MikeyGMin

That's the thing about smartphone-aphobes -- there is often this curmudgeonly pride about "not needing" a device that I just don't understand. They never go somewhere new where they need directions? Thet never interact with someone where there is a language barrier? They never want to find a new restaurant in an unfamiliar area? I guess I just don't know that many shut-ins, but my guess is that most of them rely on other people's devices.

That's the thing about smartphone-aphobes -- there is often this curmudgeonly pride about "not needing" a device that I just don't understand. They never go somewhere new where they need directions? Thet never interact with someone where there is a language barrier? They never want to find a new restaurant in an unfamiliar area? I guess I just don't know that many shut-ins, but my guess is that most of them rely on other people's devices.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

That's the thing about smartphone-aphobes -- there is often this curmudgeonly pride about "not needing" a device that I just don't understand. They never go somewhere new where they need directions? Thet never interact with someone where there is a language barrier? They never want to find a new restaurant in an unfamiliar area? I guess I just don't know that many shut-ins, but my guess is that most of them rely on other people's devices.

I love that stuff!
 
I have a young friend who is extremely fit and EXTREMELY disciplined about his diet. (With a beautiful lean body that is a testament to his hard work.) He spends a fortune on organic food and cringes every time he sees me use that butter spray or artificial sweetener.
 
I keep telling him that I can't boil the ocean. I can manage the calories and do a decent job on sodium, but I can't take on the war against chemical substitutes on top of that. In the end, something is going to kill me and I'll take my chances with the chemicals over weight-related illness.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

To get around this particular issue you should be able to put both e-tickets on your phone, but to answer your original question, no. I can't think of a single person I know (over the age of 12) who does not have a smartphone

That's interesting. I find BelAmi the most cookie-cutter and bland of all the companies. It's like the same 10 guys over and over and over again. <yawn>

That's interesting. I find BelAmi the most cookie-cutter and bland of all the companies. It's like the same 10 guys over and over and over again. <yawn>

Don't be surprised to find that making some initial changes energizes you to make others.

I love that stuff!
 
I have a young friend who is extremely fit and EXTREMELY disciplined about his diet. (With a beautiful lean body that is a testament to his hard work.) He spends a fortune on organic food and cringes every time he sees me use that butter spray or artificial sweetener.
 
I keep telling him that I can't boil the ocean. I can manage the calories and do a decent job on sodium, but I can't take on the war against chemical substitutes on top of that. In the end, something is going to kill me and I'll take my chances with the chemicals over weight-related illness.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

This sums up so much. My life spun out of control when my partner died 20 years ago and I gained 80 pounds. I spent years mired in mindless eating until I took control back a little over 10 years ago. It took about a year of actual dieting and counting every calorie to get back to "normal," but I have kept it off through mindful eating and figuring out what works for me. That's going to be different things for different people.
 
What works for me is:
 
1. Nothing is off limits. The minute I tell myself I will never eat another french fry is the minute I will start obsessing about them. I have a cheat day each week where I don't go crazy but I will eat those damn french fries if that's what I've been craving. The rest of the week is mindful and always having a general idea about the amount of calories consumed.
 
2. I developed a "good enough" philosophy when it comes to food. Fried chicken is delicious but a roasted chicken breast is good enough. A baked potato with all the fixings is delicious, but a baked potato with a little butter and a little sour cream and a lot of pepper is good enough. A big rich dessert is delicious, but a square of dark chocolate slowly melting in your mouth is good enough. Etc, etc.
 
3. This is counter to what a lot of people suggest when dieting, and may be more appropriate in a maintenance phase, but I weigh myself every single day. I know my body and I know that my weight will fluctuate a couple pounds up or down, but I know that anything more than that means I am being too lax and I nip that in the bud. A couple days of being extra mindful about what I'm eating will get me back on point.

Just stick to a program, eat mindfully, drink a ton of water and be as active as you can be.
 
There's no quick fix for getting healthier. It's not just a lifestyle change, but a change in the mentality of why and how we eat.
 
Most people have very unhealthy relationships with food.

Two friends and I took them together last year. Laza, a darker-skinned Mexican; Rafa, a light-skinned Mexican with an American grandfather; and me (total whitebread.)
 
The results all seemed reliable -- or at least plausible. Laza had the biggest mixture that included Indo, Southern European and African. Rafa had a good mixture with a bit of the local Indo population but was mostly southern European. I was greater than 99% northern European (boring.)

That's interesting. I find BelAmi the most cookie-cutter and bland of all the companies. It's like the same 10 guys over and over and over again. <yawn>

That's interesting. I find BelAmi the most cookie-cutter and bland of all the companies. It's like the same 10 guys over and over and over again. <yawn>

That's interesting. I find BelAmi the most cookie-cutter and bland of all the companies. It's like the same 10 guys over and over and over again. <yawn>

Think about whether you are just bored or whether there is something you would rather be doing or someplace you would rather be doing it. If you're just bored, suck it up because for the vast majority of people, work isn't particularly enjoyable. But if there is something you'd rather be doing or someplace else you'd rather live, I would really give thought to being bolder.
 
As I'm wrapping up my career and moving into a retirement that I'm very excited about, my one big regret is that I was never bold enough to move to New York City and experience life there. Regrets suck and I should have taken the risk when I was younger and more flexible. Regrets late in life really really REALLY suck!

That's interesting. I find BelAmi the most cookie-cutter and bland of all the companies. It's like the same 10 guys over and over and over again. <yawn>

Unfortunately this is a thing. An extremely annoying thing that some bars are beginning to push back on. I am by no means a woman-hater, but I am very much a bachelorette party hater.
 
It's by no means universal. I do see guys hook up at bars, but it's not at all like it used to be. These days, like it or not, people use the apps to hook up. They generally go out to the bars with their friends, so you need to be smoking hot to lure someone away from the people they came with. At least that has been my experience over the last several years. A "lone wolf" out cruising ends up holding up a wall and looking a bit out of place.