popsicklestar Member

I don't love the word "skinny." I'd much prefer to be called "fit" because I want to have curves and muscle and never want to look too skinny. Of course a lot of people divide people into two groups: skinny and fat. If you're not fat, you're skinny. I definitely prefer it to "fat," but no, it's not my favorite adjective.

I'm 5'6.5" and have gone from 165 to 140. I started in mid January. I think I want to go to 135, but definitely not lower than 130 because it's just too skinny on my body frame. I'm not as worried about the weight so much as my body fat percentage. I'm trying to go a few percentage points lower.

I've consistently worked out for awhile, but my weight usually fluctuated between the highest weight for my height to not be overweight and 5-10 pounds overweight. I was still in good physical shape due to my working out, but could definitely stand to lose at least 10 pounds. I had just finished a month long cleanse and…

Unfortunately, women's sizing is not at all consistent between brands. You just have to figure out what size you are in the brands you like. Junior's sizing is smaller. You usually need to add 3 to your women's size to get your junior's size. If you wear a 6 in women's, you will wear about a 9 in junior's. Junior's clothes…

There's nothing wrong with ordering a healthy option when you go out, but having worked in the service industry, I don't think it's appropriate to interrogate your server about minutiae. A question or two is okay, but you have to understand that the server probably doesn't know. They're often really busy, and they don't…

I haven't given it up completely, but I try to limit it to one, once or twice a week if I even want it at all. It may not hinder weightloss, but it can make you retain water weight and can affect your cravings and appetite. Overall, it's pretty chemical and unnatural and doesn't have any positive, nutritional value.…

Never eat/drink anything you don't like. You'll just be unsatisfied and want to eat something else that you do like. I like shakes because they're a convenient way to get in a protein rich, balanced meal/snack. I use Arbonne protein powder, and it's pretty yummy with unsweetened almond milk. With some powders, I've felt…

I actually kind of enjoy logging. I like breaking things down and trying to figure out how many calories things have. I totally wing it a lot of the time, though, and just pick something that's similar in the system, and it's worked for me. I often just guesstimate about how big something is and pick an entry based on how…

I have a vivid memory of being a teenager and crying because I ate pizza one day, and my weight went up in one day. I thought I had fat genes, and I couldn't enjoy foods like pizza, or I would be doomed to be fat. My Dad felt helpless to console me as I took off crying to go to the gym. Apparently no one taught either of…

You're definitely losing weight slower because you are close to your goal. I have similar stats to you. I'm 5'7'' and am now trying to go from 142 to 135. I could do 2 pounds a week when I started losing weight, but since I've gotten closer to my goal, it comes off much slower. I guess we just have to be patient and…

I try to do one month a year without drinking at all. I'm not a huge drinker, but I have an active social life, and drinking seems to be a part of most events. I usually try to limit drinking to once or twice a week or every two weeks, and when I drink, I try to avoid sugary drinks, although they have some pretty amazing…

No, I don't want to talk about mine either. I've been fortunate that no one has been rude enough to ask about actual numbers yet, so that's good. It's nice when people just tell me I look awesome, but I don't want to explain details about how I did it, mostly because there's no magical secret to explain. I workout…

I think if you're within your calorie and your macro goals, fruit is a healthy choice.

In a way it is, but I would also factor in exercise, macro ratios and the nutrition quality of the foods you're eating. I've worked out consistently for a long time, but I didn't drop that extra 20 pounds until I put my diet in check.

There is tons of conflicting supposedly scientific information out there about nutrition. If you watch Forks over Knives or listen to Dr. Michael Greger, they will tell you that animal products are horrible and the worst thing you can eat. Paleo supporters advocate the opposite. We obviously have to eat something, and if…

I totally wing it when I'm logging when I need to. I just try to err on the higher side. It doesn't have to be precisely perfect. When I don't know at all, I just look at calorie amounts for different entries and pick the one that seems about like the amount I ate. After counting calories for a while, you'll have a decent…

I started at 1200 and have been slowing upping my calories as I get closer to goal. I'm at 1450 now. My diary's open, but you might have to friend me, not sure. Some things I eat regularly are protein shakes with unsweetened almond milk, hummus, small tortillas or wheat flat bread, greek yogurt, eggs, swiss chard, spinach,…

It is hard for me to make it to the gym after I get off work and I'm tired, but I always go straight to the gym when I wake up on my days off. That means that even on a terrible week when I'm super busy and exhausted, I always exercise at least two days. Usually, I can get my act together and make it in at least one or two…

Yes, and I get really angry because it's my body, and it's not their place to tell me what to do with it. I could maybe understand if I was in danger of being underweight, but I'm not at all. I know I'm healthy, and I've chosen my own goal based on how I feel.

No, because unless I go over by a lot, I'll still be at a deficit or near my TDEE. I might lose slower, but I still lose. I go over for special events and social outings, but I try to at least stay under my TDEE. I feel like it's also important that I have a social life and let myself have some treats, and I think it's…

Yes, I will be attending a BBQ. I'll log everything, and may go over a little, but will at least try not to. Going to try to workout in the morning to earn some extra calories. Since I've been eating less, I get full quicker, so that helps.

I usually just have a bottle of water and a protein bar in my purse for if I get hungry, but if I've worked out that day and can fit in the calories, sometimes I'll get pizza or a hot dog as a special treat. Sometimes I get tea at the theatres that have it.

I think it's important to let yourself have a social life, even when you're dieting. I would try to eat as healthy and low-cal as you can the rest of the day, so you can leave yourself some calories to have a drink or two and a little snack. If you have a chance, workout earlier that day to get more calories. You can…

I do feel there are people who have a genetic predisposition to gain weight, and I grew up being bitter that I was one those people. I do have things that I am lucky to have, though. I am lucky to have a Mom who got me into fitness and working out. I might not have gotten into working out if I was naturally thin, and…

I have really similar stats to you. I'm 35 and 5'7''. I weighed 166 when I started losing weight, and now weigh 143. My goal weight is 137, maybe 135, not sure yet. Before I started mfp, I did a month where I cut out sugar, artificial sugar, dairy, alcohol, red meat, gluten, soy, and restricted carbs to 1/2 cup servings. I…

You look beautiful, and your cooking looks delicious!

I weigh myself everyday. I always do it right when I wake up before I eat anything. Sometimes the scale does go up when I haven't really gone over my calories much, and it's usually because I ate too much sodium the previous day or did a really intense workout and it's due to muscle damage repair. If you haven't eaten over…

It depends what you consider a cheat day and how often you have them. If you have your calories set to a high deficit and you go over a little, you could still be at a deficit. If you eat at your maintenance calories, you won't gain, but you won't lose. You have to be consistently eating at a deficit to lose weight, so if…

I feel the same way. I feel conflicted about it. It makes me feel good that people think I look good, but I get embarrassed when people make such a big deal about it. I'm still the same person. I only lost a little over 20 pounds; does it really warrant that much of a reaction?

I work with kids and teenagers, and I totally want to show them this. Younger people can be even more susceptible to body image issues.