oceanbreeze27 Member

I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. But you know what? A lot of people -- regardless of their ages -- have felt the same way. Many of them used it as the kick in the butt they needed to get on the path to fitness. I was quite young when I started my fitness journey but felt much the same way you do. I always tell…

I am so glad you took the time to share your success story. You look amazing and I am so thrilled that you're fit for life! Best wishes to you, your family, and the littlest one on the way. :o)

Congratulations! In 2012, my cholesterol wasn't bad but my doctor was concerned anyway. In 2013, I was completely within normal range just because of diet and exercise. It was a wonderful feeling.

Please don't beat yourself up for indulging. You made great choices throughout the day and you had a treat to close it out. Log it in your journal and go about your day. Follow the 80/20 rule: Make good choices 80% percent of the time and allow yourself a treat 20%. One moment of weakness will not ruin all your efforts.…

I just started using a HRM and I love it! It's not the best one on the market but it was within my budget. Hopefully I'll be able to upgrade to something a bit more accurate in the near future. I love watching that calorie burned number go up and up and up!

I got along with most people but I didn't really fit in anywhere so I found solace in the music and theater department. I guess that would make me a performer. Still am one, just on a much smaller scale. :o)

WOW! Amazing results! Congratulations on such a successful journey! I wish you only the best as you seek to maintain. You were beautiful before and now you have that added glow that comes with victory. Well done!

I read about that! I think it's ridiculous. It's her gym too and she wasn't hurting anybody. Really, the outfit she wore isn't any different from what a lot of young women wear in parks, on boardwalks, or even on the beach during the summer. Everyone on a fitness walk looks forward to the day they can bare their beautiful,…

Congratulations on taking the first step toward a fitter, healthier, happier you! One thing I want to encourage to you to do first of all is this: Don't beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon. You will fall off the wagon. We all do. But just climb aboard at the very next meal, accept that you messed up a bit, and…

So exciting to see new people taking full advantage of MFP! Feel free to add me. I'm always up for tossing out support to my fellow fitness journey-ers. :o)

I'd be happy to support you on this journey. I'm 28 with a rather sizable goal, as well. Feel free to add me. :o) Welcome back and good luck!

I imagine it'd be a personal choice. I've never done Insanity so I can't speak as far as the program goes. If I just have a stuffy nose or a scratchy throat, I go for it. But if it's stomach problems or chest congestion, I take a break. No point in making myself worse! Just get back to it as soon as you can. It's very easy…

What an amazing story! Congratulations on all your success. I hope you are soaking up every minute of it. Good luck as you continue this incredible journey!

I am so thrilled that you have opted out of surgery! I will not lie -- you're in for a really long, hard journey but there are TONS of people on this site who want to walk with you. So build up your friend list and get started! I look forward to sharing in your success! :o)

Whenever I've found myself on a plateau, I've changed workouts. Your body adapts to new activity quite effectively but as a result, we burn fewer calories after we've done the same exercises for X amount of time. Keep up with your strength training but consider trying a new cardio activity. I personally love kickboxing and…

Hmm, it does sound like you're kind of psyching yourself out over your fitness journey. Don't! :o) Even though developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a lot of hard work, it can also be a lot of fun. Start with baby steps: Log whatever you eat and allow yourself to feel badly for just a moment, then get back to…

Tee hee hee. Love it. Best to dump all toxic relationships -- inanimate and not -- as they'll only hold you back from being the you you're meant to be. Well done!

I agree that you probably need to increase your calorie count. Also remember that plateaus can occur at any time so you may just need to experiment with your diet and exercise to find the edge. Don't give up -- you've made incredible strides so far!

This is an incredible achievement and you have every right to celebrate! Thank you for sharing your success and allowing us to celebrate with you. :o)

Wow. That is one murky situation you're in. I'm so sorry that this is happening to you. I don't feel qualified to give you advice about your home situation but I would definitely suggest you surround yourself with as many supportive people as possible; My Fitness Pal is full of them! If you are uncomfortable in your own…

I definitely feel guilty when I wander away from my diet. But I've gotten a lot better at not beating myself up over it. It happens. The important thing is that you don't wander so far you can't find your way back!

I don't have a specific time to complete it because things like to pop up in my life that keep me from my computer. For the most part, I complete after dinner and if I snack later, I just track it the next day. Have to allow yourself some wiggle room. :o)

I used to have a cheat day once a week when I just ate what I wanted, logged it, usually felt guilty for a while, then got back on track the next day. Since then, I've cut down on cheat days considerably and swapped days for meals/snacks. Eliminated the guilt and allowed me to see much better results overall. Some days…

Not going to lie: I'm a Walmart girl. I've found some really great Danskin workout clothes there for much cheaper than I would have expected. (My black Danskin capris are my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE thing to wear while exercising.) However, I've also gotten some at Boscov's. Shop around, as the saying goes. :o)

I agree that MFP's setup is designed to help you, not hurt you. The recommended caloric intake is the way it is for a reason and a lot of people have found success with it. I would suggest you raise your calories and also add an additional day of exercise. I know cheat days can be a nice reward for a job well done but you…

Hitting failure is awesome! It means you've maxed out your muscles' capabilities and that's OKAY. I would personally suggest setting a quantitative goal (i.e. 12 curls with a 20-pound weight). When you can do that rather easily, increase your weight. Your body is getting used to the new strain you're putting on it. Keep…

Own your success! You worked hard for it and you deserve bragging rights. Not unethical at all. But I agree that you may want to mention it in your profile, just to keep your conscience clean. :o) Congratulations!

I agree; BMI is not a great indicator. Measuring tapes don't lie and they aren't as fickle as scales, either. I think you look great, if your profile picture is to be believed. Give yourself a break! :o)

When I stop getting results, I change up my workout. Our bodies are amazing machines that adapt to whatever we put them through, including exercise. Every program I've ever done has yielded results but I personally have to consistently confuse my muscles in order to keep losing. Diet is extremely important. It's imperative…

When I first started my weight loss journey, my motivation came purely from vanity: The number on the scale terrified me and I was tired of wearing old lady clothes. Now nearly six years in, my motivation has changed. There are still vain aspects (rocking a bikini on the beach, shimmying into a pair of skinny jeans,…