suaku

I love Chipotle (salad, no dressing, chicken, black beans, hot sauce and mild sauce, and a side of guacamole), but Panera Bread has a new secret low-cal menu that may be available at your store. Here's the link from my blog: http://www.cuttingmeinhalf.com/2013/02/panera-breads-introduces-low-calorie.html

3 servings Eggbeaters Southwestern Style (or generic equivalent), 1 oz Kraft Fat-Free Shredded Cheddar, 1 Tbsp of my favorite salsa -- microwave for 90 seconds, stir and microwave for another 90 seconds until done. While that's going, heat up a large La Tortilla Factory Lo Carb/High Fiber Tortilla in the toaster oven, wrap…

Salad with dressing on the side (which I never use because the salsa provides more than enough flavor), chicken, black beans, one scoop mild salsa, one scoop extra hot salsa, 1/2 container of guacamole (split with my wife). If I have the calories, I may add a second scoop of chicken or the whole guacamole.

Jon, Congrats on finding MFP -- I, too was a big guy with portion control issues and it's really helped. I made good progress eating about 1200 calories for a month and then plateaued -- went to a nutritionist who advised me to eat close to my resting metabolic rate (1700-1800 calories). Eating more to lose weight seemed…

Turned 50 last year and dropped 140+ pounds through nothing more complicated than more exercise, smaller portions, and the help of MyFitnessPal. And you're right that attitude makes a big difference. Went to two reunions this past year and some people looked 10+ years younger than their actual age while some others looked…

250 calories per day is about 25 pounds per year, so I would definitely count them. That being said, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables isn't a bad thing for the reasons mentioned by others. The only problem I could see is that if you're eating a very limited calorie count, eating 250 calories of fruits/vegetables means…

Kind of. You'll probably find that most of your weight loss will be due to reducing your calorie intake, not exercise (in my case, and I exercised a lot, it was 2/3 diet, 1/3 exercise). But, yes, you can do a ton just walking -- especially if you're more overweight. When I was over 300#, I could burn a LOT of calories just…

Good that you want to lose weight, good that you want to eat healthfully, good that you want to exercise more. The calorie variations seem overly complicated. I avoided "cheat" days, but that was my choice. Instead, I ate whatever I wanted on any day, but managed my portion sizes and meals to hit my daily/weekly calorie…

Costco has some listed for under $1,000. I don't have any experience with those treadmills, but Costco's liberal return policies (if you don't like it, you can return it without too much hassle other than repackaging) may make it worth a try.

bump for future reading

I know the feelings you're experiencing -- I'm down nearly 130 pounds since the beginning of February. The other day, I was trying on a new sportscoat and when I felt the front, it seemed like it had a hard plastic insert in it. I couldn't figure out why someone would put such a thing in the material of a sportscoat --…

I guess I'm just a purist -- I mix PB2 with low-cal jelly for a low-cal PB2&J sandwich (on Dave's Killer 65 bread). YUM!

I plateaued eating too few calories, and when I kicked my daily allowance up another 200-300 calories per day (your numbers may vary), I haven't plateaued since. Also, I've been successful eating everything (even bad things in small amounts), so I don't get cravings that will lead to bingeing when they build up.

I eat before and after workouts (more carbs before, more protein after), and the rest of the day, I eat when I'm hungry. And I probably eat most of my calories late in the day, but haven't had any trouble losing weight.

I use the Polar FT-60 -- bought it from Amazon at a good price. In addition to the usual heart rate tracking, it can also measure a proxy for your VO2 so you get more accurate calorie burn numbers than are shown on gym machines. It also manages multiple heart rate zones and can set up workout goals for you and allow you to…

I'm with the people who urge you to have a little (and like the person who suggested getting them only to give you half a bag). You can't permanently deprive yourself -- you need to find a lifestyle that works for you for the rest of your life. That includes indulgences in moderate amounts (and adjusting your other calorie…

I eat the tofu shirataki noodles pretty often and think they'd go fine with spaghetti sauce. One important note is that you need to rinse them *thoroughly* before using to get rid of their odd characteristic taste/aroma. I throw the noodles into a colander and rinse the bejeezus out of them under the sink. At that point, I…

Polar FT60 (does workout schedules and calculates proxy for VO2max) $127.48 (Amazon.com) No GPS (I use treadmill and elliptical only, so don't need it). I'm happy with the purchase.

I agree with other posters who have advised NOT to hold on to the handlebars when walking at an incline. If you need to hold on, you're going to fast or at too high of an incline or both. With practice, you'll even be able to walk at a 15% incline without holding on to anything. :)

Absolutely! If your doctor has cleared you for 3.5mph and 7% incline, you should be able to make a lot of progress. Treadmill with incline (similar settings) along with a normal diet (eat everything but follow MyFitnessPal calorie/nutrition targets) has allowed me to lose 100 pounds in the last six months. I try to do…

I've lost 100+ pounds. It's not easy, but it's pretty simple for most. Move more, eat fewer calories. That being said, here are things that have worked for me. 1. Don't "diet" -- eat in as normal a way as possible, but eat fewer calories. That's smaller portions and/or better choices and/or eating splurge foods less…

Keep at it! I just turned 50, and I've managed to lose over 100 pounds in six months just by exercising more (walking on an inclined treadmill, elliptical, and weights) and eating fewer calories (normal foods including eating out, pizza, etc. -- just smaller quantities and smarter choices). You can do it if it's important…

I'd say no. I started out at ~300 and have dropped almost 80 lbs, and my biggest fear from the start was that I would derail my exercise program with injury (and end up worse than when I started). Fortunately, I've avoided running and stuck to walking (at an incline to increase calorie burn) and been very pleased with the…

My drink of choice is Coors Light (102 calories/12 oz.). Mixer caution: soda water has 0 calories, but tonic water (as in "gin and tonic") has about 80 calories/8 oz! But, Schweppes and others *do* make zero-calorie diet tonic water, but almost no bars will have it. Mixer caution #2: avoid drinks with cranberry juice -- it…

I've given up nothing -- I just eat less. For me, it's all about sustainable lifestyle choices, so deprivation can't work for me indefinitely.

I use the USDA onine nutrient database (http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/list) They list about 20 different Pork Loin numbers depending on whether it's raw or how it's cooked (roasted, braised, etc.). Hope this helps.

My trainer wants me to take more days off, but I've exercised 110 of the last 111 days. Yes, some more intense than others, but at least one hour per day. I feel good, and for me making exercise a habit is really important. If I skip a day, it's too easy to then skip two and so on, so I keep at it. But, everyone differs.

We have a bread out here in the Northwest called Dave's Killer Bread. They have 65 and 75 calorie versions, both are delicious and high in fiber. I also use a lot of La Tortilla Factory - Low Carb / High Fiber Whole Wheat Tortillas -- their large tortillas are only 80 calories and have 8 grams of protein and 12 grams of…

Eggbeaters Southwestern style: 5 calories per gram of protein (20 cals/"egg") Kraft Fat-Free Shredded Cheddar: 5 calories per gram of protein (45 cals/oz.) I put 2.5 servings of Southwestern Eggbeaters with 1 oz. of Kraft Fat-Free Shredded Cheddar in a small microwavable bowl, cook for 150 seconds (stirring halfway), add 1…

I second the comments on sticking with white rice instead of brown rice unless you prefer brown (calorically, you gain virtually nothing by switching). Starting off with octopus (tako) sunomono, a traditional Japanese salad served with seaweed, cucumber, and rice wine vinegar, can keep you from filling up on higher-calorie…