veggiemama81 Member

I love this article. A lot of times it seems like people pick a goal weight because that's what they imagine they'll look good at and get so fixated on calories and burning as much as they can. Building the body they want with real food and a healthy lifestyle gets lost in the equation and they focus instead on breaking it…

This is my last full week of stage 1! I have one more workout next Monday and then taking the rest of the week off before starting Stage 2. I'm stoked about my progress but I'm getting really frustrated with my grip strength. I've been having to stop to regrip the bar during my last few work outs. Dumbbells are the worst.…

You can't go wrong with chocolate for breakfast! I get my fix by mixing a scoop of chocolate protein powder into my yogurt and then throwing some thawed strawberries on top.

I recommend The New Rules of Lifting for Women to everyone. I love it. The book has tons of information including a lifting schedule, meal plans, and pictures of the exercises. It also has great information about calories, how much you need, how your body uses them, and what macros you should be aiming for. I raised my…

I am really excited about this week. It took me the first few workouts but I really feel like I've finally hit my stride. I'm not self conscious walking into the weight room like I was and my weights are getting heavier as my form gets better. I've never not enjoyed going to the gym, I just didn't always make time. Now I…

Me too. I love the Apple Crisp! I hear that the Keen-wah Decadence Bars are pretty good but hella pricey.

Oh, God yes. I signed up to improve my health, not to ask strangers whether they'd want to f@!k me, see me naked, or date me. I'm thinking about changing my ticker thing. It seems ridiculous to have this thing that's not actually tracking my goal. Once I hit my goal size, which I can already tell will be sooner and at a…

I eat TVP, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, etc as well as Phood meal shakes (I'm not much of a morning person) and soy protein shakes as a snack. I've never had a problem with my diet before as far as health, it's just trying to elevate my protein so much now that has been a struggle. I was vegetarian for most of my military career…

Chin ups are a goal of mine too. I've moved down on the plates on the assisted pull up machine. From a pyramid of all plate 8 to a mixture of 5/6 in just under a month! It's definitely getting harder but it feels AMAZING! One a separate note, are you all on target for your protein intake? I am having a really hard time…

I'm finishing up week 1 today and have a couple of questions: Is anyone else a runner? How did you handle it? I tried to run after one of my workouts - a short one mind you, I only planned on two miles - and the moment my foot hit the treadmill I felt like my legs were melting! He wasn't kidding when he said our hamstrings…

I've never had problems working out after getting tattooed, even after getting a sleeve. Just make sure you clean it well afterwards and apply whatever aftercare ointment you are using. Unless you're worried about your bra straps hitting it, you're good to go.

The TM was hands down the most fun race I have ever done. I'm doing another one this fall and I'm already so excited!

Not at all. I'm all about support but if my SO said he was going to pay me to lose weight I would actually be offended. I'm not saying your motive is money. I believe you were already committed and that his heart is in the right place. It would just make me feel very small to think that my SO believed I had to be bought in…

I like to marinade it in garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and Braggs (or soy sauce), then bake it. I usually slice a couple of pieces really thin so that it gets crispy and use it in a "BLT" (or in my case, TLT). Just halve this recipe. 2 containers firm or extra firm tofu, pressed 1/3 cup soy sauce 3/4 cup water…

I love her! Post Punk Kitchen is a great online resource too. Try How it all Vegan and La Dolce Vegan by Sarah Kramer also. She's another one I can't live with out.

It's also great for breakfast but cook a plain batch instead of using broth. 1/2c Quinoa, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp maple syrup, and a banana. I cook a bunch on Sunday and portion it out for the week, that way I just have to add the syrup, cinnamon, and banana in the morning.

Ditch the artificial sweeteners; they're no good for you! A tsp of honey (21 calories and will satisfy your sweet tooth) or stevia extract. Same with agave, a little goes a long way.

I am a Phood devotee. I've used Vega and it was okay but waaaay to expensive. The vanilla Phood is a little sweet but I use reduced sugar almond milk and a few frozen strawberries and it turns out great. I forgot to add ice one time when I used a banana and I ended up with what was basically vanilla pudding, but it was…

I have quite a few. I'm a few appointments away from finishing a full sleeve. After that I'm probably done. I have a couple from when I was younger that I'm getting removed and it is awful!

I love roasted sweet potatoes. I sprinkle cinnamon and salt on mine though. Maybe they just don't make them right :) I'm also a huge fan of raw sweet potatoes. I slice them up for between class snacks. As much as I love roasted red peppers, I can't handle raw ones. I dipped one in hummus thinking it would be no big deal…

I'm a vegetarian making the transition back to vegan. I was never a huge fan of meat analogues but in a pinch I'll grab some Kroger Brand ch'ckn strips. One of the best things about becoming a vegetarian was learning to cook a ton of new dishes. I was vegan for a couple years previously and that really kicked my cooking…

I had a half cup of quinoa with a tbsp of maple syrup, cinnamon, and topped with bananas. It's my favorite!

I'm a big tea fan. Something warm and sweet, like Cherry Blossom Rooibos (my favorite!) with either a tsp or so of honey is amazing. Honey adds natural sweetness and gives your body some of the sugar it's craving and one of the best things for me is that it takes a while to drink since it's hot. Plenty of time for a…

I just started this week to. I've been greeted by some incredibly supportive people! Feel free to add me so we can push each other along :)

These are always so fun to read. 1. I am working on a full sleeve. I probably have about 8 hours left. 2. I have a lot what my friends and I call "JD moments". You Scrubs fans probably get that. Sometimes my world is just more fun :) 3. I only lived in San Antonio for a year and a half but it was long enough for me to call…

Squeeeeeeezing into my "fat" pants and feeling absolutely defeated every time I'd get dressed in the morning. Feeling winded walking across campus was a wake up call too.

I'm sure your medical degree brought you to that conclusion. Losing weight is hard enough, being slammed for reasons beyond your control makes it harder - especially from a community that is supposed to be supportive. Yes, some medications can cause weight gain. The whole point of taking meds is to alter your body…

This was me in 2003! I lost 45 lbs to join the Marine Corps. I was hard but so very worth it. Feel free to FR me. I'd be happy to answer any military life questions and support you on your way.

Working on my undergrad in biology with a teaching licensure. I'm hoping to get into a bioethics program for grad school.

Feel free to add me! I've been vegetarian for since 2008 but fell off the vegan wagon a couple of years ago. I'm back at it now but could definitely use some support as well.