Hey lady msg me :-) I don't know how to p.m. from my phone. I would have to write a ton to explain but maybe we can msg back and forth and i can answer questions ....
I've lost 75lbs+ in the past yr and have advice that may help

Hi. On my iPod, to start a PM, I go to the blue bar at the top (discussions - my name - inbox - speech bubble). Click on inbox, wait for page to open, then speech bubble to start a PM. @meandmy243 @turthipo

I'm with @Lucy!! Share @turthipo...PWEEEEEASE???? [-O< [-O<

I lost some weight with protein shakes a couple of years ago. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I had the whey kind (not soy or hemp) and I would blend it with some skim milk and half a banana and drink that for breakfast every day before I went to the gym. The chocolate kind is really yummy! I think it's best if you have it before you exercise (that's what my dad says, and he's a former bodybuilder so I trust him lol), and be aware that most protein shakes are pretty high calorie so you don't want to drink one with a whole big meal.

Okay ladies... Long, please bare with me....

I have ALWAYS been a big girl. I was 240lbs + when I got pg with my first dd. And when I got pg with my second daughter (4 yrs later) I was still 220lbs.

Throughout my life, at least since I was 16, I have tried damned near everything to lose weight. I even did Herbal Magic (followed to the book, gained weight), I worked at Curves for a year, I knew everything there was to know about nutrition and fitness, and still didn't go anywhere. I own about 6 different "magic, works every time" style diet & recipie books. I did low carb, no carb, vegetarian, etc.... still fuking nothing and I was so god damned tired of being fat that I gave up and let my fattyfatness take over. I got bigger again. *sigh*

My friend was best resource, she was all about Jillian Michaels, P90X, etc etc... but she also introduced me to livestrong. com
Her meal planning was all organic, vegan, etc.... not really something I can do/afford/want... but I altered her basis and created my own. I learned (after many many years) that it's not about the carbs, proteins, etc.... it's how you look at it & how much you take in.
Calorie counting. I began calorie counting, I sat down and wrote down everything I had eaten for 2 days before hand and kept track of everything I ate for a week (without changing). It was a scary assed rude awakening.... I've read a few things stating that in order to maintain one's ideal weight a person should eat 2000 calories a day. I was eating over 3000 a day, sometimes closer to 4000.... ACK! Also, I didn't move very much, I thought that work (being on my feet) was enough excersize.
So, fast forward... I started a no carb, mostly veg/fruit & with very lean protein. I also started walking my dog, super fast walk. I was speed walking a 3.32 mile track in 30 minutes, and after the first 2 wks I realised that all of my low carb, high veg shit, and pushing myself so hard in my workout that my dizzy spells were a result of low blood sugar. So in the mornings before I went for a walk I would have a protein shake, then when I returned I would have a quick snack. This all made it so I wouldn't get dizzy.

Daily meal plan :

Day 1 : don't forget your 8 glasses of water
wake up : protein shake
post walk : 100 cal yogurt & apple
lunch : toast w/marble cheese, cucumber, tomatoe, broccoli sprouts
mid afternoon snack : protein shake
supper : green salad (lettuce, red pepper, 2 tbsp shredded cheese, shredded apple, shredded carrot), topped with roast chicken breast & hard boiled egg
evening snack : 8 slices cucumber, 1/2 cup skim milk

Day 2 : remember water (great with Mio for a few different variation)
wake up : protein shake
post walk : 1/2 cup 1% milk & banana
lunch : veggies & hummous, carrot soup
afternoon snack : protein shake
supper : spaghetti squash w/red pepper & mushroom tomato sauce, 1 jalapeno sausage, steamed beans
evening snack : 3/4 cinnamon life cereal, dry

* I have to stress, everyone is different. And what works best for some, won't work for everyone. Not only that, if you are calorie counting watch your intake... different protein powders have different calorie counts.
I love using protein shakes as meal replacements, or as an additional, because it's easier to control your intake, it's like a guarenteed set intake. Occasionally mixing fruit in makes them more paletable.
Protein shakes are soooooo calorie dense. Just watch your intake.

You have to make sure that you are doing something super physical. At first ensuring you watch your calorie intake and drinking enough water you should be able to flush a bunch of toxins and waterweight.

Sorry, it's been a gong show of a day... really my thought patterns so broke up.... hope this helps a bit, maybe gives you an idea.... questions just ask, and i will respond when i can actually focus on something other than my screaming toddler.....

What brand of shake? Please.