Here’s a few frequently asked questions I get a lot, so rather than clog up my dashboard I’d thought I take a moment to answer them here! :)
Disclaimer: I am in no way any sort of expert! This is just what I did. If you have more questions, please consult a dr/nutritionist.
1. How many calories are you eating?
When I first started this journey my limit was about 1200 to 1350 calories a day and I eventually upped it to 1450 a day because I hit a plateau. Then I went back down to 1300 a day.
But now I really don’t calories. I’m probably eating 1500 - 1700 a day if I really was counting, but I’m trying to live a normal healthy and happy life without being too strict with myself. I still have some weight to lose so I’m always eating healthy. To be honest if you asked me at the end of the day how many calories I ate I could probably calculate it all in my head since I was so used to it before.
I don’t do cheat days, I don’t believe in them. I do cheat meals. Cheat days can ruin your whole week. These cheat meals are always planned, always. I try to never have a “fuck it” moment where all my hard work essentially goes out the window for a moment of pleasure.
Please just don’t limit yourself to only being under 1200, your body needs calories for energy and to burn off that fat. Don’t starve yourself!
2. What is your exercise regimen?
Exercise wise, I started with the C25K program. I did that Mon, Wed, and Fri. On Tues and Thur, I incorporated Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred or other exercise on demand videos. Sat and Sun were either rest days or maybe repeating another C25k day that I had trouble with.
Note: When I did the C25k program I almost always extended it by about 20 to 30 minutes (walking only). The routes I took averaged about 2 to 4 miles.
My old tentative exercise schedule:
(I tried to pick one each day)
Monday
- one short, easy-paced run followed by running striders.
- 4 mile plus walk
Tuesday
- running planks
- circuit video (ex: Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred)
- hiking
Wednesday
- one hour-plus, easy-paced run
- hiking
Thursday
- break
- circuit video
Friday
- one short, easy-paced run followed by running striders
- hiking
- biking
Saturday
- speed workout
- break
Sunday
- running planks
- circuit video
- break
- short, easy-paced run
On average I work out about 4 to 5 times a week. 3 minimum and 6 maximum. :) I also try to incorporate yoga, stretching, and fitness ball workouts into my night routines.
3. What is the C25K?
The C25k is the couch to 5k program you can find here:
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
or if you’re nifty and have an iphone or ipod touch they have an awesome app for it.
It’s basically a running program that strengthens your endurance gradually over time. So you can get your butt off the couch and run a 5k…eventually.
It’s interval running and walking so you can build up your stamina at a nice healthy pace.
Remember to keep in mind that walking isn’t failing (thanks E!). Even if you take a quick breather you’re not burning any less calories.
Try it out!
4. How do I become a Vegetarian?
Becoming a vegetarian for me was very easy because in all honesty the only meat I ever ate was chicken and I was doing it (going veggie) for the animals. So cutting out the meat was very easy for me.
Now the hard part is bringing in the good stuff. That part, was not so easy for me. Lots of bread, pasta, pizza, and crap took place. (Here comes the extra poundage)
So I really recommend becoming a veggie, but the RIGHT veggie. Not the bread-loving, anything fried-obsessed, candy-chomping veggie.
Now I know it might be a lot harder for someone else to cut out meat than it was for me. So I recommend taking baby steps. One week cut out red meat, the next week add cutting out pork, etc etc. When a month goes by you will notice how great you feel. But cutting those out means bring in the greens, beans, nuts, etc. (& try to take a multi-vitamin too)
If it’s taste you’ll miss, don’t worry the soy products out there are AMAZINGLY delicious. Just make sure you know what you’re buying. I love any gardein product (except the buffalo wings)
I really recommend buying the book “skinny bitch” it promotes a really healthy veggie diet and kind of whips your butt in shape.
5. Have you ever hit a plateau? How did you overcome them?
YES! Trust me I am no stranger to plateaus. I’ve had my fair share - anywhere from a week to three weeks to four months! My go to plateau ass-kicking advice?
- Eat more! Add 200-400 calories to you daily count - All healthy food, nothing junky, but just eat more! Add the extra calories for at least a week (maybe two)
- Make sure you at least get your 64 ounces of water a day! Or they say one ounce for every two pounds of body weight. Easy Math equation = you weight (in lbs) divided by two = How many ounces of water a day you should be drinking. Ex. Someone who weighs 160 lbs should be drinking 80 ounces of water.
- Change your workout/increase intensity! Stop running or doing that same old boring workout video and try something else for a change! Start biking? Zumba? Circuit training? Your body gets used to the same routines over and over again, so jump start it by trying something different. Or if you’re completely against breaking outside of you box, try upping the intensity! If you do the same thing and it starts to become easy for you - then you aren’t working out hard enough.
- After about two weeks, fall back into your old routine and you’ll see the pounds melt (if they haven’t already!)
Basically your body plateaus when it gets used to the same thing, day in & day out. Eating the same amount of calories, burning off the same amount of calories in the same exercise everyday blah blah blah - your body gets used to it and is designed to work optimally (meaning maintain) at that level. So you need to jump start everything!
I hope it works for you! It’s worked for me and others many times.
6. What are your favorite weight loss tumblrs?
The list is extensive! But here it goes: (not linked just names)
- one-twenty-five
- lovelyisbest
- shrinkinginthecity
- exfolitaion
- hungerstrikes - this girl has lost over 100 pounds - but that’s not the most inspirational part. She has overcome (and is sometimes still battling) her issues with food and eating disorders and she is looking AMAZING. I have nothing but support and praise for this girl!
- myquirkylife
- ahealthyenthusiasm
- thatgirlnamedsmash
- carlconnor
- thinnerthoughts
- frombridgettocarrie
- skinnyjourney
- queenoflean
- channelingcarrie
- thisdietdiary
- theformersadfattie
- myweighttheultimaterollercoaster
- constantbattle
- project-160
- runtheline
- sarahsweightloss
- kickassandtakenames
- chocolatecocoaaddict
- fitfriends
- bendoeslife
- veggielife
- 365to30
- chubchampion
- iamlosingit
- dontwannabeafattienomore
- swellgirl117
- eddoeslife
If I’ve forgotten you, I’m sorry! There’s just so many of you that I love - It’s hard to keep track.
