This was My plan. I started a month a go. I spend 45 minutes on the treadmill 4 times a week in the morning. Sometimes if im running late in the morning I brisk walk/jog for 30 minutes then I add 30 minutes in the evening. I maintain my maximal heart rate btn 50-65% never exceed it. ( as its considered the Fat burning zone). Have a heart rate counter watch to help me with that. Usually burn 300-400 calories. I also do toning exercises twice a week. A day for upper body + abds few days later lower body+ abds. I make sure I have proteins in all my meals & ration my portions 1/2 cup carbs, 1-2 cups veges. Fruits have them only at breakfast & for my after dinner snack - usually 1/2 cup fruit. So have 6 meals in a day - breakfast, snack,lunch,snack,dinner, snack. I prepare food over the weekend and pack my food with me wherever I go. Before workouts though I increase the carb proportion to 1 cup as well as fruit. Drink atleast 100 oz of water. Ive stopped taking juices. Results: I have lost approx 11 pounds since I started. starting weight 138.6 pds- current 126.8. My goal I want to go down to my original weight 120 pds then I can maintain or yoyo upto 125. Well, I couldnt wait to see what next week will bring so I rewarded myself yesterday. Ive gone down from a size(US) 6 to 4. Got a pair of jeans & brown slacks. Alhamdullilah Best of luck everyone. Goals are attainable wol

Originally posted by Pucca: Do the birth control pills really work? i'd take them but doc (after telling me to take them) listed a boatload of sideaffects... They work, Alhamdullilah I have forgotten how premens syndrome feels like. But as you said comes with loads of side effects. All I can say is I dont regret my decision. Yaz... has been a life saver. My advice be an informed patient read on the OCP's available then discuss with your doctor.Try a drug for 2 months dont like them, toss me. Best of luck. Fi amanillah WOL

Asalaam aleykum Ashkiro, It's a thought provoking article. I could only skim through it... Inshallah will read it in whole. But I would like to respond to the question. Answer is its a REALITY. Fault is with the Muslims and not ISLAM. Alot of "muslims" do things which are unIslamic and unfortunately "Islam and its teachings" get the wrap of it. Islamic teachings is very protective of women, children and also gives guidelines on etiquettes on how to treat your children, the mahrim context, separation of the sexes. So that this abuse or just the whispering of Satan to try them out.. should not happen. From my observations I blame this problems arise from alot of things... the most important us Muslims leaving the true folds of Islam .The family unit was supposed to be the core unit especially in protecting and entrusting childern with good character is now at its weakest point.Parents are busy at times unaware what happens with their children and the immediate family..lack of morality all around which leads to irresponsibility and lack of self control. Egoism - the strong preying on the weak forgetting their reponsibility of Kinship. No parental control on what teens "raging hormones" watch and like to experiment or impress. And some people are just sick.. they just cant control themselves audhubillah... The list can go on. Wallahi, the idea of having children in this time scares me. One thing I have promised myself is I will be close to my children as my parents were Inshallah and trust their word. Many of these crimes go unheard because the kids are afraid to face an elder or they are not beleived and unfortunately,the girl is the one who gets her name smeared.At times though, the male can be punished by the law. Oh, I can ramble on and on... but I think its high time we "Muslims" should accept that this disease exists and try to solve the problem and discuss this openly. In some cultures we hear alot of such cases. In the west the system has sex offenders identified which is a good step. But there is still room for more. So far, I havent heard such things happening in the somali community. The conclusion I draw from this is we Somali's- protect our young and alot of our people follow their Religion seriously, Alhamdullilah. Got to go for now... fii amanillah WOL

Mashallah, Jazakhallahul Kheir for the reminder. Fiamanillah WOL

Asalaam aleykum Pucca, I also had questions on this matter and almost reached a similar conclusion. What do they get besides the beautiful green gowns, being more beautiful than the hor al ayn, and gold? Isnt there something specifically for women? But I came to learn that We, human women are superior in Allah's Sight as we had been in the state of Ibaddah( fast, pray and pay zakat) in our lifetime. So we have a "different status" compared to the huris, and for the woman who had multiple husbands she will have the right to choose 1 husband out of them due to his merits- the one who treated her the best. I found this article informative as it quotes the Quraan and Hadith. superiority of women over Huurs Fiimanillah WOL

Originally posted by J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o: quote:Originally posted by Najmudin: quote: Originally posted by J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o: I would talk about my gay colleague ,, but chose not to. He is dismissed finally coz he was lazy to do his job. Somali one? Yes ,,, Somali one Aucudhubillah... so the disease is spreading. Ibti, You are in a tight position but you also have the advantage of educating him on Islam. I would have continued talking with him in the same context you have typed assuming you are busy not chitchatting with him the girly way.... and hand him information on Islam. He needs to read, digest and poke more questions on Islam and then you can opening inform him why Islam considers homosexuality as a transgression etc.etc But Im sure he is going to take time before he rises that qn. He may lose interest if he reads it in the books but Allahu Yaallam; Allah has His plans for everyone. You maybe the person who can guide him. God bless you Wol

Song sure is the devil's work. I only heard it once and shook my head but I still can hear it...

Originally posted by chubacka: and could you not find an less explicite pic to illustrate your point? I second you. To the OP

Asalaam caleykum, Originally posted by Ashkiro: Are we living or are we existing? I believe in living as you enjoy/ use wisely every minute you have.Existing is like being asleep;you are alive, you are physically there but nothing is happening in your life at that moment but everyone around you is moving on with life one way or the other. I know for sure though we go through phases of living and merely existing.. just try to make living the most dominant one. Quoting a wise one: Live today as if there is no tomorrow. and another Be the change to the world. fiamanillah WOL

Nageeye77 I would like to add one more option C. Evening classes Most colleges offer evening classes and are more affordable than taking it from a university setting. One other factor you need to consider when you register for online courses - your motivation level. Are you a kind of person who enjoys studying with others aka group discussions or prefer studying at your own pace? Some online courses have embraced the teleconference type of studying get some online buddies to do assignments together. Some dont thats where the evening classes come in you can attend a class once a week from 7-9pm. Wish you all the best WOL

Jazkallah kheir.. Ive been looking for help for ages. Currently enrolled in a somali class 101 still having a hard time.. though I am happy alxamdullilah I could understand the basic words you wrote in af somali without consulting a xamuus. Help that I need is understanding the somali grammar. I have the vocab but cant construct sentences which make sense for daily life activities. Shukran, Wol

Originally posted by Nephisa Al-Soomaal: quote:The food they serve for 1 person can be eaten by 3. Portions are Mashallah.. a ticket to grow neema neema(bellies)!!! Not in my experience. I can not remember how many times I was initially disappointed when an entree arrived; kis yar bariis, labo xabo hilib, & 3 jab bataati! :mad: . I think Somali restaurants decide on what portion size to offer to a woman, maxaa dhacay dheh saxamada ragga loo wado buux-dhaaf, geeesahay ka qubanayaan. They must think women don't eat :rolleyes: . As long as I'm paying for it, I don't see how it is any of their business how much/little one eats. Now I always tell them 'rag baa loo wadaa' and get it to-go. Please visit Columbus OH, you will be amazed by the amount. Its like universal every Somali joint you go they compete in quantity. Mashallah, food tastes tasty though.

None, but please educate us. Jazakhallah Kheir. WOL

Originally posted by SCORPION_SISTA: When it comes to food, I think men are better in eating it first than women, because they tend to leave food and they don't go crazy piling up food they aren't intending to eat. My observations happen to defer.Men mashallah do eat ALOT but "many" are wasteful, tend to pile up on their plates and leave leftovers, which is Haram as it goes to the trash. Women on the other hand have the tendency of eating in small quantities finish their food then go for seconds. And do swipe the plates clean. Im very impressed to see few guys eating in moderation and going for seconds than piling up and not cleaning their plates. In addition the rule of thirds adviced by our Prophet Mohamed SAW is very beneficial to a persons health. that is to divide your intake and fill your stomach with a - third of food, third of water/fluid and third of air. Cases of obesity,indigestion and diabetes will decrease in our community. I like visiting somali restaurants but I opt to take takeaways if Im alone. The food they serve for 1 person can be eaten by 3. Portions are Mashallah.. a ticket to grow neema neema(bellies)!!!

Really that whats happens? In our kitchen/household found was distributed before serving, kids get feed and enough food was kept aside for the ladies of the house. And the men had their feast and ask for more, which there was plenty.And if it was just like one guest, we all joined them on the table. Regarding functions/gettogethers female and male guest got their food served at approx the same time. If we werent having it mixed(family/couples) then women will go to the family room have food served to them and the boys of the house dealt with the men in the dining room. The feast should be enjoyed and its supposed to be time to catch up. I think its easy to organise such a program in any household or function.

An Open Letter on the Murder of Palestine from George Galloway MP WORLDPRESSNETWORK - 7 January 2009 Dear Brother and friend AbdelBari Atwan, Editor of Al-Quds London It has been said that you, Sir, are the "last Arab". We both know that is not true, there are still others, but millions of us know why it was said of you. You are a Knight of the Arabs that's for sure. Born in a Gazan refugee camp, you are a Prince among men. I have known you for thirty years; back then you still had some of the dust of the camp about you. Now you are an ever-present commentator in the media, publish the Arab world's only independent newspaper, and are highly respected by all who know you. Together we have fought in the land of Balfour and Sykes, of Anthony Eden and Anthony Blair, many great political battles. Many tears and much blood has flown over those years, and before, and its not going to stop now. I am moved to write having seen yet another of your heart-piercing interviews on television. You leave the interrogator speechless when you tell them that you were born there, and in the very camp we are all watching being destroyed by fire and red-hot steel. How could you, this man of letters, this sophisticated commentator, have come from...that? Of course we know that it was....that...which made you, and that you will never lose your burning sense of indignation, your cry, no, roar on behalf of those you left behind. But it was not your voice which moved me most tonight its 5 in the morning and I am still fitfully flicking across the channels not so much looking FOR but away refugee the unrelenting, hypocritical, downright mendacity of most of them. It was the voice of Amal, a young mother who appeared late last night in a package on Al-Jazeera English, interviewed in a school in the southern Gaza Strip. This young woman, a girl really, was with her baby one of 61 members of the same family of refugees hiding out in this school in the hope that it would not be attacked by the Israeli invaders. Her baby had not been changed in three days, she was feeding her the last bottle of milk and in a dirty bottle, there was no electricity and very little running water. What there was, was being drunk and cooked with, washed in and washed with. And the people in this school were the lucky ones. continuation of the letter

Happy new year!!!

Asalaam aleykum Hongera Hunguri kwa kufunga pingu ya maisha. May it be blessed. Fiamanillah WOL.

Unfortunately, the 4th link doesnt seem to be working and has a german ?? explaination which I dont understand.Im Sorry for that.

Asalaam aleykum, I would like to recommend listening to this lecture " Establishing a Muslim home", as it answers alot of questions regarding choosing a potential spouse and then moves onto describing how to establishing an Islamic household. Beleive it will be beneficial to everyone - single and married inorder to live better lives, attain tranquility as a family and stride for Jannat. part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 Fiamanillah WOL NB: Some of the idea of the Ustadha maybe to extreme for sisters regarding working. An interesting topic for discussion.

Sheh, wish you were in North America. Would have been fun going out with you . I like going on hikes in the woods/parks. Cara, horse back riding is fun, trying to look that up in my area. Loved the horseback safari experience I had in South Africa. What about group sports? bowling, bball, tennis you could all break a sweat and have fun. Look up upcoming cultural events/fairs in the cities near you, that can be fun.

Alhamdullilah Ramadhan for me this year was a bit disappointing. Im used to inviting friends over for iftaar but that didnt happen this year. Unfortunately, the few friends we have had other commitments. So instead I got to spend more time joining the Muslim congregations at different mosques. I dont live near a mosque so have to drive 10-20 miles 3 times a week pray Taraweeh at different mosques and for the last 10 days attended Tahajjud prayers which I really enjoyed. Reminded me of my days as a boarder at a Muslim seminary school. So Alhamdullilah I managed to appreciate the diversity of the Muslim Ummah in America and the level of knowledge. Personally though I felt sad that Ramadhan had ended so soon there was still so much to do. Inshallah looking forward for next years ramadhan. Lessons learnt 1.Time management is even more important in ramadhan. 2. light meals and lot of fluid is the best way to enjoy ramadhan. 3.Muslimah's we still have a problem with Mosque etiquettes.( Still have ladies chitchatting in the back while people are praying or have crocked or incomplete saafs). But its encouraging to see more women attend the prayers. So, always remind sisters and play an active role in correcting your saafa(if you dont remind it wont get corrected by itself but be kind and polite please.) And if your mosque has a playroom/babysitter for children remind the mothers to send their children there, so you can pray with more hushi, if not available be patient and make a dua for the toddler. 4.I still had a problem with reading my Quraan kiraat efficiently. Need to be more realistic with my priorities on a daily basis. 5.Had discussions on Islam/ramadhan with coworkers. They find it a huge sacrifice to starve for a month and qns on Islam came up whenever I was around.(Noone converted but atleast their concerns were addressed) thats what I can think of now. fiamanillah WOL

To add on Pucca's post most mosques in US provide free afur. If you join tahajjud prayers sahur is also shared. May Allah bless the people who made that possible. Amin.

Im glad Biden found his voice and bravado in the end. As anticipated Palin really doesnt make sense and keeps on circumventing issues. Mccain must be regreting his choice. :rolleyes: I still cant beleive I watched it supposed to be studying for an exam.

Originally posted by Oz: haha nuune, Tanzania/ Tanga and Zanzibar are worse than kenya when it comes to witchcraft or black magic. but this dosen't mean that somali sujui girls are MUGANGA'S. We, OZ utafikiri hujatoka kenya(Umesahau story za mombasa, lamu). Mbona waharibu mambo lakini, watakiwa ukaekimya kijana . FYI from the coastal shores of mozambique to somalia area hiyo ni khatari sana. So, mnachanganywa nyote. Strange, though how the wazungu's make money out of being magicians/witches/wizard (david cooperfield/ harry potter etc) and african witchdoctors/voodoo masters (west africa & the carib) are disliked. Lakini out of all bebo masijui are being targetted.Nashanga!!! Nausinichokeze nikufungulia ukursa wa how magic started sio kwetu. Remember the story of harut and marut. My point is mheshimiwa magic/sixir whatever you call is rampant everywhere. And as a Muslim you can acknowledge its existance and say your dua and advice people to stop these notions.Sio kupalilia as we will always hear stories from people some which are very unbeleivable. :rolleyes: and unfortunately out of ignorance innocent people are harmed.