photographic proof of 93 pounds lost

Congratulations, what a achievement!

What are some of your favorie meals and snacks? I am struggling with weight loss, been at it for 3 weeks, lost 5 lbs the first week and now I'm not making any progress. I joined the gym a few days ago and feel like I should be seeing results by now especially since I've cut way down on my caloric intake, I am gettind discouraged.

It's hard to know what might be going on for you without seeing your food and exercise diary but don't give up!! I had a pretty slow first month here too. I was expecting that huge initial loss and I think I only lost half a pound my first week! If you follow a healthy diet with a calorie deficit and add exercise to it, the weight will come off - even if it's on its own timetable.

Favorite snacks:
half an ounce each of almonds and walnuts, square of dark chocolate
greek yogurt + berries with a side of pistachios
protein shakes
carrots and broccoli and hummus or ranch (the real full fat stuff please!)
tortilla chips and guac or hummus

Favorite meals:
Well, I eat virtually the same breakfast 5 days a week: an egg fried in coconut oil, toast with peanut butter and jam, and coffee with half and half. On weekends we make steel cut oats, omelets, huevos rancheros, pancakes, hash.

Otherwise, most of my meals are homemade. Sometimes I have tuna on toast with cheese, but usually my lunch is leftovers from the night before. Today I had leftover Indonesian peanut bowl (brown rice, chicken, homemade peanut sauce, veggies, pineapple) for lunch, and dinner will be salmon with an avocado salsa on wilted spinach with a side of roasted brussels sprouts. I make pasta, stir fry, Indian food, etc. Pretty varied really! We subscribe to Cooking Light and Bon Appetit and make recipes from both almost weekly.

One of the biggest roadblocks to me starting a program like MFP is I thought I couldn't continue cooking good food. Ha! Turns out it's perfectly possible. Last Sunday I made braised short ribs, mashed potatoes, and kale with pearl onions. That meal has about 800 calories in it. So? I went on a long run, ate reasonably the rest of the day, and enjoyed my indulgent meal It all works if you make it.

Overall, almost none of my food comes from a box unless it's dried pasta. I am on a quest to eat more raw veggies but I eat a lot of them cooked. I do eat treats, though. peanut butter cups, mini health bars, a (weighed!) serving of ice cream. Beer. Mmm, beer.

You look great. What exercise have you found is most effective for you?

First of all, my routine is always changing. I change strength training routines every other week when I meet with my trainer. He designs a new progressively harder program for me. I repeat it till our next session, increasing weight as needed. I also just registered for a TRX/kettlebell class that will meet weekly and starts Wednesday (YAY!).

I only do machine cardio once a week, and even then I don't get on the elliptical for an hour...Lately I've been doing speed or hill intervals on the treadmill, then move onto an AMT or rower, then settle onto an elliptical to watch some mindless TV for the last 20 minutes.

I take a zumba class most weeks and I love it. And I take a yoga class (Bodyflow actually) once a week.

Right now I'm training for a 7k so I also do a longer run on the weekends, but that's not typical.

So, I don't think my routine has any secrets other than keep changing things up!

I just read through everyone's comments. Thank you all so much!