mereditheve Member

I would guess the broccoli ricotta is probably fewer calories than the cheese pizza. Ricotta is almost 50% lower in calories than mozzarella and is still high in protein and calcium.

Walk in the cold anyway! That's what I do -- I probably live a lot farther north than you too! Just the other weekend, I walked 10 miles in the cold & rain. It was awesome. The greater the challenge, the greater the sense of accomplishment. Wear a warm base layer, throw on a shirt over it, put on a warm coat with a hood &…

Thanks... so that brings me to my point... it may not be accurate. Let's say you were biking downhill, or on a stationary bike that provided little resistance and you used momentum... you may have burned a lot less than you think. I would not take MFP's estimates as gospel.

Are you sure you burned 1,285 calories biking for 2 hours? What did you use to calculate this?

So you think because you are 400 lbs that you should: 1 - REDUCE the amount of exercise to 20% of what you are currently doing 2 - Eat fewer calories than would sustain someone who is 100 lbs 3 - Continue to have a binge day each week?? I hope you realize how silly all of this sounds. If you're serious about losing weight,…

Not at all! If anything, a relationship gives me more opportunities to be out and about doing things that challenge me (e.g., I probably wouldn't have gone backpacking through Alaska without my husband there too). I've personally never understood why relationships/dates revolve around food and drinks. It just seems so…

As usual, the answer is somewhere in the middle. It's not just a matter of IIFYM - more like IFYM&M (macros and micros)... here's a decent article that talks about it in more depth: http://www.seannal.com/articles/nutrition/iifym-diet-legit-if-it-fits-your-macros.php

You're trying to make it a black and white answer -- a calorie deficit alone does not make it so the body cannot build muscle, so it is still possible to build muscle on a calorie deficit. However, that does not mean that everyone can. A number of factors matter in whether a specific individual will build muscle on a…

Most of my workouts are unconventional... I do a lot (I mean a LOT) of hiking, almost every morning before work. On weekends, I go kayaking and/or climbing when I get the chance. Salsa dancing is great cardio and core workouts and I don't think of it as a workout until I realize I'm drenched in sweat by the end of the…

1 - TRUE - There is a limit to the amount of muscle your body can build in a given period of time. 2 - FALSE - You can actually build muscle with a calorie deficit. Your body will continue to burn its reserves (fat - it is easier to burn than muscle), and if you are lifting, it will have to spend its available…

Here's some food you can buy on the cheap that will help you build muscle and keep your energy levels higher: 1- Spinach - great source of fiber, calcium, vitamins. Usually you can get small bags of it for around $2.50/bag 2 - Chicken - lean protein source, usually around $3.99/lb, sometimes cheaper if you get chicken…

Your grocery bill seems insanely high to me. Tips: - Shop around the outer edge of the grocery store (e.g., produce, dairy, meat, eggs). - Buy staples in bulk (oats, flour, sugar, etc.) and buy them when they go on sale - Don't buy the cutesy, processed foods with the fancy packaging I spend about $35/week for two adults.…

Depression is tough. I've never had clinical depression, but have gone through times where I feel sad/depressed, as everyone does. I, too, am not hungry at all then, and since I can't force myself to eat, I have to force myself to do something to get the "nothing matters" thoughts out of my head first. Here are a couple…

As previous posters said, "clean" bulking is not having a high calorie surplus so you don't gain as much fat in the process. Will add that this hits on a pet peeve of mine... maybe I'll post more on this later... that there are so many myths about "bulking." The biggest myth is that you have to eat a lot of food. Some…

Go with the quarter fried chicken -- the calorie variance for fried chicken is not that high, and I'd estimate that the entrée (not inclusive of any sides) would be 600 calories. A fried drumstick is 120 calories, 7g fat, 3g carbs. And chicken is fairly lean and full of protein. For the sides, avoid the baked beans - even…

Possibly one of the worst articles I've read disguised as "thoughtful" Thin is not privilege, it's work and sacrifice. People don't judge you better for being thin -- in fact, people with more mass, who are mistaken for being older, often are higher earners than others their same age who look younger/more junior because of…

Depends -- do you like them? If so, get them altered. If you don't have any desire to wear them again, donate them! Take the tax writeoff, encourage yourself to keep your newfound fit shape, and help someone in need.

You didn't break a rule -- people share product recommendations on here all the time. It's only "You may not post any links or mentions of other services, websites, or businesses from which you or an associate might benefit financially or otherwise."

I've never liked most carbs (not a fan of pasta, white potatoes, chips, crackers, cake, etc.) so I have tons of low carb recipes. Here are the easy stand-bys. 1 - Avocado salad - sliced avocados, tomatoes, bell peppers and a little bit of lime juice 2 - Tuna salad with hard boiled egg -- eat with celery sticks 3 - Protein…

The poster was just recommending a product that he/she tried -- I doubt they stand anything to benefit and they probably don't own BPI since it's a well established brand. I haven't tried their BCAAs, but I often pack their 5-serving chocolate whey protein with me when I travel each week -- it's very good, mixes well, 25g…

Believe it or not, winter is a great time to get in shape. In summer, there are so many distractions but I find that winter is when I regain my focus. Try hiking in the snow... it's more difficult and it makes for such a peaceful hike. I'll often go for long hikes in snowy weather. Just get yourself some good waterproof…

1,200 calories is typically a minimum for an adult. There may be exceptions for adults who are very petite already and/or sedentary, but 1,200 calories is not a lot for a normal, active adult. Your math is incorrect because you are assuming you don't burn calories at rest. Your body has to burn calories to keep your brain…

What the OP is asking is if there is a significant issue with metabolism dropping if you consume fewer calories. The answer is no -- your body still has to burn calories to keep vital functions working and your body's metabolism is fairly efficient as it is. People often talk about starvation mode because as they lose…

For all they know, you've been on an African safari or studying abroad in Paris for the last few months ... just get back in there and work out! It's your membership, go whenever you want!

I thought the same thing... not bashing Crossfit, but it's not exactly about form....

I guess it depends on where you live. I've lived/worked on the east and west coasts and outside of the lower 48 and think people are a little more laid back over on the west coast and in Hawaii... a little random act of kindness card that says "No reason, just something to brighten another person's day!" with a Macy's or…

I want to offer another perspective. Going through this girl's school is the most intrusive way of simply giving her a gift. How would you feel if I went to your boss after seeing your work outfits weren't very stylish, and asked that your boss give you some new suits that I would pay for? It would be humiliating! Not only…

If that's all you're doing, why bother going to the gym? Go for long walks outside at a brisk pace instead. What do you mean heavy lifting manly stuff? Bench press? You can do that! Dumbbells? You can do that too! Conquer your fear. Start with a weight that challenges you, but doesn't completely overwhelm you. Soon enough,…

Do NOT take this advice! Kava is another substance to abuse. It is addictive and dangerous even to a healthy liver, let alone to someone who is already drinking daily. It is natural to have a crutch, especially after dealing with a traumatic event. It only becomes a problem when that crutch does you more harm than good. I…

It varies, but here's a typical day: Weekday: When I wake up in the morning: - Stretching - 50 standard push ups (warm up in my room) - 50 decline push ups - 50-100 Jackknife sit ups - 25 squats Midday escape from the office: - Walk 2 miles Gym (modified for gyms that have minimal equipment -- i.e., hotels): - Superset:…