Posts by marie_von

I would love to join in on the support group.  I've been on and off CC for a year and a half, and this week getting back on the wagon having gained back 10lbs from where I started last year.  The long race is definitely my hard part and exercise is the bain of my existence.  I just can't hold to consistency.  I also just acquired the Wii Fit and I agree that it does make exercise fun, but it is still time that has to be carved out of the day.  Currently my long goal is 30lbs, and more specifically to get below the overweight BMI category.  My short-term goal is drop 10lbs so that more of my clothes fit.  I am using a "helper" to try and get me to be honest about some of my less-than-good intakes, aka Alli.  I don't view it as a cure-all or the miracle to my success, but hopefully it will keep the losing moving forward and force me to not slack off due to the consequences I might suffer.

Original Post by hunibearz:

Sometimes it just works out that you are better as friends than any thing more. When his friends asked why we didn't just get married, we both looked at one another and laughed. Why? Because we both accepted that while we love one another, we could never live together. Together we would have killed one another. He's a short fuse and I'm a slow burning fire. Eventually you know all it will take is the wrong spark for it to explode. He honestly cannot handle for anyone to tell him what to do....ever. Should have heard him come unglued when he heard me ask my husband if he remembered to take his vitamins I packed with his lunch that morning. Something as simple as a loving reminder is a personal affront to him.

I can totally relate.  My first really serious bf that actually turned into an engagement that went nowhere is still a good friend.  He was my main college bf and we had our on and off times but thought we were in love.  The relationship ended when I realized how volital I was around him and that he was the only one ever in my life to push me to the brink of getting physically violent during an argument.  We both acknowledged that our romantic relationship was toxic for both of us.  We did have some separation time because of the emotions invested, which was difficult as we crossed paths alot at school.  Now we are both married, in different states.  Our SOs know about each other and we stay in regular contact.  Through all of our rocky times, including his helping me out of a bout of depression during one of our off periods, a deep friendship grew that was rooted in more than just romance.  I would never consider him romantically again and have no interest of even contemplating that.  That is the past.  our friendship is the present and taht is all I wish for.  I do have plenty of other exs that I don't stay friends with because the relationship was the whole of the reason to be in touch, no relationship, no contact necessary.

I believe No other church can make that statement  

I would have to completely disagree with that statement because in my religion, Christian Science, the sermon every Sunday is set up ahead of time by a national bible committee and the passage citations issued to the congregation prior each service months in advance.  That sermon is read unaltered in every church around the global every Sunday.  However, beyond the Sunday service, how people live and demonstrate my faith varies drastically by the individual.  I think what Pgeorgian was getting at is that the uniqueness of humans as individuals and how any faith is expressed created the variance in all faiths that make it illogical and impossible for us to express to absolute perfect the doctrine of the divine because human beliefs adulterate it on one way or another.  Even in LDS I know that the "doctrine" of the church has changed over its history such as the banning of polygamy.  Believe whatever you want on who influenced those changes be it divine or human, but how can you know for certain those changes are origined from the divine. 

Mankind will follow whatever faith makes sense to them, create rules to structure that faith.  Therefore as humans I doubt we will ever fully grasp a perfect model of what the "one true church" of the divine (God/Allah/Buddha etc.)

I also wear my contacts 2-3 times past their recommended use.  I've been wearing O2 Optics for almost 3yrs now and have had no issues and horror-of-horrors have a bad habit of sleeping with them and still have no issues and a steady prescriptions.

I have to also agree with Moonkins when it comes to official Catholic retoric is rather scathing against non-Catholics.  An approved history of the church, a book called "Triumph" explicitly states Luther's actions in 1519 directly caused all the horrors of the world including the World Wars and Holocaust and boastfully stated that if the fold had stayed in tack none of those atrocities would have occurred.

I do agree that individuals who follow the Catholic faith can be very kind, generous, sincere people and do not spout the bigotry of the church.  My issue against Catholism is their historic bigotry and intolerance, but I acknowledge that the faith of a person is usually separate from the blood past of any faith.

Original Post by atech:

What I don't understand is why would someone who believes in organized religion attend a church they didn't believe was the "one true church"?

Ok, I'll respond since I am the one that said there is no "one true church."  My meaning is that due to the inevitable human influence on the structure of any organized religion, God' message has always been skewed.  I think that as humans we all have different needs for our faith.  Such as if you are gay and need the comfort in knowing you are loved and accepted, which is unfortunately counter to most older Christian doctrine.  For my needs, the religion I was raised in fulfils those needs as well as provides a community of like minded individuals.  I do feel that on the brass-tax level my religion comes the closest to communicating the most unadulterated message of God's blessing and purpose.  I am very aware that my religion demands a higher level of belief in things unseen, and the demand is sometimes too much for some people and therefore does not fulfill their need regarding how they connect to the divine. 

I honestly feel that an inevitable part of participating in an organized religion is the human community, the sharing of thoughts, revelations, and ideas with one another to somehow make sense out of the world we currently exist in.  I believe that there is a one true church because there is one divine being, God, and his existance is unalterable by any influence from man.  However, mankind has achieved altering His message.  Therefore I feel that no known religion expressed on this earth is untouched from human distortion, thereby none can carry the magnificent golden banner of being the one.

I'm always open for a good religious discourse.  I'm not really a Jesus-hugging person.  I take a more pragmatic look at faith and beliefs. I am Christian but definitely not the over the top loving, shouting-from-the-rafters kind, which maybe more what you are aiming for.

This thread has been quite enlightening and I feel the need to join in.  I consider myself open-minded about religion and faith in general because I believe that each individual has different needs from their faith, and how their faith serves the person.  I am a Christian Scientist (no way associated to Scientology).  I was raised in Christian Science and have been through my trials of faith.  I went to college for Christiaon Scientists (picture BYU but smaller).  I have committed to my faith because it just makes sense to me.  My religion teaches the bible in more of a spiritual context versus literal, so most of the stories I see as fables teaching a lesson rather than hard core historical facts. 

I call myself a Christian because I believe in the lessons Jesus taught of forgiveness, compassion, and to follow his example to be a healer, an uplifter of the weak, sick and helpless.  I do not follow every literal preaching in the bible because everything has a historical context and is not necessarily relevant to our current environment.  I think that divinity has come to mankind by various names, Buddha, Allah, God, etc. and each has their messenger who spread the word.  No message is necessarily better, nor the messenger because the human elements tends to skew things to their purpose.  I am a bit of a historian and I think that the recordkeepers of all faiths have aided in the distortion of the message creating the confusion and factioning of belief. I think there is one true faith in the context of one divine being governing all life and creation.  However, thanks to the distortion of the human agenda no religion has gotten the message quite right and therefore does not deserve the title of the one true faith.  Each religion can be the true faith of different individuals but it is not the "one."

I'm in.  I definitely need to get back on track.  Fell off the wagon these past few months.

Name: Evonne
Age: 27
Weight: 140
Goal Weight: 120lbs

I agree with flgirl.  I haven't gone through pregnancy yet but I've been in a family business and I've worked with my husband at the same company.  Since the family biz job sounds more like a job filler, use it as such.  The flexibility during the beginning stages of parenthood will be invaluable.  At the same time, start building the foundation for your own business.  I am sure your in-laws will understand and will probably be grateful to have a job opening filled sooner than later. 

I also agree with juliemae that a emotionally happy mom who strives to fulfil her needs is a better role model than only accepting at face value what the world may offer.  I think sacrifice is part of parenthood but only to a point.  I personally have dreams of getting a doctorate in history but I know it will contribute little or nothing financially to the family dynamic so it has been shelved until a later stage in life.  That doesn't take away my ability to share my passion for history, I just don't have the creditentials that academia likes.  If you know you can start up your business.  Do it and fill the income void with the family biz.  The example you will set for your child is that short-term sacrifices are sometimes a fact of life towards reaching your bigger goals.

I have a husband that is a bit like you and even as a girl I tend to lean towards the @hole view on my own weight loss.  When I think of my husband helping to motivate and encourage me to do my best with my weight loss it is less about the drill sergeant commentary and more about actions.  I'm rather lazy about exercise myself.  Joined a gym and was dedicated at first but have drop off lately.  no one, not even my husband, will ever by force or words motivate me to put in the exercise and derogitory comments from the hubby only kill what little motivation I have.  The support I do appreciate is accepting healthier food choices, which you probably already do because of your own goals.  I loved when my hubby picks out the sugar-free pancake syrup on his own, the low fat cheese, and other healthier choices because it means we can have the food we like will less calorie-guilt.

When she proclaims success, even the smallest accomplishment, take a breath and cut your comments by half, dropping of the "coach" retoric.  You have the right to think it, but it doesn't help to say it.  Girls don't always want raw truth, and as your fiance she wants support, encouragement.  The world would be a horrible place if everyone stated the raw truth.  i'm sure in other scenerios at work, with friends, you know that the raw truth is the last thing to say.  Well weight loss is one of those scenarios.  You know it isn't helping so just back away, take a deep breath, and then just be loving.  YOu know what she wants to hear.  Will it really hurt you or her to soften the truth?

I'm going to provide a little info on the various options mentioned as I briefly sold jewelry for a retailer and had to learn all the different points on metals and alternatives

Regarding Tungsten and Titanium.  They are great metals and definitely gaining in popularity.  They are very sturdy because they are industrial metals that are meant to resist normal jewelry wear-and-tear.  They are great for guys because generally men don't ever need their rings resized (or refuse to).  For women, especially those looking towards starting or adding to the family, these metals can be a bad idea just due to the size changes that naturally happen with our body and how some of us react after pregnancy and the difficulty of dropping weight.  Tungsten and Titanium can not be resized by ordinary jewelry methods (melted).  They require laser cutting and high temperature welding that most jewelers do not have the equipment to do.  Therefore changing ring sizes means buying a new ring.

For alternative diamond: unlike lab created gemstones that have met the gemologist standard of simulation to the natural variety to be called a sapphire, ruby, etc.  There is no true equivalent to a diamond.  Their composition is so unique and difficult to fabricate that nature still beats out the scientists. Moissenite is a close runner up but generally will have a yellowish hue to the color.  If perfect, icy white color is not a priority then go for it.  I would also never trust the picture posted on a webpage.  If you choose to purchase with a business where you do not have the ability to see the product before, make sure they have an excellent return policy because the pictures are usually the best of the best of that style and the actual product is only modestly similar and not as glamorous.

I have the same feelings.  The gym and I had gotten into a groove, it was nice, refreshing, invigorating and then something happened.  My life hasn't changed much but the groove is gone and squeezing in the gym has been challenging lately.  I need to get my groove back, tackle the gym again.  I've kept my first 10 off so at least there isn't a back slide but I want more off.  I want to get my skinny back.  The weekend is booked with activities, outdoors so that is good, so monday is my day to get back in the groove.

Another idea for staying motivated which helps improve your patience is logging any changes that you notice either in a journal or the blogs on this site.  Track when you are able to do an activity without getting winded anymore, when your thighs don't touch, when you had to go to a smaller hole on a buckle, basically little things that can provide encouragement.  I personally feel my body proportions shifting while I make this lifestyle change so I use these non-weight markers of progress as motivators when the scale does not budge for weeks.  I remind myself of how much better I feel, how more energetic I am.  That helps me be patient with the slow process of seeing results on the scale.

I have a 31" waist and 39" hips at widest point.  I wear a size 8 generally.