ShannonMpls Member

Sorry for the bad pun, but it's apt. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. You can see from my ticker that I've lost 133 pounds. I did that between June 2011 and September 2012 and I've been maintaining since. When I first set up my ticker, I did not tell it my actual, long-term, "I'll never possibly weigh that…

Congrats on your weight loss! I would add calories back gradually - 100 a week until you find that the scale is no longer moving up or down. This will take trial and error, and I'd expect that you'll bounce up a bit before settling. As for *what* to eat, I follow this: Minimum amount of protein of .8-1g/pound of lean body…

(1) You didn't cheat. You had a treat at the movies. Log it, move on, adjust your week so that you have an overall deficit. It's not a big deal and if you feel guilty and call it "cheating" every time you eat popcorn or ice cream, this will be a long and painful "diet" (well, actually it will be short because it will be…

A couple things: I'd consider possibly reframing your approach to weight loss. Having a treat is "cheating" only if you're on a diet. If you're working to lose weight for life and develop new habits that don't end when weight loss ends, there is nothing to cheat on. You can have treats balanced with an overall healthy…

Here you go! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/993865-why-you-gain-weight-if-you-eat-more-than-your-cut?page=1

I was with you until you starting putting down women who are larger than you. I'm not overweight, but I'm strong and quite happy at the higher end of the healthy BMI range, which is neither absurd nor deluded. Go Kaleo is overweight at 170 and 5'9" and she's cool with that; hell, I'd be cool with her body too.…

You can do this! Seriously. The main thing you need to do is start and don't stop. Your weight and health will be improved, in my opinion, if you ditch processed foods to whatever extent possible. Make plants and proteins the core of your diet. Limit refined carbs like bread, pastries, chips, etc. You can certainly still…

If you care to get painstakingly specific, you could measure what you put into the pan, then measure what is left when you're done, do the math, and assume the difference was absorbed. Or you can estimate, which is what I would do :)

There's no way to spot reduce belly fat - an overall calorie deficit will lead to fat loss, but your genetics specify where it is burned first. If you're looking to strengthen your core, yes - planks are good exercise for that. However, other compound lifts are great at core strengthening as well. I rarely isolate; if I…

I'm just shy of 5'11" - I love reading these threads :) When I first started losing weight, all I wanted was to be out of plus size. I couldn't imagine weighing under 180 - I had been that weight before and thought anything lower would be "too thin." When I was at that weight, I wore 12-14 and was good with it. I didn't…

This. I had a BodyBugg (similar to the BodyMedia Fit) but really hated both the armband and the lack of a display on the device itself. There is a nice comparison review here: http://www.getgrok.com/2013/01/a-comparative-review-28-days-with-the-fitbit-one-jawbone-up-nike-fuelband-and-bodymedia-link/

Wirth Park (hills!) and Fort Snelling (nice flat 5kish route).

I started off morbidly obese with a BMI of 43. Now, my BMI is under 25 - the healthy range. I'm wearing a bikini in my profile pic, which is so completely hard to believe I felt like I needed photographic evidence. What worked for me was waking up one day and committing to MFP. That was almost two years ago. Earlier this…

Height: 5'11" Weight: 175 Age: 34 avg cals: 2700 BW multiplier: 15.42 Lift 3x, cardio 2x.

Yes, it's completely realistic. You have more than enough time to train.

Touche.

Are you saying that having more sex means I'll squat more? That will make my husband happy. The height thing makes sense and I'll use it as an excuse to be prouder of my squat. I'm 5'11ish and yesterday did 115 5x5; I'm going to work on progressively increasing this. I actually bench press more than I squat (120 5x5…

I'd make an appointment with my surgeon in your place. You may actually want to get the hardware removed. I broke my ankle really badly 5 years ago (bimalleolar fx with dislocation). I had the hardware removed about a year after the initial surgery. Now it never gives me any problems, except that it's more susceptible to…

I use - and love - EltaMD Sport. It's not cheap, but it's much more highly rated by the EWG than other sport sunscreens. http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/about-the-sunscreens/496416/EltaMD_UV_Sport_Very_Water_Resistant_Sunscreen%2C_SPF_50_/ I buy it on Amazon.

The price really isn't higher than any other small group/trainer facilitated specialty gym, or even private yoga studios. Look at corepower, or barre classes, and you'll see what I mean. It's not the same as a YMCA, and it's not priced the same because of it. I think I'd love Crossfit, but it's just not in the cards for me.

I can never get my Polar to work in the water. It loses the connection constantly. No problems with the water resistance, just don't push the watch's buttons while underwater.

Run - reallllly slowly - until you need to stop. Walk to catch your breath. Then run slowly again until you need to stop. Lather, rinse, repeat. Next week, and each successive week thereafter, aim to run a little longer. Don't focus on speed at all. Endurance first, speed later.

Start, and then don't stop. If you have a bad day, no big deal - get back at it tomorrow. If you let one day become a week, that's when you run into problems. Live the healthiest life you can enjoy. If your diet is terribly restrictive, your exercise routine too ambitious, you never allow treats or days off, you're going…

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate all the supportive comments :)

In my experience, if a running shoe has to be broken in, it's not the right shoe for me. The right running shoes feel great from mile 1.

Thank you everyone for all your kind words, support, and suggestions!

Just saw this posted yesterday: http://www.getgrok.com/2013/01/a-comparative-review-28-days-with-the-fitbit-one-jawbone-up-nike-fuelband-and-bodymedia-link/ Super helpful comparison. (I chose a Fitbit, not the flex, last fall and never looked back)

I lifted weights starting week 1! The only difference between how I exercise then versus now is that I did more cardio at the beginning (I aimed for 60 minutes twice a week then, now I'm cool with 30-40). In the weight room I started with a lot of bodyweight work and lighter weights, but always free weights and barbells -…

If you see me and my son, say hi! We live off the parkway and bike/walk/run the creek and lakes all the time :) Congrats on your accomplishments :)

These are great reminders that successes can still be found :) I do plan on running a half marathon this fall and the Twin Cities Marathon in 2014. As for Tough Mudder: they electrocute you!! Electrocution by choice! lol. not sure I can pay money to do that ;)