VainTaraLynn's advice column

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Q: Does anyone know of a website that can calculate how many calories you burn while doing an exercise. All I can find are sites that only tell how many calories you burn when you are like..skiing, and biking. Is there any simple ones just like...pushups, sit-ups, chin-ups, hogging in place, weight lifting, etc.?

I would really appreiciate it if someone could answer this for me.

Eeep. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/calories.htm
It's an amazinggg website for that. and it goes by time intervals and shows you how to caltulate it and everythingg =]

also
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10289

and
http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/burn_fat_sleeping.html
for sleeping
haha:)

Q: people with nose piercings ONLY please.
got mine done a few days ago. its fine and doesnt hurt but theres a scab thing next to the actual piercing. why is it there and will it go? has this happened to anyone else?

I disagree with the other answer. I have 13 piercings haha, so I know quite a bit about them. I pierced my nose myself, and although that didnt happen to me, I read about it before I did it and it's normal. Sometimes when its healing it will heal in the form of a scab. If it starts to raise up a little bit, then put more rubbing alcohol/peroxide on it, because theres a possibility that it could get infected. If it doesnt hurt, though, then i'd say dont worry about it. Usually if it hurts its a sign that its infected. Basically, it's there because its healing and yes it will go away when its done. Keep rubbing alcohl on it and twisting it every now and then, and take care of it good =]

Q: Does anyone know some place, other than buying the game, where I can play/download the game Unreal Tourname

www.download.com

or search google for Unreal Tournament game
or free trial

Q: im so confused. this week someone told me there were 2 episodes of the oc on this week? i only saw one on thursday night. (it was the thanksgiving one) was there another one on this week and what night was it on?

I'm not sure about the episode thing but I know that you can go to www.myspace.com and click on TV Ondemand and they have all the episodes of the OC on it =]]

Q: what does bulimia do to your body? and what effects does it have to people in the long run?

Well. Bulemia is the act of throwing up your food after you eat. It ruins your esophagus because when you throw your food back up, the stomach acids eat away at it, and it also rots your teeth. As for eating, kiss that goodbye. Once you start the process of bulemia, it becomes a natural reaction that whenever food enters your body, it exits back out. Your body will become so accustomed to throwing it up that it wont know how to keep liquids or solids down anymore. Basically, since you cant keep food down you will be malnutritioned and have to enter the hospital where you will be closely monitered and nutrients will be injected into your system. I dont suggest trying to become bullemic, it really messes with the process of injecsting and digesting foods.

Q: on my cingular motorala razr, how much does it cost to be on the internet? like if it says 1000 bytes transfered (or another number) how much money does each byte cost?

It depends. If you're using it go to on like a get it now type thing for ringtones, it just uses airtime which is minutes. In order to get the internet you have to sign up & pay for it, so technically you wont be able to go on it haha.

Q: what are the simptoms of mono and can you have it more then once?

The initial symptoms of "mono" are:

a general lack of energy or malaise,
a loss of appetite, and
chills.
These initial symptoms can last from one to three days before the more intense symptoms of the illness begin. The more common intense symptoms include:

a severe sore throat,
fever, and
swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck area.

In addition to a fever from 102 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the most common signs of "mono" are:

a very reddened throat and tonsils and
swollen lymph glands in the neck.
The tonsils have a whitish coating in at least one third of the cases. About 5% of patients have a splotchy red rash over the body, which has a similar appearance to the rash of measles.

and yes, its reoccuring. so you can have it more than once

Q: one of my breast is smaller than the other. Is that normal?

If they're still developing, yes. They will even out when all is said and done, and if they dont then its still normal for one to be a little off. noting to be concerned about.

Q: Ew! How do you get ciggarettes off your breath FAST?! I'm scared my parents are going to notice. Oh, and if you're going to critisize me for my dessision to smoke then don't EVEN bother reading the rest of this question, let alone answer it. Yes I've smoked before but I always stayed at a friends house. Now I'm home and don't know what to do! PLEASE HELP FAST!!!

Breath mints, gum, breath spray, water, pop

Anything like that
You dont have to worry about breath though
The smell stays on your clothes & fingers.
Put lotion on and change clothes, takin a shower would work too
If their nonsmokers they'll smell the smoke, if they smoke too then dont worry about it cause they wont notice

Q: My friend who's bisexual has always liked me more then a friend. Well now i feel the same for her, we have decided to try it out and see how it works. Can anybody who's gone through this help tell me what it's gonna be like being with a girl for the first time?

Well its different for everybody. I knew I was bi since 6th grade, and I was always attracted to girls but wasnt ready to do anything with them. For me it was weird the first time I kissed a girl because Im used to kissing and doing stuff with guys, but after I did it it felt normal and right. It also helps if people accept it because then it feels more normal. Like I said though, its different for everybody. It could feel wrong for you or right. Just go with what feels right to you, and let loose and just have fun with it, its a learning experiance. & Dont do anything unless you feel comfortable

Q: So basically, I haven't been in school for like a week, I just don't go, I don't know why or anything, I just don't go to school. I also have a couple of pending court cases so I'll only miss more school, I really can't afford to miss all this school. However, I really can't seem to go to school at the same time. I was wondering if perhaps anyone could analyze what's going on with me right now or if other people have ever seemed to have this problem. Thanks.

Well. I had that same problem, but I just didnt want to go. I missed so much school that they were going to file me truant and send me to juvi, which I didnt want so I started going, but was skipping class so I failed all my classes 9th grade year. This is probably something that you can solve yourself. Are you afraid of someone or something that happened at school and dont wanna go back? Or do you not like waking up early? Did something happen in your family that depressed you and you lost interest in school activities? Think about all of those and see if any of them apply. If you still have issues with going to school maybe look into changing schools or going to school online like I do. Although what I do is only available in Ohio, there are alot of internet schools that you can look into. Just google it. If that isnt the case though, look into getting a counselor to talk to and see if its something deeper than what I said. Good luck doll.

Q: I always try to curl my hair like that girl from high school musical's hair (gaberella?) and it never comes out as perfect as that. does anyone have advice or tips for curling your hair ( with a curling iron) thanks!

Wellll.

1. You can buy a double barrel curling iron and when you style it like that you start at the top and let it heat up so it`ll curl/crimp it, then you go down and inch & hold it, then repeat.

2. With a standard curling iron. You take your hair and put it under the clamp, and twist it loosely, big piece of hair = big waves. small pieces = tight curls.
When your ready to take it out, you pull the curling iron down so that the hair unravels itself and is still on the barrel, and then you open the clamp so it comes out and it should be perfect spiral curls

Q: how much is activation fees for razrs on verizon?

It says it all on www.verizonwireless.com but I believe its 15 dollars for a 2 year plan and 35 for a 1 year plan. Thats what mine was. And early termination fee is 175 dollars.

Q:

hey, I'm 14 years old and i really really realllllly like this boy i met this year at my new highschool. He's super nice and sweet and funny, but rather shy and softspoken if he doesn't really know you. But we've gotten to know eachother over the past 2 months and we are now friends. Recntly it seems to me as if he is prehaps showing some signs he likes me. We have 4 classes together one after the other so often we walk with eachother to our next class and he jokes with me the whole way. Also, i've caught him staring at me a few times, but whenever i catch him or he catches me we hold eachothers gaze for a few seconds before continuing what we were doing. I smile and laugh alot when he's around and he smiles when i talk to him and we always joke with eachother. But besides from school, we don't really hang out much or talk out of school, unless its a school function like a dance which we've had one and he said hi to me and we talked for a few brief moments. I don't ask much, but when i do ask he does favors for me and i do favors for him if he ever asks ( which he doesn't that often)
Now we talk comfortably in school quite often, but does he like me back? thanks for your help.

Well, from reading what you've said, I think he does. He acts like it and if you guys have established a comfortable friendship thats always a plus. Guys like girls that they can be themselves around and not be self conscious about what theyre going to think about them. Once you guys have the friendship part down, which it seems that you do, maybe you should casually mention a second step.. Mention going out to the movies sometime, or going out to lunch/dinner/mall. Something that friends would do, but not something just lovers would do, you know? See how he feels about that and if he agrees to alone time at a movie, then he most likely likes you. Then see how things at the movies go and if it feels like you two click and are very comfortable then start gearing towards the dating aspect. But if things dont go that well and it just feels like you two are friends, then Id say hold off on those feelings until he mentions something to you. Play it safe. :)

Q: im 17 and i am very close with my 19 year old cousin. i hang out with her and her friends close to every weekend.we do drink and party etc..when she was a sr in high school i was a freshman, so i met her friend mike. a few months ago we were all at a party and mike tends to show interest in me. but he always felt bad because hes 20. i started to have feelings for mike so one day i IMed him online. he actually wanted to talk, and that made me feel good like he didnt push me away, he actually wanted to ) we talked alot every few days because hes usually busy at school. i saw him a few weeks ago and it was weird, he was acting pretty shy.so this weekend when my cousin had a party, he was all over me and we ended up making out and then we dropped him off and we kissed, he called me late night and wanted to pick me up but i said it was a bad idea because he was too drunk to drive, and he aggreed. the next day he IMed me right when he came on and wanted to hangout so i went to this other kid, tom. my cousin and her friends went to a college so i was the only girl besides two other girls and like 6 boys. he was very shy at first and it was a little awkward but then we grew to be more touchy, snuggled on the couch, madeout and he was tellin me we should go out to eat sometime. him and his friend dropped me off late night and i texted him thinking hed text back but he called to make sure i was okay and i told him id talk to him monday since he was going to the patriots football game all day/ all night and he said hed call me. like i dont want to get my hopes up but i think he might like me, even tom said he thinks he does. so what do you think? thanks and also what should i do so it doesnt seem like im like obsessed or like him this early. he also attends college like 20 minutes away. thanks

Well. I'd say that by what hes doing that he likes you. He's called you back, offered to get you in the middle of the night, and even called to make sure you were okay ! Most guys dont do that for just anyone, cause most have a short attention span haha. I'd say that he does care for you. Also, the fact that he felt bad because he was older, is a plus because it shows that he respects the age difference and what your feelings on it might be. As for the second part, just be yourself. If you like him, dont be afraid to show him. Just dont overdo it by saying you love him or anything, that freaks guys out if its said too early and it might make him want to run. I'd say just have fun with it and do what you have been doing with him and let things flow naturally. When he feels the time is right he will ask you out, or talk to you about it. He's older so he should be mature about things like that and know how to approach the situation. =D

Q: my ex girl is still givin me signs that she wants and loves me still but she has a boyfriend and i have given her enough time so i think its time to repair our relationship and get her back but i dont kno how especially becuz she has a boyfriend(who i believe is jus to get me jealous). what do i do to get her back now?

Well, you need to tell her straight up how you feel. Say, "It's been *insert time frame here* since we broke up and I want to fix this and get back together. Youve been sending me mixed signals for a while and Im not sure how i'm supposed to take them. I know you have a boyfriend but if you want to be with me then I'd appreciate it if you tell me and not play games with me, cause its hurting me." Just make sure you let her know that you still want it, and you want her to make a decision so you know if you're supposed to stick with her or more on. Just say you dont want to deal with any games and ask for her to tell you the straight up truth. Him, or you. Tell her to follow her heart, and youll understand either way, but she should be with the person that her heart leads her to, whether or not its you. Make sure she knows whichever decision she makes you will support because you dont want her to lie to you just so you dont get hurt.

Q: my boyfriends in jail and we don't know when he'll get out yet it could be anytime from this week til january.i miss him and he got arrested halloween night. lately he's been telling me he expects me to cheat on him although i won't but he expects me to since i'm in the real world and he's in jail. and i told him i won't and i really won't and we don't love eachother. but lately i feel like he doesn't wanna be with me ut im scared to bring it up while we're talking on the phone. i aslso don't know how to bring i up. i need some help with how to start the subject please.

I went through the EXACT same thing. My ex boyfriend got locked up back in March and it was a strain on our relationship considering I already wanted to end it with him and he felt like shit when I said I didnt want to be with him when he was in jail because he thought it was for that very reason, which it wasnt. Basically, just say to him "How are things with us" He will then respond good/bad. Then proceed to ask him "Ill hang in there with this relationship if you want me to.. if you dont want me to continue dating you then tell me" Make sure he knows that youre serious about staying with him and ask if he feels its necessary or if his feelings have changed. That should be all thats needed to be said. Most likely he still wants to be with you. Hes just probably down about being in jail. The guy I'm in love with now, realized he loved me when he was locked up, becuase he was able to be away from me and it showed him how much he missed me and cared about me and wanted to do better for me. Sad to say but jail is a good learning experiance and it really helps sort out feelings. Good luck, and I'm sure everyting will work out for the best :)

Q: Ok...i am a catholic and my step mom is a babtist and she asked me if i wanted to go to church with her sometimes...is it okay if i go to a babtist church when i am a catholic? thanks in advance.

Sure! It wont hurt anything. Its basically the same thing. The teachings arent that much different. Catholic sermons are different and they have masses and stuff, but other than that everything is basically the same and it doesnt mean that you are any less of a catholic.

Q: 13/f
ok i didnt really know which category to put this under but w.e ok so i shave like my pubic hairs and i have these red bumps there but idk what the are and i havent had sex yet and theres alot and its not just after i shave it doesnt itch or anything but what is it is it normal??

Thats normal. It usually happens the first time or first few times that you shave. Its a really sensitive area and they usually appear when you dont use enough shaving cream. Make sure you use alot of shaving cream, like an insane ammount, and make sure you're in a bathtub. Never do it dry! It hurts so much and those red bumps will keep appearing. Also make sure you have a brand new sharp razor (preferably 2-3 blades) & never use the same razor that you shave your legs with!!