Phoenyx's Final 10 & Journey to Fitness

[geoaidan]

Phoeynx,

Good points.

I thought about the airline thing myself, and I originally thought "well, they made the seats too small to start with. They should widen them to accommodate the fact that there are more plus sized people than there are thin people."

And then, as you pointed out, more fuel, taking up space. I agree. It's the plus sized people that made the choice to be plus sized. But what about those that are genetically disposed to be plus sized? What about those? I wonder about that question.

As for the "junk in the trunk", I personally think that it's sexy if a woman has some extra in that area. Maybe I'm nuts. LOL But, think of this, there are actually women that ask for a "Brazilian butt-lift". If there are women asking for it, then maybe it's a good thing if a little bit is still left after you've eradicated all of your fat?

I noticed you have just 3 pounds left until you meet your goal. Wow! It must be a great feeling.

I'm trying to decide if I want to take the body fat down any further

That's the question, indeed. Maybe do a trial thing? If you lose too much, you can always gain back a little bit. Best of luck with that decision.

Cheers,
George

 

[Phoenyx]

Hot Damn! Way to go!

Thanks!

You're doing AWESOME!!!!

But what the heck is phentermine?

Phentermine is a prescription drug that is, in my experience, the only effective 'diet pill' out there. Its meant to trick the brain into telling your body you are not hungry... at least that is my understanding of it.

The way my doc utilizes it in his program is to assist the person in controlling hunger while re-learning how to eat right... right foods, portion control, etc. and being on a pretty limited caloric intake during the weight loss phase (about 1200 calories per day).

If used correctly, its a highly effective tool. However, it can be too easily abused, misused, etc and should only be used under medical supervision.

20.7% body fat is AMAZING! That's allllllllmost in the "Female Athlete" zone--well, hell, just about! Congratulations!

I'd like to get my own BF done, but 5.5 pounds ago (at 140) it was supposedly 20%, and I'm similarly lean as I was back then, so I'm guessing I'm probably same as you! And it costs money!

Funny, even going into this I never thought I'd get remotely close to the "Female Athlete Zone", now that's looking to where I'm heading. I'd rather look more like a dancer (not a really skinny one, but dancers can have such GREAT bods!).

 

[Phoenyx]

Phoeynx,

Good points.

I thought about the airline thing myself, and I originally thought "well, they made the seats too small to start with. They should widen them to accommodate the fact that there are more plus sized people than there are thin people."

And then, as you pointed out, more fuel, taking up space. I agree. It's the plus sized people that made the choice to be plus sized. But what about those that are genetically disposed to be plus sized? What about those? I wonder about that question.

I have to concede that some airlines have seats a skinny 6 year old would feel wedged in to. That's a matter of trying to stuff as many seats as possible on to a single plane, and that's ridiculous.

I have to tell ya though... those plane seats were awfully large last September on my trip to Las Vegas, then on my trip to Kansas. I was only 10 pounds heavier than I am now. I could have been at my midway point and the seats would have been relatively comfortable.

Genetically disposed to be plus sized? Part of me wants to cry bullshit on that, because I could have easily used that as an excuse to stay fat. My mother's side of the family runs in the Wide Load category. Seriously. Some of those women's thighs are bigger around than I am now, and their calves bigger around than my thighs. 'Ham hocks' as my mother likes to say.

Then again, if you look at the ancestry of a large number of people on this planet, how our forefathers had to store weight to get through lean times... we're ALL genetically disposed to being large. Its just up to us to stay on top of that. It will just be tougher for some than others, but it can be done.

As for the "junk in the trunk", I personally think that it's sexy if a woman has some extra in that area. Maybe I'm nuts. LOL But, think of this, there are actually women that ask for a "Brazilian butt-lift". If there are women asking for it, then maybe it's a good thing if a little bit is still left after you've eradicated all of your fat?

Let me put it this way... I'm getting a good bit of muscle happening in the gluteus area and that's contributing to a lot of the roundness that is coming back. The padding directly over the muscled area, I have no trouble with that. Helps keep the shape pleasantly round. Its the chunks still on the bottom of my ass cheeks that are driving me crazy! They're not cute, and they make my ass look too long and saggy. No way I'm wearing a bathing suit until I get that under control. Well, I'd go with swim shorts and a bikini top, but no bikini bottoms for this butt yet.

I noticed you have just 3 pounds left until you meet your goal. Wow! It must be a great feeling.

That's the question, indeed. Maybe do a trial thing? If you lose too much, you can always gain back a little bit. Best of luck with that decision.

Cheers,
George

It does feel great! Especially since I'm technically in my 'goal' now anyway since I decided to give myself the 155-160 range. Means if I get too close to or at 160 I cut back the calories a bit further until I get back down to at least halfway in the 5 pound range. I'd like to hit 155 by the end of January, then go from there.

I think my wanting to go down further on the body fat is largely due to where it is mostly sitting. I can still feel it moving too much when I jump up and down. Its not comfortable. I don't mind the overall dimension of my thighs at this point, but I'd rather more of it be muscle... more tone, less jiggle. I'd like to keep enough body fat to soften out the curves, but less like jell-o and more like neoprene over steel.

 

[i_love_muscle]

Phentermine is a prescription drug that is, in my experience, the only effective 'diet pill' out there. Its meant to trick the brain into telling your body you are not hungry... at least that is my understanding of it.

The way my doc utilizes it in his program is to assist the person in controlling hunger while re-learning how to eat right... right foods, portion control, etc. and being on a pretty limited caloric intake during the weight loss phase (about 1200 calories per day).

If used correctly, its a highly effective tool. However, it can be too easily abused, misused, etc and should only be used under medical supervision.

Thanks for the info, Phoenyx (what the heck is your real name? I hate calling you by your user name

Funny, even going into this I never thought I'd get remotely close to the "Female Athlete Zone", now that's looking to where I'm heading. I'd rather look more like a dancer (not a really skinny one, but dancers can have such GREAT bods!).

20%BF is damn good. Once you hit around 15%, you'll probably stop menstruating.

You bet dancers have great bods. I think it's the plyometrics (i.e., there is a lot of jumping, etc.) and the fact that mainly using the bottom half of your body in any exercise is far more difficult than just using the top half. And, of course, dancers also use the top half of their body to dance so you get double duty.

When I do short dance routines, it feels like I've done HIIT, but just for 4-5 minutes. It's a damn good workout as long as you're giving it 100%.

All forms of dancing are great exercise and if you find a particular style of dance you really enjoy, you'll stick with it and it won't feel like "work". It will just be tons of fun

 

[geoaidan]

Phoeynx,

That's amazing about the plane seats, and you fitting in well. Thinking about that airplane seat, I am now looking forward to going on a roller coaster ride.

At any rate, I understand what you mean by the weight placement. That has gotta to be tough to deal with. I believe that you'll manage something. I have 100% faith in you- from what I have read, you are a very determined person, and that is something I have faith in for sure.

In regards to using Phentermine, Hoodia does the same thing. It's something that came out last year. It works the same way as Phentermine does, except it's over the counter. With Hoodia, it has to be taken 30 minutes prior to eating. I personally used it for the first 3 days to control my hunger pangs, then stopped. That worked wonders.


George

 

[Phoenyx]

Thanks for the info, Phoenyx (what the heck is your real name? I hate calling you by your user name

heh, my real name is Keri, but I answer to Phoenyx in the real world too. Its how I sign my paintings, etc.

20%BF is damn good. Once you hit around 15%, you'll probably stop menstruating.

Hmmm, don't want to do that. Probably not good on the physiology. The only reason at this point to get rid of any more of the body fat is to get rid of more 'jiggle'.

You bet dancers have great bods. I think it's the plyometrics (i.e., there is a lot of jumping, etc.) and the fact that mainly using the bottom half of your body in any exercise is far more difficult than just using the top half. And, of course, dancers also use the top half of their body to dance so you get double duty.

When I do short dance routines, it feels like I've done HIIT, but just for 4-5 minutes. It's a damn good workout as long as you're giving it 100%.

All forms of dancing are great exercise and if you find a particular style of dance you really enjoy, you'll stick with it and it won't feel like "work". It will just be tons of fun

January 2007 I started taking belly dance lessons. Took those for about a year and stopped. Not because I hated it, quite the contrary. I love belly dancing. I made it to the intermediate level, but realized it focused more on choreography and the workout wasn't nearly as intense. Combine that with the instructor continually pushing me to perform in one of the Haflas (bear in mind I was still overweight at this point & didn't want to get on stage).

So I still do belly dancing, just at home and I focus more on the isolations. INCREDIBLE core workout!

 

[Phoenyx]

Phoeynx,

That's amazing about the plane seats, and you fitting in well. Thinking about that airplane seat, I am now looking forward to going on a roller coaster ride.

I haven't been on a roller coaster since March 2007. I need to do that again.

At any rate, I understand what you mean by the weight placement. That has gotta to be tough to deal with. I believe that you'll manage something. I have 100% faith in you- from what I have read, you are a very determined person, and that is something I have faith in for sure.

In regards to using Phentermine, Hoodia does the same thing. It's something that came out last year. It works the same way as Phentermine does, except it's over the counter. With Hoodia, it has to be taken 30 minutes prior to eating. I personally used it for the first 3 days to control my hunger pangs, then stopped. That worked wonders.

heh... no pressure or anything.

I tried hoodia a while back... it made me psycho.

 

[Trops]

Phoenyx, I figured you were a product of the 60's like me and that was just your name.

 

[Phoenyx]

Phoenyx, I figured you were a product of the 60's like me and that was just your name.

hehe... while I was born in the (late) 60s... my folks managed to give me a relatively normal name. Even if it IS spelled weird. A lot more common now than it was, but I still get people trying to automatically spell it with a C.

"Phoenyx" started out as how I'd sign my pinstriping, but its evolved in to something people in some of the circles I travel in call me more than my given name. Doesn't bother me a bit.

 

[i_love_muscle]

heh, my real name is Keri, but I answer to Phoenyx in the real world too. Its how I sign my paintings, etc.

Thanks, Keri! I didn't know you painted ... what medium is your favorite? I'm a real artsy-fartsy girl ... I LOVE painting, drawing, anything like that.

Hmmm, don't want to do that. Probably not good on the physiology. The only reason at this point to get rid of any more of the body fat is to get rid of more 'jiggle'.

I hear you about that ... although it's really not that bad. I never really noticed the difference -- but the higher BF I had, the worse my periods were. I try to stay under 20% all the time. It's getting tougher every year

January 2007 I started taking belly dance lessons. Took those for about a year and stopped. Not because I hated it, quite the contrary. I love belly dancing. I made it to the intermediate level, but realized it focused more on choreography and the workout wasn't nearly as intense. Combine that with the instructor continually pushing me to perform in one of the Haflas (bear in mind I was still overweight at this point & didn't want to get on stage).

So I still do belly dancing, just at home and I focus more on the isolations. INCREDIBLE core workout!

I LOVE belly dancing!!!! It is a really good core workout, and the movements are so beautiful. It's one of the first times I ever actually felt completely "female". I'm not sure why, though

I wasn't much for performing, either, although we all had to, so I bit the bullet, bought two belly dancings outfits, and zoned out when we did our "thing". I didn't mind performing in other dance genres, regardless of how little I had to wear. But for some reason belly dancing was tougher for me ... maybe because the world views it as so overtly sexual when in reality, the dancer is actually telling a story, just like all dancers do when they perform any dance

 

[Phoenyx]

Thanks, Keri! I didn't know you painted ... what medium is your favorite? I'm a real artsy-fartsy girl ... I LOVE painting, drawing, anything like that.

Heh... I've dabbled in many different mediums. Drawing is a lot of fun. In painting I love to do pinstriping. Acrylics and oils are fun to play with too. Watercolor... not so much. I also love to work with metal. Used to do a lot of blacksmithing, but haven't had the chance to in way too long. I am going to school for welding, so I still get to play with metal. On the more crafty side, I've done some leather tooling, chain mail, bead & wire jewelry, glass blowing, fiber art... etc.

Lately I've also gotten in to photography. A lot of that is through my job, as is being a complete Photoshop nerd... but I still consider both an art form.

I LOVE belly dancing!!!! It is a really good core workout, and the movements are so beautiful. It's one of the first times I ever actually felt completely "female". I'm not sure why, though

I wasn't much for performing, either, although we all had to, so I bit the bullet, bought two belly dancings outfits, and zoned out when we did our "thing". I didn't mind performing in other dance genres, regardless of how little I had to wear. But for some reason belly dancing was tougher for me ... maybe because the world views it as so overtly sexual when in reality, the dancer is actually telling a story, just like all dancers do when they perform any dance

Probably because belly dance, above all other forms of dance, exalts the female form and its sensuality and grace. And think about it... how erotic is it when a woman is dancing with a sword of all things? I've seen a sword dance where the dancer was VERY modestly clad for a belly dancer... and it was STILL erotic!

Then again, you watch something like THIS video:

Where the girls are not wearing much... yeah, its sexy as hell.

And there's the Serpent Goddess herself... Rachel Brice


I've also had a newfound appreciation for belly dance now that I've gotten leaner, stronger and more flexible thanks to yoga and all the other exercising I've been doing. Yoga really enhances the experience with belly dance, at least to me it does.

 

[i_love_muscle]

Heh... I've dabbled in many different mediums. Drawing is a lot of fun. In painting I love to do pinstriping. Acrylics and oils are fun to play with too. Watercolor... not so much. I also love to work with metal. Used to do a lot of blacksmithing, but haven't had the chance to in way too long. I am going to school for welding, so I still get to play with metal. On the more crafty side, I've done some leather tooling, chain mail, bead & wire jewelry, glass blowing, fiber art... etc.

Lately I've also gotten in to photography. A lot of that is through my job, as is being a complete Photoshop nerd... but I still consider both an art form.

I love oils and I started to get into acrylics, but then stopped for some reason. Watercolor is tough ... I feel it isn't as forgiving as oil or acrylic, but maybe that was just me

I am also getting into photography. I absolutely LOVE it. Although it does get expensive what with the lenses, but imagine how expensive it was when you had to purchase film! Now if we don't like a picture, we can delete it Although printing the pics on really good paper is very expensive. I've got a few photos that I've enlarged and framed, and I literally spent a fortune on them.

I wish I could photoshop well. I'm useless at it. After I've finished with my pics using Photoshop, it looks like a 3 year old did them

Probably because belly dance, above all other forms of dance, exalts the female form and its sensuality and grace. And think about it... how erotic is it when a woman is dancing with a sword of all things? I've seen a sword dance where the dancer was VERY modestly clad for a belly dancer... and it was STILL erotic!

Then again, you watch something like THIS video:

Where the girls are not wearing much... yeah, its sexy as hell.

And there's the Serpent Goddess herself... Rachel Brice


I've also had a newfound appreciation for belly dance now that I've gotten leaner, stronger and more flexible thanks to yoga and all the other exercising I've been doing. Yoga really enhances the experience with belly dance, at least to me it does.

I learned belly dancing from an Egyptian woman who thought Dina was the best belly dancer on the planet (she is very good -- lots of vids on her on YouTube).

That sword belly dance was amazing!!!! And the Rachel Brice vid was awesome to watch. The one thing I was good at in belly dancing was doing isolation movements and my looser hips (that came from Latin dancing). It was tough to control, though, because in belly dancing you need to have lots of control

Yoga and belly dancing would be a really good match because they are so different, but would enhance each other to some degree. I'm beginning to think that yoga enhances just about everything. I really should go back and start doing it again. I just have to figure out a way to fit it in ...

 

[Curvie Girlie]

I saw Zoey Jakes on Sunday and my eyes almost popped out of my head!!!

 

[Ankebuzz]

Yep, yoga is AWESOME for belly dancing... and living in general, hehe.

Happy New Year Phoenix!

 

[Steve]

Good morning.

 

[i_love_muscle]

I saw Zoey Jakes on Sunday and my eyes almost popped out of my head!!!

Val, that just begs the question "Who the fuck is Zoey Jakes?"

 

[Curvie Girlie]

I'd rather look more like a dancer (not a really skinny one, but dancers can have such GREAT bods!).

Oh yes, I agree! Lots of belly dancers have enviable bodies! Lots of yoga and dance will do it!

 

[Curvie Girlie]

Val, that just begs the question "Who the fuck is Zoey Jakes?"

An amazing American Tribal-style belly dancer and she's friends with DJ Beats Antique--I posted a picture of her above, and you can google and youtube search her There isn't much, she's much hotter in real life!!

 

[i_love_muscle]

An amazing American Tribal-style belly dancer and she's friends with DJ Beats Antique--I posted a picture of her above, and you can google and youtube search her There isn't much, she's much hotter in real life!!

Ooooooooooooh, très kewl Thanks for the info, Val!

 

[Phoenyx]

I wish I could photoshop well. I'm useless at it. After I've finished with my pics using Photoshop, it looks like a 3 year old did them



That sword belly dance was amazing!!!! And the Rachel Brice vid was awesome to watch. The one thing I was good at in belly dancing was doing isolation movements and my looser hips (that came from Latin dancing). It was tough to control, though, because in belly dancing you need to have lots of control

Yoga and belly dancing would be a really good match because they are so different, but would enhance each other to some degree. I'm beginning to think that yoga enhances just about everything. I really should go back and start doing it again. I just have to figure out a way to fit it in ...

Photoshop is one of those things that it is very easy to learn the basics of, but so easy to completely fuck up if you aren't careful. Sadly I have to fix people's fuck ups all to often. These are the ones I want to beat with the Photoshop Bat and yell "Thou shalt NEVER use Photoshop AGAIN" at because they send things in to the magazine that they think are acceptible to print and they aren't.

Like the player pics for the A's magazine... egads! Somebody fucked those up badly... and I had to spend a lot of time getting them acceptable for printing. I could have killed whoever that was.


Today I was thinking I need to start practicing the sword dancing again... just trying to decide where to do it in my house so if I drop the damn thing it doesn't cause too much damage.

Yep, yoga is AWESOME for belly dancing... and living in general, hehe.

Happy New Year Phoenix!

Hey, Happy New Year to you too! How've you been?

Good morning.

Heh, well, good evening at this point!

I've been looking in to the personal trainer certification. I must confess... I don't know where to begin on studying for it. I have no formal education in that respect, just what I've been doing on my own for exercise. Do you know if there's a good book to get me started in that direction? I'll want to get the study materials eventually I guess, but don't have that kind of $$ for now.

Oh yes, I agree! Lots of belly dancers have enviable bodies! Lots of yoga and dance will do it!

Holy CRAP that pic of Zoe with Rachel Brice is HAWT!