pandafoo Member

My name is Kat, I'm turning 43 next month, and I'm a first time mom to an adorable 3 month old daughter. I would like to drop 30+ pounds to reach 140. My weight has gone up and down so many times, but I hope that having a newborn will help me make lasting changes so I can be around for her and my hubby for a long time.…

I'm turning 43 next month and am a first time mom to a 3 month old daughter. Was on MFP before but now am more serious about getting healthy for my daughter's and husband's sake. Feel free to add me!

Adding both of you! I'm 13 weeks postpartum

This is one of those topics that garners a lot of controversy online. For example, you could cook 10 oz of ribeye but render 2 oz of fat away while grilling it, so you end up eating 8 oz. Then again, if you put the same amount of beef chuck in a pot to make stew, the fat doesn't go anywhere so the calories for uncooked vs…

Thanks Charlene! But shouldn't my measurements be smaller compared to last month if I'm really toning up? That's what I'm confused about.

It's great that you're eating lots of healthy and unprocessed foods, with lots of vegetables. Today's intake looks awesome! :) For future reference, when eating snacks, it's better to pair a simple carb with a protein/fat source, compared to eating the carb by itself. An example is fruit which is digested very quickly (it…

If I don't like how something tastes, I won't eat it even if it's healthy! The same goes for you... you don't HAVE to eat something just because it's healthy or a superfood. :) I guess the only time I'd eat something I don't like is if someone else made it for me. But until then... these are the foods I actively dislike:…

Generally, I think we should change the way we view food. If you call it a trigger food, you'll automatically associate it with uncontrolled eating and indulging. Also, no food is inherently evil or good... there's no morality tied to any food. However, it's normal for many people to categorize foods as good or bad...which…

Going to the gym when it's summertime and beautiful out is really a drag! :) I'd recommend finding outdoors activities that you truly enjoy and don't feel like exercise... such as hiking, playing tennis, canoeing, and playing tag with your kids. This will balance out whatever yummy stuff you're eating this summer. :)

I love Coke Zero and usually average one can a day. I still plan on drinking it, but now am also drinking carbonated flavored waters such as the ones in the Sparkling Ice line which have awesome flavors. Eventually, I'd like to move more toward water infused with fresh fruit. I used to be much better at drinking that, but…

I usually work out such as play tennis or take walks with my husband, or go to gym classes. I also like to do online shopping, chat with friends over the phone, plan my next day's meals and snacks, and play computer games. :) What would probably be most effective is to find an activity that requires you to use both hands,…

I agree, asking a trainer (or friend who's very experienced in strength training) to teach you how to properly do the moves is very important. Books like New Rules of Lifting for Women can also be helpful, but nothing beats a real person. Another option is using phone apps. My favorite one currently is Full Fitness which…

I used to run a lot more than I do now. These days if I run, it's to train for a half-marathon, which I've done 5 of already. My next one is the famous Disneyworld one in November (excited about that!). Running is a very efficient exercise for the time that you put in, meaning you'll probably burn more calories in 30…

I love junk food too so I can relate! Making small changes one at a time will be much easier in the long run. So don't start by cutting out all junk food immediately. Perhaps if it's soda, start reducing the number of cans you drink every day, try that for a couple weeks, then replace the soda with the diet fruit-flavored…

The Blacklist, hands down. There's a reason it is ranked #1 across all major networks. I love James Spader's acting, the storyline, and suspense throughout! Did anyone catch the stupendous season finale last night??? I can't wait until Season 2!

I steam a chopped head of cauliflower with lots of garlic cloves (around 5-10). Make sure it's completely steamed or else the consistency won't be very smooth. Then I blend in food processor with 2 tbls butter, around 1/2 cup almond milk (only 30 calories/cup!), and salt/pepper/herbs to taste. You can also add some cream…

My husband and I love grilling things for dinner most of the weekdays. The first thing to get is this amazing meat tenderizer which is like 48 tiny blades that break up the tendons: http://www.amazon.com/Jaccard-200348-Supertendermatic-48-Blade-Tenderizer/. I wish I'd discovered it years ago! It can make cheaper cuts of…

These are some things I usually choose from. Feel free to adapt to your preferences :) Breakfast -scrambled eggs Gordon Ramsay style - the fluffiest eggs ever! -Ezekiel bread (gluten-free) toasted with 1 tbls peanut butter on it -smoothie with 1/2 frozen banana, 1 tbls peanut butter, a bit of cocoa powder, some raw…

My husband and I recently started eating Paleo, which is basically low-carb without the bread, rice, etc. The only carbs come from vegetables and fruits. Here are some great resources for recipes: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-paleo-recipes/#axzz31XsqZ3hh http://nomnompaleo.com/ - her cookbook is amazing too During…

I agree with you, it's very important to schedule in your workouts. I'm fortunate to work for a company that offers an amazing gym with awesome classes. Most of the times, I work out around lunchtime but it just depends on the class times. I have set up recurring meeting appointments for these gym workouts in Outlook, so…

I don't believe that the timing of the meals really matters in the grand scheme of weight loss - it's about your net calories over time. However, if you eat a heavy snack like an In-and-Out burger right before bedtime, it may be uncomfortable going to sleep! :) I like some of the tips people mentioned such as brushing your…

-Most reality shows (e.g., Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo Boo, Bachelor/Bachelorette), except for cooking ones like Masterchef and Top Chef -How I Met Your Mother -Two and a Half Men -Supernatural (my husband loves this tho) -Vampire Diaries, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel (most vampire/demon shows) - will be interesting to see…

I try to eat something I enjoy every day, even if it's a small snack like chocolate covered frozen bananas. It's not as if I eat everything that I want every day; otherwise, I'll be loading up on fried chicken, mac and cheese, and all my other favorite foods. So for the most part, I eat clean during the week with a small…

I'm trying to fit in more proteins too. On top of meats like steak or fish, other sources of protein I usually eat are eggs, cheese, milk, nuts, tofu, and beans. Some of these items such as nuts are high-fat, but usually they have the good kinds of fats and if you eat in moderation, it will be fine. For example, 1/4 cup of…

Breakfast is usually one of the following: -smoothie: 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 tbls peanut butter, tsp cocoa powder, tbls raw unsweetened coconut flakes -toasted slice of Ezekiel sesame bread with peanut butter -scrambled eggs Gordon Ramsay style - which are the fluffiest eggs ever! Lunch: my company offers…

I love peanut butter too and try to limit it to 1 tbls a day, usually in the morning on toast or in my smoothie. The recommended daily serving of nuts is 1/4 cup, which translated to peanut butter would be 4 tbls, so it sounds like you're hitting the mark. :) There are some camps that believe we shouldn't eat peanuts or…

Hi, I'm really sorry to hear that you're battling depression. I'm going through my 3rd major bout of depression, and started taking Celexa 2 weeks ago. I know that's not very long, but I'm still slimming down at around 2 lbs/week (which is what I was losing prior to taking Celexa). For myself, I think the key is net…

I am fortunate that my company offers an amazing gym with lots of classes. The ones I've been doing lately include spinning, a P90x-like class, Zumba, and ballroom dancing. When I'm not taking classes, I go on the elliptical or lift weights. Outside the gym, I'm trying to take walks with my husband after dinner. Sometimes…

These are my favorites! -morning smoothie: almond milk (only 30 calories/cup!), frozen banana, peanut butter, unsweetened raw coconut flakes, cocoa powder - so yummy and healthy! -mashed cauliflower - a fantastic substitute for mashed potatoes and the consistency is VERY similar! chop up cauliflower head and steam along…