ptheders

Sugar snap peas are great for snacking. Greek yogurt is another go-to for me, but they can be high in sugar. I also tend to reach for snacky foods like Skinny Pop popcorn, Veggie Chips and gluten free pretzels when I'm really craving something salty.

I'm a sucker for almond butter as well, so I buy the prepackaged packets of Justin's. That way I can't do the "just one more spoonful..." thing :)

I love the satay idea! I'll be trying that for sure.

I love to saute sweet peppers, a jalepeno and spinach (sometimes mushrooms... whatever you like) until they soften a bit, pour one whole, beaten egg + 3T organic egg whites over the veg and cover until cooked through, flip onto plate and top with half an avocado, one cut tomato or about a half a cup of cherry tomatoes and…

I think its quite normal to lose a larger amount of weight in the beginning phases of dieting because, as you noted, a lot of it is water weight. It sounds like you're taking care of yourself and doing a great job, so keep it up girl!

I would say after two days of drinking TONS of water. That is how long it typically takes me to get the bloat off anyway.

Are you getting enough sleep? I crave carbs and sugar like mad when I don't get enough sleep. Mondays are by far the hardest day for me to stay on track :(

Maybe wearing spanx during your transition would make you feel sexier? Or some sexy lingerie? Its hard not to obsess over things like this, but try to just focus on how great you're doing! You're working incredible hard and making huge changes and THAT is sexy!

If I had to guess, I would say that you are still losing fat, but are gaining muscle! It sounds like you are doing an incredible job with your workouts. There is an odd period when you begin to build muscle where things kind of stay even for a while, but it will break. I think you should be eating more in the 1300-1400…

Judging from your diary, you are not eating enough! There are quite a few days where you have hundreds of calories to spare, unless I wasn't reading it properly. Whenever I find myself gaining back a pound or two its usually water weight. Make sure you are drinking tons of water to try to flush out your system. I find it…

I feel the same way, although I am not as close to my goals as you are. I don't want to be dieting for my whole life. I am a lover of food and I don't want to constantly feel deprived. I don't really feel qualified to answer your question, but in my opinion, the key is to train your brain to understand the connection…

The thing that amazes me the most about C25K is that even if I take a week off, each run still feels easier than the last! It really does build your stamina. I haven't worked up the nerve to do W4D2 yet, but I think I might do it tonight. Let's hope my knee can hack it!

Is it too late to join this group?! I just finished week 4 day 1 on Saturday, so it looks like I'm pretty well on track with ya'll. I am loving C25K, but I have a bad knee and sometimes it really takes a toll. I pushed my way through W4D1, but I'm scared that I won't be able to do W5!!! Its taken me well over 4 weeks to…

My son's birthday is on Friday as well! He will be three, but still! How funny. When he was about 1 I was working a job where I had to be there at 5am. I still had to do all my normal daily chores and get the kids to bed and all that, and was sleeping probably 4hrs a night on average for almost two years... it was insane.…

Protein not only helps you build lean muscle, but it helps prevent you from retaining water. A high protein diet can sometimes be a good start to a new diet because it will help you shed excess water weight quickly. Greek yogurt has an incredibly large amount of protein per serving. As long as you're not vegan, that would…

You should try Bulgar Wheat! Its very healthy and cooks up similarly to couscous. However, its texture is slightly different. You can eat it with raisins and cinnamon and a little maple syrup for breakfast, or red onion, feta, tomatoes, and parsley for a delicious cold salad. Super versatile, yummy, and healthy!

I find that eating high protein/low sodium can really help you drop weight fast. Both of these help minimize water retention, and the protein can help you build lean muscle. I lose the most weight when I eat at least one egg a day. However, I can only keep that up for so long before I get sick of eggs and need to take a…

I see the pics! You look great! I can definitely see a clear difference. Now that you are smaller, the next 12 pounds will be much more noticeable than the first. Keep up the good work, girl! I don't think I am brave enough to post pics of myself. I need to do some serious crunches to get rid of my "mom pooch"... no matter…

Thank you for all the incredible tips, guys! Since I have been dieting, I've discovered that even if I only consume 1200 calories a day, if I eat high protein and low sodium I lose much more. I try to eat a lot of eggs and also make myself smoothies with one scoop protein powder, a few frozen strawberries, and about a half…

I use sugar-free coffee mate in my coffee. It has artificial sweetners, which aren't great, but it cuts the calories in half!

I was actually raised vegetarian! I eat meat these days, but I would love to have a veggie friend :) I find vegetarian diets can actually be even harder to keep low-cal because things like starches (potatoes, pasta, rice) and legumes can be so high in calories despite being healthy! Can't wait to hear your tips.

Wow! Thanks for the tip! That sounds like an awesome find.

I am new as well! I am determined to reform my eating habits and get more active. I have a 7lb weight loss goal, so its not that extreme, but maintaining it will take support for me because I am OBSESSED WITH FOOD! :) I would love to have some people to encourage and who will encourage me.