angrykitty13 Member

I've had excellent luck with Under Armour and Old Navy. Bonus: some of Under Armour's pants come in lengths (short, regular, tall) for an affordable price.

I do a cardio boxing class that uses heavy bags and a mixture of full body exercises regularly. I also do an interval class that uses kettlebells, free weights, and such, plus workout alone with the same equipment. When I was younger I used to spar/train more seriously (versus just for fitness)

You should consider looking for an interval-style class. Many gyms have them. Some use free weights, other focus on exercises with only body weight. It can be a great way to learn some strength training basics and exercises. Plus its fun provided the instructor is a good fit for you.

Someone else suggested walking at work, which is the same thing I was going to say. You don't have to see exercise as being something major. For your first step, maybe just try getting yourself moving for twenty minutes. Over time you can add simple exercises to your walking (ab exercises, Yoga videos on Youtube, etc).…

My go-to smoothie: Frozen Kale Frozen Mango Banana Almond Milk Hemp protein powder Sometimes I'll add almond or cashew butter and leave out the protein powder.

How's your first week been, OP? One note: I'd definitely try to get some medical assistance, as in check in with your doctor and maybe see a nutritionist. If you're given the clear to work out, maybe see if there's a trainer who can help you get started on basic, appropriate exercises for you. Also, remember: perseverance.…

The Fiona is also my favorite sports bra and I agree--it looks terrible with racerback shirts. Try Moving Comfort's Juno or Shock Absorber's Ultimate-Run Sports Bra #5044. Between the two, I prefer Shock Absorber's due to fit but it's pricey. It comes in an F and G (FF and G are frequently the same size).

Try brewing your tea for less time. If I remember correctly, green tea is generally supposed to be brewed 1-2 minutes and black tea is 3-4. (At least according to the loose leaf tea brand I frequently buy.) Maybe try an "English Afternoon" black tea (Twinings has one). It's lighter than English Breakfast. It's possible…

If end up in a store that carries Enell sports bras, check it out. When I worked in a sporting goods store I would have recommended it to you as a 36J. I'm glad Freya works for you! I wonder if people who told you to size up expect their sports bra bands to fit like regular bras. You actually want your sports bra band…

Someone mentioned the store Bounce, which is owned by Title Nine. Title Nine started out selling sports bras, and if you have one near you, go in for a fitting. They're great! Enell makes great sports bras for *every* size. You won't need more than one bra and everything will be supported. You'll also feel like you're…

I'm not worried about you dangerously under-eating on 1400-1800 unless you're super active. Keep an eye on yourself, including how you feel, and just be aware. And good luck. :)

Be careful--and cautious--about losing too fast. I can link to some articles for you if you'd like, but there are very serious health reasons to strive for a 1-2 pound weight loss per week. Please know I'm saying this out of concerns for your health and not to be a downer.

Wild Friends makes some great peanut butters although I usually go with an all-natural salted peanut butter (like Adams or I'll fresh grind one at the grocery store). I can always add honey to the PB if I want it sweet, and there are a lot less ingredients than something like Skippy. Justin's chocolate-almond butter is a…

I had a Graze subscription for a while but canceled. I thought it was expensive for what it is, and struggled to get snacks I liked. Seemed like everything was frequently too sweet, or full of raisins. I quit eating them and the snacks piled up on my counter, so I canceled. I'd rather eat more homemade, real food. But if…

I'd be hesitant to drink two shakes a day, but that's because I love the taste of real food. I make smoothies somewhat regularly (almond milk, frozen kale, fruit, hemp protein powder) before I box 1-2 days a week because I need to eat something before working out. Are you drinking two shakes a day because you otherwise…

Cashews are great. Just keep in mind everything you're eating. If you've been downing nuts all day, then you probably want to back away from the cashews and eat something else. But if you're asking if cashews can be part of a healthy diet: yes.

If you're consuming lots of fruits and vegetables but no meats, what are you eating for protein? Like everyone else has said--you're not eating enough at less than 1000 calories/day. Don't starve yourself, girl. Also, your weight for 5'3" isn't outlandish. Have you gotten your body fat tested? You might be at a very…

I agree--look into Enell. They will even custom make a bra for you if you're a unique size. Shock Absorber is great too--but Enell will probably be the best investment for you. I love Moving Comfort and wear the Fiona--but their largest size is a DD. When I worked in the sports bra world, Enell is really the one bra that…

I know a bariatric surgeon, and she insists her patients receive counseling (nutritional and psychological) before she'll do the surgery. Some patients will initially be successful, but then they'll gain weight in the long run because the surgery didn't fix what was really wrong. A friend did weight loss surgery, and went…

When I have dessert, I measure it out and then put it out of sight. I also avoid the foods I know are big triggers. I've had some hazelnut and caramel truffles in my cupboard for two weeks and haven't had many. If I bought my favorite salted peanut milk chocolate bark, I'd eat it one sitting. So I don't buy it. A lot of…

Two ideas: One. Try consuming something (like a protein shake) before working out. Just make sure it's light. Also--make sure you're hydrated, so drink a big glass of water when you wake up and before exercising. Two. Change your workout time. There's no way I could work out super early--I'm tired, clumsy, and miserable…

For fun -- Chris Clark trains on a treadmill for part of the year since she doesn't really have the option to run outside in Alaska during the winter. This didn't stop her from making the Sydney Olympics: http://www.runnersworld.com/workouts/how-chris-clark-broke-through http://juneauempire.com/stories/091300/Spo_Run.html

Remember to take all of this one step at a time. Make small changes, and healthy choices. It'll balance out. Do things that make you feel healthier and the rewards will stay with you and make it easier when you make further changes. Play around with, say, roasting vegetables and meat for dinner. Those can be very healthy…

I'm also part of the natural, limited ingredients peanut butter crowd. Recently I've bought either Trader Joe's or Whole Foods peanut butter. Adams is good too. I need to get a food processor so I can make my own. Jif, Skippy, etc, taste terrible to me--too sweet. Once you get used to the all-natural peanut butter the ones…

Maybe try some recipe from sites like Allrecipe (http://allrecipes.com/recipes/world-cuisine/india/) or more specialized sites and experiment with Thai, Indian, etc cuisines? When you find foods you like, then look for a cookbook that covers that type of cuisine? As much as I love cookbooks, I find myself using the…

Bad meals happen. Dust yourself off, and refocus. Losing weight is a long-term process. While individual meals add up, the occasional unhealthy meal, even day, isn't going to sabotage your entire weight loss. So give yourself some slack, eat a healthy dinner, and have an awesome food day tomorrow. :)

JRoss--how do you feel on this diet? Do you have energy? Do you get headaches, etc? Like everyone else, I suspect you're not eating enough. Have you thought about adding some fruit and vegetables? Yogurt? You need to give your body enough fuel so it doesn't go into starvation mode.

If you're struggling to workout because of your knee, talk with your PT and get some exercises/insight into the best workouts for you. For me, cycling was great after I hurt my knee, but that doesn't mean going to spin will work for you because you could have an entirely different type of knee injury. Plus s/he can give…

Enell custom makes sports bras if you're having trouble finding one. They are pretty amazing. Slightly corset like, but they will hold everything still. Shock Absorber has some great bras for bigger sizes. (If you search "shock absorber" on Amazon you will see some results. I like their run bra.) I second the Fiona for…

Does your university have fitness classes? Like a beginning weight lifting class, boot camp, etc? Maybe sign up for one of those and 1) get some great workouts in and 2) talk to the instructors about how you can set up your own workout schedule. i did a boot camp class at a local community college a few years ago, and it…