katefafa like Catwoman - librarian by day, superhero by night

Posts by katefafa

Forum	Topic	Date	Replies

Weight Loss	Calorie difference relative to weight loss	Jan 15 2009 19:51 (UTC)
Thanks amethystgirl - that site is helpful.
Weight Loss	Calorie difference relative to weight loss	Jan 15 2009 18:48 (UTC)	2
Thanks. Just to make sure I understand (I'm feeling kind of retarded about it). Here's what an average day would look like: sedentary burn of 2400 + added exercise burn of 500 = 2900 burned for the day I could eat 2400 calories that day and still be 500 calories deficit. If I ate 1900 calories instead, it would move towards a 2lbs weight loss for the week.
Weight Loss	Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred	Jan 15 2009 18:35 (UTC)	12
I actually got it last week and have used it 5 times. I'm pretty overweight (214lbs), but also relatively active. The video is straightforward and easy to follow - no complicated dance routines, etc. And since it's only 20 minutes long, you can motivated yourself to fit it into your schedule. I have found some of the activities in Level 1 really challenging, but at the same time I'm definitely noticing a difference in my endurance and strength in just under a week of doing it. The reviews that I read of it even regular exercisers found it pretty challenging. The one complaint that I've got about it is that with a previously injured knee, there is a lot of high impact cardio - like jumping jacks, jumping rope, running place. However, since you only do 30 second intervals it's not too bad.
Weight Loss	Calorie difference relative to weight loss	Jan 15 2009 18:20 (UTC)	4
Question. In order to lose weight I should be eating about 1250 calories a day (that's the 500 less than my resting). If I exercise and burn say 300 calories that day, should I add those calories back in to my diet so that I net 1250 for the day or is that just a bonus that will hopefully add up to more than 1lbs lost a week? In the past I've done weight watchers and there if you exercise it earns you points which you can use for more food. I'm assuming that means they are trying to keep you at a net of ~1200 calories a day. I just want to be sure that I'm not starving myself but also making sure that I lose weight effectively.
Health & Support	anyone who has taken med for anxiety/depression??	Jun 24 2008 13:57 (UTC)	5
I've struggled with anxiety (severe panic attacks) and low-grade depression since my teens and am now in my 30s. I was also scared of going on medication, but the best way to understand it is to think of it just like somebody previously mentioned - like a diabetic may have to take insulin to stay at regular blood sugar level, I have to take medication to keep my mind level. Instead of having extreme lows, I have normal swings into sadness or PMS and have the capability to be happy and experience joy. I would recommend ensuring that you are talking to a psychiatrist and not just a general MD. They are trained specifically to deal with psychiatric medicine and so if you tell them your concerns will more likely be able to help identify what medication, if any, is right for you. I think that gaining weight can also depend on what kind of emotional eater you are. I eat when I'm sad, depressed and stressed out. So for me, getting those emotions further under control helps with my ability to stay on a weight loss plan. One other aspect to consider is that diet and exercise can have a huge effect on depression. Exercise naturally helps your mood so think of taking a walk as an anti-depressant rather than just a way to lose weight. There are also loads of foods that can positively or negatively affect how your body feels so understand how your body chemistry reacts to food is a good way to stay motivated to eat better. For me, what works best is when I take a low-dosage anti-depressant and am faithful about exercising - walking and yoga are lifesavers. I also do better when I cut out caffeine and ensure that I take a multi-vitamin.
Foods	Help! Need to determine the calories in a martini.	Aug 30 2007 21:38 (UTC)	5
It was definitely creamy. Sheesh...well, that was an indulgence (but it was worth it!)
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jul 10 2007 13:47 (UTC)	593
Back on board...okay so I have to be fully honest...I have no good excuses, but I just totally went off board the diet/exercise for the past 2-3 weeks. It started when I got bronchitis, but even after I got better, I just couldn't seem to get back on board. My eating went to hell, I stopped logging my calories on here, and completely stopped exercising. I felt guilty the entire time but still couldn't stop myself from indulging whenever I felt like it. Somehow, luckily, I didn't actually gain weight but hovered within a pound of my current weight. I'm disappointed with myself that I just lost 3 more weeks of weight loss opportunity AND I would've graduated this program had I just stuck with it! BUT I'm deciding to just be proud of the fact that I've learned enough about food and my metabolism must've upped itself enough that I at least didn't gain. So I'm back from my "vacation" and this week I'm back! I ran last night and was feeling great until the last mile when I developed a stitch in my side and ended up walking the last half mile. Still I'm just pleased that I'm being responsible again. Hooray for all the new people who joined! Welcome - I'm sure that you'll find this is a very supportive group of people and that the program (when you stick to it) is actually really rewarding.
Fitness	Calorie-Count 5k version 2.0 (voting on page 5 for v3.0)	Jun 26 2007 15:56 (UTC)	39
I thought that I'd just do a check in since next week is the virtual 5K! I was hoping to be done with my learn to run program by now but have had to take a few weeks off here and there (knee injury and then bronchitis), but I'm still hoping to push myself next Wednesday and try to run the whole thing. Anyhow, I was just wondering at what point we all start listing our 5Ks and our times? I'm hoping to get up early on the 4th to do it, but might do it the night before. (Calories burned = BBQ later in the day!) Also, will it count if we do it on a treadmill or should we really try to get it done outside?
Weight Loss	Breakfast question	Jun 26 2007 02:11 (UTC)	1
I found that precooking turkey bacon so that it's easy to grab two slices in the morning is really satisfying. Hardboiled eggs are great too if you do them in advance. I also love love love Fiber One cereal (14g of fiber in 1/2 cup!) with skim milk and a banana. I'd start with small servings like other people suggested and get your body used to having something in the mornings.
Weight Loss	can't get back on track!	Jun 26 2007 02:08 (UTC)	1
yrpaine1 - It's so frustrating! I was doing great and then in the past month completely lost track. I wasn't logging on my food very faithfully and I think that made a big difference. Even if you end up over-eating, still log every bite because it will keep you more aware. I am finally back on track and for me the key was working out. I decided not to freak out about the diet and focus on exercising again. Every time I work out, I end up craving the right foods anyhow and the diet falls into place. Plus I never want to waste all that hard work that I just put into burning calories off in the first place. Glad to hear that you're going to be tracking your food online again. And when you get a crazy craving, go for a walk! (It works, I swear. Tonight I could've eaten a whole box of Entenmann's Cinnamon Buns, but after I worked out I actually craved salmon and brown rice!)
Health & Support	ok this is kinda gross & personal (about severe constipation)	Jun 26 2007 01:57 (UTC)	10
I love calorie-count. I just read through this whole post and maybe it's my sick sense of humor, but I loved it. I've suffered with this problem several times in the past, but since dieting it's really gotten better. Hopefully you're body will adjust alright to all these changes your making and you'll stay regular from here on out!
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 26 2007 01:46 (UTC)	709
well, i started Week 5 tonight. i am still feeling the bronchitis but it's definitely getting better with medication. i was able to do the 7 minutes without too much of a problem but stopped at 2 miles since i could feel the chest congestion rattling around and my breathing was pretty labored. i'm hoping that next run i can make it all 3 miles. sarah_11235 - way to go on your time! i can't wait to be a graduate too and working on best times. born2bird - sorry to hear about your injury. i haven't had anything quite as serious but have had several times that i've had to time a week off (bronchitis, knee injury, working really late), but just rest yourself and stay active if you can in other ways. do you have access to a pool where you can swim or do water aerobics? Way to go Everyone with staying committed! Every time I check in, I get remotivated.
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 21 2007 13:23 (UTC)	747
Well, I'm completely off track. I should've been in Week 5 this week, but I've got bronchitis! So I've been laying off entirely since it's really a struggle not to wheeze when I'm just sitting at my desk working. I'm definitely feeling frustrated though because I was feeling really good at the end of last week. Anyhow, no plans to run this week which puts me yet another week behind. One week off cause of an injury and now this. I guess that's life, but it is darn annoying.
Motivation	Being called fat	Jun 14 2007 23:19 (UTC)	12
I've called myself fat. My doctor told me I was borderline obese. My nephew asked me why I was so big. But otherwise, nobody's been so cruel to me as some of the things that I've read on here. I can't even imagine that people can be so cruel - parents, siblings, friends, strangers! I've noticed it indirectly though. As I've lost weight people say "Wow you look so much better" which must mean that I looked pretty gross before.
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 14 2007 14:50 (UTC)	806
zarelha - I'm glad to have a buddy on week 4 and struggling with the same frustration of having had to take time off and repeat the week. I'm glad to hear that you're on track again and doing so well. jewelsmcblah and other newbies - I had been walking 3 miles pretty regularly when I started this program and found that the key is not pushing yourself too hard. Even if you think that you're going so slow that you must barely be jogging, you're still training your body to cope with the change. Shavenyak is right - it's more about getting your muscles used to supporting your joints and your joints getting used to the impact, etc. I've had to readjust my timeframe for graduating the program, but I still know that I will graduate....when my body is ready for it.
Motivation	3 months of dieting and now I'm bored...need encouragement!	Jun 14 2007 14:42 (UTC)	4
Thanks everyone for your tips! I went to lunch with a friend yesterday who lost 150lbs over two years and I felt like such a baby complaining about what I'm doing. Anyhow, she said that it's just part of the process and something to get through best you can. Also, got on the workout program again last night and I can already tell that's a good trick for keeping me on track. I burnt so many calories in exercising that I didn't feel bad at all about eating an ice cream treat afterwards. I really liked the idea of scheduling in a few OffDiet days into the calendar. I think that knowing that I'll have a day where I'm not going to feel bad about giving in to cravings will help me to stay on track otherwise. I'm scheduling my first one for 4th July since I know that we're going to a bbq. And I guess misery loves company because it did feel good to know that other people struggle with this too!
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 13 2007 13:30 (UTC)	820
After almost a week off, I'm trying to get back. I've had a really busy schedule and it's really thrown me off base on both my work out routine and my diet. Luckily I didn't gain any weight, but it's the first week in about 3 months that I didn't see the scale drop at all. But I'm trying not to beat myself up about it and am getting back to our program here tonight after work. I'm planning on doing Week 4 over again since between the days off and my knee troubles I think that I need to move slowly back in. Frustrating because it means I likely won't meet my goal of a full 5K by July 4th, but probably safer on my body. Looks like you all were doing great this past week though! Welcome to new folks! nightc1 - congratulations on the shirt size! It's so exciting when you get to take clothes out of the closet because they are too big.
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 08 2007 13:37 (UTC)	854
Like angel I seem to have pulled something last run on weds. so I've been staying off it for now. Wierd thing was that I felt something in my lower back pull during my really slow warm-up walking! Usually I do some basic stretches before starting out at all, but after reading lots of tips, I decided to do a warm-up then full stretching routine and that's when I felt a pull! It felt like it pulled on the right side of my butt and I worked through it and as I ran it felt better but I must have been running funny because then it started to affect my knee. I ended up having to just walk the last mile because I didn't want to push it. It's feeling better today but I still think that I'll wait to try my next run until tomorrow. I was running next to a girl at the gym who was amazing though. She ran at 8.1mph for over 60 minutes! I was in awe. Some day....
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 05 2007 14:33 (UTC)	903
I just had to let somebody know...this morning's weigh in brought me to 179.8lbs! That means A. I'm no longer seeing 180's, B. I've lost 25lbs, and C. I'm literally half way to my goal of losing 50lbs! That on top of finishing Week 4, Run 1 last night and doing my fastest average mile yet (13:30) I'm feeling pretty great!
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 04 2007 18:44 (UTC)	910
Hi Susan - welcome to the thread. Where are you in Georgia? I'm in Savannah. The hot humid weather has finally set in and I'm finding that I have to run inside on the treadmill. Starting in on Week 4 tonight. Actually excited about upping to 5 min. because the last run I was forcing myself to slow down. I never thought that I'd get to even this point. And today I'm wearing a skirt that I've never even fit in! Also, imagine if you will that on Friday I had to run holding up my yoga pants because they kept falling down. Didn't do much for my form, but I felt pretty darn great about it. I mean, when sweatpants don't stay on you know you're doing something right.
Fitness	Will Pilates help to lose weight	Jun 01 2007 21:29 (UTC)	2
I just got a DVD from Barnes and Noble and it's just a mat workout so nothing more needed than a tv and the floor. I've noticed a change in my abs, but otherwise I don't think that it's a great full-body strength training - although that could be my DVD. I've had much better results with weight-loss from intense cardio workouts. I've heard that you need to do more than 30 minutes to start burning fat, but even at 30 minutes a day I started losing. I think that pilates is good, but not as effective unless it's a component of other activity.
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	Jun 01 2007 21:27 (UTC)	925
nightc1 - Congratulations! That is so awesome and such a motivation to keep up the good work. I'm just a half lbs from getting under 180 and I'm working hard this week to see that scale change. sarah_11235 - or others using the podcasts...do they have background music on there and if so what's it like? I'm interested in the podcast idea for outdoor running to vary up the treadmill time I've been doing, but I'm so particular about what I listen to. If I have the right music, I will really put forth effort but if I don't really get into it than it's almost a distraction.
Weight Loss	What is a really good ratio of carbs to protein,etc? I am not quite sure what i'm doing!	May 31 2007 13:25 (UTC)	2
i looked in a nutrition reference encyclopedia and it recommended the following ratio: Calories from Fats - 25-30% Calories from Carbs. - 55-60% Calories from Protein - 15-20% But I usually break it down more like Clairelaine. I tend to stay fuller for longer with more protein.
Weight Loss	How Accurate is BMI?	May 30 2007 14:15 (UTC)	2
I'm going to a doctor who specializes in weight loss and he told me that BMI is not a helpful tool for individuals. He said that it should really only be used for researchers looking at aggragate groups of people and that it's very misleading for individuals. Like some of the previous posts, you really need to know your lean body mass in order to find out what you should weigh. I was shocked to learn that mine was 119lbs so in order to have a health body fat % I really should stay within 145-156lbs. That's 25lbs higher than the BMI calculator I found online said I should be.
Weight Loss	Do you weigh more than you 'look'?? I do.	May 30 2007 14:12 (UTC)	55
same issues for me. i seem to be so proportional that it's hard to notice when i gain or lose. i've lost almost 25lbs and so far it's only really noticeable when i'm naked. i can see huge differences in how things fit (no muffin tops over my jeans anymore, thighs on pants and sleeves are a lot looser) but other than my boyfriend, not many people seem to have noticed.
Weight Loss	anyone start at 350+ could not walk & breath? Desperately need help b4 I die.	May 30 2007 14:02 (UTC)	21
leeci - I'm so impressed! What amazes me about these forums is that no matter what weight people started at - most of us all have the same feelings about ourselves at the beginning. I've struggled for half my life feeling like the "big girl" and just making the decision not to give in to it felt great. You made a huge step to even join CC and post to the forum! Not only that but then you cut out soda and got on a bike! You're doing amazing already! Like others have said - it's one bite at a time and one step at a time. Just remember, it took years for you to get to where you are and it will take time to adjust all of your habits and patterns. Don't get down on yourself when things don't go as well. Seeing the changes help to keep you going. And don't forget that changes aren't always about weight. Changes in your mental outlook are just as important because that's what will keep you going. Take pride in yourself for having the courage to make changes. It takes a lot of guts to realize that you're the only one responsible for your health. Keep it up!
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	May 30 2007 13:40 (UTC)	968
checking in...i'm only starting day 1 of week 3 today. the gym was closed on monday and once i'm at home i have a hell of a time getting back out to exercise. and then i had plans after work last night....so it's been 5 days since i last ran! i'm hoping that it won't be too hard to start in again. i'm going to have to run every night though through saturday to get in 4 runs this week!
Weight Loss	newbie	May 26 2007 23:38 (UTC)
my motivation was that i haven't had kids yet and want to enjoy a few years in a bikini before that might happen. i've been chubby ever since hitting puberty and i'm just sick of it. i feel like a lot of other aspects of my life are under control and i hated that this was such a struggle for me. i finally just decided that if i didn't do it this time around, it was like admitting that i'm destined to be fat. i just am unwilling to accept that. and to be honest, i realized that most of my friends and family probably all roll their eyes every time that in the past i've said i wanted to lose weight because i could never do it. i am really motivated by proving to people (any myself) that i can meet this goal. i've also set fitness goals for myself that aren't weight dependent. that helps me to get out an exercise on those weeks that it doesn't feel like the scale is budging. but like mickisdaddy i am thinking of it as a permanent lifestyle change. hopefully that when i hit my goal, i'll be able to maintain it for good.
Fitness	Eating before or after exercising?	May 26 2007 23:27 (UTC)	1
barefootboo - this was really helpful to me. i recently found out that i've lost 6lbs of muscle mass and i am attributing it to not eating enough calories on the days that i work out because i hadn't been adding in any additional calories at all and was staying at my daily caloric intake of 1250. i know now that on days that i work out i should try to add back in the amount of calories so that i burn so that i still net the 1250 cal/day. i usually do intense cardio from 5-6pm and then eat dinner at about 7:30-8pm. from what you're saying, it sounds like i still might be in danger of using burning muscle rather than fat since i'm not eating within the 45 minutes of working out. should i try to add in the bulk of my daily calories during the day before working out then just have food at the ready when i'm done exercising? exercise usually depresses my appetite for awhile afterwards - how do you force food down within that window?
Fitness	Learn to Run - Who wants to do this with me??	May 24 2007 14:17 (UTC)	999
Just wanted to add - what's awesome about this group is how supportive everyone is to people at all levels of fitness and experience with running. Having just been in it a few weeks, I already look forward to hearing how everyone is doing and feel totally comfortable asking questions. That said, I think that once I "graduate" the program, I would probably be ready to be part of a group that is focused on running technique or setting new goals. Personally, I think that I'm more interested in increasing distance vs. speed over the long term. I hope that if a thread starts for more experienced runners, that people still come in here though to keep encouraging people just starting out. Knowing that you all started at Week 1 and have gotten through each week is what keeps me feeling like I can do it myself.

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