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Low BMR -- Can't eat at real deficit -- what's next?
So, I had my bodyfat and BMR evaluated at my gym, and my BMR is 1136. I am older, 55, and short -- 5'1.5". I hover between 118 and 120. My goal is around 112-115, but I haven't really been able to maintain under 118. I'm kind of a stocky build. Anyway, with a BMR so low, it kind of explains why I've been plateauing on and…
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Refeeding -- Different explanations?
I've been working with some trainers at the university where I work, some of whom already have Master's or higher levels in exercise and nutrition science. I've been fighting a plateau (my weight is between 118-120 and I'm aiming for 115 or lower). My BMR is only 1136 due to my age (55) and height (5'1.5"), but I have a…
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Wintertime and Losing Motivation
I've been pretty consistent with my tracking and exercise since joining MFP, and ended up losing about 6-8 lbs. My weight hovers between 118 and 120. However, since October, I don't seem to want to stay "in control." Now that fresh fruits and veggies aren't as available, I'm craving winter foods, like potatoes, hearty…
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Shoulder injury whine and questions
I'm having some fairly serious pain in my left shoulder. I had been doing a lifting program, and yesterday was so impaired that I couldn't even do an overhead press with 7.5 lbs. weight. A bit of context here -- I'm a 5'1.5" female, 55 yo, around 118 lbs. I did an all-female strength training class and couldn't manage more…
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Tracking devices, MFP, and accuracy
I just switched from my $4.98 pedometer to a newer, more reliable device, a Sportline MoveTrac, that tracks steps, distance, calories, and time. It was around $15.00, not exactly a FitBit, but I'm waiting for birthday or Christmas for that one. Anyway, this new device is pretty accurate regarding steps/distance (I wore it…
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Study on Artificial Sweeteners
Well, hubby and I were having a discussion this morning about artificial sweeteners. He's diabetic and uses artificial sweetener in his coffee (fortunately, he gave up all soda a long time ago). I opened up a new box of Splenda which I had bought with a coupon (we had been using Truvia or Nectrisse), and he told me it was…
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Broke a plateau -- lost 3 lbs. in one week. How?
I wish I could explain this, but I've been at a plateau for almost four months. All of a sudden, I lost 3 lbs. this week. I got on the scale 3 times to make sure (I have an analog scale, not a digital one). I haven't been doing anything differently; in fact, this week I worked out less than in previous weeks due to a busy…
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Can 6000 steps be enough?
So, I'm one of those crazy people who has been wearing a pedometer for years (one of those cheapies you get at Wal-Mart for $4.98), convinced that I have to get those 10,000 steps in every day (about 5 miles for me) for an adequate fitness level. So, even if I do a kickboxing or zumba class, if I haven't done the 10,000…
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Power Bars -- Overrated?
I'm wondering whether Power Bars, Protein Bars, etc. are just overrated processed food marketing creations. Here is my experience. I had a bunch of them in my cupboard (my son works at a store and got some overstock samples), and I ended up being late for work today, so I didn't have any breakfast. This almost never…
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Potassium Deficiency
I have a question about this. I'm seeing a few posts and information elsewhere that people can become very sick from a potassium deficiency, which can be caused by a low calorie diet. I'm netting around 1200 calories a day, and I use the Cronometer program to track my micronutrients. According to the cronometer, I am…
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How to count Insanity
The gym I belong to now has an Insanity class, which I attended on Tuesday and today. How does that "Count" in MFP exercise calories? I put it in as circuit training because it's sort of like that, but more intense.
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Trends of brides wanting to lose weight
OK, I'm an old broad, but I guess I don't understand the trend of women wanting to lose weight before a wedding or to get into a certain dress. When I got married (30+ years ago), I was a normal weight for my size, and I just bought a dress that fit my body. No problem. Now, it seems women want to buy a smaller sized dress…
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Self-Acceptance or Complacency or Just Whining
I've been at a 2-month plateau. I'm maintaining on a 1200 net (eating back exercise calories). I'm older, 55, short, 5'1.5", and around 120 lbs. About 3 weeks ago, I began on the CRON system, which is calorie restriction for optimal nutrition, that's put me around 1040 net, again still subtracting or eating back exercise…
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Dangerous supplements -- niciacin (B3) and green tea?
I'm hearing a lot of news about how some supplements are dangerous, but they are not very specific about at what levels. Yesterday, there was a story about niacin (B3) being dangerous. I take a B complex every day with 200 mg niacin for high cholesterol and overall health (2 members of my family are also B deficient). I've…
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Underestimating calories and overeating at breakfast
I guess this is a lesson in the consequences of bad tracking. A couple of times a week, I have this hot cereal recipe I got from a book that's 1/2 cup oatmeal and 2 tbs to 1/4 cup of Bob's 10 grain cereal, with 2 pecans or 1 tbs walnuts, 1tbs dried fruit and sometimes some fresh fruit thrown in, and then some lowfat milk.…
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When is a detox/cleanse necessary? Which one is safe?
Now, I know there are many people on MFP who believe that cleanses are unnecessary, but I wonder if there are cases where they are useful. My current situation is that I am somewhat irregular, going every 2-3 days. The days in-between, I don't go at all or a very small amount. My husband goes after every meal and spends a…
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Plumbing, fiber, etc.
OK, this is not a very pleasant question, but perhaps I can get some advice. I tend to have a sluggish digestive system, where I have a "good movement" every 2 or 3 days. The other days, I don't go at all, or go very small amounts. My husband goes every day after every meal and spends considerable amounts of time in the…
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Lower alcohol tolerance and exercising when hung over
So, here is my discovery -- my alcohol tolerance is much lower than it used to be. I was never a big drinker -- 2 mixed drinks would do me in -- but I could drink 2 beers or 2 glasses of wine without a problem. Last night, I had two microbrews we had bought in NH with a typical homemade dinner for me -- 4oz lean pork…
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David Sedaris on Fitbit
This was in this week's New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_sedaris?currentPage=all Parts of it are LOL. I use a pedometer myself and got obssessive doing 3+ mile walks. I never saw a cow giving birth, but did take to counting all the rabbits (some mating -- yeah, "quick like a bunny"…
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For Women: A Humorous Way of Saying Something Important
While the focus of this site is to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle, sometimes as women, we are often overlooking some major issues about society's role in our body image. Here's a cartoon that I think puts things in perspective: http://pajamadiaries.com/
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Have you ever eaten all your calories by lunchtime?
Yesterday I had the experience of how a few poor choices can ruin an entire day's plan. I had to go to a workshop for my job. I ate a light breakfast before I went home (English muffin and grapefruit). Usually, this event has some breakfast food, fruit and pastry, but there was no fruit. I was fine until around 11:00, when…
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Eating more earlier in the day - Europeans have it right?
So, I went to an event yesterday where I was served a full luncheon, dessert, etc., and at night, I wasn't hungry and just made myself a salad because i wanted something before bed and didn't have too many calories left. For the first time in a month, I saw a loss, down to 118 lbs. I'm afraid to track it for fear it will…
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Can 1200 calories be maintenance for a smaller older person?
So, I've been netting 1200 calories, eating back exercise calories, and have been plateaued for about a month, and told by a nutritionist and a few other folks that I'm gaining muscle and might not lose anymore . I'm a mature person (55), female, and short, 5'1.5". Well, since I'm not losing at 1200, would that be my…
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Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?
Maybe this is just a rhetorical question, or whining, or both. But tonight, I was at an event where pizza was served and we also a pie to bring home. I ate one slice a the event, logged it. That and the salad at dinner put me at my calorie limit. This is after a day when I took a 1 hour (3 mile) walk, and ate pretty…
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Anyone tried the "I" diet yet?
I'm starting on the "I" diet, which is by a Tufts nutritionist Susan Roberts. My daughter's workplace was using it, and she lost 15-20 lbs. on it. Anyone familiar with it?
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Is paleo a healthier diet than other diets?
So, I was at a Ladies' Night at this wellness center where I get my massages, eating some organic chocolate goodies, and as I was talking to several folk there, who are associated with the chiropractic practice who was hosting the evening, they were talking about how certain diets prevent inflammation, and that this…
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Calorie Restriction Diet for Anti-aging
Has anyone heard of the Calorie Restriction diet to prevent aging? Some studies show that restricting calories to about 30% below the TDEE actually promotes longevity. There are a couple websites devoted to it. Is anyone familiar with this theory or has anyone tried it?
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Whining -- Why doesn't strength training burn more calories?
I've heard the benefits of strength training and been doing it for a while, and I've also heard that somehow it increases your metabolism. But it burns so few calories, especially for someone my size (5'1.5"). I did 30 minutes today, and it burned 81 calories. Sometimes I do a strength training class that's an hour, and…
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Lost about 4 lbs. in 3 months. Should I be disappointed?
I joined a World's Biggest Loser Program in my workplace because my cholesterol was high and I wanted to be more accountable for my diet. Also, I had been advised that losing 10% of my body weight (about 12 lbs. or so) would help to lower my cholesterol. Well, I had my final weigh-in, and since I started the program, I…
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Calories burned by yoga
I do yoga a couple of times a week, and MFP just does a calorie count for "yoga." However, there are many different kinds of yoga. For instance, today I did a Power Yoga (some call it Vinyasa), and sometimes I do a gentle class. Obviously, these two types of yoga burn a different number of calories. Anyone who does yoga…