egaal

I started at 160 on May 31. I'm currently at 125. So about 4 months. I ate a mostly high protein diet, but didn't cut our carbs. So it was not really Atkins or Paleo. More like Zone probably, but I didn't follow anything very strictly. In general, my meals are: 1 protein bar for breakfast (the 200 calorie kind). If I was…

Gratz! Also love the profile pic (from one daredevil to another :)

I think the issue with starvation mode is maintenance. I agree that if you actually starve yourself, you will lose weight and lose weight rapidly. I don't think you could be gaining weight because you're eating too little. I always cringe when I see that on this site. However, I do think eventually the body gets scared…

http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/02/17/chicken-parmesan-wraps/ Chicken Parmesan Wraps for 179 calories each.

Wall sits are fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDjKeOCgisw

Do body-weight squats in a bathroom stall?

Lifting "free weights" usually makes you use a lot of supporting muscles to help balance the bars/dumbbells while machines often "assist" too much. I find I can lift a lot more with a machine than when I'm using a bar and even less when I'm using dumbbells. This is not to say machines are bad. They're perfectly good for…

I love my elliptical. So much less impact than running either on a treadmill or outside (and I do run outside occasionally). If I want to sweat & feel the burn I usually try to keep the resistance at a 7 or 8 and get between 140 to 150 strides per minute. This is on a gym style, sturdy Precor elliptical. I don't like any…

If you have an iPhone, you can sometimes find short intense workout apps for that as well. For example, I've really enjoyed: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/boot-camp-challenge/id462087518?mt=8 It has videos for each exercise and starts you out slowly and works its way up in intensity. You can tell it what equipment you…

Crossfit is all about WoDs, which stands for Workout of the Day. Each gym usually does their own take on this theme, but you can find a WoD on this site every day to inspire you at home: http://www.crossfit.com/ I wouldn't recommend doing ANY Olympic weight lifting without supervision for proper form if you're a newbie to…

Stuffed cucumber: Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh into a small bowl. Combine the cucumber mash with diced tomato, some fresh avocado, (optionally add diced lean ham and cubed low fat cheese). Add a dash of lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Put mixture back into cucumber half. Egg…

Take some of those prepackaged grilled chicken strips you can buy at the deli counter (or make your own) + add some salsa and some low fat shredded cheese and throw it in the microwave. Eat as is or put it in a tortilla wrap.

I consider these more snacks than meals, but here you go Parfait my way: 1 Dannon Light & Fit® Carb & Sugar Control 4 oz. Vanilla Yoghurt - 45 calories 3/4 cup Kashi GoLean (original) cereal - 100 calories A mix of chopped strawberries, blueberries and raspberries mixed together in a cup Red pepper egg sandwich: 2 slices…

I'm not sure there's enough calories in this diet plan. Seems like one of those starvation diets.

This is purely up to you and how you feel, so don't feel guilty based on what people say here. In general, I'd advise against making a habit of declining invitations because eventually you'll miss your friends and will give in, and then you'll have all sorts of weird guilt feelings associated with having whatever food…

Maybe you just had a bad experience. Our elliptical (despite being used when we got it) has worked like a charm since about 2006. It does squeek these days but I think it just needs a little WD40. Shrug. I like how sturdy it is compared to models I've tried at stores. It doesn't wobble no matter how fast I go or what…

I own a Precor EFX 546 that we bought used from a place that refurbishes old gym equipment. It still cost $2000, and it was an interesting exercise to get it upstairs (if we ever move, we may gift it to the next owner), but it's been totally worth it. I don't live near a convenient gym so the elliptical and my dumbbells…

One could say that about all food including meat I suppose. Why not just take some protein tablets instead of chewing on a steak or a chicken? 1) I think vegetables and fruits taste good. So I'd say that's probably the number one reason to keep eating them. Food is tasty. I don't want to live on tablets and shakes. 2) What…