bluehenjen Member

I'm also doing a high-protein diet for 6 weeks while on a heavy lifting program, and it's really hard to consume 150 g of protein per day! I do really enjoy Jay Robb protein powders (whey and egg protein). I also keep hard boiled eggs and sustainably-caught tuna on hand, and I plan to make several batches of steamed shrimp…

Intervals are the only thing that keep me from being acutely aware of how slowly time is passing on the treadmill. I also listen to podcasts and language CDs (I'm trying to learn Hungarian).

I used to live in Colorado and would often hike and jog alone (or with my dog) in my neighborhood and on well marked trails. Now I'm back in the DC area and am far more concerned about people than wildlife or trail injuries or a sudden late afternoon storm. Just last week a guy was shot to death 1.5 miles south of where I…

So long as I'm not trying to achieve a particular goal (e.g., eat low carb for 6 weeks, train for a 10K, etc.), I have what I guess are cheat days. I'm a lot more lenient on the weekends. I still log all of my food but I don't mind if I go over my calorie count or eat more sugar or refined flour than I normally would. But…

Mark's Daily Apple, which is all about the primal blueprint diet, recommends 50-100 grams per day for weight loss and 100-150 grams per day for maintenance. Atkins is 0-50 grams per day, which Mark's Daily Apple says is fine for diabetics but otherwise doesn't recommend for more than a day or two. I aim for 125 g per day…

Yes to all of this. If you don't take in enough calories, you will not lose weight because your body will go into starvation mode and do its best to hang onto every last calorie you consume. The types of calories you consume are also important - sure, people can lose weight eating processed food, but real food is healthier…

The best quinoa recipe I've found thus far is: (1) Boil some water. (2) Cook the quinoa according to the directions. (3) Throw away the quinoa because...meh. ;-) But seriously, I've only had one dish that I thought was really great. It was a cool quinoa, cucumber, sugar snap pea, and pickled carrot (?) salad with a…

I recently got a Fitbit One (which counts stairs climbed in addition to steps taken). I wear a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor during workouts and the Fitbit way underestimates my calorie burn, but I don't use it for that purpose. I use it to motivate me to get up from my desk and walk around during the day (I was also…

You've acknowledged the binge so let it go and don't beat yourself up anymore; it happens to lots of people. Do a good workout and eat clean tomorrow, and acknowledge your success. If you think it'll help, take a screen shot of your post and read it the next time you realize you're starting to binge and see if that helps…

I find that a protein shake really helps. I use So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk (45 calories for 8 oz) and either Wegman's or Jay Robb's whey protein powder. Both are tasty, give you something sweet, and the protein fills you up.

Congrats on your progress so far! I highly recommend strength exercises, either with dumbbells and barbells or simply with your own body weight. As the other poster said, you can find a weight that allows you to do at least X reps but not more than Y reps. He recommended at least 10 reps and not more than 15 reps; I used…

Awesome. :drinker:

Yet another fan of the Polar FT4 here. HR monitors/calorie counters without the chest strap just aren't very accurate. For the alpha phase of T25, I burn around 250 calories per workout (except for the ab workout, which is more like 180). That's normal for me; I tend to burn around 10 calories per minute during cardio. I'm…

While sitting at stop lights in your car, pull your shoulders back and hold, then repeat. This will work your back muscles. It seems easy at first but you'll start to feel the burn pretty quickly. See the first part of this video for a demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA1fDQyI7-I.

Like everyone else has said, you're probably not eating enough and/or you're losing fat but gaining muscle. Here are some suggestions: 1. Properly log the calories that you burn during your workouts and during the day. I find the best way to properly determine your calorie burn is to wear a heart rate monitor. I've heard…

I've found that lifting weights, doing push-ups, or carrying heavy stuff (like landscaping materials) really helps me when I'm depressed. For me, it has something to do with putting pressure on my upper body joints and muscles; I think it must release better endorphins than simply running. When I've gone through bad bouts…

I like curried sweet potatoes. Peel and dice a sweet potato, pop it in the microwave for a couple minutes to get it mostly cooked, then saute it with onions, garlic, finely diced Serrano pepper, yellow curry powder, and garam massala. So amazing! You can make a whole meal out of this by adding 1 can (approx. 15 oz) of…

Check out some vegan and vegetarian cookbooks. I'm not a vegetarian, but I've started incorporating lots of vegan meals into my diet because they are naturally lower in calories. Ideas off the top of my head: 1. Salads. I eat a lot of salads, usually with salmon and/or hard boiled egg whites for protein. Sprinkle some…

I think it's very helpful. I have a pretty good idea of the nutritional value of various foods and I'm pretty good about not overeating (at least, not on a regular basis)...but knowing I'll have to log that Grande Caramel Macchiato into MFP does make me think twice about ordering it. It makes me more aware of my food…

I get up at 5:30, catch the 6 am bus to work, drop my work bag, and go straight to the gym (I work at a university so we have a gym on campus). I do yoga in the evenings, but I find it so much easier to work out first thing in the morning. Every time I've been on a good exercise routine, it has included morning workouts.…

You're welcome! Don't get disheartened if you can't complete a workout. Even when I was working out 3 times a week with a trainer, I couldn't always complete them! I'm just getting started with HIIT again and sometimes I'm sucking wind after 40 seconds. But I'm definitely improving and I can already see the results! Again…

Here are some examples. You can do all of these at home, no equipment needed. If you're not sure how to perform an exercise (like a Burpee), there are examples posted on YouTube. You can also Google "plyometrics exercises" to get some additional ideas. Workout #1: On the minute for 20 mins complete the following: 10…

I used to work out with a personal trainer who was a big advocate of HIIT. I broke my leg in August and have to ease into high-impact activities but I'm hoping to get back into HIIT soon. I joined a group on Facebook that posts a new HIIT workout 6 days per week, one for people with access to a gym and one for people who…

Try this recipe: To 2 quarts of water, add 1 thinly sliced lemon, 1 medium (or half of a long) thinly sliced cucumber (peel it first), and a 1" piece of ginger, peeled and grated. Let that water concoction sit for overnight, then drink a few glasses of it per day. The first time you try it, you won't notice anything for…

To stay regular during PMS, try this recipe: To 2 quarts of water, add 1 thinly sliced lemon, 1 medium (or half of a long) thinly sliced cucumber (peel it first), and a 1" piece of ginger, peeled and grated. Let that water concoction sit for overnight, then drink a few glasses of it per day. I am totally regular EXCEPT…

Check out http://www.snack-girl.com for recipes for both yourself and your kids. If they're available in your area, I highly recommend Western Bagel's Alternative Bagel (I can buy them in my local grocery store and they're also available for purchase online). They're 110 calories per bagel but with 7 grams of protein to…

Yum! I also like making cucumber gin fizzes. Peel a cucumber and slice about 6 thin slices. Put in a martini shaker and add 1 tsp sugar (or fresh stevia leaves; I'm growing some in my garden and they're amazing), the juice from 1-2 small limes, and a slice of lime. Muddle together, then add ice and pour a jigger of…

I highly, highly recommend Jay Robb's vanilla whey (or egg) protein powder for smoothies. I've tried a LOT of protein powders and it is really the best tasting one out there (and no, I'm in no way affiliate with the Jay Robb company). I also really like using unsweetened coconut milk and coconut milk yogurt for my…