Just joining the club! :)

03/14

Food: A bit of cornflakes with milk—beef soup without noodles, some salad (tomato, lettuce, greens), fish, a little apple compote, 50g of pretzel sticks, a banana, and about 150g of low-fat cottage cheese.

Exercise: 30 min on the treadmill, 25 min on the stationary bike, two sets of various arm exercises (using 1.5kg weights), crunches, and some stability ball work for the glutes and lower back.

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:March 14th

Food: some corn flakes with milk—beef broth without noodles—salad (tomato, lettuce, greens)—cod—some apple compote—50g pretzel sticks—a banana—about 150g of low-fat cottage cheese

Exercise: 30 mins on the treadmill, 25 mins on the bike, two sets of various arm exercises (using 3lb weights), crunches, and some ball work for the glutes and lower back

Why are you working out with such light weights?

redpanther14 said:why are you working with such light weights?

Look, those are just little things—one 3lb dumbbell in each hand—I don't need anything more than that.🙂

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:I mean, those little weights—just one 3-pounder in each hand is all I really need. 🙂

There are definitely heavier dumbbells out there😉—but hey, if that’s enough for you, then fine... I was just asking.

Right now, things are pretty 🙂

But thanks for jumping in—at least I don't feel like I'm just talking to myself 😉

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:It’s been pretty 🙂
so far.
But thanks for joining in—at least I don't feel like I'm just talking to myself here 😉

Okay, but you really need to start increasing the weight over time—because if you keep doing the exact same thing, you won't see any results...

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:I'm not even hungry (honestly, I usually feel full before lunch) and this whole diet and routine just feels right for me right now. I mean, I could always add more food, but is it really necessary? This seems okay to me... I don't even know when I’d squeeze in more protein, maybe around 7 or 8 PM, but that would feel like eating just for the sake of it (I usually have my cottage cheese around 10 PM)

What about those salty pretzel sticks? Can I eat them?

The nutrition facts should be listed right there on the packaging.
You can, since your calorie intake is pretty low. But they aren't exactly the best choice.

Just a couple of little things. I noticed you seem to love veggies.
If you felt like having a salad in the evening along with your cottage cheese, maybe drizzled with some better oils, that would be a big plus.
Also, for breakfast, it might be better if you really went for it with some oatmeal. And hey, don't be afraid to have a bigger portion than just "three tablespoons."

You could definitely add more—your calories are quite low—but you don't necessarily have to. Though, I guess your relatives might start hovering if they knew exactly how much you were actually eating. 😁

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:Yeah, I totally agree that this is the only right way to do it... It’s been 10 days since I started this diet and got back into Exercise, and my stomach is almost completely flat (just a tiny bit left), and I can see changes happening all over my body, so I'm really happy 😁 I was so scared that this would be way harder, since being inactive for 5 months is no joke, but thank goodness it's going okay so far...

Congrats! 👍

Yeah, if I could even manage to get it done 😉

There’s definitely plenty of room for improvement with your training.
When are you going to switch over to Cindy?

-Steve

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:Haha, fair question. I don't know, I just wanted something to snack on while I was studying, so I headed to the store... chips—though they're pretty terrible, and I don't actually even like them that much. I told myself I wouldn't touch cookies or chocolate, but then I spotted those salty pretzel sticks and grabbed them instead. I'm wondering how bad of a choice that actually is. 🙂 Those are carbs, right? Since I barely eat them at all, it probably isn't that big of a sin...

By the way, even though nobody probably cares, lol, my legs don't feel numb anymore.

Well, basically, they provide energy and are necessary for your brain to function.

Monosaccharides (single molecule), disaccharides (two molecules), oligosaccharides (nine molecules), and polysaccharides (long molecular chains).

The first three groups are called simple carbs, while the last one is referred to as complex carbs.

Now, products that mostly consist of simple carbs are processed quickly by the body and offer very little nutritional value: things like pastries, cookies, chips, and various other snacks. In other words, you eat them fast and get hungry again just as fast.

Fruit and vegetables also contain simple carbs, but these foods aren't just made up primarily of simple carbs; they also have vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Because of that, the body takes more energy to process them, and they generally keep you full.

Complex carbs include things like oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, etc.

Looking back at my menu over the last two days, I've had carbs from cornflakes and those pretzel sticks—products that are mostly simple carbs. Corn, the main ingredient in cornflakes, is actually nicknamed sugar corn.

briskjackal5 said:They really ought to list those nutritional facts right on the packaging.
Sure, you could, since the calorie count is pretty low. But it’s still not the smartest move.

(...)
-Steve

Isn't she just sabotaging herself by choosing stuff like that, especially when the calories are already so low?

silentridge8 said:Isn't she basically just sabotaging herself by picking stuff like that? Especially since her calorie count is already so low?

Well, I mean, that’s really her specific situation right there.
I guess those 50g aren't going to do her any harm at all given how much she's eating.

-Steve

Whoa, you guys are going at it 😁

@ redpanther14.. I hear you, but I'm good for now

@ Steve.. Oats, right? Can't grab any yet since they aren't available where I am. But yeah, once I'm back in NYC, I'll stock up and have them for breakfast.
My family would probably lose their minds, honestly🤣

I do Cindy every other day—look at my previous posts... I run and bike every single day, then one day it's Cindy, and then another day I just wing it myself like today (since doing Cindy every day is just too much)

@ silentridge8.. thanks .. yeah, I stay on top of all that, I just don't know if it's a massive sin if I snack on a bag of pretzels once in a while. Not every day, obviously, but sometimes when the craving hits

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:Whoa, you guys really went all out on this one! You're certainly being chatty today! 😁

@ redpanther14.. I mean, I will, I really will! But for right now, I guess this is working okay for me.

Hey Steve... I wish I could get some oats to you right now, but honestly, I can't just yet because they're totally sold out at all the grocery stores around here!

So... should I actually pull the trigger on this? I mean, I've been staring at it for ages now! Should I buy it? Maybe? I guess it depends on how much I really want it, haha! What do you guys think?
So, hey, maybe you could just tell your old man or your uncle—or whoever you usually go to for this stuff—to grab them for the shop? Just a thought! I mean, it might be worth asking if they can pick some up next time they're out. 😁

Oh man, seriously, as soon as I get back to Chicago, I am definitely picking some up! I'll grab them then, and honestly? They're probably just going to become my go-to breakfast staple. Maybe that's a bad idea, I don't know, but they sound so good!
I mean, honestly? Family would probably just end up fighting like crazy... that's just the truth of it, I guess! 🤣

Cindy, I’ve been working out every other day—just take a look at what I wrote earlier... I'm running and biking basically every single day, but then I have those days, Cindy, where I just wing it and mix things up on my own like I did today (mostly because doing the full routine every single day is just way too much for me, I guess!).

@ silentridge8... thanks so much! And yeah, I totally get what you mean about staying on track. I really do try to stick to everything, but honestly, I was just wondering... is it like, a huge deal if I occasionally grab a bag of those snack sticks? I'm definitely not talking about eating them every single day or anything, but you know, sometimes when the craving just hits me, I might give in. I guess it's not the end of the world, right? Maybe?

Not really.

I haven't really gotten around to diving into the whole exercise thing with you yet, mostly because right now you're just kind of bouncing all over the place! I mean, you're doing a little bit of everything, which is fine, I guess, but maybe we should wait? Once a couple of weeks pass and you actually build up a solid habit, then—and only then—will I start helping you direct that energy toward a real routine.

It’s honestly so good that you're staying busy! I can totally see how persistent you are, especially when you start adding your own little touch to whatever Cindy is working on.

Hey everyone! So, I was just sitting here thinking about things, and I really wanted to jump in and share some thoughts with you all. I guess I’ve been reflecting on everything lately, and maybe I'm overthinking it, but I feel like there's so much to talk about! I'm feeling pretty upbeat today, though, so let's dive in!

briskjackal5 said:That’s her specific situation right there.
Adding 50g of protein won't change a thing if she keeps eating like this.

-Steve

😕 If you're only hitting 1,000–1,200 calories a day, and one of those is a 250-calorie snack, that's basically 20% to 25% of your entire daily intake. It would be a different story if she were eating 1,400–1,600, but given she claims she needs to spend literal entire days training, this just doesn't add up.

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:@ silentridge8... thanks... yeah, I get all that. I just don't know if it's such a massive sin to occasionally grab a bag of pretzels. I won't do it every day, but sometimes when I just can't help myself.

I can't really give you an answer on that, because you're asking a "moral" question when I only provided a technical explanation. If you feel like it isn't a sin, then it isn't. If you think it is, then it is. You're the only one who can make that call.🙂

silentridge8 said:😕 I mean, if someone is only eating about 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day, and one of those is a 250-calorie snack of nothingness? That’s like... 20% or even 25% of their whole daily intake! It would be a totally different story if they were eating closer to 1,400 or 1,600 calories, you know? Especially since they're saying you basically have to train all day long.

Your math checks out, for sure.
I was just giving my two cents on how that applies here.

-Steve

@ Steve... what do you mean "out of stock"?! 😲 😂 I can't find any oats around here, but if you're really that desperate to eat them, you could always just courier them over to me. 😉

Alright, fine..

@ silentridge8 ... Yeah, I get where you're coming from, but I don't know enough about this stuff to weigh in—so I'll let you two work it out.
I don't really have those issues myself; it's not like I think processed food is inherently bad. 😛

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:Hey, Steve... what do you mean "dead shop"?! 😲 😂 I can't exactly find any oats around here, but hey, if you're seriously dying to have some, maybe you could just drop a shipment off at my place? I guess I wouldn't say no! 😉

It’s pretty obvious, isn't it? I mean, it's just one of those things that seems totally clear once you actually look at it!
Look, if you’re willing to actually pay a fair price for the delivery, I can totally make that happen for you! I'll get it sorted, no problem. 😁

Hey everyone! Just wanted to pop in here and say hi! I guess I’ve been thinking about things lately... maybe it's just me? But anyway! I really hope you're all having an absolutely wonderful day today! Seriously, I do!

Sophia Gonzalez89 said:@ silentridge8 ... Yeah, I get where you're coming from, but I'm definitely not an expert here, so I'll just let you two hash it out.

I’m no specialist either, but you're the absolute authority when it comes to your own body and your own habits. Honestly, all sva fitness advice is so contradictory—partly because "new research" pops up every other week. Just try things out and stick to whatever actually works for you. If two hundred different gurus are all shouting about how "essential" something is, feel free to ignore them.

@ Steve.. since I’m not even gonna get into the whole "what counts as paying enough" debate, I think I can hang on for another 2 weeks😉

@ silentridge8.. I'm with you on that—it's gonna go down exactly like that

03/15

Food: banana, turkey with rice and steak, some pumpkin seeds, small salad (cabbage, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper) with tuna, about 200g of low-fat cottage cheese

Exercise: 30min stationary bike, 10min treadmill

Oh yeah, I’ve got another question—sorry if I’m being repetitive here—but which muscles are actually getting hit the hardest when you're on a stationary bike? (That's what it's called, right?) .. I just can't wrap my head around it..

Since your legs make up the largest muscle group in your body, they end up doing the heavy lifting and burning through the most energy during a workout.

I’m honestly on the fence about whether I should just wrap this thread up or leave it open, especially since there are plenty of other discussions out there where everything has already been thoroughly covered.