CaptainMFP Member

I would expect it to be reasonably accurate...if every day were the same for diet and exercise. Since every day is not the same (and frankly should not be the same if you're exercising efficiently, mixing cardio and strength, resting, etc.) I've never paid it any heed.

1. Starting weight: 240 6'0" 37 Male 2. Average gross caloric intake for last 30 days: 2200 calories (this has declined as I have lost weight, obviously) 3. Weekly burn: Average 3500 calories, so 500 per day (that includes one 0 calorie rest day a week) 4. Daily total deficit of 1000 - 1500 calories with exercise included…

My absolute favorite NSVs are the little things like muscle definition. The good news is, the more you progress, the more of it you'll see. It starts in the arms and legs and moves eventually to the abs (this does take time!), the neck, the shoulders, and even the face. Go you! And congratulations on being able to see the…

My four year old and I dress up together every year. Last year he was Perry the Platypus and I was Dr. Heinz Doofinschmirtz. (We love Phineas and Ferb.) This year, he's going to be Thor and I'm going to be Captain America (the Bucky Barnes version if you know the difference). We love super heroes and I love Cap in…

I am an older parent (I'm 37; my boys are 5 and 2 1/2). The men in my family rarely penetrate their deep 70s and health problems related to obesity (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke) are the reason. I want to see my boys grow up. I want to see them start families of their own. I want to hold my grandchildren…

If you're looking for good calorie dense/low volume things you can't go wrong with protein shakes. Mix whey (or similar) powder with milk and add something like 2 tbsp. of nut butter or fruit and you can get an 8 - 12 oz. beverage with 400 - 500 calories easily. I eat about 2200 calories daily and it's my go-to for a…

Let me give you something to think about. It's a parallel to what you've shared, so while I realize it isn't the same, it may help you. I'm a community college professor. One of the things I deal with every semester is students who stumble and fall in an academic sense, and who become easily convinced that their life is…

I'm totally down with this! Consider my interest expressed for all levels! :smile: And if you're looking for a team name, how about "Frightfully Fit by Halloween"? I'm 202.4 right now...assuming that doesn't change by the 19th, I'd be GW: 192.3.

There's an old adage from the military that says "No plan survives the battlefield." If you have no plan, you can't hope to progress. If you don't expect your plant to be trashed along the way, you can't hope to progress. Plan for the best, expect the rest, and roll with the punches as they come. :smile:

(1) We are our own worst critics, and often fail to see real change when it has occurred. There is always the possibility that you are just not seeing a real change because it has been too gradual for you to notice. (2) Check you % body fat. There is always the possibility that you were leaner last time you were at your…

Take it slow at the beginning and work your way into running from walking. I started running on July 4 of this year and for the first four weeks I did walk/jog interval training in which I alternated jogging and walking over a set distance. Each week I would walk progressively less and run progressively more. It took me…

We have a Smith's near us (Kroger affiliate) and they carry quinoa near the rice and also in their various organic sections.

Nice job! I went for my first 10 and fell just short (9.88 miles) but that just means I have something to look forward to. Way to go for you! :smile:

Did my first 5K a couple weeks ago. Ate a 1 ounce serving of Kashi crunch mixed with a cup of vanilla Greek yogurt. Had this about 6:30 AM; race was at 9:00.

True, but very few cells -- plants in particular -- contain very much. The bulk of the sodium in animal bodies is found in extracellular fluids -- namely the plasma of blood and interstitial fluid around cells. Most veggies contain so little sodium as to register as zero...the main role of extracellular sodium in animals…

Greek yogurt is one of my go-to snacks. I also keep Wasa crackers in the house to top with various things. I've done them with tuna, hard boiled egg whites, cheese, cucumber, various nut butters, and homemade jams, depending on my macronutritional needs for any given day.

Organic won't affect calories, as noted above. However, I don't trust any of the data in MFP for produce. I use the following website and enter all my fresh produce myself. http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=164 Edit: They have full nutrition information (except for potassium) and serving sizes are…

Good luck! You sound like your head is in the right place and I think you'll find that this site is a wonderful tool for achieving your goals. Have a great journey; feel free to send a friend request if you're looking for supporters. :smile:

Research assistant in a microbiology/molecular genetics lab. Worked full-time summers and part-time during the school year during my Jr. and Sr. years of HS. (Yes, I'm a power geek. Know the USA Today HS Academic All-American issue? I was honorable mention back in '92.) :wink:

Did my first 5K a couple weeks back and am training for an 8 mile trail run on October 1. The day before: No running. Did an extended (30 min) stretch session in the evening. Morning of: Got up about 5:30. Did about 5 min. jump rope to warm up. Then 30 min stretch routine. Ate a single serving of Kashi with Greek yogurt…

You need to remember that when calorie analyses are done on food it is done as a function of MASS (i.e. per gram not nut). Since 28 g is approximately 1 oz. and this is a very standard portion size for foods like nuts, I suspect the nutritional information is highly accurate for a 28 g serving...ALL food that comes in…

If you want a good exercise program (not sure if this is what you meant by challenge but I'm sharin' anyway!) for strength training that does not require a gym or equipment, take a look at 100 push-ups (and related programs for sit-ups and other calisthenics) at: http://hundredpushups.com/ These programs can be modified to…

DO this! Changes in body dimensions without real movement in weight suggests muscle is being added just fast enough relative to fat loss that the scale doesn't move but you are progressing. If this is the case, the fat will start to come off (and the weight) in the coming weeks. Two other things to consider. You might be…

In the end, there is no definitive answer other than this: decide how you want to count it and count it that way every time it happens. As long as you are consistent it really doesn't matter. The only real problem is if you start gaming how you count these calories by recording it differently each time to make a day look…

I started in June and did my first 5K a couple weeks ago; ran the whole thing in under 31 minutes which was beyond my comprehension a few months ago. As you get used to it, keep it slow. Stick with run intervals for several weeks until it becomes more comfortable. Each week you can increase the time you run until you're…

Welcome and best of luck! My best advice is to be patient as you change your behavior. Here's what I've done this year. Month 1 -- focus on reducing calories and sodium; exercise as able but not regularly Month 2 -- calories under control; focus on exercising regularly and more intensively Month 3 -- exercise and calories…

Did my first a couple weeks back and used the following advice from my brother who is a seasoned marathon runner. Something light the day before (e.g. a brisk walk) is fine but he advised against any real workout, and he encouraged a good stretching session (at least 20 minutes) the evening before. I didn't do anything the…

Even if you drink a lot of water excessive sodium can contribute directly to high BP independent of your weight and fitness so it is worth taking seriously for your long-term health. (A full explanation of sodium, water, and the kidneys is beyond the scope of this post, but I'm an anatomy & physiology instructor and am…

Certainly drink water as suggested and really watch your sodium intake. On a daily basis this is avoidable if you keep your water up and your sodium down. I just had a big bump (5 lbs. gained in two days) from sodium and water retention following our local rib cook-off. I was able to take it almost all off in one day with…

I live in Reno, NV. While I'm not particularly fond of Nevada, I do love the Tahoe area. Here are some shots from a recent hike on Mt. Rose which is just outside Reno. Included are a waterfall along the trail and a shot of Lake Tahoe from the trail head.