MelissaGraham7 Member

For me, it was when I realized there were virtually no pictures of me with the grandkids because I kept deleting them because I was too fat. I realized that I was avoiding not only pictures but life in general by being weighed down, literally. Now I have LOTS of pictures and live life to the fullest!

Lots of great advice here. We don't have to train our husbands - but men don't read our minds. They simply need to be asked. We put our own ridiculous pressure on ourselves by being afraid to ask for help or afraid to take time to ourselves. Do you think men agonize over going to the gym? Nope. Read "Men are from Mars and…

new obsession....forget the scale....I wanna look like you!! :wink: inspiring, as always

The same thing happened to me (I had just quit smoking)...I got short of breath very quickly. The experts say that just means SLOW down. So, go slower. Walk if you need to.... go at the speed that you can maintain for a bit without being short of breath. You can throw in little faster intervals but you have to build up…

Yep - discovering all these bony prominences as just weird. What the heck is that?? LOL. Also, alas, I look older but feel younger. Fat tends to fill out wrinkles so when you lose the fat, the wrinkles show more. But I have so much more energy and stamina and zest for life it is worth it. Losing weight doesn't solve all…

Here's wishing you an uneventful surgery and recovery!

Goodwill. In years past, I had about 4 different sizes of clothes. Now, I give them away as soon as they get too big as I have no intention of ever wearing them again. I think keeping them in the past was negating my hard work -subconsciously saying I was going to fail. Now I ditch the negativity because I will not fail.

I also recommend a HR monitor as that makes things a little more accurate. Plus stats say we burn 100 calories per mile for a person 150 pounds. So, I am 180 pounds which means I'm 20% more - so I calculate miles x120 (120%) so 3 miles gets me 360 calories (instead of the 300 for a 150-pound person). So, If I don't have my…

So - not to drag up a nasty little debate - I like the site and the calculations - plugged in my info based on wanting to lose, and that I do 1-3 hours per week of activity and it says to eat 1828 calories. So, I am assuming that means I do NOT eat back my exercise calories (unless I were to go over that 3 hours....…

For me, the trick is really learning what HUNGRY is. Eating for me was mostly habit rather than hunger. Emotional eating, time of day eating, etc. Seldom am I really HUNGRY. I have to really work on that...not eating just because I am accustomed to eating when I'm through work, snacks, etc. I have found myself eating when…

The whole running speed thing is extremely subjective. Some run 9 minute miles and think that is fast. Some to 12 minute miles. Some do 5 minute minute miles. You can't begin to compare yourself with others, really. A good speed for running is what works for you, has your heart rate in the 80% category and you would have…

Good job trying to keep it lower. As mentioned above, if you vary a few hundred up and down, it is okay. I even discovered 1100 mg of sodium in my MEDICATION so I had to switch. I disagree with many above who said if you don't suffer from hypertension, you don't need to worry about it. As with anything, the cumulative…

Very likely that person was 400 or 500 pounds to start and it would be possible for that kind of weight to come off at the beginning. However, for most of us, it wouldn't be possible or safe. So, forget about it.

I was embarassed also to where I would only walk if cars or people were around and run when I thought no one was looking. However, after the first couple weeks, I just realized that no one was out there judging me and that all those other runners and walkers were simply full of support and those who didn't get off their…

I don't think you have to get hostile with her. She is probably just a caring person and there ARE those who will substitute one addiction for another. Let's face it, most of us got fat by being "food addicts." Experts say that you don't really give up a habit, you replace it with another. So, you are replacing bad habits…

Anytime that you up your fiber intake you are most probably going to have those side effects. But the fiber is soooo important and healthy for you. Rather than backing off on it, once you consume high fiber (35+ grams/day) for a week or so, the side effects subside as your body gets used to it so you will produce less gas…

While I've not had the surgery, I worked for a gastroenterologist for 17 years and we saw plenty of patients after the surgery. It is a very tough road to walk. Anyone who thinks it is the easy way out is ignorant of the facts. Their life will be harder than ours due to the complications after the fact and they have to…

Like most, I don't tend to log the daily stuff but if I"m mopping, vacuuming and generally working up a sweat doing it, then I do log it. I don't typically log doing the dishes or cooking unless maybe a holiday meal where I spend hours on my feet, etc. So, if it is beyond the every day stuff and feels like work, I do log…

agree with the above - dried foods typically not a great choice and although almonds are great, anything covered with something usually gets there by added fats and sugars. Bottom line is read the label. If it has added sugars and fats, you probably don't want it as a "healthy" snack. However, if you just want it and watch…

This!! I'm not cheating in what I eat.

Now I have a brand new play list and can't wait to go walking, running, skipping, or dancing tomorrow! Thanks for starting this thread and thanks to all for the fabulous songs!

Ain't Going Down Til the Sun Comes Up.... it's country (which I don't typically do) but very fast and kicky beat and gets me to run a 9 to 10 minute/mile which is good for me so I love it! Also, most of Madonna and Lady Gaga as well as some Wiz Khalifa and lots of techno

Billy Blanks Tae Bo - particularly Boot Camp SOS but they are all awesome

Agree with many above - run the race! You will love it and you will be hooked on running. It doesn't matter if you need to walk a bit. I did my first race about halfway through the official program - did a some fast walking intervals - but had such a great time and it just propelled me onto other races. Go for it!!! The…

The above 9 ways is spot on - well, except I personally would not take appetite suppressants. For me, high protein and high fiber foods are extremely filling so I don't suffer from being hungry - just make different choices about what you eat so you are filling up and being healthier! and there is something to say about…

For me, when I weighed 256 pounds and was fat, of COURSE I had to eat less to weight less. As others have said, that is why I was fat. But, what did happen is that once I have gotten within 20 pounds of my goal, I have hit a plateau that has lasted for 1 year. So, at this point I must eat more, oddly enough, and change my…

never ever and I have 5 grandsons. :flowerforyou:

Hungry Girl has a too-die-for banana bread that is low fat, etc. and just as good as the full fat/sugar stuff. I always make banana bread or muffins when I get too much over ripe bananas!!

I've read quite a bit of different sources that all agree with the 100 calories per mile burn based upon a 150 pound person. It also tends to agree with my HRM. SO, I weigh 180 pounds which is actually 20% more than the 150 - therefore, my calculation is 120 calories per 1 mile. I'm also a bit slow. That calculation seems…

I always take 3 sources and AVERAGE them. That way, I feel like I might be getting the closest. I use my HR monitor; I use this web site: http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm; and I use a third from on line for whatever my activity. I average the 3 and take that figure (or MFP if I don't have a third source). It isn't…