Lea

Trust me when I say I actually *need* to lose the weight, for both health reasons and financial reasons (ie even my most "forgiving" clothes are pretty tight these days). I know how to lose weight in a healthy way, too (ie without damaging my metabolism or my mental state). My question is purely about how I can do this and not trigger my friend. I know I should not talk about weight, calories, or food restriction with her, and if she ever invites me out for something food related, I know how to manage that in a way that is supportive of both our respective goals. What my BIG concern is, is that seeing me at my current weight - and then seeing me at a lower weight in a few weeks - and then a lower weight a few weeks later - might make her backslide, even if my weight loss is totally reasonable and not at all drastic or unhealthy. I know everyone's experience with eating disorders is different, but any suggestions/thoughts about this?

I would love to settle down in Scotland, but my medical schooling is in the U.S. What are my options? Do I search for residencies in Scotland? or do I do my residency here and then somehow apply for UK certification later? I appreciate your help!

I just turned 21 and I've never been on a date before. My friend set me up with this guy we were both friends with in high school, but he and I had kind of a pretend-hate relationship. Fast forward 4 years and we're now going on a semi-blind date with each other, completely catching both of us by surprise. We are completely the opposite of each other (with the exception of mild introversion) and he doesn't really fit any of the "qualifications" I have for a guy. But my friend wanted both of us to give it a chance, so we're humoring her. But here's the thing: I am getting all obsessive about what to wear, and researching "how to kiss," (pathetic, I know) but I am also constantly coming up with ways that I could potentially sabotage the date (ie talking about seeing a guy friend that he knows I used to have a giant crush on). These conflicting aspects beg the question: do I WANT this date to go well? Or do I want it to crash and burn?

Sometimes having an outside perspective helps to clarify my mind, so thanks in advance for any insights.

I just turned 21, and my friend has arranged for me to go on a date with one of her friends when I get home from my internship in a few weeks. Under normal circumstances, I'd be really excited, since I've never been on a date before, and I asked her to arrange something if she ever found someone she thought I'd be good with. But the thing is... I knew him in high school. We were semi-friends, but he used to give me a lot of crap (not in a malicious way, though), and although he honestly was a nice guy, I can't imagine any sort of relationship developing between me and the Will of 3 1/2 years ago. But my friend told us both to give it a chance, so I agreed - on the condition that she double date with us. A year ago I would have been so excited to go on a date with ANYONE, but since then I've "come into my own" and am perfectly content with my singleness now. But my friend did me a favor, so I want to keep an open mind, but I'm concerned about a few things:

1) How do I make sure that I don't accidentally-on-purpose sabotage the date? (For one thing, I'm somewhat tempted to tell him about my impending meet-up with Mike, the guy that Will already knew I used to have a ginormous long-term crush on...)

2) What do I wear so that it says I'm open to development, but not necessarily "encouraging" anything? (I am a bit "chunky," so wardrobe suggestions should take this into consideration)

3) I'm pre-med and very much value education, but he only went to community college, and I'm afraid of coming across as a bit of a snob.

4) Any other advice?

Thanks, guys!

I've heard some guys say "a straight guy never wants to be 'just friends' with a girl" and I have read a study that says that guys very rarely have just a platonic friendship with a girl (even if the female thinks it's completely platonic).

However, the person who I consider to be my best friend is the guy who rejected me 5 years ago (then asked out one of my close friends). Ever since I stopped flirting with him, he has become more comfortable around me, and now we meet up every time we are both home from college, and have a grand ol' time (even though we don't chat/text much most of the time, every time we DO chat, or meet up, it is like we were never apart). In addition to him, I have a guy friend who I have "lunch dates" with, and people have mistaken us as a couple, but we view each other as brother/sister.

So what's the deal? Do they secretly like me? I really don't think they do, but according to stuff I've read/heard people say, guys don't hang out with girls platonically... So now I'm just confused.

Which British Boy Band do you prefer (please no hate - I'm just curious to see which has a bigger Yahoo fan base)

People keep on talking about how there's a shortage of doctors, and how with the aging baby boomer generation there is going to be an even greater shortage. Why, then, do so many good, promising candidates get turned away from medical school every year?

For anyone that watches the show Revenge, do you think that fauxmanda is really carrying Jack Porter's baby?

Personally, I'm pretty sure she's a bowlful of crazy and that she's just being devious and deceptive, but I'm just wondering what the Yahoo Answers community thought.

My favorite songs are as follows (in no particular order):

Scream - Usher

Start a Fire - Ryan Star

Somebody that I Used to Know - Gotye

F*** U Betta - Neon Hitch

You Make Me Feel - Cobra Starship

Payphone - Maroon 5

Take Over Control - Afrojack

In My Head - Jason DeRulo

Blackout - Breathe Carolina

Glad You Came - The Wanted

Tonight is the Night - Outasight

And I also am a huge fan of everything Rihanna, ELO, and Blue Oyster Cult

Based on that, would you find it hard to believe that I'm actually a pretty shy, reserved, physics major girl with an incredibly sweet, positive attitude? Just wondering, because sometimes my music tastes seem ironic for my personality.

All my life I've been rather chubby and a little "weird," though very friendly and sweet. I've always considered myself very lucky because I read all these news stories about girls much prettier and more "normal" than I being extremely bullied, but I had never experienced anything like that even though there are plenty of things people could have bullied me about.

I am now a sophomore in college, and looking back at high school I realized that a few boys in one of my classes in particular called me by a nickname I did not particularly like, and teased me about one of the musical instruments I played, and about the name of one of the colleges I applied to. They knew it annoyed me, but they did it anyway.

I know this type of behavior would have really really really bothered some people, but for some reason I never thought of it as bullying, even though I didn't like it. Was I being bullied without me realizing it? Or, because it didn't affect my self-worth much, does it not count as bullying, but just as a bit of obnoxious teasing? (If it helps with context, two of the three boys were the football frat boy type, and I... was a music person. The teasing occurred primarily in an AP class we shared)

I really want to, but once per week I take care of horses and help out with horseback riding lessons, and I don't want it to get infected.

Alternatively, is there anything I can do to protect the holes from the dust and dirt?