jessiefrancine Member

I tried this today and thought it was really good. Dannon is killing it with the limited edition Light and Fit flavors lately.

I try to plan my evening treat much earlier in the day and log it. Then everything works around that and I can look forward to it and enjoy it guilt-free. I also like decaf flavored coffee in the evening. My go-to is Crazy Cups Decaf Peppermint Mocha (I buy on Amazon) - it's just decaf coffee with calorie-free flavoring. I…

If you aren't already a member of the Stronglifts 5x5 group for women here on MFP, you should definitely join and look there. Lots of helpful docs and threads discussing ways to modify the program to make it easier for women just starting out and a lot of helpful members with great answers.

The IF group here on MFP is very helpful. Lots of info and threads there that you could read through to see what others are doing.

Yup, I use the squat rack for squats and overhead press (you can "clean it" up to the right height initially, but you may eventually reach a weight where that isn't feasible or comfortable - at least I did.) Bench for bench press and you can use a barbell anywhere to do deads and rows. Are you a member of the women's SL…

I'd recommend you put together a few standard daily menus that you can rotate through so that you can always make sure you're purchasing those items on your trips to the store and you don't have to expend too much mental effort when planning your food for the day. If you do this, you can also make your logging more…

Usually in the dairy section of your grocery store near the yogurt. It's a fermented dairy product. If your standard grocery store doesn't stock it, you might check a health food store or a place like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

Has anyone run one of the four day splits as a three day program? By that I mean you still cycle through all of the four workouts in order, you just do three sessions each week (so first week is workouts 1, 2, 3 then second week is workouts 4, 1,2 and so on). I'm wondering how much progress I would lose if I gave it a go.…

This was a really great article if you've got the time to read the whole thing. Also funny, which I totally appreciate.

Just came across this thread. Bumping to find my way back later!

Good job! I know it's really hard to turn down treats like that when they fall in your lap, so congratulations on your efforts. Sometimes it takes a while for those around us to adjust to our new healthier habits, but it was very nice of her to think of you. Maybe next time she'll think of you with some celery or string…

Weighing yourself naked first thing in the morning (after using the bathroom, before consuming anything) is the most accurate way to weigh yourself if you want to establish a trend or compare your weights on several days. Otherwise all those variables (what you are wearing, what you ate recently) get involved and you don't…

I use an arm band that I bought off amazon.

Are you working out in a gym? You might try the overhead press machine. Otherwise I agree that dumbbells would be a good alternative. If you have stretchy bands you might be able to continue to add resistance for a little longer.

My mom had hers out a few years ago. She said taking probiotics really helped her feel more normal as she adjusted to life without the gallbladder, though initially fatty foods caused her problems. She now eats pretty much the same as she did before, and I don't believe she is on the probiotics anymore.

I agree that free weights are best if you have the choice. Start with a solid beginner's program - good choices are Strong Lifts 5x5 (my personal fave), Starting Strength, New Rules for Lifting, Ice Cream Fitness - and read up on the moves. Most of them revolve around just a handful of compound lifts, like squats and bench…

If you really want to, there is a general "strength training" entry in the cardio database that does reflect a calorie expenditure. Not sure on accuracy as compared to your actual program, though (does the database number reflect the same amount of exertion as your program? length of rests between sets? whether lifts are…

This. I used to eat lots of cheap, processed baked goods, packaged pasta meals, meh crackers, super sweet coffee drinks, etc. But when I started eating within a calorie budget, those things just weren't worth the amount of calories they would take up. When someone brings stale, packaged cookies to work I'm not even tempted…

My gym has these padded bars (we call them "body bars") that start at a really light weight (like 6 lbs maybe?). If you get to a point where you can do all the moves with just bodyweight (or maybe a broomstick or something just for the feel of it) and it feels alright for your recovering body, maybe something super…

I agree with the previous answer that all of these would be good programs to start with. I recommend you just pick one and get started. I personally chose StrongLifts 5x5 because of its simplicity (just a handful of compound lifts to learn the technique for) and because the free StrongLifts app made it super easy to track…

I went back to my normal routine 3 days later. No problems here. I would imagine a week would be more than enough time. Unless you're doing something weird with your eyes while exercising....like eyeball pushups...in that case you may have a problem.

If you aren't hungry in the morning, don't worry about eating. Lots of people (including me) do this intentionally - it's called intermittent fasting. There's a great group here on MFP if you want to learn more about it. Although if you'd rather try the smoothie route, that's cool too. Do what works for you and feel free…

What's the title? I just did a quick Amazon search and didn't see anything new since 2013.

Sarah Lee Soft and Smooth is a pretty good "white whole grain" bread. I believe it's 50-60 calories a slice and tastes like normal white bread. I would prefer a nuttier whole grain myself, but this is what my family and I can all agree is acceptable and we just don't eat enough bread to merit buying two separate loaves to…

Good bets for me - even at a fast food place - are grilled chicken (if it's a sandwich I usually only eat half the bun) or fish. Ask for condiments on the side (you'd be surprised how much mayo or BBQ sauce they apply). I do still order burgers or steaks if I have the room for it in my day, so I try to plan ahead if I know…

I must find this movie!!!

I think this is a really great suggestion. Recalculate your TDEE to make sure your target calories are going to put you in a surplus at your new heavier weight. Also good suggestions above to bump calories by 100 at a time until you see gains again. Good luck!

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but who does the scene clean up after a particularly bad removal? I'm thinking someone who died but wasn't found for a couple weeks, or a murder scene or suicide. That's got to be a special kind of mess to deal with. Is that left to the family to take care of? Are there people for hire…

@mom23mangos I agree with the above posters. Looks like you have added some mass and retained your amazing definition. Super awesome!

Alternate day fasting works for some people, but not for me. There are many varieties of intermittent fasting that, when done correctly and consistently, can help you stay within your calorie goals by helping you manage appetite. I do 16-8 fasting - essentially I do all my eating within an (approximately) 8 hour window…