Amazed at how far my body has come in terms of fitness

At my heaviest I couldn't walk for more than 15 minutes at 2mph without having to stop. My feet would hurt and I would get so out of breath.

I always think back to one specific day. I got to work and parked my car. The car park is a 2 minute walk from my building and about 1 minute of this walk is on a very slight incline. It was raining, a coworker seen me and waited as he had an umbrella (I did not). He chatted to me as we walked together and I could barely hold a conversation with him. I was so out of breath over a 2 minute leisurely walk all because half of it was on a tiny incline. I was so embarrassed because it was very obvious I was struggling. My coworker is twice my age too.

My issues with walking were definitely due to my weight as I was 250lbs at 5'4 but I was also very sedentary. I never did over 2,000 steps a day for years.

I have incorporated exercise into my weight loss routine from day 1 and I am so glad for it. I am much lighter now (165lbs) which definitely helps but the training has too. I exercise every single day. I lift weights 3-4 times a week and do cardio everyday for at least 90 minutes and I love it. I can walk for 7+ miles without stopping and I can even run a little too.

I even switched to biking a couple of weeks ago as I was getting bored of doing the same thing. At the beginning I found it somewhat difficult, I could do 45 minutes before deciding to stop and just 2 weeks later, I have doubled that.

Even lifting, I adapted to it so fast. The constant improvements are so encouraging and it is nice to see benefits a lifestyle change brings outside of the scale/measurements.

Only downside is I have to work extra hard now to get my heart rate up!! Oh and my resting heart rate used to be between 87-91 and now it is 54-58 :)

edit: how far my body has come or came? I dunno lol, my grammar is shittttttt

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In 196 days, I have lost 73 lbs coming down from 400 lbs

https://imgur.com/a/neyCtEs

196 days ago, it feels as if I opened my eyes to how much I need to lose this weight. I feel like, for 196 days, I've been tunnel visioning on getting it the hell off of me. I've tried so many times before to lose weight, and all of those times have been met with self-induced failure. It was like a cycle of giving a shit and then slowly forgetting why I was doing the thing in the first place. It finally feels like I learned how to properly care about the process.

What I'm doing is pretty simple. I drink a lot of water. Every single morning, I roll out of my bed and drink water, something like 30oz. I never drink calories. I work out 6 days a week. I alternate days, so on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, I focus on maxing out performance in weight lifting. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I do the same with cardio.

As far as diet, I don't do anything fancy. I meal prep a lot for my weeks (I'm a busy music student so I don't have a ton of time to cook). I'm of the mindset that there are a lot of things that aren't inherently bad for you as long as they're well-portioned. Something I've been taking to is cooking gluten-free (I've got a sensitivity) pasta dishes with a lot of veggies and lean meats, and I'll eat that once or twice a day. I'm also a fan of eggs, bacon, potatoes, sweet potatoes, salads, among other things. I'm not a nutrition expert, but the things that I'm doing are working for me. I just try to be very strict about not eating more than what I need to function.

This process can feel grueling sometimes if you're like me and you get upset with slow results or even no results. I was always the kind of kid who would pick things up and drop them when things weren't going absolutely perfectly, and the feeling is the same even for weight loss. However, through all of the mental strain I've gone through with plateaus and slow progress, I'm still kicking. Not once have a fallen off of the wagon, and that's because for once, I finally understand that this is my life and I need to make the most of it.

Our lives are so important, and short. I plan to continue cherishing mine from now until the day I stop breathing.

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Date Night In? 15 Dinner Recipes Meant to Be Shared

Skip the crowded restaurants and spare your eyes the stress of squinting at the menu for something healthy. On your next special night, treat your special someone to a home-cooked meal—one that you know is good for you both… and that tastes delicious.

Here are 15 date night dinner ideas that bring some magic to the moment:

1. Greek Fish and Vegetables >

You pick your fish: Halibut, flounder, cod—as long as it’s white, it will pair beautifully with the roasted cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onions and chickpeas that sit on top. This Mediterranean-style dish contains enough healthy fats to satisfy your hunger, but is light enough to leave a little room for dessert. Plus, the meal has really nice dish appeal. Click here for the full recipe >

2. Pineapple Chicken Kebabs >

Grilled pineapple. Need we say more? If so, these chunks of deliciousness are stacked alongside chicken, bell peppers and onions, then brushed with barbecue sauce and grilled for the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Each kebab offers a wide range of nutrients and on Nutrisystem, it counts as one SmartCarb, two PowerFuels, one Vegetable and two Extras. Click here for the full recipe >

3. Air Fryer Drumsticks: Healthier Fried Chicken >

If you have an air fryer, you have to treat your sweetie to these Cajun-seasoned drumsticks. If you don’t have an air fryer, here’s why you want one: It cuts out the vat of oil used in a typical deep fryer, so you can enjoy a healthier dish with much less fat and far fewer calories. Click here for the full recipe >

4. Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Vegetables and Pesto >

Have you met the zoodle? Short for zucchini noodle, it’s a great carb-cutting swap for standard spaghetti. Coat the veggie strands in creamy pesto (made from scratch!), toss them with roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts and bell peppers, and watch your loved one swoon. Click here for the full recipe >

5. Brazilian Black Bean Stew >

A healthier twist on the traditional dish, this recipe swaps chicken sausage in for the meat, and brown rice instead of white. However, you still get the filling beans and blend of savory flavors, along with orange slices on the side, just like it’s typically served. Call it, “Feijoada,” if you want to sound authentic. Practice pronouncing, “fay-ZHWA-dah,” for a more impressive effect. Click here for the full recipe >

6. Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad >

If your senorita is craving a little Mexican, grab your cutting board and get to chopping. Though the list of ingredients is long, the crunch of the cabbage and peppers, pop from the black beans and corn, and the flavors of the homemade dressing, featuring avocado, lime juice and cilantro, make the salad worth the prepping effort. One bite and she’ll say delicioso! Click here for the full recipe >

7. Salmon Burger with Herb Cream Sauce >

This is not your average burger, people. Not only is salmon packed with heart-healthy oils, but it’s also a good source of lean protein, which helps to boost metabolism and decrease appetite. Its tender, buttery texture makes a perfect patty, which you’ll season with paprika, garlic powder and a pinch of cayenne for a bit of heat. The crème de la crème—the homemade herb cream sauce—adds elegance and awesome flavor. For another inspired idea, try the bun-less Edamame Quinoa Burgers. Click here for the full recipe >

8. Meat Lovers Loaded Pepper >

There’s lean ground turkey, brown rice, spinach, chopped tomatoes, onions and garlic, coated in tomato sauce and nestled into your bell pepper of choice. It’s hearty, healthy and overflowing with goodness. If you prefer no meat, try this Veggie and Rice Stuffed Pepper and let the amazement consume you. Click here for the full recipe >

9. Southwest Spaghetti Bowl >

This one might take the win for best presentation: Spaghetti squash strands, mixed with shredded chicken, green cilantro, black beans, red peppers, and other veggies served in a scooped out spaghetti squash is not only colorful and beautiful, but also delicious. And when you think it can’t get better, it does, in the form of shredded cheese sprinkled on top. Click here for the full recipe >

10. Easy Chicken Fajita Bake >

Nowhere does it say that a date night dinner idea needs to be complicated. Tender chicken breast, vegetables, black olives, cheese and savory Mexican spices make for a simple and flavorful dish. This recipe is also easy to tweak: Just add in your sweetheart’s favorite veggies and experiment with spices to make it even more special. Click here for the full recipe >

11. Ginger Soy Noodle Bowl >

Enjoy flavors of the Far East from the comfort of your own home. This veggie-loaded noodle bowl—complete with whole wheat spaghetti, fiber-rich edamame and crispy sugar snap peas—is bathed in an Asian-inspired sauce and perfect for sharing. Whip out a pair of “his and her” chopsticks and prepare your taste buds to be transported. Click here for the full recipe >

12. Loaded Mexican Baked Sweet Potato >

The name says it all. Each side of a sweet potato is loaded with shredded chicken, cheese, salsa and low-fat sour cream. A sprinkle of spices and chopped green onion on top are the magic. A salad on the side, and dinner is served. Click here for the full recipe >

13. Ground Turkey and Veggie Curry with Brown Rice >

Curry, coriander, cumin, turmeric and red chili flakes, work together to boost the flavor of this turkey-vegetable medley. It’s as delicious as it is satisfying. Counting as one SmartCarb, two PowerFuels, one Extra and one and a half Vegetables on Nutrisystem, it’s a perfect flex dinner. Click here for the full recipe >

14. Beetroot and Quinoa Superfood Salad >

The salad looks almost as beautiful as your date. Lemon juice, olive oil and low-fat feta add vibrant flavor, while beets, kale and quinoa send the nutritional value of this meal soaring. If you have cooked beets prepared already, this one is very quick fix too. Click here for the full recipe >

15. Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas >

For a more casual night with your guy or gal, consider the quesadilla. You still get the shredded cheddar and chunks of chicken you’d expect, but with low-fat cheese, extra veggies and whole-wheat tortillas, this classic gets a whole lot healthier. Looking to get a little closer with a movie? Watch this recipe video to heat things up a bit. Click here for the full recipe >

It’s not a date night without dessert: Explore these awesome 5 Cookie Recipes That Won’t Destroy Your Diet >

The post Date Night In? 15 Dinner Recipes Meant to Be Shared appeared first on The Leaf.

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130 LBS Down

love checking in on this thread, first time posting however. I started my weight loss journey about two years ago at around 370 lbs. Im male, 6 foot 4. I started by doing whole30. I lost 34 lbs in the first 30 days. and tried to continue it as a lifestyle. I ended up doing 8 strict rounds of the program and had great success, however anytime i came off a 30 day round i treated it as an excuse to binge. May 30 2019, i was back up to 312 lbs. I started doing low carb/keto. Eventually i ran into intermittent fasting and a book called delay don't deny. I have found consistency, success and freedom with fasting. I still mostly stick to low carb(ish) i do however eat carb dense veggies like sweet potatoes and the occasional processed carb. I am now down to 239lbs give or take a few depending on the time of day. I have been doing strength and conditioning classes for two months and look forward to increasing my body comp numbers. KEEP GOING YALL.. ITS WORTH IT... Progress pics for reference.

https://i.imgur.com/wJIBwUx.jpg

https://imgur.com/36k7puI

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Afraid to step on the scale? Here’s a tip that worked wonders for me

It took me so long to start my weight loss journey because I really didn’t want to step on the scale and see that number. Then I had an idea.

Check if your scale can be set to both lbs and kgs, and if so, just change the units to those you’re less used to! Change them on your weight loss app as well, if you’re using one, and track your progress in those units. Don’t look up the conversion until you feel confident about your progress. Of course you may roughly know what the equivalent is, but just changing the units can make the whole thing much less daunting.

If you go from pounds to kilos, you’ll love seeing such a low number on your scale. If you’re going from kilos to pounds, you’ll love how the numbers go down “twice as fast”. I’ve found this super helpful and I hope you do too!

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CICO + weight training?

Hi all,

I'm a female, 188cm 104kg current goal weight 90 kg and stretch goal is 80kg. MFP suggested 2100 calories per day for weight loss, but that seemed really high to me.. At the moment I'm trying for 1800-1900 per day, and allow a cheat meal on weekends.

I've been trying CICO + IF (16/8) the last months, and on the weeks I keep it up, I already see results. Unfortunately, it got cancelled out by alot of bad eating during travel. Now I'm back on track & also will see a trainer soon.

I wanted to focus on weight training, to improve posture, also I have fibromyalgia due to hypermobility, so I think it will help that too. But now I'm reading that I can't improve strength at all when eating at a calorie deficit? I can't make sense of the information. I'm not so concerned about looking more toned or gaining more visible muscle, but I do really want to improve strength, posture, and overall feeling.

Is it really true that I would make zero progress as long as I am eating at a caloric deficit? Like all the weight lifting would be for nothing? Should I do this another way? (like, lose the weight first and then work on strengthening muscles after, or vice versa?)

Sorry if it's a stupid question, but I'm pretty confused about it.

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How do you reward yourself? And is there an app for that?

While I know that, yes, being healthy is its own reward, I feel like I'm gonna need some treats. Used to be that I rewarded myself with food, but obviously that needs to change. I'd love to hear how you all treat yourselves now.

What I'd love even more is a way to track that, using an app. I'd like to plan rewards for weight loss milestones, and/or fitness achievements/progress/consistency/whatever, and I've found printable paper versions, where you can mark off your progress and maybe write in what your reward will be, but I'd much rather have something on my phone. My Google-fu is failing me. The closest I can find is a gold star reward app for kids and I suppose that would work but... meh.

Thoughts? Ideas? Treats?

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