BirdGirlFit Member

you look fabulous! weight training is the best <3

I would say weight training and HIIT (high intensity interval training) is the key! Try Jamie Eason's Live Fit Program on Bodybuilding.com (it's geared towards beginners). She has an eating plan, pictures of exercises and a plan that is three months long. It's a great start that was really helpful to me when I first…

Counting calories doesn't always work- especially if you're trying to alter your body composition (lose fat/add muscle) and are already at a healthy weight. For example, I used to count calories and struggled to lose any weight and my body didn't change much. I found that when I switched to counting macros I became more…

You should probably increase the amount you eat by a significant amount in addition to cutting down on cardio and adding some heavy lifting at the gym. What is your current workout regimen? I would recommend starting with Jamie Eason's "Live Fit" trainer on bodybuilding.com. She has great information on how to get abs (eat…

Both restrict your food intake. Eating at a deficit = you will lose weight. I have done both. I think a mix of the two is ideal. I have dessert every night (real ice cream, a brownie, etc.) but I also eat very healthy meals for breakfast and lunch. There is a lot of variety to my diet but it's pretty balanced. If I want a…

thanks for your feedback!! I will up my calories by 150 a week and lower my protein- I think a more gradual transition is a better idea.

This is me! So glad so many people can relate... :)

I'm the same way with fat! I am never satiated with foods that are labeled "low fat". They are usually full of sugar too.

I know...it's not always fun but seeing results + having some of my favorite foods is enough for me. I hate having to be so restricted with "clean" eating all the time (don't like that term) so flexible dieting is a lot more amenable to my needs!

I know what you mean about the word 'diet'. I try to see it as just what you eat, not necessarily losing weight or some 'program'. The word has negative connotations for sure!

I'm sorry to hear you're discouraged :( Weight loss is tough but you've done an awesome job and you can keep it off without counting calories everyday! The good news is you've formed some really great habits to get you down 65 lbs and you can use them to maintain and even lose more. I would look into "intuitive eating" to…

I know the feeling! You are doing a wonderful job and sometimes the scale doesn't move for a variety of reasons. Water retention is a big one and I know that it can be so frustrating to feel like you're not making any progress. Just because you haven't lost any weight yet doesn't mean your body isn't changing though! Keep…

Hi! I think tracking your food will be really helpful, and it sounds like you already know your 'danger zone' time for eating (1-4pm). I used to work at a desk and it was SO hard not to snack but here are some tips that helped me lose almost 20 pounds: +Stay hydrated! Most of the time when I was hungry I was really…

What an inspiring story! You look great and seem to be in much better health now as well. Wonderful job and keep up the great work. :)

Fantastic progress! Very inspiring- Bravo!

I just bought some shapewear and a strapless bra at macys.com. they are having a 15% sale on lingerie right now if you use the code 'save'! They have less expensive options that are comparable to Spanx.

I would agree with that and push it to cutting out almost all processed foods as well. For breads, pasta and rice switch to whole grain and eat a colorful, plant based diet. You'll get higher quality nutrients, less calories & fat and more fiber which will keep you full longer. Also, water water water! Drink it all day…

This is a great list! There are many ways to get protein on a veg diet without tofu: Protein Sources and How Much You Are Actually Getting By the Numbers Beans, Nuts, Seeds 1 cup garbanzo beans 14.5 grams 1 cup pinto beans 12 grams 1 cup refried beans 15.5 grams 1 cup soybeans 28 grams 1 oz. cashews 4.4 grams 1 oz. peanuts…

have you checked out the forums on bodybuilding.com? They have a lot of great resources and food/workout plans that might be helpful...I know the bulk routine is a science especially if you're thin and lose easily. From my time on those boards they may have some good advice for you!:smile:

Cheese was a big one for me...an ounce is usually about 100 calories and an ounce is TINY!

I'm a vegetarian! :)

Dessert is really hard for me too- I've found exercising after dinner (even a short walk) really helps. Usually I'm just bored and want to eat, I don't really want the sugar. Try to distract yourself and drink some water and save your dessert for special occasions or well planned splurges. Then once you have the habit…

bookmarked!!

Hi All! Starting Week 2 of Jillian Michael's Six Week Six Pack today...it's a great workout but I know I need to pump up the cardio a bit in addition to get the fat off. Goal is to lose 1-1.5 pounds this week and stay under my 1200 calorie goal. Let's go!

I vote for good! I eat one a day for potassium and fiber. They're wonderful frozen as a dessert or for a little oomph in your smoothie.

I'm 5'9 and started at 152.6, am now 140 and would like to be 130. I have a small frame so my high weight just didn't feel good. I can tell these last 10 lbs are going to be a bear but I'm going to try! If it's too hard to maintain I would be happy with 135-140.

good job! I bought this DVD about a month ago and am going to start next week. Excited!

I love the website "veg kitchen" they have a ton of really great recipes that don't rely on seitan or faux meat. http://www.vegkitchen.com/ Eat, Drink & Be Vegan is good too, you can always add dairy or eggs even though she excludes them: http://vivelevegan.blogspot.com/ They also have some really good Thanksgiving recipes…

This this this! I think focusing on faux meat replacements as a main staple of your diet can backfire- you're changing what you eat (soy/seitan instead of animal flesh) but not really the package it comes in. I'd say try to limit these replacements to once or twice a week because they're highly processed for the most part…

you look great! I would definitely recommend switiching up your workouts to see if your body responds to something new. Do you have access to group fitness classes (spinning, bootcamp, even step aerobics)? Could you try adding running a few days a week? If you've been successfully completing P90X workouts your fitness…