spoiledpuppies Member

I use padded straps, and they make a huge difference. Perhaps I need to do hand strengthening exercises, but for now, I wouldn't be able to do some lifts without them. (They basically make it so you can focus on what you're actually working on rather than your hands.) http://harbingerfitness.com/product/21300/

Fantastic -- congratulations!

thanks - I love marshmallows!

bump

My original goal weight was 145. Then as the pounds came off, I changed to 135. Then I changed to 123 (with a "permanent" goal of staying between 123-127). However... when I hit 123, I was too thin. My body fat is low with a good amount of muscle, so maybe I was smaller than the scale would imply. As I transitioned to…

This is SO worth celebrating!!! Great work and continued success to you!

I didn't do this. Everyone's different, but to me that would seem to negate hard work I put in during the week. I guess I never found any food/treats to be worth it. Now, for maintenance (which I did for years with a past 50-pound loss, prior to my recent 40-pound loss on top of it), I found that I naturally would enjoy my…

I really like Metabolic Reset chocolate or vanilla.

It feels confident, disciplined, and like you can take on the world. (I think this is probably more true for people who have worked to lose weight than those who come by thinness naturally because we have the added pride in our hard work and accomplishment.) Just today, as I walked into a grocery store, there was an…

It's totally fine. The only thing I'd recommend is maybe stretching out of your comfort zone for a meal or so per week. Try new recipes. For me, being able to evolve to more dishes would make it more sustainable.

I'll give you real pity. That does stink. It's exactly why I opted out of a skydiving outing recently--I didn't want to hurt my foot on the landing and keep myself out of the gym in exchange for just a few moments of a rush. ...but of course, things can happen in one's own driveway too!

I love my Merrell Bareform Arc Access! (They're zero drop but with just a bit of cushion.) I wasn't able to run for years and tried everything overly supportive. Now I'm back at it! And definitely ease into them, watch the Merrell videos online. I thought I was doing well, taking it slowly, and then bumped an early run…

I agree that the 500-mile goal seems high. Since you're already going 5.25 miles at a shot, I would focus on cardio fitness in general, which you'll develop though a HIIT program. (...things like 10 20-second sprints, with 2 minutes of total rest in between, or 7 40-second sprints with a minute of rest in between, or just…

Not to pile it on, but I agree with the others. You're overestimating your calorie burns and/or underestimating your food intake. Buckle down and be super accurate/consistent. Weigh everything to the gram. Use a HRM to measure calorie burns. You can even take it a step further and only record your "net" calorie burns (the…

In February, the BIA scale put me at 11% and the DEXA at 15.9% on the same day. Since then, I do the BIA scale weekly, and it has me down to 6.9% at last check. My doctor said that he wasn't concerned at 15.9%, but he just wanted me to focus on more muscle (even though I already had a lot) for bone density reasons. At…

Now that I'm getting up by 4:30am to hit the gym, I actually try to go to bed by 8:30pm.

I've dealt with PF for years and have worked with many podiatrists, sports doctors, and physical therapists. I tried most everything including custom orthotics. I kept listening to the advice to wear really supportive shoes/inserts. It was only when I gave up and decided to trust in the theory of minimalist shoes that I'm…

From what I've heard, the DEXA is actually more accurate than the Bod Pod. I almost got a Bod Pod since it was more readily available and cheaper, but then I found a doctor that includes a DEXA in a standard physical. (I also just read that a BIA scale like the InBody 520 can be really accurate. I'm actually hoping that…

I use stevia and vanilla or almond extract. I also typically eat it with fresh fruit like cherries, peaches, or strawberries. Or sometimes in winter, I used canned fruit like peaches or pineapple. Especially with then canned pineapple, extra sweeteners wasn't even needed.

Exactly this. I had a DEXA in February and have another scheduled for August, with lifting in the meantime. I can't wait to see the results. (I use a BIA scale about weekly at my gym just for an idea of my trend. In February, I did both on the same day, and the DEXA put me about 4-5% higher for BF, so it will be…

I would strike a balance, as it seems like you're settling into already. Enjoy some treats, but try to stay within your calorie allotment. While bootcamp may be challenging and help you drop weight, it will be good to hit it strong and fit; and for me, a couple of weeks of going completely off rails would leave me less…

I love Fage plain, full-fat especially, but I also keep the 0% fat on hand. I add vanilla or almond extract, stevia, fruit, and nuts. The flavored Fage is pretty good too, but I haven't seen it in full-fat.

While eating late may not affect calorie burn, for me, it does affect my sleep since I go to bed early. So I'd "front-load" your day--eat a good hearty breakfast, bring a substantial snack/lunch for class (you must get a break), and maybe another snack for your way home (or have a snack in mind for when you arrive home).…

Agree with above that it's relative to your goals. Generally speaking though, you're fine.

Pretty much every morning, I have eggs, lots of veggies, and sausage often with a fruit chaser. Then two hours later, I eat again. My trainer wants me to eat a 30/30 meal immediately after working out (weight lifting), and then another 30/30 meal within 2 hours. So sometimes, the second meal is a 30/30 protein bar,…

My trainer has me set to 40% fat, which amounts to 98g per day. I rarely get quite that high, but here's what I do: - Full-fat Fage greek yogurt - 1-2 Tbsp of oil on salad or steamed veggies (on the salad, I also add a 1/2-Tbsp of balsamic vinegar and seasonings) - avocado in salads or on sandwiches - mayo on sandwiches -…

I've been working with a trainer for a few months now for heavy lifting. He recommends just a 1/2 scoop of protein powder (which amounts to 10g of protein and 56 calories) with water before a lifting workout. He prefers fasted cardio, which is how I've always approached it.

Not much new to add, but just additional encouragement: You're likely just replenishing glycogen. (If you want to maintain at a lower weight, maybe lose 3-5 more pounds, then transition to maintenance again, at which point you'll restore glycogen again and level out where you want to be.) I'm in maintenance, and I've had a…

I agree with this. Different things work for different people. I didn't use "cheat days" while losing, and I typically abstain from "treat" type of foods. I generally think about what I could eat instead--and to me, the "instead" ends up being more filling/satisfying. Especially now that I'm doing a lot of weight lifting…

Honestly, especially in the past I've thought that they're kind of gross - but I say this as a girl who has them! I've learned they're from having low BF% along with muscles that push the veins to the surface. My trainer says he loves them on girls. My husband says they're sexy. Nurses who drew my blood said they mean I'm…