Fruit4dessert Member

For years I didn't have a gym membership, and I stayed in great shape. I think you can totally do it! I hiked a lot, and lifted weights at home. I highly recommend getting a barbell and plate weights for home... I found mine at a used sporting goods store for cheap. Also, you can google how to do strength training using…

This page on juicerecipes.com lets you build a recipe specifically for juiced veg and fruit: http://juicerecipes.com/build/

You look fantastic! Congratulations! We have very similar body types. I'm also 5'9" and I have been 180 lbs. in the past, and looked very similar to your before pics. Right now I'm 168 lbs. and my goal weight is 150 with lots of muscle. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!!

In addition to all the good advice you'll find in other MFP threads around here, and on the internet in general, I will add that one thing that keeps me drinking fresh juice every day is to take breaks from juicing at home, by buying fresh pressed juice (NOT pasteurized) from juice bars at least a few days a week. It's…

If you look for Success Story threads about heavy lifting, you can find people who didn't lose a lot of weight, but changed their body composition, and it's visually dramatic! They weren't necessarily "skinny fat" to begin with, probably more like average fit. But after heavy lifting you could really see a difference,…

Hi all, I'm new here too. I'm not new to juicing, but my lovely Breville juicer has gone through long phases of collecting dust over the past few years. One week ago, I pulled my juicer out of the cupboard and started a juice cleanse -- my first real juice cleanse! -- after a holiday season of way too much sugar, fat, and…

Since you don't get to pick your hotel and can't ask to stay in a place with a kitchenette or fridge/microwave (excellent prior suggestions), I think buying an inexpensive microwave and cooler is an excellent idea. When I travel for business, I always make sure my room has the micro/fridge, and it makes all the difference…

Thanks for posting this! As someone who tends to get injured lifting heavy, I have learned over the years that my version of "lifting heavy" involves 12-15 reps to failure. Works for me!

I remember how stressful graduate school is (I've been done now for 14 years, but the memories still haunt me! :tongue: ) Now I'm busy working/raising family and try very hard to keep my health a high priority. I'll send you a friend request!

You look FANTASTIC and I'm so glad to see your great results from Cathe Friedrich's STS -- I love her workouts and am gearing up to start STS in a few weeks by training with many of her other workouts. Thanks for the inspiration! Way to go!

Fantastic! Way to go!

Wow! Congratulations! You look great!

I eat mostly plant-based whole foods (protein powder is my main processed food) -- I've thought about getting a fitbit, but haven't taken the leap yet. I'll send you a friend request! P.S. I also love dogs! :)

You can get lots of protein as a vegetarian. I don't eat meat and I'm lactose intolerant, and here's how I get my protein in a typical day: -Protein powder - whey and hemp varieties (technically whey is dairy but it doesn't aggravate my lactose problem) - around 40 g. per day - in a breakfast smoothie and as a postworkout…

The best advice I ever got was to lose weight based on diet, and use exercise to maintain/increase muscle mass. Nothing wrong with torching a bunch of calories with cardio, but eat them back. And do strength training to build muscle. Where you lose weight is eating clean and at a calorie count that is low enough to result…

Another vote for unsweetened almond milk. I've been lactose intolerant for several years, and I've tried lots of non-dairy milks (soy, rice, etc.) and almond milk has been the only one that I like on cereal. It's great in coffee and smoothies, too. And it's VERY low in calories. One cup of Silk brand vanilla unsweetened…

Thanks for this post! I especially needed to hear #8 -- I have lots of people who are supportive but eat their ice cream and stuff. I need to let them go about their lives and appreciate their support. :)

I'm also a 5'9" female. My ideal weight is 145 lbs. I typically maintain at 145 assuming I am eating reasonably healthy and exercising regularly. However, during the past year, I gained 15 lbs. simply due to lack of exercise and poor eating habits. I hope to get back into my usual healthy routines and get back to 145 as…

Way to go! You look fantastic, all that hard work paid off, congratulations!!!

Congratulations! Such an inspiration... I have been struggling with motivation and consistency for a few weeks, but your story and finding your blog just now has lit a new fire for me, so THANK YOU!

Congratulations, you look great! Love your pictures, I thought to myself as I looked at them, "The incredible shrinking Amanda!!!"

Thanks for this, I'm at a plateau for the past three weeks and it's so helpful and encouraging! Congrats on your progress!

Congrats! Cute pedicure, too! :)

I'm 5'9" and my goal is 145-150 lbs. Any lower and it's really hard to maintain. A few times in my adult life I've dropped into the high 130's, from being stressed out, not because I was trying to lose weight, and I start to look bony, shoulder blades sticking out, head like a bobble head! And when I'm in the 150's (like…

rsqsquad05 -- "Not too proud of these but I'm making progress slowly with HARD work!" You should be REALLY proud, you've made amazing progress, and in 30 days, WOW! Way to go!

Congratulations! That's a really healthy diet. Way to go!

Over 90 pounds in less than 8 months... WOW! You look amazing, so healthy! Congratulations! I'm interested in your eating and exercise habits, if you're interested in sharing. Way to go!

You look awesome! Way to go!

You look fantastic, of course, but it's all the medical and quality-of-life improvements you describe that really warm my heart. And seeing your wife's supportive comment, how sweet! Think of what a healthy family you two are raising! You can't go back in time and change your high school/college choices, but you are…

Wow wow wow! You look amazing! What an incredible transformation. Congratulations on your success, you are truly inspiring!