anfmusicgrl Member

I had success with just a normal diet. The main thing I did cut though was artificial sugars... sodas, drinks, etc. My carb intake was and is a little lower only bc to have more filling meals and still stay within my calories, I tend to opt for more proteins or fats. Or, if I want seconds I go for meat, etc. I lost 140+…

I didn't always eat them back when losing..but now at -108 lbs, obviously my calorie budget for a deficit is smaller than when I began. I work out HARD, I put in everything, every single time, and I also lift hard. Some days I find myself sooo hungry, and I listen to my body. I eat back calories until my body feels…

I have had PCOS since my young teens, and I have lost over 100 lbs, and gone from a size 24 to a 12. It CAN be done. But unlike the doctors told me, it has not gone away with weight loss. That's ok, though. I know I am living such a healthier lifestyle. I have a lot of the unwanted symptoms and side effects unfortunately.…

I'm very sorry to heard about your pappa. Take care of yourself. If you can't exercise, just try and do simple things like keep drinking water instead of other crap, make healthier choices on your meals. Just do what you can. I keep my phone on my at all times. Even when exercising I keep it within an arms reach in case of…

Just keep persisting. Make sure you are eating enough food. Increase your weight training. Change up your cardio...do some higher intensity stuff, and even a little lower intensity stuff. Eat more "clean" for a few days. Increase your water intake. All of this will usually jump start my losses again if they seem to be…

I get it sometimes. My Dr. told me it can happen, especially after strenuous exercise due to the effect exercise has on the blood vessels. When they dilate this can also occur in the skull, thus resulting in a headache. So, if you are not losing too much water, or things along that nature, it could just be a side effect of…

Thanks guys so, so much!! I was surprised to see this thread from March re-awaken, but it's a great time I guess to post my updates!!! I am as of today -89 lbs!!! Just over 3 lbs from ONE-DER-FREAKING-LAND!!!!! I am going to celebrate this weekend by treating myself to a trip to the amusement park and NOT having to worry…

Calorie Counting works good for me. However, the largest changes definitely happened when steering away from the refined carbs, sodas, artificial sweetners, etc. I do take Metformin, but have for 2 years. I did not lose weight from taking it alone. I DO lose weight from exercise, eating a more balanced diet, and watching…

That is an amazing achievement! Not only do you look great, but I'm sure the benefits of being healthy instead of obese will pay off for years to come! What a way to change your life! Simply inspiring!

I feed my dogs - Wellness Core; Blue Buffalo; and regular Wellness. I supplement with some of the refrigerated raw organic dog foods, and canned Wellness & Blue Buffalo. I have 3 smaller dogs (schnoodle, chinese crested powder puff, and yorkie poo). They all 3 had skin allergies, etc. I thought I was using good foods when…

I don't consider anything "cheating" because the only thing I'd be cheating is myself. If I really want something, I have it...but I never go over my maintenance calories...and most usually that indulgence fits into my calorie deficit allotment. I mix up my meals, eat when I'm hungry, and do lots of other things...so I…

I'm not a big fan of eating them all back, I've found it does not work for me. However...what you might want to do is just go day by day. If you are really hungry one day, eat 60% of them back. If you have eaten, and are not hungry, then don't eat them back that day. If you are not using a HRM, and going by MFP or machine…

You look awesome! That had to of taken a lot of hard work and dedication!! You are amazing!

This is awesome! Last week on vacation, while still staying under my TDEE, I allowed myself more calories (above BMR more than usual); and to my surprise, I lost 5.5 lbs over 3 days. I had expected to see a small increase in weight just due to the actual weight of the food increase...but, it was a pleasant surprise! Proof…

PCOS definitely presents a lot of obstacles in weight loss. However, eating back exercise calories tends to be a person to person thing, not really specific to pcos. As far as the carbs go...I don't eat "low carb". I do watch my sugar somewhat (although I eat a LOT of fruit), and I stay away from artificial sweetners. I…

First thing is give your skin time. I've lost 66 so far, and every 20 or so lbs I would think, omg look at this extra skin!! But, it's not any worse at -66 lbs than it was at -25 lbs. My skin is shrinking at it's own pace, slowly...so, just be patient. I've heard the "2 yr" time frame around a lot. Meaning, that is the…

Wow..thank you everyone for your support and encouraging words! I was so surprised when I was able to check on here today. It means so much. I look on success stories all the time for motivation, and I'm really happy that I am able to help motivate others with my own story & results. I look forward to when I can post my…

Great job!! PCOS definitely provides it's obstacles in weight loss, but it is still possible! You look great!

You look wonderful!! Great job and congratulations!!!

It is most definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Every day, you gotta truck through it and own it. Eventually, with persitence, and consistency, the hard work WILL pay off. Even with PCOS. I had gotten to points of where I'd read the doom and gloom about how PCOS affects our bodies, and was almost ready to just give in and…

Eating: I cycle my calories throughout the week. Basically, just depending on what my body says. I never, ever, eat less than 1200 calories; and most days I eat my BMR (which is estimated at around 1780). I do not eat my exercise calories back all the time, I eat 25-60% of them back if I am hungry that day. It really just…

I'd add 200-300, and stay there for a few days, then increase it up to the 1800 level. Only reason I say this is, it might keep you from the "shock" of a lb or 2 temporary increase on the scale. This usually happens on my "spike" days where I eat at maintenance, just because of the actual weight of the food being more on…

Eat and enjoy! Seriously though, the other day I was very worried about my mom's surprise b-day party at an authentic italian restaurant where I'm from. I ate pretty light that day, to leave room for excess calories, ate delicious food, had a piece of her cake, and had a great time! I drank water instead of soda; I chose…

IDK...but if they are doing okay achieving whatever goals it is they are aiming for, unless they are asking for advice...live and let live? Or..maybe they are monitoring it...and that is an improvement from their prior choices? Some people track their sodium, and revolve their lives around that, or some track their sugar,…

I wouldn't worry about that. Working out 2 days in a row isn't bad for you. (Unless your body really just needs rest/repair) Your general goal is weight loss/improving how you look, right? Working out will get you there. Any water retention, etc. that keeps the scale at a stand still eventually will go away! Drinking water…

Well....this happens to me frequently, but what these "short periods" all have in common is: the week before the big losses I had only seen like a .2 loss; and the week after was a stand still... What I believe happens (because I see this happen with me pretty often) is that I am losing fat over the course of two weeks…

YEP. I am down to the tail end of my clothes left that fit (well pants mainly, shirts last long) and the smallest ones are very baggy....I KNOW I aboslutely need to get some pants to hold me over for a while, because not only do they look sloppy for work, it doesn't show off my hard work! BUT I have this fear that if I go,…

I started my weight loss by changing the quality of food I ate, cutting out sodas & artificial sweetners/sugars, and cutting back on portions. So, yes.... HOWEVER, Out of the 58 lbs I've lost, 37 were before I began working out. 21 have been since. I notice 100x more difference in inches shrinking, firming up, and just…

Some of my favorites for when I really need something to pump me up and zone me in to working hard are the following: (A few different types of music, bc I like variety, but all of them have lyrics, etc that inspire me...) A little rock, rap, pop, and dance. Muse - Butterflies & Hurricanes "Don't let yourself down Don't…

My heart rate is similar...not 3-4 minutes into most workouts and my heart rate is at the very least up to 170, lol. I thought it would change as time has went on..but 9 weeks later, and with increasing workouts, or even at the same, it still does this. Often during my cardio it will be hovering around 186. I did have an…