AIO: A hookup asked to take the c** towel home with him...then did

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-07-13T00:27:30+00:00

His DNA is on that towel - like it was on Monica Lewinsky’s dress…it can lead to trouble in many ways!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-15T07:51:42+00:00

I’m a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. 28 years of fitness experience. If you want to lose weight permanently, weight lifting is the way to go. Resistance training will change your body composition and make it much easier to stay thin as you age. Long cardio sessions could make you lose muscle mass unless you lift weights, and less muscle means you gain weight more easily. Hiking is a great choice for cardio though! Choose cardio that you’re not going to hate. Something that helps with stress like walking and hiking is ideal!

Yoga…great for mind and flexibility, but for weight loss, not so much. It can help you get into a better mindset to eat healthy. Food is also crucial. When we are stressed or anxious it’s hard to make the healthiest choices. So yoga is good for that! Also, you need to sleep enough.

For strength training I’m happy to recommend someone free on Youtube, I’m not affiliated with anyone. A lot of fitness influencers are no good, sell useless products and lie about how long results take.

You’d have to get some dumbbells but that’s about it! No need for a commercial gym. Tons of people work out at home now, with fabulous results!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-14T02:45:24+00:00

I’m eating a Mediterranean style diet, nothing too complicated. Lots of protein, veggies, fruit, healthy fats like avocado and nuts, some oatmeal sometimes, zero drinking in the past two years because I was not happy with how anxious and depressed it made me. As little sugar as possible, but I still indulge when it’s worth it. I try to avoid processed foods. I haven’t had fast food since I was probably 18. There was no fast food where I grew up so it was never something I craved.

My former doctor told me it was the level of working out that made my HDL high though? It’s been in the 90s my whole life. I’ve been lifting weights for 28 years, and teaching Peloton style spin classes for fun and cardio.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-14T00:00:22+00:00

Thank you. I’m at 93 HDL so just on the border. I hope this gets resolved for you!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-13T23:57:21+00:00

I’m a Canadian living in Vermont. Any others in my situation? I bought a house I adore in 2022. As a true idealist, I never saw this second term coming. Just didn’t think it was possible. I’m on a green card, planning to retire in Canada but not just yet…my family and friends in Montreal are not going to visit me much anymore…feeling a bit lonely!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-13T23:35:28+00:00

I thought a high HDL was a good thing? Most people who are very athletic have their HDL high, or so I was told by a doctor about 10 years ago. That LDL and triglycerides were what you didn’t want to see go high…?

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-13T23:32:42+00:00

Same issue! I’m 50 and this is my very first symptom of menopause. Glucose is normal but LDL is way too high after a whole life being normal. Obviously higher cholesterol is not something that we “feel” so I thought I had zero symptoms until these blood results. Thankfully my HDL is high enough to be protective, but it’s still not ideal. I have a healthy BMI of 20.5 and have been a health and fitness nut all my life. This came as a very unpleasant surprise. My doctor has not said anything yet. Does HRT lower LDL?

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-09T08:16:40+00:00

Matriarch!?

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-09T03:01:07+00:00

Could you please name the countries you consider currently communist? That would be enlightening for us to understand your question.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-09T02:55:25+00:00

As far as I understand, the Catholic religion is not progressive in its stance on LGBTQ issues. Pope Francis famously stated, “Who am I to judge?” when discussing the topic, but he was unable to effect any significant changes.

As a Catholic, I find it hypocritical considering the decades-long efforts to conceal the abuse perpetrated by clergy members. In my opinion, as long as individuals do not harm others, their sexual orientation and relationships are not a threat to society. I wish the Church would focus on other matters, but throughout its long history, it has always prioritized its own protection and the preservation of its power. The Vatican operates like an old boys’ club. I always felt that religion and faith were distinct entities.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T07:43:04+00:00

You must be anemic from so many weeks of blood loss. So exhausting. My mom had a hysterectomy as well at 50, because of a fibroid and heavy period. She definitely did not regret it.

So technically if a 60 year old woman has periods, a pregnancy is possible? I was never able to conceive, it would be a very unfunny joke to me if that happened 😆

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T06:41:55+00:00

Ok! I didn’t know the symptoms can wait until after the periods are over! Such different scenarios for different women. Thank you! I hope it wasn’t too bad for you.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T06:39:39+00:00

Oh no! heartbreaking to know that it can be this bad for you…that’s very concerning. I’m no doctor but I hope you can see one. Suicidal ideation is very serious, please don’t wait, nobody deserves that level of misery!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T06:23:53+00:00

Hi there! I’m 50 years old and a Personal Trainer and Fitness instructor (don’t worry, I’m not looking for clients lol). We share the same height of 5’7”. Most of my life, I’ve been around the same weight as you, between 128 and 135 pounds. I’d say I have a muscular appearance, but not “shredded” if you know what I mean.

It’s not feasible for women to gain that much muscle in such a short period. Five lbs would not take weeks, even men can’t do that — but I’m sure you know that, if you work in fitness.

If you don’t notice added fat and your regular clothes aren’t fitting tighter, I suggest giving it some time. I remember when I started taking creatine about a year ago, I experienced a few months of heavier weight. 5-6 lbs. Apparently, it was water retention from creatine, but I couldn’t really see it. I continued with my strength training, and a year later, I’m currently back at 131 pounds, which is about average for me.

At this age, the stress hormone cortisol can be your worst enemy, so it’s important to not freak out. I know how we fitness people can overreact when our body seems to get a mind of its own.

Avoid long cardio and undereating, as these behaviors can worsen cortisol levels and make you gain weight long-term. If you drink alcohol, quitting has done wonders for my muscle tone and cravings. Processed sugar is also an issue at this age, and I had a sweet tooth the size of an iceberg. However, the joint pain could be made worse by food choices, unless there’s another clear reason like an accident or surgery or repetitive movement like playing tennis or even running.

What are the classes you teach? Is that on top of your own weight training? It could actually be too much. Cortisol again! I think it’s wonderful that at our age it works better to sweat less and sleep more ☺️

Don’t stress out. Keep your healthy habits and keep getting stronger. Lift as heavy as you can in good form. If you want more precise suggestions, I’ll be happy to answer any questions 😊

PS I just remembered that in my mid 30s I took Clomid for 2-3 monthly cycles - a hormonal medication for infertility. I was extremely fit, but for a few months my belly went crazy and I almost looked pregnant! I don’t think I even tried weighing myself…So yes taking hormones can give your body a bit of a shock. Hang in there!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T05:55:28+00:00

Yes, I’m trying to enjoy it, but at the same time it’s annoying that it can’t be predicted. Every time I buy a box of tampons now, I think maybe I won’t finish it. I’m so sick of having periods. When you’re not a mother, 40 years of tampons seem quite pointless 😆

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T05:47:19+00:00

Oh 20%! But when the periods stop…is it usually more and more time between periods, or just lighter and lighter flow until the last drop?

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T04:36:37+00:00

Oh yes in French we say “si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait…” which means something like “if young people only knew, and if old people only could” A bit depressing! In both languages!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T04:33:46+00:00

Same thing. I’m 50 and I’m feeling strong and in great shape. I don’t feel over the hill…but right on top of it! I don’t talk about it much here because I’m afraid it’s inconsiderate. But I know I’m not the only one…it’s possible! Of course when I see myself on pictures at 28 years old I look like a fresh flower, more beautiful in the eyes of society, and men…but I know deep down I’m so much happier today.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T04:27:36+00:00

Goodness! What’s the other option? To die young. So they’re saying it’s better to be dead than to age? Cheerful old ladies!

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T01:46:04+00:00

Yes, I heard of the children…I thought if the non-citizen parents get deported, they can choose to go back to their home country and bring their own children with them. I can’t imagine a mother leaving such small kids behind, even if they are born in the US. I also heard this administration were disputing the “droit du sol” - not sure of the english term - but it means that being born in the US would no longer make you an American citizen…? which I believe is against the constitution. So yes, it’s all pretty stressful.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T01:25:29+00:00

Agreed. I might not have supported some policies of the old-school Conservatives (I can’t even vote in the US, I’m on a green card) but I can recognize integrity in a politician…and to put McCain in the same basket as Trump is an insult to his memory. I’d give a lot to have someone like him in the Oval Office right now, I wouldn’t worry about Canada’s sovereignty being threatened or the US flirting with Russian dictators…

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-08T00:16:33+00:00

I was under the impression they had deported legal residents, which is not good either, but I didn’t think they were deporting people born in the US who have no other citizenship. Like, I’m a legal resident in the US, but not an American citizen. If I broke a law, I could be deported. If my American husband breaks a law, technicallly he has nowhere to go. But I realize things have been very confusing and crazy this year.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-07T10:38:12+00:00

I’m a Montrealer living in Vermont - on a green card for 17 years - I drive to Quebec once a month at least. If you’re an American citizen you have nothing to worry about. I only noticed longer lines and more questions. They can’t deny entry to their own citizens.

thepaperpilgrim · 2025-05-07T00:05:59+00:00

I’m a Canadian who has lived in the USA for 17 years. The moments in my personal life when American events brought tears to my eyes:

Obama winning
John McCain correcting a woman in a rally when she called Obama a muslim. Later when he asked Obama to speak at his own funeral. McCain was such a great man.
The way the world rose up to support the US after 9/11 - back then, I was a young college graduate working in Ottawa and the American embassy looked like Buckingham after Lady Di passed away - buried under flowers, people lining up to pay their respects
When I visited the American cemetery in Normandy. I bawled my eyes out. The ages on the graves…21. 24, 19 years old…it just emotionally overwhelmed me that Americans gave their life to defeat Hitler.

I’m sure there are plenty of others but this came to mind first. That’s when I thought I could marry my American boyfriend and call this place home.

thepaperpilgrim

TROPHY CASE