The Weight Loss Blog

The Dreaded LSAT: Here's what is apparently really really helping me

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 22:35:59 -0500

The Dreaded LSAT: Here's what is apparently really really helping me:

I’m noticing that I’m getting more and more questions right. No incorrect answer in the first 18-20 questions in the logical reasoning sections.

Here’s why I’m getting better at them!

1. I am taking notes, creating presentations and teaching other what I learn. This lets all of the information…

Main Point Questions (by kekojones12)

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 18:40:15 -0500

Main Point Questions (by kekojones12)

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:19:03 -0500

Main Point Questions (by kekojones12)

Conditional Reasoning... Part 7

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:15:06 -0500

Diagramming Either/Or Statements

Either/or in the LSAT world means at least one of the two. In the real world it has come to mean one or the other.

The LSAT definition allows for the possibility that both elements can occur. In this case, the either/or statement is a conditional statement because at least one of the terms MUST occur. If one fails to occur then the other MUST occur.

Example: Either John or Jack will attend the party. There are at least three different outcomes in this scenario. 1. ~John —> Jack 2. ~Jack —> John 3. Both John and Jack attended the party.

Sometimes on the LSAT, the authors will tell you that both conditions cannot occur at the same time. You may see this on the Logic Games section of the test.

Example: Either Cindy or Clarice will attend the party but not both: 1. ~Cindy —> Clarice 2. ~Clarice —> Cindy 3. Cindy —> ~Clarice 4. Clarice —> ~Cindy

Multiple Sufficient and Necessary Conditions

So far we’ve seen only conditional statements with one sufficient condition and one necessary condition. However, there can be conditional statements with multiple sufficient and necessary conditions.

Example: “to graduate from Throckmorton College, you must be both smart and resourceful”

Graduate —> Smart and Resourceful or G —> S and R

Finding the contrapositive can be difficult. But think of it like this, if either one of those conditions is not met, then you can’t graduate from Throckmorton. So the contrapositive of G —> S and R would be ~S or ~R —> ~G

Another way to think of the contrapositive for multiple sufficient and necessary conditions. In the original statement BOTH smarts and resourcefulness are required in to order to graduate. If you only have one of the two, then you can’t graduate because according to the original statement, you need both.

So when diagramming the contrapositive instead of “and” we use “or” and the vice versa.

Example: “To graduate from Throkmorton College, you must be smart or resourceful”

Graduate —> Smart OR Resourceful or G —> S or R

Contrapositive: ~S and ~R —> ~G

Let’s take a look at conditional statements with multiple sufficient conditions.

Example: “If you are rich and famous, then you are happy”

Rich and Famous —> Happy or R & F —> H

Contrapositive: ~H —> ~ R or ~F

Example: “If you are rich or famous, then you are happy”

Rich or Famous —> Happy or R or F —> H

Contrapositive: ~H —> ~R and ~F

The Double Arrow

So far we’ve seen the arrows pointed in only one direction, but there are some statements that produce arrows that point in both directions. These arrows (<——>) are also known as biconditionals.

These arrows indicate that each term is both the sufficient and necessary condition for the statement.

Example: “Ann will attend if only if Basil attends.”

This biconditional statement contains two conditional (hence biconditional) indicators, “if” and “only if.” Because the two conditional indicators are connected by “and” this creates two conditional statements.

1. A if B or Basil —> Ann

2. A only if B Ann —> Basil

Combined the two statements create the double arrow: A <——>B. Only two scenarios are possible under this double arrow:

1. Ann and Basil both attend

2. Neither Ann nor Basil attend

Any scenario where one of the two attends but the other does not is impossible.

On the LSAT, the double arrow (biconditional) is typically introduced in any of the following ways:

1. “if and only if” example: Pam gets a new toy if and only if Tony gets a new toy

2. “vice versa” example: If Tony gets a new toy, then Pam gets a new toy and vice versa

3. repeating and reversing the terms. Example: If Tony gets a new toy, then Pam gets a new toy and if Pam gets a new toy, then Tony gets a new toy.

Trick: If you encounter a double arrow conditional statement in the Logical Reasoning sections of the test, assume that you will be tested on your knowledge of the double arrow and attack the answer choices accordingly. Remember you can mark off the answer choices in which only one of the two conditions occur. Either both conditions occur or neither occur.

The Double Not Arrow

This is really something you will see in Formal Logic, but you need to know it and it does apply to conditional reasoning.

Just as the double arrow indicates that two terms must occur together, the double not arrow indicates that two terms CANNOT occur together.

Example: If Gomez runs for president, then Hong will not run for president

G —> ~H repeat

H —> ~G contrapositive

According to the diagram, only one of the two can run for president but not both. You can use the two diagrams above and that would be fine. However, you need to understand what the double not arrow is for Formal Logic.

G <—|—>H means the same as the two statements: G —> ~H and H—> ~G

The double not arrow only prohibits one scenario—that the two terms occur together. Using the Gomez/Hong example from PowerScore, her are the possible outcomes:

1. G —>~H

2. H—>~ G

3. Neither G nor H run for president

Conditional Reasoning (Part 7)

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:58:00 -0500

Finally, we are at the end!!!!! This section was sooooo long! And when I looked through Formal Logic, I wanted to kill myself. Seriously. It’s really long and a lot of words!

Diagramming Either/Or Statements

Either/or in the LSAT world means at least one of the two. In the real world it has come to mean one or the other.

Example: Either John or Jack will attend the party. There are at least three different outcomes in this scenario. 1. ~John à Jack 2. ~Jack à John 3. Both John and Jack attended the party.

Sometimes on the LSAT, the authors will tell you that both conditions cannot occur at the same time. You may see this on the Logic Games section of the test.

Example: Either Cindy or Clarice will attend the party but not both: 1. ~Cindy à Clarice 2. ~Clarice à Cindy 3. Cindy à ~Clarice 4. Clarice à ~Cindy

Multiple Sufficient and Necessary Conditions

Example: “to graduate from Throckmorton College, you must be both smart and resourceful”

Graduate à Smart and Resourceful or G à S and R

So when diagramming the contrapositive instead of “and” we use “or” and the vice versa.

Example: “To graduate from Throkmorton College, you must be smart or resourceful”

Graduate à Smart OR Resourceful or G à S or R

Contrapositive: ~S and ~R à ~G

Let’s take a look at conditional statements with multiple sufficient conditions.

Example: “If you are rich and famous, then you are happy”

Rich and Famous à Happy or R & F à H

Contrapositive: ~H à ~ R or ~F

Example: “If you are rich or famous, then you are happy”

Rich or Famous à Happy or R or F à H

Contrapositive: ~H à ~R and ~F

The Double Arrow

So far we’ve seen the arrows pointed in only one direction, but there are some statements that produce arrows that point in both directions. These arrows (ßà) are also known as biconditionals.

These arrows indicate that each term is both the sufficient and necessary condition for the statement.

Example: “Ann will attend if only if Basil attends.”

1. A if B or Basil à Ann

2. A only if B Ann à Basil

Combined the two statements create the double arrow: A ßàB. Only two scenarios are possible under this double arrow:

1. Ann and Basil both attend

2. Neither Ann nor Basil attend

Any scenario where one of the two attends but the other does not is impossible.

On the LSAT, the double arrow (biconditional) is typically introduced in any of the following ways:

1. “if and only if” example: Pam gets a new toy if and only if Tony gets a new toy

2. “vice versa” example: If Tony gets a new toy, then Pam gets a new toy and vice versa

3. repeating and reversing the terms. Example: If Tony gets a new toy, then Pam gets a new toy and if Pam gets a new toy, then Tony gets a new toy.

The Double Not Arrow

This is really something you will see in Formal Logic, but you need to know it and it does apply to conditional reasoning.

Just as the double arrow indicates that two terms must occur together, the double not arrow indicates that two terms CANNOT occur together.

Example: If Gomez runs for president, then Hong will not run for president

G à ~H repeat

H à ~G contrapositive

G ß|àH means the same as the two statements: G à ~H and Hà ~G

The double not arrow only prohibits one scenario—that the two terms occur together. Using the Gomez/Hong example from PowerScore, her are the possible outcomes:

1. G à~H

2. Hà~ G

3. Neither G nor H run for president

Does it really matter what others think?

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:24:39 -0500

Does it really matter what others think?

foodandwinephotos: © John Kernick Cold Watermelon Soup...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:24:07 -0500

foodandwinephotos:

© John Kernick

Cold Watermelon Soup Recipe

Contributed by Jamie Bissonnette

Click here for full recipe

I binged today...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:22:48 -0500

It’s been a while since I posted. Here’s the update. I haven’t binged in a while, maybe two weeks? I stopped monitoring my food. I’m still on step two. I have changed the way I eat. I don’t eat while reading a book or watching TV. Even when I’m out by myself at a cafe. I focus on how the food tastes.

Today was my first binge in a while. I think it’s because I was stressed about money and overwhelmed with that mount of stuff that I have to do.

On the plus size, I’m down 20lbs.

My new ‘do

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:29:08 -0500

My new ‘do

I think my body is responding to this my stop binge eating program… I start starving if I go...

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 11:31:32 -0500

I think my body is responding to this my stop binge eating program… I start starving if I go longer than 5 hours without eating. I mean I have a headache, I’m passing out, kind of starvation.

Side note: I’m really need to stop eating in front of my computer and watching tv shows. I need to just sit and savior my food. I don’t know how that helps you binge less.

Side note: I’m starting mediation tomorrow. I’m nervous but excited. Hopefully it will help with lack of motivation to go work out. You’d think that having a monthly gym membership should be motivation enough…

So Fucking Proud of My Binge-Eating-Self

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:54:55 -0500

Here are the reasons why

1. I have been doing a good job of monitoring my food intake

2. I have lost a total of 18lbs since I begin this whole stop binge eating/weight loss journey.

3. Yesterday, I ate five correctly portioned HEALTHY meals.

4. I haven’t binged in a few days

6. I’m sick of hiding out in my apartment and actually have plans to go out and meet people and have fun

7. I hate myself a little less.

8. In one month, I have had more than 500 people visit my blog Weight Loss for Binge Eaters

10. For the first time in a while, my future doesn’t look so gloomy!

How I know if I'm hungry and then what I should do about it but don't

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:08:55 -0500

I’m so fucking weird. I’m hungry. I must be starving right now because I feel like passing out and I have a horrible headache. However, I’m NOT hungry!!! My body is hungry, yes. I can feel all of the physical signs. But mentally, the thought of putting good in my mouth makes me want to gag.

I’m not anorexic or anything. I’m not actively trying to avoid eating. I’m a binge eater and I don’t purge or exercise afterwards. What the hell is going on with me? Because right now, I’m going to fix myself a turkey burger and a side salad. But the idea of it is making me feel nauseated.

So instead of eating, I take a nap, which only leads me to binge eat later on, because (let’s go back to the beginning) I’m fucking STARVING!

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:55:07 -0500

foodandwinephotos:

© Penden + Monk

Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds Recipe

Contributed by Jeff Banker

Click here for full recipe

Pat on my back

Tue, 29 May 2012 02:26:55 -0500

I spent the past week, eating mostly unprocessed, whole foods. I’m very, very proud of myself. I think this is probably why I lost the 7lbs, without working out or anything.

I love to cook. I’m thinking that I can cook myself thin. I just have to stay motivated. Once I lose my motivation, then I don’t want to cook and I start eating crappy food.

Okay, so I need to start working out. I have worked out in like a year. I have no idea where to start. On top of that, my back is killing me. Normally, I would start out by walking a few miles a day, but it hurts to walk the two blocks to the store. I’m hoping that if I drop another 7-10lbs, that my back will feel much better. I have to be more active.

Step One for Fighting Binge Eating and Losing...

Mon, 28 May 2012 19:28:45 -0500

Step One for Fighting Binge Eating and Losing Weight.

Objectives:

1. Monitor your food and feelings

2. Get more sleep

If you're a weight loss/fitness blog, reblog this please.

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:48:03 -0500

fckthefreshman15:

I’m just getting started and I need people to follow!! I’m not going to fail this time!

Yeah Biotches!

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:47:21 -0500

From 330 pounds to 313 pounds… Doing nothing…

Sample Food Log….

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:15:12 -0500

Sample Food Log….

Fuck you, doctor

Sat, 26 May 2012 21:52:19 -0500

Went to the doctor’s the other. They kept harping on the fact that I need to lose weight. One kept trying to push weight watchers on me. For some reason I couldn’t say how I really felt. I never say what I really feel. So I leave frustrated and then I feel down and then I binge eat.

What I should have said to my doctor is I know that I need to lose weight and I’m working on it. You are not going to see me lose a lot of weight right away because I’m a binge eater. I need to work on that first or all efforts to lose weight will be for naught. So stop telling me to lose weight. Did it ever occur to you to ask, why haven’t I lost weight?

If they asked that, then I could open up and tell them. Maybe I should go see an American-born doctor? I do like their honesty.

muffintop-less: Wow! You go girl! Great transformation!

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:21:01 -0500

muffintop-less:

Wow! You go girl! Great transformation!

The Weight Loss Blog

The Dreaded LSAT: Here's what is apparently really really helping me

Main Point Questions (by kekojones12)

Main Point Questions (by kekojones12)

Conditional Reasoning... Part 7

Conditional Reasoning (Part 7)

Does it really matter what others think?

foodandwinephotos: © John Kernick Cold Watermelon Soup...

I binged today...

My new ‘do

I think my body is responding to this my stop binge eating program… I start starving if I go...

So Fucking Proud of My Binge-Eating-Self

How I know if I'm hungry and then what I should do about it but don't

foodandwinephotos: © Penden + Monk Baby Lettuces with Feta,...

Pat on my back

Step One for Fighting Binge Eating and Losing...

If you're a weight loss/fitness blog, reblog this please.

Yeah Biotches!

Sample Food Log….

Fuck you, doctor

muffintop-less: Wow! You go girl! Great transformation!