Bjninja

Thanks for the tips! My biggest issue is that I don't actually like vegetables. I can do broccoli, baby spinach, and lettuce. That's about it. If it's green, I'm usually like, "Is that food, or is that grass?" Boiled egg tips are good though! I love boiled eggs. I used to get them already boiled and peeled from Trader…

I work out (cardio usually) for 30-45 minutes every morning before work. I also don't own a car and I live in a big city, so I have to walk everywhere. Some days I will do an hour boxing class or an hour yoga class, if I can fit it into my schedule.

Another thing to cut back on is the amount of sugar you eat. I'm not particularly great at this myself (and hey, I work hard so that I can indulge every now and then on some sugary goodness), but a lot of processed foods are high salt and high sugar. As much as possible, try to eat foods with simple ingredients and no…

I same happens to me. I've been working out since last August, haven't lost a pound or any inches. Definitely more toned though, so I can't be mad at that! Before I used to eat back my calories lost during my workout, but now I'm trying to stick with just the 1600 calories I'm allotted everyday. Just keep an eye on your…

I'll give this a try. Maybe it'll motivate me to go to the gym on the days my gym buddy can't make it. Week # 1 -- April 29th -- Goal 225 minutes: Mon: 46 minutes; elliptical Tue: 46 minutes; elliptical Wed: Thur: Fri: Sat: Sun: Total / min left: 92 / 225

I drink water mostly. Sometimes I will do plain Earl Grey or green tea, and if I am absolutely dying, a cup of coffee. When I want to treat myself, I may have a glass of sweet tea or a Diet Coke, but this is maybe once every 2-3 months. I gave up all drinks except water for Lent two years ago and though it hurt going cold…

Probably about two years now. It just looks so good. And also, I've not lost any weight since then, so it's surprisingly current on that front.

Definitely sleep! I just got over the flu. I thought I'd take a walk around and just as I was healing, I got worse. Please rest, your body needs it, and you're not doing yourself any favors by working out while ill.

Yes, please don't hate your shape. I am a pear, as curvy and hourglass as they come, and I can't find a pair of pants that fit my hips AND my waist. Lane Bryant comes close, but I always have to take things in. Plus I'm not that big on top, and I've never been able to sleep on my back. I've always wanted the shapely legs…

1. I'm Briana! 2. I live in the Windy City of Chicago. I love it except for the six months of the year when it's winter. 3. My goal is to slim down and tone up. I'm not horribly worried about numbers, but if I could fit into a size 8-10 pant, that would be great. I have hips that will never go away, but I like my curves. I…

Good information! I've heard that you should go for 40% protein/40% carbs/20% fat in your diet. Any truth to this?

The cheese part I can't do since I am lactose intolerant, but I didn't know tuna had so much protein. I could easily whip up some low calorie tuna salad for lunch (I currently just have soup). These are all good and super easy. I keep snacks at my desk and eat about five times a day (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack,…

I too am intrigued. Is this through one of the weight loss centers?

Good tips all! I've never thought of putting protein in my coffee/tea, so I think that would be a great idea. I'll work on incorporating it into all of my snacks as well, and perhaps having some protein powder and soy milk before bed too. Isn't warm milk supposed to help you sleep? Added bonus!

I also have the same problem. Can't lose weight to save my life. Have you tried to lose weight before? I hear it's always harder the second time around because your body is used to the routine. Still, don't drop below 1200 calories a day or else your body will go into starvation mode.

You can also wear a heart rate monitor and it will tell you how many calories you burn during your strength training. It's what I do, because I don't always trust the calculations on this site (I like to be a bit more specific).

I've been alternating between eating and not eating before a workout. I recently saw the nutritionist at my gym and she suggested eating beforehand, so that you have the "energy" to kick up the workout. I personally haven't lost much weight despite my workouts, so I'm not really in support of eating or not eating, as it…

Thanks for the comments! I got some organic hemp chocolate protein powder from Trader Joe's today; I'll have to try different combinations with it since it is disgusting with just water, but I'm lactose-intolerant, so no milk. :( I do have a hard-boiled egg, apples with peanut butter or Greek yogurt, and grapes after a…

I went to the gym alone for about seven months and saw great results. Then that cold Midwest winter hit and I wimped out hard-core, and bam, there went my progress. Now I go with a friend, and I've been going even in winter months (and even on days when it's -10F outside). I wouldn't call it inspiration or motivation so…

I have a Timex T5G971 and I like it. Amazon has them for about $39. I do agree with the chest strap for accuracy, since it tracks you throughout your workout and not just when you can stop and use your fingers as a pulse point.

All very helpful, thank you everyone!

I'm not sure if I understand their TDEE calculator, or their Diet Calculator. According to the diet one, I need to take in 2231 calories a day. I feel like I'm doing something wrong here...

Oh, so if MFP tells me to eat 1550 calories per day but my exercise burns 500 calories, wouldn't that even out? 1550-500 (exercise) + 500 = 1550. Or am I horribly confused because it's amazingly early right now and I've not had my coffee? You are awesome, by the way, for helping out!

Thanks, I will try to get my total calories after exercise up to 2000. And the 35/40/25 c/p/f is for carbs/protein/fiber, yes?

Do you mean add 300 calories on top of my 1550? I usually eat back whatever I work off, so my total for the day is 1550. I'm 5'5 and 212 lbs right now.

In case no one replied, you have to hit "On/Off" so that it start taking your heart rate, then hit and hold "Set" until it says "Hold to Set." Then you can use "Recall" to move the cursor forward, "On/Off" to increase and "Recv/Date" to decrease. Hit "Set" again to confirm.

Thanks guys for the tips! Now that MFP has the handy app that allows you to scan the barcodes of foods, I've been really good about counting all of that. I can definitely tell I've built up muscle (though the inches are pesky things). MsFaithful, is the BodyMedia device like a heart rate monitor? I used to wear a HRM at…

I'm 205 right now, doing a bit of a yo-yo cycle since I stopped working out around this time last year. I saw 182 last November, so I'm looking to get back to that and beyond! I'm about 5'5 and want to get back to my high school weight of 160.

I use my exercise to be able to eat more and still lose weight, because I LOVE eating, and I could never give it up. I will just say that I used MFP religiously for about 8 months, and I lost 20 lbs in that time. After I was doing well, I took a break, and well, I kinda gained it back, so this time I'm on MFP to stay! My…

I do everything in the morning, right after I use the bathroom. Your weight and measurements fluctuate so much during the day that you should do it at the same time, every time, to get the best results. If you do it after lunch, you might be measuring the food you just ate! Mornings are always best for a clean slate and a…