Posts by msilvermane

Original Post by theychangedmyname:

sorry so late but I believe excess protein is excreted through the urine.

my protein powder has 2 grams sugar for 26 grams protein, & 3 grams carbs I think that is pretty decent.

Holy crap. What protein powder are you using? I haven't found one like that yet. Can you provide details, I'd like to get my paws on some of that!

I'm looking at body types similar to my own. Although I admire Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima and Megan Fox, there is no way in hell I would ever look like them without plastic surgery.

I have muscle tone, and I will always have a muscular, hour-glass frame. My arms will never be toothpicks, and I don't think its possible for me to squeeze into a size 2 without looking completely emaciated.

Jessica Biel is my ideal, but I think I can accomplish something closer to Karen Cliche or a more recent Lucy Lawless.

Original Post by darkylinky:

the inner thigh seam on my pants just about ALWAYS is the first to go. my thighs are proportionally large to the rest of me so that part always wears thin and eventually gets holes/rips :( just yesterday i was biking and looked down to my surprise to find a giant hole on the fattest part of my inner thigh >O

LOL. You're not alone. I've ruined two pairs of jeans that way. And in my denial, and my poverty as a student, I kept on trying to sew those seams together. They never stayed, though. 

I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through the turmoil of an ED, but I'm equally glad to hear that you were able to come back from the brink and understand its destructiveness.

Your past doesn't have to equal your future.  If anything, just being aware of this parallel should be enough to keep you from it; so long you truly are committed to approaching weight in a healthy manner.

I would suggest you reaffirm your healthy goals each day, and remind yourself of why you're doing what you're doing. Staying motivated is like keeping up your hygiene; you got to make sure to refresh your goals and your reasons for them every day.

Cheers :)

All aboard the Frustation Express. It takes a while, and its not business class, but as long as you pay your dues, you will get there.

It's a long journey, I'm not going to lie to you. The worst is not seeing changes day to day because you're focusing on it too much.

Sometimes I find that it seems like the scale gets stuck for several weeks at a time. I'll go one or two weeks without seeing even a pound of difference. Then, one day, poof! I'm down six or seven lbs from the previous day.

Your body is doing its thing. You can't rush it. It's like the employee that's cooped up in his office for weeks at a time, and you suspect he's doing nothing but playing solitaire, and taking personal calls. But then he really surprises you by month end with results. If you keep on track, and keep doing what you're doing, even though you're not seeing immediate, instant, right-this-moment results, they will come.

In the meantime, keep going. We're cheering you on!

LOL. That's brilliant.

And it truly does put things in perspective. Once upon a time, Winston Churchill came up with a name for his depression. He called it the "Black Dog." If he was feeling blue, he knew he had to attribute it to his not-so-friendly companion. I had a therapist once that suggested I do the same for my depression but I never thought of applying it to my weightloss. At this rate, I might develop a whole populace of bad habits!

Let's see... There's Weepy Walter,  Anxious Ann, Pre-menstrual Priscilla, Sir George the Glutton...

I'm so torn. It looks so good, and probably tastes three times better, but I still can't imagine how heavy and sleepy and incredibly pissed-off-at-the-whole-entire-universe I'd be after I finished masticating that gut-bomb.

It's like a calzone. I only had my first one ever last year. Never again.

I'll pass on this one.

Most of these products contain caffiene and polyphenols, such as seaweed, and what they do is they dehydrate your skin so that it looks more tightened up and firm. As soon as you put on a regular moisturizer, however,  whatever minimal 'slimming' effect they had, the skin will plump right back up.

To be honest, your regular moisturizers, especially ones with cocoa butter, are a much better investment. They'll improve your skin's elasticity in the long run, so as you gradually lose weight, you're less likely to develop saggy skin and super visible stretch-marks. But there's no topical product that can make you look slimmer for longer than temporary.

Cellulite is fat, plain and simple, and no product penetrates deeply enough to change its composition. After all, these products are meant to reduce the appearance of cellulite, not get rid of it. And the minimal stuff they do for cellulite's appearance... well,  its incredibly minimal and temporary. You'll get more of an effect from sitting in a sauna 10 minutes every day than using these products.

You can't get rid of cellulite until you lose weight and even then, avoid 'white' carbs. Potatoes, bread, sugars and fatty foods affect the chemical composition of the way the body stores their excesses. 

If you eat more water-rich food, cut the fat, and tone up (not just lose weight), regardless of your age and body-type, I guarantee the cellulite will start to disappear within a month... and for good.

I'm a little wary of generalizations. This fat vs. skinny thing doesn't sit well with me because I personally don't think it matters one way or another which end of the spectrum you fall under. If you're at either end of the extreme, or close to it, I don't have any doubt in my mind that you're well aware that what you're doing is unhealthy and that you need to make some changes to move towards a happier middle.

But I do, however, notice certain trends that derive from each group, and while quite frankly it's probably an insignificant, teeny percentage of the folks that do it, the ones that do tend to stand out more than most.

The fact is, sometimes I get the nagging suspicion that people who are in a slightly underweight category bemoan their troubles in a manner that makes them appear secretly thrilled by their minimalist eating habits.  Let's face it, we live in a society that worships at the altar of Super Model. The closer one is to that Supermodel ideal, those 'I-can't-gain-weight-no-matter-what-I-do' issues can become just as much as a blessing as they are a curse. And somehow, by bemoaning these issues among a group of people who fall even further from the socially accepted aesthetic ideal, there's comes a gratifying element to to advertising those 'skinny issues' in such company, whether it is conscious or not. In other words, even a unhealthy and underweight girl might consider herself better off than a mildly overweight girl, and she'll sometimes inadvertantly flaunt it by disguising it as a 'deeply troubling problem.'

After all, the flipside of the whole 'Super Model' ideal is the socially muddled taboo/glamorization of anorexia or other eating disorders. Anorexia and eating disorder behaviors are frowned upon, but it is still much better than than 'fat'. Again, whatever is closer to the Supermodel ideal.

Mind you, I stress again that this is not a universal thing, but its not so rare that you can't recognize that certain 'vibe' when you come across it.  Like it just sounds as if the person is describing their story for their own benefit, as if they're lying to themselves that they believe this to be an 'issue' and that they need help, but the logic and the tone just don't add up. I can't exactly describe it, but I think there are a few people who know what I mean and can probably elaborate on it a bit more eloquently.

The flip side of the coin is those few from overweight camp who sometimes operate on a defensive, deeply suspicious and cynical attitude towards those on the other end of the spectrum. On one hand, the frustration is easy to understand. No matter how confident, how happy or on-paper healthy they truly are, there's still the magazines, advertisements, and all the perfect people on TV reminding you that this is what a 'beautiful, sexy, socially applauded' body is supposed to look like. Its a subconscious nagging that can suddenly find purchase in an innocent comment, or in an undercurrent of envy. It's easier to explain that you were provoked than to admit that there's secret shame or jealousy that is rearing its ugly head.

I think the key is being honest with yourselves, and trying not to let personal hang ups cloud the way you conduct yourself and how you perceive and treat others.

Eitherway, I understand minda's need to vent. Mostly because I do think it is entirely plausible that most of these comments described in the original prose were made in an underhanded manner, and that rant is strictly referring to those smug and skinny girls cruising for an ego boost while masquarading as poor, unfortunate souls.  Or worse, as concerned friends. There are people like that out there. It may not be you or me or anyone you or I know, but they do exist. And they can and do go out of their way make you feel like crap.

In minda's case, as her post outlines, this was from her perspective. And she did explicitly acknowledge that not every person falls into this category. But the ones that do, and I do believe she was strictly referring to those who do it consciously and vindictively...the implication is that no one has any business trying to make themselves feel better by putting other people down. Fat or skinny.

Period.

Original Post by theychangedmyname:

super advanced whey protein from walmart only 14 $ a tub.  shake after workout & for one other meal.  tuna, tuna, chicken, oh & uh tuna.

you can practically have unlimited protein if you do not eat refined foods, because protein is harder for the body to digest, so it burns loads of cals. AKA revving up your metabolism. fueling the fire, burning fat whatever.

  Good luck meeting your protein goals.  Tjlo

Not true. You can't have 'unlimited protein' because your body can only metabolize a certain amount of protein at one time. If you have anything in excess, no matter how initially healthy it is, it turns to fat if your body can't keep up with the rate you're taking it in.  A rule of thumb is something like 30 grams of protein per meal. If you combine the protein with low-glycemic carbs (under 70 on the glycemic index), you maximize the slow burn, triggering the revving up in metabolism theychangedmyname was talking about.

The problem with some whey proteins, even the 100 cal ones, is that they have quite a bit of sugar and fat per serving. I have yet to find one with a decent ratio between sugar and protein per mg.

Didn't know that thing about the tuna! I eat tuna like a fiend. I was actually going to suggest that as a protein, but whoops!

If that's the case, then poultry should be your best friend. Boneless, skinless chicken and turkey breast marinated in lemon juice grilled or just plainly boiled. Doesn't necessarily stimulate the taste buds, but hey, it's good stuff.

Up your calories to about 1600- 1800 and eat six small meals every 2-3 hours, religiously, throughout the day. Make sure the calories from each meal (a meal should be around 250-400 cal) are composed of both protein and low carbs. One of those meals should be rich in calcium and fiber, and while you should limit your fruits to maybe a serving or two a day (preferably earlier in the day to prevent spikes in sugar later at night), you should have raw veggies whenever possible.  Absolutely no sugar, and watch those sodium levels. Aspertame is out of the question too; it does horrendous things to your digestive system and you need that working as efficiently as possible.

Where work outs are concerned, alternate between interval and weight training on your work out days. Two weeks is enough to start seeing some results if you do it diligently.

Do two machines per individual muscle group, and look for machines.work outs that target the most muscles in one movement. If you don't know how to do a work-out, make sure you ask someone and  practise with a tiny weight  at first to get the movement just right. The important thing is safety and control of motion first; challenge comes second.

Do 3 sets of 12-15 reps. Weights should be light enough to control, but heavy enough to be challenging. You should be struggling on your last few reps. The last set should feel especially challenging.  Make sure to properly stretch and warm up/cool down before/after each work out.

Here's a work out plan:

Day 1:  Arms - Shoulders/Deltoids, Biceps, Triceps, Back, Ab muscles. If you feel up to it, do a hour hour walk on the treadmill at leisure pace.

Day 2: Half Hour Interval training on the tread mill. ( Alternate between walking and running hard for as long as you can)

Day 3: Legs - Thighs, Calves, Inner/Outer Thighs, Butt, Ab muscles. If you feel up to it, do a hour hour walk on the treadmill at leisure pace.

Day 4: Half Hour Interval training

Day 5: Rest. Make sure you're still eating the same amount of calories as you are on work out days, and drink plenty of water.If you feel up to it, do a hour hour walk on the treadmill/otuside at leisure pace.

Start the cycle again

You won't look as good as you would if you tried strength training initially, but your skin will be noticably a bit firmer.  This should get your metabolism revved up quickly, but it takes a lot of dedication.

Word of caution: You're going to be pooped the first round. Drink lots of water, and hot green tea (it loses its benefits as it cools) and see if you can keep up that regime somehow once you go on vacation!

Luck!

I feel you about the burn out. I think it's just frustration that's mounting and the little demons in your head that are whispering: 'I put all this effort in, I don't see anything, so what's the point?'

I think this is more of a mental battle than anything else. And I seriously wouldn't recommend you taking any sort of break from your trying. You might not get back on the bandwagon again after seeing a few pounds sneak on. That's what happened to me. It was just easier being in 'break mode' and 'what's the point' mode than drudging through my work outs and not seeing results.

The key is to seriously put your mind to breaking the plateau. Don't focus on not seeing the results. Just focus on discovering things you haven't done before. Have you been doing the same workout over and over? Have you been eating the same amount of calories every. single. day?  Even small changes might tip the scales.

For example, if you run on the treadmill, maybe take your work-out outside. You have to work harder and you'll likely force you to work longer because once you've reached the lap point, you'll still have to make it back home. Or maybe try splitting your work-outs in two. Say you usually run an hour everyday. Instead, break it up: do half an hour in the morning at high intensity and another half hour  in the evening at high intensity. Voila! Shock to system, you're working more efficiently.

Or try something new. Swimming and basketball are two things that are GREAT at plateau shattering. Full body work out in one go, AND you're using a few  muscles that you usually can't work out with machines or weights anyway.

As angry and frustrated as you are, you've got to keep at it. Take comfort in knowing you're not the only one who has hit  this wall, and that you've come so far, you might as well take it home.

Remember, this will eventually pass. It's guaranteed to pass. You just got to clock in your hours and your patience.

We're rooting for you.

Hi Luna,

Your concern is definitely not unique. I've been there, still am there, and I'm certainly not the only one who is feeling your pain.

But I do have a suggestion. You might want to look into reading up a bit on cognitive behavioral therapy. It sounds scarier than it is, but once you read up on it, it is completely simple (sometimes too simple). Essentially, it teaches you some basic life skills and how to cope with the negative self-talk that is making you feel bad about yourself. After all, the low self-esteem you have? That's entirely coming from you. You could look like a sexy fitness model or be making a seven-figure salary, but still feel utterly worthless. Sure, those factors might lessen the blow a bit, but ultimately, the problem with self-esteem comes from you not meeting your own (sometimes impossible) expectations. For example, you could look your physical best, but still beat yourself up for not turning every head in the room.

Monitor your own thoughts. See what you're telling yourself whenever you slip into that negative stage. Are you making overgeneralizations? For example: My arms are flabby, I'm so hideous.  Challenge that for a minute. Your arms do not marr your entire appearance, nor are they something that can't be fixed with a bit of work. A more positive thought would be: My arms are a little flabby, but I can work on them. In the meantime, I'll just cover them up with some strategic fashion choices and still look great.

I strongly encourage you to look into that program. It will help you if you're willing to do a bit of work and don't mind feeling a little 'unnatural' questioning your thoughts, at first. With time, you'll eventually internalize those strategies and use those skills to lead a postive, happy life.

Good luck!

1. Calorie Count Name (user id): msilvermane
2. Name you prefer to be called in discussions: Em
3. Age & Sex:  23/F
4. General Location:  Ontario
5. Married? Aw, heck no.
6. Kids? Furbabies? Dobermann pinscher, Max :)
7. Favorite color? Green
8. Favorite movie?  The Count of Monte Cristo
9. Hobbies? Writing, Sarcasm
10. Favorite Snack?  Chocolate covered strawberries. (Yeah, that's only on 'cheat' days).
11. Favorite Beverage?  Coffee.
12. Biggest Obstacle to Getting Healthy? Emotional eating. Depression. Anxiety disorder.
13. Weight/Fitness Goal?  To get down to about 135lbs, but I'm more concerned with how I look than any old number. I want to be firm, lean and cut.
14. Least Favorite Household Chore? Vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom.
15. How did you find Calorie Count?  Google.
16. Anything Else You'd Like To Share? Nah.

It probably took you a while to get where you are, so it is going to take you some time to take it off. While it is entirely possible to see your scale sink even more than five pounds a week, the truth is, your body can't even process a fat loss of more than 4lbs in that time. Don't diet or exercise too excessively otherwise the 'weight' you'll see sliding of the scale will be water and precious muscle mass. If you let your calorie deficit sink too low and lose muscle, you'll be doing yourself a huge disservice. Your metabolism will slow and its going to be extra hard for you to lose that last 20-30lbs, and near impossible to maintain whatever weightloss you've achieved. Healthy weight loss is 1-3lbs a week (Calorie Counter actually advises a max of 2lbs per week) so try and stick within that range.

Also, I advise you to figure out the following:

a) What your measurements are around your waist, hips, thighs, arms, bust using a tape-measure. Write that down somewhere for later reference. That should be your determining factor for progress, not the scale. Especially if you're going to be weight training. It'll save you the discouragement and frustration of 'not seeing any progress' on the scale when, in fact, there has been a lot.

b) How much you burn in a day.

c) How much protein you need per day,

d) How many carbs you need per day.

e) Use site that will allow you to count your calories, like this one, and stick to your regime.

Calorie Counter is great because it shows you where you're getting your nutritional balance from.  Knowing and following the right balance of protein, carbs and good fats can do wonders by turning your body into a fat burning machine.  Generally, if you want to lose about 1 lbs a week, you should eat 500 calories less than what you are burning (but you should never sink below 1,200 calories per day). Add about forty minutes of moderate cardio five-six times a week, and weight-training three times per week, and you'll be well on your way to more permenant weight-loss, and a firmer, slender body.

You don't have to eliminate your carbs completely, just moderate them. The only real culprits you should be watching are sugar, fats, and your sodium intake. Stay away from aspertame too. It can do some horrible things to your digestive system, and you want to keep that running well if you want to see you dropping the pounds with super efficiency.

And lastly, stay motivated! Monitor your progress every week and post your achievements. :)

Good luck!