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Hey Everyone, Wondering if anyone has any opinions or advice on preprepared meal plan delivery services like BistroMD or LeanMeals, (or others.. still doing my research). So.. I started out this year strong on my weight loss journey, about 20lbs down over the first few months of the year, however, I gained it all back over the summer (I was at a job where all my meals were provided and no gym access.. that's my excuse, but really I just fell off the wagon). I'm struggling to get the weight back off and food is the biggest struggle. My workouts have also had to be scaled back a lot while I work through some rehab for my back knees and ankle, so I know the only way I'm going to lose any weight right now is to conquer nutrition. I don't want to start 2018 heavier than I started 2017, and I'm hoping a meal program like this might help. I know I could meal prep like mad and do this myself, but when I get busy with work that all goes to hell, so I'm hoping throwing money at the problem might help get me back on the right track. So has anyone used any services like this before? Pros? Cons? Thanks in advance!

Hi All, Hoping for some advice/critique on my typical routine. Though not really new to lifting, I am new to programing a routine. That being said, my goal isn’t really to build muscle or strength, but more so to lose fat while retaining muscle. I’m eating a caloric deficit most days. Because of that, I know my progress is going to be slow, but I really think lowering my body fat % is more important than gaining muscle for my overall health. Currently 215lbs, About 32% body fat, 5’7” I work out at a Planet Fitness, so no barbells available - only smith machines which I’m not fond of. That kinda rules out the big lifts. I know if I want to get stronger, eventually I’ll need to tackle these lifts, but at least for the next 5 to 8 months, Planet Fitness is my only option So my routine is below. Any major muscle groups I’m missing? Anything I’m overdoing? Right now I’m hitting the upper body routine a couple times a week and the lower body routine a couple times a week. Staring in the new year I’ll be lucky to make it to the gym twice a week, so I’m looking to develop a full body routine for weeks I can only make it once, and a new upper/lower split for weeks I can make it twice. Thanks in advance! Typical/Most Recent Upper Body Routine: Group 1 Dumbbell Bench Press 4 Sets / 8 Reps / 45lbs (each) Dumbbell Bicep Curl 4 Sets / 8 Reps / 20lbs (each) Dumbbell Tricep Kickbacks 4 Sets / 8 Reps / 20lbs (each) Usual progression: Press > Curl > Kickbacks > Repeat Group 2 Smith Machine Bodyweight Row 6 Sets / 8 Reps / 6th Rung Down OR Dumbbell Single Arm Row (If I can’t get a Smith Machine) 4 Sets / 8 Reps / 30 lbs (each) Dumbbell Lateral Raise 2 Sets / 8 Reps / 15lbs (each) Dumbbell Front Raise 2 Sets / 8 Reps / 15lbs (each) Dumbbell Press (Neutral Grip) 3 Sets / 8 Reps / 20lbs (each) Usual progression: Row > Press > Row > Raises > Repeat Group 3 Dumbbell Chest Fly 6 Sets / 8 Reps / 20lbs (each) Dumbbell Hammer Curl 4 Sets / 8 Reps / 15lbs (each) Dumbbell Lying Tricep Extension 4 Sets / 8 Reps / 15lbs (each) Usual progression: Fly > Curl > Extension > Fly > Repeat Typical/Most Recent Lower Body Routine: Group 1 Hip Bridge w/ Green Theraband 6 Sets / 10 Reps Clamshell w/ Green Theraband 3 Sets / 10 Reps Usual Progression: Bridge > Clamshell Left > Bridge > Clamshell Right > Repeat Group 2 Dumbbell Goblet Squats 6 Sets / 8 Reps / 30lbs (total) Dumbbell Split Squats 2 Sets / 8 Reps / 30lbs (total) Dumbbell Calf Raise 2 Sets / 25 Reps / 30lbs (total) Usual Progression: Goblet X2 > Split > Raise > Goblet X2 > Split > Raise > Goblet X2 Group 3 Lateral Walks w/ Green Theraband 5 Sets / 20 Steps (each direction) Group 4 Life Fitness Glute Machine 3 Sets / 8 Reps / 110lbs Occasionally I’ll throw other things into the mix. I kinda play it by ear most days, but this, or a similar variation, is what most days end up looking like.

Thanks so much! I'm loving all the success stories and the encouragement happening on this site! I'm finding myself logging back on 6 or 7 times a day now. Better to be spending my time here than on facebook, right?

Damn dude! This is fantastic!! I think I need to put down my computer right now and go work out.

Hi all. I'm Josh. I've been lurking around and reading this site for a couple months now and finally decided to join and participate. I'm 30 years old and am halfway through graduate school for theatre stage management. That being said, most of current geekdom is theatre geekdom, but my roots in nerdiness go much further back. I was once a very avid gamer. Mostly RPG's from the SNES, PS1 era. I still go back and play these games whenever I have a large chuck of time (which sadly is rare at the moment). Also a big superhero nerd. Love the steady influx of superhero movies that have been produced over the past several years (even if they don't stick to the canon). Also an avid musician (okay.. not necessarily a super nerdy thing.. except I play the ukulele and the clarinet. I don't see myself achieving rock star status that way). I've struggled with my weight for as far back as I can remember. I've always had a gut, moobs and a flabby ass. I finally started taking control of my weight back in 2009. I was working out regularly, eating well and got down to 155lbs which is the lowest I think I've ever seen the scale for me. Then something wonderful happened that derailed my weight loss. I started dating a wonderful guy, and the longer we were together, the less I cared about how I looked (damn happy fat)! That relationship ended in 2012 (partially due to grad school) and left me 30lbs heavier. Depression caused by the death of my mother, stress caused by grad school and life, and a new living situation (living with 3 classmates who eat like crap) has put another 20lbs on over the past year. I'm ready to take control of my life. It's not going to be easy and it's not going to come quick, but I will do it!