VelcroButt Member

I take the first day off or do something like walking or easy yoga because I'm in pain. After the first day I continue as normal.

30 day shred is what got me back into exercise after years of inactivity. I saw amazing improvements in my body and performance in only 30 days and that motivated me to keep going with other exercise even after I was done. It certainly isn't the only way to get in shape but it worked well for me.

I agree that it is often being intimidated by the weight room and sometimes even the gym itself. It's fairly easy to get cardio without a gym by walking, jogging, biking, hiking etc but unless you can install a home gym it's hard to replicate weight lifting at home.

I don't know about difficult to reach but I don't think it's an unrealistic goal depending on your build. I am 5'3" and look perfectly healthy at 115.

My thighs will always be thick even at a lower weight but they look strong and do not rub together when I am slim.

Of course I indulge sometimes. I can't imagine a life where I never eat (regular, non-modified) pizza, cake, or wine again. I don't eat those things all those times but I wouldn't want to try to eliminate them completely.

I had a really hard time dieting while nursing. I was SO hungry and my supply would dip if I restricted too much. My advice is to choose healthy things to eat, eat when you're hungry, drink tons of water, and get back to exercising when you get the OK from your doctor. I lost all my pregnancy weight over about 9 months…

I've had to stop using heat styling most of the time because I have to wash my hair so frequently. It's the one big downside to daily exercise for me. I've learned some interesting new braids and usually braid my hair now but I do miss my old heat-styled hair.

I don't have a problem with their DVD's though I do think they're overpriced compared to other programs on the market. I do have a problem with the MLM system in general and especially people calling themselves coaches when they may not know any more about fitness and nutrition than me.

They're fairly similar. I personally liked Ripped in 30 a bit better. I like that that all the exercises are 30 seconds in RI30 rather than the minute-long strength exercise in 30DS. I think Ripped in 30 is a bit more challenging as well and I like that there are 4 levels.

Ann Taylor Loft makes small sizes

I personally don't do any ab-specific exercises at all. They're often worked when you're doing other movements like push-ups or chin-ups so I don't find it necessary to do crunches or side planks or anything.

Yes it will definitely help preserve LBM. Even lifting once a week would help. Something is always better than nothing.

I realize this isn't your primary concern but have you tried putting your kids on bikes or roller skates (if they already know how to skate) while you run? I can actually get a decent run in with my kids this way.

After reading these boards I'm starting to think that the paleo diet must make you grumpy or something. Why get so worked up over this? If paleo works for you then yay. I'm guessing this article isn't aimed at people who are doing awesome on restrictive diets but rather at those who are struggling and are unsure of what to…

You need a minimum of 1800 calories a day while nursing. Even for someone who is not nursing your current diet doesn't have enough calories.

Hey guys. I am going to do my first 2 week challenge starting tomorrow. My goals are: 1. eat 1200-1400 calories per day 2. exercise at least 5 days a week 3. go to sleep by 10 each night (except Friday and Saturday) #3 is going to be the hardest. I'm such a night owl but it's much easier to exercise when I get enough sleep…

I gain 2-3 lb the week before and it disappears on the first day or two.

I know how tough it can be to get to the gym. Can you do some DVD's at home in the meantime?

Yeah a lot of people here seem to be contrarians just for the sake of being contrarians. Maybe we're all hungry and grumpy? lol

Yes I wish more people understood this. Patriarchy isn't something that men perpetrate against women. Society as a whole participates in it and it hurts everybody.

Patriarchy absolutely puts pressure on men, but the pressure tends to be less focused on appearance.

This exactly. It's wonderful that you haven't suffered from any of these issues but it's nothing to feel superior about. That's like feeling superior to someone with clinical depression because you haven't experienced it yourself.

It's not necessarily something that's intentionally taught to women by individuals. It's more concepts that are perpetrated by society, particularly the media. disclaimer: I haven't read the book

You could try the Navy body fat calculator for an estimate: http://fitness.bizcalcs.com/Calculator.asp?Calc=Body-Fat-Navy Calipers will give you a more accurate results and are inexpensive to buy online.…

What's your current body fat percentage if you know it? How long has it been since you've lost weight or seen changes in your measurements? It might be a slooow process now that you are so close to your goal.

No problem! Good luck with your goals :)

To see your abs you need to shed the fat. Just bulking up the muscle (which is what most ab workouts seem to consist of) won't help if you never shed the fat. All that said I had success with getting a 6-pack and losing some inches off my waist using Jillian Michael's 6-week 6-pack combined with a good diet. I was not…

I'll have to check that book out. If you're interested in this topic you might also enjoy The Beauty Myth. I definitely understand how you feel. I have a hard time living my ideals in this department too.

I have terrible periods. I take the first day of my period as a rest day because of the cramps and I usually have an upset tummy that day too. 2nd day I work out but only at home. TMI but the flow is very heavy that day and I don't want to risk embarrassment. After that I'm back to my normal schedule. My cramps are much…