Posts by jenniferfreeman1

When I first joined CC about 4 weeks ago, I read a few posts and heard lots and lots, for the first time, about s.m.  I became terrified of missing a meal!  Everytime I had hunger pains I rushed to go home to eat, and if for some reason I couldn't eat right away, I became convinced that I was in s.m.  If I hadn't met my calorie goal for the day, I would try to down some snacks right before bed to meet my goal, even if I wasn't hungry, so that I wouldn't go into s.m.!

Then, I did some more research and realized that missing a meal here or there or just getting hungry and not eating right away will not put me in s.m. 

So yes, I think there is an exorbitant number of posts that warn about the evils of starvation mode.  That's not to say these evils don't exist, just that it seems a little exaggerated.  Or maybe not exaggerated but it sure comes up A LOT and a gullible, uninformed newbie like myself could easily misunderstand it all.  

Since we're all kinda in the same boat, does anyone have any inspiring words or a success story of losing the few extra pounds even if it was very, very slowly?

I've been on this site four weeks now and aside from a cheat day once a week, I have been really, really good.  I've also been working out six hours a week (cardio and weight), which is a ton for me because I never really worked out before.  

I figured I would lose 2 lbs a week which means I should have already lost 8 lbs and should be close to my goal...instead I've lost about 3 lbs.

I'm sure there are others like me since we're all already pretty small and it will be harder for us to lose weight.  Does anyone have a success story even if it took them a long time?

I am also 23 5'2" and weigh 113.  I'd like to get back to 104-105 because that's what I weighed last summer before I spent this year in France and ate waaaay too many chocolate croissants.

But my main goal is to get strong.  I'm through being a small weak girl.  So I don't really care about the number on the scale as long as it's muscle weight.

Going back to my other question about gaining muscle with a calorie deficit:

Would it work to have a minor calorie surplus just on the days I lift?  And have a small deficit on other days when I do a short cardio workout?

If I'm only lifting two days a week, surely I wouldn't have to eat a surplus everyday. or would I? 

I love the idea of storing stuff far away...chips in the attic!  lol!

Wow, you're lucky if you came back happy with your calorie intake after a raclette night!!  You must have some strong willpower!

I'm in France and unfortunately my friends looove to have raclette nights.  Sure there are veggies and potatoes, but then we smother it all in melted raclette cheese and top it with charcuterie.  Mmmmm, I'm drooling just thinking about it.

I actually found raclette in the CC database and was able to estimate that I usually eat about 1000 calories in cheese alone!!

But it's my absolute favorite way to break my diet every once in a while!  That and chocolate croissants.  France is really not good for me which is why I'm on CC to begin with!

Original Post by cat-girl:

Hi, I wanted to tell you about my first-hand encounter with soemthing-that-is-not-weightlifting:

In my PE Class at my Community College yesterday, there was a girl who started on the chest press machine with 10lbs (the lowest weight it has) and then went and did a few bicep curls with 5lb dumbells.  I felt sad for her - she wasn't even pretending to work hard -  she must be another of those poor souls who think weights are unladylike.
I wonder what she thought of me:)

I just started weight training and could only do 10 lbs on all the arm machines and it was very hard work for me.   For now, 10lbs is weightlifting for me.

So annoying AND embarrassing:

I've been going to a step class led by the same instructor for the past three weeks.  Somehow the instructor learned my name and is constantly shouting things out over the microphone like: "Knees higher, Jenny!" "LEFT foot, Jenny!"  "What, you don't have any more energy, Jenny?"  "Let's go, Jenny!"  etc. 

He's not really being mean and I think he's actually just trying to be friendly because he does it to a couple of other students too.  But it makes me really self-conscious especially because I just started this whole step and workout stuff so I have a lot of room for improvement.

apparently my body didn't get the memo about losing weight in France...I've been here 8 months now and have gained 18lbs (went from 105 to 123) indulging in some of the same foods you've listed (mmm especially the pain au chocolat).  Which is why I am now frantically trying to lose it before I go back to the states in a few months.  

Maybe eating like that for a week or so doesn't hurt too much but trust me, the skinny French do NOT eat like tourists!  It seems all the good French food is very very rich, drenched in creams and cheese, and even the French eat like that very rarely.  

Thanks so much.  I used the equation in the article and came up with 800 cals/day as a sustainable deficit wihtout losing muscle mass.  It still seems pretty high but I do have a high percentage of body fat (23%).  I will adjust my calorie intake goals accordingly.  

Thanks!