-
Hit My Goal Weight - Before & After Photos!
I hit my goal weight a few months ago and have been in 'maintenance mode' since around February. I decided it was time to share before and after photos. It was so hard to find a before photo, because honestly, I rarely let myself be photographed. The before shot (left) is several months before I joined MFP. The after shot…
-
Anyone else not lifting heavy - still seeing GREAT results?
I might regret posting this, but here it goes... I have had FANTASTIC results from "lifting medium" with a targeted focus on muscle endurance. I'm female, 40 years old, 5'9", around 138 pounds and 20% body fat (measured yesterday!). My TDEE is around 2200 calories on a non-exercise day and 2800 on an exercise day... which…
-
Every little bit of exercise helps!
I have the very 'deskiest' of desk jobs out there. I sit practically shackled to a computer workstation for 8-9 hours a day, every day, Monday through Friday. A few months ago, I decided that I was going to take several breaks a day to get up and move around. Usually at 9:00 10:30, 1:30 and 3:30 I get up and climb 12…
-
Tips for Keeping Sodium Low
Several weeks ago, I found out that a family member I cook for needed to start watching his sodium intake for medical reasons. Sodium was never something I tracked, because I don't seem to be salt sensitive or have any problems with water retention. To help out with meal planning and food preparation, I started tracking…
-
Why Keep Using MFP?
So... I hit my ultimate goal weight last Saturday (yay!) My husband asked me this morning if I was still going to keep using MFP to log my food and exercise. I hadn't really thought about doing otherwise. I've formed a habit of logging in each day and entering everything I eat/do. It feels 'normal' to me. But apparently it…
-
Why am I so sore from these light weights?
I usually lift (relatively) heavy weights. I go at a slow tempo and work through the entire range of motion. Typically, I do 2-3 sets of 10 with each exercise. Yesterday, I did an up-tempo, low-weights, high-reps workout with 5, 8 and 10 pound dumbbells. It didn't feel overly tough while I was working out, but I am so SORE…
-
2011 - Year in Review!
With the year winding down, I thought it would be fun to share (BRAG!) about all of our successes, epiphanies, revelations and achievements over the past year. Hopefully, all this positive energy can be passed along to the many new folks I am sure are joining with New Year's resolutions in mind. Here's my list: 1) My…
-
Enough with the OATMEAL already!
I think I've reached my oatmeal tolerance limit. I don't want to see it, I don't want to smell it and I sure as heck don't want to eat it. It's a case of serious oatmeal burnout. I'm sure I'll eventually come around and like oatmeal again, but in the meantime, please help me think of some new breakfast ideas! I probably…
-
How does being 'strong' help you?
After reading this post about how much MFP women are lifting (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/412516-girls-how-heavy-do-you-lift), I thought it would be fun to share (brag!!!) on how strength training pays off in our everyday lives. It's one thing to be able to bench press, squat or deadlift heavy weights at the…
-
Building Endurance for an Epic Quest!?
I would like to hike across the state of Virginia along the Appalachian Trail (550 miles) this spring. I can take four weeks off work to tackle this goal. This means hiking an average of 17 miles a day, every day. That may sound crazy/impossible, but most AT hikers cover anywhere from 12-25 miles a day... especially in…
-
Why protein powder?
I enjoy looking at other folks' food diaries for ideas and inspiration. It seems like protein powder is really popular with many, many people. Some people are having substantial servings of it 2-3 times a day. Can someone explain to me the benefits of the protein powder? Why not just eat some chicken breast, or lean beef…
-
Enough Strength Training?
I don't enjoy strength training *at all*. I do it only for the health benefits of helping maintain my bone density and lean body mass as I approach middle age. I'm 40 now and want to do enough strength training to stave of the frailty/weakness that comes with getting older. Does there come a point where the heath benefits…
-
What would you order for dinner?
We're going out to dinner for our 14th anniversary tonight! Help me decide what to order! This is the menu of the restaurant where we're going: http://www.localchops.com/wp-content/uploads/Dining-Room-Menu.pdf We went on a tough, mountainous hike this morning, so I have 2205 calories remaining before I hit my calorie goal.…
-
Exercise Video Recommendations?
Since April, I've been getting almost all my cardio from hiking in the mountains near my house. It's been great, but the days are getting shorter and darker. Within the next month or so, I won't have enough light to do my hikes after work anymore. I don't have access to a gym and I don't have a long enough lunch break at…
-
Should I let MFP adjust my calories?
The last couple times I've entered my weight loss, MFP has suggested reevaluating my calorie goal to adjust for my lower body weight. I let the system do it once - it adjusted my calories downward from 1770 to 1720. This time, it wants to set my calories at 1610. I know *why* this is happening (lighter people burn fewer…
-
I am NOT 'overweight and 40'!
I joined MFP on April 10th, 2011 with the goal of losing enough weight to be in the healthy BMI range by my 40th birthday. I didn't weigh in on my actual birthday, because there was lots of champagne and cake involved in that day, but I did weigh in today. I am so proud to say that my BMI is now 23.9! I'd like to lose…
-
What do do about ugly legs...
This isn't really diet related, but I figured someone here would have some ideas! I have ugly legs. They're toned and nicely shaped... but my skin is horrifying. I'm an avid hiker and spend a ton of time outdoors. I took a bad fall on a recent hike, and one leg (from the knee down) is currently covered with bruises. Both…
-
Foods you love!
I enjoyed the 'Foods You Hate' post (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/331334-continuing-what-are-foods-that-you-hate) so much that I wanted to start a post for the opposite side of the coin! What are the foods you LOVE that you eat regularly. For me... 1) Cheese - I love any kind with the exception of blue cheese.…
-
Anyone else following a 'lose 1/2 lb. a week' plan?
I joined MFP just a week ago to help me keep track of my food and exercise. I entered my information and chose the option to lose half a pound a week. I've lost weight before, but I've always done it really fast by eating 1000-1200 calories a day - which feels like starvation to me. I always end up gaining most of the…
-
Saturated Fat Makes Us Happy?
Interesting article about the way sugar and fat affects us psychologically: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/07/25/study.clues.emotional.eating/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
-
How Badly Were You Eating Before MFP?
Has anyone ever entered all the food they would have eaten on a 'normal' day before they started using MFP to track food and exercise? It's such an eye-opening thing to see... if for no other reason than curiosity's sake! Personally... all I can say is 'HOLY CRAP!' I mean, I knew I was not eating well, but seriously... I…
-
Rest Days? Should I Take Them? How Often?
Since joining MFP, I've exercised 34 out of the last 35 days. I rotate hiking/power walking, circuit training, and using cardio equipment. I feel like the rotation gives me a lot of variety, so I don't know that I need to worry about overtraining. Most days, I burn 400-600 calories and feel like I work pretty hard. Usually…
-
Self-Conscious About Sweating...
I'm a girl... shouldn't I 'glisten' or glow prettily when I workout? Instead I sweat like some crazy beast of burden, toiling somewhere close to the equator. I look like I've been dunked in a tub or caught in a downpour. Sweat literally pours off of my head and face (oddly, I don't sweat as much from other places on my…
-
Maybe reducing sodium isn't the best choice for everyone...
Interesting research: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/03/salt.heart.attack/index.html?hpt=Sbin "The researchers don't have a firm explanation for this finding, but they speculate that sodium intake low enough to decrease blood pressure may also decrease sensitivity to insulin, encourage a stress response in the nervous…
-
Does anyone have a spouse that undermines their efforts?
So, my husband just popped by my workplace with a big, lovely, fluffy coconut cupcake, decorated with a marshmallow peep and jellybeans. Just a few days ago, I told him I really needed his support and to please stop bringing me 'treats'. He said he would do whatever I needed to support me. But, I've been having a HORRIBLE…
-
Ugh - What horrible timing for an injury!
I've been a regular exercise pretty much all my life - both when I've been thin and when I've been fat. It's one healthy habit I've always been proud of having, no matter how out of control my weight became. So, what did I do today - tore my calf muscle. It's a grade II tear, so I'm out of commission for 5-8 weeks. No…
-
I'm Turning Forty!
I decided to join in the fun, and try to lose 50 pounds before my 40th birthday, which falls in late September. I lost 100 pounds when I was 22, and have managed to keep 40-50 pounds of it off for 17 years. I'd like to get rid of the rest as a gift to myself for this benchmark birthday I have coming up. I already exercise…
