I began taking it on November 15 and today, Wednesday, November 19, five days later, I dropped an entire pant size. My weight is still in its normal range of fluctuation but I find I have more energy and less cravings. I am still eating anything I want, all the foods I'd have to give up on other weight loss programs, and that has been an incredible psychological gift. When I feel I have permission to have "bad foods" my inner child doesn't overindulge just to rebel, it actually chooses to eat in moderation. I am also finding that I am eating about a third less food than I used to and I'm comfortably going longer between each meal.
It took a few days to get in the mindset of habitually putting the tastants on every single thing I eat, but now it's second nature. It's a fun conversational piece which I'm sure will gain more merit if my success continues. I feel hopeful and grateful. I do find myself saying quiet mantras as companion to the system: I lovingly release my excess weight while I move toward the healthiest version of me.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Dude! and Other Language Pet Peeves
I do not want to hear anyone, especially a woman, using the word dude, in their vernacular. It's past its expiration date of hip, new slang. As far as I'm concerned it's unimaginative and a sign of evolutionary regression. It's not cute, chic, creative or fun. It's Spicoli at Fast Times at Rigemont High. Period.
I'm also fatigued by one or two word answers as a general response to everything being said — "Cool," "Sweet," "Awesome," "Nice," or "You Rock," "Right on." Really? Why? How is it sweet, awesome, nice or cool? Why do I rock? Please elaborate, articulate and use your words, plural, to describe and explain why you think what you feel or why you feel what you think. Language is beautiful. Why be so economical with speech? It's not always effective, and it's rarely engaging. Why should I be interested in you if you are making no effort to be of interest?
What happened to expressive articulation and the colorful, imaginative use of language? I enjoy slang and creative updates of classic words. I'm a huge fan of Ebonics. I love language and its evolutionary transformations. Therefore, I want to hear the fullness of it, not just sound bites.
In our impatient society, most names are butchered to one syllable and responses to queries are often minimized to a solitary word. Texting has replaced speaking and text messages go as far as to use one letter to replace an entire word or an abundance of acronyms for shallow, single aspect expressions. I have more reactions in my being than "OMG!" and "LMAO!"
Where are our adjectives and verbs and sentence structures? Could it be that people are simply no longer in touch with their feelings or thoughts enough to elaborate on them? Have we become a one-dimensional nation of expressionless automatons? Are we really too busy to speak? Or is it fear of not seeming culturally relevant if we actually use language as a form of communication? These annoyances used to be reserved for teenagers, now I find them in women and men of all ages. Is evolution itself becoming extinct?
I miss the poetry of language, the original, loquacious verbiage of my intellectual, artistic friends who are now too busy living life to take the time to write or speak about it.
The words of Gwendolyn Fairfax, from The Importance of Being Earnest, ring now in my head, "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on a train." I do not want to be the most interesting person I know.
Please be introspective and share those reflections with others. Think, ponder, muse and then express, articulate and communicate, please. My brain is drying up from lack of outward verbal stimulation from others. I need for people to come alive and use their wit, cleverness and imagination to generate stimulating and entertaining conversations and leave the robotics of language to ghastly sci-fi and reality TV. May the Internet bequeath its thesaurus to us all.
I could keep using more words; but I, along with the rest of Americans, have a word limit.
Word Count 522
I'm also fatigued by one or two word answers as a general response to everything being said — "Cool," "Sweet," "Awesome," "Nice," or "You Rock," "Right on." Really? Why? How is it sweet, awesome, nice or cool? Why do I rock? Please elaborate, articulate and use your words, plural, to describe and explain why you think what you feel or why you feel what you think. Language is beautiful. Why be so economical with speech? It's not always effective, and it's rarely engaging. Why should I be interested in you if you are making no effort to be of interest?
What happened to expressive articulation and the colorful, imaginative use of language? I enjoy slang and creative updates of classic words. I'm a huge fan of Ebonics. I love language and its evolutionary transformations. Therefore, I want to hear the fullness of it, not just sound bites.
In our impatient society, most names are butchered to one syllable and responses to queries are often minimized to a solitary word. Texting has replaced speaking and text messages go as far as to use one letter to replace an entire word or an abundance of acronyms for shallow, single aspect expressions. I have more reactions in my being than "OMG!" and "LMAO!"
Where are our adjectives and verbs and sentence structures? Could it be that people are simply no longer in touch with their feelings or thoughts enough to elaborate on them? Have we become a one-dimensional nation of expressionless automatons? Are we really too busy to speak? Or is it fear of not seeming culturally relevant if we actually use language as a form of communication? These annoyances used to be reserved for teenagers, now I find them in women and men of all ages. Is evolution itself becoming extinct?
I miss the poetry of language, the original, loquacious verbiage of my intellectual, artistic friends who are now too busy living life to take the time to write or speak about it.
The words of Gwendolyn Fairfax, from The Importance of Being Earnest, ring now in my head, "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on a train." I do not want to be the most interesting person I know.
Please be introspective and share those reflections with others. Think, ponder, muse and then express, articulate and communicate, please. My brain is drying up from lack of outward verbal stimulation from others. I need for people to come alive and use their wit, cleverness and imagination to generate stimulating and entertaining conversations and leave the robotics of language to ghastly sci-fi and reality TV. May the Internet bequeath its thesaurus to us all.
I could keep using more words; but I, along with the rest of Americans, have a word limit.
Word Count 522
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Join My Release Party!
Even though my daughter is about to turn two, I still look like I'm about four months pregnant. So, when the opportunity presented itself to try a new weight loss product, Sensa, that did not require dieting as the holidays approached, I thought to myself, what do I have to lose other than a few pounds?
I'm addicted to positive outcomes, especially the likes of dramatic testimonials, and really noticed myself starting to believe that the caliber of success I was watching in the Sensa promo, could also be my own. But before I could imagine my own dramatic before and after picture, I was given a steadfast reality barometer as the words "Results not typical" appeared on the screen. Of course, those words appear on all the commercials for weight loss programs, from Jenny Craig, Nutri-System, Weight Watchers to numerous exercise programs. The trick I told myself to move past this amygdala kill joy is that I am not typical!
I have set a start date of November 15, and will report back on January 15, with my results. I'd love to have some companions on this release party, if you will. "Weight loss" seems like I'm losing something. "Release party" feel like I'm about to regain some of the freedoms I once had: More energy, smaller clothes and a return to my own personal homeostasis.
To join me, you and your loved ones can use the promo code offered through BettyConfidential.Com
I'm addicted to positive outcomes, especially the likes of dramatic testimonials, and really noticed myself starting to believe that the caliber of success I was watching in the Sensa promo, could also be my own. But before I could imagine my own dramatic before and after picture, I was given a steadfast reality barometer as the words "Results not typical" appeared on the screen. Of course, those words appear on all the commercials for weight loss programs, from Jenny Craig, Nutri-System, Weight Watchers to numerous exercise programs. The trick I told myself to move past this amygdala kill joy is that I am not typical!
I have set a start date of November 15, and will report back on January 15, with my results. I'd love to have some companions on this release party, if you will. "Weight loss" seems like I'm losing something. "Release party" feel like I'm about to regain some of the freedoms I once had: More energy, smaller clothes and a return to my own personal homeostasis.
To join me, you and your loved ones can use the promo code offered through BettyConfidential.Com
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Racism: How Politics Can Bring Out Our True Colors
I am a liberal who lives in a conservative community. Don't ask. I'm here for the beach, not the people. Right now, our neighborhood is less sand and more of a sea of McCain/Palin yard signs.
Our home is barren of political banners not for fear of standing out but due to a lack of willingness to invest time in decorating anything. We don't decorate for Halloween, Chanukah or Christmas, why should we decorate for election season?
A neighbor I had already pegged as a racist from generalizations he has made about various ethnicities in passing, stopped me on my walk to inquire about our lack of patriotic décor and the conversation went something like this:
Racist neighbor: Did you forget to put up the Mccain/Palin sign that was left for you?
Me: No.
RN:: What are you a nigger lover?
Until now I had been walking while he was talking. Now I am stopped. I take a breath and ask my higher self for guidance in how to answer this assault. This is my first time outside in over a week as I'm recovering from Pneumonia. I am short on patience but want to deal with this effectively. So I turn to him and say…
Me: Define Nigger.
RN: You know what a nigger is. A blacky. That Muslim lovin' Osama Obama.
Me: You mean Senator Barack Obama who is half white and half black?
RN: His skin is black.
Me. Did you know that I am also ethnically mixed with black and white?
RN: No way! Really? I knew you weren't white but I thought maybe you were just Mexican, Greek or Armenian. I didn't think you had black in ya.
Me. Yup, I do.
RN: But you don't look it so it don't matter.
Me: What if I feel it?
RN: What? That don't make no sense. Anyway, how come your kid looks so white?
(My daughter looks nothing like me in coloring. People have gone so far as to ask if she is my biological child.)
ME: Have you ever taken a biology class? Do you know anything about recessive genes?
RN: So you gonna vote for him 'cause he's black?
ME: No. I am voting for him because he is a Democrat and he shares more of my values than the Republican candidate, his skin color like everyone else's, is irrelevant.
RN: I can't get over you having black in ya. I feel like I don't even know you at all.
ME: Funny. I feel like I know you perfectly.
I began to walk again. I knew if I continued to stand there I would burst into tears out of the frustration, sadness and embarrassment of this reflection of ignorance in the world I live in.
Life has taught me over and over again that I cannot change anyone or anything but myself; and I can only change my thoughts and actions, everything else is a result of collective evolution. I was not going to allow myself to retaliate with hateful thoughts. I had to elevate myself in thought quickly - find some immediate mental distraction.
I started visualizing myself as one of the dancers in the Zumba exercise commercials. Somehow seeing myself as lean, strong and glistening with sweat while shaking my body to repetitive music made me feel free from the constraints of racism I felt had just been shackled unto me. This was my new non partisan happy place.
Our home is barren of political banners not for fear of standing out but due to a lack of willingness to invest time in decorating anything. We don't decorate for Halloween, Chanukah or Christmas, why should we decorate for election season?
A neighbor I had already pegged as a racist from generalizations he has made about various ethnicities in passing, stopped me on my walk to inquire about our lack of patriotic décor and the conversation went something like this:
Racist neighbor: Did you forget to put up the Mccain/Palin sign that was left for you?
Me: No.
RN:: What are you a nigger lover?
Until now I had been walking while he was talking. Now I am stopped. I take a breath and ask my higher self for guidance in how to answer this assault. This is my first time outside in over a week as I'm recovering from Pneumonia. I am short on patience but want to deal with this effectively. So I turn to him and say…
Me: Define Nigger.
RN: You know what a nigger is. A blacky. That Muslim lovin' Osama Obama.
Me: You mean Senator Barack Obama who is half white and half black?
RN: His skin is black.
Me. Did you know that I am also ethnically mixed with black and white?
RN: No way! Really? I knew you weren't white but I thought maybe you were just Mexican, Greek or Armenian. I didn't think you had black in ya.
Me. Yup, I do.
RN: But you don't look it so it don't matter.
Me: What if I feel it?
RN: What? That don't make no sense. Anyway, how come your kid looks so white?
(My daughter looks nothing like me in coloring. People have gone so far as to ask if she is my biological child.)
ME: Have you ever taken a biology class? Do you know anything about recessive genes?
RN: So you gonna vote for him 'cause he's black?
ME: No. I am voting for him because he is a Democrat and he shares more of my values than the Republican candidate, his skin color like everyone else's, is irrelevant.
RN: I can't get over you having black in ya. I feel like I don't even know you at all.
ME: Funny. I feel like I know you perfectly.
I began to walk again. I knew if I continued to stand there I would burst into tears out of the frustration, sadness and embarrassment of this reflection of ignorance in the world I live in.
Life has taught me over and over again that I cannot change anyone or anything but myself; and I can only change my thoughts and actions, everything else is a result of collective evolution. I was not going to allow myself to retaliate with hateful thoughts. I had to elevate myself in thought quickly - find some immediate mental distraction.
I started visualizing myself as one of the dancers in the Zumba exercise commercials. Somehow seeing myself as lean, strong and glistening with sweat while shaking my body to repetitive music made me feel free from the constraints of racism I felt had just been shackled unto me. This was my new non partisan happy place.
Friday, October 3, 2008
My Reaction To The Vice Presidential Debate, 10-2-08.
If Obama agrees to sit down with enemies, it's apparently "beyond naiveté;" but if McCain agrees to, it's diplomatic.
Double Standards, your table is ready.
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, may I call you Sarah? I have to admit that the more time I spend with you, the harder it is to criticize you — not because I find that you have redeeming qualities that outweigh my judgments, but because I find myself feeling so sorry for how in over your head you really are.
It's as if the Republicans had a character development meeting, the kind a group of writers working on a TV show might have. One piped up, "America loves an underdog and right now Obama is the underdog. We have to find a running mate for John that is more of an underdog than Barack." And boy did they!
Who knew that all it took to run for V.P. was some political Cliffs Notes and a whole lot of "common folk" talk — gumption? I can't deny that you have a gift for connecting with the public, especially with the average person who may not know much about politics. Since people tend to agree with what they can relate to emotionally rather than what may be factual, it doesn't seem to matter that your facts are off, your rhetoric comes off as Democratic in concern and yet Republican in solution. You're crafty, and that frightens me.
Around, around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. That's the way the story goes: POP goes the weasel. But at the center of it all there's still a Bush, the rest is just a swirl of words. If anyone thinks the McCain/Palin ticket is going to be any different than the past Bush/Cheney tickets, I am here to inform you that you are mistaken. Trust me, I'm psychic.
P.S. Palin, it's really a pet peeve for me to hear a V.P. hopeful butcher language, especially with your "unique" vocal cadence, so here's a few unsolicited tips that might make you appear more worthy of your position:
When you pronounce the word nuclear, it's new-clee-er not new-cue-ler. (The berry doesn't fall far from the Bush.)
Iran is ear-ron not eye-ran.
Iraq is ear-rock not eye-rack.
And in case you visit Italy, it's eh-talian not eye-talian.
Double Standards, your table is ready.
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, may I call you Sarah? I have to admit that the more time I spend with you, the harder it is to criticize you — not because I find that you have redeeming qualities that outweigh my judgments, but because I find myself feeling so sorry for how in over your head you really are.
It's as if the Republicans had a character development meeting, the kind a group of writers working on a TV show might have. One piped up, "America loves an underdog and right now Obama is the underdog. We have to find a running mate for John that is more of an underdog than Barack." And boy did they!
Who knew that all it took to run for V.P. was some political Cliffs Notes and a whole lot of "common folk" talk — gumption? I can't deny that you have a gift for connecting with the public, especially with the average person who may not know much about politics. Since people tend to agree with what they can relate to emotionally rather than what may be factual, it doesn't seem to matter that your facts are off, your rhetoric comes off as Democratic in concern and yet Republican in solution. You're crafty, and that frightens me.
Around, around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. That's the way the story goes: POP goes the weasel. But at the center of it all there's still a Bush, the rest is just a swirl of words. If anyone thinks the McCain/Palin ticket is going to be any different than the past Bush/Cheney tickets, I am here to inform you that you are mistaken. Trust me, I'm psychic.
P.S. Palin, it's really a pet peeve for me to hear a V.P. hopeful butcher language, especially with your "unique" vocal cadence, so here's a few unsolicited tips that might make you appear more worthy of your position:
When you pronounce the word nuclear, it's new-clee-er not new-cue-ler. (The berry doesn't fall far from the Bush.)
Iran is ear-ron not eye-ran.
Iraq is ear-rock not eye-rack.
And in case you visit Italy, it's eh-talian not eye-talian.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Politics 101: Abortion
I support a woman's right to choose, but I do not endorse abortion as a form of birth control. I believe that sex education should be taught in schools and that the curriculum should include both a promotion of abstinence and an education of contraception.
Most Democrats believe in a woman's right to choose. Most Republicans do not. In fact, Sarah Palin, wants to take away abortion as an option under any circumstance including rape and incest. Some Republicans have also made attempts to take away birth control proclaiming contraception to be abortion.* Imagine life without birth control.
Republicans claim that they believe in less government when it comes to public assistance like welfare and yet they believe in more government when it comes to personal freedoms like a woman's right to choose. Very few Republicans want to support the fetus that they fought so hard for once it's actually born.
Therefore, an unwanted fetus that is not permitted to be aborted often becomes an unwanted child, who typically ends up being raised in foster care. While the common perception is that there are long waiting lists to adopt a child, this isn’t the case for ethnic minorities who land in foster care, the vast majority of whom are statistically, unfortunately, far less likely to be adopted than Caucasian babies and children. I have personal experience with the foster care system in America, both as a volunteer who has cared for the children and as a child in that system. I feel that I can say with authority that no child wants to be born unwanted.
When these children go unadopted they often end up on the streets or in prison. The book, Freak Economics, found evidence that crime drops when abortions are legal. In 1990, the number of unwanted children in America was a little over 190,000. By 2007, after too many years of Republican reign, that number rose over half a million to roughly, 700,000.
I once did a study in which I asked 500 women the same question: "Should abortion be legal?" 50% said, "Yes." And 50% said, "No." I then asked them "Have you ever had an abortion?" 80% said, "Yes." So you see, it's just as important to keep abortion legal for those who believe in it as it is for those who don't.
word count: 389
• reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2152279720080821
• davethomasfoundation.org
• adoptioninstitute.org
• adoptuskids.org
Most Democrats believe in a woman's right to choose. Most Republicans do not. In fact, Sarah Palin, wants to take away abortion as an option under any circumstance including rape and incest. Some Republicans have also made attempts to take away birth control proclaiming contraception to be abortion.* Imagine life without birth control.
Republicans claim that they believe in less government when it comes to public assistance like welfare and yet they believe in more government when it comes to personal freedoms like a woman's right to choose. Very few Republicans want to support the fetus that they fought so hard for once it's actually born.
Therefore, an unwanted fetus that is not permitted to be aborted often becomes an unwanted child, who typically ends up being raised in foster care. While the common perception is that there are long waiting lists to adopt a child, this isn’t the case for ethnic minorities who land in foster care, the vast majority of whom are statistically, unfortunately, far less likely to be adopted than Caucasian babies and children. I have personal experience with the foster care system in America, both as a volunteer who has cared for the children and as a child in that system. I feel that I can say with authority that no child wants to be born unwanted.
When these children go unadopted they often end up on the streets or in prison. The book, Freak Economics, found evidence that crime drops when abortions are legal. In 1990, the number of unwanted children in America was a little over 190,000. By 2007, after too many years of Republican reign, that number rose over half a million to roughly, 700,000.
I once did a study in which I asked 500 women the same question: "Should abortion be legal?" 50% said, "Yes." And 50% said, "No." I then asked them "Have you ever had an abortion?" 80% said, "Yes." So you see, it's just as important to keep abortion legal for those who believe in it as it is for those who don't.
word count: 389
• reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2152279720080821
• davethomasfoundation.org
• adoptioninstitute.org
• adoptuskids.org
Politics 101: Sarah Palin
Politics is not a popularity contest. As long as the lowest common denominator of people are voting with the candidate that emotionally resonates with them, the lowest common denominator will be emotionally running this country.
I want a woman in the White House, but I don't think Sarah Palin should be that woman. My choice has nothing to do with Palin's personal life. My choice is based on her politics.
I support any woman with a desire for both family and career. I am one of those women. But a Vice Presidential election is not about supporting one woman's personal freedoms, it's about choosing the best person to represent the greatest number of people and all our personal freedoms.
Sure, I saw the likeability factor in Sarah Palin with her "The only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick" comment. Most women can relate to that kind of mama bear mentality. But when I take that into consideration with her support of killing wolves for sport* it gives me an uneasy feeling. Pair that with the pit-bull/lipstick remark and it gives a whole new meaning to a wolf in sheep's clothes. This is not the particular feminine influence I was hoping for with a woman in the White House.
When I contemplate McCain's anger issues and Palin's raw readiness to fight I see red flag danger, more war, and bad cop — bad cop. Who is the peace keeper in this duo?
I implore all women who plan to vote to make sure they are standing up for the greatest good and not just a politician they can finally emotionally relate to.
You can like Sarah Palin as a person and support her as a woman without voting her into office and jeopardizing your and others' reproductive and personal freedoms, environmental protections, health care, children's education, foreign affairs, economy, and world peace**.
Source
*http://www.alternet.org/environment/97207/sarah_palin's_big,_sleazy_safari/?page=1
** http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-oe-steinem42008sep04,0,2288253.story
Originally Published by BettyConfidential.com October, 2007
I want a woman in the White House, but I don't think Sarah Palin should be that woman. My choice has nothing to do with Palin's personal life. My choice is based on her politics.
I support any woman with a desire for both family and career. I am one of those women. But a Vice Presidential election is not about supporting one woman's personal freedoms, it's about choosing the best person to represent the greatest number of people and all our personal freedoms.
Sure, I saw the likeability factor in Sarah Palin with her "The only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick" comment. Most women can relate to that kind of mama bear mentality. But when I take that into consideration with her support of killing wolves for sport* it gives me an uneasy feeling. Pair that with the pit-bull/lipstick remark and it gives a whole new meaning to a wolf in sheep's clothes. This is not the particular feminine influence I was hoping for with a woman in the White House.
When I contemplate McCain's anger issues and Palin's raw readiness to fight I see red flag danger, more war, and bad cop — bad cop. Who is the peace keeper in this duo?
I implore all women who plan to vote to make sure they are standing up for the greatest good and not just a politician they can finally emotionally relate to.
You can like Sarah Palin as a person and support her as a woman without voting her into office and jeopardizing your and others' reproductive and personal freedoms, environmental protections, health care, children's education, foreign affairs, economy, and world peace**.
Source
*http://www.alternet.org/environment/97207/sarah_palin's_big,_sleazy_safari/?page=1
** http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-oe-steinem42008sep04,0,2288253.story
Originally Published by BettyConfidential.com October, 2007
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