curvygirly

I haven't bothered to read everyone's posts because of a time crunch so I apologize if I am repeating someone's suggestion.

I take all the veggies I usually like on my pizza ( onions, green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes) and cook it witih tomato sauce on the stove and add some salt, pepper, and cheese. Tastes just like a healthy pizza or pasta. YUM!

Hi everyone Happy New Year:)

So I am back on the forums, I was on here back when they first started but just got busy with life ( sorry) .

I am 5'3, 154 lbs, and trying to get back to a healthy 120 lbs for my small frame.

My friend just started training people as a personal trainer and this is the meal plan she has recommended for me.

I am a vegetarian by the way, I don't eat eggs and I am allergic to most nuts and avocado.

She is saying I should have three protein shakes a day + 3 meals + snacks :S. I am scared this is too much because I usually hear protein shakes can be used as meal replacements not in addition to it.

My protein shake recipe is : Whey Protein Scoop (110 calories) + 1/2 cup fruit= protein shake of about 150 calories

Breakfast: protein shake + oatmeal ( I use instant oatmeal and 1/2 cup soy milk) = 300 calories

Snack- something small and healthy

Lunch: Salad with a protein patty ( I have veggie meatless breaded patties) = 250 calories

Snack-something healthy and small

Pre workout- protein shake= 150 calories

Post workout- protein shake=150 calories

dinner- mainly veggies, protein and small carb.

She is saying I should eat about 1500-1800 calories daily since I weight train daily and do cardio. I am nervous about having

Three protein shakes a day + 3 meals. Isn't this too much?

I'm looking for articles online to back up this theory. So far I have found articles swapping a meal for a protein shake, or a protein shake being added to meals to bulk up.

Sorry but if someone can set me straight that would be a big relief. I don't want to argue with my friend and be disrespectful.

Okay, so I admit I haven't been working out in the last few months, I have been WAY too busy. However I read somewhere that losing weight is 80% food and 20% exercise. So i decided to try and watch my intake instead. Since September I have lost 10 lbs with just watching what I eat. I know it's not an amazing number I do wish it was higher, but I am the slowest weight loss loser alive I really think , and hey it has stayed off so far, knock on some wood.

I have also determined that eating a big breakfast, and small tiny healthy snacks throughout the day just keeps me munching and wanting more all day, I am never satisfied. I decided to pay attention to when one of my friends eats that I regularly study with ( she is an extra small size) and what her portions are.

At the moment I have cut my portions in half, eat 10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and 10 cups of water .

I honestly feel satisfied with my food, and I feel healthier and have more energy. I know this isn't the most amazing accomplishment, I def wish I had lost more weight, however considering I had no time to workout, and one of my BIGGEST flaws is the way I eat, this is amazing for me.

Anyone eat Semolina? I've started to eat this and am slightly border line addicted. We add cut up small veggies to it, and some salt and pepper, and I"ve been eating one cup for lunch and it has been filling for a few hours. It's mainly carbs though but am I right to assume it's still healthy? Is this a good thing to eat to lose weight, if I replace it for sandwiches and cereal?

any recipes?

I have the same issue! I've been a vegetarian all my life ( except I sneak in eggs every blue moon), and if there aren't any big complex carbs ( bread, pasta, rice) i get hungry still. I"ve been making a veggie stir fry daily for dinner for about a month now,

It's just 3-4 cups of sauteed vegetables ( green peppers, onions. mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli) , 2 tsp of spaghetti sauce, and one slice of cheese. I find that the cheese and sauce makes me fill up. Perhaps you are not eating enough vegetables?

Try adding in some protein with it , it will def help

I have been swinging light Indian clubs"- haha when you said that, it made me think you were talking about a different form of exercise. lol.

I found this to be a good resource for figuring out budget grocery trips

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/ ... t_id=80871

I can't remember where, but somewhere also on that same site, they have menus planned that you can eat enough for one week with a variation and keeping it healthy and cost efficient.

Eating healthy is all about taking control. Yes it takes longer to make things from scratch and I'm sure with youngsters in the house, that task is daunting. But a little bit of time and prep on the weekends can make it a lot easier during the weekdays. I try to eat almost everything I can from scratch and it has gotten cheaper. Aldy's is a great store, available in America, check it out, it is a lot cheaper, food is in bulk and i usually cut my grocery bill in half that way.

You can freeze almost anything in ice cube trays these days, making it easier to make large batches of (soups, chillis, sauces, desserts, etc) without worrying it will go bad and be a waste.

As a woman, I can imagine she is worried being healthier will mean more money and more time spent her cooking. If you pitch in more and show her it won't be a burden on her or the wallet, I'm sure she will hop on board. I'm not saying you aren't doing enough, I'm just hoping to shed some light that's all incase that is an issue.

So my family is big on using the juicer. However it usually is a revolting shade of dark green or brown and doesn't look too appetizing , nor taste good. I am guessing it has to do with the green veggies they put in it. Other than drinking freshly squeezed orange juice, I don't know of any other recipes. Can anyone post some they have tried and can recommend?

I prefer just fruit juice recipes, so nothing w/ vegetables added.

Thank you:)

so, i injured my right foot somehow jogging too much i guess. spent this weekend recuperating. anywho

recently i discovered, taking every ingredient of veggie pasta (minus the pasta) is YUMMY. tastes like pasta, and feels like it's a treat that you are getting away with, but lets you get in so many veggies and very few carbs. going to attempt to eat this more often.

i am going to try and work on my eating habits. they are very good 5/7 days but i need them to be better all the time now.

thank you!

Ooh I like your challenges and your sign in name

Water used to be the biggest issue for me, I hated the taste. i went from zero glasses a day to now about 11!

I'm posting what worked for me incase it helps for you!.

-crystal light- tastes like yummy juice, about 5-10 calories per cup, gets you to drink in 2 glasses. This is my go to, if I'm wanting a snack, if I crave sugar, etc. I used to drink about 12 cups worth daily but now use this only if I'm eating a meal that water can't work with ( ie pizza)

- start using big glasses, 16 oz, 24 oz or 32 oz. This way, if you have water with a meal, you are sure to drink in more than one glass at a time.

-I drink 4 glasses working out.

-If i go anywhere to eat, I have a bottle of water with me and packets of crystal light. It keeps me away from ordering diet coke.

Ahh sorry to hijack your thread, but I hope this helps. Also, warm water with half a lemon squeezed , some salt and pepper is so yummy. You can even add in a tsp of honey. It's a natural diuretic, it's supposed to speed up digestion, and it has helped my skin as well.

woohoo awesome goals! I especially like the last two, about eating better during the day to afford something not as perfect in the evening. that's kind of how i am going as well. I can totally relate to the academic goals. what i suggest is to plan ahead. If you know something is to be done in 2 months, set mini daily goals. If it's 200 pages to be read, doing a tiny bit every day can come a long way and helps build discipline and avoids the last minute cramming. best of luck!

On a side note: I used to use a tbsp of peanut butter in my chocolate protein powder shakes. It made it a bit more filling , and a lot yummier. Right now my brother has moved back home and is deadly allergic to all tree nuts ( peanuts, almonds, you name it). Can you suggest anything else that I can add to the ( cup of skim milk and one protein scoop chocolate flavor) to make it more appealing? I've tried fruit and yogurt, gross!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/imag ... 684213.jpg

they are awesome. I went and bought many diff types trying to find a good pair for jogging and working out. they are adjustable, and cup around the ear so they can't fall off. they are also in black. i got them from best buy for about $20 i believe. I think they are cheaper these days.

I was on weight watchers for a bit and used their etools, then I did Microsoft word for a bit. Now I currently use www.the dailyplate.com , it's free for me at the moment and gets the job done.

Thanks Dante:)

did 3 km jog on treadmill in 50 minutes . as well as an legs lower body workout.

studied 5 hours today.

A+

okay so I seem to be a bowser at posting here. I get onto something and then get sick of if real fast. I have been working out amazingly well and my diet is a lot better. But being part of a challenge and sticking to posting daily will help.

note just edited my goals. i'm busy at the moment and going to stick to attainable goals that can get me where i want, but not struggle or fall off the band wagon in the middle of it.

Goal1. workout 5 days a week

Goal 2. one protein shake and one salad daily.

Goal 3. study daily

Currently I am 157 lbs and 39.8% body fat.

I am a slow loser and I am going to concentrate on being healthier rather than the scale . Note went from jeans size 12 to now 8 being kinda baggy

I am doing my medical licens exams and I have been procastinating

what a genius idea! I'm going to pour my crystal light into popsicle moulds tomorrow!

haha i just realized the challenge was over.

UGh F-

I went really well for the first bit. However, I've been dealing with back pain for a while and that threw off my working out. And because I felt sick, I ate badly. I didn't eat poor food, luckily it was all healthy. However, ensuring it was a lot of protein, ensuring I got my fruit/veggie servings , and a lot of water in, went out the window. I kept in check with my calorie counts, which is good. And I haven't lost a single pound, but 2 inches off my thighs, grr.

Looks like a pretty thorough and intense cardio session. A definite butt-kicker! As a full body workout, I think it's lacking somewhat in upper body work. I could see adding a dedicated overhead press with a suitable weight (I recommend starting lower than you expect you should, overhead pressing tends to be brutal) and no calf raise.

Are you looking for a combo cardio/strength workout, or are you wanting to focus more on strength?

I agree that it's lacking in upper body. However, surprisingly I was soooooo sore at my arms the next day, and even a day after that. I think it might have been the shoulder presses, something I have never done- but now LOVE. I am looking basically for strength training moves that are combinations, just to keep them more challenging.

Today I repeated the workout, however I was surprised that i wasn't sweating as profusely or as out of breath. Maybe it's because I wasn't hopping to each exercise like I had with the trainer. I added 50 shoulder presses in without the calf raises as you suggested.

So I had a workout session with a Personal Trainer, it was a one time freebie. And I just wanted to post it up here , not only to have members benefit in case this inspires you in some way, but also to get your feedback on it. I was DRENCHED in sweat, my legs were shaky and I was breathing so hard. The next day ( today) I am so sore, everything hurts but in a good way. I really can't stress how sore I am, I have never been this sore before. The only part I worked out that was new were my abs, since I keep neglecting them without meaning to.

Bear with me if my descriptions of the exercises are confusing.

1. crunches 25

2. scissor kicks 25

3.both legs in the air, touch shins : 2 sets of 25

4.one leg in the air , touch shin,: do each leg, 2 sets of 25 per leg

5.calf raises, one foot up: do each leg, 2 sets of 25 per leg

6.calf raises, both feet , 2 sets of 25

7.calf raises, one foot up, shoulder press with 5 lbs : do each leg, 1 sets of 15 per leg

8. walking lunges to punching bag to one side of the room

9.squat and then punch the punching bag, : do each arm, 25 per arm

10.squat and then knee, 25 per knee, do each knee

11. squat and then kick, 25 per leg, do each leg

12.donkey kicks, with 8 lb dumbbell set behind knee, (squeezing to make sure it doesn't fall off), 25 per each leg

13. lie down on side, kick up, 25 per leg

14. Llie down on L side, half right leg knee folded at angle. keep left leg straight out and kick up. : 25 per side

15.hold head with one arm, hold dumb bell and crunch to that same side- 25 per side

16. hold one 5 lb dumbbell in both hands, and swing side to side, 25 total

17. knee pushups-25

18. lie down on back, legs down. lift right leg up as high as it can go, and then bring it back down. do 25 times. do left leg now.

Okay so here it is- it took exactly one hour. I tried to write all i could remember, i might be missing one exercise at most on this. I am so sore today.

Note: I do workout 5-6 times a week, and all of this stuff was a variation of what I am used to do. For instance, I do squats, I do kickboxing, but I have never combined it before. I do calf raises, but never so many, or with weights or having one leg up, etc. Also, My reps and Sets were different. I did more sets, less reps. For instance, I did 25 reps of squat and then punch. I struggled to make it through the 25. I did pause sometimes, however I had to keep going. If it hadn't been for the trainer, I would have just done 13 reps, and then 12 reps to make it way easier on me.

I am not sure if I am going to see this trainer again, it does get expensive and what not. However, I just wanted members feedback if this was a good weight training full body circuit to do. I was considering on doing this entire thing, 3 times a week, and alternating it with days of one hour of cardio ( 20 minutes jogging, some dance aerobics). I know my body can get used to it, so I was thinking of doing this routine ( 3 times a week for about 2 weeks total) and then signing up for another lesson, and doing the same.

so perhaps, a new workout body routine, every 2 weeks to follow?

Any thoughts, most appreciated!!

i'm going to opt out of this month's challenge. my back has been hurting a lot lately, esp when touched. i've ignored it the past few months, but it's gotten worse. i'm going to get checked out before i resume exercising.

thank u- great link

hey again,

wow i feel like this is our own personal convo for the world to read lol. what are you studying for by the way? my exams are never ending, i can't wait for them to be over and i can just start making money . how did your exams go?

Maybe I should explain my strength training a bit more, I def do alot more than that day alone.

I do walking lunges, squats ( I can go very low ) , calf raises as well holding weights.. I recently started an aerobic video which uses weights as well and does compoud movements, such as lunges with shoulder raises and what not. I am trying to get more into compound exercises since I think that's the next challenge I need, I am getting a bit too comfy with my current strength training. I sometimes do an entire body circuit. I like your new variation to the circuit, I'm giong to try that soon.

I have weird ears, NOTHING seems to stay. The only ones that work for me now are the ones that fit over the entire ear like the kind deejays use lol. I use JVC they are pretty cheap, and can fold so are easy to store. What's your current workout?

Hi again,

you were def not annoying nor rude w/ ur post, no worries. thank u again. i am frustrated with my workout, bc i feel like i always am doing it wrong. also, i used to use 15 lb bicep curls, until recently I realized i was doing them wrong (oops) so now the 10 lbs are really what makes me struggle to finish the last rep and feel the burn the next day . I know 2 minutes of joggins is not very long,however at the moment I can't seem to jog longer than that, I am trying to push myself, and also I figured doing it in intervals made me sweat and burn more?? I actually just started liking using the treadmill, but that's because I got my ipod working and listen to my favorite songs to it. otherwise, you're right it's a bore. I try and mix up my workouts. I do weight training, kickboxing, aerobic dance videos, jogging , just to keep my interest and body guessing. do my workouts seem a bit better now that I mentioned that?! :S

Um I don't eat eggs, but I do drink milk. and no chicken, other poultry , fish or any animals at all-religious beliefs. thank u for posting the calorie counts on that food, i'm trying to eat protein at every meal, and not rely on protein powders. the adjustments I am making food and workout wise, I am trying to do slowly and surely, so I can stick to them. If i can't survive on lettuce and protein powder over time happily, there is no point to just do it now right?!

again, thank u for taking the time out for this response. it is really appreciated. if i can help u with anything , just ask and i will try my best.

note- got my parents to look into amping up their protein. They are also going to try the unflavored kind. I plan to use it for my dinner of a besan poora ( basically a veggie omelette but instead of eggs i use gram flour) and I will get them to use it for their oatmeal and cereal.