TomKat428

I really like 5x5 stronglifts because it tells you what starting weight to use, what exercises to do 3x/week, and there's a nifty, very user friendly app that you can use to track your workout. If you're a total beginner at lifting like me, I think you'll find this program most helpful. For the exercises, you start out…

Very, very slowly. Of course, it would probably help if I didn't keep extending my goal by 3-5 more pounds :) They're the hardest, but I think your body changes so much just in those last 10 pounds. It's an interesting journey for sure!

Haha, I thought the same thing!

Be realistic and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Your fiance obviously thinks you're gorgeous as you are and can't wait to spend the rest of his life with you. Focus on that and live a healthy, balanced lifestyle the next couple of months. Be kind to yourself and try to see yourself the way he sees you. The rest…

:love: :flowerforyou:

Exactly! It's all give and take. Just because a woman cooks for her man, doesn't mean he's a lazy slob. Far from it, in most cases I've seen.

:shrug: different people are brought up with different family dynamics. And not every woman does it because she's supposed to be subservient to her husband. Maybe they just adore their husbands and want to make them happy, and they do that by cooking meals that their husbands like. Maybe that's their love language.…

I've lost 16 pounds over the last 7 months. It probably could have been more if the holidays weren't included in that time :) But I expected to lose slowly. I don't have much to lose, and I'd rather it be mostly fat and not so much muscle!

Fortunately I've had mostly positive comments. My grandmother, however, is convinced I have an eating disorder and always acts very disapproving when she thinks I look thinner than when she last saw me. It used to really hurt, but I try to ignore it now.

You are correct. It's subjective to the lifter. I consider "heavy lifting" to be weight that I can lift no more than 8-10 reps without being completely fatigued. Whether that's 8 pounds for your biceps or more (I bet you can lift more, I'd try at least 10 and see how that works), it all depends on where you are in your…

It is a real condition, but like "starvation mode," it is overgeneralized and used incorrectly on this forum more often than not. You can be at a healthy weight but still have a high body fat% relative to your lean body mass. That usually puts you at risk of the same health complications that society normally associates…

Why don't you add more fat back to your diet? Not trying to be snarky, I'm just curious. Eating fat does not equal getting fat. You can lower your calories in other ways (fewer carbs, for example) and replace them with nuts, avocados, etc. FWIW, my skin and hair have never looked better. I eat quite a bit of fat, and I'm…

Having to be patient. I am not a patient person by nature, so this process is teaching me a lot. Just taking it a day at a time.

I'm up 4 lbs, but I'm pretty sure I didn't eat 14,000 extra calories over 2 days. Most of it is (hopefully!) salt/water bloat.

Walnuts, berries, sometimes a drizzle of honey. I use steel cut oats...to me they have a much better, nutty flavor than rolled or quick oats.

I used to be the same way! I loooooooOOOOooooved me some Coke! :) When I decided to start improving my health I quit them cold turkey. It was early this year so I honestly don't remember how long it took to stop craving them. It wasn't long though. I drink plain black coffee in the mornings so I didn't have caffeine…

Right?! I've had some major baby fever lately, but this thread is terrifying me.

Congratulations on your successes so far! You are doing a great job! I'm not low carb per se, but I have cut back quite a bit and tried to replace them with more protein and healthy fats. It makes a huge difference. Good luck!

Is this what's wrong with the world today? No one wants to be told how it is. We all just want positive affirmations and kitten kisses. If it's not what we want to hear, we pan it as rude and complain about it. The site is very positive. People are very helpful here. Great advice is given, including to your original post.…

Nonfat plain Greek yogurt mixed with blueberries and Kashi GoLean Crunch - I like the cinnamon crumble variety :) Egg white omelet with a little cheese and whatever veggies I have on hand

Thank you for your kind comments! You ladies all look gorgeous to me, so I'll keep at it and focus on health and overall fitness. Thanks again for making me feel like I'm not alone!

I don't mind a little food porn. Posting 37 pictures of your infant rolling over on its own, however...

I pay $10/month for access to Ten Fitness. It's a well-equipped, no-frills gym in my area. If you upgrade to $20/month, you get access to tanning and access to Zumba and kickboxing classes. In contrast, the local athletic club (with all the amenities you'd want in a gym) is $90/month for a single membership, plus a $300…

I was born and raised in Fort Smith but now live in Little Rock :)

Aren't 7's a juniors size? I don't wear juniors but I am a size 6-8 in misses. 145/30.5/38.5

Hi sweetie, I think we've all been there. It's easy to get to the point where we just feel out of control of our own lives and can't understand how we got where we are. The great thing is, you're strong enough to realize it and face it! You can so do this. Just start small, work hard and be kind to yourself. We are here to…

If it makes you that anxious, do you have to go stay there? If so, do you knit or crochet? Something to do with your hands so you have a non-food outlet for your anxiety? You could try chewing gum to stave off anxious eating. Go for a walk when the anxiety builds up and you start thinking about eating?

I have no history whatsoever of an eating disorder or a bad relationship with food. However, every time my grandmother thinks I look thinner than the last time she saw me, she flips. out. "Are you eating?! Are you depressed? Did you just throw up your lunch in the bathroom?" it is positively infuriating, not to mention…

$2,000 on vitamins?? Dang! I spend: $120/year - gym membership $75-100/year - multivitamins/calcium supplement $120 - shoes $100 - clothes ETA: about $60/month on protein, maybe? My grocery bill is about $200/month. Now I'm jazzing for a run...it's supposed to be my rest day. Hmmm :)