Posts by lev2

I totally understand the rice confusion - I've wondered that myself.  The package of rice is listing the calories as 1/4 cup dry.  What I would do if I were making the whole bag is to multiply the calories for the 1/4 c serving size by the total servings in the bag (probably by weight so you can get a good estimate).  After it is cooked, just portion it out to match the number of serving sizes that you had planned when it was dry. 

That is the easiest way for me to do it.  I'd weigh each portion after it is made as well, just so you can be sure that they are even.

Hope that helps!

Onions and garlic sauteing in real butter...it permeates the house and causes the hubby to yell from upstairs that it smells delicious! 

Unless you are taking supplements/eating a ton of protein, you probably don't need to worry about the bike building huge thighs.  Unfortunatly, there is no magic fix for any one particular area.  Fat  burns off your body in ways that don't always make sense, so there are no exercises that will take fat off your thighs.  The best strategy is to keep track of every calorie you take in, the time you spend in the gym and work to create a calorie deficit (burn more cal than you take in). 

Try yoga for some strength building, and incorporate other kinds of exercise so you don't get bored/burned out.  Stay focused and you will see results!

You could also look into the New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women.  I've purchased the book and now that I've finished reading it, I'm walking myself through the routines in Stage 1 to get comfortable with what it feels like to lift.  I hope to start a real lifting routine within the next 2 weeks or so. 

I also asked those same questions, and being clueless was really embarassing at a University gym full of hard-bodied undergrads.  :-)  I've started to go on Sat. in the morning (when all undergrads are still sleeping/working off last night's booze) and getting comfortable with the free weights and squat area so that, armed with my new knowledge, I'll be able to go in confidently and do my thing without interruption. 

I've already had one friend say "I'm so impressed that you are over here in the "boy" area!" I was excited about that.  :-)

Good luck!  Feel free to ask questions if you can't figure something out.  Bottom line - have fun doing it!

You are all very right about the lifestyle change and making sure not to limit myself to a lifestyle I can't maintain over the long haul.  My attitude throughout the last 6 weeks is to eat 1500-1600 calories per day, which is easily done with the food I fix for my family (portion control though!)  My goal has never been fast fat loss, but slow and steady using all the right tools (exercise, variety of good food each day/week, a few treats in moderation, etc.). 

My biggest issue, lifelong actually, is that dang-blasted impulse to over-eat.  It is not emotional (which I am very grateful for), but it is a lazy attitude thing.  If I stop paying attention to my body and don't listen for the satisfied signals, I will just mindlessly eat until I don't even feel good anymore.  That was the biggest bummer of all Sunday night, when I didn't even really want the slice of cake or the other snack food I parked in front of the TV, but the idea that it is THERE got me sneaking into the kitchen to get a snack when I wasn't even hungry. 

I thought I knew better than to let that happen, but like gi-jane said, it is all learning by experience.  Good news is, I am back on track today.  I've eaten 600 cal, will have another 85 before heading to the gym after work, then home to a normal-person sized portion of whole wheat pasta with ground turkey in the sauce.  Finish it up with a small bowl of ice cream and mixed fruit...good day!

Thanks for the encouragement.  :-)

Original Post by healthyiris:

Original Post by cassrd05:

You need to eat more because you are being counterproductive.  If you've been in the forum for a month, you should know all about a healthy deficit ect.  If not, search for some topics that might give you a little more insight.

 I figured as much, but my post wasn't really about that.  I was asking for suggestions on higher calorie foods, that are still nutritious.  Believe me, I've read plenty of the topics on here about being in "starvation mode", etc. but not a lot of them give helpful suggestions to get out of the rutt.  No more than, "eat more". LOL!  Thanks though, for your suggestion.  I'll run through the topics again, and maybe I'll find what I'm looking for.  I wish you continued luck with your goals!

 It sounds like you do a good job with including the nutritious foods necessary to keep your body healthy, but like they said above eating a few hundred more calories may help you to start the scale going again - try incorporating some higher calorie items like lean cuts of been and pork for dinner instead of chicken, or salmon is another great alternative.  Peanut butter or cheddar cheese slices on apples is a favorite of mine, and I love strawberries on my oatmeal in the morning.  Salads are great - what if you throw 1/4 cup of sliced almonds in with some raisins/craisins to mix in a few more calories and up the protein content? 

Hope that helps!  Think about adding nutritional value rather than just calories for the sake of calories.  Also - don't forget to treat yourself like you've been doing.  Life is too short to miss the good things. :-)

You could look up some yoga movements on YouTube.  Sun salutations involve connecting your breath to uplifting movements designed to get your blood pumping for the day.  They feel really good and you can do as many series as you want to in the morning.  At night before bed I would recommend some more relaxing poses that don't involved as many strength movements and incorporate more stretching. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuvfHTaftLQ

Check that one out, and don't feel bad if you can't bend like she does!! :-)

Good for you - and even better that you don't feel bad about it.  I think there are plenty of us in your same boat - I know I ate some good food last night!  We're just back on it today.  I'm planning to go to the gym after work today and probably won't splurge with my usual ice cream after dinner, but that's about all I am going to do.  My cal range is the same as yours, so one day will not break us. 

Glad you had fun!

Original Post by erinw43:

Hmmm...I didn't think I would be so far on the low end!! I'm not stressing about it, though. What great progress everyone has made!! Here's to more of the same in February!!

No worries erinw43 - I'm right there with you.  I have noticed that my clothes are starting to fit better and my motivation is staying strong, but it is annoying to know that I have lost faster in the past (unhealthy methods, of course) but I remind myself that this is real weight loss and my body has been fed and taken care of during the process.

SW: 170lbs (Jan 5)

CW: 165lbs

GW: 145lbs (By the end of June...)

I love Tilapia - it is a great way to incorporate fish into your diet and not break the grocery budget! 

I do 2 things with it:

1. Season liberally with "Essence of Emril" or any other creole seasoning, cook on the stove-top in some cooking spray or EVOO.  Add in a can of low-sodium diced tomatoes, a TBSP of tomato paste and a little water to loosen the mixture once the fish has been browned on both sides.  I usually break up the fish so it mixes with the tomatos and becomes like a stew.  I serve that over some Orzo pasta and top with some parmesan cheese.  It is usually about 400 cal and a lot of food!

2. I love fried fish too, so I bread the fish like I would if I were frying it and then just bake it in the oven for 15 minutes on a sheet pan.  The outside gets crispy and it feels like a treat to have "fish-sticks" but there is no oil or fat involved.  Just be sure to count the calories in the breading.  You can also make a really delicious tartar sauce with low-cal mayo, some finely diced pickles and some capers with a bit of their brine.  It is really delicious.

I hope this was helpful!

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Original Post by laphipps:

 CC says i should be eating about 1400 each day, but i've been eating about 1200 each day. and i know this is the bare min. but i have dieted several times now and that seems to work for me.

Just my two cents - if you are aiming for 1200 but you are binging each day for the past three days, then 1200/day is not working for you. Personally, I'd rather have slightly slower weight loss (eat a little more) and not get into a situation where I've eating 1200 calories by 10:30am. But again, that's just my opinion.

 100% agree - and from what you say about the exercise you've been doing, you may need more calories to keep your body fueled for the time you spend in the gym.  That may be why you are having trouble with frequent binging.

I also had a surprise reaction, but it was "Hey - I like this!  It doesn't taste like paste!"  I make it with a cup of milk and put thawed strawberries on top.  Keeps me going until at least 11:30 daily.  Great discovery!

I want to look good in a bathing suit in Hawaii in July

I want to fit into all of the clothes I already own that are tight

I want to prove to myself that I can actually do it

I want to sit in a chair and not worry that my gut is hanging out for all to see

I want to have a baby in 3 years and be in the best shape of my life so I can "get the body back"

I want to wear bright colored pants like Michelle Obama! 

Like sfdan says, don't worry about the day-to-day.  I'm going through the same thing right now too.  I hadn't seen the scale move in over a week and a half despite counting calories, exercising 3-5 times per week and drinking plenty of water.  This morning I was also down 2 pounds from my last weight - yay! - but because I was so discouraged by the lack of progress for 10 days I made a deal with myself that I would stop weighing every day.  Once a week is plenty to see if I am on the right track and make the necessary changes.

Don't give up - you can do this!

Oh!  Another one - I don't want to go work out because then, on top of my good hair day being ruined, I will have to take another shower and then put all of make-up back on.  I don't want to waste make-up, so therefore I shouldn't go work out. 

Lame-o, and man does that make me look cheap!