Skye76

Can I at least plead for civility?

Wow. Just...wow. I have rarely seen such vehemence outside the political or religious realms. As the OP, I hereby declare this thread officially dead. Please return to doing whatever works best for you. And good luck to everyone! :flowerforyou:

I have a small cooler with lunch meat, cheese, and veggies in it. I admit, I probably look a little strange eating turkey, cheese, and spinach rolls at my desk occasionally, but it keeps the blood sugar from crashing.

The quick answer? Whenever you want to. If you feel low-energy during your workout, eat before. If you feel nauseous working out with food in your stomach, eat afterwards. If you're attempting to build muscle, just make sure you have some source of protein within an hour of your workout (before or after).

This is one of my biggest peeves. Most gyms only have one or two squat racks or power cages. I don't mind waiting for someone to finish their squats or deadlifts (how could you possibly work in on a squat or deadlift?), but for crying out loud, do your curls somewhere else. Speaking of working in, another peeve is people…

You're right, everyone's body does react differently. I can't answer your anecdotal evidence; all I can do is cite scientific studies.

Can you give me some sort of study which backs this up? Of course, I agree with you. The problem lies in the misunderstanding of MFP's prompt, which tells us that we are in danger of going into "starvation mode" if we don't eat 1200 kCal per day. The prompt is poorly worded, and often misunderstood.

You're right. Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, Splenda, whatever) cause an insulin spike in your system. This in turn causes your body to convert carbohydrates already in your system into fat for long-term storage. Assuming you have no carbohydrates in your system, it's not an issue, but most of us have at least some wet…

This. You want lean meats, veggies, fruits, eggs. If it comes in a box, IT'S NOT FOOD. Stay away from anything processed. Couple this with strength training (compound lifts like squats, push presses, and bench presses), and you'll be amazed at how easily the weight comes off and the muscle goes on.

Try a couple tablespoons of natural peanut butter; it's calorie-dense, very filling. Or you may want to look into steel-cut oats rather than your toast, as the carbs are more complex and will make you feel fuller.

Admittedly, natural sources of protein are better than processed whey, but can you point to any scientific evidence at all that says that supplemental protein is useless?

This might sound silly, but do it anyway. Make a list. Every reason, no matter how ridiculous or off-the-wall it sounds, that you want to lose weight. And be specific! If you want to lose weight because you're dying to enter the guacamole-wrestling contest, write it down! None of these vague, "I want to look better" or "I…

How long it takes to build muscle depends on genetics more than anything else; some people struggle for months, while it comes very easily to others. When you refer to not being able to (easily) build muscle while in a calorie deficit, you're referring to the addition of muscle mass. It sounds more like you're…

Probably not a good idea. Liquid diets play havoc with your digestive system, and your body will begin craving solid food. If you're anything like me, cravings can too easily lead to binges.

I actually just posted this in another forum, but you need to know that there is no such thing as starvation mode. It's a myth. There's absolutely no scientific evidence behind it at all. What tends to cause people who consume fewer calories to retain weight is more the types of calories being consumed - your body…

This has been discussed in other forums, but it bears repeating: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS STARVATION MODE. There is absolutely no scientific evidence, anywhere, at any time, which supports the myth of "starvation mode." Your body will NOT suddenly start attacking your muscles because you're not eating a certain number of…

A friend runs a Masquerade Ball in LA every summer, and some of the most amazing costumes are mostly just bodypaint. I want to be able to do that ;)

A low-carb diet is generally considered to be less than 100g per day. I think the RD article got their number from the Atkins diet, which starts people at <20g a day, and then you add on 5g a week until you get to a maintenance level (usually between 80 and 120 depending on body size, if I remember correctly). Basic…

Unfortunately, fasted cardio (except at very low intensities) is a myth. It makes little difference whether you do your cardio when you're fasting or not, and more difference if you do your cardio at your thermic peak (which varies from individual to individual). Link:…

I listen to a lot of electronica, dubstep, that sort of thing. I find that lyrics distract me, and the steady, fast beat keeps me moving.

Hi, Cindy. Just joined myself; hopefully we can keep each other on track!

I'm in the Miami area. Any other SoFla MFPers here?

I am right there with you, man!

Congrats on breaking past that plateau!

That's interesting; I lived in Savannah for almost five years, moved down to Miami about three years ago. Winters are great (it's 76 today), but hurricane season is a pain.

Thanks, guys; I appreciate it. Good luck to both of you as well!