Posts by momof2kd

I'm not the most knowledgeable concerning fitness around here, so take this lightly. When I begin to feel like that, I take a bit of time off. After a couple days to a week, you may regain some energy. Have you tried changing up your workouts as well? Also, are you eating enough calories and getting enough sleep?

Any Tae Bo DVD is great. They really push me. I just bought the Tae Bo Amped and am itching to try it.

Oh dear. I'll have to seriously watch myself from now on then. Having been overweight all my life and only dealing with the mindset of striving to become thinner, I always considered commenting on a friend's thin figure as being a compliment instead of an offense. Though, I've never even thought to say some of the things mentioned in this thread. Sheesh, some people do go way too far. 

I was always on the opposite side of the fence and got mercilessly taunted for being the "fat girl" in school. So, I can see how comments like that would be extremely hurtful.

I absolutely LOVE Goodwill! It's a great place for growing kiddies who outgrow their clothes within a few months' time. Not to mention people who are in the process of losing weight. You can find all kinds of stuff there. 

Best-place-ever!

I'd like your spreadsheet too, pretty pretty please! Email = wynachaea@gmail.com

Thanks much!

It's odd because the first time I used it, I could only do 5 minutes. The second time, I increased it to 10 minutes. Now, I  can do up to 20 minutes without stopping, which was the third time I seriously tried. It does seem like it's easily learned, just hard to get started. Today, I'm going to shoot for 30 minutes without breaking. If I can do that, I'll stop for a couple hours then hit it for another 30 minutes later today.

All I know is, I simply LOVE this thing! It's wonderful for burning calories and I can do it in conjunction with a little strength training. I liked walking, but walking is highly dependant upon the weather and we've been getting a lot of rain lately. I couldn't get in my exercise. Now, I can everyday. I wish I had had the money to buy one much sooner.

I have to say, this was the best investment I've made in a long time.

Edit: Woohoo! I just did 45 minutes nonstop! When I got off, I could barely stand. Whoever mentioned sea legs was certainly right on the money. I'm so proud!

That using an elliptical is really, REALLY hard. That it thoroughly kicks my hinney. And that I can only do 5 minutes at a time for the time being.

Goodness, I've never used an elliptical before buying this one. I've been wanting to buy one because I heard they're so good for maximum calorie burn. Calorie Counter says that for an hour, at light effort, I would burn 937 calories. That's almost too good to be true considering the fact that I only burn around 800 doing Tae Bo, which is maximum effort for me. Is this correct?

I truly am sorry that you have to go through such turmoil. I honestly can't imagine how hard it would be to be in your situation. Though, in saying that, I also can't help but to think of the wife here as well. I know you don't want to say anything just yet because you don't want to be forced to leave your children. Do you think that she will react that badly? Trying to put myself in her shoes, I know that I would want to know as soon as possible. Sure, it would be a huge blow, but if she knows you love your children and is a generally decent person, she surely won't harm your chances of staying there. It seems unfair to keep her in the dark about this. I know that it's extremely hard on you, but consider the fact that it will probably be a lot harder on her if you knowingly keep this from her. It could make her resent you more so than if you would just tell her as soon as possible.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Ahaha, talk about a coincidence! We live in an apartment attached to one neighbor on our right side. These people are the nastiest people I've ever met in my life. Trash is always littered around their apartment. Dog poop in the floor, walls that are supposed to be white are brown, pure nastiness. At any rate, I literally freaked out when I saw my first roach about 4 months ago. I called the landlord complaining and everything. I just today got done scrubbing my entire apartment from floor to ceiling. I took furniture apart and everything. It took me a week to get it all done, I was so thorough. I intend to buy some boric acid and put along the walls that join our apartments as well as around my entire side on the outside. Heck, I'm even going to climb into the attic and create a barrier with it between our apartments. I heard roaches won't cross it and I'm willing to try anything. I have to live beside them, it seems. Granted, I haven't seen one in about 2 weeks and when I did see any, it was only one or two within a month period. The thing is though, those things multiply like mad. When you see one, there's a nest somewhere. That's why I freak so badly over them, not because they're insects. At any rate, I'm hoping this boric acid does the trick and keeps them over there so they can wallow in all the filth they want to.

Edit: This is the second thread I've responded to that's about a year old! Arg

I try to talk my kiddies into eating veggies constantly. Sometimes, I don't "volunteer" information concerning foods that have veggies in them when it isn't obvious. The thing is, and I'm sure you've noticed this as well, as we grow, our taste changes. Things I absolutely hated as a kid, I really enjoy now. Squash, for instance. You couldn't pay me to even try squash. Now, I love it. The same goes for most healthy foods. I currently eat much healthier than I used to, and I do it by choice. As for now, I'll jump at the chance to sneak some extra veggies into my kids' stomachs.

My poor son avoids green foods like the plague. I cook 'em and he wrinkles his nose. My daughter isn't as bad, though, she doesn't rejoice at the thought of eating broccoli and cheese. I add cheese because frankly, it's good. And with hopes that the cheese will eventually get the kids interested.

My take on it is filled with utter bitterness, and for that, I apologize in advance.

I was raised by a Christian mother and grandmother. Note that my father wasn't ever around, for the lady who has issues with the thought of being subservient to men. This point alone has left me questioning. I never met my father. My mother took me to him when I was a wee baby and he said I wasn't his. I have two children by different men. And no, that doesn't mean I was a slut. What that means is that in trying to find a life partner, I went through two men. Neither would take his responsibility and stick around to help raise his child. To be perfectly honest, a majority of the people I know well are single mothers for one reason or another. Sure, I could have held onto my own children's fathers if I would stand for their drug use, numerous trips to jail, my daughter's father's actual rape of my best friend, the list goes on and on. Was I to have simply sat back and took it? Gave them undying support in all their endeavors?

Another thing that bothers me so much about Christianity, the Bible clearly states that people will be deceived, which will lead to their spending eternity in Hell. This is another that fuels my bitterness. What kind of God ALLOWS his creation to be deceived? What amount of effort would it take to simply show yourself? Heck, I wouldn't ask for him to do flips and jump through hoops. Simply show yourself... That act alone would turn the tide to "believers". I just don't understand this whole faith concept. What's the big deal? Really? Why not simply show yourself instead of expecting people who you're supposed to love enough to send your son to die for to blindly believe in you. That reminds me of the notions of ghosts, aliens, etc. Though, those might be a bit more believable. Answer this, you of the Christian faith. Could you give birth to your own children. Take them off to some deserted island. Hand them a book and tell them that they are to believe in you or you will damn them to eternal misery. Then, watch as generations pass by. Those who may have seen you have long since passed. Faith alone is what holds the few of your offspring to believe you exist. While the numbers are dwindling down, you stand as ultimate judge over them all and sternly send them to oblivion simply because they could not believe in you.

There is so much suffering in the world as a whole. Kids starve to death. Parents, if you can call them that, murder their own children. There is so much that I could never list it all. Yet, where is god?

You know, I once taught Children's Church. I once attended church every chance I got. I once believed so blindly, so strongly, in god that I would beat myself up if an unkind thought, yes THOUGHT, about another person entered my mind. I felt inadequate. I constantly felt like I wasn't worthy. I felt like I was damned every single time I made a mistake. I felt as if I were constantly displeasing the most important person in my life. I could never measure up. I could never, ever live up to what I thought a "true Christian" should be. Then, doubt began to creep into my mind. In a wild panic, I would push it out. Oh gods, how could I doubt God?? I would literally pray, begging god, to take those doubts away. They had to have been the absolute worst thing I ever wrestled with as a Christian. Then, after about 3 years of that, I finally gave in and started examining the doubts. Where was god?

This has to be the most embarrassing thing I've ever admitted to. But, as a final stand, I turned to the internet for answers. There was no way I could take it to people I knew in real life about something as serious as disbelief. After having tried to -force- myself to believe for three years, I started freaquenting "Christian" run web sites. I posted in forums asking questions. Of course, these questions were asked in desperatation. The things that were bothering me so badly were the things that I asked. Instead of them patiently answering my questions while trying to keep me from losing what little willpower I had left, they treated me like I was Satan who just walked into a church and sat on the front row! Instead of my questions being viewed as honest questions, I was seen as an athiest, there to create turmoil and disbelief. That's when I finally gave up on it. It's been around 4 years or so since. Now, no matter what I do, no matter how much I'd like to be able to believe in a god, I can't. The doubt is so strong.

What kind of god would allow for someone to be literally tortured because they cannot produce faith?

What bothers me more than anything is the thought of a death with nothing else. That thought alone has caused me to go to church once more within the past four years, trying to see if I could again. Nothing, as expected. I personally think that the expectation of faith is religion's downfall, and ultimately, Christianity's.

You wouldn't believe the way I see 90% of the Christians I know act. Gossip, backstabbing, front pew Christians and devils through the week, political liars, etc. In all honesty, the Christians I know are some of the worst people I have ever met. I'd seriously rather depend on an unbeliever than a believer for anything, especially life threatening.

Now, this wasn't to say that all Christians are alike. This is just MY experience. Actually, I'd love to be able to believe like I used to. Alas, it isn't possible.

Sorry for such a long, rambling post.

My weight loss journey thus far has been odd, to say the least. I started on July 13 of this year. At first, the loss was pretty fast, which scared me a little. Now, it seems to have slowed down a bit and I know it will slow down even more as I get closer to where I want to be. Each month, I seem to retain a lot of water the week before, during, and the week after my period. That leaves about one week within a month, in which I lose in larger blocks. This was that week. I actually keep a chart of it at home. Here is my loss record sine I started: (note that each weighin was done on a weekly basis. Never ever weigh daily!)

Date    Weight   Loss

7-18     290    

7-25     288      -2

8-1       286      -2

8-8       284.5   -1.5

8-15     280      -4.5

8-22     278      -2

8-29     276.5   -1.5

9-5      273.25   -3.25

9-12    271.25  -2

9-19    268.5    -2.75

9-26    267.75  -0.75

10-3    267.5    -0.25

10-10  267.75  +0.25     (this week really freaked me out, heh. This was one of those hard weeks either before, during, or after my period. Just push through these.)

10-17  263      -4.75     (If you'll notice, this is one of the "big weeks" after my body's done with the period issue. A happy week, needless to say)

10-24  261    & nbsp; -2

10-31  260.5   -0.5

11-7    258.25 -2.25

11-14  254.25 -4.0

Admittingly, I started out for the first 2 months eating too little and exercising too much. This put my deficit at over -1000 per day. Don't do this! For the past 2 or 3 months, I've went up on my intake and it's at between -500 to -1000 calorie deficit per day, depending on the day and exercise. I've found that I'm losing -almost- as much now as I was before when averaged out and eating a healthy amount of food in order to fuel my exercise. Besides, if you lose too fast, I've heard there is a higher chance that you won't maintain the loss long term. This is another reason why I've purposely slowed myself down. I want to do this for life, not end up being a yo-yo dieter. I will say this though, I'll never be this much overweight again.

You've done wonderfully so far! Keep it up and be patient. Patience is key to weight loss.

Well, no. I'm not absolutely positive that I have arthritis. I assume that because they're daily pains that get worse at times and ease off within the next day or two. I wish I could afford insurance. I'm a single mom and every last penny I earn goes to bills and things the kiddies and I need. So, I have to rely on the health department and then only go when I wait and wait and whatever's bothering me doesn't get better. Heh, I haven't even had a pap smear or breast exam since I had my son, nearly 11 years ago. Actually, this is why I'm going to the health department on the 19th. I'll tell them what's going on with my upper body joint issues and see if they're willing, or able, to run a test or two. If nothing else, I know they'll give arthritis medication because I have a neighbor who got some at the local health dept. I'll get by though, either way.

I've never been one to get a lot of tanning in. I'm have a very light complexion. When we go swimming in the summer, I tend to burn to a crisp. Actually, now that I think about it, I've also gotten some rather interesting blemishes on the sides of my face this past summer. I think it might have something to do with my spending more time at the lake with the kiddies and ending up burned. I'll be sure to use sunscreen next year. I don't go to the tanning bed and never actively work on tanning. I'm fairly certain that I get lots of fat. I eat plenty of red meats and such. Though, I've never much worried about keeping myself moisturized. I never really had acne, so there wasn't much need in it. Now though, it seems I must take greater care!

As for makeup, I'd say it's been a good 8 to 9 months since I've even worn any. I'm not much one to use a lot of makeup. Arg, I hate the thought of always having to wear makeup! I remember my mother always getting up and putting on her makeup every morning. Hmm, seeing as I don't have an overly oily face, I may simply bathe my skin in tons of moisturizers. Babyoil, Oil of Olay, etc. It would probably be good for the rest of my body as well seeing as I'll be losing a ton of weight.