Posts by pballerina

^spekgirl, all I'm going to say is that I'm not the one assuming anything (well, Athiests as a whole, actually.) You might want to explore science before making claims you can't prove. But it doesn't matter, I should stop talking because it won't make a difference in your opinion.

For the record, I agree with doctorgrim that this thread was never appropriate, only in the sense that promoting religion shouldn't have to do with weight loss. But what do I know...

There's nothing blind about it; in fact, I think religious people are the ones who need to open up their eyes (and their brains.) We do question things like evolution -- and then we find evidence to prove why an explination could be plausible.

I don't understand why I am a hypocrite, but maybe I don't understand something. I mean, we Athiests must be purty dumb *gufaw*

It's funny that you seem to categorize us into "you Athiests", "you hypocrites"...it's like we're a race that's being discriminated agains. Oh, you jews; oh, you blacks.

I don't think we'll see when we die...I mean, know one knows what happens after. That's exactly the problem with your post -- you don't "for sure know what's on the other side..." you just comfort yourself with the idea that maybe there is something to look forward to after death; it's understandible, I guess, seeing as most religious people have been brainwashed since they came out their mother. Which, btw, is because sex makes the little sperm and the little egg come together and have a baby -- not because you were "blessed by god."

I also don't understand why I'm apparantly angry? I don't feel angry...I don't have steam coming out of my ears...I'm not yelling at anybody...then again, 'you religious people' are always making assumptions based on beliefs with no real evidence. (Btw, belief = saying something is true without having to prove it.)

And last I checked, I'm not self-centered. I don't see hat that has to do with religious preference, honestly. See, I'm one of the least self-centered people there are. You know what eating disorders are. Yeah...well most of the time, and in my case, a lot of the suffering somes from not taking care of yourself because you are too preoccupied with taking care of others. If you need religion to make you a "good person", that's your problem. But don't go calling others self-centered just because they don't need a bible to keep them in check and prevent them from doing bad things like *gasp* have SEX!!!

Yeah, I think 'we Athiests' have more fun.

Oh, and one things for sure: Athiests will always be sure of anything they make a claim about; that's because, again, we find evidence to prove why our claim is true. I don't think you're thinking quite clearly as you seem to have Athiests and Religious people mixed up.

I mean, whatever makes them happy, right?

("happy")

Is it incredibly hard to see that your religion and faith to "god" is nothing but a psychological tool?

You say you didn't lose weight until you spoke to god? Wow, that's amazing you know -- I can't imagine that deciding you would voice your feelings would make you feel better and more confident and help you lose weight. It's magical!

Oh no, wait...it's what people do at the therapists...

Why would god care about your weight? If there were a god...

If he cared there wouldn't be an obesity epidemic. Or flu epidemics. And don't tell me god makes those things happen to make us come out strongerin the end -- that's called evolution.

^that was a very heplful post, thanks! And what an invaluable link...I'll definitely check it out.

So what you're saying is that I could be enrolled in a University and, at the same time that I am taking classes at the University, take other classes at a community college? Or did you mean that I could take my core classes before enrolling in the University? Thanks and sorry for all the questions, really! it's just that all of this college business is really confusing. It's like, one wrong move and I am screwed for life :P

No, it's not 8.5 hours a day every day. The schedule changes every day, but almost always there is a class at 9:30 and another one at 2:00. I never take the 9:30 classes as I am in school, although I may occasionally take some next year. I usually take the 2:00 classes, and I will definitely be taking them every day next year. The afternoon/evening schedule changes from day-to-day. Some days I have only one other ballet class, but other days I may have a modern class, another ballet class, and then variations or partnering. I might also have rehearsals. So it varies.

Yes, I do want to add more exercise. Not for burning calories or anything. Mostly for these reasons:
1. Ballet is anaerobic, and I would benefit from adding in some aerobic exercise
2. I don't have very good stamina (crucial for performing), and I was hoping that I could improve it with the right exercise
3. I need to get in better shape
4. Ballet class is ballet class. Outside of class, every (serious) dancer must take some time to work on stuff on her own. We have to make sure we do out conditioning exercises and stretches every day. While that is usually limited while we are in school, it's a whole 'nother story when we're out of school, and we have to be disciplined enough to keep up with it.

Ballet is exercise, no doubt about it, but I don't dance for the purpose of exercising. So yes, I do need to incorporate other types of workouts. Since I will have the time, I need to make sure I somehow get in Pilates (very good for ballet dancers) and Callanetics (I like it,) my conditioning/stretching routine, and some cardio. I don't have to do them all every day, but I would switch between then and do a different one every day. Actually, that might work. Then it would only be an extra hour every day...and I would have some free time.

Anyway, rosieblue, those are some great ideas. I did think about meeting with friends after classes (although usually the last thing I want to do is go out and the only thing I want ot do is take a shower and go to sleep haha) but I'm sure I'll be able to make it work.

About giving my body a rest, Sunday is my rest day (although I like to talk a short walk in the morning if I have time/energy.)

But yeah, thanks guys! That actually really helped me brianstorm because I just realized that I don't have to do everything every day. Hmm. Well thanks again :)

I think, as far as the "obesity as a disease" argument goes, a lot of people get mixed up with obesity, and the reasons for obesity. Obesity is not a disease. It can be a side effect from a disease like an eating disorder or (very rarely) some other medical condition (and even then, I'm pretty sure that medical conditions that cause weight gain probably don't account for all the weight -- I mean, it's possible that some diseases contribute to weight gain, but they don't just make someone obese, and if they do, it's more likely another factor that could have been influened by the disease. Ex: a disease makes someone gain weight, they diet, it doesn't work, they get upset, they gain weight. There are lots of factors.) It can also be (and is more commonly) as result of an unhealthy lifestyle, like others have said.

So, obesity a disease? I don't think that's quite right. Obesity as a result of a disease? Possible but very rare, and probably also influenced by other factors, if not the result of an ED. Obesity as a result of a lifestyle problem? Much more likely.

So yes, diseases can cause or lead to obesity, but you can't really say obesity is a disease in and of itself.

"It was more comfortable and easier to live at that size" said one of the women that was interviewed -- doesn't that back what we are saying? It's not a diseas, it's a choice she made because it was too hard for her to watch what she ate. Hmph. I don't think it's very fair to those people who do actually have an involuntary illness to compare it to there weight problems.

I just don't get what the big deal is :(

It's like people need to find something to rebel about and when they lose interest in one thing they have to find something else...which is not weight.

You sure you're talking about a friend of yours and not yourself?

We keep mayo in the fridge, same with butter (although we never use butter other than in baking, so having it soft at room temp isn't really a problem for us.)

I don't think peanut butter is supposed to be refrigerated. The natural kind sould be mixed and then refrigerated because when you keep it cold it doesn't separate again. But the other kinds like Jiff, etc? Those aren't even technically butter, are they? They're not made with dairy, but it's rather the peanut oil that makes it smooth. If it were made with dairy like butter than I understand keeping it in the fridge. But, do you refrigerate your olive oil? Didn't think so (I hope not lol.) Same idea.

Now, we refrigerate peanut butter for another reason. See, it's much easier to scoop out a big spoonful when it's room temp. But it gets a little harder in the fridge, and if you put it in the back of the fridge that makes it even more of a hassle to get to...which means, less straight-up PB :)

Hi mefhisto_!

Fruits are a great source of may different vitamins and fiber, and they are very healthy. They do have a lot of sugar, though, as you stated.

I wouldn't listen to any of the positions you stated above. In the end, what matters most is how many calories you take in Vs. how many calories you take out. You can eat as much fruit as you want and still lose weight as long as it's under your calorie limit.

As far as complex carbs go, are you sure you're not eating any? They're pretty easy to get in.

As a rule of thumb, you can eat anything in moderation; moderation is key. I promise, the most successful dieters didn't deprive themselves of what they craves most but rather controlled how much they ate! :)

That said, you would definitely be better off eating too much fruit rather than too much chocolate! Focus on the bigger picture!

yep...5 minutes! Add in the time it takes to get to the other side of the school carrying a couple hundred pounds of books and whatnot in your backpack, plus squeezing through the walls formed by people who decide the center of the hallway is the best spot to stand and chat for a few minutes, and you really do have to be talented to make it in time to class and still go pee! Oh, and did I mention those days where you are working and you don't notice the bell ringing and it seems to take you hous to get packed up, or the 20 girls doing their makeup in the sinks and you waiting to wash your hands...well, you get the picture ;)

lol! Gotta love HS...last year for me this year :P

I know this thread hasn't been active for a few months, but I wanted to chip in.

I just joined WW again today. I am losing weight for so many reasons, but the main one is because I am graduating and it will soon be time for me to audition for ballet companies. I have anywhere between 40-60 lbs to lose (I can't know for sure until I get there.)

Anyway, WW has recently adopted their new "Momentum" plan -- basically it does what many of the above posters said it doesn't. It encourages you to eat healthier foods, which they call Filling Foods; they also do not encourage anyone to eat just their food that you can buy. However, for many people, losing weight is hard because they miss the foods they like. So WW uses the concept of bringing alternatives for what you might like even though it's not necessarily as healthy as, say, drinking a can of V8. It's still healthier for a lot of people to lose the weight.

The cool thing about WW is that it holds you really accountable. My favorite part is that today I didn't feel ready to see my weight, so I asked the lady not to tell me. They write it down in your pamphlet, but you don't have to know the number. So you can keep track of your weight change rather than an actual number until you feel ready. For me, that helps because on Tuesday I am starting ballet again for this year and I know that if I saw a number that got me all dissapointed, I would have a very difficult time doing well and focusing in ballet class. It's more important for me to do well in class than know a number.

So it's almost like you are losing weight but you're not doing it all by yourself. I feel like I don't have to worry as much. And that, my friends, is SO important. For me, at least...there is a huge difference in how I feel and act when I am "free" and happy vs. stressed, worried, and restrained!

One last thing: people gain their weight back after WW because they didn't stay on the plan. The plan includes maintanence. They encourage you to keep coming to the meetings after you reach your goal weight. If you get a lifetime membership (you get it by meeting certain, easy, criteria such as reaching your GW and maintaining it) you go for free. It's actually a birlliant idea to motivate and help people keep off the weight they lost. And if you are willing to make the lifestyle change, it will work.

I do like CC, though -- the main reason I am doing WW is because my mother convinced me to try it for a month or two because she thinks it'll help me get the start I need. I still use this to sometimes track my calories and because it's one of the best resources.

I think that personally I'm a CCer and it's like I'm just trying WW to see if I like my results. Ultimately, I do plan on doing my own thing again (counting calories, etc.)

I hope I provided another perspective and some further insight on what WW really does encourage!

Hmm...that was rude!

I'm not sure what you mean by "job" with the quotations and all, but a professional ballet career is most definitely a job, and a very competitive one at that.

It absolutely does not require people to be unhealthy. Someone unhealthy can't dance. I can back that up with the entire dance world and my own personal experience.

No where did I say I was planning on reaching an unhealthy weight or getting there in an unhealthy manner -- in fact, I recall saying exactly the opposite: that my goal weight is perfectly acceptable by my age and height (cleared by my endocrinologist, dietician, and pediatrician,) and that if I found that I was having a really hard time getting to my goal weight without sacrificing my health, then I would not attempt to get to that weight.  

If you're going to make assumptions, at least read everything first. Otherwise it means nothing. "I only hope it doesn't do you too much harm in the long run" -- thanks for your "concern", but if you read my post you would have known that I know by now what is healthy and what isn't. Don't talk like you know everything, please don't. You have NO IDEA what is healthy for me and what isn't, and frankly it really pisses me off that you're talking to me like a poor little girl who doesn't understand that she's really harming herself and oh, she'll understand when she's older...I am being the HEALTHIEST I have EVER been. So cut the crap please and thank you.

And please reconsider your claim that being a professional ballerina is not a job -- not to sound bitchy, but it's a job that most people would never be able to do.

One last thing; ballet requires you to be at your HEALTHIEST, in regards to weight but more than anything in regards to your muscles, bones, tendons, all the organs, everything must be in tip-top shape. A job that requires sitting at a desk all day promotes a far unhealthier message.

Thanks! I did consider that, but I wasn't sure. I wish there was just a machine that could calculate it for me!! Lol. And tell me for sure.

I guess I'll just go with Moderate activity then, do you think that's ok? I won't bother logging my exercise (or if I do, it'll just be for the sake of writing it down and I won't actually pay attention to it.)