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I am a breastfeeding mother who lost 15 pounds at a rate of 1.5 pounds per week while eating between 1700-1850 calories until the loss just stopped. I am down to the "vanity pounds" and in a healthy weight range. I want to drop more because we want to try for a second child. I am 32, 5ft9in and 169 pounds. I don't want to be 200 pounds while pregnant and chasing a toddler, so I am anxious for the scale to move. I get light exercise in. I added actual workouts to my regimine right around the time the weight loss stopped. So I do dance aerobics or Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (or something similar 3xs a week or more on top of being active with my kid). I know that I am accurate and consistent with my meals. I count everything and was able to drop 60 pounds pre-pregnancy and keep my weight down all through the pregnancy... I had to change my diet for nursing because of my daughter's food sensitivities, so I am just now getting back on the wagon. I would need to drop 30 pounds to be pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm not sure that that is my goal. I would be happy with 15 more and being fit.

I love the medium auburn for about a week, and then it fades too light for my skin tone. The dark auburn is a little too dark and maybe even less red. I want a color that is slightly darker than the medium but not as dark as the dark auburn... Would mixing the two colors together before applying give me the results I am after?

I've had pain in my right groin where the top of the leg connects for the last year or more... I will be going to the doctor... But I was just curious if anyone knows typical causes of pain in that area. It gets worse during my period, and sometimes I get a weird dull ache in my back on the same side that doesn't seem to be an over exerted muscle... More like something inside of me.

Just curious...

I have really frizzy hair with curls, kinks and waves... Just an ugly unwearable natural texture, but it hear styles well. I enjoy wearing it with wave from twisting a flat iron through it because it holds well and when it is longer it suits my face shape well. Right now my hair is shorter, so I straighten it more often to avoid too much poof. I am growing it back out, but in the meantime I am interested in Japanese straightening to make my life easier. After the procedure does your hair become difficult to heat style? And how long does it take for the effects to wear off? For the next few month I am planning to wear my hair straight most days, but I will want wavy hair 75% of the time once it is longer. Would this process be a good fit?

I am a natural medium brunette with a red tint to my hair. I have dyed medium auburn hair. I am considering going blonde like Averil blonde at some point. How much would it cost to do this, what would be done and what would the upkeep be? Thanks.

I am using a protein filler in a neutral (clear) to help color my hair an auburn color. The bottle says that you apply to damp hair, leave on for 20 minutes and color as usual. The hair color says to apply to dry hair. Do I need to dry my hair first? What will happen if I do dry it first? What will happen if I don't? Is there a difference in end results? Thanks.

I dyed my hair dark brown. I missed a small section on top. It was previously dyed medium brown. I had medium auburn dyed hair for years and would like to go back to that. Can I use a plain box color with a 20 developer in medium auburn and achieve a nice overall color (keep in mind the missed section on top from my last due job)? Or should I go to a salon for help?

Can anyone recommend a brand or cut of running shorts that fit looser in the waist and normal to small around the leg and set of the pants? I have a thicker torso than I do butt and legs. I am in a small running short in the seat and leg opening but a medium fits better in the waist (except they look like a saggy diaper) in most running shorts that I have tried. Ladies, do any of you have this same issue? I have dropped too much weight (60 pounds) to look like I have flab around my waist. I am at 5'9 and 140 pounds... I'm not really looking to drop any more weight, so I want to go ahead and invest in some cute workout wear. :)

I had medium brown hair before, so can I wait a week and just use the same color on my whole head again? I don't have help, so pinpointing just the missed section would be hard. Will placing the same color all over cause any problems?

Over the last two weeks I noticed I have had a minor cough. It started as a cough and then for a week I had a cough and runny nose, and now Thr runny nose is gone, but the cough is worse. I don't feel particularly sick.. Maybe a bit run down, but really I feel fine other than The cough. OTC meds have zero effect, and if anything I think they make it worse. (probably my imagination, but bizzarre) I have been working at a lower income school in TX with lots of immigrated students. I also work at a portrait studio with children and infants. I don't have insurance. I am worried I might spread a virus, but I don't feel sick other than the cough. I have heard whooping cough is making a comeback. Am I crazy to worry about it? Any idea what might be causing this?

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/62843511@N04/69808473...

Just lost 60 pounds. The scale isn't budging anymore. I am down to 144 at 5ft9. I would like to be at 130ish (lowest end of healthy range, but I'm not sure that will be possible. I don't know why the scale won't move. I'm eating 1500 cal a day and working out 5 days a week. How do I know what a good healthy weight for myself is?

I am stuck at one weight after dropping 60 pounds... I've been at the same weight for over a month. I feel like I have further to go. I am less concerned with the number on the scale than I am belly fat. I want to tone up... But does that mean loosing more weight by the number on The scale or am I to a point that I might be gaining muscle and not see a dip in the sale? I just want to know how to gauge progress at this point. I am including a pic so you can see what I mean. I am proud of the weight and my progress, but I want to keep going. I am 5'9, 144 and 28 with the hormone imbalances of an older lady making the weight loss tough. I would love to hit 135 if possible. My diet is sound and I exercise 5 days a week for an hour doing mostly circuit work or intense cardio with weights thrown in the mix. http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/62843511@N04/69637774...

I don't care about the number on the scale getting lower... I just want to get more lean. I am already below my "ideal weight".

Not sure if these links will work or not, but here are photos of where I am at now:

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/62843511@N04/68081238...

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/62843511@N04/68081226...

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/62843511@N04/68081221...

(ignore the stuff in the background... I was tossing stud that no longer fits out of the closet)

Anyway, I have lost 60 pounds. I started a little over 200 pounds and am now at my lightest 144. I got to this point by dieting and exercising since June. The fewest calories I ate on average were 1250 for about a month, then I bumped it up to 1380 for most of the weight loss, and now I am eating 1450-1550. I started with mostly HARD cardio 5 days a week for about an hour. I have been stuck at 144 pounds for about a month now. I am VERY accurate with my calories and I have a good balanced diet. I also have hormonal issues that made losing weight challenging. During the month I have been stuck at 144, I have been eating 1450-1550 calories a day and have been working out 5 days a week. I also started doing a lot more circuit work and weights with cardio. I still keep my heart rate elevated the whole time.

I can't understand why I stopped loosing weight, and it makes me afraid to raise my calories anymore. I am 5'9.5 and I still feel like I could stand to loose more. My scale shows me at 23% body fat, but I have not had anyone measure more accurately. I don't know if I am making progress or not.

How can I tell if what I am doing is working? Should I weight less to get to a lower body fat percentage? Why am I not losing any more weight? How can I set measurable goals, and from my photos do you think I should lose more weight, or am I already at a good size for my frame? How do you increase calories to maintenance level without gaining weight back? I am so lost and frustrated since I don't know how to tell of I am making progress. Thanks!

I lost almost 60 pounds by exercising for an average of 45 minutes a day 5 days a week hard cardio mostly (about 80/20 cardio vs circuit) and I dropped to 145 pounds a size 4-6 (usually a 4) and I am 5'9. I have a goal of 135 but for the last month I have been stalled at my current weight. For much of my weight loss I stayed just under 1380 calories but over the last month I changes to 1500 and have included much more circuit training. (more like 80/20 circuit to cardio)... I know I am getting stronger. I could only do about 10 push ups in row and now I an complete 40 with a 20 second break in the middle and I have increased the weights I use for things. I guess I could be rebuilding/building muscle, but I would have expected the scale to move some more. I am not good at measuring myself. I feel like I suck in or try too hard not to suck in to measure accurately. I am frustrated that the scale isn't budging because I feel like I have no other way to measure results. How do I lose the last 10 pounds or at least reassure myself I am seeing results? I am VERY strict with calorie counting and know for a fact I don't underestimate what I am eating or over estimate calories burned. (the 1500 is total eaten, not net)

Can you describe the class? What do the people wear? Racing suits, Sporty one pieces or two piece suits? And what about swim caps? Is there any special equipment needed? (shoes?) and what is the typical ratio of guys to gals? What types of exercises do they do? Is it more aerobic or weight training, and how challenging is it for an intermediate to advanced level exerciser?

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/62843511@N04/67859527...

Probably a dumb question and I know I can always tell other's but there is something about looking at yourself and have trouble recognizing things like this... I think I'm an oval, but I feel like I have a pointy chin and wonder if that makes me a heart or even a diamond shaped face. My cheekbones are really pronounced, so they give my face a really angular look from the side and on an angle... I am trying to determine what hairstyles to go with... I wear my hair in an inverted wavy bob now with the front just hitting my shoulders. So yeah... What is my face shape and what are good styles and lengths for me?

I got a ticket for driving 20 over the speed limit in Bexar County (San Antonio TX) from the Shavano Police Dept. I can go to traffic school to reduce the cost of the ticket. Does anyone know how this works? How much of a reduction is there?

Just bought great shoes... Very padded... Glycerin 9 by Brooks.., they are the correct size... Plenty of room in length and they are wide enough in the toe box, but they are incredibly cushy and the top of the shoe puts pressure on my feet even when laced very loosely... Will breaking in the shoes get rid of the numbness or should I return the shoes? I don't know if breaking them in will change how the padding affects my feet. I need these to work because I need the support they offer. Again, they are the right size, plenty of wiggle room... It's just from tons of cushioning top and bottom. Does anyone have experience or good advice on the subject?