It turns out I actually look much better with a little extra weight on me than when I was thin... 🙄 Honestly, it took me thirty years to finally wrap my head around that, but I’ve finally arrived at that realization.
I'm 5'8" and standing proud at 152 lbs—this is the new me. 😁 This photo was taken today. My first priority was fixing my mindset and getting out of my own head, because I used to be so incredibly insecure about my body. I don't have some specific target weight or a number of inches I'm trying to lose; I'm not chasing anything like that anymore. My only goal in life now is simply to stay active and eat well. That's it. ☕
frozenotter14 said:anyway, you have to get started on something eventually 😉
I completely agree! 😉 For me though, Zumba feels more like a fun little hobby rather than some intense regimen meant for achieving rapid or massive results... 🙂 At the end of the day, staying active is what matters, regardless of how you do it. For instance, I spent the entire night from Monday into Tuesday traveling—staying wide awake the whole time—and finally pulled into my destination around 9:30 AM. Instead of crashing, I just laced up my sneakers and went for a 30-minute run 😁 and then, naturally, I didn't sleep again until the evening, haha... I'm such a nut
Alright, I’m finally getting around to sharing some photos from every angle so I can give you my honest take, and more importantly, get your valued feedback in return! 🙂 Unfortunately, I don't have any older shots like these—say, from about a year and a half ago before I started training—to really compare everything to, but I know deep down just how much I've managed to transform myself... So, looking at me now, what do you all think still needs work? Do you agree that my main focus should be on my back, or maybe tightening up my core/midsection a bit?
Here’s a full-body shot. As I mentioned before, my lower body—specifically my glutes and thighs—has always been a bit larger, though I’m actually really happy with how it looks now (there’s only a tiny bit left to refine here).
And here’s a closer look.
Now, this is the part I’m not happy with at all; I really want this area to look much firmer and more "rounded." 😬
And finally, a profile view.
I think that’s enough photos of me for one year! 😍 Maybe I went a little overboard since I posted recently, but I wanted to make sure these specific shots showed everything clearly, whereas the previous ones didn't quite capture the full picture. 🙂
It’s pretty much the same deal here... I totally get how it feels, especially if you live in a small town where everyone knows your business. You walk into a gym and suddenly it feels like every single person is staring at you like you just dropped in from outer space. Though, honestly, Zumba... I wouldn't even call that real "fitness" 😬you can just dance along in your living room using YouTube 🙂
So, here I am after a bit of a hiatus 😍 Last summer, during those brutal heatwaves when it felt like we were hitting 120 degrees, I powered through Insanity—basically twice in a row. That really lit a fire under me, and I decided it was time to get serious about building actual muscle. For the last five weeks now, I’ve been hitting the gym six days a week. I've shifted my focus away from heavy cardio toward strength training; I’m lifting heavy, pushing my limits, and stretching constantly. I’m honestly so happy because I finally feel like I'm reaching my potential—aiming for that toned, muscular, yet feminine physique rather than just being "skinny" 🙂 And since I’ve crossed the 30 mark, I think the results are looking pretty decent 😬
Here is a shot of my upper body (my core could definitely be better, but I’m saving that for the final phase... right now, all my energy and focus are going into my legs and shoulders)
As for my lower body, these photos are just me in leggings, but I am absolutely loving my legs more and more. For years, I actually thought they were too thick, but just a few months ago, it finally clicked: having strong, muscular thighs is a massive advantage, not a flaw, hehe
This one is from a group kettlebell class, which gives you a rough idea of what the view looks like from behind :}
My apologies then... I just couldn't seem to find that specific thread 😢 and from what I can gather, it seems like nobody else here is dealing with this exact situation—where the period just completely vanishes after stopping the pill.
That two-to-ten day delay was back when I was transitioning from my first period to starting the pill, but as I mentioned, since I stopped taking them on April 22nd of this year, my cycle hasn't returned at all. I've had my hormones checked, including my thyroid, and my TSH came back slightly elevated... I haven't had my reproductive hormones tested yet, though. I suppose I really ought to go in and get my prolactin and FSH levels checked; I assume if there’s something seriously wrong, those diagnoses would point me in the right direction, wouldn't they?
I’ve been scouring this section of the forum, but I haven't found anything at all regarding my specific issue... and honestly, I don't quite understand why there isn't already a thread about this. Does nobody else here deal with missing their period for several months at a time or even longer?🤷
My cycles have always been irregular, usually running anywhere from two to ten days late. Back in January 2008, I started taking birth control pills for the first time, and I stayed on them consistently until this past April. I was using Logitech—which are supposedly the "mildest" ones when it comes to those hormonal effects. Of course, just like all of you who use this type of protection, my periods were perfectly on schedule every 28 days. But ever since I stopped more than three months ago, my period hasn't come back. Now, I know someone is going to advise me to go see a gynecologist... but I’ve already done that. I went in early June, and she told me pregnancy was ruled out. She prescribed a ten-day course of Norethindrone, after which everything was supposed to return to normal according to her. Instead, my period that month lasted only three days total, and even then, it was just some "traces"... almost nothing at all! 😕 I am not going back to her because I refuse to waste money on nonsense. If she already told me everything looks fine on the ultrasound, she would likely just prescribe me some other garbage similar to Primolut-N again.
After everything I've been through, I have firmly decided that I will never even think about taking hormones again. Instead, I am going to try with everything I have to get my cycle back to normal, because I wasn't aware of what I was doing to myself with those contraceptive pills that everyone praises so loudly, when in reality, they are poison! I’ve been taking Peruvian Maca capsules for six weeks now, and starting a few days ago, I began taking 30 drops of evening primrose oil daily with my meals, and now I wait... Since I started the Maca, I have been feeling wonderful and upbeat. Unfortunately, I could attribute my missed period to the massive amount of stress I've faced over the last few months, but if that were the only cause, I can't wrap my head around why I didn't at least have a normal period triggered by those last hormones I took.
I realize that for me, it won't just take two or three months, but perhaps more than a year for my body to return to even a semblance of normalcy, but I am ready and armed with patience.🙂 I am eating healthy, exercising regularly, and I will continue with my Maca and evening primrose oil.😬 Maybe I'll even start some herbal teas specifically designed to regulate the cycle, and that's it.
Just to note... I'm only 30 years old, so I doubt I'm in menopause already.😁
Does anyone else have a similar experience? Has anyone actually managed to fix everything without relying on those synthetic hormonal poisons?
Legica... those news additives, right? 😬 I told you it was a silly question... because honestly, up until now, I've always just focused on how much glucose is in the measurement, rather than worrying about the sugar or the rest of the composition.
I have another (admittedly) slightly silly question, haha... how exactly do they come up with all those different whey flavors? Does anyone actually know what gets added to the powder to make it taste exactly like cookies and cream, vanilla, coconut, or mint? And honestly, just how many varieties are even out there... 🤷
Well... I promised I'd post some full-body photos. 🙈
So, here are my hips—they’re wider than half a meter. Honestly, even back when I was thinner, they were shaped like this, so maybe I just have to accept that this is how I'm built. 🙄 Let's call this my "before" photo; I'm really hoping to see some progress in a month or two. 😉
I really need to slim down my waistline so my abs actually show, and I would be absolutely thrilled if I could finally tone up my legs... they feel way too big... don't you think? 😢
I just finished my first 1kg tub of Dymatize Elite Whey in Caffe Mocha🙂 and I am absolutely thrilled with it. The powder dissolves incredibly smoothly, and honestly, the flavor profile is so good that I have zero intention of mixing it with milk—water works perfectly fine for me...
I just placed another order for Rich Chocolate and Berry Blast, since they’re both fantastic for stirring into morning oatmeal or even whipping up some dairy-free homemade ice cream. 😍
I honestly can’t wrap my head around this... Just three months ago, my waist was 25 inches and I weighed about 123 pounds. Now, I’ve climbed up to 136 pounds and my waist is sitting at 27 inches, yet when I look in the mirror, I swear I look exactly the same as I did back then. How is it possible to look identical while the measurements are actually increasing? Maybe I’m just imagining things and I really have changed... 🤷 but if you look back at the photos I posted on one or two pages prior, I don't see any noticeable difference at all when comparing them...
I have seen just about every possible way people try to mix their protein powders... whether it's turning them into pancakes or making some kind of shake, and of course, there's the endless debate over how much milk people dump into it. I still find it so bizarre that so many people complain about the taste when mixed with water, because honestly, I think it tastes great when it's just water.
For me, though, the absolute worst thing I have ever had the misfortune of tasting was straight whey protein. Every time I remember that experience, I just 🙂 haha. Though, I suppose what works for one person might be someone else's favorite way to drink it 😬
Here’s how my stomach looks after yesterday 😠 there's easily at least 9 or 10 pounds of fat sitting right on top of it and all around...
Nov 14, 2011: 147 lbs | Mar 03, 2012: 121 lbs | May 27, 2012: 135 lbs (just to be clear, this weight gain from March until now isn't muscle—it's just pure junk food bingeing..) 🙂 🤦
I've finally sorted out my diet, which is the most important part, plus I've started easing into the Insanity program. I say "easing into it" because, let's face it, I'm someone who can maybe squeeze out four push-ups before kissing the floor, but I’m going to be persistent, so hopefully that number starts climbing steadily. 🥳
Oh my goodness 😲 at first I honestly thought you were going to say, "Seriously? You finally figured out how to buy protein powder and now you're asking me this?" But then I did a quick search on Google and realized you actually have a point... and a very valid one at that! Thank you so much for clarifying. I am really glad I reached out to ask 🤣
I have a bit of a silly question (please don't judge me!) 😬
I recently picked up a 1kg tub of Whey Elite in Caffe Mocha flavor, and I just had my first shake today—the taste is absolutely incredible! I honestly never understand how people complain about protein shakes being too bland to drink; for me, mixing it with just water is perfect... it doesn't need anything else. However, I am curious if anyone would think I'm crazy if I tried making it with hot water instead? It would basically turn into a coffee drink, which is exactly what I'm looking for ☕ I know some people use their powder to make homemade ice cream or all sorts of other things, but is mixing it with hot water actually a good idea, or should I probably avoid it?
Back in the summer of 2011, I was weighing in at around 147 lbs
By December 2011, I hit 134 lbs
Fast forward to March 2012: I'm down to 123 lbs, but my thighs still feel so thick... no matter how hard I push myself, they just won't slim down! 🙂
By the way, life has been pretty overwhelming lately with a bunch of personal stuff, so I haven't been able to work out or stick to my usual diet. Because of that, I've gained back about 3 or 4 lbs... but honestly, I'm going to get this under control. I plan on training super hard over the next three months to finally try and tone up these legs. 🙂
Please forgive me for starting a new thread just for this, but I couldn't find anything helpful on Google, so I was hoping someone here might be able to point me in the right direction...
Do I actually need to place an announcement in The New York Times and file a report with the police if I've lost my driver's license? My passport and ID are still technically valid for a little while longer, but since I need to get everything replaced anyway, I wasn't sure if those steps were mandatory.
