TrainerRobin Member

What most personal trainers won't tell you is that a controlled, well-balanced diet is 80% of the weight loss game. But we have good reasons for not sharing that information -- we know how exercise is critical to maintaining as much lean muscle mass as possible so that you don't ultimately gain it all back someday. If…

That "factoid" probably comes from the discovery that CARDIO benefit is seen when folks exercise for ten to fiftteen minutes at a time (some research indicates cardio benefit after ten minutes and other research indicates 15 minutes is the better marker). But like the old game where everyone sits in a ring and one person…

Hmmm. Sounds pretty low to me, but do some runs for a few days and/or other exercises that we have good estimates for and then report back. Sometimes a HRM will give a reading that's too low if the strap isn't situated just right or if the strap isn't damp enough, but after THAT much time at P90X, I imagine that you were…

What did it tell you for your calorie burn during your run? And how long did you workout (P90X)? What's your weight? If you share that info, it would be easier to help. :)

If you went over 700 calories, how "bad" that is depends on what deficit you're eating at daily. Mine is 700 so if I go over 700 calories, I'm eating at maintenance. No biggie. And that's if I don't exercise. Even if your daily deficit is only 500 calories, and you did no exercise, then you're really only over 200 calories…

Agreed. Ensure you're eating healthful foods not just watching your calories and ensure that you're eating at least your minimum number of calories needed. And exercise! You want to be hanging onto as much muscle as possible. You've got it now, but it'll slip away without a concerted effort. For a little more on this,…

Huge pat on the back for you! I do the same and eventually we'll get these things updated to include weight of everything in grams (or ml). I use caloriegallery for the 100 gram number but the database isn't extensive so some of the other sites mentioned may be better. I try to add some note to the title (or revise the…

Yay! Another person who WEIGHS their food for accuracy! Love it!!

Good step to get a HRM so you will know, more accurately, how many calories you're burning. Not sure what your price range is, but before you buy any HRM, be sure to know your options before you buy any HRM. Check this out ... it may help:…

Oh yeah. I count veggies (and everything). There are plenty of veggies that have more calorie than one might think. Still a GREAT nutritional deal and I try to eat tons of veggie and fruits, but they should be counted. A big onion can have 100 calories. And my favorite to munch on -- baby carrots? Check it out: Serving…

Added it to my Blockbuster list!

Hang in there. It CAN be done! I understand your frustration. In an effort to help, here are a few pointers: -- First, be sure that you don't have a medical issue like a thyroid issue (I've got one and without medication, all the work in the world won't maintain a healthy body weight). Assuming you're cleared by your…

OMG -- tried this over the weekend and it was amazing. If you like Thai Peanut Sauce, you're going to love this PB2 recipe that my sister (Hope_khm on MFP) created: 1/3 cup prepared PB2 1/2 c. water (I used about 1/4 cup) 1 TBS Splenda brown sugar blend 1 package Splenda 1/2 TBS lemon juice 1/2 TBS soy sauce 1 clove garlic…

Yes! I've had the most success coaching teens and tweens with the "let's make you smarter than the adults around you" approach. I give them the basic math (and remind them that most adults don't know this!) about how one pound equals 3500 calories. And then I use the example of a simple 10 calorie change every day x 365…

Wow, that's a challenge. Having raised three teens, I feel for you. I guess my advice would be: -- reconcile yourself with the fact that you can't change what he feels or thinks. He's exercising his independence and I'd bet that the more you "lecture" (his perception, not reality) him on nutrition, fitness and…

Thank you so much!! I checked mine and I'm okay but I appreciate the head's up!! And no, I won't be snagging your Jiff -- it's got hydrogenated fats in it! Yikes -- Skippy Natural is my closest substitution to Jiff (my old favorite, I'll admit). Love the stuff. But PB2 is my peanut butter savior! :)

Thank you so much!! I checked mine and I'm okay but I appreciate the head's up!! And no, I won't be snagging your Jiff -- it's got hydrogenated fats in it! Yikes -- Skippy Natural is my closest substitution to Jiff (my old favorite, I'll admit). Love the stuff. But PB2 is my peanut butter savior! :)

I use it and love it! I buy mine at Market Street in Allen but if you have a Market Street near you, call 'em. They probably have it. I'm hooked on the stuff -- especially for my chocolate protein shakes and in PBJ sandwiches. Yummo!!

No problem. That's equivalent to a half pound. You can get rid of that. Just remember the math when you weigh yourself. You may gain more, but that's not all going to be saved as body fat -- some of it is food and liquids "in transport" and some is water retention from the salt. Remember that 3500 calories equals a pound.…

Any HRM with GPS added. Before you buy a basic HRM, consider one of the new ones with GPS. They rock and some of them are in line (price wise) with just basic HRMs. For more, this may be helpful: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TrainerRobin/view/heart-rate-monitor-watches-something-to-consider-69776

Okay you Android folks (I'm one too!), be sure to download the FREE app Cardio Trainer. It will work just like a GPS watch for you and will even talk to you (I chose the sexy British accent of a man!) as you run to tell you your pace, your speed, calories burned, your mileage etc. And I put it up against my $399 Garmin…

That's good to know about. I googled it and it looks like you add another gadget for $139.99 to allow you to have the GPS function. So glad to see that Polar is getting on the GPS bandwagon. We need more competition in that market to drive down prices and encourage innovation. $399 for a Garmin 310XT is just too high for…

Indeed. My favorite app for this (Android) is CardioTrainer. And they now have the capability of actually syncing with a heart strap now, too (but I haven't used that approach). When I don't have my GPS watch, I'll use my regular basic HRM and my smart phone Cardio Trainer app (but it's so much nicer to not have to use two…

Within 30 minutes or so of a challenging workout. But in order for the protein to be properly absorbed/utilized, whatever you eat/drink must have a bit of fat and a touch of carbohydrate (that's why all of the post-workout bars have fat and carbohydrates added ... it's not just for flavor!). That said, be wary of most of…

You go, girl! This is exactly right. :)

My favorite is my Garmin 310XT. Before you buy just a basic heart rate monitor, if you're at all the type to walk or jog or hike outside, consider the new heart rate monitors that have GPS added. They do everything the basic ones do, but for a little more, they also do MUCH more. If you like the freedom of being able to go…

You can do tremendous things with just your body weight. Google "body weight workout" and you'll find tons of things you can do. I've had clients who worked their entire transformations through body weight workouts ... without a gym or weights at all and the results are stunning. Check it out and go for it!

You can toss that old "wisdom" out of the window. While it may be true that you burn a larger PERCENTAGE of calories from fat at the lower "fat burning" cardio range, you will burn a larger NUMBER of calories when you work out at a higher (the "cardio") heart rate range. And since burning calories is what this is all…

Consider tracking your body composition (e.g., body fat percentage) instead of just tracking your weight. Here's why. If you are eating clean and correctly and you are exercising, it's not just possible but likely that some weeks you'll make great progress that won't show on the scale. Would you rather lose 2 pounds if…

Before you spend money on an ordinary HRM, consider one with GPS added if you are at all the type to walk, run or exercise outdoors. To see why, read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TrainerRobin/view/heart-rate-monitor-watches-something-to-consider-69776