ruggedBear

I don't see that in your picture - but I know that how you see yourself is different. I feel like that sometimes too - like - where did that mini-waddle in my neck come from? How do I get rid of it? I just have to tell myself that I will never be perfect but that I still look a LOT better than I did overall.

I am more tolerant of others and less judgemental. I never realized that I used a "judge others before they judge you" defense mechanism until I lost weight. Instead of assuming the worst when I meet someone new, I expect to like them, and for them to like me. It's much nicer that way!

Just finishing up stage 1 of NROLFW, after having spent over a year with a personal trainer doing everything from running, biking and hiking to kettlebells, sandbags, ropes and TRX bands. A solid mix of 3 days strength training, and 3 days cardio every week. I lost almost 70 pounds in the first year, and started lifting to…

Pizza dough is fairly easy to make and you can get recipes anywhere (I like traditional Italian thin crust a la New Haven style) so I use Marie Espositio's recipe (Ciao Italia). Hand stretch it to make a very thin crust (I can get a pound of dough to cover a 1/2 sheet cake pan). Spray the pan lightly with olive oil before…

I love to fry a couple of slices of bacon, then add copped vidalia onions and as much chopped kale as I can fit in the pan to saute together. For an appetizer - you could take the resulting saute, cook up a couple of cups of quinoa, add an egg and some parmesan cheese to make a fritter-batter, then pan fry them or bake…

This! Just got new glasses myself! I thought I was just getting old eyes, but they actually got significantly better and my old prescription was way too strong.

I travel a fair amount for work and if you plan a bit, you can still brown bag breakfast and lunch. On my way to the office each day I stop and grab yogurt, almonds, some sort of green salad with a bunch of grilled chicken, and a couple of Kind bars which carries me through the day. Dinners can be pretty easy - just get a…

I started out as a 42DDD and just wore two bras (one underwire, one not) until I lost enough to fit into a regular sports bra (which I still wear OVER an underwire bra anyway since I've had enough gravity drag to repair as it is!). Good luck and listen to your body!

I just suffered through this craving tonight! Not a sweet thing in the house except for my husband :laugh: I fell back on the fiber bars I put in my kids' lunchboxes (Kellogg's Fiber Bars with chocolate chips). Not a bad choice if you've got 120 calories in the bank for the day and the extra fiber never hurts. I also like…

I'm a 'shaker' - protein powder, soy milk and blueberries after a workout. I usually need a meatsicle snack a few hours later on lifting days. Meatsicle = last night's grilled meat source, cold out of the fridge, stuck on a fork - a convenience food, but I also hear that cold protein is good for some reason. If that's just…

I read something similar in Nutrient Timing by John Ivy. Good read, albeit a bit difficult until you 'get' the terminology. Author seems legit (you can look him up in PubMed): About the Author John Ivy, Ph.D., is a professor and head of the department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas. Dr. Ivy…

The subtle point here is that weighing less, wearing smaller sizes, liking the muscle definition you see in the mirror - and doing the things you need to do to get you there is the result of getting healthier! It's really the same outcome. In the end, we all want to live longer, higher quality lives. How we define quality…

I am in awe - of your fantastic successes and your willingness to share your inspirational pictures with everyone else. "With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see" -Ella Wheeler Wilcox

^^Love this! I am really put off by "close talkers" as well as: dog puke (or anyone else's for that matter) tapioca being cold reaching into the garbage disposal ignorant people (don't expect me to help you out - I am NOT the *kitten* whisperer) wasted time

I think when you're getting started and not seeing visible results, the scale is really important in providing some feedback on your efforts. As you progress, it becomes less and less important. As I am working on the last 15 pounds or so toward goal, I don't weigh in very much at all (maybe once a month). Some months I…

There are so many different ways to run. I had never run before last April. I am oldish (44), short, with a really tiny stride, a jiggly middle and big boobs. Not real comfortable for running and those were my excuses. I love being outside and walking got boring so I decided to strap in and start 'jogging'. It took a while…

^^this! Intervals really work. Walk to warm up, run until you're struggling, walk to recover, run again. Work at increasing your run intervals and decreasing your walk intervals. Same basic premise as C2K but I never stuck to the specified interval times - just listen to your body! Good luck!

Lower case "I" in img. Here you go....

I marinate salmon in Chubby's Grillmaster BBQ Sauce (more of a glaze than a sauce) or World Harbors Jamaican Jerk sauce overnight, then pull it out and let all of the extra sugary water drip off before dry grilling or broiling. Yummo!

Someone needs to show this woman where to find the BIG GIRL weights! At a different gym from what I see in the background - where are the 50-100 pounders????

Brown bag it - there's no other way to avoid the nastiness embedded in virtually every fast food option no matter how low the calories. You'll pay for low cal options in sodium and other nasty fillers. An easy way to cure yourself of craving fast food is to avoid it for a month or more - then go out and have the biggest,…

Crotched Mountain yesterday!

Lift NOW! It's a great way to burn more calories at rest and it's about the right time to shake up your routine so you can keep on losing steadily. Congratulations and good luck!

Agreed! I've used the tens rule myself. Now that I'm closer to goal, it's gotten a lot harder so I switched to jeans sizes. One size every 2 months - I've got to get from 12 to 8 by summer! Went shopping a few weeks ago and found some summer pants on sale so I bought a pair of 10s and a pair of 8s (for like $5 each) for…

What great cheekbones!

Who needs 'work' done when you can look like this! Great job!

Well done!

This is probably my favorite 'side effect' of getting healthier - strangers who ask for my ID are always amazed I am a 60's child! I will be 45 this year and I couldn't be more excited! Lookout 50 - here I come!

The difference in your face is very dramatic - the way your eyes are so open and expressive now really changes your whole vibe! Don't ever hide behind glasses! :laugh:

:smile: You look spectacular! I know there's no secret to the loose skin thing, and I am so glad to see that it doesn't happen to everyone. For me, it's the main reason I think I have a hard time accepting my progress. I've got all the dreaded loose skin (at age 44, with two kids and over 20 years of being over 200 lbs, I…