allbarrett Member

I'm bucking the trend: I prefer wristwatch-style HRM. I tried a chest strap and found it extremely uncomfortable. I looked up additional suggestions on how to wear it "properly", got some personal advice, used Bodyglide, and tried once more and it took a week for my skin to heal. So, I noped out of that. My Charge HR is…

I have never felt an urge to talk to people about my weight (or my diet, my salary, my religious or political affiliations, etc.), it doesn't really seem to be anyone's business. My doctor needs to know my weight, for health reasons (but she weighs me on her office scale right there during my physical), and my husband…

Quoting for emphasis. Unless you are inviting these conversations, these all seem incredibly rude and invasive to me. My weight (like my finances, political opinions, and religious affiliation are not up for discussion by the general public.

Sodium is in pretty much all pre-packaged/convenience foods (and sometimes in high levels). The easiest way to cut back is to simply cook food from raw ingredients and spice it yourself. There are lots of wonderful spices out there that aren't already pre-packaged in blends (many blends will have salt added already), so…

I tend to eat out at places that aren't chains and don't have nutritional information online (but generally also serve smaller portions), so my go-to is just pick something that will be tasty and filling, and don't over-eat (so eat slowly and try to be honest with myself as to when I'm "not hungry" vs. when I am "full", oh…

What you eat isn't going to help you lose weight, it is how much you eat. Any diet, even "fruit and vegetable only" can include more calories than you require. Good luck with the 20 kg, but that is extremely aggressive, especially for someone who says that is all they need to lose to have "the perfect body".

Doctor-ordered B12 supplements (I have an uptake deficiency), it runs in my family (both mother and sister are on supplements, one pills and the other shots). I'm not vegan or vegetarian and I love me some red meat, I just don't (apparently) absorb it well. /shrug

No one is defending the verbal abuse you (or others) suffered. No, you don't deserve to be harassed. No, you don't deserve to be called names, or treated cruelly. And, should one of those *kitten* start hitting on you now that you are thinner, feel absolutely free to turn them down flat (and, if it makes you happy,…

And if I went by "if I can pronounce it I can eat it" (total opposite of yours), I would be able to eat anything. I trained as a chemist! I don't honestly think either approach is really a great idea. ;) I didn't see anything too scary in the OP's photo of the instant noodles. I'm not a huge fan of pre-made food (I like…

Where do you think your weight came from if not your food? This is something I wonder when I see these threads (and they come up regularly). If CICO doesn't work for you...where exactly is the extra mass coming from? Basically, you are working with an equation. If Calories In = Calories Out, then you maintain your weight.…

"No thanks, I'm good right now." "I'll grab more if I'm still hungry when I'm finished this." "Everything is so tasty I'm trying to have just a little bit of everything." Personally, I usually stick with #1 but my family has learned not to be pushy with me about things (food being one of a long list) so the idea that…

Don't work out at the gym or pool (or anywhere else in public, really) when you are sick....for the people around you if not for yourself. Just because you can drug up and repress the symptoms doesn't mean you aren't contagious (there are people who do this, for work, the gym or whatever...if you aren't one of them, then…

I made the pumpkin scones someone linked to above, they were pretty good! In terms of the Christmas baking (much as it pains me to look 4 months out), if you are the baker, either plan on baking less, bake what you want and be sure to give it away as quickly as you make it, or bulk freeze it and only thaw out what you need…

Would you rather be admired for being smart (medical school) or being decorative (pretty)? Comparisons like this are insensitive and create strife in the family, but if you've asked for it to stop and it hasn't, then I would just ignore it. You and your fiance can be proud of what you have accomplished and your goals. Your…

I have, on occasion, gotten BRUTAL cramps while running, typically around week 3 of my cycle (and no, they aren't a stitch, my liver or anything else, I know where my uterus is located and what it feels like when it starts to spasm). The best thing I've found is to slow down to a walk and keep walking at least 30 minutes…

Pros: will likely push you harder than you will push yourself (at least at first), can teach you to do weight lifting (or whatever) safely, will help you track your progress, if you are paying for help you are less likely to skip the gym "just 'cuz" Cons: can be expensive (or very expensive!), not all trainers are created…

I ounce equals around 28 grams. Google can do conversions for you (just type "convert grams to ounces" in the search bar and it will give you a mass conversion utility online).

What is stopping you? You don't feel like it? You are intimidated by something? Start with small steps: commit to logging everything you eat. EVERYTHING (food, drinks, condiments, cooking oils, snacks, meals, whatever) for a week. Get it all in there. Then, see if you can make one small improvement (for example: if you…

QFT I think this got lost in a lot of the other good comments. Treating eating as an addiction has a strong possibility of creating unhealthy patterns (eating disorders among them). Since it isn't possible to simply cut all food out your life (and you can cut out all opiates, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. because while…

I started with a Fitbit Flex and now have the Fitbit Charge HR. My husband started with the Jawbone UP and moved to a Fitbit Surge. We both upgraded because we wanted more features (not because our older units were no longer functional...we like new toys). I love having a step tracker (and the Charge does heartrate, sleep…

Someone offering an opinion like this deserves little more than a "well, thanks for your opinions, but I have my own goals". If they persist, escalate rudeness as desired. Honestly, why do so many people think that others NEED their opinions all the time?

I just look at my family members and remember that NOT being like them is why I got back on the fitness train. But I'm a cynical person... (my family isn't unsupportive, they are just morbidly obese, if I had a nickel for every time my parents commented on my appearance, fitness or whatever, I could retire early)

That isn't really a plateau as weight loss isn't linear. A plateau is generally when you maintain weight for a period of 4 (or 6, depending on who you ask) or more weeks. You are just experiencing normal weight loss. There are some folks around here who have nice little Excel (or other) graphs to show weight loss, and it…

eating more calories than I burn

I don't schedule days that I got over my targets, and I don't consider any day (or meal) a "cheat". Sometimes I do go over my targets (Saturday there is a family birthday, between the Belgian beer and the birthday cake, I'll probably go over unless I get my long run in that morning, which I'm going to try to do!). I figure…

When I'm at the gym, the last thing I worry about is panty lines (I'm drenched in sweat, probably stink, am breathing hard, etc., I'm not a pretty sight at the gym). Maybe just wear something comfortable (that doesn't ride up, etc.) and try not to worry about it? Or (and I admit this doesn't work for everyone, but I'm…

I like you. :) One of the reasons I go to restaurants is to try new things which I promptly turn around and try to replicate at home. I don't have the time or inclination to go back to school for cooking (though I think it would be fun), so I steal ideas from magazines, restaurants, online, etc. I love cooking! On topic: I…

I would recommend going to a sports store (Running Room or whatever you have available) and getting fitted for proper shoes. This can be especially important if you require orthotics. In all honesty, IMO most good (for lifting, running, etc.) shoes seem to be hideous, but if you specify to the person fitting you for shoes…

It is possibly "work" but if you do it regularly (as part of your routine life), I wouldn't call it a "workout". However, there are people on MFP who will log every little thing. I don't think MFP is really supposed to demonstrate (to you, or anyone else) that you didn't just lie on the couch all day, but to each their own.

I prefer coffee, personally, but you can pry my caffeine from my cold dead hands. If you feel, however, that you need to reduce your caffeine intake, my suggestion would be to wean yourself off it slowly. For several days, note exactly how much you are drinking, then reduce the amount a little (by maybe 10% or 1 cup or…