sarahkw04 Member

I personally prefer macro counting, but it's basically Calorie counting at the end of the day. For me, macros are like a game of Tetris. I've pre-logged everything I'm going to eat today and I'm left with 20c/7p/6f, so now I have to figure out what to eat to hit those (I've even already added dessert for the day!) I agree…

I'm in what looks to be the minority as I only focus on macros. I'm working with a coach through Working Against Gravity who has me on a set of macros that equals out to between 1800-1900 a day. It's been almost a full month, and its been fascinating - when I was counting calories, I was eating less food, but a ton of…

I LOVE my foam roller and lax ball for myofascial release - I agree with the sentiment of if its not hurting, you're not doing it right and/or you need to be doing it. Last week I had some lower back pain due to tight abductors/adductors. When I found "the" spot with my foam roller, I thought I might cry. BUT - instant…

I teach/take a ton of barre every week - I log it as "pilates." I use an HRM and burn double the amount teaching when compared to taking, but I'm moving around the full 45 minutes to an hour, and talking the whole time, so it's more of a cardio workout! As mentioned above, the HRM isn't going to be 100% accurate. I use it…

I do love my Lululemons, but I found the Zella brand sold at Nordstrom to be similar in quality and half the price.

I'm 5'2", 161lbs, and 30 years old. I just started working with Working Against Gravity to lean out/lose the last few lbs. I train hard with a powerlifting coach 4 days a week, take 3-4 barre classes a week, and teach at least 3 classes a week, plus a conditioning day on Saturdays. My WAG coach has me on: 155g protein 55g…

100% yes. I lift heavy - nothing more empowering then pulling a deadlift twice your body weight off the floor.

What's your training schedule like? I work with a nutrition coach who has me on 155g of protein, 55g of fat, and 165/195g of carbs, depending on whether its a training day. My goals are to continue to increase strength while leaning out. I was staying away from carbs like the plaque until I started working with her, and…

I teach barre/own a studio, and I LOVE it - obvious bias here. I started taking barre 3 years ago when I was about 30lbs heavier. It definitely helped me with slimming down/toning up, especially when done in conjunction with cardio. Now, I take 3-4 barre classes a week and work with a powerlifting coach 4x a week and it's…

Look at barre workouts - My barre routine has given me glutes/hamstrings that the guys in the powerlifting gym are jealous of. :)

I like what @Scotty2HotPie said. I wear an HRM when I lift and appreciate the calorie/HR tracking for what it is. The quickest way to get under my coach's skin is to "stand around." We were doing banded box speed squats this morning - heavy weights, heavy band tension, 30 second break between sets, 12 sets of 2. The HR,…

Have you looked into foam rolling? I swear by it. I foam roll most evenings, and always before I lift - helps so much!

I use an HRM when I lift. We're big on mobility work though, so in addition to doing our big lifts, we're also doing crazy box jumps (always a good day when "death box jumps" is written on the board...), burpees, weighted step ups, jump squats... This morning's workout burned 505 according to my HRM - that included low box…

I'm in the Chuck club. My coach will have you lifting in socks if you come in for leg day wearing running shoes - sometimes I lift in socks just for form work.

I wear one. We spend the first 20 or so minutes of our sessions doing circuit work as a warm up, then we superset everything. I don't eat the calories back, really - I focus on macros - but I like seeing the numbers.

I lift heavy with a powerlifting coach 4x a week. Sessions go from an hour to an hour and a half. I've been known to run out of time at my 6AM session, so I come back for accessory work later in the day. :) I also teach/take barre classes several times a week, so a typical week looks like this: M: Lower Body/Barre T: Rest…

I'm not opposed to online training and will be offering it once my personal training certification is official later this month (after an initial in person assessment, however). I also think the price is fair. HOWEVER - Online fitness training isn't necessarily the best fit, especially for someone newer to exercise.…

Depends on a lot of things, including your personal goals. I'm almost at my goal weight, and I lift heavy, so I focus on the protein macro like its my job. It's working for me. But, if I were 20lbs heavier, I'd focus on calories, for example.

I haven't done any of the BBG workouts, but while I know a few people who have and have varying results, my concern is always with the certification and safety behind any workout program. I think Kayla was at least initially certified in Australia as a personal trainer, but not sure what that entailed. Of course, my focus…

I've weened myself away from counting calories. I count macros. I KNOW - people say "you're still counting calories.." I get that because ultimately, I am. But not paying attention to calories in vs out and instead worrying whether I got enough protein that day has been a game changer. Do what works for you - if that's not…

Planks - I can't rave enough about planks for core strength, or say how important it is to have a strong core, not just in workouts, but in your every day life - it'll help that posture you mentioned!

I'm pear shaped. I sling heavy weights around 4x a week and my legs? Not getting BIG. They're getting toned though, and I've lost almost a full inch in the last month. Go ahead and burn that book and find an exercise you love.

I personally struggle to eat my calories BUT I'm eating to fuel powerlifting 4x a week, plus taking/teaching barre classes several times a week. In my case, it's a mind game to go from eating 1200 calories a day to 2100+ calories a day in order to net enough calories/get my macros. It's working, but it's also hard - I eat…

Log it under cardio as "Strength Training." It's hard to estimate the true calorie burn as TeaBea mentioned. I wear a HRM and just put in the number burned there, but I lift with a coach and we do a lot of circuit work to warm up, so it's not just straight powerlifting.

Barre is a strength training program. There isn't a barre option on MFP, so I log it as pilates as barre is a combo of yoga, pilates, ballet, and strength training. Barre also happens to be my favorite workout - I teach it! :)

Agreed with the advice to count calories first. I'm in the camp that thinks macros become more important once you're closer to goal.

Not typically, no. But I didn't start losing weight again until I started eating more. A 1600 calorie a day total (not net) was doing so much more harm than good. I can definitely sling around a lot more weight with more fuel, and the fat is falling away. Pretty cool to see the recomp photos!

You and I have some similar stats - save for height. you've got me by 6"! I'm working on this as well, and I think I need to up (AGAIN) my intake. Isn't it strange, how eating more can help you burn more?

I've tried it all - cheap, mid-range, expensive - and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I used to refuse to buy Lululemon. $90+ for leggings? They better do yoga for me. Except I was asked to participate in a Lulu fashion show and I put on a pair and I got it - not only are they great for my workouts, they're…

I recommend increasing in increments. I tried to go from around 80g of protein a day to 140g a day and got so frustrated. I've been increasing in 10-20g increments every few weeks. I'm at 120g right now and will jump to 130g next week. My tricks have been Lil Buff Cakes (delicious AND easy), Kodiak cakes (the peanut butter…