KelliDarling

Speaking from experience or is that good ol' fashioned encouragement, Mightstone?

This isn't really a fitness woot, though if this does pan out the way I'm hoping that it will I plan on getting into serious shape before I go! I've been toying with the idea of taking a break from my career for a while and going abroad. The plan that I've come up with is to teach in South Korea for a year and then to travel for a year after. Whelp, today I sent away for a background check and sent in my appication for a TESOL certification program. I'm so excited and nervous! Think I'll go to the gym to burn off some of this energy!

The gym thinks you make them look good, otherwise they wouldn't have pointed you out specifically to a new member. That's a pretty epic woot, good job!

Dude, that was AWESOME! Great job!

"Do you know how many people would kill to have your body?" Technically, I am in the healthy weight range for my height and build. When I mention that I'm not where I feel I should be in terms of physical fitness, I hear comments like this. It implies that I'm selfish because I didn't just work towards a certain number and then stop.

"If a caveman had come across a cow, he would have found a way." -- My reasoning for eating cheese (and I guess, technically, he did...) Is there a certain brand of not-bread that is Paleo approved? Or is it a recipe? I gave up noodles entirely because I can't do the gluten-free substitutes (blech) and I thought that bread would be the same way.

This is more of a gym story, but this just happened to me and I'm still mystified. I was getting into a smith machine when this guy walks up to me and asks, "Would you like me to show you how to use that?" ... Had to look around to make sure I wasn't in 1960. Seriously, who does that?

I love that one. Oh yeah, sure, just lump an entire gender into one pool of likes and dislikes. The same goes for guys when I hear, "Men only love really skinny girls." For the record, I find lean guys very attractive. Keep it up

Keep at it! I'm still at the "just hanging there feeling like a noodle" level

oolong let me know what you think!

Sunburst squash. Super cute and delicious!

I know, right? Ugh, I'm so bad at this... Well so far this week I've been following kind of a "whatever I damn well feel like" routine at the gym Bent-over rows, leg-extensions, back-extensions, etc. There hasn't really been a "leg day" or an "arm day", though I know that there probably should be. All I know is I'm starting to really love lifting weights! As for nutrition, I've been listening to my body and mostly putting in good things when I get hungry. I'd say I'm about 80% paleo at the moment, though I hope to go the full 100 pretty soon. Too many non-paleo things in my kitchen that would cause my inner cheapskate to scream her head off if I just threw them out, so I'm working my way through them. I may have also made an entire batch of black bean brownies that I'm hastily devouring over the course of three days The big goal right now is the ability to do one pull-up. I am nowhere near being able to do one now, but I'm slowly working up my strength to get there!

Have you tried the elliptical? That was how I introduced myself to cardio in the beginning and I really enjoyed the motion of it. Put together a kickass playlist for yourself and pretend you're dancing. I guarentee you, though, if you do cardio for two hours you will never do it again. Start off slow with 20 minute sessions and work your way up.

So I have a really bad sweet tooth. I blame my stint working in a bakery for this, since I had unlimited access to cake all day (aweso--I mean, no, it was so horrible you guys ) I'm looking for tips on curbing this thing. It always happens in the evening after dinner: My brain will light up and ask, "okay, what's for dessert?" Yesterday I was able to satisfly the craving with eating strawberries, but my brain doesn't usually register fruit as dessert. It registers it as fruit. I'm not looking to cut out sugar completely, because that never works.

Thanks everyone. Seeing actual evidence is a great motivator.

That's so great. You look awesome!

Two weeks after I've started strength training and taken gluten out of my diet (at least, 80% of the time). Is this even possible? I thought it would take way longer before I saw any difference. I have no idea if these are actually results or I'm just sucking it in (don't think I was) but I put the two pictures in overlay on Photoshop and there is a slight difference. Whatever. I'm chalking this one up to a victory!

I live in a city that is full of major foodies. The street I live on alone has so many amazing restaurants all I would have to do is walk outside to get awesome Pad Thai or gourmet pizza. I'm able to resist about 80% of the time, though things have gotten reasonably easier since I eliminated my "forbidden foods" list. Weird how that works, isn't it?

I'm still new to healthy, sensible eating, so maybe this goes away with time. But today as I was shopping for my meals I experienced the following, out of habit: A. Immediately checked the calorie and fat content. B. Looked for the low-fat/low-calorie option. This is left over from my calorie counting days (I used to avoid avocados for this very reason). So, I had to stop and force myself to buy the healthy fats. Do you guys ever experience similar?

Yeah! That's awesome. Good job!

I know! It really takes the pressure off, doesn't it? Thanks, Guzzi! Will definitely take you up on your offer if needed

I can hear what you're saying, "Duh." But seriously, I grew up believing that tuna only went with mayo. It was a holy union, often bonded together between two slices of bread. Maybe throw in a tomato or two for funsies, and that was it. Today I made this: http://nomnompaleo.com/post/17420518139/tuna-and-avocado-wraps I may never go back, you guys. Never...

Good to meet another Medifast survivor! I really should have been tipped off when the first chapter of the book they sent you told you to immediately stop exercising. You'd think eating tiny meals every two hours would curb the hunger, but it just made me obsess over how much longer I had to wait before I could eat again. No thank you to that!