ManiacalLaugh Member

Knowing where and how they get people to write for them, this is actually an improvement from the normal Buzzfeed fair. There is definitely some misinformation (agreed about the avocado thing), but at least it actually addresses calorie intake instead of trying to push a new fad diet. It's a step in the right direction.

The only "coach" I've ever seen come back for a dialogue ended up tripping over her own words and admitted that she was less than a week into the program herself. I don't think they want a dialogue about the purported benefits of the program. I think they just want to scope out potentially gullible or under-informed people…

THIS. SO MUCH THIS. I love wearing a corset for costuming, but yeah - they can end up weakening your core and cause you all sorts of problems. Not only, that but their slimming effects are very temporary (you'll bounce back to your original size within a day of taking it off). Anyone who has actually achieved a permanent…

I had back spasms a lot back in the day. Strengthening the core really, really helps. As others have mentioned, make sure you're well hydrated and have plenty of potassium, magnesium, and salt in your diet (if you have no medical reason to avoid salt). After not having them for a year or two, however, I've unfortunately…

You don't have to do anything to sign up as a BeachBody Coach. You don't even have to have actually used the program itself - so watch out for those guys. They will try to sign you up as a coach as well; they get bonuses for this similar to what would happen in a pyramid scheme. BUT - I loved the workouts. Definitely give…

For note, there are sparkling waters with enough sodium in them to warrant a reading on the label under "sodium." I kind of watch out for those. Otherwise, if the amount of salt is so negligible that it doesn't have to be reported on the label, I'm not going to be worried about it.

I had a similar reaction when my trainer first told me, "Don't exercise for weight loss. Disassociate the two in your mind. I can give you 1,000 reasons to exercise, but weight loss will never be one of them." It's actually really helped me. Not having to worry about the fact that skipping a workout is going to wreck my…

Please Google "Liver toxicity" and "Herbalife" before you make that call, OP. (Though I can't imagine Trufix is any better)

OP regarding your supplements question (which seems to be a hot topic again): Herbal supplements are not regulated and often don't disclose, or under disclose, their ingredients. Supplements such as Herbalife and Hydroxycut have been found to cause increased liver toxicity and even failure. Even after a class-action…

Much like when you go on birth control, I believe your body goes down a short learning curve coming off of the hormones. Your hormones might take some time to adjust, which could potentially affect your appetite and cause a little water gain. (Depending on the person, anyway). This should all be temporary, so just keep…

It sounds like you have some really good starting points. May I offer a couple little pieces of advice (speaking as someone who has been through this game a lot)? - Having someone hold you accountable in the beginning can be a great tool to keeping you going through the newbie stretch. However, your parents aren't always…

There are lots of suggestions, but I don't see my preference: Two or three, decadent, rich chocolate truffles. Sure, they're going to have a few more calories than you average Hershey's Kiss, but you only buy a couple/few of them. It gives her the chocolate fix in a way she might not get to enjoy that often (i.e. fancy),…

I'm allowed to do anything that doesn't put undue stress on my abdomen (I have another month on that). So, cardio of any sort, arms, legs, and very light core workouts. My trainer has me on a "step up" program until I get back up to speed, which is awesome. I should be back to my old routine in a couple of months. I posted…

There's the catch. The "average" female is calculated at 5'7, in US standards. Going by those numbers, even I'm petite at 5'4. The 1200 minimum is calculated by the "average" woman, meaning I could probably go a tiny bit lower, but someone who's 4'9 could probably go under 1000 easily without feeling detrimental effects.…

Keto is a mixed bag. It's actually prescribed, in some cases, for people with seizures. For people who don't have medical reasons to be on it, however, there are a full range of opinions. You're better off searching for a Keto-friendly group, because the opinion on the boards is that it's just another way of establishing a…

Two possibilities (in my experience): 1. They're not eating what they think they are. They're underestimating all of their portions and eating more calories than they believe they are, leading to being full. 2. They are eating less calorie-dense foods (like veggies) than they were before they started, so they're able to…

I would keep rolling. (Make sure it's on the side of the leg, where the IT band is located.) My physical therapist had me rolling hard enough for it to be uncomfortable for three sets of 2-3 minute reps. I'm sure not everyone is the same, as far as IT troubles go. In my case, it had to do with having weak hips. The PT…

That's not true at all. My maintenance is 1800 cals and I'm not even down to goal weight yet. I can definitely gain weight eating 2,000 cals a day. (Substantially, if given enough time) OP, it's different for everyone, which is why people are asking for stats. If you're taller and/or heavier, you should definitely keep…

Second this. Rice can be tricky. For my brand of cooked, long grained white rice, 150 grams equal ~200 or so calories. Uncooked, I'm sure 150 grams would be much, much higher.

OP, please do not do what this post describes in the first half. Taking your calories that low will do more harm than good. Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) can wreak havoc on your body and your lean muscle mass (lean muscle mass includes important things like your heart). It also will likely lead to catastrophic failure.…

I didn't experience the emotional trauma of an accident, but I had surgery about 6 weeks ago that caused me a lot of physical trauma. I think it's perfectly normal to gain weight after trauma. I gained 12 scale pounds while I was in the hospital. Stress hormones alone can really mess with the system, and when you're trying…

Wow! Awesome progress! I assume your from St. Louis? I moved here just about a year and a half ago. I'm amazed with how many opportunities there are for outdoor exercise here.

Right?? But no, it was shakes, of course.

Normally, I'd answer the "You need to eat more or your metabolism will shut down" myth. However, right now it's obnoxious ads that are flooding my Facebook newsfeed. They all say the same thing and make the same outlandish claim (that people who reply to these posts seem to actually be falling for): "Take our product and…

I enjoy watching My 600 Pound Life. It's very fascinating to me, and watching people turn their lives around and lose extreme amounts of weight (in fastmotion thanks to television) can be very motivating. Moreso, it's interesting to hear the thoughts and perspectives of these people. I've never been anywhere near 600 lbs,…

Between this and the alarming profile pic, I tend to agree. BMI is, for most people who don't have outlying physical ailments, a good guideline to use to for health. No, the numbers don't mean everything, and it is fallible, but when my BMI number gets into the healthy margin, I'll know I'm close and will change my goal…

Speaking as someone who has been in a similar position, this was true for me. The constant "did you log it?"s every time I reached for a tortilla chip got old, and it did cause a fight or two.

OP, just wanted to say I respect your original post and the fact that you recognize your position (knowing what will and what won't affect your marriage). I hope she comes to a similar recognition. I wish my boyfriend would seek this kind of advice from someone, lol. He's not an "a-hole", but he's had his moments - and I'm…

If someone's asking, give it. If someone's doing something you know to be dangerous (VLC diets, bad supplements), give it. If you're unsure in any other circumstance, I don't believe there's anything wrong with phrasing it as "I" advice. "I've made X progress. What worked for me is..." Of course, if you've lost weight or…

I thought they tasted great - but they're super expensive and after a while, I got pretty sick of chocolate shakes (words that should never be spoken). Additionally, it's not a sustainable plan and will not help you learn to eat at said deficit. Slimfast is a tool that can help one stay within enough of a calorie deficit…