PugBug20

I LOVE Quest bars! They're expensive, but totally worth it, in my opinion. To answer your questions: My experience: I'm obsessed with Quest bars (a box doesn't last me longer than a week!). I could live on protein bars alone and these are my favorite. If you're watching your weight, they're a calorie bargain (all under 200…

So, basically, do what I've been doing, just up my daily calories by 100 or so (and if I continue to lose, eat more, and if I gain, eat less)?

Thanks for the advice! I'm back down to "normal" today, so I guess it was just the scale? I usually don't freak out when it goes up or down a few ounces, but I was just confused as to why it went up 3 pounds overnight for no apparent reason. I weigh myself daily because I find that it holds me more accountable, but hey,…

Also, I didn't consume any alcohol, soda, etc. I ate exactly what I eat every other day (I'm a creature of habit and don't change up my diet very often). That's why I'm so confused.

Also, I know I didn't actually gain 3 pounds overnight since I didn't eat an extra 10,000+ calories that day. I should have asked, "Why did the scale go up 3 pounds overnight?". I worded it incorrectly, my apologies.

I weighed myself again this morning at the same time I usually weigh myself (I shouldn't have, I know, I know, but I couldn't help it) and I'm still 5 pounds heavier than I was before Christmas. Is this the real damage, or could I still be hanging onto water weight? I got back on track yesterday and most of the bloat is…

Ohhh, I think I get it. So, basically, 1/4 cup dry rice can make as much as 1 cup or as little as 3/4 cup cooked rice, depending on the amount of water you use and how long you let it cook, but the calories stay the same because technically it's still the same amount of rice. Right?

I always go by weight because, like you said, it's the most accurate form of measurement. When you measure by volume, there's so much room for error. However, the nutrition facts only listed the weight of a serving of dry rice, not cooked rice. I weighed the cooked rice and it weighed 88 grams, but I don't know if that can…

So the box is wrong?

I'm surprised, but not that surprised. I usually gain 3-4 pounds (including water weight) from just one cheat meal, so you can imagine what 2 full days of eating like garbage has done to me.

I'm back on track today and I feel so much better already. I don't know how I used to eat like that all the time! A few more questions: 1. When do you think the scale will be accurate again and show the actual damage done and not water weight, undigested food, etc.? 2. Is it possible that I'm so bloated (I literally look 6…

So you think at least half of that is just water weight? I didn't eat anything that salty, though, mostly carbs and sweets, which is why I'm so concerned. I can live with gaining 5 pounds, but 12 is a major setback. I know it's my own fault, but I'm just freaking out.

Also, according to multiple websites, I should be eating 1,200 calories a day to lose and 1,400 calories a day to maintain. Actually, some said even less. And these numbers are based on my gender, height, weight, and activity level (even though I work out almost every day, I don’t have an “active” lifestyle since I’m a…

I don't eat back the calories I burn exercising, but I've always been told that you aren't supposed to?

Thank you for all of the help. I'm petite (I'm 5'0 and weigh about 106, which is average for a woman my height), so 1,200 calories should be fine for someone my size. Also, I eat almonds, avocado, olives, and other healthy fats on a daily basis, so I don't think that's the problem, either. I'm just confused because I eat…

So, I was brave enough to step on the scale today and I gained 2.5 pounds. I'm disappointed, of course, but it isn't the end of the world…I was 2 pounds under my goal weight before Thanksgiving, so it isn't a major setback. I got right back on track yesterday and I'm proud of myself for not falling back into my old ways…

Also, when should I weigh myself again? I know better than to step on the scale today (water weight), but when should I?

Also, in my original post, I meant to say I eat 1,200 calories a day, not 12,000…oops! Major difference.

So, basically, I should just go back to normal today (i.e., eat 1,200 calories and work out for one hour)? I shouldn't cut my calories or work out more to reverse the damage? I should probably drink more water and eat less sodium than usual, too, right?

In all fairness, I'm not sure if I *actually* ate 15,000 calories. I didn't log, so my estimations are probably not the most accurate. I would say around 5,000 - 10,000, though, easily.

Thanks for the replies. Ideally, I would like to continue losing weight at a steady pace, but if I just maintain my weight from now until the end of the semester, I'll be happy. In past semesters, I lived on fast food and sugary energy drinks during finals week (no exaggeration, sadly), so just the fact that I'm eating…

The package says 110 calories for 4 oz. as packaged, which seems low to me, but maybe I have just been overestimating my calories. Should I go by that since I'm not cooking it with any oil, seasoning, etc., so I am basically eating it as packaged (just not raw)?

I usually weigh it raw. Not to sound dumb, but which is more accurate: raw weight or cooked weight?

I'm 5'0 and my ultimate goal weight is 100-102 pounds (although 105-107 is a more realistic goal). I weighed 134 about four months ago (I gained the freshman 20), and as of this morning, I weigh 112. It is so much harder to lose weight when you are my height because, a.) you burn less calories than taller people, and b.) 5…

I know you said that you're tired of eating salad, but salad doesn't have to be boring. Instead of your typical garden salad, what about another kind of salad? Bean salads, chicken salads, tuna salads, quinoa salads, etc. are healthy, easy and fast to prepare, and can be eaten on the go. There are hundreds of recipes out…

How often should you increase your incline, resistance, speed, etc. to burn the most calories? When you current workout becomes easy?

So, basically, if you were to do the same incline, resistance, speed, etc., each time you used the machine (I don't, but hypothetically), it wouldn't burn as many calories as it would if you were to increase all of the above because your body would get used to it? I mean, I usually don't eat back the calories I burn,…

Thanks for the replies. I haven't been eating back the calories I have been losing from working out, mainly because I have always thought it defeated the purpose of working out in the first place, but I guess I should?

Luna protein bars are my favorite. Each bar has around 180 - 190 calories and 12 grams of protein. While they aren't as high in protein as some protein bars, they also aren't as high in calories (ugh, why is it so hard to find a protein bar that is both high in protein and low in calories?). They're filling, taste like…

I have only tried a few Quest bars, but I can tell you this much: the chocolate brownie is, hands down, the BEST protein bar I have ever eaten. It tastes just like a real brownie. It always satisfies my sweet tooth! I also like cookies and cream and banana nut muffin. The only one I wasn't a huge fan of was the strawberry…