Oct
20
Tips for Weight Loss and Overall Health when You’re Almost Over the Hill
Remember when you were younger, the days of giving up meat for Lent and dropping 15 pounds by Easter? How about switching from regular soda to diet, and wondering where those last 10 pounds flew off to? Think of them fondly, for those days are long gone once you turn 35. You’ve got to
change the way you think about your body and weight loss, so that you can change your body!
Tip #1: Do what you know
Long-term weight loss requires a combination of diet and exercise. Most of us already know this; it’s not difficult to remember. It’s just difficult to do. Examining (and shrinking) portions of food, giving up French fries for the occasional apple, and skipping dessert or that second glass of wine every once in a while requires a lot more self-awareness, personal responsibility and self-control than most people want to spend. But hey, isn’t that the great thing about passing 30? You finally have a real sense of self-control and self-awareness that is lacking in many people younger than you. This can work in your favor. Take advantage of it.
Tip # 2: Less food in, more energy out
The second part of reaching your weight loss goals is exercise. Don’t run away– come back here and read the rest of this article! Hmmm, is all your running metaphorical these days? Probably so, what with kids and work and stress and no more long nights of dancing (where did all the good dance music go, anyway?). Make yourself move. Join a gym or buy some free weights, get an old treadmill off of craigslist, walk with a friend, anything! At this age, the extra weight isn’t going to burn out– you’ve got to get the fat to fade away. That means regular exercise-and by regular I mean 5 or more days a week-every week.
Tip #3: Loreal’s right, you’re worth it
Jul
26
Is today’s breaking news about the permissibility of kissing while dating being communicated to the masses via some fundamentalist Sharia-espousing mullah? Is it being handed down by Moses from on high, possibly inscribed on some stone tablets or papyrus? No, it’s from the
Poll: Kissing Acceptable While Dating, Christian Site Says fundamentalist Christian folks at ChristiaNet.com. The results from a poll at ChristiaNet.com have just revealed that kissing is acceptable while dating. ChristiaNet.com claims to be the “world’s largest Christian portal” with a purported twelve million monthly page loads. And the question that was recently burning the web page over at the Christian portal was “Is kissing while dating permissible?” 134 out of 271 respondents answered “Yes”, that kissing is acceptable while dating. 71 voted “No”. 66 were “Unsure”.This is a big question out in the Christian singles world, apparently, with Christianity Today trying to shed some light with its Five Commandments of Dating, excerpted from Jason Illian’s Undressed: The Naked Truth About Love, Sex, and Dating:1. Thou shalt not group date.2. Thou shalt commit to the fight.3. Thou shalt expect nothing.4. Thou shalt be patient.5. Thou shalt always follow the King.And apparently now, at least according to 134 respondents to the ChristiaNet.com poll: Thou shalt kiss!Most of the respondents to the ChristiaNet.com poll on kissing while dating seemed to agree on a few things: Christian dating should be within the rules and guidelines of God’s word about behavior. A couple considering kissing should discuss some guidelines in the early stages of their relationship and draw some lines and boundaries. Self-control was emphasized, with one respondent commenting that “One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control”. All seemed to agree that their bodies don’t belong to them, but to God. And according to these folks, it’s God’s temple.
Feb
9
As far back as I can remember I’ve been terrified of public speaking. The irony is that I would love to speak publicly, if not for one small problem. As soon as I begin to speak, I lose my self control. My mind empties, my limbs begin to tremble, and my voice falters, revealing my
crippling terror. I used to think that I would never overcome this debilitating fear, but that was before I attended the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. and learned differently. In January I attended the NYLC conference for six days to study and explore U.S. governmental structure with other “outstanding young leaders.” It was amazing for me to meet and interact with other students who, like myself, had an interest in political issues. I found that my peers in this program, by their own hard work and dedication, pushed me to excel and to work beyond my normal capacity. What surprised me most, however, was that this encouragement extended beyond the intellectual realm, to include my own personal goals as well. When we first began the program, we were asked to set a personal goal. Sheepishly, I wrote down that I wished to “…better interact with peers in group situations” and “overcome my shyness.” I banished this goal from my mind, however, until the day before the conference ended. That last day was by far the most spectacular, including the largest political simulation, the model Congress, and the Farewell Dinner Dance. Though it was exciting, I was at the same time saddened. It seemed that I would not only be leaving my new friends in a little over twenty-four hours, but I would inevitably be doing so without accomplishing the goal I had sought to achieve when I had arrived.
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