Luthorcrow

A couple of quick thoughts. 1200 calories is really restrictive. You are on the cusp of not getting enough nutrients. Maybe you would be better off eating your actual MBR and stop logging your exercise so that becomes your deficit. Also looking at your food diary you are not getting any fresh vegetables and fruit. You are…

No I don't use them as a meal replacement. I generally avoid them because they are step up from candy and are packed full of too much sugar to be a good eats on a daily. For post workout recovery I would rather have a protein shake and fruit. What they are good for is if you need a snack between meals on the go and there…

The only big red flag is if you do not cycle your exercise. Particularly if get really good at something such as running, cycling etc. Eventually if you get in a good enough shape and push yourself you will over train. Just remember that ever so often you need time off. What those cycles look like well depend on what you…

In general I agree, water is my drink of choice but my pre-workout meal of choice is a 2% latte and protein shake post with a piece of fruit. Solid food in the situation just would not be as speedy of a recovery. Best purchase you can make is a great home water filter. My Brita definitely makes the water out of the tap…

One thing to note, it depends one what kind of peanut butter you are talking about. Natural peanut butter has nothing but peanuts and salt or just peanuts. It's only the "ready to spread" peanut butters that either have oils added to keep it ready to spread or have added sugars like molasses, etc. Personally I am peanut…

Just a quick note, there have been a lot of studies on body geometry, symmetry and how people perceive beauty. Generally anytime a women's waist is .7 of her hips or greater it would be considered an hourglass figure. @Juliebelanger22 by the formula above you would be a perfect hourglass for your size. This .7 ratio also…

@ladyhawk00 MFP is not the only site that works this way. Lose It is set up exactly the same way and it is pretty popular as well. @ladyhawk00 and @HeatherFeather10 thanks for the great explanations. I think a lot of users don't really understand that their diaries have built in deficits. Too often I see people with 1000…

Raw cauliflower, carrots and brocolli. Baked yams and squash (pretty much any most recently butternut). Sauteed asparagus, garlic, red peppers, and green beans. Raw lettuce (none iceberg) except radicchio.

Anything will work, I think the key is do you enjoy it. You should always do what you enjoy because will keep doing and be willing to push it to new levels. But keep in mind no aerobic activity is going to "tone" only real strength training is going do that by making your muscles firmer and bigger. Also keep in mind that…

The sound of my heart beat. ;)

No you do not need one. There are a nice to have. Also I think the whole concept of using one to stay in the supposed "fat burning zone" is wrong headed. It's fine to work at a low intensity, the supposed fat burning zone is very low intensity, if you are just starting an exercise program but keep in mind it is not the…

Let's be honest there is plenty wrong with fast food but the real problem is when people stop cooking and eat out all the time. I think it is crazy to make the fast food joints responsible for people's poor choices. So no, those companies should NOT be responsible for people's poor choices. I do think the plate is a much…

Everything everyone else listed except mangoes, I just can't stand the stringy texture and the always feel more like work than fun. Another to add to the list is pomegranates, tasty and unique. Also honeydew melons, tomatoes, avocados, tangerines (I prefer them and tangelos over regular oranges), papayas and kumquat…

Bingo! We have a winner. The wording toning and sculpting gets used a lot in some really dubious ways. The fact is you are either building muscle, maintaining muscle or burning fat. Women should not be afraid of lifting weights, even heavy weights. The fact is most women do not have the genetics to get big and even if you…

The primary reason to move you arms is to maintain balance. Particularly if you are running or speed walking you need to move your arms to keep your balance. Otherwise it adds to the cardo of the exercise. Particularly any motion that is level or above the heart like shadow boxing. Another exercise that is just as intense…

A heart rate monitor is a great suggestion. Timex has some nice models with the chest strap on Amazon around the $70 range. Otherwise you pick a set route that is a known distance and then record your time to figure out the pace is pretty easy. It is actually pretty easy to hit the 3-4 MPH range when walking fast. For me…

@NWfluffy great tips. Definitely start small. Walking is a great way to start. Particularly if you have never been athletic. Also, try to find activities you like doing. Never do an exercise program you absolutely hate just because you think you have to. A great example is running. A lot of people think they have to do it…

Anything between 25-35 is good. I personally think over that would be a bit much. If you actually eat a raw vegetables and fruit (no toppings) with most of your meals it is actually hard to gain weight. One because raw vegetables are not calorically dense and it makes your body works harder to digest it. If you eat raw, I…

Ezekiel 4:9 Cinnamon Raisin Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal. Low on sugar, tasty and lots of long burning live grain goodness.

Sounds like a good recipe. I'll give it a try. As for Chobani, it's all about the black cherry.

Fiber recommendations sometimes get a little crazy. I have read fiber recommendations as high as 38 for guys but most days I hit 25+ range. I think read the average American only gets about 14 daily. If you are hitting the 25 range I think you are fine. Just make sure you are getting a good balance of soluble vs insoluble.…

You looking amazing. UK size 10 definitely must be smaller than U.S. By the way, were the tatts a reward for the weight loss? I don't see the bird tatts in the first pic.

Eating at a deficit and not eating back at least most of the calories you burn during exercise is not a sustainable living style. This is doubly so if you have a high deficit like 1000 calories and will definitely become a major problem as you get in better shape. The amount of calories you burn when you are starting out…

At some point I will give plain with adding my own mix another shoot but before now Chobani Non-fat Black Cherry is the best. By far the best Chobani flavor and also the hardest to find.

Mine is open. Although I generally like my vegetables and fruit raw. They pack more punch and flavor that way and raw forces your body to work harder to digest them helping raise your MBR. That said if you hate raw sauteing in olive oil, etc is works, particularly if you leave them a bit al dente. I think the biggest trick…

My list is very short, Brussel sprouts. Everything is either OK or great. I am can pass on eggplant but not enough to call it a dislike. Liver and brussel sprouts about the only thing I won't eat.

I would second the walking suggestion. The best thing to do when starting out is to start slow. Too many people think they can just put their shoes and start running after a long period of inactivity. If it is causing you that much pain you should not do it. Try walking for an hour instead. When that gets too easy walk a…

For your age 160-180 is still within range but for the average person hitting 180 is a bit high (depends on your actually MHR). My experience with heat is that is really more of an issue when the season changes and you are not used to it. Once you get used to running in the heat your body should adjust. You could also run…

Keep in mind the default carbohydrates, fat and protein percentages are what is recommended by the government. I reset mine to 40/30/30 (Goals > Change Goals > Custom) as I think a more balanced approach makes more sense and studies have shown that people with a bit more protein and fat tend to stick to their diets longer…

Sweet potatoes have more soluble fiber and the carbs have a lower glycemic index. The truth potatoes get a bad rap. As long you are eating either with skins, baked and not deep fried you getting some good eats. The problem is a lot of people deep fry all the taste and good stuff.