jld0411 Member

I agree that your percentages are out of whack and would suggest increasing your fat. Try eating carbs, fat and protein with every meal (my ratio is 40% carbs, 30% fat and 30% protein) and I bet you start feeling better. We burn through carbs faster than protein and fat so it's no wonder you're starving again later!

What are your views on low carb diets? I exercise 4 times per week with a mix of cardio and weights[/quote] I have had this conversation with personal trainers, dietitians, etc. Carbs fuel your muscles and your brain, so you really do need them, especially if you're working out hard. I work out the same as you - 4-5 times…

I wish I'd known I could be successful without stressing myself tracking every single macro. MFP is a good guideline, but it should be taken only as that. Try typing in "cooked chicken" and see how many variations you get. There's no way to be dead on, so you just have to do your best. Avoid heavily processed…

My advice is don't get too caught up and stressed out about hitting them dead on. I think you're right in the ballpark - those percentages to be off are minimal.

I've wondered the same thing. I am well over my sugar goal every day, and it is due in no small part to the fruit. Instead of worrying about the sugar grams, I focus on my ratio of carbs, protein and healthy fat. As long as those are in check, I don't worry too much about the sugar count. What I DO limit is refined sugar…

The next question then would be, WHAT are you eating? Are you eating clean - fruits & veggies, lean protein, good fats - or are you just hitting your calories? I do NOT believe in eating back exercise calories - I believe in eating enough clean food to fuel your body and your workouts. Do you feel sluggish when you're…

There are several concerns about artificial sweeteners (which is obviously what's in your Powerade). There's the negative health effects in terms of cancer and toxins and other things - but I haven't researched that enough to speak with any sort of confidence on it. The primary problem for me is that they mess with your…

There is soooooo much that goes in to the "right" amount of water. The National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends a minimum of 96oz per day - which is considerably more than the evil 8 cups per day myth (which needs to find a hole to crawl in and die, btw). Age, gender, body composition, activity level and…

Hey don't be embarrassed! I'm an egg white girl, all the way. There's a lot of egg white only haters on here, but at the end of the day it's personal preference. There's nothing inherently unhealthy about either. I have both in my fridge: cartons of egg whites and cartons of whole eggs. Whole eggs for baking when I need a…

Are you measuring and weighing your food? Food intake can EASILY be more than what you think it is. I always use my coffee creamer as an example. I was eyeballing it for a while thinking, "that's about a tablespoon." 35 calories. When I actually measured it, I was using double. That will add up pretty quickly. It's a pain…

The answer - like everything is - it depends. If you're doing heavy lifting or heavy cardio, you definitely need to replace the macros or your body is going to enter starvation mode and you're NOT going to lose no matter what you do. Or, are you counting calories burned every time you park in the far parking lot and walk…

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He is absolutely wrong. Sorry if someone already mentioned this.. The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories your body will burn while at rest, and the longer your intense calorie burn will last after a workout. Pick heavy things up and put them back down. I often do interval training - cardio for a minute or so…

It sounds like you need more balance. Every meal should consist of a lean protein, quality carbs and healthy fat. Add some chicken or salmon and an olive oil vinegrette to your lunch vegetables. Add a fruit to your breakfast. Sounds like you're already eating what I call mini meals, so if that's all you're eating in a…

Try a chia pudding! Mix 1/2 cup coffee, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 T. peanut butter, a scoop of protein powder, 1 T. cocoa powder and a little sweetener (I use honey, but you could use Stevia to keep it low sugar) in a blender. Pour into a mason jar, add 2 T. chia seeds, and shake the poo out of it. Refrigerate overnight, but…

Your post got me thinking... When I was doing the traditional 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) I found that I got too hungry. I started doing 6 mini meals and I feel TONS better. Like you, I would feel nauseous and end up binging because I got too hungry. I like what one poster said about being a baby and having to eat…

Hi Carrie! I totally feel you. I was a Coke Zero addict myself. I went through boot camp a couple of years ago. The mantra? No bread, no pasta, no dairy, no soda. NO SODA? Are you kidding me? I figured if I was paying that much money, I was going to follow the rules. They gave us a diet plan to go along with the program,…

I ate vegan for a long time and found myself having the same challenges you're facing. Vegan Coach is a wonderful resource. The writer does provide some recipes, but largely the focus is on teaching you to COOK rather than follow a recipe. I loved it! The website is free, but I purchased one of her e-books called Get…

The first thing that jumped out at me is how little you're eating. That could be what others have already pointed out - if you're eyeballing it, you really don't know for sure. For example, for a while I was eyeballing my coffee creamer. I figured it was ABOUT a tablespoon. Once I measured, I was actually putting about 2…

When I turned 30, I literally cried my eyes out most of the day. I don't know why it was so hard, but it was! So, I totally feel where you're coming from. I LOVE what you said about changing your habits. You're not looking for a quick fix or to lose the weight fast - that right there tells me you absolutely have what it…

I am IN LOVE WITH chia pudding. It's so versatile, so many flavors you can make. Blend a liquid, fruit and some protein powder (some of my favorites are pumpkin, almond milk and peanut butter or coffee, raspberries, cocoa powder and coconut milk). Put your liquid in a small mason jar, toss in a couple of tablespoons of…

I "gained" two and a half pounds overnight once. I had eaten some salty food and didn't drink much water. I drank lots of water the next day and the "gained" weight was gone. I agree 100% with the other people who've commented - it's water weight. Just get back on track and you'll be just fine. :drinker:

I recently started looking into the paleo diet, and I think it's a bit of a mixed bag. I work with a personal trainer and asked him about it, too. Paleo is good in the sense that it sort of forces you to incorporate a lot of vegetables, which is an area many people struggle with. On the other hand, in the words of my…

Absolutely it's okay! There are plenty of people who wear gym clothes on a regular basis who aren't even GOING to work out. The fact that you actually GO to the gym when you're wearing your workout clothes puts you a few steps ahead of many others. :flowerforyou:

You're hungry all the time - how much water are you drinking? Hunger and thirst are often confused. If you're exercising that much, you should probably be drinking AT LEAST 120 oz of water per day. The 8 cups per day is a horrific myth that desperately needs to be dispelled. If you're water intake is good, then you…

Good for you! I second the "one day at a time" comment. The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. You've got this! I would recommend getting a HRM (preferably one with a chest strap as they are more accurate). It's fun to see the number of calories burned climb while you're exercising.

I've lost weight by calorie deficit alone, and I can tell you it SUCKS! I felt tired constantly and I lost a lot of muscle. The basic equation is energy in and energy out - with the "energy" being calories. Also, by building lean body mass (muscle) you will burn more calories even when you are not exercising. Here's an…

I get it all the time too. I went from a size 14 to a size 4, and I get all kinds of comments about being a twig, anorexic, too skinny, look like I'm on meth, etc. You name it, I've heard it! At the end of the day, I know that I'm toned, fit and healthy. And the other posters are right, too - it's usually people who are…

HRMs are pretty accurate. Websites and other calculators use the "average" person's burn, which is obviously going to be all over the place. The HRM that go on your wrist are fairly accurate, especially if it's one you can customize with your weight, height, gender etc. If you want even better accuracy, go for a HRM with a…