gonzang Member

I like AdvoCare products Catalyst (bcaa) and Spark (energy drink with b vitamins and amino acids). I also make sure I eat a protein and carb balanced meal about 1-2 hours before.

One of my favorite foods on or off Challenge is ground turkey chili. I do use canned diced tomatoes in it, but I think that's fine. Always seems to help with food boredom!

The pool and walking are great! You could also try dancing to your favorite music at home. You are an inspiration, so keep at it!

So cool to see so much excitement about getting healthy! I agree with pp that the bigger fat loss come sin phase two, especially if you do the lean in 13. An dthe energy and metabolism boost is remarkable. I am starting my 3rd 24DC today :) Good luck, everybody.

Grocery shop and plan and prepare meals and snacks ahead of time, stick to the plan, and ask your coach questions as they come up. It's a great program and it works! Let us know how it's going!

Did you take measurements or have body fat tested? I think those numbers are often more indicative of progress. I really like MNS too and don't have to buy a bunch of different vitamins and minerals and probiotics because they're all included. Good luck!

Thanks for posting! Just talked to my trainer yesterday about the slowdown in my weight loss over the past couple of weeks. He suggested just what this blogpost suggests--eat a little more. Will do (within reason!).

I have a "spike" day every 4th day, but I do not eat everything in sight. Haha! That would throw me way off course. For me, it's a "refuel" day in which I eat fruits and low-glycemic carbs at 3 of my 5 meals instead of just breakfast. I do have a "free" day approx every 24 days. Love this system because if I really want a…

I don't think you HAVE to stay on MNS to maintain, but it should make it easier.

Starvation mode gets thrown about loosely. Your body might go into conservation mode, which is a bit different. Eating around 1200 probably won't cause starvation. The studies done that people use to talk about starvation were done on a specific group of men...blah blah blah. Not really generalizable findings but used as…

I agree with others on the lift now and take supplements. Both do make a difference. I do some cardio but lift too. I also started supplementing a few weeks ago and am loving the way I feel and look!

I felt no pressure to hire my trainer. In fact, I have gotten such good results and have liked him so much that I stayed with him even after he left my gym and opened his own training studio. I pay $30 a session, which is quite good for this area (Seattle) from what I've heard. Totally worth the money, I think. Good luck!

I am still using the MNS. I just changed from 3 to C today though because the C helps some folks even out their moods. I think thatwould work well for me. I love how Spark tastes and how it gives me balanced energy without the spike and crash like coffee. I do use the shake on mornings that I am either in a hurry or not…

You are on the right track now that you are here and getting support. That's great! I'll piggyback on what other ppl said. I would work on eating more whole foods and getting healthy proteins, carbs, and fats. Aim to eat less processed food that doesn't give your body signals that you are full the way whole foods do. I'm…

I struggle with those same hurdles, especially the self-consciousness during exercise with my trainer. Like you, I complete every session and I do what he instructs me to do when I am on my own. It gets better! You will feel less self-conscious as your body strengthens and loses fat. Last week I wore shorts to work out for…

My stats, as promised: lost 14 lbs, 5 inches, and 4%/4points according to the Omron body fat analyzer. A little less with the caliper skin fold analysis. Pretty remarkable for less than a month! :happy: How are you all doing?

I do like drinking Spark and I do drink the shake for breakfast on days I need to rush or that I am not very hungry. About caffeine, there's not much really. You can always choose the MNS C or 3. I will share my measurements (well, the losses in inches--lol) when we do them later this week! Let's keep each other motivared.…

A lady I've never met at my gym said, "You're a powerhouse." That was freakin' cool. I repeat it in my head over and over when I am getting tired during a workout.

Good for you! I finished the challenge in January. Still can't believe how much I liked it and still like the nutrition plan and MNS. My trainer is doing my measurements on Friday. Think they're going to be impressive.

I echo the "above the neck" idea. I had a cold this past week, and it took serious pushing to make myself work out. But I felt better after every session. Seemed to open up my airways. I wouldn't have done it if I had had a stomach bug or bronchitis.

I sleep with either a loose sports bra or a tank with shelf bra. I actually like how bras feel. I'm on the busty side.

Your calorie goal might be set too high. Looks like you never even get close to it. Besides, 2200 seems high to me unless you are doing strenuous physical work and/or vigorous workouts daily. As far as nutrition goes, I recommend more lean protein and water.

I do 5-6 days a week. (But not this past week...only did 4. Yikes). I have quite a bit of fat left to lose and do lots of compound moves in strength training. Sun OFF Mon PT or on own, Strength (lifting and calisthenics) + a few intervals on treadmill Tues Intervals on TM or elliptical Wed PT, high intensity cardio and…

Are you sure exercising alone is your preference? I have found that working out with a friend or partner makes the time fly by. If you can take an exercise class, then you should try it out. I used to hate exercising in front of others for fear of looking silly or getting embarrassed. But now I think it can be fun. Another…

Wow! You are killin' it. And I say do what works and gets you healthy and keeps you happy.

So cool! I agree with you. Fitness means so much more to me now than I ever thought possible. I guess that's one of the many benefits of exercise--wanting more!

Welcome! You'll find lots of friends here to support you. I have a 2 1/2 year old girl who inspires me! I am a little over halfway to my weight loss goal, but I want to make life changes and not just short-term ones. Add me if you would like. :)

Thanks for brining up this topic. I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. But I wonder what you think of Mike and Molly. I don't like the show much because the writing is one note (as most sitcom writing is). However, the actress Melissa McCarthy is fantastic as Molly. She's fantastic in all her roles (Gilmore…

I like to eat at restaurants too. I look up the menu and plan before I go. Sometimes I enter the food into my diary before I order so that I am less tempted to stray off my plan.

I see it in my face first. This time I have noticed it in my legs too. Oddly, my bra band size is smaller but cup is bigger. Go figure.