January Chat

CrisEBTrue

Good for you, gramanana! It sounds like you're on the right track!
My elliptical machine and stationary bike are downstairs. My old ipad is right there on my elliptical, and I have a TiVO app on it.. so I can watch tv programs while I'm pounding away.

I want to get back to doing 35-40 minutes a day; so far I'm only up to 25. Sometimes I work 10 minutes on the elliptical, and 15 on the bike.. the bike is a lot easier.

Also. it looks like I lost 2 lbs since I restarted a couple of weeks ago. But I'm not logging it because I'm superstitious...LOL

Go, us!

DamitJanit

I had worked up from 100 reps on my cardio-glider to 300 reps. Yesterday I went to 400 and today did about 550. I started out trying to make it to 10 minutes and today went for 25, so I know I can do it. So many women on here do so much exercising that it is inspiring. I just have to give myself a swift kick in the butt, sometimes.

Here's hoping we are all losers! (for those of us that want to be.)

Janet in Myrtle Beach, SC

grandmothercharlie

Gramanana, I was just thinking of you the other day and your hula hoop. I still haven't done it yet, but think about it. Glad to see you are still doing it!

Myrtbbk

Darrell and w3, thanks for the tips on finding recipes. I know I can do this, I've done it before. I just need to get to the store for more veggies, once the weather breaks a bit. Right now, I can't get out easily because of the cold, snow and ice. It's supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow and Monday, so I'm making a shopping list and planning meals and snacks. I really like cold, crisp-tender veggies, so want to keep a supply of those on hand.

Any other tips, hints or suggestions are welcome!

Myrt

mxchana

The Wednesday weigh-in really keeps me motivated to keep going, and of course meal planning first, then writing down every little thing I eat afterwards, is really what is making this work for me.

CrisEBTrue

Good morning!

Sunday is my weigh-in day. I've lost 3 pounds. That feels good.
The Actual Number is so ghastly that I have no reason to feel "good" about it, since I should not have gotten that high in the first place. *sob, moan, kvetch* It was my own fault of course.

In a further attempt to Get Real... I dug out the old spreadsheets I used to track my weight.
Ahem.

It's ugly. It would be easy to sit here and say "if only I had not gained back that 25 lbs I lost 10 years ago" but that ship has sailed and it's another day.

So. I'm off to exercise.

Live long and prosper... Have a great week!

retirehappy

Great progress Crisbtrue.

Glad to see you posting more Gramanana. Good to hear you have worked out something that fits your lifestyle for working out as well.

I have managed somehow to stay the same since before Christmas. I'll take that for now. I had my intro to the Silver Sneakers program and the weight room training session is on Tuesday. After I get to attending the SS progam classes I hope to see more downward movement. I have found that eating less does just so much, I have to exercise or I stop losing.

Charlie liked the idea about the spreadsheet for restaurants. I have tons of info like that and I add meals I enjoy eating out to my meals as well.

Have a great day everyone.

gramanana

Thanks Crisbtrue and Grandmothercharlie and retirehappy for your support and encouragement. I was missing from the community for awhile, but now I'm back and glad you are all still here. I didn't exercise today and the calories prove it. In order for me to be under in calories I need to burn between 150-200 calories in exercise and I gave myself off today. Exercise is proving to be a very important part of my program. We can do this together!

Wooken3

And the older I get...the more this seems to describe me!

retirehappy

Love it, brought a big smile to my face.

CrisEBTrue

That's a good one!

gramanana

Very funny, but very true.

JoanLovell

I don't like or want to share my food diary. Somehow it creates a form of pressure and lack of privacy that I am apt to rebel against. Knowing folks can see it, makes me not want to log. Can I turn off the visibility of it?

That said... I was checking out Barre workouts today on MFP, since my gym is offering them, and found this info: "Recently, our data scientists crunched some numbers and unlocked an astounding fact: MyFitnessPal users who share their food diary with friends lose twice as much weight as other users."

Maybe I should reconsider.

IceyKwl

good morning everyone..I am glad others are posting, it is encouraging to read how everyone is doing..

I started yesterday, again... but because of meds from recent surgery, I am sleeping alot and that causes me to miss meals..I need the sleep more than i realized. Also I am not allowed to exercise for another few weeks, doctors orders..then physio, I will ask when i start physio how to get started.

It has been nasty cold here but today is the start of a warming trend which i am glad to hear as winter is way too long in the cold north..lol

debneeds2beskinny

JoanLovell wrote: »

I don't like or want to share my food diary. Somehow it creates a form of pressure and lack of privacy that I am apt to rebel against. Knowing folks can see it, makes me not want to log. Can I turn off the visibility of it?

That said... I was checking out Barre workouts today on MFP, since my gym is offering them, and found this info: "Recently, our data scientists crunched some numbers and unlocked an astounding fact: MyFitnessPal users who share their food diary with friends lose twice as much weight as other users."

Maybe I should reconsider.

You can change your diary settings under "settings" at the top of the page. You can select private, public, friends, etc... I keep it open for my friends only, I have received a lot of good support that way. You can try it and it you don't like it, turn it back off.

retirehappy

debneeds2beskinny wrote: »

JoanLovell wrote: »

I don't like or want to share my food diary. Somehow it creates a form of pressure and lack of privacy that I am apt to rebel against. Knowing folks can see it, makes me not want to log. Can I turn off the visibility of it?

That said... I was checking out Barre workouts today on MFP, since my gym is offering them, and found this info: "Recently, our data scientists crunched some numbers and unlocked an astounding fact: MyFitnessPal users who share their food diary with friends lose twice as much weight as other users."

Maybe I should reconsider.

You can change your diary settings under "settings" at the top of the page. You can select private, public, friends, etc... I keep it open for my friends only, I have received a lot of good support that way. You can try it and it you don't like it, turn it back off.

I share with friends only. Works best for me. I will not eat some tempations simply because I don't want to log it, but that is just me.

One of the things I did when I started out on MFP was check the success stories people's diets. I got some good ideas on what to do and some good ones on what not to do as well.

If you are not comfortable sharing it with anyone, then just set to private. Even if you can't exercise, are missing meals, just get in the habit of logging. It does make a difference. I stopped logging for months and put back on some hard lost poundage. That is why I am back and I log the good, the bad and the ugly. Just do it til it is like brushing your teeth, just something you do every day.

DamitJanit

Greetings all. It's nice to see more posts.

I have been stuck at 201 to 202 pounds since Jan 1st. Today I stepped on the scale and it read 199.5. I am so excited to finally be under 200! I went shopping for some new pants and didn't have to shop in the Women's department. That was equally exciting. I just hope the weight loss will continue now that it has finally started again. My cruise on Feb. 7th is fast approaching.

I'm concerned about not being able to log my intake on the cruise. I will keep a written record but thats not the same. I know, for me, I will continue it for years to come, once I get on maintenance. Without it I'm afraid I'd slip in to some old bad ways.

I wish you all health and happiness.
Janet

retirehappy

Great milestone for you. Congrats!

Logging on paper can help on the cruise, it is better than not staying aware. Voice of experience saying that . Just log as best you can. You can even enter it in MFP after you get back.

Is this the Cuba trip you mentioned earlier, I am so jealous if it is

DamitJanit

Not Cuba, just some of the Bahamas. But 7 days on the ship is the best part to me. Come on, you can go with us.

I can understand someone not wanting to show their food diary, but why do so many people not even have their profile visible? Sometimes I look just to see where someone is from and nothing shows?? Just curious.

seeingthelight

Hi, I just joined this group today and am impressed by all the discussion- It's like having a cup of coffee with friends after dinner LOL. I am 66 and have 30#s to lose- we won't discuss how many times I've lost and gained. I have been a member of mfp for the last year and find it very helpful when I use it. Unfortunately I get it in my head I don't need mfp and the weight sneaks back on. My profile and diary are open to friends. I hope to make mfp a part of my life I don't want to do without and I'm hoping this group helps me to do that I am looking forward to starting with the weigh in tomorrow. I like exercising but am on hold with that due to recent surgery-but should be able to get back to it next week- I'm finding it REALLY difficult to stick to 1200 calories- but I HAVE to start losing weight. Take care all and I hope the scale is friendly to all of us tomorrow!

DamitJanit

Welcome sue. We're glad to have you join us. I know that I will use MFP and log my intake for years to come. I know if I didn't, I would slowly let the pounds sneak back on, as I have so many times in the past. I have actually been surprised how easy it is, in general to stay under 1200 calories. This is the first time I've counted calories, but I have only had to cut out a few of the foods that I used to eat. In fact, when I started this Life Journey, I was shocked to see how many calories are in some of the things I used to eat. Just knowing it now makes me not want to eat them any more.
Tell us a little more about yourself and I hope you will visit and post often.

Call me crazy but I love to see other people happy and succeeding
Janet in Myrtle Beach, SC

gramanana

strongersue--I've gained and lost 30 lbs several times over the years and it is never easy. Logging makes me pay attention to what I'm eating and I'll be logging for the rest of my life. MFP has helped me with lots of support and encouragement. I've been here 2 years and lost 15 lbs and then put 5 of them back on again in August, so I'm struggling again. Anyway, if you need a friend, just send a request.

DamitJanit--I've been wondering the same thing about the profiles. I thought MFP changed something, but maybe people are just being more private than when I started here 2 years ago. I will be here logging for many years, too, because when I don't log, I put on weight.

seeingthelight

Thanks all for the encouragement. I have 15 day logging and am working hard to stay at 1200 calories. I agree with you Janit about food labels being very revealing. I have always read the calories but am now paying attention to sugars, sodium and calcium. I am trying to up my dairy but there is not a lot of room in 1200 calories. Hopefully I will be able to exercise soon and add a couple hundred calories to my daily intake. Here is to a healthy week for all of us.

grandmothercharlie

DamitJanit: Congratulations for crossing the border into "onderworld". It is a great accomplishment. Do something nice for yourself!

Joan: My diary is open to friends only (I think). You can set it however you like. In the past year, I have only had one person "criticize" my diary almost daily. I "unfriended" her. I didn't come here to be beaten up, but for support. If I have a good day, I get some "yeas". If I have a bad day, I get some, "Wow that looked delicious!" If I have a really bad day, I get, "Don't worry, it's only one day!" I do limit my friends to those who show diaries, to those who are encouraging and responsive, and I keep the numbers low enough so that most days I can actually look at their diaries and support them. Never criticize!

But, that is my decision. You should only do what you feel comfortable with. But, I do think you should log even if you keep it private. It helps you realize exactly what you are eating. Count calories. And plan ahead.

DamitJanit and Gramanana: I think people are just cautious with so many things going on in the world. Me, I'm too naïve to be untrusting.

Sue: Welcome, you will like it here! I love this group!

retirehappy

Welcome Sue, I also have battled 30 lbs for years now. Sometimes I win, sometimes the lbs win. Giving up soda has helped me a lot. MFP and logging even more. Unlike Facebook, MFP does allow privacy, I get why some would want that, they just want to log and have a small group of support folks. Personally I prefer this group and my smallish circle of MFP friends. Otherwise it is too much to maintain.

I joined mid year last year and did great, fell off the logging and checkin wagon, and regains about half of the lbs I had lost. So I am back, I know MFP works so here I am and here I plan on staying. Vacations may cause a break from time to time but I will still log and I will come back to my weight loss home.

I MFP.

Feel free to friend me, I check in regularly.

DamitJanit

Call me crazy but I love to see other people happy and succeeding

Greetings ladies. I'm so happy to see more discussions lately.
Thanks for all the kind words about me finally reaching onederland. It's great and I didn't know if I would ever see it again. My DR was very happy with my weight loss and I told him the next visit I would be under 200.

Sue, I was concerned about dairy since I eat very little of it. I asked my Dr and he said that I get all the calcium I need from the green veggies that I eat. I don't know if that holds true for you, but sure made me feel better.

I understand about some people wanting to keep their food diaries private. My question was about the profile. That is their choice too, of course, but if I don't want to share something about myself, I just don't put it in. And Charlie, your profile is visible, just not your food diary. But I can't believe someone criticized what you ate. That's really supportive, huh?

Have a happy and healthy day everyone.
Janet in Myrtle Beach, SC

JoanLovell

Thanks for the feedback re keeping my food diary private. I think I will do that until I feel a little more confident that i'm actually going to follow through. BUT - I WILL faithfully log whatever I eat!

I read good tip yesterday for getting back on track, which was to pre-record your food diary for the next day -- then, even if you change your mind, you will, at least, have moved a lot closer to the mindset that you need in order to succeed. I'm going to start doing that today.

Tjanks everyone -as ever.
Joan

jeanmrob

Not been able to get back to exercise since Christmas for a variety of reasons ..... Not been well and then fell and jarred my knee ...but....,today was a good day! Booked Zumba and Aquafit for next week and walked for an hour with a friend...and planned to do it again next week .... So hopefully today is a turning point!

Yey Yey Yey

Jean

grandmothercharlie

Joan: I do that a lot. I enter some or all of my food in the morning a lot of days and adjust if necessary. I already have my breakfast and lunch added in today along with an evening snack so that when I talk to my daughter before lunch, I will know how much I will have for dinner remaining so that we can choose where I'll meet her and where I know I can get a nice meal for the balance. I have 494 calories allotted for dinner! So I have several choices. Helps keep me at my 1200. I try never to put anything in my mouth unless I already know how many calories is in it.

retirehappy

Jean, sorry about the jarred knee, ouch!

Glad to see you posting again.