soxygirl

This website already sets you at a calorie deficit before you count exercise. For example, my BMI is 1800, so to reach my weight loss goals it set me at a 1200 calorie/day diet. When I exercise, it adds back in the calories so that my NET is still 1200/day. Any less than that and my body is not retaining what it needs to…

Happy Birthday! What a great gift to yourself!

Anything and everything by Christopher Moore -- he's brilliant. I am in the middle of Dirty Job right now. If you like a bit of sarcastic, twisted humor with relevant brilliance and a touch of a soft side, he delivers for sure.

technically, muscle and fat weigh the same (a pound of muscle and a pound of fat both weigh, um, a pound). But muscle is more dense than fat and therefore takes up less space. If your weight isn't changing, it just means you are replacing fat with muscle, which makes you smaller but not weight less. Eventually, the newly…

Push ups! Google the 100 push-up challenge and give it a try . . . It's a program that helps you work your way toward doing 100 push-ups in a row. Don't be intimidated by it just because it says you'll complete it in 6 weeks -- It's the journey, not the destination. I'm on week 4 but I did week 3 twice before I proceeded…

Well, I only lost .3 lbs this week, but I did lose 1/2 inch around the waist and 1 1/2 inches around the hips, so that's something! I have been strict on the diet, exercise, and water, too -- I logged 370 cardio minutes this week and have had 90+ ounces of water daily. I think I've hit a bit of a plateau since I don't have…

That's fantastic -- Congrats and keep it up! ;)

Well, I only lost .3 lbs this week, but I did lose 1/2 inch around the waist and 1 1/2 inches around the hips, so that's something! I have been strict on the diet, exercise, and water, too -- I logged 370 cardio minutes this week and have had 90+ ounces of water daily. I think I've hit a bit of a plateau since I don't have…

This week went by so fast! Weigh-in time tomorrow already - YIKES! I didn't lose last week, so I am hoping to see a few less pounds when I get on the scale tomorrow morning . . . . I've done great with cardio and water this week . . . thanks to all for helping to keep me motivated! Good luck with the last day of week 2!!!!

I have the Polar F6, and I love it . . . it's the only one I've used so I can't compare to the others, but I know a lot of people with either the F6 or the F4 from Polar, and all have had great feedback.

Hi there! A Heart Rate Monitor is used to measure your heart rate during exercise, which in turn calculates your caloric burn during the activity. It logs your resting heart rate and calculates your target activity heart rate for you, so that you know where to be to get the most out of your work out. It has a chest strap…

Yoga, too! People ask me about my abs and back muscles all the time, assuming I do a lot of weights, etc, but I don't -- I just practice yoga 4-5 times per week. It is great for overall toning, and especially for those core muscles.

Have you tried Zumba? If you have a gym or studio locally that offers cardio/fitness classes, look into this . . . it's so much fun!

My most common choices are: Egg whites scrambled with veggies and/or low fat cheese (if I am going to work out after breakfast but before lunch I'll put the above in a whole wheat tortilla or on a Fiber One english muffin) Cheerios with fresh fruit Luna Bar

Loreal Self-Bronzing Towelettes are AWESOME! I bought them for a wedding last year and swear by them now. They are little individually wrapped towels that have the lotion in them . . . you just rub it where you want the tan and VOILA! It looks very real and doesn't streak or anything.

I can't wait! I'm a Mike fan, too -- he's such a great kid! But unfortunately I think Tara is the frontrunner -- she is such a machine! I love watching the final transformation. It's always so incredible!

Hi there, A Heart Rate Monitor is used to measure your heart rate during exercise, which in turn calculates your caloric burn during the activity. It logs your resting heart rate and calculates your target activity heart rate for you, so that you know where to be to get the most out of your work out. It has a chest strap…

Bumping -- I want to save this recipe! Great substitute for B-day cakes! Can't wait to try it . . .

I do not like the Jillian Michaels Wii game . . . haven't used Slim 6 so can't compare, but My Fitness Coach for Wii is WAY better than the JM one, in my opinion!

The F6 is the only one I've used -- I paid $98 for it, but you may be able to get it for cheaper if you google it. The Polar F4 is supposed to be good, too -- a few of my friends have that one and they like it, and it's slightly cheaper than the F6. Outside of the Polar ones, I have no experience, but I have heard others…

Yes, heart rate monitors calculate this for you -- I suggest investing in one if you can -- totally worth it! ;) I have the Polar F6 but there are a ton of different ones on the market. Otherwise you have to guesstimate using your stats and estimates provided on MFP or elsewhere on the web, and that's far less accurate (in…

Yes, but above that in the manual it says "Find your Own Zone in 1-5 minutes . . . " it doesn't take the full 5 minutes for everyone to determine the right zone. Were you staying within the heart rates it recommended for each minute or were you above/below?

The Own Zone takes 1-5 minutes, so if it stopped after 2 minutes it may have felt like you were working too hard, or not hard enough, and set your target accordingly. You should have the opportunity to set the own zone everytime you reset and select exercise.

I walk 5 miles a day, 6 days a week, and I burn around 850 calories according to my HRM-- but I am walking at a very brisk pace. On the days that I also add in Wii cardio, I can burn another 200-300 calories, so there are definitely ways to burn 1000 or more in a day. Really depends on how much time you put in and what…

Have you tried buying flavored Seltzer water? Still no cal, and it comes in so many different flavors. I love water, but I still need a variety now and then and I love my flavored seltzer!

MMMM...O'Charleys bread is my kryptonite. I can't step into that place without devouring it!

Do you take an iron supplement? I am anemic always, but during my period I used to barely move. I am on Iron and Fiber supplements, and I have to drink a ton more water during my period. I also eat broccoli and spinach like its going out of style. Yoga can be fantastic for your cycle, and I also find walking to be great…

Hi there, How long will your doctor have you on it? Here in the US Orlistat is available by prescription as Xenical, or over-the-counter as Alli. I have heard a lot of conflicting information about the success of Alli (never heard of anyone personally on the prescription version). There are a lot of published negative side…

Hi there, I am not a professional counselor, but as a professional ballerina in my younger days I was around a lot of girls with eating disorders, and I learned a lot from them. I used that experience to become a peer counselor for women struggling with health, sex, and body image issues while I was in college. So…

Beautiful and sunny here in Boston, MA!