aelphabawest Member

Research Assistant for a pro-immigrant think tank/advocacy organization in DC. Considering my MA is in immigration policy, I'm actually in my field (!). On the side, I electronically assist a tattoo artist and shop owner (manage her new clients and waitlist, update her calendar, etc).

Hah, 27. Always read as younger...

20

I'm still using (for linkedin, okcupid, this site even) photos taken by that guy I dated last year that was a professional photographer. A good camera and a good eye makes all the difference!

Actually, nothing out there from non Fox News is saying that - the general consensus both in the media and on the Hill / around Washington is that this is a Republican hostage situation. I think the best article I've come across on the topic is The Economist - which is a *conservative* newspaper coming out of the U.K.…

I live in D.C. and almost all of our parks are closed and the city is in danger of shutting down itself because we only have so much in reserves as Congress approves our budget, too. Which means pretty soon there'll be no trash pick up, no libraries, no weddings, etc. Also, I have to deal with Republican relatives *****ing…

A few words on the topic: Bacon Wrapped Dates stuffed with Blue Cheese and a glass of pinot noir.

My ex girlfriend was a petite little size 4. At the time that I dated her, I was a size 16 and liked my body well enough. Sometimes she would start crying in the night, which would wake me up, and she would talk about how fat she was. There's deeper issues at work (she was eventually much easier to be around once she got…

Washington, D.C. And don't even start to me on this shutdown bull ****. Y'all sent the idiots here, I don't even have a vote on the Hill. (Born in Quebec, grew up in Maine, went to undergrad in Virginia and grad school in the UK.)

I'm in!

Have you seen the cute vintage style bikinis? I have a hot red one. It's high waisted and flattering and would probably work for what you've described, body wise. (I wear it comfortably as a size 10/12 person with most of my weight in my stomach.)…

Always better to be direct. "Hey, I like you, do you have any interest in maybe going out on a date some time?" That does not make you a tramp, and if he does think that, you're better off without his friendship to begin with.

It helps that I've found something I can do regularly that I love (running), so I actually look forward to it. But when it's something i'm eh about I just make it a.) as easy as possible (close to where I live or work and at a time that bookends work or is right when I wake up) b.) a priority (such as, as one of the other…

I run on the weekends and/or get out of town for a hike. I've had weekends where I burned 900 odd calories running on Saturday then over 2.5K calories on a day hike on Sunday. The hike especially might be a good thing to get the whole family involved? That might be a bit extreme if neither of those works for you - but…

The stores I am most happy that I'm able to shop at post-my weight loss phase one are Anthropologie (not that I can afford it!) and Modcloth.

"I hate tattoos and think they're tacky, but I just wanted to say that your back piece* is really pretty." * I also had four other tattoos showing at the time.

I run once a week after my long run, before I eat. (The morning poo has generally not happened, but I understand the reasoning.)

I did my MA in the UK and at one point I was like "Dear Benedict: If you want an American girlfriend, I am just down the road." Of course, my boyfriend of the time (actually, the guy who introduced me to Sherlock) was like... "uhmmm...." but - still. As a post grad school survivor, some tips: walk or bike everywhere.…

Yoga - all around toning.

I either stick it in the mailbox (I run at **** off early in the morning and my housemates are still home), or both of my running capris have zippered pockets that are just big enough for a key.

I agree whole heartedly with this person. It's one of my favorite parts of running - that you're competing against yourself. My first 5K was a 10 min/mile, and I think I was 160th out 348 women. I'm currently training for a 10K and my pacing is better, so I'm hoping to get around 9:30 min/mile, but any time it's the first…

Brain 1: ... What are you doing? Brain 2: OMNOMNOM candy corn. Brain 1: What, seriously? You know that's a step away from wax, right? Brain 2: Taaassstty. Brain 1: You do this every year. Stomach: WTF?! How do I process this?! Dentist: Mwahahaha money money money.

"The One Thing"? I love my smile, I love my hair, my eyes, my curves, how my body feels when I run, I like that I'm a good conversationalist, that I can navigate developing countries, that I decide to do something and - once I've committed to it, I do it. I like myself. Every time I've gone back to watching what I eat,…

At 1200, for most people, you're not eating enough. Your body goes into starvation mode, which then means it struggles to hold onto every single pound and it's harder for you to lose weight. When you do lose weight, it tends to be muscle mass, not fat. Bad all around.

I think it depends on what part of the US you're coming from - the bars in DC are usually full around 5pm for "Happy Hour." Living in the UK, I didn't see people drinking excessively much earlier than that. And if it's a weekend in DC, people are drinking around 11am. Mimosas and bloody marys all the way. It is much more…

I think this happens to everyone (especially women, whose weight tends to fluctuate hormonally as well). It's one of the reasons why they recommend you weighing yourself at the same time. For me, that's usually once a week, right after my long run, completely naked (no need for the extra weight of clothes) and before I…

Hey - I'm American and lived abroad for awhile, including the United Kingdom. And even I find American sized portions to be *huge* in restaurants (about the equivalent of ordering a Sunday roast for every meal). Next time you come to the states, order an appetizer - it's about the right meal size.

First off, I was speaking from personal experience and observation. So maybe I should have said "it messes with my metabolism a lot." Secondly: "Drinkers were less likely to have major weight gain or loss (gaining or losing ≥10 kg) than were nondrinkers." (e.g., http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/140/10/912.short ) Or,…

So, I drink usually a glass of wine or a bottle of cider most days. Some days I have more, but I do this with the awareness that I will not likely lose weight that week. When I did my Big-Weight-Loss (60lbs) I noticed that when I drank more than a glass, I did not lose. I might not gain, but I did not lose. It messes with…

Hey! I run regularly, and I've got to say that if you don't run and you started right off at a 10 min/mime at 4+ miles you way over did yourself. And chucks have absolutely no arch support! Or support, at all. Some people are advocates of barefoot running, but I really don't think that's how beginners should start out -…