@SmartAzz: My 8 year old son and I dance like crazy when we hear that song!

@davidxto: Thank you for the compliment! You have a valid point. Ultimately, you have to find what works for you. Some basic foundations apply to us all, but we are still individuals, and what works for one, may not work for another.

@dinodungdan: That is great! Your doctor gave you an excellent challenge, one in which you can perform anywhere! Yes, your core muscles are at work in many daily activities. That six-pack is on it's way!

@RamblingDragon: Absolutely! It is all perception! As long as YOU feel faster, that is all that matters! But I am sure that since you feel that way, you are!

@RamblingDragon: That is great! I love morning workouts as well! They do energize you for the rest of the day! You feel like you can accomplish more as well! Wow! I need to try running at night, especially if it will make me faster!

Which do you prefer: A morning workout, or an evening workout? Which time is best for you?

@artemis4951: Yes those are great apps! Very helpful and useful in tracking your progress. These tools are also very beneficial because you cannot change what you do not measure, and you cannot measure what you do not track and record. Thanks for sharing those with us!

@dinodungdan: Yes, seeing yourself without clothes in the mirror is a definite reality check! No one else around to judge you, or to sugar coat it. Just you, and the 'naked' truth. Sometimes it takes just that! I have definitely been there. It comes down to being truthful with yourself. Not only looking in the mirror at your physical being, but also your 'inner-self' as well. Truth and change always begin in the mind.

@Chris Lazarus: Thank you, Chris! I am enjoying it so far! It is good to know that you have been having fun on Athens Talks! Having fun is a good thing!

@Follow the Money: That is great that you have made changes, especially cutting back on the amount of soda that you were consuming. I hate that you have not seen a decrease in weight as a result!

Allow me to ask you a couple of questions in order to help.

1. How much sweet tea and soda are you still consuming? Although you are using a sugar substitute, it is still a form of sugar, and may have a similar affect on the body, in which those empty calories will get stored into the fat cells, and hinder fat loss.

2. Are you exercising? Walking, strength/resistance training? These will increase your metabolism, which will help you to shed fat, and excess weight.

These answers will give us a starting point, in helping you to reach your goal.

You can do it, also!

@RamblingDragon: Sweet tea, and coke can be very difficult to leave, especially if they have been 'long time, good friends'. Maybe try to gradually cut back, instead of quitting cold turkey. I had a client that use drink 5-6 a day, so what we did was agreed that she would drink one less each week, until we were down to one a day, which for her would be a HUGE accomplishment! Once she reached one a day, she agreed that she would work on not drinking diet coke for one entire day. Once she accomplished that, we went to two days of refraining from diet coke for that week. Once she refrained for 3 days straight, she knew she could go 5 days. Soon she lost the desire for it, saw how much weight she lost, which was 11 pounds, and never turned back. Since 'sugar breeds sugar', at some point you must do something to break the mental and physiological habit. Now that method may not work for you, because we are all different. But, it can be done. Easier said than done, but it is possible! You CAN do it!

@Andrea Griffith: That is great that you were able to stop cold turkey! I have many clients that I had to slowly, and gradually cut back the amount of diet cokes that they were consuming, in order to stop permanently. It is amazing how many people drink diet coke, in order to lose weight, but when they stop drinking them, the pounds melt away. Plus, sugar can accumulate in the joints, causes cells to miscommunicate with other cells, and organs, and systems in the body to not function properly. Congratulations on your victory, and never turning back!

@dinodungdan: That gives her a healthier option, so that she can at least 'nibble' on her masterpieces, without throwing her blood sugar out of whack, or feeling extremely 'deprived'.

@hlamart: Those are great options!

@avenger: You are very welcome! That is great that she is being proactive, and keeping a good handle on her blood glucose levels daily! Lots of hidden sugars to be aware of, especially in processed foods. Walking and some light, to moderate strength training will also be very helpful in keeping her blood glucose levels under control.

@Andrea Griffith: Thank you very much! I am glad to be apart of Athens Talks!

Yes, a lot of people do swear by it! That's great that you do not eat a lot of sweets!

@avenger: You probably are the 'exception'! I bet that you are very active as well! Yes, Stevia is going to be a healthier option for her, than the artificial sweetners. Good for her! I hope that it works out well for her!