brenty

Everyone raves about MyFitnessPal. I've been using Lose It! for a few years now, so I won't be switching. But the main thing is to really take a look at your input (calories, Protein, Vitamins, and minerals) and output (exercise, other activity) to see where there is room for improvement -- or a complete overhaul! For me, nutrition was a huge obstacle. I was a very unhealthy sort of vegetarian -- a pastatarian. Trading some simple carbohydrates for greens and adding more fruits, veggies, and legumes to my Pasta when I do have it made a huge difference for me. After dinner walks are nice, too! Evaluate, make some changes, and then go from there. One step at a time.

I wouldn't worry about abs right off. While you heal, focus on just getting your heart rate up doing something like walking or swimming. It'll condition your body and build endurance so that you can ease into a more serious workout better when the time comes.

There are a lot of things that can cause light-headedness, but the big ones related to weight loss are too little water, too little protein, and depletion of electrolytes (which are also lost in sweat): potassium and sodium, primarily. Fitness drinks exist for a reason, and so do protein supplements. Take care out in that heat, folks!

No kidding! When my wife and I started, we thought we would die after running for 20 minutes. Then it was 40. Now we can do an hour! It is amazing how much easier it becomes over time -- as you lose weight and get your body conditioned.

I use Herbalife Personal Protein Powder in my cooking (soup, pancakes, macaroni and cheese, etc.) to add some if I need a boost, depending on what else I'm having that day. Protein powders can work in a lot of situations where you have thick, battery, or brothy-type stuff. You just need to balance it out with water if you don't want it to be too thick...but sometimes thick is good!

Sorry for hijacking your thread, tflemon67. That wasn't my intention! Thanks for your, ah...extensive reply, Carole! I'm going to try to provide an adequate response: Whey isolate is 99% lactose-free, but for many people with sensitivity this is not enough. I am allergic to cashews and hazelnuts, and my mother is allergic to peanuts; in most cases we aren't able to eat foods that are processed on the same equipment as those containing nuts. If you don't have any food allergies, count your lucky stars! I've been a vegetarian for almost 15 years, and I'm (finally!) in excellent health; the vast majority of my Protein is from soy, much like many others in the vegetarian/vegan community. Does soy have these effects on some people? Most assuredly. But that is far from damning. Depending on the source (rBGH anyone?), dairy products have been shown to cause hormone issues as well. But similarly, it would be unfair to demonize dairy and suggest that it is not a useful source of protein. I think there is room for many sources of protein, and research suggests that variety is a good thing. I am not badmouthing whey. I think you felt that I was, and then assumed that I did so to promote Herbalife products. Incidentally, Herbalife has some products that use whey. I was simply objecting to the suggestion that whey is the be-all, end-all. I know you said you didn't want to get into it, but since you asked: Amino acids are not derived; they are what Proteins are built from. A 'complete protein' is a protein that breaks down into the amino acids that are necessary for human nutrition (i.e. the body is unable to synthesize them itself, so we must come from our diet): histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine (and/or cysteine), phenylalanine (and/or tyrosine), threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Since these are present in soy protein, many in the scientific community consider it to be 'complete'. I tend to agree. The rest of the amino acids can be synthesized in the body from other precursors. Scientific knowledge itself, of course, is never 'complete', so it may be that future research will augment or obviate some of what we know now. I am not familiar with this 'Center of Excellence'. What I do know is that peer-reviewed studies both around the world and the at the Center for Human Nutrition at UCLA (which has staff who advise Herbalife on nutrition) have found soy to be very nutritious. I also find it to be very tasty. All good questions, and many good points. You are correct, Carole: I have not been a bariatric patient. I had only heard of LapBand in passing and really didn't know much about it before joining this community. I also did not discover Herbalife until I had achieved my initial goals, but it has helped me achieve new milestones I wouldn't have dreamt of before. Regarding my reason for being here: First and foremost, I have struggled with obesity since childhood, and I was drawn to this community of people who share many of the same struggles and passions that I do. I have, at two points in my life (14 years ago and 4 years ago), weighed twice what I do now. The first time I lost the weight, I basically starved myself. Suffice to say, I gained it all back over time, as I was neither physically healthy, nor had I developed the healthy habits necessary to make the transformation sustainable. Before my now-wife joined me on this journey, I was alone in my struggle with eating and weight-management. I know what it has meant to us to share our disappoinments and triumphs, and just support and encourage each other. That's what I really love about this community. And if my successes, failures, and other knowledge and experience can help inspire someone else to achieve their goals, that is something I want to be a part of. I am sorry if I have done something to offend you personally. It wasn't my intention. I see a lot of people here who are excited about the individuals, products, and tools that they are utilizing to reach their goals, and I have been thrilled to participate. Regarding professionalism: I am primarily an IT professional. Herbalife is my hobby. It is something I am passionate about because of my personal journey with weight loss, health, and nutrition -- and it's a nice break from the screen. Since you have scrutinized me a bit, I'm sure you've noticed that I don't link to products or give out my number or website here. It would be easy enough to do so, but I have been on my share of forums plagued by spammers and shameless self-promoters. I can't stand that either, so I don't do it. That isn't why I am here, and frankly I am more than happy to stick to my principles and keep my dignity. I got into Herbalife as a distributor initially because my wife and I get a discount. My focus with customers, however, is on building relationships and helping them achieve their goals, and if feels like that is really only feasible locally, where I can work with them one-on-one. And at the end of the day, Herbalife doesn't pay me; my customers do. So don't worry: I'm not trying to recruit you, Carole! But thanks for your interest in my background. Question everything; the truth can withstand scrutiny.

From what I've read, soy and whey Proteins are equally viable. Soy is a source of complete protein, and since it is plant-based, it is a great alternative for vegans, vegetarians, and those with dairy allergies. Anecdotally, when I've had whey isolate protein-based drinks they have not agreed with me. I haven't had the same discomfort (and other more graphic issues) with soy protein. Soy may not be for everyone either, since some folks are allergic to it. But it is really an individual thing, and in light of the research it seems unfair to call whey 'the best' -- 'my whey or the highway' (I couldn't resist!) -- when soy is also nutritious and made from the same stuff: the amino acids that are the building blocks of all the cells in your body. As always, your physician may recommend one or the other -- or both -- depending on your specific needs.

You will probably have more than a few 'ut oh' moments/days where you have things/quantities you shouldn't. Logging makes it so we can see our mistakes and make the necessary adjustments. Sort of like athletes who record video of themselves and study their form in slow motion. We're all unique, so trial and error is par for the course. Just keep at it!

Not at all, surprisingly! The first few days I was a little timid, but I went for it (since I was at home) and I've been having breakfast ever since! That sounds silly to most people, but it's really exciting for me!

Definitely! Just make it a protein-based snack, since that is more filling -- and of course most of us could use some more anyway!

If you vary your calories and foods over the course of the week, it can help kickstart your metabolism. Just make sure that you're getting all the vitamins, minerals, and protein -- which varies from person to person -- you need, and if your average calories is less than you burn, you will get there. I think we've all been there at some point. Just keep it up!

It is super important that we all find something that works for us as individuals. Personally, I didn't eat breakfast at all for years. Very unhealthy, I know; but it just made me sick when I did. Having a shake every morning has been a game-changer for me, since I can now get fuel right away to start my day.

I agree, Cazzy. I try to be super strict about these sorts of things at first, until I can get good enough at estimating; but long-term, I think we all have better uses for our time. The important thing is to be mindful of portions and train ourselves to make good decisions. And after a while, it comes naturally.

Happy July, too! I absolutely get creative with my shakes, but they taste great as-is. My wife and I fell in love with Herbalife Formula 1 (my favourite -- smooth) and Protein Drink Mix (my wife's -- thick and creamy). All of the flavours are great (latté and Cookies 'n' cream being our favourites), but we mostly get vanilla. It's easier to use that as a base and then add whatever we happen to be in the mood for (coffee, fruit, etc.) without having to stock all the individual flavours. And they double as 'protein pops'! Disclosure: I am an Herbalife distributor. Can't beat wholesale!

Aye. Kids know what's good until they are brainwashed to love junk. Most 2 year-olds get better nutrition than most 20 year-olds, just as a matter of course for growth and health. It's crazy.

It's just a little weird, because I still sometimes get that guilty cheating-on-my-diet feeling when I have one!

This is awesome! Doing it as a team makes it so much easier. My wife and I have both done much better since we teamed up for diet and exercise. We're in love with Herbalife shakes. Isopure looks like it has more protein, but also higher calories. That's a bit out of the way for us (in SFV), but it is good to know! We moved in down the street from Follow Your Heart (by chance!) and we have fallen in love with them.

We've been using Lose It! for a couple years now to track food, exercise, and weight loss. We do not generally log mundane activities (walking to the theater, cleaning, etc.) since it is really hard to estimate those things. And if our net calories are slightly lower than they look, that doesn't hurt anything.

I was making our protein and meal shakes at night to save time in the mornings, and it turns out that they thicken nicely in the refrigerator overnight. It's like McDonald's, except healthy!

Strawberries today. It's hot here! Everyone has to find what works for them.

Potatoes and bread are clumpy, and frankly don't have much nutrition generally (depending on the type and preparation). I wouldn't rule them out completely, but take baby steps. I'm glad to hear you're both okay.

My wife and I tend to share appetizers and entrees, and that helps in a few ways: smaller portions for each of us, smaller bites (save some for me!), and more variety. Depending on where you go, portions are often way too big eating out. If you use the buddy system, it can really help!

Potatoes are the equivalent of bread. Nobody eats just bread. I cut it up and spread cream cheese on it. This is a recipe for disaster, so I try to stay away. I am not a potato guy. My wife loves potatoes though. Similarly, she bakes or fries them, and adds fat (oil, butter, sour cream) and salt. So a potato usually isn't just a potato... I think what a lot of folks are getting at is that we all have our trigger foods (bread for me), so be super careful. If you can eat just a potato every now and then, more power to you. But beware!

I don't eat fish, but my wife swears by tilapia -- expressly because it is less 'fishy'. She's found that a lot of fish though is less 'fishy' if it is really fresh. Of course, depending on where you live, it may be next to impossible to get anything really fresh. Just out of curiosity, why are you hellbent on making yourself eat something you don't like? That's what turned my first weightloss success into a failure ultimately. I actually have a habit of doing things like that to myself. My best friend refers to this as my 'self-flagellation ritual': reading books that I dislike to 'expand my mind', and feeding myself foods I can't stand because they're 'healthy'. Definitely try new things, but there are plenty of options out there; you should be able to find foods to both enjoy and sustain you.

Only rely on a liquid diet when your doctor tells you to. Otherwise -- as Sojourner said -- they are a great way to supplement vitamins, minerals, and protein. It is always important to make sure you get everything your body needs, but it is even more tricky -- and at the same time critical -- that you do so when limiting calories. After all, we want to lose the fat, keep the muscle, and be healthy so we can feel great and keep the weight off!