TrainerRobin Member

Welcome. This is a wonderful tool and the community here is helpful and friendly. Good luck with your journey!

I'd never eliminate fruits from my diet. They're the main tool that helped me drop almost 100 pounds (almost 60 since joining MFP). Fresh, high in fiber, delicious and filling. They're my anchor. I'd never eliminate them from my diet.

You're in good company. It was a "fat picture" of myself that shocked me into reality. I thought I looked pretty decent even though I knew I was overweight. Wow -- nothing like a photo to bring one back to reality. And now, when I meet new clients, it's an attitude that I encounter every day. The weight comes on so slowly…

For a little more insight to this topic, read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TrainerRobin/view/myth-or-fact-calories-in-versus-calories-out-3500-calories-one-pound-and-should-i-eat-my-exercise-calories-62012 Good luck!

Agreed. Get professional advice. That way you and get the straight up facts for your situation. I too deal with hypo-thyroid ... but I haven't had any negative consequences from any specific foods and I eat a ton of soy, and every fresh fruit and veggie out there. For your diabetes though (and your thyroid), it's important…

What everyone else said, and you already seem to know, eliminate or reduce the processed foods. And if you add the item (before you eat it) and you see that it's just too much added sodium for your day, swap it for something that's healthier for you. Sorry that's nothing revolutionary but it's the basic food swap…

Might sound goofy, but years ago someone showed me how they cook rice and it worked so good, I've done it ever since and haven't had a bad pot of rice yet. No matter the size of the pot, I add rice to my first knuckle and water to the top of my second knuckle. :) It works for me and it's cheap. Plus I like the way the…

So true. I tell my clients this all the time. And those of you who know me, know how big of an advocate I am of weighing food, rather than measuring it by volume (measuring cups). Remember that this 20% margin is COMMON especially in frozen prepared meals (e.g., Lean Cuisine, etc.) and meals from restaurants (often higher…

Good eye. That's something that many have missed. Some of the models (at least the Garmin ones with GPS) don't come with a heart monitor. If you see a price difference (typically around $50 bucks) be sure to find out if the heart strap is included. Sometimes, they're not (found out the hard way). If you can't tell from the…

I eat it every day. It tastes just like peanut butter but there is a different "note" to it because the peanut oil has been squeezed out (and you're replacing it with water). The thickness of the "PB2 butter" depends on how much (or little) water you add, so you can customize it to your liking. The "peanut" flavor is there…

Before you buy, here's a couple things to think about (these are fun gadgets! Enjoy!): http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TrainerRobin/view/heart-rate-monitor-watches-something-to-consider-69776

Oh I wish. The more I run, the leaner my legs get. And after losing close to 100 pounds total, I need to have strong high muscles to keep my skin nice and tight (if they get too thin, then my skin's not really tight after the weight loss). Unfortunately, my legs get leaner the more I run so I have to hit the gym to keep…

Whatever the name, be sure to include at least one amazing, yummy and HEALTHY sandwich on your menu (I like to use pesto instead of mayo on mine) and include the calorie listings so folks like us can get lunch at your store every day and stay on track. :)

I love, love, love this stuff. Pros: Lower in Calories (http://www.bellplantation.com/nutrition) Natural with minimal additions (a little bit of sugar and salt, but not much) ... it's just what's left of the peanut after they squeeze the oil out. Great in recipes (chocolate peanut butter protein shakes, Thai peanut sauce,…

I think the ladies here nailed it. Don't rush it but even if you do it just right, if you're losing a significant amount of weight, you may have a little looser skin that you'd love. The only way I've had success (me and clients) is on the legs. I've had ladies with skin that's a bit loose on the thighs or at/above the…

Check it out yourself to see before you fall into one of the many Cheesecake Factory "calorie traps": The post above is good or this one: http://calorielab.com/news/2007/07/28/calorie-pusher-comes-to-town-the-cheesecake-factory-hits-rochester/ Just be careful! And read the portion sizes closely -- sometimes they tell you…

Milk is great with some ice, a little dark cocoa powder and a sweetener or two. Cheap, always in the cupboard and simple. There' s a reason so many college football teams refuel with chocolate milk -- it has the essential refueling components: protein (from the milk), a touch of fat (the fat in 2% milk they use) and some…

Ditch the weight charts and test your body composition. If you're at a healthy, lean body fat percentage, then you're good regardless of your weight! :)

My favorites: Breakfast tacos (low carb 80 calorie tortilla, two egg whites scrambled into my own taco filling recipe which is made with TVP, chipotle peppers, taco seasoning, fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, cilantro), greek yogurt (tastes like sour cream), and a little guacamole (the kind in the bag in the produce…

Thanks for the post. I'm just starting to organize a 5K so I'm very interested in the feedback you'll get. :) I'll be watching!

You'd have to taste my recipes to believe that this stuff is good, but I love "Beef Not" or "Chicken Not" from Dixie Diner (google it) made into: sloppy joes, taco mixture, or pasta sauce. It's easy. You just add a cup of beef stock to the dry TVP and let it set a minute. Toss it into a skillet like beef, add some fresh…

For me, a runner for years, I've never reached the point where I have felt the "runner's high." I sometimes get a second wind after about 25 minutes (especially on those days where up until that point, I am constantly thinking about skipping the day's run!) but nothing I'd constitute as a runner's high. I do have good days…

Soda (the sugar sweetened kind) is the nemesis of more folks that I ever realized. It's amazing how many of my clients are addicted to the stuff. And for many of them, cutting out this ONE thing permitted them to lose that extra 15 pounds they were packing around. One of my clients: only ONE can of Dr. Pepper a day. 150 x…

Next time you're at BJs, flip to the back and they have, hidden away, a small menu section of selections that are 500 calories or under and they include two things I love: the sweet pig mini pizza and the grilled shrimp tacos. Yummo!

Almost anything from the Cheesecake Factory. Sigh...

Amen. I hear this all the time and it's one of the most frustrating "wive's tales" that persists! When I have someone I'm training who believes this, heart and soul, I tell them I'll give them their money back if that happens as long as they follow my directions (healthy eating, logging food, and working out HARD) and I've…

"Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right."

For me it makes a difference. And we'd need a medical confirmation of why, but it's my understanding that it has to do with hydration and the transport of the food I eat through my body. I know that when I drop my fiber intake (I usually try to get at least 30 grams a day, sometimes much more!), my weight loss slows. I'm…

That's what I used to think. And my doc said the same thing but then, to settle things, he wanted to do a test. Knowing that I'm a meticulous diary-er of my food, he wanted to experiment with my staying on track but missing one pill. This kind of variance went on over several weeks. After the "testing period" he told me…

My favorite by far is Tosca Reno's Clean Eating Egg Salad Recipe: Ingredients • 1/4 cup / 60 ml fat-free cottage cheese • 1 Tbsp / 15 ml skim milk • 1 tsp / 5 ml mustard • 4 hardboiled egg whites, diced • 1 hardboiled yolk • 2 Tbsp / 30 ml chopped green onion • 2 Tbsp / 30 ml chopped celery • Dash curry powder • 1/4 tsp /…