BossNumber1

My parents adopted a 15 year old from Kazahkstan 3 years ago. I've been out of the house for a long time, so it hasn't directly affected me, but it's affected them immensely.

He is their son. They love him, adore him, but it has been a VERY HARD TRANSITION. I'm sure in large part its because he is a teenager. There was also the language barrier, the cultural differences, etc., but part of it is that when a baby hasn't had the opportunity to make an attachment with its parent, it doesn't learn to make those attachments with other people. It's something to be aware of. My adopted brother is charming, funny, handsome, but he is also manipulative and very troubled. It's not something that you can just 'fix'. You almost have to look at him as though he were a special needs child, although you wouldn't know it to have a conversation with him.

My only advice if you're looking to adopt a child is to be well versed on all the issues that can come out later, even if you're adopting an infant. Attachment disorders can come from even a few weeks without contact from loving adults.

I think my parents are amazing for all they do. I love my younger brother, he is a wonderful young man, but very very troubled. I think adoption is a wonderful thing to do. It's something I would consider doing down the road, but it's not something to be entered into lightly. It's something to take VERY seriously because it changes your life in ways you never could have imagined.

My parent's adopted a 15 year old from Kazahkstan a couple years ago. The process took about a year before they could bring him home, and then it was another 6 months or so before he became an official citizen and all the paperwork was complete. I think it varies, but anywhere between 6 months - 2 years is fairly normal.

This may not be 'motivating' in the traditional sense, but when I was in college I put post-it notes all around my dorm room that said "Get off your lazy butt and go work out." I would sit there in that tiny room and would have no choice but to look at them. Eventually, I'd say, "Well, I guess I'd better..." and I would get up and get going. It may not work for everyone, but it did for me.

YES! One sports drink bottle can be 100 extra calories, one energy drink can be another 150 calories, one flavored coffee can pack as much as 500+ calories. Add in juices, milk, alcohol, etc, & you're looking at TONS of extra calories each day. And, these are calories that don't fill you up, so you're bound to still eat the same amount that you'd regularly eat, eventually leading to weight gain.

If you're going to count anything, count calories! Regardless of where they come from, the number of calories you consume are what contribute to you weight gain or loss. That said, you want to make sure that you're consuming foods that help you reach your daily nutrient needs (you'd lose weight if you ate 1200 calories of candy or 1200 calories of broccoli per day, but the candy isn't going to deliver the nutrients your body needs...and by no means am I suggesting anyone should eat either of these diets, it's just an example). So, more specifically, look to eat high-quality foods that deliver all the nutrients your body needs to function properly.

Yes! Weights are a great way to tone any area that is flabby. You don't even HAVE to join a gym. Try starting with body weight exercises--wall push-ups or push ups on your knees and chair dips. Use bottles of water or light dumbbells to do tricep extensions, shoulder presses, bicep curls & dumbbell rows. You'll be working your arms, your shoulders, your chest & your back, creating a leaner upper body. Shoot to do about 20 minutes 2x a week . Follow up each workout with a lean-protein containing meal (have milk and a piece of fruit, or have an egg on a piece of whole-wheat toast, etc.). Protein following a workout helps your body to build muscle, which in turn will burn more calories.

There's lots of live music, so check out the nighttime music scene. There are also great parks--try Barton Springs, Zilker Park, & Town Lake, just to name a few.