aweightymatter

I had issues similar to the OP and I would say I'm pretty "recovered" more or less... However, the crappy thing is once you learn food-related strategies for coping, it seems like they will always loom in the distance. The only thing is eventually you learn to talk yourself out of seeing them as a viable option... if that…

I used to drink a CRAP LOAD -- I work in/around the music and nightlife industries! -- yet exercise and eat "healthy" and wonder why I wasn't making any progress. I'm sorry to say that if you're unlucky like me and have a body that holds on to fat, you may have to skip drinking completely for a while. That's what I had to…

^Same, only I don't find they're harder, more like about the same. I don't know where you live but running outside can also be harder because of weather conditions and stuff. I live in a place with SUPER high humidity so my speed outdoors is a good 0.2 - 0.3 mph slower than on the treadmill, even with the incline up.…

Haha this is funny, I worked as a private cook / high-volume baker a couple years back! I had lost a lot of weight and was just maintaining. I would say it ALL depends on the workplace!! In food service, a lot of time you don't get ANY time in a 10- to 12-hour day to sit and eat a proper meal, so you wind up eating…

Exactly. Reading 'The Beck Diet Solution' (really a psychologically geared book rather than a "diet" plan per se) realy helped me understand this. A week or two from now, nobody is going to remember if you did or did not happen to eat something, as long as you were polite about your choice. And if they do, that's…

Honestly, just skip it if it's a random meal and you see your family often. It's YOUR body, and YOUR health for YOU to take control of :) I frankly applaud you for considering saying "no" to a perceived obligation -- that is really not a huge obligation -- that you don't want to meet. I am a mostly recovered former ED…

I agree with some of what's said here and disagree with others. Like some have said, it all depends. Is this is a dinner you WANT to go to? Do you really LOVE soul food? Do you not see your sister often? Would you really RATHER eat something else and take your exercise class? Part of what got a lot of us to being…

Same! I have a sports bra and "ta-da" shorts photo here :P I haven't posted them on the forums because I generally don't check those threads, but I've been working really hard and I feel proud of myself and don't hate my body. That's major progress, and anyone who feels that way should feel damn happy about it. IMHO. I…

It won't, and if that works for you, cool :) I know in my own case though I would probably just wind up binge-ing again out of physical hunger combined with a need to "rebel" against my own rules. Luckily I don't have to do that any more though since there is always running!! haah. OP, you can either: 1) work out to earn…

I was going through the same thing! I was running a ton, and evne when I ate a lot, my nets were a scary 600 to 800... But I didn't really think about it because I was still eating a "lot" (upwards of 2000+ calories some days, it's just that I was running, say, 10 or 12 miles that day too.) I didn't lose ANYTHING. Last…

I didn't see anything in the post you quoted about hating one's body... at all. It's just frank talk. No, not everyone on MFP is here because they are overweight, but I appreciate this kind of straightforwardness. It is very hard, but attempting to take emotion out of the pure number on the scale, and just getting down to…

It happens! I get about the same burn that you are now getting from those videos. Sometimes even less for shoulders/triceps -- 275ish. Just take it as proof that you are getting fitter :) Pusha little harder or bump up your weights to try to get it back up a bit!

I started just a little less than that, and ended a little less than that. I'm not 100% done but check my photos for what is possible -- and I am shorter. :)

Yup, this!! Once you get your miles way up you can eat so much and still have a deficit. Last week I had a 2600+ day and still had a deficit :) Running has also given me the best legs of my life!!! (Of course I still strength train, but running got them most of the way there without really trying.)

If you don't start and stop in the same lane at the same line, it'll make a difference :) Also, it depends on your fitness watch/HRM setup. I have a HRM bundle that uses a foot pod rather than GPS. (I usually track my runs via GPS on my phone, so this made the most sense to me, value-wise.) My foot pod is always about a…

If it's an option, you could look into switching to "apartment-style" housing for your next year, if that exists on your campus. Then you might have a stove, etc. so you can drop your meal plan down to the lowest possible number of meals, or make it nonexistent. That will give you a lot more control over what you eat.…

That too!!! Last Sunday I ate something like 2600+ calories AND STILL HAD A DAILY DEFICIT. Gotta love distance running :)

Same!! I trained for my half-marathon while raising money for blood cancers. My mom is a survivor, a good friend my age got diagnosed right before I started training... Then, unexpectedly, I lost my aunt to blood cancer a few weeks before my race. Combining fitness with philanthropy really made the experience so much more…

Vodka with soda water and a lime! :) I don't see diet tonic as often as I see plain ol' soda water though. Considering there is a specific form of entertainment -- the game! -- I've never found this or any specific events to be big temptations for drinking too much. But that's just me. I tend to drink more when I'm out for…

You should definitely go get a (probably free) gait analysis at a running store. That said, to present another perspective, if you have no issues with your arches, etc., you may actually want to give running a shot with low-support shoes. By one school of thought, this allows your foot and leg muscles to strengthen over…

Ignoring all the Christian considerations, it's also important to consider that when you get breast aug, you are basically signing up for a lifetime of surgery. Breast implants are not really permanent -- they WILL need to be readjusted over the years. That's a lot of anesthesia and stress on your body, and a lot of stress…

Shrimp cocktail ring!

I don't think #1 is gross! Assuming that in 1980 female BBs were a little bit more "natural," she looks super shredded because she was probably on a hardcore lean-out pre-competition diet! Afterwards when she got to drink water and eat carbs again she probably just looked super fit. I think #1 looks pretty impressive, and…

Hahahaha... I have been known to walk slowly on the treadmill sometimes while doing the same thing -- not enough to get out of breath but enough to kill the boredom.

This is interesting -- I work from home completely as well and I find I have a lot more time to exercise, even with a LOT of freelance projects, a part-time job (also virtual) as well, charity stuff, a social life, business travel, etc. It's so easy :) Just take the time you used to spend commuting in the morning, and…

You are right, I stand corrected :)

General rule of thumb is about 100 calories per mile... That's a rough estimate though. Running burns a little more, and walking sometimes burns a little less, so depending on the specific add-on moves in your particular video, it should even out to the 100 cals. I think these videos are great for getting back into…

One more thing... I see in your diary that there are several days where you've ostensibly burned 700, 900, 1000 calories from exercise. Are you *sure* you are burning that many? What activities are you doing, and on what are you basing your burn? Gym machines notoriously over-calculate burn rates, and even some of MFP's…

If I may be respectful but honest... I checked out your diary and while you are in fact staying under your calorie goal, you have some room to improve food quality. It is great that you are watching your portions! This is a huge step. However, I think your next big step is to back away from some of your packaged and…

It's also important to use a REALLY sharp knife and to just chop, NOT use a sawing motion. Using a back-and-forth motion releases more of the molecules/oil/whatever that irritates your eyes. Just use one swift motion and it'll be a lot less painful! :) A food processor is also great, haha.