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I stopped tracking on MFP and gained 30 pounds
About a year ago I used MFP as a tool to help me get in better shape. At my best I was about 170 pounds. Since then, I stopped tracking my diet and exercise and gain 30 pounds and even went over 200 pounds for a brief period. I wish I had taken pictures of my gut to show how bad I got. I've done this multiple times in my…
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Protein with every meal?
This post is part question, part suggestion. I've read a number of articles and a book or two that suggest having protein with every meal. Since I'm all for more protein, I have been following that advice for about a year. I have noticed a more consistent energy level but since I've made other changes to my diet I can't…
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5 minutes per day exercise challenge
Someone close to me was having a real hard time getting started with exercise. She had set a goal of doing 30 minutes of cardio 6 days a week but kept failing. I suggested that she try doing 5 minutes per day, everyday. At first she didn't take it seriously but I kept pushing. Who can refuse to do 5 minutes of exercise? At…
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How sugar affects me
For the past few weeks I have been restricting my intake of sugar. I am not just talking about "added sugar" but sugar in general. While there may be differences in sugars (fructose, glucose, etc) it is more practical for me to treat them as the same. Yesterday I was out with my family and in the spirit of having a good…
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You might be fitness fanatic if ...
You do math in your head when you are offered food You haven't been in an elevator in months You do ab contractions while in a meeting You put on sneakers (not slippers) when you wake up in the morning Your work starts a 9 AM but you wake up at 5 AM You have a water bottle near you as you read this You know the calorie…
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Why I am cutting back on sugar
In moderate amounts, sugar is relatively harmless. So what is a moderate, or safe amount of sugar? The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that an adult consume less than 10% of their calorie intake or about 25 grams. To put it in perspective, below are a few foods and their sugar content: Coke, 12 oz can = 25 grams…
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Our family needs two treadmills
My wife and I love our treadmill. We use it while watching TV or reading. The problem is that there are two of us but only one treadmill. As I'm currently fitter than she, when we both want to use it she gets it. I used to work out in morning before she woke up but now she figured out that working out in the morning is the…
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Over 40s Success Stories
My wife and I are both over 40. Obviously at our age, staying fit and staying motivated is more difficult than it was when we were in our 20's. For all of us who are over 40 and trying to get back into fitness, it would be great to see or hear examples of others over 40 who have lost weight. I believe the best advice and…
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I quit the healthy lifestyle and now I want to go back
In the past eight months or so, I haven't been exercising regularly and my diet has been terrible. I have gained back about 15 pounds and have started growing a gut. I'm 6' 1", about 190 pounds so my weight is not something my doctor is concerned with. However, at 47, with slow but steady weight gain I can expect to have…
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Is cutting carbs an effective weight loss strategy?
I used to think that cutting carbs was not a good strategy for losing weight and keeping it off. community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/141788/is-there-anyone-who-still-believes-in-low-carb-dieting#latest There were experts on both sides of the low-carb diet argument so I was stuck with just trying things out for myself…
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Does the fitness industry care about beginners?
I was trying out a beginner fitness routine on my Xbox One and while I did okay, it wasn't easy. I got to thinking, if this so called "beginner" routine challenged me, what would it be like for someone over 100 pounds overweight who is over 50? I think there is a huge market for products and services that target people who…
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Xbox 360 Kinect Beginner's Guide
I got the Xbox 360 Kinect this week and it has been a blast. You may be wondering if it is right for you and what to buy if it is. I thought I'd give an objective guide to Kinect. Warning: If you do not have a room where you can at least 6 feet between you and the TV, don't bother buying the Kinect. You need plenty or room…
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Is there anyone who still believes in low carb dieting?
I have been waiting for the low carb fad diet to go away but for some reason it is just lingering and people are still preaching its praises. I have dismissed it from the start and have no plans on ever going on a low carb diet. So far, eating a balanced diet has worked for me. Is there any new information about low carb…
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Great, fun treadmill video. Made me laugh.
I was browsing the web looking for some inspiration and I found this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA
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Dealing with life stress while trying to get/stay fit
I've been under a lot of stress lately. Some good, most bad. I'm not complaining as that is to be expected in life. I know the stress is temporary and I will get through it, but I'm struggling to find the energy and time to workout. This is the type of thing that causes people to fall off the wagon. We get excited when…
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Is under 10% body fat really unhealthy?
I'm currently at 14-15% body fat. I feel better than ever and have plenty of energy. I've read that 18-20% is considered healthy for men and anything lower "may" be unhealthy. Does any know of any scientific medical studies to back these vague claims? There are male athletes who maintain under 10% body fat that are living…
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Rest as important as exercise, maybe more so
I have not seen any discussion on the forums about rest and sleep. As busy as most of us are today I feel it is an important topic to discuss. Often I let myself get so caught up in exercising and dieting that I fail to make adequate time for rest and recuperation. I know I'm hitting a wall when I start to get lethargic,…
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What improvements have you seen?
Let's put aside the pounds for this post and focus on what we have improved upon this past year. Often I hear people moan and groan about gaining back a little weight over the holidays but just as often those same people have seen accomplishments in the long term that far outweigh their set backs. Just the fact that they…
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Write down your goals!
WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS! I very rarely use all caps but I can't stress enough how important it is to write down your goals. If you want to lose 50 pounds by next year, write it down. When you've done that write down what it means to accomplish your goals. How will you benefit? The act of writing down your goals is more…
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The term "healthy" is overused.
Often I hear about diets and foods that are "healthy" and "good for you". Healthy is relative based on what your body needs at the time. If you lost in the wilderness, then foods with a high calorie density is probably your best bet with vitamins and nutrients being a lower priority. A body builder who is trying to gain…
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Calf pain when using treadmill
A couple of weeks ago I purchased a treadmill. I'm a fairly active and fit person but I've always avoided any kind of high impact exercise like running. The thing is that I can't really push myself with an elliptical or stationary bike so I broke down and decided to try running on a treadmill. I love using the treadmill.…
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Cut, ripped, shredded ... what's the next level.
I'll hear people say they want to get "cut". But there are those who consider being "cut" not good enough so they strive to get "ripped". Then there are those who want to push it to the extreme and get "shredded". Is there a level of extremely lean muscularity beyond "shredded"? Do we need to define a new term? My…
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Strange meals
I'm a bit of a fitness nut and I know it. I think of food as fuel and try to get the right combination of nutrients when I need it without caring about creating a traditional meal. I've thrown together some strange combinations over the years that make people laugh. I snack on vegetables and fruits throughout the day so…
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You are not your FAT!
I am sick and tired of hearing people (usually women) who associate their weight with their sense of self worth. I don't care if you are 100 pounds or 500 pounds, I am not going to judge you as a person based on your weight. I wouldn't judge a person for being in a wheelchair so I'm not going to judge a person who, for…
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Most hated exercise?
This question goes out to everyone whether you are already fit or getting there. What is your most hated exercise and why? My most hated exercise is squats. I do them properly with no lower back pain but this exercise totally wipes me out and leaves me nauseous. Before I do squats I turn on the TV to the channel I'm going…
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Tired of hearing the whole foods advice
I am tired of hearing these health nuts go on and on about whole wheat or unprocessed or natural foods. Is there anyone left in the world who doesn't know these foods are typically healthier? We get it, shut up already. I try to eat healthy but if I want to have white rice or white bread I will have it. I also use plain…
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Planned Failure
When my wife and I got back on track with eating right and getting fit, since we've been down this road before, we anticipated how it would go. We discussed our previous attempts at getting fit and staying fit and the inevitable fall from grace. We knew that despite our enthusiasm and commitment that we would likely slip…
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Excess skin
It is commonly stated that when a person loses a significant amount of weight they may have excess skin that can only be fixed with surgery. While I agree that surgery may be the sensible solution in some cases, I don't believe it is impossible to get rid of excess skin through dieting and exercise. I've seen those plastic…
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Sensitive issue
I have found that people who are overweight can be extremely sensitive about their weight. While this is understandable, this sensitivity may be harmful. They may have family and friends who want to encourage them to lose weight and get healthy but they are afraid that they may hurt their feelings. If you were to go up to…
