1) I'm still hungry. The more I work out the hungrier I get. I ate an entire footlong veggie sub today and I've never been able to do that. I'm still hungry now :frown: (granted I worked out 2x today) and am pretty good about eating enough protein, fiber etc. If I eat my exercise calories isn't it just a wash? :

If your using the net calorie goal on MFP, it already considers a deficit to allow for weight loss based on the settings you entered in your profile, so yes, you should eat back those workout calories to make sure that deficit it not too big (you should not "feel hungry"). MFP actually had me at 1200cal net and in the past month, I upped it twice (now 1750cal) and I've seen more weight loss now than at 1200... I actually feel like I'm eating all the time (but they are all clean foods).

2) They say not to eat before bed. I get why, are their certain foods to specifically avoid? I often work all day and don't get a break. I get home between 9 and 12 at night and naturally I need to eat especially since I'm on my feet. Tips for what to eat unless it's just the obvious of "being healthy." I usually cannot eat sooner so eating at night is going to happen. I try to snack at work but am limited to what I can carry on me and if I get time to mow it down. So the answer might be "If you are going to eat at night eat ____________."

From what I read, that's just not true. I once read "a calorie does not know at what time you ate it" which made sense to me. I workout after work, so I'm never able to have dinner until 9pm and I'm usually in bed by 10:30pm. The only restriction here, is that if you're like me and eating just before bed interferes with sleep, then just up your meals earlier in the day and just have something light at night. What you eat does not really matter in my mind.

3) I like boose.:drinker: I usually do vodka/water with Crystal light...but am getting sick of that. Any new low cal/carb drink options? I'm not going to completely quit drinking but at the same time I'd like to make better decisions. I do white wine often so I know how many calories are in a glass and can keep track. (Wine also makes me happy :laugh: and I don't do beer)

Sorry...no much of a drinker (special occasions, yes, but that's about it)

4) What's the quickest way to get rid of tummy fat. I just started running if I have time and energy but what else is great for burning fat in general?

You can't "target" fat loss. Your body choses where it lets go of fat and usually, it's not the first place you wanted. Since you say you started running, then add weight training to the mix to really get rid of that fat.

That's my 10cents...

Howdy! Just finished my first week on MFP and Insanity. Here are some current struggles that I might let get me frustrated and lose focus. Any tips would help.

1) I'm still hungry. The more I work out the hungrier I get. I ate an entire footlong veggie sub today and I've never been able to do that. I'm still hungry now :frown: (granted I worked out 2x today) and am pretty good about eating enough protein, fiber etc. If I eat my exercise calories isn't it just a wash?

You might not be eating enough, although I know that sounds counter-intuitive. The first week or two are hard for me whenever I start using MFP again (when I"m maintaining I don't really track food, but come back periodically to push through hard spots or if something happens and I slide a little back up). If you can get through that first 2 weeks, you'll be golden. Try to eat smaller amounts of food spaced throughout the day. For example 300 calories 5 times a day versus 500 calories 3 times a day, etc.

To reallyl get a handle on how much you should be eating try going to http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools it was very helpful for me to see that I wasn't eating nearly enough.

2) They say not to eat before bed. I get why, are their certain foods to specifically avoid? I often work all day and don't get a break. I get home between 9 and 12 at night and naturally I need to eat especially since I'm on my feet. Tips for what to eat unless it's just the obvious of "being healthy." I usually cannot eat sooner so eating at night is going to happen. I try to snack at work but am limited to what I can carry on me and if I get time to mow it down. So the answer might be "If you are going to eat at night eat ____________."

I don't ever follow this. I eat on a schedule that works for ME. If you try to completely follow someone else's schedule it won't work for you. If I feel really snacky at night and I know it's not healthy (I want junk food, I'm already over my calories for the day, etc) I will follow an old trick my weight lifting instructor taught me: drink 8-12 oz of water and wait 20-30 minutes. If you are still hungry (Legit hungry, not just bored) then you can have a snack after that. Usually the urge to grab a late night nibblet goes away for me if I do that.

3) I like boose.:drinker: I usually do vodka/water with Crystal light...but am getting sick of that. Any new low cal/carb drink options? I'm not going to completely quit drinking but at the same time I'd like to make better decisions. I do white wine often so I know how many calories are in a glass and can keep track. (Wine also makes me happy :laugh: and I don't do beer)

Honestly, I just budget it into my day. I have accepted that I like alcohol and that I don't want to give it up. I don't drink as much as I used to, but I do still drink, and on Saturdays it is game on. I'd rather workout an extra 2-3 times during the week and have my Saturday nights grilling out with the boys than not. As a fellow WI girl, I can tell you there are not easy ways around this. Yours seems pretty good. I also like to make my own girly drinks at home from fresh fruit instead of from mixers and such. It takes a lot of the excess processed sugar out of the equation, so I don't feel as bad. love making kiwi mojitos:

http://jillskitchenadventures.blogspot.com/2012/03/homemade-kiwi-mojito.html

You've just got to be creative and find stuff that you like. Otherwise you'll break and go for what's easy/cheap/tasty/horrible for you.

4) What's the quickest way to get rid of tummy fat. I just started running if I have time and energy but what else is great for burning fat in general?

These are my barriers...a little help would be appreciated. BTW, Happy Hump Day :flowerforyou:

Running is good. Lifting weights is also good. Both will help you lose fat/build muscle, in different ways. Ultimately the most successful workout program will include BOTH. Seriously. Look at some of the threads here of women who started lifting heavier weights. Or pick up a copy of the New Rules of Lifting for Women (fantastic book btw). Building strength helps burn fat AND will reproportion your body to make you happier with the shape regardless of the weight. What's really important is your body composition, not your weight, although I completely understand wanting that damn number on the damn scale! LOL! That being said, you won't ever be able to change your body type. If you are a pear shape, you will become a bigger or smaller pear. If you are an apple shaped woman, same dealio-yo. You can adjust it a lot, but the basic shape will always be there. If you naturally carry your weight in your midsection, that will be the first to come on and the last to come off, unfortunately, but you've just gotta stick with it!!! It's so true that "in one year you'll have wished you started today." So start today! And you have! So that's fantastic! And we're all here all the time for questions and motivation and all that jazz. Just keep up the good work!

You cant spot train to lose fat. It comes down to genetics, the first and last places you put on and lose weight from.

LIFT LIFT LIFT! Do cardio on your rest days, something lighter. You are woman you wont get massive muscles unless you use steroids what will happen is you will change your body composition. You want to lose weight but in the process you want to retain as much muscle as possible so you dont end up what some call "skinny fat". Keep your protein up at least 1grm/lbs body weight.

It's your Total daily energy expenditure.

Go to goals up he top of the page there and It should show your calories burned from daily activity. That's what it is. For example mine is like 2380, calorie intake goal is 1910. Mfp calculates your calorie limit fro the goals you have set, so that gives me 470 deficit with .9lbs weight loss / week. This is also based on the activity type you entered.

2) They say not to eat before bed. I get why, are their certain foods to specifically avoid? I often work all day and don't get a break. I get home between 9 and 12 at night and naturally I need to eat especially since I'm on my feet. Tips for what to eat unless it's just the obvious of "being healthy." I usually cannot eat sooner so eating at night is going to happen. I try to snack at work but am limited to what I can carry on me and if I get time to mow it down. So the answer might be "If you are going to eat at night eat ____________."

I don't ever follow this. I eat on a schedule that works for ME. If you try to completely follow someone else's schedule it won't work for you. If I feel really snacky at night and I know it's not healthy (I want junk food, I'm already over my calories for the day, etc) I will follow an old trick my weight lifting instructor taught me: drink 8-12 oz of water and wait 20-30 minutes. If you are still hungry (Legit hungry, not just bored) then you can have a snack after that. Usually the urge to grab a late night nibblet goes away for me if I do that.

I work nights. my eating schedule is very whacked. in my opinion the only reason to avoid eating at night would be because it interrupts your sleep. i.e. heartburn, gas, bathroom. etc. etc.

1) Yes, eat back the majority of your exercise calories. MFP sets your calories to calculate a 1 - 2 lb loss per week. That is a good rate to avoid the pitfalls.

2) Eat when you're hungry, but try to load most of your calories early in the day. That's good, but you're not going to ruin things if you have a snack at night (you're still under calories, right?).

3) Red wine. It has health benefits and isn't much worse than your vodka.

4) You lose fat proportionately throughout your body. You cannot spot reduce. So, lose fat, work on your posture, and you'll see your tummy improve.

My best tip: don't ever come back on the "Single peeps" group forum.

We're all fat and single here, because we spend too much time posting/reading/chatting. We're the shame of MFP, the failures of the website, so we've been stocked here.

You've been warned (and welcome if you chose to ignore my warning)!