Just joining the club! :)

Sophia Gonzalez89, what are you having for breakfast? 🙂

And nothing I can do about it since I’m wide awake at that time 🙂 That’s just another issue—there's not much I can do there... I stay up studying way too late, wake up around noon, and by the time I finish my exercise and shower, it's already lunchtime

Exercising aimlessly? 😲

Aha, so you're a night owl when it comes to studying. It felt a little weird to me that your first meal of the day was something heavy like soup or meat, so that's why I asked. 🙂
No matter what time I roll out of bed, my first meal is always oatmeal.

driftingwolf79 said:Working out on an empty stomach? 😲

Yeah, I heard that's the best way to drop weight.

@G— yeah, it's weird, but that's where I'm at for now. Once I actually start getting up earlier, I'll probably add some oatmeal in the morning too.

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:Yeah, they told me that’s the best way to drop weight.

From what I can see, you're doing strength training too, not just morning cardio. Doing that on an empty stomach isn't exactly smart. Besides, it's not like you need to lose 55 pounds; it's only 13. Eat breakfast.
If you stick to two meals a day (or three pathetic ones, I don't even know how to describe them), you're just going to wreck your metabolism and make weight loss even slower.

Alright, if I toss some more oatmeal into my breakfast, does that do it? Is my diet solid now, or should I be adding something else to the mix?

Check out the food diary. There are some pretty decent meal plans in there if you need a little inspiration. 🙂

Sophia Gonzalez89, I just saw the menu! My comments are down further below, I guess.

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:11.03.

exercise... maybe? I guess! So, I did my workout today! It was a bit of a whirlwind, I guess... I started off with about 30 minutes on the treadmill, then hopped on the stationary bike for another 20 minutes. Maybe that was a little much? I don't know! Then I squeezed in 50 crunches—ugh, my abs are feeling it! Plus, I did some arm work with weights and those glute bridges using the stability ball to target my booty and lower back. Phew!

Food: So, here’s what I had to eat today! I went with a big bowl of beef broth—just the broth, no noodles this time—and a turkey steak. For my sides, I did a little salad with some cabbage and greens, plus a bit of fresh cheese on the side. To finish things off, I had a banana, an apple, a handful of pumpkin seeds, and about 150g of low-fat cottage cheese. It was actually pretty good, I think!

Look, we really need to start exactly where we're supposed to—right where you are standing at this very moment. I guess that’s just the only way to do it, right? And then, once we've got that settled, I can finally tell you what the next step is!

So, here’s the thing—what you're doing right now is actually great! Like, seriously. You clearly have that discipline when it comes to food, you know? You're sticking to the stuff you know is actually good for you most of the time, and that’s huge. I feel like a lot of women totally lose their way with other parts of their routine, but in my opinion, getting your nutrition dialed in like this has to be the starting point. Every single one of these meals you're crushing right now is a massive step forward. And honestly, every little step counts so much! I guess the reason I'm being so detailed with my advice is just because... well, you've got so much potential to see real results!
I mean, you really just need to cut out those chocolates and everything else you mentioned up there!

I mean, I feel like there are still a few things regarding the diet that just aren't quite right yet. Maybe it’s just me, but I guess some parts of it still feel a little off!
You haven't even had breakfast! I mean, if you're going to train on an empty stomach, you really should stick strictly to light cardio—not at all what you’re doing right now (even though you say you're still mixing things up with your routine).
And another thing, I’m honestly not sure if those calorie counts are way too low, maybe even too high, or just... something else entirely? I guess it's hard to tell! But, looking at your weight, you should probably be aiming for around 1,500 calories. Maybe? Just a thought!
The silver lining here is that since you're so disciplined about what you eat, you can easily track exactly where you stand every single day. Honestly, it doesn't even matter if you're up by 100 calories one day or down by 100 the next... I mean, who cares, right? If you just check in over a three-day stretch and see everything looks good, then I guess you don't even need to bother looking at the numbers anymore!
Honestly, I think a much more practical way to handle all that measuring stuff is just to look at what you’re already eating! Like, maybe just take your current diet, toss out a few things that aren't doing you any favors—since you've already got a good idea of what's in there based on what you've been writing—and then just swap out those other second or third items for some higher-quality meals or better ingredients. And honestly? That's pretty much it!

I see you're hitting two protein-heavy meals a day—that sounds totally fine to me! I mean, it's probably a solid way to go, I guess.
So, look, I think you really need to grab another solid carb-heavy meal. Honestly? I guess the absolute best way to do that would be just sticking with some good old-fashioned oatmeal for breakfast!
Since you’re already whipping up those salads, you should totally drizzle them with some olive oil or maybe even some pumpkin seed oil! It just makes everything taste so much better, I guess.

Why are we talking so much about food all the time? I mean, once you really get into the groove with these changes—like, say after two months of sticking to it—it just becomes second nature, you know? It'll be super easy to keep going whenever you feel like you need to.

So, regarding the photos... I mean, about those pictures!
Hey, just a little heads-up! The lighting and the way you're posing in these pictures make them a bit hard to see clearly. Maybe just keep an eye on that next time you decide to post some more? I guess it would help if things were a bit brighter!
I mean, looking at this, it’s super obvious you’ve got amazing genetics and so much potential! Like, seriously. Your natural starting point was already pretty solid too. You clearly have that defined waist and core area, and your midsection used to look really good. And honestly? Based on this picture haha, your glutes could be absolutely incredible.

I mean, I can't really see your legs that clearly in the pictures, so I guess maybe your quads aren't quite where they need to be yet based on what you're saying? Just a hunch, I guess!

In my opinion—and I think this applies to you perfectly too—the absolute best female figure has gotta be an hourglass shape!
I honestly feel like if you want to get that killer hourglass shape, it all comes down to what you're putting on your plate! Like, I really think the right diet is what actually pulls the whole look together. You know, by getting rid of that stubborn belly fat first? And then, once you've got that, you can focus on building up your shoulders to get that upper hourglass vibe going... and then, oh my gosh, adding those quads and glutes to really round out the bottom half of the hourglass! It’s all about that balance, I guess. Maybe it's the secret sauce to a perfect figure!
Based on those pictures you sent over, I guess it all applies to you now—like, all three things at once! You’ve got the quad and shoulder workouts going on, and then there's the whole situation with your abs, where you mentioned your diet has been a bit of a mess lately.

A classic full-body routine—or maybe even some of those Cindy workouts, if they actually hit everything from your glutes to your shoulders... though I don't know, I'm honestly not super sure how those specific programs are structured! But yeah, that kind of thing would be totally fine with you, I guess.
Honestly, you really need to get those legs and your lateral delts back in shape because, let’s be real, neither of them is looking too great right now. I mean, maybe if you focus on some squats and lunges, you could really nail those quads? And for your shoulders, definitely try out some dumbbell lateral raises. If you end up hitting the gym, just make sure you stay super focused while you're doing them—maybe even throw in an extra set or two just to be safe!
When you take a look at someone—you know, scanning down past the waist and focusing on the legs—seeing toned, firm quads and legs just completely changes how you perceive their whole physique. It’s like an instant impression. You really have to focus on getting those legs in shape; otherwise, your shoulders won't even look broad enough to balance things out.
SKIP the adductors.

I guess it’s usually better if a girl just sticks to the workouts she actually enjoys, provided they're actually working for her. But since you mentioned you've been to a gym before, maybe the best move would be to just head back there and get back into it.
Aside from what I mentioned about specific muscle groups, everything else is pretty standard—so, more free weights and try to stay away from the machines, etc.
If you decide to go that route, let me know! Then we can dive deeper into things like reps, weight, specific exercises, and all that stuff.

That’s about it for now. 👍

-Steve

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:So what am I supposed to do about cellulite? Is it just going to clear up on its own while I go through this process, or what?

Once you drop some fat (even just a little bit) and start toning up those muscles, the cellulite won't look nearly as obvious.
When you pack on a few pounds, the fat cells basically swell up—if that’s even the right way to put it—and since the tissue holding them in place is super flexible, those swollen cells end up poking through.😢
As for creams (I think you mentioned using them somewhere), they’re really just a temporary fix. They help by making your skin look smoother and tighter, almost like there's a slight swelling that masks the texture, but let's be real: it only works while the cream is actually on your skin. It doesn't offer any permanent results because a cream isn't getting deep enough to touch the actual fat cells.

@briskjackal5/">@@briskjackal5.. Thanks 🙂
Look, discipline isn't really an issue—I haven't touched that chocolate in three days. Instead, I've just been grabbing some fruit or Hubba Bubba when I need a sugar fix while studying 😁 So, yeah, I don't think that's going to be a problem either.
I didn't quite catch what you meant by "women getting lost elsewhere"—what exactly are we talking about here?..

I finally rolled out of bed at a decent hour today (just now, lol), so I'm eating breakfast and then heading out for some exercise. I totally misinterpreted the whole "workout on an empty stomach" thing.

As for calories, honestly, even if I tried my hardest, I have zero clue how to track them.. I know it sounds weird, but I've just never dealt with it before. If anyone (you maybe?😉) wants to explain it clearly, go for it.

Hey, I've got real potential here 😍

Yeah, Cindy does everything from head to toe, so I figure that's fine..
What's this about "glute sculpting" with extra padding?
And what's the deal with the adductor machine—why should I skip it?

I actually enjoy exercise in general, so that's no biggie.. I've been hitting the gym since last Monday, mostly just following this plan I'm writing down.

p.s. I don't knit 😉

@G-E-F... Oh, I get it now.. I just want it to vanish! Completely! 😁

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:Thanks, briskjackal5! 🙂
So, okay, when it comes to staying disciplined... honestly, that’s not really an issue for me! I mean, for the last three days, I haven't even touched that chocolate. Instead, whenever I get those sugar cravings hitting while I'm studying, I just grab a piece of fruit or maybe some Hubba Bubba gum instead. It seems to work, I guess! 😁 So, yeah... I mean, I honestly think even that won't be much of an issue anymore!
I don't quite get what people mean when they say "women can get lost elsewhere"... like, what does that actually refer to? I guess I'm just a little confused about the whole idea!

Ugh, here we go again with the millionth "piece of advice" you hear floating around that is totally irrelevant—and honestly, usually just plain wrong. It’s like, businesses or people will hear something like, "Oh, you should just skip dinner to lose weight," right? So they stop eating at night, thinking they’ve finally cracked the code and are actually making progress, but they aren't actually achieving anything smart or sustainable. Then, they move on to the next terrible idea—maybe some crazy fad diet like those extreme UN-style crash regimens—and then a third one, and it just keeps going in this endless, frustrating loop.
Honestly, I feel like the absolute worst-case scenario is when they just end up becoming this tiny, diminished version of their former selves. It’s like, you take everything that was already flawed about the original look, shrink it down by maybe 10%, and just call it a day? That’s basically it. I guess that's just how it goes sometimes, but man, it's such a letdown!

I really feel like you just have to zero in on the three big things that actually matter, you know? Like, why would anyone even bother stressing over 150 tiny, unimportant details or—heaven forbid—1,500 things that are just plain wrong? It’s all about focus, I guess. Just pick those three essentials and run with them!
You’re totally on the right track! I mean, starting with the groceries is such a smart move. It's like, if you get the food situation sorted first, everything else just falls into place, right? You've seriously got this!

So, I finally rolled out of bed at a semi-decent hour today (just a little bit ago, haha!), so I’m currently fueling up with some breakfast before I head out to get my exercise in. I think I totally misread the situation earlier, though—I was under this impression that working out on an empty stomach was the absolute best way to go, but maybe I was wrong about that? I guess we'll see!

Now we're talking! This is much better.

When it comes to calories, I swear, even when I’m trying my absolute hardest, I just... I honestly have no clue how to actually track them all. I know, I know, it sounds kind of ridiculous, right? Like, maybe it's just me, but I've just never really clicked with that whole concept. It's like my brain just refuses to process it! If anyone else feels this way—I mean, maybe you do? Or maybe you're one of those people who has it all figured out?😉That was such an awesome explanation! Seriously, you laid everything out so perfectly.

If you don't really have a solid game plan yet, I guess you could just look back at how you used to eat, cut out all the chocolate, and maybe toss some oatmeal into your breakfast routine? That’s pretty much it! Honestly, if you stick to that for two or three months, the mirror will definitely tell you everything you need to know.

Man, I feel like I’ve actually got some serious potential here! I guess I'm just feeling really optimistic about it all, maybe? It's hard to say for sure, but I definitely think there's something big brewing! 😍

So, I was just looking back at everything, and honestly? I think you had way more potential than what actually happened. Like, seriously, there was so much more there!
You can totally tell just by looking at you that you really crushed those workouts back then! Like, it shows on your body. You’ve got that perfect mix—so fit and toned, but still definitely curvy, too. Honestly, looking at you, I bet you could probably skip leg day entirely and still look amazing!

I mean, honestly? You just gotta consider yourself lucky. Seriously! I guess it’s easy to forget sometimes, but you really should just count your blessings. Like, seriously, just stay positive and realize how much you have going for you!
If that’s really what you're aiming for again, then I guess you'll just have to dive right back in and stay super consistent with it. But honestly? Your metabolism isn't going to be the same at 25 like it totally was when you were 18! It's just different, I guess.

So, I mean, does Cindy really handle everything from start to finish? If she does, then I guess that’s totally fine by me! Maybe it works out that way, who knows? But honestly, if she's taking care of the whole thing, it seems alright!
What even is a hip abduction machine?

Lateral raise. If you just search Google, the very first link should pop up a video for you.

What about the adductor machine? Why should I skip it?

Honestly, for most people, it doesn't really do much of anything useful, but for some reason, girls absolutely love it. That's kind of why I brought it up.

I generally enjoy exercise, so it’s not really an issue... I actually started hitting the gym last Monday, but I've mostly been sticking to what I'm posting here.

p.s. I don't knit 😉

Well, hey, go ahead and try out that Cindy routine you were thinking about! I guess a dumbbell circuit might be a slightly better way to go, but you could definitely give that a shot too.
Just keep an eye on things and see if it actually hits your arms where it needs to, and if it does the job for your legs and glutes.
If it doesn't feel right, you should definitely add more stuff, but if it works and you start seeing results—then just keep at it! 👍

-briskjackal5

briskjackal5 said:Look, you gotta focus on three big things—not 150 tiny distractions or some 1,500 wrong turns. That's just how it works.
You're off to a great start—starting with the groceries was the right move.

Yeah, I'm with you—that's the only way to do it. It’s been ten days since I switched up my diet and got back into an exercise routine. My stomach is almost completely flat now—just a tiny bit left—and I can tell my whole body is changing. Honestly, I'm stoked. 😁 I was honestly terrified this would be a total uphill battle—five months out of work is a long time, no joke—but thank God things are actually looking up for now.

briskjackal5 said:If that’s really what you're aiming for—then yeah, you’re gonna have to get back on the grind and actually stay consistent this time. Let's be real—your metabolism isn't exactly going to be the same at 25 as it was when you were 18.

It wasn't even that long ago—I was exactly the same age I am now... and yeah, true, I know everything starts getting harder as you get older.
That's exactly what I'm aiming for—but honestly? I want to push even further than that.

briskjackal5 said:Lateral raises. Simple—but if you aren't doing them right, you're just wasting time. Focus on that side delt tension—it’s the only way to actually get those shoulders looking wide. Don't ego lift. Control the weight—it's everything.

Ah, didn't catch the name—fixing that now.

briskjackal5 said:Circuit weight training is the better way to go—period.

I mean—can I even pull this off? 😉

03/12/

Food: roughly 3 bowls of corn flakes with milk, 2 apples, beef broth (no noodles), a salad with cabbage and cucumbers, one and a half mahi-mahi fillets, a banana, about 150g of low-fat cottage cheese, 2 kiwis

Exercise: Nothing—honestly just felt like I needed a break from exercise today, so I just went for a light walk instead.

Maybe bulk up that meal a bit more—try swapping out the banana for some extra protein!

I’m not even hungry—honestly, I usually feel fine right up until lunch—and this whole eating schedule and diet setup is working perfectly for me right now. I mean, sure, I could technically squeeze in more food, but is it actually necessary? This feels just right... I don't even know when I’d fit in extra protein, maybe around 7 or 8 PM, but that would just be eating for the sake of eating (though I do have my cottage cheese around 10 PM)

What's the deal with pretzels? Can I eat those?

03/13

Food: banana, beef stew (no noodles), turkey steak, salad (lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage), a 100g bag of pretzels, apple

(I was supposed to eat some low-fat cottage cheese later, but I'm honestly wiped—just heading straight to bed, so skipping it)

Exercise: 40min treadmill, 15min bike, 45min Cindy

Man, why is nobody hitting me up? 😢

Papamo PWM 😁

So, what's the actual draw with salty pretzel sticks?

Haha, fair question. I don't know—I was just craving something to snack on while I was studying, so I headed to the store. Chips aren't really my thing anyway—too much junk—and I told myself straight up: no cookies, no chocolate. Then I spotted those salty pretzel sticks and just grabbed them. Honestly, how bad can they actually be? 🙂 They're just carbs, right? Since I barely touch them normally, it shouldn't be such a huge sin...

Btw, probably nobody cares lol, but my legs aren't even tingling anymore