Saorsa

@Elastigirl You're so right. Thanks! I think I had blinders on because I want to look like the super athletes I see on IG, which is unrealistic probably. Social can be so curated but it's hard not to lose myself in it. If that makes sense? Plus, none of my friends are really into sports or fitness, so I find myself at a loss sometimes. @Harriet That's part of my problem. I'm not sure what my goal is...I mean, I have an idea, but I'm not sure what it looks like for me or how to get there. Part of me wants to looks like the women I see with strong legs and nice arms that can lift heavy things and kick butt. Then I look at myself and wonder how I could ever get there. One time I made my goal 125 lbs, since the fitness blogs kept talking about getting to a low body fat number, but when I get close to 125 lbs, my friends comment with "concern" and I still see fat and do not look fit. Am I not strength training enough? If I had a magic wand, I would bop myself into being the new Lara Croft. It's hard for me to not feel like my body is broken, if that makes sense? Where I'm at, I can do basic things without being too tired. I can do the basic body weight workout but I don't feel like I'm getting stronger. However, I don't get as winded playing games with friends. I was the only person in my crew not tuckered out after a few rounds of laser tag. I don't know the best way to measure my fitness or what goals to work for in that aspect. I'm in my healthy weight range, but I still seem to have more visible fat than I feel comfortable with. I eat relatively healthy, as my PCOS keeps me in line. Counting calories really stresses me out, because I start to obsess over numbers. I will say, I'm not a fan of lots of running, because I was raised by a Marine who made me run a lot as a family activity. I find it boring now! I'm interested in weight lifting, but I'm between jobs right now so I can't afford the gyms in my city.

I've moved into the stage of trying to build muscle and strength, not focusing as much on weight loss. I've tried to look up successful before and after stories but they either 1) look possibly fake OR 2) women who lost a little weight, so the before and after of getting "super fit" isn't relate-able. Or they were never that out of shape to begin with. <.< I'm not in the "tying to lose 70+ lbs" phase anymore, but I'm not in the "just need to gain 4 lbs muscle and run a marathon" phase either. I'm trying to get to the next level, to be fit and strong, but finding a role model or inspiration has been difficult. I need more advice than "just eat veggies instead of chips" variety. I'm proud of myself for getting this far, but my end goal feels impossible now. I did sign up for a mud run in June, to give myself some forced motivation. I don't want to show up out of shape! Do you have female fitness or health success stories you follow? Any realistic before/after stories? Am I gonna have to suck it up and hire a personal trainer? :/ Someone invited me to Jiu Jitsu class, but I couldn't afford the gym's membership. Thanks. I'm just feeling stuck and can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

Hello! I'm not new here, but I'm coming back after a break. You got this!

I'm using google to help too, but I want to see if anyone has ideas here. The problem: my boyfriend is unhappy with his job. He's looking for new jobs, but he keeps just settling because he doesn't know what he wants to do...let me explain: He hates office jobs and can't stand to sit still for long periods of time. BUT doctor's orders...he can't be in sunlight for extended periods of time because of a skin condition. So what jobs will let someone move around and stay busy, but not be outdoors? As you can imagine, most people try to hook him up with outdoor jobs, like construction...but he can't! No jobs that require him to sit through many classes (where you sit all day). Any occupation suggestions? Note, he is interested in being a welder but is concerned that not being able to work outside much would greatly limit his opportunities. Thanks in advance!

I've completely derailed my progress. I've gained back inches and fat. I've been overeating all summer and I can't seem to stop. I don't even know how to set goals for getting rid of this new habit. I've always had the opposite problem. I feel like I've lost all willpower and I don't know why. The advice I find on a general google search isn't working. I'm at a loss. Please, any advice would help at this point. It's starting to make me lose hope. Clothes are starting to not fit. Note, I'm not binging, just overeating.

I'm an expat. American living in Canada. I'm still in the middle of the immigration process. It's been harder to adjust than I thought. It also negatively affected my fitness routine and my social life is...gone. Anyone else an expat? Where at? What is your experience?

I'm close to my goal weight, but my body has made changes I didn't expect... I don't have loose skin...just tons and tons of wrinkles and some serious eye bags. I'm so embarrassed. I got a bikini, excited to fit into a size 8 again... but I hate showing my body now because I feel like I have the wrinkles of a much older person. My skin is more stretchy? I stopped smoking a little over a year ago too, even though I wasn't a heavy smoker at all (about 1 to 2 a day, but then months at a time of nothing). I eat well. I drink water. I use sun protection like it's a religion. I'm not sure what else to do? Will just focusing on my strength training help? Or just give it time? Thanks. (I'm 32). I'm proud to have lost all my extra fat, but I didn't expect to have such weird skin. Sometimes I laugh about it, but sometimes I hate it. My hands look way older too! D:

Hey yo from Canada. I'm around my goal weight, but I'm wanting to focus on my least favorite part of myself: my legs and glutes. I really need to kick my own ass, pun intended. The basic hip thrusts on the floor aren't doing anything. So many workouts I see on Pinterest and whatever look really basic and I don't feel any burn from doing them? I'm watching my form too... What are your favorite/most effective exercises for lower body? I've heard hiking is great too, so I might add that to my routine. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome and good luck! You can totally lose 40 lbs in that time frame...if you make a great plan and stick with it. I'd advise figuring out your diet. You can't out train a crap diet. Undereating isn't any better than overeating junk food. You got to feed your muscles! Nerdfitness has plenty of great articles about it. So, help yourself...look around, ask questions. This place is really supportive. For a busy life, I find that meal prep on the weekends has helped me A LOT. I just grab something from the fridge and I'm good to go.

Godspeed and don't give up. That "down" and "don't feel like it" is the breaking point. Most people stop and that's when they lose it. I plateau for months but I don't stop the good habits and then finally see results. I'm sure you know this, just trying to be encouraging! I get through it by reminding myself it's a lifestyle change to be healthy, not only about the results and my body will catch up eventually. Carrots are my favorite thing right now.

Welcome! This place has really helped me out, I hope it you find what you need here!

That's crazy! I've lost a punching bag....

-55 lbs so far. Kinda proud of myself.

Seems like I need to find a gym with weights near me.

@farflight Thanks! It makes sense when you say it that way. I'm wanting to get into hiking too. Doing cardio doesn't seem to do it for me anymore. It's like I'm trying super hard to burn a few calories. I don't mind strength training or dance or running (sometimes). Lifting weights sounds hard but fun.

@VibrantellaCan I work on muscle strength while trying to lose a bit more fat at the same time? I've been reducing carbs and eating more fats. I have PCOS so the lower carb thing is working for me. I've been nervous about sharing before and after photos. I might do it here on NF...but on other social media I don't think I could handle the comments, good or bad. It's scary to put myself out there.

@Vibrantella Random, but nice avatar btw! I love Xena. Thank you. It doesn't feel as amazing as I thought it would. It happened so slowly that I didn't really realize that I'd lost so much until my clothes stopped fitting. Then my ring fell off. I can't wear my ring anymore. Holy Fudge. I've been focused on the scale and reaching a certain number that ...I don't know...it just hit me. I took some pictures this weekend and I see the change now. I'm happy, but I'm not feeling as euphoric as I anticipated. Anyway, I do feel like I see more wrinkles. I have minimal stretch marks and no loose skin...but I see wrinkles and I feel like my skin is squishier? If that makes sense? I can push on my arm or belly and see wrinkles. WTF. I've been using lotion daily now, trying to drink more water, and hoping it improves. The eye bags though...gaw, I wish they'd go away. I know the skin around the eyes is very delicate. :\ Maybe I need to wait another year and see if it improves. I have about another 10 more lbs to lose. I'm in the healthy range for my height now. I'm 5"5' at 135 lbs. I'm aiming for 125, then I'm going to invest in weight training and maintaining...knowing the scale might go back up, but in muscle not fat. I want to be strong and healthy. Oh, I wasn't eating enough protein so I've increased that over the past two weeks and feel much better energy wise.

@RisenPhoenix @farflight Alright, alright. Fair enough. I do keep having moments when I look at new pictures of myself and I'm confused for half a second. Like, I'm thinking, "who dat b?" before I realize it's me. Maybe I should give it more time before I start visiting a plastic surgeon.

@RisenPhoenix I've heard a few people mention it (like a cosmetic doctor on youtube), but it's hard to find people talking about it. Most sites I look into blame smoking or sleeping too little or getting old. I was never a heavy smoker and I quit what little I was smoking years ago. I'm only 30. I'm not old. And I'm pretty sure I'm getting enough sleep. It's not perfect sleep, but it's 6 to 8 hours every night. I have been seeing more changes on my face than I expected and it's weirding me out. The eye bags are serious though. More like eye tote bags. Good to know the foot thing is normal! Thanks. I'm going to keep up the work. I mean, if bags happen...they happen. I might have to visit a doctor, but I'd rather deal with that then being overweight and unhappy.

Anyone else experience unexpected, wanted or unwanted, changes from losing weight? I have gained eye bags after losing 55 lbs. They will not go away and I'm not finding much help on other sites about it. I've also lost a shoe size. And I'm struggling to feel thinner as well. My boyfriend pointed out the other day that my clothes are way too big, but it's like my brain isn't accepting it.

MFP has been frustrating me a bit, so I'm looking at IIFYM. They recommended these numbers, but I when I enter them into the macrotracker I get a different number of calories for the same macros? What gives? IIFYM suggestions (PCOS macros): Protein Grams :113 Fat Grams : 77 Carbs Grams : 74 Fiber Grams : 22-29 1344 calories Macrotracker says it's 1441 calories! ***I'm trying to lose fat right now. I feel like 1441 is too high for me. I've been seeing results when I stick to the 1200 - 1300 range but having a hard time getting enough macros.

Added you back! We can do this! *fist in the air*

Hey yo! Is anyone else participating in NaNoWriMo this month? I'm off to a late start, but I'm working on catching up today. You can add as a buddy on the official site: christinewyrd is my username. Good luck, any fellow writers!

Probably a stupid question, but is it ok if I do a stretch routine on the days I'm not doing bodyweight strength training? That's not messing with muscle growth, is it? I'm trying to get stronger muscles but also increase my flexibility.

First, get other doctor opinions if you can. I had one doctor insist I was fine until they caved into my begging for blood work and an ultrasound. Surprise, I wasn't healthy. My ovaries were COVERED in cysts. I've learned that it's best to get copies of paperwork and to visit a specialist. Anyway, since then, I've changed my diet and routine. I'm hardcore about getting enough sleep. I eat little to no added sugar or processed foods. I'm talking about half a can of soda in a year. I still eat fruits, but nothing crazy like a fruit smoothie. I've been cutting out dairy. Little to no bread. Bread isn't bad. It's just the processed stuff at the store. Besides, I've found that carbs don't work for me. Which is my point: figure out the healthy diet that feels right to you! Nutrition is important. They say blueberries and cinnamon are great. Exercise can affect your hormones. Weight lifting and such increase androgens (male hormones). I reduce my weight training and focused on cardio and dance. So again, figure out which hormones might be off for you. It was my androgens that were too high. I've also spent more time on self-care, like having a "salon day"...I make no plans, binge Netflix, dye my hair, take a bubble bath, do a face mask...you get the idea. I do this on the regular because stress can really throw off hormones! That's what I've got so far. I used to have no period and after three years of diligent lifestyle changes, I've lost 50 lbs and I have a regular period again! So...I'm doing something right. I don't take any meds, no birth control either. Almost forgot to add that I've been using raw honey on my face to combat acne.