Posts by Alexander Ramos58

The white discharge used to drive me crazy while I was sitting in lectures at college, so I started using daily liners. Big mistake. That’s when the real trouble started—I kept getting infections. I finally went to see my gynecologist, and when I explained what was going on, she practically lost it. Turns out, I had no idea those daily liners actually do more harm than good. Apparently, white discharge is totally fine as long as the color or smell doesn't change. Ever since I ditched the liners, the infections and yeast issues have vanished, and honestly, even the discharge itself has calmed down a bit.

Walter Garcia53 said:I mean, bathing is more about relaxing than actually getting clean. Not that it's healthier to just stay dirty or whatever, but you get my point.

Not sure if this was aimed at me or not, but if it was—newsflash: I shower every single day, obviously. I was just sharing some "expert" advice I heard on CNN. Doesn't mean I've stopped practicing basic hygiene...

So, a few years back, I picked up "Fit for Life," and one of the main things they mention is how eating fruit before lunch is actually healthy. Apparently, the morning is when your body is most primed for it. They break the day down into three distinct phases. From noon to 8:00 PM, you're in the appropriation phase—that’s when you need energy and your body is pulling it from food. Then, from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM, comes the assimilation phase, where your body grabs what it needs to function. Finally, from 4:00 AM to noon, you hit the elimination phase, which is basically just your system getting rid of the excess. Since this last phase covers breakfast, the idea is to eat stuff that's easy to digest so you aren't taxing your system while it's trying to clean house. That's why they suggest fruit or veggies. Now, look, it's not like these timings are some universal law that applies to everyone perfectly. I don't follow every single rule in the book religiously, but I did try sticking to fruit in the mornings, and honestly? I started feeling better and had way more energy. I even dropped a few pounds. It's not that I won't eat other things—I'm not a robot—but I make sure to do the fruit thing at least four or five days a week. The rest of the time, it's just oatmeal with milk and honey or maybe a smoothie.
Regarding how much you should eat throughout the day, a friend once gave me some solid advice: eat breakfast alone, lunch with friends, and dinner with your enemies. Basically, keep dinner as light as possible.
I'm really not a fan of skipping meals, including dinner. If you skip, your appetite just spirals out of control, and you end up overeating at the next meal anyway.

Look, some people swear by showering once a day, maybe even less—any more than that and they think you're wasting water. Then you've got the health nuts claiming baths aren't even good for you... honestly, who knows anymore? They act like if you soak in the same tub twice, you’re basically inviting an infection. Personally? I don't care. Nothing beats the feeling of a steaming hot bath when it's freezing outside.😍

Just head over to this site http://www.coolinarika.com/. Hit the health section, then look on the left side for "Work Out With Us"—click that. You'll see some guys and girls demonstrating moves. Just pick one of the guys and you'll find leg exercises tucked in there. It’s actually pretty handy since they include pictures and instructions on how to do everything right. 👍

Susan James42 said:... BMI is just a data point, but it doesn't tell the whole story... after training for a few years now, I'm weighing the same but have way more muscle than before (lower body fat, too). So, I'm the same weight on the scale, but smaller in inches...

I'm with you. At 140 lbs, I looked way heavier than I actually was, but since I started hitting the gym, the scale has gone up even though I look better. Honestly, I don't even bother with the scale much anymore—I just go by how my clothes fit. If the jeans feel good, I'm good.

183/68

Robin Myers91 said:So yeah, everyone keeps telling me I should slow down and just eat like a normal human being, but I’m stubborn as hell...
Back when I did this two years ago, I dropped 70 pounds in a single month. It actually stayed off until this summer and Zyprexa messed things up.

Good grief!!!!!! Is that even physically possible? And honestly, what's the rush? Are you entering some pageant or something? Just give yourself six months and take it steady. That way you won't end up packing all those pounds back on right before summer hits.

If you actually want to see some results—and I mean real ones—you gotta hit the gym, get some cardio in, and actually eat right. It's not rocket science, people.👍 Let's get it!!!!

A friend of mine actually took that exam, but only after she wrapped up med school. She managed to snag all the study materials right from her university library (over near the Salisbury campus), and the staff there even pointed her toward a specific website for certain sections. I can’t recall the exact URL off the top of my head, but honestly, your best bet is just to hit up the library or check with your own school.

Hey,
I’m thinking you might be running low on iron, and honestly, your circulation seems pretty sluggish too. Just my two cents, but you should probably go get some blood work done just to be sure what's actually going on.

George Bailey2 said:Synthetic stuff in food??? You sure you even know what you're talking about?

Anyway, how can you say that—artificial vitamins? There’s only one kind of vitamin: natural. It doesn't matter if you get them from actual fruit and veggies or from a pill after they've stripped everything else away.

Yeah, synthetic food additives. They aren't pulling those things out of produce; they're cooking them up in a lab. That's why it's synthesized, not natural.

granitesailor33 said:That woman from the movie you mentioned was just born that way. You aren't going to magically grow curves, especially when it comes to breasts. It’s unrealistic to think that working out with 25s is going to turn you into a 34D. Your butt might change, sure, but you'll have to work your tail off for it.

I get it. But personally, I'm more of a 34B, and for my height, it works fine. I lucked out because my body is built in a way where everything stays pretty proportional. So even if I lose a little size up top, my bottom half will probably shrink too, keeping things balanced. And by "bottom half," obviously I mean my ass. My whole goal isn't about being huge; it's about staying toned. I want to keep some curves—even if they're smaller than what I have now—so I don't end up looking like a coat hanger. Honestly, props to you for pulling off what you did. It proves it can actually be done.

Susan James42 said:Just a heads-up: you can work your tail off on muscle density and definition, but you’re never going to look like a Black woman who just happens to catch the bus once a month... they just have a different muscle structure. They always seem more toned and compact than white people...

I get that, but honestly? I'm not a huge fan when a girl is overly muscular either. Moderation is key. I guess I just "envy" how they don't show cellulite as much because of their skin tone. But if I'm being real, when I was traveling through the States, hardly any Black women I met were actually slim. Most of them were carrying at least 30 pounds extra. It's a shame, really, because they have such a massive head start when it comes to building muscle. Maybe the younger girls were a bit leaner.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I finally managed to get to my computer, since I don't have one on me right now.
It’s time to actually get moving. In a few months, I’m hoping to see at least some tiny bit of progress. I’m not trying to hit some impossible goal by next summer like most people—you know, those types who hit the gym in the fall just to look good for beach season. My friends are all like that. Me? I’ll be ready when I’m ready. There's no rush. Honestly, I'm not sweating it... though I do have to force myself to do those ice skating drills, which is easily the worst part of this whole thing. Everything else is fine.
Thanks,
Becky

Swimming, especially when you throw some extra exercises into the mix, is killer for your lower back. A buddy of mine has scoliosis, and he swears it’s been a lifesaver for his back pain. But, honestly, just hitting the pool once or twice a year isn't cutting it. His doctor told him he needs to be getting in the water at least twice a week to actually see results.

shadowgardener12 said:I get it, but you just don't have the heart for it. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You're clearly more of a "stay at home" type.

Just thinking out loud here... purely theoretical... how much money are we actually talking about per month in this space? How much would I need to set aside? It's total sci-fi territory for me right now since I'm still stuck in college.
Even though I'm riding with Laura Green8 on the idea that anything is possible if you're persistent... provided you're actually heading in the right direction.

Laura Green8 said:There’s this book—it was translated into English—that I spotted in the library over the summer. It’s about Pilates, specifically for toning up. I’m not entirely sure if it’s "true" Pilates, but the exercises themselves are solid.
They break everything down into sections: glutes and legs, waist and back... and I think they even have stuff for arms and general flexibility (which is huge). You should try to track it down.
You can totally do it on your own; just don't lose heart if you don't see changes overnight.🙂

Thanks for the tip, you're a lifesaver! Do you happen to know the title or what the cover looks like? Honestly, getting my legs toned is the easy part, but everything else—especially the abs, if I want to see even a hint of definition instead of just a stomach—is going to be a long haul. No biggie though, I’ve got patience.
Also, is it true you have to basically ghost sugar and grease? Like, I don't mind fatty foods much, but does one single square of chocolate a day just ruin the whole thing? I even heard some people say you're only allowed a tiny bit of sweets once a week. Is that just bodybuilding nonsense, or does it apply when you're just trying to get toned?

So, is it just me, or does nobody have a single clue what they're doing? I just jumped headfirst into this whole training routine, so I'm basically teaching myself as I go, but if anyone actually has even one shred of advice... please, just throw it my way!