Posts by samantha81

Hi all!

It's Monday again, and I'm proud to say I weighed in this morning and am now at 146.2!  Yay!  I'd say that's a big accomplishment for the holiday season :)

Christmas shopping has been my main source of exercise over the last couple of weeks - and I am convinced it's the best!  Lol.  Running from store to store, carrying heavy bags, etc.  It doesn't get much better than that!

How is everyone doing?

How are the preparations coming for the holidays?  Has anyone finished their shopping?  Started their shopping?

Oh yeah - and I bought a kitten this weekend!  He is the sweetest little thing ever!

Lol... I meant to say "I am now at 147.6"...!  And I weighed myself again this morning and it read 147.0.  I have no idea what I'm doing, but it seems to be working :)

Original Post by syc212:

Original Post by samantha81:

Ya know, saying "I'm still not sure what your main point is" usually means you've only read bits and pieces of the discussion, you didn't take the time to try to understand it, or that you are simply can't get it.  I have spelled it out very slowly and in very small words, so you can understand how I'd feel completely baffled at being told I don't make sense.  I'm only left to believe that when someone can't provide a valid conflicting arugment, they simply tell the opposition that they are the ones not being clear.  Huh.

Anyway... I hope everyone is having a great holiday season ;)

Wow. I said that because even though, no, I have not read every single word of every post you've made, the tone and message from posts that I have read have been conflicting. 
It could have arisen from several things, from my misinterpretation, or not having read everything, to you changing your mind, or even just playing devil's advocate. In my previous post, I unsuccessfully tried to imply that, and I apologize for being unclear. I was afraid of wording things in a way that would be offensive to you personally, because that wasn't my intention, but really I simply shouldn't have not said anything at all. 
I'm not trying to take an argumentative side against you, I thought this was a thread for discussion, not debate, and I was just mentioning a thought that's repeatedly occurred to me while reading through this thread. Even if I haven't read it all, I've read through a fair amount, and things you've said throughout its course hit me in ways that were incongruent with each other, so I was just trying to point that out without making any judgement. If I was unsuccessful, my bad. I think I'll just stay away from threads of yours in the future.

 I do apologize for sounding harsh.  I think the neverending circle this discussion has gone in (as do most discussions of this nature after a time), and this turned into something I wasn't aiming for.

So, let me clarify as best I can - and hopefully this will be the last time!  Ahem.  The whole reason I started this thread was not because of the performance, but because I was irritated that immediately following the scrutiny he automatically jumped to "it's because I'm gay."  That card is usually the first one played, and it was frustrating for him to say that without regarding the fact that his overdone acts may have had something to do with it.

Throughout the discussion I've also brought up the points that I feel he should have been more considerate of ABC and his audience, especially since he's just starting out in his career.  I'd heard that many people complained about the performance, and I understood how some might be upset.  I, personally, think he went a little too far, but more importantly - other stations have cancelled scheduled shows with him because the only impression people can have of him at this point is that he can't be trusted.  He doesn't have a big enough name to intice people to play things his way - unlike bigger names in the business who can get away with act of the like.

All of the above points, of which I have tried to stick to, are reasons why I think the uproar was not about him being gay.  The man-kiss was... ahem... interesting, but it's something that can be seen on any prime-time drama.  It was some of the other tasteless actions that sunk his ship. 

I'm hoping that clears things up, because I have no idea how to further sum it up!  Now, we can all continue arguing about this, attempting to get each other to see things our own way, or we can agree to disagree!  I think there needs to be a line drawn and a level or respect expressed, while others seem to believe that America has a huge stick up its ass, and should just back off so everyone can have their way - screw accountability.  I mean, who are we to draw any lines?? ;)

bluewonder - how's the new weigh-in toy working for you?  How exactly does it work?

5togo - congrats on giving up caffeine!  I'm not there yet, but I try to limit my intake and balance it out with a lot of water.  And sorry to hear that you're sick!

I still haven't made it to the gym since October!  Ugh.  But my weight has been going down a little bit.  I'm not at 147.6!

It'd be nice to lose a few more pounds, but more importantly to get back into exercising.  I have been reading so many articles latley about the importance of keeping your body moving!  I know it's not a secret, but once I read a little bit of it, it now seems to be everywhere!

I'm still aiming for 145, but I'm still pretty proud of myself for not having gained weight so far - especially since it's the holidays!

Hope everyone is doing well and staying motivated!

*sigh*...*...yawn...*

Original Post by susiecue:

Quick question.  If he'd kissed a girl instead of a guy, would anyone have been upset?  No?  Then, yes, the whole uproar is because he's gay.

Did you watch the video, hun?  The man-kiss was the most mild part of the performance ;)

Original Post by jules817:

Original Post by purespark:

Wow, I'm not sure where you get that from my post.  I'm just saying I think you're inaccurate in your assessment of broadcasters' motivations.  Nowhere I did I comment on a wilful disregard of public opinion shown by Adam Lambert's choice to change his performance.

Also, "offering their airtime to further [artist's] careers?"  Really?  Last time I checked, TV networks aren't non-profit organizations.  They choose their programming based on what gets people to tune in, because networks want to be able to sell advertising.  In no way is their choice of programming motivated by altruistic or charitable motives.  It's a business, and, unfortunately, homosexuality isn't good for business.

 yeah i have to agree with meagan here. not really sure where you got the idea that networks put stars on their shows out of the goodness of their hearts to promote their careers. that's laughable.

they put adam lambert on because he has a lot of fans and they want lots of viewers. they want viewers so they get advertisers and make money.

they are afraid to put him on now because his performance was over the top, sexual and he's openly gay. they know a lot of people are going to get into an uproar about it and they don't want to lose viewers. i firmly believe if a female performer did exactly the same thing he did, we wouldn't even be hearing about it right now.  

i mean, do you really think ABC execs are sitting around like "ooooh boo hoo! Adam took advantage of our kindness! We'll never trust again!"

 

Well, now I'm the one confused!  I have no idea where I gave the impression that I think networks are non-profit organizations who "put stars on their shows out of the goodness of their hearts to promote their careers." I agree that "they choose their programming based on what gets people to tune in, because networks want to be able to sell advertising." However, he violated the relationship between himself and ABC (and most likely other networks) by surprising them with his own agenda.  These networks aren't going to suffer without him, but he's the one that's going to make it more difficult on himself.

I definitely think Adam has talent and is a great entertainer!  But it was too much too soon.  The thing with Brittney and Madonna blew up, but they have well-established careers and are high profile artists!  They can get away with anything.  But when someone is just starting out in their career they don't have as much leg room to take risks! 

And perhaps my opinion of him has gone down since he left American Idol.  I thought he was great on that show (and his sexual orientation was no secret), but since then he's been arrogant, rude, and thinks he can and should be able to get away with anything.

Original Post by purespark:

Original Post by samantha81:   But initial beef was with the fact that he automatically assumed the outcry about his antics were all because he's gay.  Yet, broadcasters aren't cancelling his performances because he likes men - it's because they can't trust what he'll do! 

 If you believe this, you give the American viewing public and broadcasters' reaction to it a lot more credit than I think it deserves.  I think it most certainly is because he is gay.  ABC might claim otherwise, but this country is still chock-full o' homophobes.

Then I guess if this is what you believe, you are one of the one's who doesn't care what is on TV,  feel that artists should be free to express themselves in any way they feel appropriate, shouldn't give any regard or respect to the people who take a chance on them by offering their airtime to further their careers, and should feel no accountability for poor choices - because apparently a "poor choice" doesn't exist.

*runs up to the dead horse and takes another swing...*  :)

Adam has been cut from other ABC performances since they are unwilling to take another change on him (at least at this point), and the station is making part of their new agreements/contracts between themselves and future performers stating that they need to perform exactly what they rehearse.

That was my whole issue!  People can complain for whatever reason, but the fact that he decided to do whatever he wanted kind threw his own career under the bus - at least for now!

Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Brittney Spears and Janet Jackson have established their careers, so a few surprise antics aren't going to hurt their status.  But when you're a nobody, you need to gain a following before you try to a statement!  It has nothing to do with his sexual orientation - it's the fact that no one knows who he is yet, and now people see him a careless punk who thinks he's bigger than he really is!

*... walks away from dead horse...*

Hi...

I can relate to your thoughts and feelings, at least to an extent.  I find myself asking the same questions;  why bother?  does it really matter that much?  Will weight loss make me that much happier?  Will eating healthier make life more complete?  What difference does it make if I choose a certain career?  Find the right partner/spouse?

Now, I certainly don't have all of the answers, and I'm not sure that having them would be what I need.  So, I think I've resorted to simply this:  you only get to live this life once (up for discussion based on beliefs), so why waste it?  Will it make a difference in the grand scheme of things?  Well, that also depends on belief, but whether it does or not - we are each born with unique talents, personalities, characteristics, bodies, thoughts, etc.  and if we don't be the best version of ourselves, no one will do it for us our take our place. 

Each of us has something unique to offer the world, and no matter how many billions of people who have lived before us or live after us... there will never be another you.  So don't cheat yourself out of the one opportunity you have to add your piece to the puzzle. 

Or perhaps you're looking for a more simple answer like - be healthy because you should be;  because you'll look better in your clothes;  because you'll have more energy;  your skin will thank you;  you'll look great when you're old, etc. ;)

On a day to day basis, the simply answers may work to get you to the gym, or prompt you to snack on fruit instead of chips.  However, there will be times when it seems like it doesn't matter, and those times will need a bigger picture!

I hope this doesn't sound like senseless rambling!  Yet, even if it does it helped me sort through my own questions :)

P.S. I used to be possessed by the same thing.  I finally just took over ;)

So, you're saying you can't control the movement of your arms, nor the grasp of your fingers when you reach for the zucchini bread and put it in your mouth?  Is there a higher power or something else possessing you that makes you eat food of which takes you off track from your goals??

You can refuse, walk by, ignore it, and be in control instead of letting the dreaded zucchini bread force itself on you.

Oh, and you do know that the zucchini bread, or any of the other tempting treats can't do anything to you on their own, right?  ;)

Just checking!

Asking "do you want to be my girlfriend" may seem juvenile (though I don't see it), but at least he was being straight forward. 

Now, it's your turn.

Original Post by dnrothx:

Original Post by samantha81:

 I don't really want this to turn into a debate with PETA or any other activists!

 Your pants are on fire.

 Nuh-uh!!  I didn't want to be rude by ignoring someone's comments (at least not until it was necessary ;)), and I wanted to be able to clear up what was apparently a "strange statement."

But now the water is under the bridge, and no one's pants are on fire!

frankster - Like gi-jane said (along with many, many other topics and posts) if you can't control yourself with a certain food, don't keep it in the house!  I absolutely love cereal, but I went for a few months without buying it because it was such a weakness for me! 

Find other things to have for breakfast - oatmeal, eggs, toast, yogurt, etc.  They may not be as satisfying as cereal, but you'll feel better  once you can get past your cereal situation.

Then, when you feel like you have better control, buy one or two boxes of healthy cereal, and when you pour yourself a bowl put the cereal back in the cupboard and close it before you even take a bite, drink a big glass of water before you eat, put your bowl in the sink or dishwasher immediately after you're done, then go brush your teeth!

Also, if you wait until the last possible minute to eat (like leaving yourself only 10 minutes to have breakfast) before you have to leave, you won't have time to keep going!

Just a few tips!  But remember - you're the one in control, not the cereal ;)