EAlexandraB Member

I did a HARD workout with my trainer and took my dogs for a long walk afterward.

I went from a fairly lanky kid to a heavy pre-teen practically overnight. I literally do not remember when things changed, but by 11 I was about 5'4" (I'm only 5'6" now), and I know that at 13, I was buying size 14 pants. I now wear a size 12, having lost about 40lbs from my highest weight, so I am actually smaller now…

Well THAT can't be right! Where are all the rules about evil food groups? Where are the arbitrary eating cutoff times? Where is the pseudo-science? Which foods are "super" and going to help me magically lose weight? Obviously you don't know what you're talking about. Eating right and exercising...CRAZY TALK! :tongue:

1. Foods have too many calories 2. I don't get to eat enough calories 3. Calories are hard to burn :tongue: In all seriousness, though: 1. Progress is slow, sometimes. 2. Some days, being mindful about eating appropriate portions and wholesome foods is a drag. 3. Concerns about regressing.

I've lost an average 2-year-old! Somehow, for me the take-home message here was that an elephant's penis is heavier than its heart. That seems...wrong (though perhaps not to boy elephants...)

I love many fruits, but I do NOT love melons or citrus. I will only eat bananas if they are still somewhat green or are in something.

I'm pretty good at moderation now, but I am not to be trusted with breakfast cereal. I can easily put away three or four bowls (not servings...bowls) in one sitting. Something about the leftover milk in the bottom of the bowl just taunts me until I add more cereal. :P I also don't keep Ben&Jerry's around, more because the…

Garlic-herb salmon with sautéed spinach!

When I started back to working out in March (had about 2 years off due to major shoulder reconstruction), I was obviously working with fairly light weights. I started doing dead lifts, for example, with a 35lb kettlebell. Once that weight increased to about 100lbs (and weights for other exercises also increased), I was…

I think you look fantastic! Congratulations on your success! The important question is how you FEEL at this weight - is it "you"? Do you feel energetic? Do you think this is a weight you could happily maintain long-term? Are you happy with your appearance now? Perhaps most importantly, if you never try to lose the 35-40…

I totally agree that antidepressants are generally over-prescribed, particularly in the case of normal feelings of sadness, such as grief/mourning. My mother is a physician, and we have discussed this trend on many occasions. However, some people - myself included - just have depression. It's not sadness or failure to cope…

I bring apple slices with peanut butter, grapes, cherries, and carrot "chips" with hummus to work with me. They're pretty easy to munch on while you work.

Wonderful post! The end of toxic relationships (in my case, with several members of my family) were the starting point of my journey to a better, fitter version of myself. Thanks for sharing! This is the best idea EVER. Dear men of MFP, I hereby formally offer to celebrate your successes by objectifying and shamelessly…

In terms of increasing your calories without going over fat/sugar values, I find protein shakes to be very helpful. I buy Syntha-6 powder and add it to 1.5 cups of skim milk. Calorie-dense things like nuts and nut butters can also help. I live in Victoria, so I totally understand the West Coast, active lifestyle mentality…

I add mine to my oatmeal. 1/3 cup oats cooked in 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, then add the scoop of protein just before you eat!

As far as grocery budgeting goes, I've had good success by taking cash out of my bank account every week, and dividing it into enveloped earmarked for groceries, dog food, etc. I put the week's grocery budget in one envelope, and write the week and the starting amount on the front. Then I take it with me to the store, pay…

People who say you hate brussels sprouts: try cooking them by sautéeing in butter and adding garlic, rather than steaming or boiling...makes ALL the difference! I was raised on healthy food, so I don't have any major aversions that I've since gotten over. My problem has always been portion control and mindless/boredom…

For me, the key has been scheduling my workouts ahead of time - as if they are a meeting or a doctor's appointment - and treating them as non-negotiable. Like an appointment or meeting, they can be moved if necessary, but can't be cancelled! :happy: Then it's just about making yourself do it. Remind yourself of your goals,…

If you're currently free-feeding your dog (leaving food out all the time), switch to measuring his food and feeding him only once or twice daily at meal times. Leave the dish down for about 15 minutes, then put it away if he hasn't finished the meal. Leaving food out all the time means the dog gets to decide how much he…

Loving the positivity in this thread! I am another who gained in the midst of childhood abuse issues. However, I take full responsibility for gaining the weight I must now lose. I ate every bite of food. I sat on the couch reading or watching TV when I could have been riding my bike or playing a sport. I made all those…

Adding things like nuts, nut butters, and full-fat dairy products can help you get more calories per dollar you spend on food.

To all out there who are taking antidepressants and feel it's contributed to their weight gain, you should speak to your doctor and ask for a prescription for an antidepressant that is "weight-neutral" (i.e. that will NOT cause weight gain). My Dr is very conscious of not giving me prescriptions that could cause me to…

I use a cleanser with salicylic acid in it to prevent this. Showering immediately after your workout is also helpful!

I'm 5'6", and at my current weight, I have about 120lbs of lean mass. My goal weight is ~145lbs, which would put me at about 18% body fat. To be any smaller than that, I'd have to lose lean mass as well as body fat, which is not what I'm going for. :)

I've been taking Krav Maga for about a year now - my favourite sentiment from the instructor was that the purpose of Krav Maga is to disable your attacker just enough that you can GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE. As a woman living alone in the city, those are the kinds of skills I'm looking for. Also, I'm a law student, so I'm…

I do HIIT exclusively for cardio. Right now, I've been doing my HIIT workouts on a spin bike due to an ankle injury that prevents me from running, but running intervals have also played a role in my routine. I have one "hard" interval workout and one "easy" interval workout (believe me, neither is truly easy - it's a…

I use BSN Syntha-6, Chocolate Milkshake flavour. It's not as low in calories as some, but it has lots of protein and it is DELICIOUS. I have it as a shake made with skim milk or unsweetened chocolate almond milk. I also make oatmeal cooked in unsweetened chocolate almond milk and add half a scoop of protein powder for a…

It certainly hasn't happened quickly for me, but it IS possible. I've now lost 37lbs total (23 since starting MFP), and have just recently bought a pair of size 12 jeans - before I started MFP, I was in denial about the fact that my 14s were too small. It's just a matter of losing until your body MUST take fat from your…

Add one brownie to each of the next 7 days in your food diary, then forget about it. Learn from the experience and move on!

I started a fitness blog because my personal trainer thought we should document things and dispense some no-nonsense advice. :) Here it is: http://gofit-or-gohome.tumblr.com/ Fair warning: if you're the kind of person who likes to make excuses about why you aren't succeeding, this is not the blog for you. My life is an…