MisoSoup79

I hate math, but i :heart: this post. So well stated.

I know what put me off fast food for a while... Get a copy of "Fast Food Nation" and "Don't Eat This Book" and watch "Supersize Me!" You'll be disgusted enough that some of your fast food cravings should diminish! :flowerforyou:

I agree that adequate water intake helps a lot. But... I also believe that a crash is natural to some extent. It gets hot in the middle of the day and diurnal animals all over the world typically rest and conserve energy during the heat of the day, as we probably did way back in the days before civilization. Some of us…

I totally agree with this statement. Light and fat free items are usually loaded with sugars or artificial sweeteners and/or sodium and/or man-made chemicals in order to replace the taste and texture of the fat that is missing. I always use real dressing (think olive oil and vinegar or yogurt based dressing.) It's very…

If you know how many calories you're going to burn in the evening, then you really need to start adding calories to your earlier meals. You can make some simple changes to add more calories, like adding peanut butter to your oatmeal, toast or fruit with breakfast; add a bit of cheese and/or avocado to your lunch; lowfat…

1200 was too few for me. I am 5'4" and started out at 165lbs. I had to bump it to 1400-1500 plus exercise calories to lose weight. 1200 really isn't appropriate for someone who only has 30 or less to lose. It really shouldn't take more than a few weeks for your metabolism to catch on, but I'm no expert in that area. But…

I stalled after my first 10 lbs. I had to increase my calories, as 1200 was not providing enough to convince my body to start letting go. (1200 is enough for someone with a LOT to lose, but not for someone with only 30 extra pounds or less) The first 10 were probably just water weight for me. I now eat between 1400-1500…

Rather than breaking your carbs simply into "simple" and "complex" categories, you should consider "processed" a separate category. I say this because most fruits are actually comprised primarily of simple carbs, and many vegetables are comprised of both simple and complex carbs. Honey is a simple carb, but if you eat it…

If you were inactive before you joined the Y and you're suddenly going at it five days a week, it could just be that your muscles are retaining fluid because they are still not used to the activity. This happens when someone goes from sedentary or near-sedentary to working out like an animal! Your body will eventually…

Artichokes! Ideally, I like them steamed, but often I boil them for convenience (because I don't have a steamer) They can also be "steamed" in the microwave. Then served with some olive oil and garlic or melted butter to dip the leaves and heart in. MMMM.... :heart:

Dogs don't always have a nutritional deficiency to eat poo. Some lower ranking dogs eat the higher ranking dog's feces as a sign of respect, or groveling. Puppies often eat poo just because they like the way it tastes and unless they are corrected, they sometimes develop a habit of it. Some dogs never develop the taste,…

I'm not sure what you mean by the weight goal graph... are you asking about the ticker that is part of my signature? If so, you create your own in the "tools" area and then go to your "settings" and click "change forum signature" and paste the code into that area and save it. And thanks for the compliments on my kitty!…

OMG... Orange Roughy is my FAVORITE fish! :love: Sounds delicious!

Sadly, I don't own a crockpot anymore... but if I did, I would throw in some baby carrots, broccoli and onions and either some red potatoes or serve the chicken and veggies on a bed of brown rice. Whatever you decide to put with it, I'm sure it will turn out DELICIOUS! :flowerforyou:

Are you using default settings? If you are, then going over by 10-20 is actually in the healthy recommended range. If you've customized your settings so that you're aiming for 25-30 grams per day, then going over might cause gas and bloating, but aside from that, I still wouldn't worry about it.

If you just started out and your previous lifestyle was inactive and you didn't get enough water, it's possible to lose a lot of water weight in a short amount of time. Also, are you weighing yourself naked first thing in the morning after emptying your bladder EVERY time? Our weight will fluctuate anywhere between 2-6 lbs…

I stand corrected. :flowerforyou:

Tea is a diuretic. It flushes excess water from your body, which can actually cause dehydration if you are drinking it excessively and not getting enough plain water to balance it out. I don't usually count it, but then I only have maybe one or two glasses a day and I drink tons of plain water.

I wouldn't count that as "exercise" per se. I'm sure you burned more calories today than your average day, just because standing takes a little more effort... but it would be difficult to measure the actual difference. You might allow yourself some extra calories if standing all day is not a regular thing for you, but it…

With only 30 to lose, it is unrealistic and unhealthy to attempt to lose 2+ lbs per week without damaging your metabolism or cannibalizing your muscle tissue. This website is designed to help guide you through a steady, healthy and sustainable weight loss program. As long as you are dedicated to eating right and getting…

I've noticed this, too... but I assumed it was the increased physical activity that was helping my digestive system move a bit faster. It's annoying, but I do feel better than I used to.

These pics really made my day! :flowerforyou:

If you are using the MFP default settings, you will have no problems going over on protein. I have found the settings to be way too low for me, as have many others. MFP default has it around 15% of your daily cals, where I strive for 30%. Extra protein in place of carbs will help you feel satisfied longer and will help you…

We LOVE :heart: Natural Balance, too! My dogs love the sweet potato and fish flavor best! My cats also eat natural balance and it has given my shy and sedentary female kitty energy that grocery store brand food never provided. And her coat is amazingly soft! If I could afford the raw food diet, I'd totally do it, but as it…

Good thing you specified that the pic is of the dog and NOT the poop, or I would have missed your handsome Golden boy! He does have a very lovely coat! :flowerforyou:

Your breakfast is very carb heavy and provides a lot of fiber...but very little fat or protein. As some of the other posters have said, protein and fats will help you stay full longer. Each meal should have a balance of all 3 macronutrients. Based on your menu so far, it looks like you are lacking both protein and fat all…

I wear a HRM and eat back what I burn. I found that when I wasn't eating enough, I was kind of cranky and the scale wouldn't budge. :flowerforyou:

I like to do intervals of jogging and walking... like two minutes jogging, three minutes walking, back and forth. The yo-yo effect on your heart rate is great for burning calories.

Jillian Michaels has stated on her show that consuming alcohol can cut your body's ability to burn fat by up to 70%. If she is correct, and you are consuming nightly, then this could be dramatically slowing your progress. What percentage of your daily calories are given to your drink?

They don't seem as bad as I would have expected. Here's the ingredients from the Deep Chocolate VitaTops: Deep Chocolate VitaTops (12 Muffin Tops) Water, whole wheat flour, organic evaporated cane juice, egg whites, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin added as an emulsifier and vanilla),…