Pendragn

I'm a writer who often has to work into the wee hours, so my pen is usually drag'n!

The most important aspect of the P90X nutrition is maintaining the proper protein/carb/fat ratios. At the beginning, you want to be at about 50% protein, 30% carbs, 20% fat. After a few weeks, you'll notice that you're increasing the intensity of your workouts, and you'll want to increase your carbs to give you more energy…

Even those who gained weight the old-fashioned way, by overeating and leading a sedentary lifestyle, probably got that way by eating a lot of bad foods. It's very easy to consume massive calories if you're eating junk food and fast food -- lots of bad fats, empty carbs, and sodium. If you're eating "clean" (no white flour,…

What everyone else said about potassium. I was getting a lot of cramps and had constant muscle aches after working out. My martial arts instructor encouraged me to start eating a banana every day. Apparently, the potassium helps release the lactic acid that builds up in your muscles after intense physical activity. Since I…

I drink a protein shake with a banana almost every morning after my workout. I've tried a few brands of protein, and my favorite is the GNC Wheybolic 60.

Synthroid (levothyroxin) is awful for weight loss. I lost 80 pounds earlier this year and was making great progress, but as soon as my doctor put me on synthroid, my loss came to a crashing halt. I also got a persistent headache (we're talking 2 months) and dizzy spells that came with increasing frequency until it was a…

I put a scoop of whey protein powder in my oatmeal. Adds a bit of flavor without having to add sugar or other sweetener. It also balances out the complex carbs and protein. Occasionally, I vary it up a bit. Sometimes I add a banana and cinnamon. The other day I put in diced apple and dried cranberries.

Bananas are high on the glycemic index, but they're also high in potassium, which can help you recover after a workout. I leave room in my daily calorie allotment for a banana a day. As with most people here, I'm eating clean (no sweets, white rice, white flour, etc.), so the only sugars I'm getting are natural ones in my…

This is why I don't like to eat my exercise calories. There are too many variables (intensity, stopping for a water break, flexibility, weight, etc.) for it to be at all accurate.

I'm currently in Week 4 of P90X. I weighed over 300 pounds when I started. I didn't lose much the first two weeks, but I lost 11 pounds in Week 3, and it seems to be coming off steadily now. There are still things I can't do in P90X -- I'm a long way from doing a pull-up, the yoga kicks my butt, and I'm substituting Cardio…

I used to be very worried about the no eating after 7 "rule" because my taekwondo classes don't generally get out until 8 or 8:30pm. By the time I get home, shower and change clothes, and make it down to the kitchen to cook dinner, it's well after 9. I'm happy to say that eating that late hasn't slowed my progress at all.…

FYI, if you ever need to go on steroids in the future, stick to a gluten-free diet while taking them. This will help prevent the weight gain and puffiness, as well as a lot of the other side effects.