mcarmon Member

Like cmurray326, I started having major back pain after losing a lot of weight (close to the 80 lb loss you achieved). Like you, the weight has come back and I'm working to figure out how I'm going to get back in shape. I strongly advocate the slow and steady approach to weight loss now--rushing it could just make your…

I am now thinking twice about anything that comes in a box from a factory, especially if it's labeled with ingredients I can't pronounce. I don't make my own pasta yet and I still indulge in processed soy products (I'm vegetarian and need protein) but I'm slowly shifting other processed foods out of my diet. Last time…

I haven't seen the movie, so I can't recommend it, but you don't need Netflix to watch it. It's free on Hulu.com, which is a legal, legitimate website for watching TV shows and a limited selection of films: http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/

You probably need to increase your protein intake.

That was exactly it for me too! It took joining this site for me to actually see how out of balance my diet was in that area!

I would just make sure that you are doing exercises in a balanced way. If the fat is gone and you are building up your hip muscles, that could explain why they aren't shrinking. I would not be concerned if you are following your diet and exercise plan. Who knows - it might just be a plateau. Those happen sometimes. I think…

The fact that you even want to be in the gym is a testament to how committed you are to working out. Don't beat yourself up - you've got the hard part done already! Only you are going to know what is best for your schedule, but perhaps you could find time first thing in the morning or in the evenings on a day when you have…

I found other ways to try managing stress and it just took returning to my plan each time I slipped without conceding defeat. Exercise, music, deep breathing, etc. are healthy ways to relax. I also had to retrain my mind not to associate food with rewards. Meaning, for example, when I get excellent news I don't "treat"…

There are literally hundreds of recipes that use applesauce instead of oil, but I'm not aware of using it in place of sugar. At any rate, just be aware that replacing items in baking has a huge impact on texture, how the food rises, etc. You may be better off just eating the applesauce or fruit.

Thanks for this post! It's really encouraging! I never liked going to the gym (still don't, so I don't go) because I felt so out of shape. It always feels like people are judging you, especially if you're like me - breathing all hard and sweating all over the place. I always felt like I had to lose weight and get in shape…

I've lost 45 lbs and only one pants size. Most of my size change has been in my upper body. Depending on your body shape, you are not necessarily going to drop 10 sizes just because you lost the weight. My hips are always going to be there no matter what, so unless I want to shave down the bones, I'm only going to get down…

Your transformation is nothing short of amazing. I hope you're proud of how much you've accomplished! Your pictures are very inspiring and I couldn't be more happy for you! :)

...when you are looking at the clock every 5 minutes or so to see if it's been long enough since your last meal for you to have a snack. I try to space out my calories during the day so that I'm not starving at night and tempted to have a late-night snack, but old habits die hard. :)

If you're thinking about a diet that will take you below 1000-1200 calories per day, you really, REALLY need to talk to a dietitian or physician first. Think about it this way - when you look on packages of food, the percentages on the nutrition facts are based on a 2000 calorie diet. I did some calculating when I started…

Eat a little something if you're really hungry. As long as you are consuming more than 1200 calories in a balanced diet, you should be fine as far as nutrition.

I think you're exactly right to be concerned about your protein, iron, and other intake. Being a vegetarian can be very healthy, but just like with any diet you need to monitor what you're eating to make sure you're doing it right. Eating nothing but carbs and fats could be a vegetarian diet, but it certainly wouldn't give…

Hi I'm new here. I am also a vegetarian and have been for a year. For snacks, I would say that nuts are good, fresh fruits or vegetables, and smoothies. I am still looking for cheaper/easier to carry snacks as well so that I can start to lose weight. Any suggestions would be appreciated.