LeeiaL

I will chime in here. We can't really say you're eating too little/too much until we see a sample day of how you're eating. Calorie burn, etc, aside....it's usually all about the food. A 10 pound gain doesn't happen in a vaccum :) so there is something amiss. I'd like to run your numbers, and look at your food diary.…

You're not alone...I've done Zumba, once even with a GREAT instructor and I can't stand it. Ugh!

We can break a plateau one of three ways - time, diet, activity. Usually if you have been working out for awhile, you will hit a natural plateau. If that's the case, then you can work through it by increasing your activity levels or doing some HIIT workouts. If it's diet, that's a bit more complicated. You can do things…

Please do NOT marry this person. As a matter of fact, get as far away from him as quick as you can! I know what I'm talking about, I was involved with someone once that had anger issues. It doesn't get better as time goes by, it gets worse and can lead to worse things happening. DO NOT be fooled into believing that you can…

Jen, I love this!! Thanks for posting.

In general I try to stay away from processed foods, particularly frozen dinners, low in calories or not. There's still a lot of junk in there that is not good for you to consume...preservatives, extra sodium, sugar (yes!) additives, etc. I would consume sparingly only in a pinch. But I try to stay away from them…

When did you start back exercising? If it's a new routine, and you're doing strength training, your muscles could be retaining a bit of water, which should subside in a few weeks. Are you eating the right number of calories (have you done the calculations)? Are you controlling your sodium intake? Any of the above factors…

A lot of this depends on your goals, weight, etc. Are you at the beginning of your weight loss journey, OR are you in the 'last 10 pounds' stage? Personally, I'm at the latter stage, so I limit my carbs to around my workouts and I don't eat starchy carbs at dinner (or the last meal of the day). A lot of this also depends…

The trick is calculating how much you need to eat for FAT LOSS. First, you'll need to calculate your BMR, which is how many calories you burn each day with NORMAL ACTIVITY (excluding exercise). Then, you need to calculate your TDEE (total daily enery expenditure), which takes into account how much exercise you do. The…

I love Jillian - she gives great advice. I too have eliminated processed 'Frankenfoods' from my diet. Never felt better!

This depends. Are you just starting on your plan? Then you can be more liberal. Is this the last 10-15 pounds? Then you'll have to be more strict. My general rule is that I do med-low GI fruits like blueberries or raspberries. Since I'm in the 'last 10 pounds' stage, I need to be more strict so I don't eat fruits past 3pm.…

Hungrygirl.com has tons of waist-friendly recipes. There's one there for fried rice that I recommend, just add some chopped chicken for protein. It will keep in the frig for about 3 days and can be frozen too! It's delicious!

It's fake, it's the devil's food. Not fit for human consumption (especially humans trying to eat right). You should get rid of it.

Hi, there.... I think most people that have responded to your question are right. Specifically, it sounds like your metabolism has downgraded and gotten used to reduced calorie consumption. I looked at your food dairy...it is definitely NOT balanced - I didn't see any fruits, vegetables (or very little) or the like. You…

First, I think you're doing great! Lots of people have that same problem, I used to have it too. It took a lot of willpower to break. I suspect that whatever you are eating at breakfast may be part of the problem. Most breakfast cereals do NOTHING to combat hunger long term, even if you put fruit, etc on it. That meal…

Kristine....Ok, you went 'over' on your carbs today. No big deal...just get back on track tomorrow. DO NOT stress out over this one day, cut yourself some slack. Also...something to keep in mind - the quality of the carbs count, not just 'carbs' per se. Carbs are in just about everything, including fruits and vegetables,…

Ok, if you're doing a cardio session, you'll have to see by trial and error. First try it on empty. See how you feel. Like some people, you may feel just fine. If that's the case, you can do your cardio first thing in the A.M. If you feel like crap during your workout OR if you run out of energy, you'll need to eat a small…

Hi, Kammy... It really depends on you and what you're doing. Is it strength training? If so, you definitely need to have a small meal (protein-carb combo) from 30-90 mins before working out. If it's cardio, this is subjective. It depends on how you feel. For example, I can do cardio on empty without feeling sick OR having…

Hi, Donna... Congrats on your decision to lose weight the right way! I'd love to give you some advice but I don't have much to go on (i.e., food intake, exercise habits, etc). I will say that by just cutting out refined sugar and carbs, you will do yourself a favor and help your weightloss efforts. BTW...not everyone has…

Marissa..calorie burn depends on each individual person. The best way to get an accurate count of calories expended is by using a heart rate monitor that will calculate it for you.

Right on, Sami with the HIIT. I preach it, 'cause I stayed on a plateau for 2 months until I did it. Now I NEVER do steady state cardio. Nothing gets the weight and inches off like HIIT. You may also want to try a few exercise DVDs that utilize full body movements (e.g., lunges w/bicep curls). Way more efficient at burning…

Well, looks like you've definitely hit a plateau. If you've been doing your current routine for a long time, then your body has gotten used to it. It happens to everyone eventually, you just have to stay calm and not freak out. If you're doing 50 minutes of cardio daily at the frequency you described, then I am assuming…

Granted, guys do lose weight 'faster', generally speaking. I will say it again, weighing every day or at short intervals is not helping you accomplish anything and is counter-productive. You will find out more about what you are doing - right or wrong - by weighing in AND MEASURING either every week or every other week.…

Looks like you've hit a plateau...what to do to break it depends on your body..sometimes it takes awhile. It would help to know how much you weigh, what your goal is, how long you've been doing your current diet/exercise program and what you're eating.

I agree with the sodium...but most people get enough sodium in their diets from natural sources, so I would not worry about your sodium intake at this point. I do feel that the boxed meals you are using are part of the problem and helping your body to retain water, not to mention the preservatives and artificial additives…

Have you just started your exercise program? If that's the case, it could be your muscles retaining water..give it a few weeks and it will subside. It would help to know what your weight is now, how long you've been doing your current plan and what you're eating. My guess, it is probably water. If you're weighing yourself…

Short term flucutations are usually due to water retention. Best strategy, as others have said, is to weigh yourself once every 2 weeks, the same time of day before eating and after using the bathroom in the A.M. That way, you'll have an accurate number that reflects what your body is really doing. Short term weight…

The short and sweet answer - no.

Hi, Reann: Your first step has to be getting your diet in line. I bet if you cut down on the juices and the tea, and increased your water intake, you'd lose weight right off the bat. Next, you HAVE to start eating regular meals. Use a meal planner if you have to. But not eating regular meals and drinking sugar drinks all…

Oatmeal w/blueberries and walnuts. I also add a scoop of protein sometimes. I never get hungry till afternoon!