CaptainMFP Member

Hey, don't forget the your/you're distinction! Ugh!

Easy homemade dressing that is BETTER tasting than anything in a bottle. Mix 1/3 cup each low fat plain yogurt (I use Greek) and low fat sour cream. Add 2 tbsp. honey, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1.5 tsp lime zest, and 2 tsp of lime juice. Mix well. Makes enough for 6 servings of 2 tbsp. each. 47 calories, 8 g carb, 1 g fat, 2 g…

I'll add 2 tsp. of honey or 2 tsp. of brown sugar to sweeten it; fruit -- especially fresh fruit like berries, bananas, and peaches -- works really well too. I eat oatmeal several days a week, and while I'm not fond of plain oatmeal, I've not had cardboard. I'm thinking it tastes better than it sounds if it's like plain…

Definitely play with your goals to get a better calorie fit. I'm 6' and 210 and my net daily calories is 1800...and that is for a 1.2 lb. per week loss! (I work out six days a week and typically eat about 2200 gross cals a day and have been losing 1.9 lb. per week for four months...your calories are DEFINITELY too low!)

I'm religious about eating my exercise calories, so I don't personally have issues, but here is some advice that might make it easier to decide on a number. This comes from my brother (20+ marathons, 87 miles of Keys 100 in May of this year) to my wife about nutritionally supporting exercise. He said to eat 200 to 400…

Strength training encourages anaerobic metabolic development of muscle. If you do strength training without cardio you will end up with large muscles with little endurance. A lot of strength buffs don't like this fact and try to pretend it's not true, but in order to get balanced development of muscle (and real over-all…

As one of those husbands who got motivated, I wish there was an easy answer. It sounds like he's supportive of what you're doing...that is frankly a good start. In the end, a person has to reach their own point of feeling the need to change. I watched my wife have great success for a couple of months and eventually reached…

Increasing metabolism for weight loss REQUIRES sufficient intake of food. You don't necessarily need to eat 1800 more calories, but I'd eat at least another 600 - 800 hungry or not. Your number is likely that high because of exercise today and vigorous exercise requires extra calories to keep the body going. I eat a gross…

Welcome aboard! The personal accountability is one of my favorite aspects of using MFP. I think you'll find it very useful. I've been going at this since April; feel free to send a friend request if you like. I'm always looking to add supporters and supportees. :smile:

Definitely the first...though may I be struck down by my MFP friends in a hail of lightning if I EVER post a question like that! :laugh:

I get your frustration...I try to hit my targets (these days that's %'s of carbs, fats, and protein) pretty closely, and while I'm usually under, I do get a twinge of irritation that if I go over by 5 cals I don't get that little affirmation. At the same time, I think enough people are trying to stay under that it's sort…

Welcome aboard, Britt! I think you'll find this a great tool and very supportive environment. I'm down 30 lbs. since I started in April and am inching toward my first 5K, so this really does work. Feel free to send a friend request if you like!

Wheat germ for a little more texture. Fresh berries, fresh banana, honey, or brown sugar to sweeten.

Congratulations!

The best place to buy produce in my town (outside of farmer's markets) is a store called WinCo (not to be confused with Winn Dixie) which is a low-cost grocer. They don't take credit cards (debit, cash, food stamps only) and their prices are low. Their produce is also the best in the city because they have very high…

I eat some Greek yogurt mixed with wheat germ after every strenuous cardio workout. Fat free and loaded with protein for a good post-workout snack. I eat this within twenty minutes of the workout's end whether hungry or not. I've found it to be a very satisfying way to refuel.

Go see an audiologist and purchase and request earplugs for iPods. (Audiologists are hearing specialists (my wife is one) who deal mainly with hearing and balance, and hearing aids, but can make other ear-related specialty items.) These earplugs are custom designed to fit your earbuds into YOUR ears. This is not cheap…

Personally, I go through cycles where I enter a short plateau every four weeks. It appears that my natural progression (when I look at my data closely) is two weeks of rapid loss, one week of slower loss, and a plateau week that ends + or - 0.5 lbs. If you are really concerned that this is something more, I'd encourage you…

I found when I started that vigorous exercise was physically unpleasant, but it takes time to get the endorphins flooding your system that many talk about. Personally, it took more than a month of serious exercise to get to that point. I'm there now (I love the feeling) and I frankly get as excited about the…

How about chicken tacos? (I get 3 crispy chicken tacos when we eat at Qdoba Mexican Grill and that comes out to 480 calories...I get them with sour cream but no cheese. Not the same restaurant, but you get the idea.)

I personally don't let cravings go unchecked, but I also think it's important to indulge them in a responsible manner that helps to train you to eat them responsibly when you're done losing. For example, I've not had a real sweet in a week; there is this awesome cupcakery by our Saturday farmer's market. After buying our…

Just remember -- upping your calories doesn't mean eating junk. Refuel your body, combine it with healthy exercise, and you will see results. Find some folks to lean on for support and you can do very well here. Good luck!

Boosting metabolism to jump start weight loss requires two things: adequate energy demands on our cells to encourage the physiological mechanisms that increase metabolism (i.e. exercise, both cardio and strength training) and the fuel that cells need to function if their metabolic rate is to increase (i.e. adequate…

I allow myself about 150 calorie cushion. If I'm more than 150 calories from my net goal, I eat something extra; if I'm within 150 calories of my net goal, I don't. I plan each day out in advance as much as possible to minimize my need for adding "last minute calories."

Great job! And don't worry about being a daily weigher. How often you weigh is a matter of personal preference. There are arguments for and against every possible weighing interval with none being the clear best for everyone. Personally, I weigh and record every day (to see the little ups and downs and to connect how I eat…

Most likely culprit is water retention brought about by either too little water, too much sodium, too much of something else (e.g. excess sugar (i.e. carbs...they all become sugars when they enter the blood and glycogen is just a glucose polymer)) dissolved in the blood, or some combination thereof causing osmotic…

My first MFP friend was my best friend, my wife! We're both still active. :love:

I'm currently at 211 (started at 240 with at least 60 to lose) and I'm 37. I'll send you a friend request.

My DVD's must be organized alphabetically by title; CD's alphabetically by artist and then arranged in order of album release date! :)

I think there are (at least) two sides to this. On one hand, you do not need to eat 100% healthy 100% of the time to be a healthy person, and kids don't learn to make good choices if they don't have a choice. On the other hand, if they are given the same unhealthy choices repeatedly (i.e. buffets like this every time they…