seif0068 Member

I lifted through the first half of my pregnancy. You have to stop doing certain moves because there are hormones that loosen up your ligaments and can make you much more likely to injure yourself. I was already lifting for awhile before pregnancy and I just maintained when I was pregnant. I definitely think it helped me in…

Thanks everyone! We are trying to use the same machines when we can, but we work at a university and it's the start of the semester so it is PACKED - it will taper over time but the other day we would have had to wait for 3 people who were in line. We just want to make sure if we do use a different machine we know what…

Same here! What we're struggling with is trying to keep track of our weights. If the machine we used previously is in use and there is a line, we use something slightly different and it makes it hard to track our progress. Like with squats, last time we were in a squat rack where it was just a free bar but this time we…

Thanks! I tried finding a picture of the machine but can't find the exact one. What's weird is there are two machines side by side and the only difference is one has two pulleys and 2 handles and the other has just one. Both have only one stack of weights. But we both tried both machines one after another and it was quite…

Update with what is, I think, the correct terminology - it is a single stack double pulley machine. So if I pick 20 pounds, is that 20 pounds each or total? Thanks!

I like basically the same drinks you do! The first response I would give is simply to cut back and reserve drinks for special occasions and treats. That was helpful for me - instead of having a drink with dinner on a random weeknight, I reserve it for when I am out with friends, dinners with families, etc. I really like…

I have lost about 40 pounds consistently eating back my exercise calories!

I'd caution against this approach...it's the foundation for yo-yo weight. Instead of doing something temporarily and then switching, maybe the approach I used would work for you. I focused on making one small change at a time over the course of many months. I had steady results with this approach and have now been in…

Let's tone it down a notch, shall we? You obviously didn't read the post. She didn't enter the calories and doesn't plan to, but is just curious due to her kids' prodding. Might want to right-size your outrage a little bit.

Unless there are underlying medical factors not mentioned here, your doctor is wrong. Incorporating strength now will help you preserve muscle mass while you are doing cardio, and will actually help you burn calories/fat more quickly. P.S. - Fifteen pounds is great!

You're very welcome! I hope it is helpful! :)

I have lost about 40 lbs since joining MFP last September (have been at maintenance for a couple months now). The biggest advice I can give is to take it one step at a time and make it a lifestyle change. Here's roughly the process that worked for me! First week - just log. Get an idea of what your calorie intake looks…

Two large eggs = 140 calories. Piece of toast = 80 to 120 calories, depending on the bread Dab of butter, jam, etc. on toast = 40 to 100 calories. depending on the spread That's my breakfast almost every morning! Everyone thinks eggs are high in calories but they're not - it's all the crap people put in and on them that…

One year today! :D And officially at my goal weight. My original goal was to lost 30 lbs, but I actually wanted to lose 40 but didn't know if I could do it. I have, and am officially at the same weight I put on my first driver's license at age 16!!! My loss was mostly in the first 9 months, that is when I hit my initial…

So you don't exercise, but you eat back your exercise calories. Hmm...that doesn't really make sense. Seems you should just move on to the next thread then! I think it is pretty clear the OP is clearly asking for advice from those who work out and burn a significant amount of calories from working out.

Except yours is based on a false premise, that exercise is for weight loss. Exercise is for fitness and cardiovascular health. The calorie goal is supposed to be based on your weight loss goal. The deficit is built in. So if you exercise and create an even bigger deficit, you are NOT hitting your calorie deficit goal. You…

Without photos or any other history/background info, it is difficult to know for sure - but I would second the other comment here that if you are 5'6" and 120 lbs, it is HIGHLY unlikely that you need to lose weight. If you aren't happy with the way your body looks, you most likely don't have too much fat - you just aren't…

You are not going to be gaining all that much muscle from Insanity - that workout program is not nearly a hardcore enough strength program for that. It's mostly cardio and resistance training. You would need to be lifting heavy and not eating at a deficit to actually gain muscle. If you gain initially it will be water…

I think you are most likely eating too little. I would recommend that you take two weeks of eating at your TDEE to kickstart your metabolism, and then eat at only a TDEE minus 20% deficit. You have been eating roughly the same throughout this whole process, but if you have lost over 100 pounds, your body's energy needs…

Unfortunately, you can't really spot reduce. Different bodies gain and lose differently. For me, the lower belly pooch has been the absolute LAST thing to go. First it came off the boobs and back, then thighs and arms, and finally my pooch is starting to flatten out now that I am within 5 pounds of my goal weight! Some say…

Here are two flaws with your argument. 1) You are basing it on the assumption that calories burned are always inaccurate. I use a HRM; so I have a pretty good idea of how many calories I am actually burning. 2) You are interpreting "eating back" too literally. Eating back doesn't mean you have to eat them after the…

You are welcome to add me. I have logged every day for 316 days so far! :)

I am 5'7", started at 175, and am currently at 141. My initial goal was 145, and that's when I took my 'after' photos that are on my profile! Good luck! I am now shooting for 135 but not aggressively trying to get there at this point - I am focusing more on fitness. Just started half-Insanity (I am not doing it every…

Your BMR is not maintenance; that's bare-minimum-to-stay-alive. Your TDEE is maintenance. We have similar stats and mine is closer to 1700 or 1800.

I don't have first-hand experience, but I can't imagine it would be advisable to eat at a deficit while pregnant. If it were me, as soon as I got pregnant, I would immediately begin eating at my maintenance calories and my next step would be to talk about it with my doctor!

That's so funny - my goal weight was based on a similar thing! I had 135 on my very first license, though I think it was accurate at the time. When I started this process at 175, my public goal was 145 but mentally, I wanted to see how I looked and felt at 145 and then 135 was my REAL goal and it totally stems from the…

If you do increase, mentally prepare yourself for some potential "gain" right away but it isn't real weight gain. It will be water weight and your body adjusting. Biggest way to prevent this is to increase gradually, and drink lots of water. I'd say net 1350/day for a week, then 1400/day for a week, then 1450/day, then…

There is all sorts of debate about this, but since my stats are similar I will share my experience. 29 years old, 5'7" and started at 175, have lost 33 lbs in about 9 months (technically 3 lbs below my original goal weight). Similar approach to eating - trying to eat more healthy overall but not "clean" and still have…

I don't usually warm up if I am running outside - I just jog slowly to begin. On the treadmill, I walk for 5 minutes first. I never stretch before a run - but stretch well after. Experience - a few 5k's, a 10k, and my first half marathon this past weekend!