persian_star Member

Love it. It basically puts in a nutshell all of the really important lessons I learnt over my first year of this journey, without having to find all the different info or even understand why. To lose it tells me to eat a bit less than my 'sweet spot' and TDEE is a little lower than my experience, but I'm near GW so that's…

I'm in exactly the same boat - I do SL at home without a squat rack or spotter, no room or money to rectify and really don't want to join a gym. Right now I'm on 17.5 kg but should be upping to 20kg tomorrow, but lifting the bar over my head might just not happen at that weight (OHP is SO my weakest lift!) A couple of…

Don't know about the Fitbit, but stairs definitely take more energy than level steps - as well as using your muscles to propel your body forward, you're also lifting your entire weight the height of the step.

I read NROL4W, but found the exercises to be too 'fussy'. So I'm doing SL5X5 which I love. Personal preference - just because I wanted to follow a simple to remember workout. I appreciated the NR book for form though and referred back to it until I was totally happy with my form, but yeah. SL was more my cup of tea :smile:…

MFP is notorious for over estimating calorie burns. For example, I walk 2 miles to work, 35 mins up and down hills. MFP used to reckon I was burning 200 cals for that, but when I got my HRM (Polar FT40) it told a different story: normally more like 130-150. Sometimes I get a higher burn, but it's normally when I've just…

It's here http://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-beginner-strength-training-program/ - simplest (as in not complicated) lifting routine ever! Taken from that page: Workout A Workout B Squat 5×5 Squat 5×5 Bench Press 5×5 Overhead Press 5×5 Barbell Rows 5×5 Deadlift 1×5 And there's a spreasheet you can download, tweak for…

I've quit doing cardio (other than my walk to work) as I just don't have the motivation in the winter, but I still use a Jillian warm up (RI30, week 2 to be precise) before hitting the weights, then I leave it running while I lift, and remember that may be busting a gut to lift what I'm lifting, but it seems to get better…

Bump - looking for ideas :o)

I read a fab book called The Flat Belly Diet, it's mostly about eating healthy fats, but it gives you a plan that starts specifically with an anti-bloat section. Can't remember what was in it but might be worth a try. I admit I never followed the plan, but I incorporated a lot of the ideas into my diet and it's all been…

I quite agree, but within the circuits there are sections where she focuses on strength (compound movements with weights) then sections for cardio, then specifically abs. Plus, although I've never used my HRM while doing proper* strength training - SL5x5 - because I've heard it doesn't work accurately (always thought this…

Thanks guys. It's good to know I'm not alone on this. I'm not overly worried about it - it's not going to affect the amount of effort I put in, for starters - but I was quite intrigued since 'perceived wisdom' (I know, pinch of salt ;o) always made me think cardio should get your heart rate much higher. Plus there's a bit…

Anyone? Any thoughts at all?

Not too sure on 'the best', but I did do a bit of research before settling on Agave Nectar - you can get it in Sainsbury's in the sugar aisle. I use it instead of sugar in my porridge - my hubby says it tastes different (he used to have it in his coffee before cutting it out completely) but I've never noticed :o)

My stubborn fat is in exactly the same area. I've lost inches at the waist and chest, but belly - nothing at all for aaaages (I don't have much to lose so I'm aware this isn't a huge problem). In fact, losing at my waist made my belly look even bigger - freaked me out til I figured out what was going on! I started my…

I think it's different for everyone, my hubby gets set off by anything that might be considered an irritant, so even mild chilli is a bad idea. For some reason, Costa coffee always sets me off (but not other coffee) and we both started having trouble with Papa John's after they last changed their sauce recipe. Goodness…

I've found it very strange because I'm lifting heavy (using Stronglifts5x5, although not as regularly as the program says, but it still seems to be plenty for me!) and eating at maintenance, but every time I have a really good weights session (on average once a week, life tends to get in the way) I find the next day that…

I do Stronglifts 5x5 and I'm only a beginner. I did read NROL4W but found the program really confusing, the SL routine is very easy to grasp and master, the whole point being to do 5 sets of 5 reps of very simple but extremely effective compound lifts with 2 alternating workouts, and then up your weights regularly.

I don't track my sodium but it drives me bonkers too - I'm an annoying perfectionist, I like it to be RIGHT *l*

My hubby likes it when I sleep nekkid, but I don't get much sleep on those occasions *l* During winter I normally go for fleecy pj bottoms and a strappy top, but in summer I almost always wear a silk or satin short nightie. Not nearly as uncomfortable as they sound, still cover everything up, but also considerably more…

I stopped displaying my sugar count in my diary as it just wasn't helpful. The carb setting includes sugar so just keep an eye on that one and try to avoid processed carbs, and you'll be fine x

I have a very similar problem, except for me it's that people are having conversations (work and non-work) all around me all day. I have headphones for when I can cope with music, and earplugs for when I need silence! It mostly works :os

Maybe get an inexpensive barbell/weights set? It may not be working out with you but it would still help his fitness levels, and boys like the idea of muscles - I have a 31 year young husband who loves to flex his newly appearing muscles at me ;o)

I'm going to that convention too! :oD Hubby and I were trying to decide whether or not to dress up - now I feel inspired to :o)

Just to clarify, I assume this applies to men only*? Having done the maths for my small female stats (23% of 124lb x 31 = 884, take from TDEE of 1600) that would allow me to only eat 750 cals a day, which isn't my idea of healthy! Edit *I say this because men can get to a much lower body fat %

I have a small glass of prune juice before dinner every day which seems to be helping :o)

I did something sort of similar - not only did I not count cals over the weekend, I told myself that if I wanted it, I could have it. So I pigged out. But you know what? I found myself pigging out on healthier food than I would have thought! I did have some chocolate and pizza, but on the whole I found myself really…

Thanks - that makes me feel a lot better! I try and make sure I never go below my BMR (which also gives me a margin for error and over-eating) and have been hitting my macros pretty well recently. I'm just never sure what they mean by 'low calorie diets' as I am eating at a deficit. I've always been a walker and am chuffed…

Ok, I read through the first few pages yesterday and I have a question, related but slightly off course - assuming the article (which I have read and agree with, so if your answer to my question is "The OP/article's wrong", no offence but I don't want to be attacked) is correct and cardio can actually sabotage fat loss -…

Bump! Lots of yummy ideas :o)

^^This! *lol* I get up half an hour early and do a Jillian dvd (30DS is a great place to start, and once you get the hang of it her others aren't too expensive) or some weights. Then I get to shower at my normal time and so the workout hasn't hasn't affected my day's schedule at all! Working out from home is definitely a…