jehavin Member

I do agree with this but have to say that the best thing that has helped my core is moderate heavy deadlifts/squats (I would say the sweet spot is about 10-15 reps) and OHPs. When you are struggling to get that weight up, your abs are experiencing hypertrophy (growth through tearing due to overload) AND you're hitting…

I am going to friend you and beg you to lay out a step by step plan for me----I've hit a lot of my own goals but now I have AB ENVY!

P.S. I lift out of my own house. I got on craigslist, bought a barbell and plates, bought some Reebok adjustable dumbbells (don't recommend those, mine just broke, damnit!!!!) and watched youtube videos to learn form, checked by 1 session with a personal trainer. I also bought a spin bike off of craigslist (for…

Thank you! I guess I should clarify that I am on keto now (in my 7th week of a 12 week cycle) but I did NOT lose all 50 lbs through keto or any other method except calorie deficit. In the last 2 years, I have done the following to lose the weight: -I started like everyone else on MFP's recommended 1200 calories (I ate…

Thanks again, all! I do lift 2-3 times a week with compound lifts to failure and I am very happy with the progress! I definitely say lifting is what made the biggest difference for me, especially when it came to slimming my arms/legs =) I am just overwhelmed by all the compliments and I truly look forward to…

Thank you all again----so glad to be able to inspire others when I had a lot of trouble inspiring myself at times! In regard to the tummy, I did post a pic on the other thread so I guess I should be brave here, too. =) I'm not to my six pack yet, lol, but this is the difference between about 2 years, pregnancy with baby…

Thank you ALL! I had to muster up a lot of courage to post this story but I'm glad I did b/c so many of you have requested to be friends =) I did have one more pic, perhaps the most important one, which is how much my legs changed. I had always had HUGE tree trunks that seemed to get even bigger (more muscular under all…

I totally agree with your advice! I saw the greatest fat loss in my stomach when I got my diet on lockdown during this last cut. The first half I did mod carb/lowfat/high protein and the second half I did high fat/low carb/mod protein.. I had success with both sets of macros as long as I had the 20%deficit tight and the…

I am now a success story AND I now have pics! 5'5,5 Before: 178lbs, size 12/14, measurements 38-34-42? After: 127lbs, size 2/4, measurements 36-25.5-35.5

I used the tutorial at the top of the success stories list =) I had to create a photobucket acct but the rest was easy peasy! =)

Great progress!!!! You will be where you want in no time, but, yes, the stretch marks and minimal loose skin will follow =/ Focus on lifting, which will tone your arms and legs and your belly will tone itself up with them! I can't tell you how much stronger my core feels just b/c I can now *lift* heavy everyday items…

P.S.S. I did do the unthinkable (!) and posted pics of my tummy transformation---not where I want to be yet b/c I'm still nursing so my love handles are holding on for dear life!---on the "mummy tummy" thread if any of you are interested in what 50lb difference looks like under the shirt, lol. =) Thank you all so much for…

Yup! Got it for Christmas and love it! Try to hit 8,000-10,000 a day (I clip it on my sock for my ride on the spin bike 5 days a week) and, I'll tell you that my house has been way CLEANER and more organized----I run the laundry upstairs in a dozen batches and tell my husband to take a break b/c "I'm trying to get my steps…

I'm not to my six pack yet, lol, but this is the difference between about 2 years, pregnancy with baby #5, 48lbs, heavy lifting, cardio 4-5 times a week and staying in a calorie deficit =) I'm still nursing a 10 month old, so hopefully the part around my lower tattoo will whittle more when I am done. I will obviously never…

I have similar stats. Went from a 36-34-41 to a 34-25.5-35. I cycle a lot, do compound lifts (deadlifts, squats, etc) and, honestly, the thing that helped me lose inches in the butt, hip, thigh area the most was cutting calories to about a 300-400 deficit per day. Good luck, you CAN fight nature, lol!

Wow, no "if it fits your macros" attacks with pictures of donuts yet? Surprised! I searched for this topic b/c I just finished my first week of "experimenting with keto" (read: trying it out to the T to see what all the fuss was about) and I think I'll keep on for another month or so, maybe longer if I feel it's still…

Good advice/explanation! mmmm......chocolate, butter and powdered sugar---I had that last night in the form of "puppy chow!" (but made sure to get my fruits/veggies in earlier in the day!

Luckily my eyes don't control my fingers to type responses, especially those which are unhelpful to someone asking for help/advice.

I have no idea what the second poster talking about, lol. Way to NOT be helpful, even if you are "joking." From the few days I looked at, your carb goal is a little high and your protein goal is a lotta low. The lowest amt of protein I will go is 70g and I am only a hundred calories above where you are. Most days I aim for…

I'll throw my stats in just to fill in the middle of the curve: 5'5 Mom of 5 kids in 8 years, 8 months postpartum right now SW: 170lbs (around 2 years---and 1 pregnancy---ago) CW: 135 (just hit it today, whoo hoo!) UGW: 125-130 (to give me wiggle room for glycogen rebound and menstrual fluctuation) My measurements are…

I think I need to reemphasize that, to me, (and the OP I assumed based on his post) a cheat day is maintenance calories or a little above. I think you are referencing an unplanned binge, where one has no control, which is indeed a misuse of a true cheat day and would definitely be a bad mentality. A maintenance cheat day…

QFT. Thank you for answering the OP's question in a logical manner instead of making him feel like he just needs more "willpower" the day after.

I see your point that one should realize that one of the consequences of having a cheat day is an increased appetite---a side effect of your body's metabolism increasing, which can aid against plateaus----along with a temporary water weight gain from carbs. Then the person can decide if those things are worth the physical…

Let's get away from all the emotional/shaming/"mindset/lifestyle" comments and get logical. Do the math. Noone who is against cheat days on this thread has provided a reason why it is harmful for a person to be at a calorie deficit 6 days of the week and then reset to maintenance or a little above one day a week. If those…

Cheat days mean different things to different people. A mental cheat day can be INVALUABLE for long term weight loss/maitenance. I have been watching my weight/tracking for almost 2 years on this site and if I didn't have a weekly break from logging, while allowing myself to the chance to splurge on normally restricted…

Thanks. You're right about it not affecting the day after. I think what I'm coming to understand is that I wasn't doing a true refeed/cheat day, just upping my exercise to still stay in a deficit despite eating way more calories. I will try a true refeed (around 2000 calories (which is 150cal more than maintenance) this…

This makes sense! I was wondering why I was STARVING the day after a refeed!

Like I said, I'm not 100% sure that I'm doing a refeed correctly, but what struck me about your post is the word "normally," which, in my case makes me think of how I used to eat so carb heavy and protein low. That's why I try to plan my protein on my refeed days (especially fatty protein that normally wouldn't fit my…

So, if I did a refeed day on Thursdays, (essentially carb loading) and took my ride on Fridays, with a 900 cal expenditure, would you skip eating the exercise calories back since I just chowed down heavy the day before or meet somewhere in the middle and eat half the cals back?

Great link, thanks!!!!