JaxxieKat Member

The more I think about this, the more it angers me on behalf of all of my teacher friends who work in a thankless profession. If your biggest problem in life is that the teacher pointed out your lazy parenting choices, then count yourself blessed. Some people actually have legitimate problems.

I typically use grams, but only because I try and aim for the package serving size and those are measured by the gram. It just makes logging more convenient.

Pop Tarts are not healthy and it's a pretty poor choice of snack to send your kid to school with. Granted, granola isn't really a winner either. Food is fuel, and just like with gas you put in a car there is poor fuel and optimal fuel. A Pop Tart is like that watered down crap you get at cheap gas stations that make your…

Right butt cheek pain is often a sign of a pinched Sciatic nerve. I would highly recommend seeing your doctor as soon as possible. Also, brief rests (typically 60 seconds for beginner lifters between sets) are crucial. I'm sure you also don't need anyone telling you that upping your weight by 20lbs even when you haven't…

I get that a lot, myself. I really catch flack from my mom who is convinced that CICO doesn't work and it's all about moderation and good calories/bad calories. She's all like, "counting calories doesn't mean anything if you're going to put that on your sandwich" or "if you just ate better, you wouldn't have to weigh…

It depends. The tricky thing about the circuit is that it's only as intense as you're willing to work for. If you log it as circuit training, you want to make sure you're really hitting that circuit hardcore. No leisurely steps, make sure you're getting in 2 sets of 10-12 reps on each cable machine. You want to be moving…

I think that's really splitting hairs. I wouldn't consider PF a proper bodybuilding gym, and it certainly wouldn't have the necessary equipment for power lifters to train, but it's still a gym. And, while a Smith Machine is definitely not a squat rack, you can still do barbell squats on one. You have to modify your…

I have done that, yes. I tend to aim for a lower daily calorie goal (around 1200), then workout most days so that I can eat around 1300-1400 calories and still maintain a deficit.

This I can totally get behind. The thing is, whenever I read comments on the Planet Fitness FB page there does seem to be a general disdain for those into serious strength training, and I don't think PF instills that mindset. They don't plant the seed, they simply water it with their ad campaigns. I don't care for their…

100% for them. In fact, I feel they should be mandatory for anyone who doesn't have an allergy to them, or some other reason they cannot receive one (like people undergoing chemotherapy). I used to scoff at them, thinking, "big deal. The flu is just a bad cold." Then, about three years ago, I got the flu and was very sick…

My experience with carb cycling, thus far, is that I feel really great on low-carb days, but on my higher carb days my weight loss goes stagnant and I really get to craving starchy bread products. I'm vegan, so I can say that going low-carb is possible, but I wouldn't aim for a state of ketosis. I rely heavily on foods…

Dr. McDougall is a quack and his prepared foods in the stores are, ironically, really high in sodium. His information seems good, in theory, but there are many other great sources for vegan information and nutrition. I'm vegan, so please feel free to add me as a friend!

My TMI experience with SlimFast - it gave me the craps. I'm convinced it works, because it's a laxative. The shakes weren't too bad, and I really liked the bars. Now I just eat intuitively and prepare things that are simple.

About 3oz of Tennessee Fire LOL The following morning I had my usual coffee with almond milk creamer and sprouted grain toast.

Texas Pete, hands down. Coming in at close second and third places would be dijon mustard and Just Mayo Lite.

This isn't "healthy", but it's a little something I like to treat myself to on occasion. I take crescent roll dough, spread a thin layer of Earth Balance on a triangle, sprinkle cinnamon sugar over it, roll it up and bake it. It's like a little vegan cinnamon roll.

Absolutely! I noticed a tremendous difference in my progress once I stopped using scoops/spoons/eyeballing to measure food and actually began weighing my portions in grams.

Before going vegan, I adored Halo Top. I had almost given up hope, because Arctic Zero was such a tremendously sad experience for me LOL. Now I enjoy So Delicious Cashew Milk Ice Cream (dark chocolate truffle flavor) in moderation when I'm really craving ice cream.

One thing to remember is don't be discouraged that you aren't like someone else. Set realistic goals and realize you are you and Ashley Horner is Ashley Horner and Amanda Bucci is Amanda Bucci. Everyone starts off as a beginner. When I first started, I couldn't even do a barbell squat with plates on the bar. I could only…

I've never used the drops, but I use the PureVia packets in my morning coffee, and I really enjoy it. They also sell a liquid, but I have not tried it yet.

Double post, my bad.

I think it is very much location dependent. Mine is amazing. The staff is cool, the rules aren't really strict, and in the six months I've been going, I've never heard the "Lunk Alarm" go off. I'm pretty sure the one at our location isn't even hooked up to the front desk. My PF has a very diverse range of people who go…

I have been vegan for a long time, but tried raw vegan a few years ago. I won't mince words - it's insanely difficult. It's costly, it takes a ton of prep work, and eventually you get burned out. If you really want to incorporate the benefits of eating raw, whole foods then I would highly recommend eating raw at lunch and…

I am a really boring eater and I tend to stick with my old standby staples like avocados, natural peanut butter, tofu, olive oil, collard greens, spinach, cabbage, and cauliflower. There's a low-carb group. They may be able to offer some meal ideas.

When I first started, I needed to lose 120lbs. I have lost 82lbs over the past 2 years. I only got really serious about my weight loss about a year ago. My best advice is don't be blindsided by the bigger picture. Savor reaching the smaller milestones. You got this!

1. Reach my goal (38lbs to go!) 2. Log my food every day. 3. Be consistent in my Yoga practice. 4. Be kind to myself if I don't have a scale victory one week. 5. Cut back on my alcohol consumption. 6. Stick with my strength training programs.

I believe there is a 21 Day Fix group, but I don't remember whether or not it was very active.

Speaking from personal experience, someone coming from a background of disordered eating can be prone to another form of ED known as orthorexia, which is an obsession with a specific, restrictive diet (such as raw, macro, vegan, or Paleo) or clean eating or tracking calories. While tracking is great, it can become a source…

Decide what sort of vegan you want to be. Do you want to simply avoid products that contain animal derivatives, or do you want to be a strict vegan who only eats whole foods and packaged foods that indicate they are certified vegan? I am not a strict vegan. While I won't eat anything that contains gelatin, dairy, eggs,…

I second the recommendation for Gardein products. They are great when transitioning to a vegan diet. If you're a fan of fish, their fishless filet is really tasty and has a great texture. I also love their little barbecue pocket sandwiches. Almond milk is my personal favorite dairy-free milk, but there are many types on…