No scales this time

waggs72

Thanks queenliz. It's not a massive difference but at least it's a difference in the right direction.

waggs72

ok, so I said I wasn't going to weigh myself for 3 months and then I would update. Confession: I cheated. Almost 3 weeks ago, under pressure from my curious daughter and due to my own curiosity, I stepped on the scales. BIG MISTAKE. Now, I had already taken a progress pic and while others mightn't be impressed I could see a difference I was very happy with - I could feel a difference in clothes and a few people had noticed and commented. Really, the number on the scales shouldn't have mattered. So, I was down to 144lbs - which is probably what I would have guessed if I'd have been asked, but secretly might have hoped it was a teensy bit more - but it was more than a stone gone if you include the weight I'd put on at Christmas, and the lightest I've been in quite a few years. I was kind of delighted and kind of disappointed and I did what I always do - I ate crap to both celebrate and comfort myself for about a week and next time I stepped on the scales I was 150lb. AAAGGGH. Thankfully I reigned myself in and lectured myself that the scales doesn't matter - it's what I eat and how I move. I did weigh myself one last time two days ago - just to prove that I'm going back in the right direction and I was at 146 and I'm pretty sure I'll pass 144 at some stage and eventually get to my goal of about 138 or lower - at least I think that's the weight I'll eventually be because my goal isn't actually a number it's simply to eat well and exercise regularly and I imagine if I continue to do that, then 138 or less will be where I end up.
Not sure how much I will continue to use MFP - I think it's great, but as I've said, meticulous logging is just not for me. Like, I ate four McDonald's fries today - who knows and who cares how many calories that is? I also ate a small mix of raw nuts and 3 of my favourite cranberries covered in dark chocolate - a fraction of the 25g calorie count on the bag. Overall - I have a sense of when my snacking is out of control but largely I keep it minimal and low calorie and it seems to be working apart from that one week when I went a bit crazy. It didn't help that it was a week which included a trip with long travelling and choices weren't great and it's good that I managed to reverse the damage quickly enough.
One thing that does bother me about MFP - while I rarely log - I was trying to check in daily - however one one of those days when travelling I completely forgot and my 37 day streak got knocked back to 1. It's silly - but I'm the kind of person that finds that demoralising and it almost seems like a punishment for forgetting to log in. In the past, when I was logging my food diary - it even sometimes was a factor in me giving up. I wish the count would say something like - logged in for 37/40 days or whatever - it's just that I'd get a little kick out of seeing the streak increase each day and it's horrible to see it back at square one. Especially when other members are at 550 day streaks. I wonder what someone would feel like if they had a huge count and then ended up in hospital and couldn't log in and were back at 0? Maybe it's just me that cares. So, if anyone has stuck with my story - thank you and fair play to you, I know it hasn't been exciting. I am happy to have written this even if no one reads it as it will always be there for me to check back on. I might come back in a few months and post another progress pic. At the moment I'm injured so exercise is minimal (injury due to 10 mile race with weak glutes) but I'm making sure I'm doing something. Looking forward to doing a lot more when summer arrives!

queenliz99

I'm glad you checked back in and am happy to know all is well.

You can reset your counter. Here https://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/login_counter_reset_request

One more thing. Have you heard of the No S Diet. Maybe this diet would be a better approach for you. It works slower but it is completely easy to follow. The premise is no snacks, no seconds, no sweets except on days that start with S. This guy has a website and so it is free. IDK? maybe?

Congrats on the weight loss, however

999tigger

If it works for you then do it. I think I could manage it, but im far more effective logging and weighing food and I have found the scale to be an effective motivator, it just provides useful data. I also use other measurements.
You just have to be confident you are disciplined enough to make it work. Its good you try somehing different, but i cnat help feeling your approach into logging and counting before let you down.

Justygirl77

Nice work, I can see the change!
I'm also working on the "last of the fat", it has been stubborn...finally it has been coming off this month, after a new approach!

Cortneyrenee04

You're doing great. Try to be easy on yourself

Regarding the little bit of snacks here and there: I measure out a serving and log the calories for it (today or tomorrow), and then have a bit here and there during the week/few days/whatever. It all evens out over the week, but those calories definitely add up!

Good luck getting to your goal

waggs72

Thanks for replies. Some good advice on the measuring snacks in advance. Not sure I could have the discipline to avoid snacks completely on any particular day - if someone offers me a french fry - I'll often say no, but heck if it's Friday and I feel like it then I don't want to say no on the basis that there is no S in Friday. I will check it out though - slow is definitely the way to go for me - I'm in no rush anywhere. I never knew you could change the log in counter! I'm so delighted with that - It's silly, but I know I've logged in five minutes after midnight to find myself back at 0. Does make me a little suspicious of people with very high counts now - are they just resetting? I think I'm going to try logging food maybe three days a week. It might be a nice compromise for me. It will keep me mindful of what I'm eating without feeling a slave to it. Just have to pick which days now.

Emiliuxx

I love my fitness pal, but I hate streak counter. Is very frustrating when you miss to log for a day, all your progress goes to trash. Better idea is a login day counter. That will be Amazing!!! Support buddies!

bigd66218

There is definitely a change, maybe your approach is one to consider.

smh21183

I often have this same struggle... I don't want to log for the rest of my life... I really don't. I actually hate taking the time to log, but I feel that it's the only way for me to keep the weight coming off....

I am interested to see how this works for you. I'm hoping you can find the best way for yourself!

SexY_ret1REE57

The phone app allows you to log on the go. Even if you just go in daily, your time is counted.

JMC3Terp

I definitely see a difference. I'm very interested to see how you do because I am pretty much doing the opposite. I log EVERYTHING. Water, exercise, the smallest bite and crumb, everything that goes into my body is logged. I find it keeps me accountable and helps show me where I can make improvements. Furthermore, I weigh myself EVERYDAY. When I lose weight, I am positively reinforced and excited. When I don't, I get motivated to keep working harder because I want to lose weight. Anyways, that just what works for me.

I hope you do really well and am excited to see your results!

vilepixie

I have to be careful weighing myself and logging because of a previous eating disorder. At that time, I was weighing myself 20+ times a day and gaining 1 lb would reduce me to tears and not eating the next day. It was bad. Things are different now, and I am trying to lose weight without obsessing over the details, so I understand where you are coming from. My co-workers and I started a weight challenge at the beginning of the year, and I always dread the weigh-in each month. Even though you might not want to track, it might be worthwhile to do it once in awhile. You can eat less, but you need to make sure that you eat more than 1200 calories a day, especially when you are more active. There have been a few times when I've just tried to wing it and just try to eat healthy. I fill up on veggies, protein, avoid junk food etc I don't feel hungry, but then at the end of the day I'm under 1000 calories and my macros are very unbalanced. You don't want to be wrecking your metabolism.