Losing Weight and Fat Itself

One thing that bothered me was this constant repeating scenario:
I am in my dorm and I try out a dress but see its too tight and not that flattering, so I take it off when my suite mate barges and in surprise yelps out "Why are you taking it off, you look so good!"
I answer the truth "The dress is too tight and my thighs aren't flattering in this dress. Ill wear it once I loose more weight."
Then comes the famous line "You are crazy you don't need to loose weight. You look gorgeous..."and so on.
OR
I get dressed to go running when one of my suite mates comes back from the gym and asks where I am going, so I say to "To go run a bit and loose some winter savings." And than the famous line again "You are crazy, you don't need to loose any more weight. You look beautiful, girl.... and so on."

First, thank you very much for praising me on my looks and making me feel nice but it is not what I wanted in the first place. I never understand when people, especially women, tell each other they look fine the way they are or that they look beautiful and gorgeous in a tight dress when clearly they don't. We all want to put on a tight clothing and look good, but if we, ourselves let our body a bit/ or a lot out of control its our consequence of not being able to wear such clothes. It really bothers me when close friends can't tell each other the truth for the benefit of the other. It is always the same thing: No you don't need to loose weight, no you look good. Its one thing when the person really does look good, but it is another when they don't and you're their close friend and can't say the truth. Why? I don't get it. Tell them if they jog twice a week they will trim their thighs and get healthier. Weekly exercise will help them get into the dress and look stunning. But instead they just give them lies.

I didn't look great in my dress. I know I am heavy on my bottom and when receiving those comments I just closed my ears to them. Their words were just empty talk for them to look sweeter.  For me it is much more important when people care for me and can say the truth for my own benefit. For example, when I ask my boyfriend how does a certain piece of clothing looks when I am in the fitting rom, he tells me the truth (gently of course) that the skirt looks really good but if I just jog for a bit I can trim the thighs and I will look even better in the skirt. When I gain a bit of weight, he tells me to lay low on the pasta for a bit and makes me move around more. When I know he cares, I actually try harder myself.

The other part that really bothers me is that if I know I need to loose weight and I am exercising, so why are you telling me I don't need to? I don't get this part. If I am exercising to be more fit and be healthier physically and attain a better athletic body why do you tell me (falsely) that I don't need to. Is it to make you feel better about yourself, or to have you sound like a good person? The funny part, my suite mate was also exercising to loose weight and just came from the gym. While she knows she is overweight in certain areas, for some reason in her opinion I don't know if I am overweight. I don't see how that works. Why also tell the other person they aren't heavy if the person is trying to change that fact. Of course, no one should not belittle a person's goals but instead should give support and motivation rather than empty words,  for example on playful note "Oh, tell me how much you loose this month, I want to see if I can beat you" or "If you keep it up, we will go shopping for new wardrobe in couple of weeks."

I started gaining weight when I was 13-14 years old. Although I played tennis constantly, I still gained weight from eating Cheetos Puffs daily. My family was telling me to lay low on the chips and go jog more often. I didn't listen and now I am nearing 20's with the same fat haunting me. So when people say you are to young to lose weight, I don't see any problem with losing weight for a younger child if it is a healthier choice. (Losing weight to become skinny at 13 is not what I mean.)

My brother is actually one of my best supporters. Whenever we Skype he tells me right away if I gained some weight or lost some. He would just recommend few exercises that I might be interested in or shares his progress with me. Although, yes at that moment it is a bit uncomfortable hearing the truth, but I am much more happier receiving his support. I feel motivated to work out and look better because when I do, he is usually the most happiest for my achievement.

So what I want to say: if you have a best/close friend who is overweight (unhealthy fat) try to encourage them to eat more salads and stay off carbs. Invite them for dinner if you make good 'diet' food. Drag them along for a jog, once or twice a week. They might be slowing you down, but if you care about your friend I think seeing them getting healthier is a much better accomplishment. Another thing that you can do but may be risky, go to the department store, look for a piece of clothing that will look good on your friend, but a size or two smaller. So if she/he likes it, make a promise that you will buy the clothing but she/he needs to lose weight to fit into it. If they give up through the next week, you can always threaten to return the clothing back to the store, or take it for yourself (if return date is past.)

Please care for those who are close to you. Support them and push them to attain a better body with which comes a healthier mind.

Student Chronicles: Saving Technique

         Previously I have talked about the distribution of your income as a very efficient and helpful process to save money. I assume that every person just like me gets excited when their savings increase, however I am still a child and would still jump out of joy if I put a dollar in my savings. Why I am so happy? Because if I do this every day for the past 300 days, I would save up 300 dollars. Whats my consequence? just had to give up an Arizona bottle or recycled some 20 water bottle.
          My boyfriend entrusts me with his savings so I am "his personal bank" or "personal accountant". However, I like to manage my money by myself. I found a container and I place the savings in there with a goal inside it. I really want to go to Asia so I have put my airplane ticket to Italy form last year to remind me that this can be a ticket to China next year IF I don't take any money from it but keep putting into ti. Its a good motivation and like a slap on the hand so no money is taken out. Before for my boyfriend, I have placed a picture of his favorite car  and then I added a nice house and some girls in bikinis. You know what, it worked. It not only motivated him to keep saving and not spending, but once he looks at the girls he forgot why he needed the money for in the first place.
         Pick a nice container or a nice envelope, and make saving money enlightening rather than troublesome. If you can trust some one close to you like fiancé or sibling, have them keep the savings in a safe place and help you control your spendings do whatever you save you can add to your savings. Ask them to be more naggy and more demanding of this weeks distribution payment. BUT!!! Never give it to someone you don't know close enough, you just met or a partner who you can easily break up with. personally, the only people I trust is my parents, my older brother, and my boyfriend who is my best friend and like a brother, and also my one and only best friend (female). If you don't want to risk it, don't. You should never risk your money with someone temporarily. Sometimes even some parents can abuse their children's savings.

Be careful and wise. Your money, your dreams. Work hard to make it work.

Student Chronicles: Spending more than needed

        Recently, my boyfriend came upon a situation where he spent more money than he realized in a rather short period of time. Of course, since  I could not understand such situation, as a fellow woman I blamed it on his gender.  I was upset of course since I wanted to help him save up money for his future but in just a month nearly 1/3 of it was gone. However, when I talked to my mother she told me everyone had such situation where they spend more than they thought they did: herself, my older brother who I idealize, and many other people whom I knew and respected. 

          When I analyzed his spendings most of it was outside food purchases or within our college. Most of the food was $4.50 or $6.40 but he purchase food and drink almost every day. The main problem is that spending $4 there or $6  here doesn't seem big of a difference. But if it is spent every day it can sum up to $40-$150 a week or two. For a college student commuting, I think that is a big sum. Since I love to eat, my allowance or paychecks are usually spent on food. But when I receive a money I create guidelines, I create a certain percentage of how much will go to savings, how much for life necessities, school, enjoyment/food.  So my plan looks something like this:

      I am strict with this distribution and it only changes when rent is higher or I am using my car so I can cover all my costs. So soon as I have the money, I split it up into their own envelope or container.

      I have four different envelopes for each category. So the money isn't in one pile. This prevents you from looking at a big stash, thinking "Ahhh. So hungry... Hold on... Look so much money...ah...hmm...well taking out 20 won't hurt." And this is when you self destruct!

   This is an example of my distributions. Let's assume it is a bimonthly check. Personally I have paid for rent a year in advance so I only have to worry about light bill and internet bill. Since it is split among 3 people, I usually end up paying around 50 dollars monthly. The rest 40 of my necessities goes on groceries, gasoline, and Netflix (remember its biweekly) this means the next week I have extra 90 again and I just save up in the same envelope. But I have a rule, if each envelope exceeds 150 dollars I follow the distribution again. 

You can create the distribution based on

•  your monthly spendings
• by amount you want to save in certain period of time

If you are a student who wants to save money, eating outside will greatly damage your savings. Just bare out for a month and then go eat sushi for 30 dollars or so as a gift to yourself. To avoid any spendings, I follow these routines:

• I carry tea bags with me so don't need to buy drinks 
• Refillable water bottle
• Crackers - few can fill you up instantly so you can wait for dinner
• Small lunch boxes  (I like to fill it up with asian food since their recipes are simple, fast and nutritious plus delicious)
• I also try to carry only few dollar bills on me so I don't go biserk and buy everything when my wallet is full and I am not. 
• Gum 

Another important step: write down your spendings. 

I bought a small notebook on sale in Rite-Aid and every small or big spending goes in there. So this makes me conscious of the amount I am truly spending rather than being deceived by small amounts here and there.

Basically: If you don't need it, don't buy it. If you spend some, you write it down. Distribute right away and evenly. If its not for rent, don't touch the savings.

I feel the distribution process is very helpful in the future also, since it makes the income be more organized, the spendings more controlled and savings more easier accomplished. Hope it works for you. Please leave your thoughts about this. I would like to learn new techniques or tips as well. 

Russian Potato Salad - Olivye (Olivier)

Since I was little, this salad was always on our table whenever there was a holiday or we had guests. My mother wittily took advantage of her production from the marriage: me and my brother, to utilize in making this salad. Taking advantage of our youth, she taught us really fast how to peel the carrots, potatoes, clean eggs and prepare other ingredients.  As we mastered the art of "undressing" the veggies, she later taught us how to cut properly. And just like that, the Olivye production has began. Now, whenever I come home from college, my mother is already prepared with the ingredient and frees my working place so I can put my computer there and watch a movie while preparing the salad. 

For some reason, I always thought Olivye (Оливье) originated from France. I was once eating Olivye in my dorm and my roommate asked what it was. I thought she knew since she was French but she said she never heard of such a salad but she did eat a whole bowl of it. Apparently, Olivye was was "invented" in 1860's  by a French chef in a well known restaurant in Moscow - Hermitage. Though the dish became really popular, it has gain greater recognition with the help of another cook who stole the recipe and ran away to another restaurant to serve it under a different name "The Capital Salad" ("Stolichny" Столичный). So as you can see this salad has a bit of drama in its history.

Warning: Salad Olivye can be very time consuming if made in large quantities but it will last for a LONG time. If made in small quantities, it is rather fast to make, about half an hour perhaps , and can be used as an appetizer or side dish for three of four meals.

Ingredients for a large batch: 

3 medium potatoes 

2 medium carrots, 

5-6 eggs 

5 cucumbers 

Jar of pickles 

Can of peas 

200 gram Bologna (1 lb)

Mayo

Let's Begin: (order is reversed for optimal time)

1. Wash the potatoes, carrots and eggs. Without cleaning of the skin, boil them until cooked. Usually I boil carrots and potatoes in one pot and eggs in another since they cook faster. To check if they are cooked or not, I stick a knife into potato and carrot to see if it it goes through smoothly and softly, if it does it is ready. (30 min)

2. While other ingredients are cooking, we should begin cutting to increase the process. 

• Skin the cucumber, and begin to cut it in cubes a little less than half a centimeter. (10 min)
• Take out of the pickles, if they are small about 2-3 inches, I use about 20 of them. Usually the small ones are more crunchier which is good for this salad. Cut them up into small cubes.  (15 min)
• Begin cutting the bologna in cubes as well, but slightly bigger than the cucumber, now we can be exactly half a centimeter (just kidding). (15 min)
• Take out the eggs. Let them cool under running cold water. Clean them. Now cut them into cubes as well (10 min)

3. 30 minutes passed? Okey, lets let the potatoes and carrots cool down after intense cooking. When cooled, skin them as well. Cut them into cubes as well but carrots must always be the macho guy, so make his cubes bigger than carrot's. (20 min)

4. Everything is cut up? No escapee? Now, release the peas (drained from water of course.) Lets sprinkle some salt and pepper in there. No need for a lot of salt as the pickles should provide the saltiness. (5 min)

5. Time for mayo. This part I was taught to put in whenever the food was to be eaten. If the salad has mayo in it it will go bad faster than without the mayo. So keep the salad "mayoless" until you are ready to put it on the dinner table or  in your lunch box. For the whole batch, no more than 4 tablespoons of mayo. But when doing it in small quantities, put to your own tasting. All veggies in the salad should have a coating of mayo around them, but should not create mayo soup. (1 min)

Hints and Notes:

- Bologna that we buy is a Russian dietary bologna called "Doktorskaya Kolbasa" or "Докторская Колбаса." Usually its the one that kids eat (I think) since other sausage are a bit more induced with spices and fat and very chewy. However, if you can't find this sausage since it is usually sold in the Russian Market, then just buy bologna in your regular supermarket. If you don't know which one, neither will I since unfortunately I am not a bologna expert, but I can tell you this - "just buy the pink one." 

- There are many variants to the meat used in this salad. Vegetarians may exclude it, other people that I know, put in regular boiled meat (usually veal), or boiled cow tongue, which tastes pretty good too.

- This is a large batch and when I do this, it takes about 2 hours ( just as long as the movie I am watching). To make a smaller batch, just cut down the proportions. 

- to save time in boiling the veggies, and waiting for them to cool, do the night before, and when cooled down may be placed in the fridge (without the boiled water of course) till the next day when you are ready to prepare this. My order for this is (Potatoes, carrots, cucumber, eggs, bologna, pickles, and peas. Why? I don't know....tradition??

- If you do this batch on a sunday night, you can cut it up next day without the need to wait for it too cool down.

ENJOY!