from Winona: Sir, is it sour? I really can't stand anything sour. The hardest part is definitely the mental preparation for deprivation. Honestly, that’s what kills me mentally! I usually manage to hold out for a week or two, but then I just snap because my brain starts spinning with visions of all the delicious food combinations I crave. You see, I am quite the gourmet; I don't eat because I'm hungry, I eat for pure pleasure. I remember watching an episode of Oprah once where some women were talking about how after just two or three bites, they couldn't even taste the food anymore—they were just eating to soothe their sadness or their pain... Well, I savor every single bite! And strangely enough, my biggest appetite hits when I'm not even hungry. I mix and match flavors in ways that seem totally impossible; my mom can hardly look at me at home! She always uses phrases like, "You'll feel sick if you mix those together," or "Don't eat that now, lunch is coming soon so you'll be too full," and I just have to laugh... As if I could ever skip lunch! ha, ha... Thanks for all the advice! So, here's the thing: I did something a bit silly today. I had a toasted sandwich—or whatever you want to call it—around 7:30 AM before heading off to work. Once I got there, I had a little After Eight chocolate and drank two glasses of juice (non-carbonated, obviously, since I know how unhealthy carbonated drinks are) and a glass of water. It's already 3:00 PM and I am absolutely starving, but I had to hop online, so I won't get to eat lunch until I'm back home later. It feels just like skipping a meal, doesn't it? When I finally get home, I plan on having a massive, honest-to-goodness feast. Lunch is always wonderful, and I tend to eat a lot, though I know it might cause weight gain because I know the body starts storing everything when it hasn't been fed for a while... I wonder, is it actually smart to cut out bread? I never have trouble eating bread with lunch. Also, I know certain things shouldn't be paired together—like potatoes and dough (even though it tastes amazing!)—so does anyone have tips on which food combinations to avoid to prevent unnecessary calories? One more thing: is it okay to drink a large amount of liquid immediately after lunch? I can't quite remember if that's a good idea; I think I read somewhere that it might not be...
Brian Hayes26, luckily for me, I can't stand ketchup, mustard, or even Coca-Cola! I don't touch carbonated drinks, pizza, or alcohol at all, and fast food isn't really my thing. But chocolate and pastries? Oh, now that is a true addiction. Why do you think—and I hope you’re speaking from experience here—that my sweet tooth will eventually just fade away? When I really sit down and think about it, a person can get used to anything. I remember last time when I decided to skip dinner; on the first day, my stomach was growling so loudly it was almost unbearable! By the second day, it had settled into just a sad little whimper. By the third, I knew I was hungry, but it felt like just an uninteresting fact. After a week, by seven in the evening, I felt totally free from any food cravings. But then, three weeks later, I found myself desperately craving those burgers my dad brought home for dinner, and everything just went out the window.
Hey, Kenneth Hernandez67, thanks so much for the advice regarding vegetables! To be honest, I can't stand salad dressings—especially vinegar, and definitely not tomato or pepper based ones. I can't handle anything sour, so a meal consisting solely of raw veggies (if that's what you meant) is absolutely unthinkable to me. Do you have any suggestions? Should I just slice up some plain lettuce, kale, or carrots? What else? And one more thing: I don't have any issues with food cravings in the morning or during the day. I can actually be quite disciplined when it comes to resisting temptation. But in the evening? It's brutal! Especially if I'm just hanging around the house, and there's always something sweet tucked away somewhere. I feel like I’d have to walk around downtown every single night just to make sure I don't accidentally grab a massive meal and top it off with dessert. My appetite hits its absolute peak after ten PM... Also, I completely agree with your conclusion about wanting to tone my body. I would be so incredibly happy if I could pass by a store window, catch a glimpse of my silhouette, and instead of critiquing every single part, just say, "Wow, I really love how I look." The biggest problem is that everyone seems to love it except for me.
George Bailey2, let's get back to the topic of a flat stomach—what kind of aerobic exercises should I do to burn fat? I don't exactly have the extra cash to join an aerobics class, so I would be so grateful for some suggestions on exercises I can do right at home.
Listen, Ms. Norris, I honestly suspect that trying to lose even more weight is practically impossible at this point. I’ve already hit the 50 kg mark, and my mom actually told me that the only difference is that my face looks a bit slimmer now. Besides, my face shape is naturally more rounded than chiseled anyway, so I'm really not losing any sleep over it!
So, restlessmarlin6, how much do you weigh and how tall are you? Because honestly, your curves are absolutely incredible! How on earth did you manage that? I bet "Milka" isn't just a nickname for you, right?
Hmm, George Bailey2, it’s me again! Now, how on earth can running actually be good for your midsection? I definitely put on a few extra pounds this summer... and honestly, it wasn't even that much! Well, okay, I was doing about 500 crunches a day—once you get hooked on crunches, you just can't stop, right? But unfortunately, it hasn't done a thing for my lower abs. My upper abs look absolutely perfect, seriously better than most of my friends! However, I've noticed that whenever I try those leg raises to target the lower stomach, I get this intense cramp around my right hip. It's so sharp that I can't even finish ten reps before the pain becomes unbearable. Someone mentioned that I might not be stretching enough. Could that actually be the issue?
Thanks, Brian Hayes26! I see you've been following along since the very beginning. Honestly, whenever I tell anyone that I'm 5'5" and just want to drop those last nine pounds to hit 110, they look at me like I’ve completely lost my mind! It's true, though—I haven't been strictly disciplined, and I definitely need to work on that. Thank you all so much for the advice. Please, tell me more: how on earth do you kick a sugar addiction? Because, let's be real, I am absolutely hooked on sweets. And now, here comes Christmas, and I know I'll fall right back into the old habit of skipping dinner. Last year, I tried telling myself I'd only have fruit yogurt after 7:00 PM, but it was a total wash because I ended up overeating everything in sight during the day. Not exactly a winning strategy, right?
Hey there, linen lover! (And sorry, Milivoj, if I’m barging into your business regarding weight gain!) I’ve realized you actually know quite a bit about working out. Basically, I want to tone up my midsection—specifically the lower abs—but I’ve heard that women can’t truly have a completely flat stomach unless they’re anorexic. Is there anything else besides just doing crunches to achieve that look? Also, I’d love to have a firmer backside; I’ve been doing some muscle-toning exercises, but the real struggle is that I just cannot give up sweets! I’m aiming to drop about 9 pounds as fast as possible. I currently weigh 119 pounds, and my arms and shoulders are pretty slim, but my thighs are a bit of an issue—not that they're fat, just a little too soft for my liking. I’ve been doing tons of crunches, taking dance classes, lifting weights, and I used to go for a run along the riverbank 5.0 miles a day, though I can't right now because of the winter weather. Still, I haven't seen any real improvement in my thighs. Please don't try to push me into a gym because I simply don't have the cash, so if you know any other ways to help, let me know!
Hey George Bailey2, you really gave me a good laugh there! Obviously, we had a bit of a misunderstanding. I was just saying I wasn't sure if the goal was to build muscle mass or simply to gain weight. My apologies if I phrased that poorly! As for the whole stomach expansion thing, I know that part for a fact—I have plenty of doctors in my family to back me up. Besides, I’m definitely not a typical Midwestern girl. And don't get me started on French fries; that's honestly the worst way to eat a potato. If someone sticks to vegetables, they aren't going to pack on fat easily; it's much more likely they'd gain weight from eating meat. You can read that anywhere! Plus, at my gym, they always tell me that if I want to put on muscle, I need to eat plenty of meat paired with things like rice and such. I'm just passing along what I've been told, so please, don't kill the messenger!!! And if you're actually curious, I am not fat! I'm 5'5" and about 119 lbs, so you tell me!!! But I do know that I gained a few pounds in the past by eating sausages, meat, and pastries rather than veggies. I certainly didn't tell anyone to cut out vegetables; I know perfectly well how healthy they are. Once again, I apologize if I confused you. I was only trying to be helpful, okay?
I’m a woman, so I honestly don't know how much my advice will actually help you—mostly because I’m currently struggling to lose just about 6 or 7 pounds myself, and it feels impossible! Everyone keeps telling me that skipping meals is the real reason people gain weight. But tell me, are you actually aiming for fat loss or building muscle mass? For me, the most vital thing is stretching out your stomach; once you get used to eating larger portions, those food cravings actually start to subside. People always say French fries make you gain weight, and they aren't wrong—fatty foods like roasted pork, plus huge servings of dessert and anything loaded with sugar, really do the damage. Also, don't spend all your energy just exercising or anything else; try to relax a bit after you eat. And please, don't drink too much while you're eating! When you wash down every bite with liquid, it's almost like you're signaling to your body, "Hey, dinner is served, time to start digesting!" Vegetables won't make you gain weight, unless we're talking about potatoes since they are so high in carbs. Stick to smoked meats, like sausages or ham... well, that’s everything popping into my head right now! I hope that was somewhat helpful, but if you have any questions, just let me know...