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Breaking and peeling nails
I had beautiful nails this summer. They were so long and strong they almost looked artificial. Now they are all broken, won't grow, and my thumbnails are peeling off in layers. I'm not eating less than I was in the summer. While I don't usually meet the protein macro, I have it set pretty high (at least 35-40% of my…
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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…
