Well, soccer is pretty much the national sports here, and there's practically nothing done around it other than the actual playing of it. And the rich people who own the teams are far too self-important in their own eyes to try and pull stuff like that themselves. Maybe pay people in order to do that, or maybe politicians. Hmm.

Until very recently, to the best of my knowledge, there were no cheerleaders here, in any game (they have them in basketball now, I think). Our sports experience is a little different from yours, I guess.

I'm not even wishing for a body like that, I just want to live long enough to see my kids grow to adulthood.

I should have been clearer. I meant to say that your bodies are different on the inside - what works on way for one person may work in a completely different way for another, you know? And sometimes the stress of trying to keep such a strict diet destroys some of the effects of that diet, so there's no point in working hard in order to keep these "corners" all straight and sharp.

But the first part, the cleanse, needs to be completely grain and carb free. And sugar free, including natural sugars, like fruit. And I've never been on a diet in my life. This is going to suck.

Maybe it's a better idea to do something less radical then? Like just avoid white carbs and processed sugars? And make sure you're eating lots of vegetables. Maybe the results won't come as fast but the diet will actually be something that does not suck and is something you can sustain.

I dunno. I spent the first three months of the year making changes in my diet and exercise patterns. I still had whole grains though and I had fruit because I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep up a diet that prohibited those things for a couple of days. This was also the first time I'd try to do anything like a diet and I wanted to create better habits for myself more than I wanted to just lose weight.

The most radical thing, for me, was going without the drinking alcohol at all for those three months. That was more of a willpower thing than anything else, doing it just to see if I could. And I did and am proud of myself for doing it but having a glass of wine with dinner, for example, is something I enjoy too much to cut out of my life forever (unless it became medically necessary that I do so).

The most radical thing, for me, was going without the drinking alcohol at all for those three months. That was more of a willpower thing than anything else, doing it just to see if I could. And I did and am proud of myself for doing it but having a glass of wine with dinner, for example, is something I enjoy too much to cut out of my life forever (unless it became medically necessary that I do so).

I gave up booze for lent one year. I was eeeeevil. Mostly because almost all of my social activities revolve around going to bars/eating at restaurants with wine.

Maybe it's a better idea to do something less radical then?

Or changing the amount of time? I go three days on almost all protein, and then I go to protein and + grain for breakfast, protein for snack, salad with protein + fruit for lunch, protein for snack, salad + protein + fruit for dinner and a protein snack for the remainder of the time.

I mean, it makes me tired of protein, that's for sure, but is more manageable. And I look forward to my grain in the AM.

Mostly because almost all of my social activities revolve around going to bars/eating at restaurants with wine.

Mine too! It was hard! But people being really impressed with my willpower helped. I'm a total whore for praise!

In other news, hi, Nilly!!!

But people being really impressed with my willpower helped.

Ha! my friends weren't impressed, they were scared -- (whisper) "Steph's not drinking, don't say anything stupid or annoying"

Or changing the amount of time?

Exactly!

Burrell, I know different things work for different people but it seems like if you're already anticipating the diet being torture for you before you even start it that it might not be the best plan.

my friends weren't impressed, they were scared -- (whisper) "Steph's not drinking, don't say anything stupid or annoying"

haha!

For me the best thing about not drinking in conjunction with trying to exercise more (6-7 days a week) was that not being hung over made it a million times easier to, say, get up and go for a 5-mile walk at 8 on Saturday. Or get through a 90-minute hot yoga class on Sunday morning.

I'm not fond of the low carb life style - but doing the no grains no sugar thing did ( in a positive way) change my attitude towards some of the 'easy' foods that I might grab for a snack. higher bang for the caloric buck is a plan.

I'm needing a word. It's that word you use to describe a writer who writes a lot. I think it's "pro-" something. Proliferate keeps telling me it's the word, but it lies. It is not the word. Please help.

Prolific.