MsLisaB

Try bench dips and tricep push-ups as well :smile:

Where is your knee pain? It is on one side, below or above the knee, or does it feel like its right in the knee joint? It sounds like you're massaging the hip flexors and if these are getting tight while you walk it suggests that your glutes (butt muscles) are weak. Weak glutes are also a common cause of knee pain. This…

Hi there, I went to this website http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/calculators/calories-burned-calculator-based-on-average-heart-rate/ put your stats in the calculator and got 1,146 calories burned, so I'd say your polar is spot on. That's a great workout by the way. I hope you're not too sore over the next couple of…

Ask your PT measure your body fat %. That will give you a good idea of how much fat you can lose. For women, about 12% is generally considered essential body fat. 14-20% is the range most athletes are in, 21-24% is classed as "fitness", 25-31% is normal and over 32% is obese.

It can be hard when you're starting out as your body is used to getting a certain amount of food at one time and now it's not getting that much. Try drinking water when you feel hungry and incorporating low GI foods into your diet. For more info on low GI foods have a look here: http://www.glycemicindex.com/

You can set an upper and lower HR to define a target HR zone. The watch will beep if you are above or below this zone as a cue for you to either increase or decrease your effort. If you aren't using this function I'd suggest turning off the sound.

It can take a while for your body to adapt to your lifestyle change and start dropping the fat. I know it can be a bit discouraging when you see all these posts from people who have lost X pounds in the first week but hang in there and I'm sure you'll start to see changes. One question for you though, are you eating the…

Oh honey, I'm really not sure what to say, but if you need someone to talk to (or at) I'm in Subiaco and would be more than happy to catch up. Send me a message if you want. *hugs*

Yes, the chest strap is very adjustable and comfortable. Generally the polar watches come with a M - XXL chest strap which will fit a chest size of 29 - 44 inches. You can ask for this to be replaced with a XS - S (Chest size <28 inch) or a XXXL (chest size >44 inch) if needed.

I have muesli with mixed fresh berries (eg strawberries, blueberries, etc), honey and greek yoghurt.

Have you tried swimming or water aerobics? Both are great all body workouts and, with the water supporting you, are very easy on the knees and back.

I think this might be the answer. Not all foods in the database have all the nutritional information (or the correct information) entered. So if you're using a food that has, say, no fat information then your fat totals are going to be wrong but your calorie total will be correct.

Polar HRMs don't count steps. They area a very good HRM though and I would personally pick the Polar over the New Balance and buy a separate pedometer if you want to know your step count. I have a Polar F4 (predecessor of the FT4) and use it all the time. I've never had any problems with it.

Congratulations! It sounds like you're doing really well. I wish you all the best for your upcoming races and your health and fitness journey in general :flowerforyou:

I haven't actually tried it myself but I'd log it as either dance (Latin, modern, twist) or gymnastics (general) depending on how much pole work as opposed to floor work there is.

I haven't done that one but I have done a modified 300 workout. (http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/muscle-building-11) which is apparently the one used by the actors for the movie 300. It's a killer. Definitely a great workout but you'll feel it the next day!

Running shoes are a really personal thing as each foot is different. Personally I like my Asics GT2030, though I'm thinking of going Mizuno for my next pair. I tried on a pair of Mizuno Nirvana 6 while I was looking for gym shoes the other week and they were super comfy and really light.

I got orthotics a couple of months ago for running as I was getting really bad shin splints on the inside of the leg. You will get used to the feeling of them but it is important to break them in. If you don't you run the risk of getting blisters on your arch, as that part of the foot is not used to being in contact with…

Your body is about 75% water (your brain is about 83%). The cells of your body are reliant on this water to function properly so that the essential reactions that occur every minute of every can can occur. Not drinking enough water can result in fatigue, headaches, fluid retention and constipation, among other things. So…

Maybe you need to reduce (processed) carbs? Also, have you been doing the same exercises for a while (i.e. more than 4 weeks)? Our bodies get used to exercising fairly quickly so its a good idea to change your workouts every 4 weeks to keep your body guessing. I'd also recommend exercising more if you can. Try researching…

Make sure you take lean meat and watch out for sausages, most are quite fatty. If you can find patties and sausages from Peppercorn Food Company (Woolies stocks them I think. I know Farmer Jacks in Subiaco does) they have some really tasty lean options. You could also try BBQ mushrooms (the big field ones) or other vegies…

Are the exercises you're doing now different to what you were doing before? Was there much running involved previously? If not, it may just be that your legs are not used to the exercise and are getting tired quickly. I also find that I get "better" a few minutes into exercising. If I'm doing a circuit based workout my…

Hi Nadina. I'm from Perth :-) There's a few others around here somewhere too and lots of people from other places in Australia. I'm sure you'll love MFP and find plenty of support and encouragement. Friend request coming your way.

Yes you'll lose weight if you only monitor your calorie intake, but you won't necessarily be healthy. Regular exercise has many other health benefits than just fat loss.

I'm from WA too. Perth to be more exact. The more Aussie's who join and add to the food database the better MFP gets. I'm sure you'll love it.

If you have an iPhone, there's a free app called Water Monitor that lets you track how much water you've drunk and will alert you if you haven't drunk enough. I've been using for a few days now and have found it really helpful.

Are you able to go see a physiotherapist who specialises in sports injuries? They'll be able to give you some exercises you can do and also diagnose if you have a weakness in any muscles which may be contributing to the injury and give you a program to strengthen those areas. I very rarely go to the doctor when it comes to…

I've used one on and off. The definitely can be frustrating to get going, but once you've got it they really do work your lower arms, wrist and grip strength. They're great for building finger strength for rock climbing too.

You could also try getting some workout DVDs (e.g. 30 day shred) or if you have a Wii, some of the fitness "games" That way you can still workout at home.

Have a look at micoach by Adidas (www.micoach.com). It has a range of programs including 1/2 and full marathon. I'm just doing the 5k program but bf has been doing the 1/2 marathon one and it does look like it includes intervals. Its free to sign up and also has an iPhone (or Blackberry) app.