thejackswild79

I have a Polar FT60 and a Garmin 410 (the Polar came first before I started running over hill and dale). I love them both. They are super comfy, I hardly notice them and they get the job done. If you are looking for just an HRM, then go with a Polar. If you have any interest in knowing distance, then get a Garmin.

I love Zumba. It is a lot of fun and really gets me moving. When I first embarked on my weight loss journey they joke was that I literally shook my *kitten* off at Zumba. Why? Because I lost about 13" off my bum after doing Zumba 3-4 days a week and as well as lifting weights a couple times a weeks. I am not kidding. It…

I had a similar issue. For me it turned out to be low blood sugar from not eating enough. It caught me completely off guard because I was pretty much eating to maintain my weight loss after losing 80 lbs before going after the next 40-50 and hadn't changed anything for months calorie intake-wise. What I didn't take into…

Congratulations! That is absolutely incredible and you not only look amazing but are an inspiration to me!

I absolutely do this. A long standing holiday tradition in my house is to put favorite candy and chocolates into eachother's stockings. This year we committed to one bag. The rest was all gels, gu's and sport beans for running. HA! Still, that one back of Reece's Mini Peanut Butter Cups...I just wanted to eat it as quickly…

I weight everyday, mostly because I am sort of neurotic like that. But I do not let it affect my day. I know there are fluctuations. I deal with it. I just like to KNOW. I typically record my weight once a week (or so).

I choose to be a vegetarian for the health of my body and my conscience.

Foods rich in protein keep me feeling fuller longer. Quinoa, tofu, edamame, lentils, beans and brown rice are among my favorites accompanied by loads of vegetables like broccoli, spinach, portabella mushrooms, eggplant and squashes. Today's lunch is pasta with roasted squash and fresh tomato with a side of sauteed spinach…

You look fabulous! Fantastic job and you are seriously an inspiration!

I absolutely LOVE my HRM because I get a much better information about my calorie burn. Sometimes it is much higher than the machine or MFP but most times it is actually lower. I can attribute each of my plateaus to some form of under tracking calories consumed and over tracking calories burned. This is actually one of my…

Good for you! And you can absolutely do this. Couch to 5K (C25K) is a great way to start. I used to to get to my first 5K in April of last year. It was a great way to slowly get into running. The only problem is that I found running to be highly addictive. ;) Good luck!

If it were me (and it was about March of last year and again in December) I would focus on two things first: I am being accurate in my food tracking and portion control? Can I eat better? With the first one, it is easy to get complacent particularly when I eat the same things over and over again. Surely I know what 28…

Leftovers. Keeps me honest at dinner and gives me something delicious to look forward to for lunch.

One of the biggest issues with eating back all the calories burn is that I tend to believe it is common to underestimate calorie consumption and over estimate calorie burn. Over time, that little bit (or in some cases a lot) of error can result in slower weight loss or in weight gain. I personally learned this the hard way…

Half a cupcake. It was delicious but not really needed. But at least I split it.

You are truly an inspiration!!!

Boobs shrink but bra technology is amazing and if you aren't satisfied there is always the plastic surgeon. I went from a 42DD to a 36D. My bosom isn't nearly as perky on its own these days, but since I can pretty much purchase a bra anywhere these days I can find exactly the equipment I want to compensate. ;)

Congratulations! Isn't that a fantastic feeling? Enjoy all your hard work and keep at it!

OMG, that photo is a PERFECT description. My first class was so intimidating because I am not coordinated at all. After a few weeks I realized that most people weren't all that coordinated and whenever a new song was introduced pretty much EVERYONE was flailing around trying to figure it out but no one cared. I absolutely…

Mine was when I was offered an incredible opportunity to spend three weeks in Scotland and France. It was a once in a lifetime trip but I was immediately overwhelmed with anxiety: plane seats, tour bus seats, walking/climbing/hiking everywhere, PHOTOS. I wanted to enjoy this trip to the fullest and I realized that even…

I am 5'8", 32, female. My goal is 155 but as I get closer, I think I will reassess and adjust. When I was a teenager, anything under 150 just made me look ill. As an active adult, I am finding that at 200 lbs I am actually slimmer than I was at 180 lbs 10+ years ago. So I am targeting 155 but we'll see how that works for…

Grilled cheese. It is just wonderful no matter how crappy I feel.

It won't always be easy, but you can do this. I set out to lose 130 lbs in January of 2011. I was 285 lbs, 5'8" and I realized that as much as I am driven to live life to the fullest I wasn't able to. At first it was tough. It wasn't simply reducing calories but learning how to eat and even why I eat. Though I was very…

I know it is really tough to do this with a budget, but take the time to go to a running store in your area and get fitted for a good pair of shoes. By running store I do not mean a big box store or department store. Of all things when starting C25K, do NOT skimp on the shoes. Not every shoe works for every person. An ill…

I had very limited cooking abilities I decided to reduce processed foods. Very limited. Very very limited. Cooking shows, great recipe books, a father and husband who are both fantastic chefs, and the internet really enabled me to get this whole cooking thing. I realized I could actually cook when I looked a recipe calling…

I was a hard core Coke drinker. It was scary how many calories I consumed from soda alone. I stopped drinking it and first replaced it with Crystal Light because I wanted flavor then it was on to just plain water which I now love. Overtime I realized I would drink practically anything you put on my desk whether it was…

This is a long one. I apologize in advance. :) What works for me at 1,200 calories or 1,900 calories: High protein, high fiber, whole foods. I choose to make my own hummus, salsa, pesto, beans (chickpeas, black beans, etc – think beans typically purchased in cans), tomato based sauces and the like-either as needed or in…

I am going to second (or third or fourth or fifth) everything in moderation. Bananas are GOOD. I toss one in a smoothie for flavor, texture and goodness. I enjoy them after a good hard run. And when I have a low blood sugar crash my go to? Banana with peanut butter. Enjoy the banana. Celebrate the banana. In moderation of…

1997 and weighed 155 at 5'8" tall. I am currently 209, down from 285 in January 2011. I am working on losing an additional 40 lbs, though I honestly only expect or hope (depending on what day it is LOL!) to lose 20 lbs in 2012. My body composition has changed a lot so I actually can fit quite comfortably in clothes from my…

You look amazing!!!