mjbrenner Member

I see that cinnamon has been suggested. A pinch of salt, no more, in the filter will also lower the perception of bitterness without adding a salty taste. You could also try cold brewing your coffee. You can search for the term to get instructions, but it makes a much less acidic, bitter coffee in the end.

I have received great advice so far, but I would love to hear more. Anyone else?

I was totally a work husband back when I was a teacher, and my work wife was a fantastic woman. There was nothing romantic about this relationship or anything like that. She was just a good friend for whom I fulfilled the "masculine" role at work that a husband might at home - listening to her problems, lifting heavy…

She has told you what is wrong - she needs you to vent less, and she needs to feel like you better value her feelings. "Yeah, I am fine," is the universal phrase most everyone uses when we really mean, "I am not fine, but I am also uncomfortable talking about my problems right now." It is a signal for you to be supportive.…

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. I understand that HIIT is supposed to be better for fat loss, so I see the value in this plan. Am I likely to lose my ability to run 5k if I am not doing a regular endurance run as well?

Have you tried swimming? Swimming can burn tons of calories, and it is a great way of building endurance and improving joint health without any impact.

Cardio makes you lose fat and muscle. Low weight/high rep lifting is in many ways more similar to cardio than it is to lifting heavy. Look up Stronglifts 5x5 - it is a straightforward, simple program that will help you keep muscle. If your muscles start getting "too big", you can just lift less once that happens. In the…

Good job! Building the habit is always the hardest part. I need to keep at something for a month for it to start to stick, so I appreciate the difficulty.

Sleep. It is not terribly exciting or innovative, but getting extra sleep will help your body to fight off the sickness before it gets settled in.

True story; my parents both watch Big Bang Theory, and I watch it for the first time while visiting them. The following is real conversation we had. Father: "You know, this show is pretty much about you and your friends." Me: "Dad, my friends and I are not that bad. Besides, the show isn't even that scientific. I mean, the…

My profile picture is from my coronation at the LARP I have participated in for sixteen years. Take that how you will.

You are eating well under your calorie goal. That can sometimes be okay for people who have a lot to lose, but it almost never works for people closer to their goal weight. Were I in your position, I would try to eat very close to my goal calories every day.

Stronglifts.com is not a scam, but it sure can look like one. The guy who runs it makes his money by getting you to fall in love with the free programs and then seeing the advertising on his site as well as hoping you pay $10 per month to use his forums. He writes like an infomercial salesman. The program is free, however,…

The Body Bugg relies, in part, on motion to calculate your burn. Since you wear it on your arm and your spin class works mainly your legs, it is likely to give you an inaccurate reading.

Heh - I am already a couple weeks into Stronglifts 5x5 - the changes are very noticeable. Thanks!

This has me eating 3345 calories a day. I am obese (40% bf), and I followed the procedure correctly, so I do not doubt the numbers. If I were thin I would still be a big guy (6' tall, broad build), so I am willing to give this a shot. 3345 calories a day? That sounds like a little piece of heaven.

I lift weights using the Stronglifts 5x5 protocol. I like it for the same reasons I like C25K - it helps you build from very little foundation to real accomplishment.

I started on the elliptical, because I was worried about my knees. After a couple weeks, I started over on the treadmill. I transitioned to outdoor running on the end of week 3 on the treadmill, because the weather was so nice. There is no problem with running it on the treadmill, but just know that you will face an extra…

I finish week five tomorrow. Pros: The program ramps you up slowly enough for you to get used to running, but quickly enough that you can see results. The program and its community here on MFP are very forgiving, and there is no harm in taking longer if you need it. In two months, you will be able to do something that most…

I will eat less during the day so that I can have a big dinner at night. If my dinner is not around 1000 calories, I am usually not very happy with it. Last night was porchetta, green beans, and a salad with chopped bacon and egg. Tonight is tacos. It helps me cook for company and eat the quantities I enjoy.

Thank you for the input so far. I would love to hear from more people on this.

Yeah, it will be Warrior Dash or something similar - a 5k with obstacles. The precise run will be determined in the next week or two. I know that you can generally skip obstacles that you cannot complete, but I also want to help my friends get to a point that they do not need to skip anything.

Honestly, you will not really be harmed if you skip the veggies for a while. Your bowel movements may suffer for it, but priorities need to be priorities. If you can get a cheap multivitamin, then that should take care of many of the necessary nutrients veggies provide. I do not know your precise situation and what lead…

There is a strong argument that in the US, at least, it is not legal. A potential employer may not ask you for your age or marital status. Requesting your Facebook password gives them both. I would encourage people who are denied jobs over this to contact the ACLU and similar organizations. Those rights-based organizations…

You can do this! Many meals all follow the same basic pattern: 1. Cook protein and veggies in bottom of pot. 2. Add starch and liquid 3. Cook until done. Doing this you can make soup, rice dishes, and pasta. I see that you are in Singapore. I do not know the culinary culture there, so please forgive that my following…

I had not realized that you were specifically training for MMA until after I posted - this makes a great deal of sense. Thanks for replying.

Serious question: if you are running 5 days a week, then when do you lift weights?

I sleep much better if I take a magnesium supplement before bed. For me, and others I know, it makes a big difference.

Success on redoing w5d1! My hamstring was a-okay, thanks to a little TLC this weekend. My thanks to everyone who has stressed the importance of listening to your body - that prevented my from trying to just "power through it" and hurting myself more.

I use them all the time, and I can honestly say that has never been a problem for me.