramadol is unlike other painkillers in the sense that instead of raising your pain threshold (so that you feel pain with less intensity), it makes you feel better. I think Tramadol is also MAJORLY off-label for depression because it makes you feel good.

You might consider talking to your doctor about feeling miserable when you're off the Tramadol. Chronic pain of any kind is difficult to deal with - you might consider counseling and possibly a psychiatrist to help cope with what you're feeling mentally as well as physically. Physical problems can take a major toll on the mind, and vise versa, as Adviceman said.

But I do have to enforce that psychiatric medication is NOT an answer. It can help you deal with the problems at hand, but you'll still need to seek counseling to find a way to cope.

I really think it's a combination of the Tramadol feel-good side effect and the pain wearing off that makes you feel so great. When the pain comes back, chances are you're gonna feel kinda crappy. If the mood changes are too much for you, you might talk to your doctor about a different pain medication.

Hope this helped you out a little - I can give you more info on the Tramadol if you like. Just let me know =)

Siren

Actually, you sound pretty normal, unless you underplayed your crying. I'm 21 and a girl, too. PMDD usually involves debilitating physical, mental, or emotional symptoms.
If your moodiness hinders your ability to function, then you may need to look into some kind of medication. Depression from PMS is not abnormal. Your hormones are screwing with your body and mind. It happens to every girl.
If you start having severe pain in any form, or you start having serious depression symptoms, then you do need to find a way to see a doctor.
Aside from that, I think you're fine. (But remember, I'm not a doctor, nor am I in your mind. If YOU don't think you're fine, find someone who can give you medical advice.)
Birth control doesn't stop PMS, but yes, it can help it by helping you control hormones a little. If you think this is bad, then you may consider switching pills. They all work differently for different people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMDD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMS

Check out those links. They might help you understand what you're going through.

Siren

Okay, I'm gonna say flat out that phycobitch is absolutely wrong. Ignore that advice. Skipping meals isn't a diet technique, it's indicative of the beginnings of anorexia, the perfect path to malnutrution, and a deeper problem.
If you skip meals and don't get enough calories, your body goes into starvation mode, where it stores everything you put into it because it doesn't know when it's gonna get its next dose of nutrients.
If anything, you want to eat small meals every 3-4 hours. Keep your diet balanced. Eat sweets. Eat breads, but don't make them the biggest part of your food intake. If you're working out regularly, you want to be getting a lot of lean protein, veggies, and fruits. You need complex carbs (starches) for energy, so don't cut those out.
I speak from experience, here. I used to be 5'4" and about 140. Now I'm 120, and I have a lot of lean muscle. I run, though. Running is kind of my cure-all.
Anyway. If you're getting nowhere, try eating more often. Count your calories on a normal day of eating and find out how many you're really getting. My biggest problem for a long time was that I wasn't getting ENOUGH. My body was storing things because it didn't feel that it could comfortably burn. Now I eat around 2,000 calories a day and I run at least a mile every day, and I'm in the best shape of my life.
Don't buy diet pills. They can cause heart problems, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and depression, among other things. Do it naturally, you'll be much happier with your results, and they'll last.
If you'd like a more detailed response, drop one in my inbox and let me know how you're eating and working out and I'll try to help you figure out what's wrong so you can get what you want.
If you choose not to contact me, I wish you the best of luck.
-Siren =)

Emily, I strongly suggest asking your regular doctor if he knows anyone who does cognitive sleep therapy.
I doubt anyone here will be able to solve your problems the way a cognitive sleep therapist could, but I can give you a few suggestions. I don't know if you're doing these things already, but here's what I was told when I went to go see a neurologist:
*First, use your bed ONLY for sleep. (...Well, and...OTHER things. I don't know if you have a boyfriend (or a girlfriend)...but...that's allowed, too. Ahem.) You need to get your body to associate bed with sleep and relaxation. So, at night, when you're NOT tired and can't fall asleep within - I think the doctor I talked to said - half an hour of laying down, get out of your bed. Keep your lights dimmed, and do something relaxing in another room, like reading, or writing, or drawing...
*Second, keep your bedroom quiet. Get your TV out of there if you have one, take any stereo you have and put it somewhere away from your bedroom. Anything electronic (aside from your alarm clock) probably involves bright lights, and can detract from your ability to sleep.
*Third, along those lines, keep your room DARK. No night lights, no digital clocks blaring in your face (if you need a digital clock, I might suggest getting one that doesn't use bright red light, and turn it away from your face. Red's not a good color for relaxation).
*Fourth, the doctor told me it's bad to have a clock in your room. You can keep your cell phone somewhere away from you where you can't open your eyes and see how long you've been laying in your bed awake. You need to lose your sense of "omg, I've been awake so long and haven't fallen asleep!" so I suggest trying to get rid of any clock you can clearly see from your bed.
*Fifth, before you go to sleep, take every measure possible to relax yourself. Drink a cup of decaffeinated tea, drink warm milk, cuddle a kitten, read a chapter of your favorite book - anything that WON'T stress your body out. (Along those lines, if you work out, work out early in the day so the adrenaline won't affect your sleep. I had this problem, too.)
*Sixth, set your alarm for the same time EVERY SINGLE DAY. If you have to get up at 8am to get ready for your part-time job and get there on time on the days you work, wake up at 8am on the days you don't work, too. Even if you haven't slept much. Don't sleep in. Train your body to sleep within a certain time period.

Believe me, I know, easier said than done, but from reading your question, it sounds like you're not giving your body the right guidelines. You're trying to sleep whenever you can, which I totally understand, but what you've gotta do is sleep when you need to. Give yourself a 7-9 hour block in which it would be non-disruptive for you to sleep. As I suggested, if you have to get up at 8am, start sleeping at, say, midnight, if you want 8 hours. Even if you don't REALLY sleep at midnight, set your alarm for 8 every single day. Get up at 8. Don't let yourself take naps, don't sleep earlier than 12, don't get up later than 8, even if you don't have to get up that early. Eventually, your body will bend to what you want it to do. In theory, that is.
And, not that I advocate the use of drugs, but you might want to invest in some nyquil, tylenol pm, or benadryl. They're all over the counter meds (benadryl is actually an antihistamine, but works wonders as far as making its taker drowsy), and they might help you fall asleep when you need to so that you can get used to waking up when you have to, and falling asleep when you need to.

Again, I strongly suggest you speak to a cognitive sleep therapist, a neurologist - there could be a physical reason you can't sleep - or anyone who might help you medically with this problem. Your depression could definitely play a big part in this, but to control this situation, you really do need a doctor, not a pool of advice columnists.
I hope you found some of the help you needed in my answer - if not, I hope you find the help you need.
-Siren =)

You're not getting enough calories, that's what that means; you're not giving your body what it needs to function correctly. If you're eating small portions, you need to be eating every 3-4 HOURS, not 3-4 times a day.
If I ate the portions I do 3-4 times a day, I'd be having your problem, too.
Not only that, but you're probably burning more calories than you're supposed to, leaving yourself with too much of a deficit.
The small portions thing only works if you're still giving your body what it needs. You don't need to enlarge your portions, but you need to adjust your calorie intake.
Do yourself a favor and take one day to record how many calories you eat in one normal day with the 3-4 meals, and record how many calories you burned on the treadmill. At the end of the day, subtract the calories you burned on the treadmill from those that you ate, and see how many you're really taking in. If it's under 1500, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it is, you definitely need to eat every 3-4 hours, and adjust upwards to get to at LEAST 1500. At LEAST. I'd probably aim for 2000 if you're working out every day, but if you're getting under 1500 you'll have to work up to 2000 so your body doesn't freak out on you.
People are supposed to have 2000 calories a day, 2500 if they work out every day, generally. With the way I work out, I'd have to eat 2400 calories a day to maintain my weight.
Call it an experiment, do the calculations, then try eating more and see if your dizziness goes away.
Let me know what happens, will ya?
-Siren =)

Honestly, the best thing you can do to wake yourself up in the morning is drink a glass of orange juice and go for a short jog.
You need to stop drinking caffeine if it isn't affecting you anymore, or if it's affecting you negatively. Your body has developed a tolerance for it, and too much caffeine is a BAD thing, even if you think it's not doing anything.
As for the Monster energy drink, there's probably something in it you're allergic to, or that doesn't agree with you, and I would either stay away from those drinks altogether.
If you need some supplement for energy, get B vitamins, or Zipfizz energy powder. I used to take a tube of that, mix it with a scoop of protein powder, drink it down, and go running. Zipfizz is amazing for energy. It's sugar free, as far as I remember, and doesn't actually have caffeine in it. In fact, I highly recommend Zipfizz for you. You can find it in any GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, or any of those places. Switch up your routine a little, your body will love you for it.
-Siren =)

Generally, unless it has a weird (bad) smell, brownish or pinkish discharge means you're probably gonna get your period soon, if that isn't already the start of it. Mine usually start without much warning, it's really heavy for the first day or two with massive PMS problems, and then I have a really light period the next few days. You'll figure out your cycle soon.
So, basically, if you have no weird pain or odor, you're fine.
If you have any other random questions, you should check out my site, www.asksiren.com. My friend just helped me turn it into an advice site of my own (just me, though, so if you read my column and like the way I advise, feel free to ask me anything).
Keep an open mind, heart, and mouth.
-Siren =)

Make sure your calorie count is no lower than 1200 a day, and add an actual breakfast to your diet. I like to talk about and enforce a healthy lifestyle instead of "diets," but what you suggested isn't BAD, exactly...it's just a little low in calories and missing (nonfat) dairy.
You'd be better off balancing each of your meals instead of creating one balanced meal throughout the day - protein/veggie/carb is a balanced meal. Like you have steak OR pasta up there. You might wanna do a little steak, a little pasta, and a small salad. That way you get your carbs, protein, and veggies. You can snack on whatever healthy thing you want. I'm glad you put snacks in there, that'll help speed up your metabolism as long as you eat at the right intervals.
Rice cakes are not bad for you, but they ARE carbs, which you can't really burn when you're sleeping. So, you need carbs, but probably not right before you go to bed.
Are you active? Do you exercise? If not, you might wanna start, that'll help you in your quest to lose (or maintain) weight. Diet alone will not get you the results you're looking for.
Add some (good) calories to your diet and, as long as you're not lactose intolerant, some fat-free dairy (for another source of protein), and you'll be fine.
Good luck!
-Siren =)

NO. Just, NO. Don't start "that diet." Don't start any "diet." DO NOT STARVE YOURSELF TO LOSE WEIGHT.
If you want to lose weight in a permanent manner, change your lifestyle. Start working out. Eat the right amount of calories for your activity to lose weight (google BMR calculators, they tell you how many calories you burn laying in bed all day, and then if you work out, how many calories you need to ingest to maintain your weight. From there you can figure out how many calories you need to be eating to lose weight).
But realize that diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. You can diet all you want, but you still won't look like a model, you won't have the toned muscles, and you'll probably be bigger than the scale says you are. If you work out right it'll be the opposite - I'm 5'4" and 125 but I have a 26 inch waist, or something.
Look, when you starve yourself, your body basically shuts down. It "works" because your body starts to eat itself, feed off itself, and if you eat ANYTHING useful, it stores it as fat in your system because it doesn't know when it's gonna get any nutrients again. After awhile your metabolism will slow down and it'll stop working. Not only that, but if you do mess with your diet/balance, it screws up your emotions. When I did South Beach, I had nightmares every night, I had mood swings, I felt depressed all the time, and it was really just not worth it because it didn't work long term.
So anyway, the "diet" you're talking about "works" short term, but the results you see will not be permanent. Unless, of course, you intend to keep it up forever. That, my friend, can be classified as an eating disorder, particularly if you think there's nothing wrong with it.
Your body needs balance to be healthy. You NEED complex carbs, and you especially NEED protein, none of which you will be getting on this idiotic "juice diet." What you're talking about is malnourishment for weight loss. Does that sound wrong to you, or is it just me?
Trust me, I've been there, I've tried everything, and I look great now. Know what I've been doing?
Eating carbs. Eating a LOT of lean protein. Eating veggies. Drinking water and protein shakes. Sleeping enough. Eating every 3-4 hours (kicks your metabolism up a notch or two). Working out; cardio, weights, the works.
You know where I was last year?
135 and anorexic.
See what I mean?
The results I got through a healthier lifestyle are permanent, and something I can keep up for the rest of my life. I enjoy working out, it feels good. I like eating right, too. Not to mention I cook, so that just gives me more incentive to pay attention to what I put in my stomach.
If you want help adjusting your diet to a healthier lifestyle, drop a question in my inbox. We can figure it out, but please, PLEASE rethink this "diet." It can only hurt you.
If you decide to go into further detail with me, I check my inbox every day, so I'll get back to you fast. If not, good luck.
-Siren =)

I'm a laid-back 26 year old with a Psychology BA, starting my MA program, and working my way into the field as quickly as I can. It took me an extra Bachelor's degree (in vocal performance and creative writing) to figure it out, but I was put on this Earth to help, to heal, and to love.

I have made the decision to dedicate my life and career to helping others. I am here to do just that.

I've been a member since 2004, and since I signed up, I've gone through quite a lot and learned quite a lot from it. I'm here to give guidance where I had none; no one should have to go through the difficulties I went through alone.

Feel free to visit my website/blog, if you want to read my experience with domestic violence and my thoughts on it.

***While I do tend to answer mental health and other health-related or medicine-related questions, I am by NO MEANS a licensed physician or practitioner of any sort. Any and all advice I give for these questions is from my own experience or studies.***

If you need to get a hold of me quickly, my screen name on AIM is SirenCytherea. Just let me know you found me here.

I'm a strong believer in the idea that there are no stupid questions except the ones left unasked, so, please, keep an open mind, heart, and mouth.

Siren

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