For those that eat what they want
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I lost 44 pounds, and have been maintaining for over a year and a half, eating what I want, just not as much as I want.
I plan ahead, log, and sometimes I go over. It's okay, though.
My diary is open.0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »I eat everything and make it fit. If it doesn't and I happen to go over, then I log it and move on.
that.
we eat out a lot. when we do so, it is *usually* my big meal of the day and the rest is lighter. I generally skip breakfast if i am at home but if we go out and grab something, i get it. Had mcdonalds for breakfast the past 2 days LOL. typically though, lunch is what we eat out and it can be fast food, pizza, mexican, whatever sounds good at the moment.....
I do workout, almost every day, and eat back around half of my exercise calories and sometimes (usually weekends due to drinking).... eat them all (but i would not advise that on a daily basis!)
i make what i want fit, and if it doesn't, I log and the next day is a new day.
I pretty consistently lose between 1-2 pounds per week eating 1400ish calories (before exercise)0 -
Most days I cook a balanced dinner and try to really feature the veggies. Especially now that there are so many wonderful things in season locally. I make enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day. Every work day for lunch I have my leftovers, some kind of fruit and a little bit of dark chocolate. Every night I have some ice cream or some other dessert. I east real butter, drink whole milk, sometimes down a pan of brownies in 24 hours and enjoy steak and hamburger as much as chicken and fish. Occasionally when I come home from work I have a sweet or savory snack. I decide what and how much based on the goal MFP gives me with adjustments from my fitbit. I also have been working to be more careful to keep my net calories down around or below 2,000.
My weight loss is slower because I allow myself to eat when I am hungry. and sometimes go a little over my goal, as long as I manage to keep at least a small deficit.
I can eat a lot more calories and still lose weight because I am very active almost every day. And yet I don't go to a gym or do exercise for the sake of exercise. I just have a work and play life that keeps me moving and using my body a lot.
I just ate an entire frozen pizza for dinner and plan to have cherry pie tonight.
Weight loss isn't a race to be won by getting there fast, it is won by making sustainable lifestyle changes. Giving up things that you enjoy just isn't what I would all sustainable. Learning to fit them into a healthy eating habit makes more sense.
My diary is open.0 -
Four kids here, two under two. I lift heavy and run, I'm in maintenance but that runs around 2600 calories for me (I don't count anymore) because of my activity. I eat cheeseburgers, beer, brownies... I also make "healthier" choices during my day like smoothies to get my veggies in, fish, etc. I pre plan and prep meals and snacks.0
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What works best for you? I also notice that, I usually like to have whatever it is later in the day and I feel like am being too fussy with food earlier in the day and paying to much attention to the food log and fitting things in. I just wish I could eat with a little more freedom and not have to worry I am going to eat too much early on and not have the majority of my cals left for evening.
My calorie goal is not too restrictive. I started with a goal of 1 lb a week and now it is .5 lb a week. I accept losing weight slower but more comfortably.
I find pre-logging my whole day to be really helpful. I start with logging dinner, then lunch and breakfast and whatever calories are leftover are for snacks that day. No fussing. I just look at what I had planned and eat it. I have stuff I like every single day. I can also see what portion size fits best. If the portion size seems too pathetic I make a choice to go over my calorie goal or find something different that I like that fits better.
I eat a portion of my exercise calories and have a general idea of what exercise I will do that day so I know I have a few extra calories to work with.
I look at my weekly calories rather than just my daily calories.
I know that it is okay to eat a maintenance level every now and then and still lose weight.
Today is dh's birthday. Dessert is going to be a peanut butter pie calorie bomb. I've planned for it. I'm going to eat a smaller portion. I'm doing extra exercise. I stuck closer to or below my calorie goal the previous days this week.
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Thanks for all the tips and perspective.
I am set to 1lb a week. I get 1570 cals for that. I do not weigh foods yet, just measure, so not 100% accurate. For that reason, I am not eating back step based calories right now. The last couple of times, I knew nothing of the food scale for weight loss and just went by MFP origanal goals for me and it worked well. I briefly tried eating back half the cals when I got the fitbit and felt like it slowed me down. I am trying to learn to eat in a way that will be sustainable and allow me to enjoy the foods I really want in moderation.
Yesterday was my DH's birthday and I chose not to log or fitbit for the day. I was able to enjoy myself and still felt like I stayed a good bit under maintenance. Yesterday was my first day off from it. I am back at it today.0 -
I am set to 1lb a week. I get 1570 cals for that. I do not weigh foods yet, just measure, so not 100% accurate. For that reason, I am not eating back step based calories right now.
Your Fitbit burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. If you get a food scale (weigh everything—including packaged foods) and follow these directions, you'll be eating TDEE minus an appropriate deficit for your size.
Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit
Set your goal to .5 lb. per week for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided
Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
In the MFP app, go to More > Steps and choose Fitbit.
Ignore your Fitbit calorie goal and follow MFP's, eating back your adjustments. No need to log any step-based activity—your Fitbit is tracking it for you. Log non-step exercise (like swimming or biking) either in Fitbit or in MFP—never both. Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your Fitbit burn during that time.
You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users0 -
What does eating what you want look like for you? I want to try that this time. This is my third round of losing weight, each after babies. I was successful before but was super strict. I want to include more "treat" items this time because I think that will help my mind frame, knowing I can have some things I really want, just keep them in my goals. But so far what that looks like for me is one of three things...
1. Having a little of all of whatever I want and not very much overall food because there are too many cals
2. Having one treat item of moderate size and not being able to eat much of anything else and end up hungry
3. Not eating enough of treat item to make it worth it, so I can stay in the cals, and feeling like I wasted my cals
What works best for you? I also notice that, I usually like to have whatever it is later in the day and I feel like am being too fussy with food earlier in the day and paying to much attention to the food log and fitting things in. I just wish I could eat with a little more freedom and not have to worry I am going to eat too much early on and not have the majority of my cals left for evening.
The first time I lost weight, three babies ago, I didn't know anything about MFP. I just ate low cal, nutritionally dense food most of the time and if I treated myself to something it was 1/2 cup of ice cream a couple times a week in place of milk or cheese. I am not a big sweet eater otherwise but occasionally would like a soda, fried pie, or tortilla chips, even guacamole, nuts, a slice of pizza but I feel like it is all too much of a calorie hit. Never mind I wouldn't touch nachos or enchiladas anymore. I like all the food I eat but is it too much to ask to have something I reeeallly want most days?
I focus on weekly calories. I usually stay a bit under my daily calorie goal every day. I used those "saved" calories on a treat. It usually ends up being only once or twice per week and I always start over on Monday. This way I stay within my allotted calories but I have a bit more freedom.0 -
My diary is open. So if you look at it you'll notice I pretty much do 1200-1300 calories during my work week and that allows me to have pizza or go out to dinner with the family on the weekend. Now of course I can't eat the whole pizza but as your stomach shrinks you'll notice you won't need to. I don't believe that a highly restrictive diet is sustainable. Yeah you're gonna have to limit your portion sizes of some of those high calorie items but it doesn't mean you can't have them. Learning moderation now is very important and will help us maintain the weightloss once we reach our goal.0
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I cook meals at home that are nutritious and low calorie (veggie soups, stir fry) in order to make room for snacks. I love cake and I've been eating a decently sized piece every day. I'm still losing weight!
I find that simply knowing the caloric values of foods make eating at a deficit much easier. I was out at a cafe with a friend the other day and wanted a treat, and would've chosen a waffle with an iced latte. But the cafe had a sheet with all the calorie information and to my surprise, the iced latte was 350kcal and the waffle was 730kcal!! Much more than what I expected. Also surprising was that the tiramisu cake was only 250kcal hahah, which was what I ended up having instead. Seriously dodged a bullet! It really pays to know how much you're eating, or to check if you're not sure!0 -
I don't eat exactly what I want, actually. But I love everything and look forward to everything I eat. I have found new, lower calorie things, that fit my day better. Do I still eat pizza and ice cream once in awhile? Yes. Every day? Nah. 4 slices? Nope.0
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I like all the food I eat but is it too much to ask to have something I reeeallly want most days?
I eat whatever I want, so long as it fits into my calories and protein for the day.
I have ice cream and Gelato everyday. But yeah, I am one of those who are ok with eating 15 grams of Gelato or 25 g of cheesecake and be done for the day0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »[
Your Fitbit burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. If you get a food scale (weigh everything—including packaged foods) and follow these directions, you'll be eating TDEE minus an appropriate deficit for your size.
You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
Thank you. I understand about TDEE. I just don't think I will or want to keep up with the food scale for long term and I am trying not to start any habits that I am not willing to keep up. I have not had issue with losing in the past or keeping it off but gaining during pregnancy and postpartum have been an issue this time with a sick baby. I did get pretty good at learning appropriate portions last time but my downfall this most recent post partum was surviving on soda and sweet tea and too many fried pies. I have that back under control.
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yummypotroast wrote: »I cook meals at home that are nutritious and low calorie (veggie soups, stir fry) in order to make room for snacks. I love cake and I've been eating a decently sized piece every day. I'm still losing weight!
I find that simply knowing the caloric values of foods make eating at a deficit much easier.... Seriously dodged a bullet! It really pays to know how much you're eating, or to check if you're not sure!
I know what you mean. I will probably never have banana nut loaf from Starbucks again and it is seriously good bread but knowing what it would cost me, not worth it. Maybe in maintenance but it would be like a whole lunch or dinner for me now.
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Hi, I eat what I want bc if not, I'm craving all day and end up snacking alot. The most of the time I eat what I want for lunch that way I don't eat to many carbs for dinner. Believe it or not, I eat pizza, wings, burgers but within my calorie goal. I love buffalo wild wings and what I do is I order a kids meal with 4 wings. It will stop the craving and I'm within my calorie goal. Just be careful with your portions and you can eat everything you like.0
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I think I'm doing what you have in mind: I eat what I feel like. I've been logging what I eat but pretty much guessing at the quantities (not weighing anything) and it's been working well enough so far. I don't have much weight to lose so it's more important to me to support new exercise habits than monitor exactly what the scale is doing.
I've never counted calories at all before so seeing how many are in things like bread and pasta was eye-opening and it's helped me make different choices about what to eat without ever feeling like I'm suffering. (And I still eat a good amount of chocolate).0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »I wanted to add some thoughts to what I said earlier.
In the past, I used to diet by completely eliminating foods. One of the things that used to derail me was that way I'd make absolute rules for myself. I'm never having waffles again!
Cue Carol caving and buying what she needed to make gluten free waffles. And then make them and eat them to excess because OMGI'MNEVERDOINGTHISAGAINTHEY"REBAAAAADDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now? Well, just today, I had a passing taste for waffles and I'm in a different mindset. I'd have them if I wanted them badly enough. The thing is that just knowing that I'd allow myself to have them? It was easier to say ... nah, I'd rather spend the calories on something else. On a different day, I might make a different decision.
You could sub out the word "waffles" with pizza or burritos or anything else like that. My thought process with past dieting attempts was the same. I feel that my thinking around food is much more rational this time around. I work with all the foods I like and my overall eating plan in a way I hope will be sustainable for life. Yes, even that double gluten-free brownie with ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel they serve at the Silver Diner. I'll eat it again some day!
Just in to say the idea of no pizza ever again makes me very very sad! lol! I live close to NYC so pizza is a staple of my diet. Every Friday after weigh in is pizza day0 -
I just don't think I will or want to keep up with the food scale for long term and I am trying not to start any habits that I am not willing to keep up. I have not had issue with losing in the past or keeping it off but gaining during pregnancy and postpartum have been an issue this time with a sick baby.
You lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn. And the best way to know how much you're eating is to log everything you eat & drink accurately and honestly.
You don't have to weigh your food for the rest of your life—just long enough to get your portions under control. Then take the scale back out every time you plateau—to check for "portion drift."0 -
I only eat what I like. That's what I want. I don't like yogurt, olives, white sauces, Mcdonalds, pork, Quest bars. I like potato chips, cottage cheese, fish, bagels, Kind bars, ice cream.
I lost over 30 lb and am in maintenance for over 2 years. I log my food on days that are normally active and not on days when I am doing a long bike ride, taking a Zumba training, at a fitness conference or out of town.
I periodically weigh my food to reinforce I know how much 4 ounces is or how big my corn muffin is. I wear an HRM periodically to establish a base line for new activities.
It's all about priorities and loving the life you live.0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »
You don't have to weigh your food for the rest of your life—just long enough to get your portions under control. Then take the scale back out every time you plateau—to check for "portion drift."
I get it. Food portions is typically not my issue. Coke and sweet tea and occasional very high calorie treats like fried pie were. I have had to nurse two extremely allergic babies back to back and was food restricted, so made up for it by drinking a lot of soda and sweet tea, which is something I have not done in the past. I normally would rarely have either. I stopped nursing early though to get myself back under control because it was hard to make good choices for myself with so many restrictions. Which is another reason I am trying to include appropriate sized treats into my diet now. I prefer to use cups and spoons and eyes because that is what I will do long term. I don't expect or want it to be perfect every time. This is just what works best for me and feels the most sustainable. I have lost 45 pounds after two babies doing it this way and hope to lose about the same this time that way.
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Also, the last time I was on MFP, I rarely ever saw a post with someone talking about a food scale. I know it works fantastic for those who use it but I don't think it is necessary for those who choose to learn what appropriate portions are and have a good understanding of what is in their food. I eat very simply most of the time. I am not one for casseroles. I choose not to weigh my egg or banana, etc. I do think it could be a good tool to use to learn portion sizes but I have been able to do that without it.
I also decided to get a fitbit this time. I am not very active so knowing what I am burning is important for me.0 -
For me, it looks like a lot of lean meat, not as much mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, etc. on the side. Also, more reasonable portions of cobbler, ice cream, etc.
So, today, lots of brisket, not so much baked beans, mac & cheese, potato salad. Decent, but not outrageous, amounts of peach cobbler and homemade vanilla ice cream.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »For me, it looks like a lot of lean meat, not as much mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, etc. on the side. Also, more reasonable portions of cobbler, ice cream, etc.
So, today, lots of brisket, not so much baked beans, mac & cheese, potato salad. Decent, but not outrageous, amounts of peach cobbler and homemade vanilla ice cream.
I love those foods but if I had them all in one day, it would be hard for me not to go over my cals. What is your daily goal? I did recently learn that our local BBQ shop will cut the brisket lean.0 -
The bold part- that is what's important.editorgrrl wrote: »
You don't have to weigh your food for the rest of your life—just long enough to get your portions under control. Then take the scale back out every time you plateau—to check for "portion drift."
I get it. Food portions is typically not my issue. Coke and sweet tea and occasional very high calorie treats like fried pie were. I have had to nurse two extremely allergic babies back to back and was food restricted, so made up for it by drinking a lot of soda and sweet tea, which is something I have not done in the past. I normally would rarely have either. I stopped nursing early though to get myself back under control because it was hard to make good choices for myself with so many restrictions. Which is another reason I am trying to include appropriate sized treats into my diet now. I prefer to use cups and spoons and eyes because that is what I will do long term. I don't expect or want it to be perfect every time. This is just what works best for me and feels the most sustainable. I have lost 45 pounds after two babies doing it this way and hope to lose about the same this time that way.
It's never about how you get the calorie deficit, it's simply about somehow getting there.
I use the food scale as part of my long term weight management program.
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My diary is open. So if you look at it you'll notice I pretty much do 1200-1300 calories during my work week and that allows me to have pizza or go out to dinner with the family on the weekend. Now of course I can't eat the whole pizza but as your stomach shrinks you'll notice you won't need to. I don't believe that a highly restrictive diet is sustainable. Yeah you're gonna have to limit your portion sizes of some of those high calorie items but it doesn't mean you can't have them. Learning moderation now is very important and will help us maintain the weightloss once we reach our goal.
I do the same thing as Bshmerlie. I set my fitness pal to 2 pounds a week so it allows me 1,200 calories a day. I have no intention of loosing 2 pounds a week, I do it so I can go out to eat on Saturday's and have whatever I want and still lose weight that week. I really look forward to Saturdays
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I'm sure my calorie goal is way higher than yours, but that just means you eat smaller portions or leave out a side or two and get some the next time.DeguelloTex wrote: »For me, it looks like a lot of lean meat, not as much mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, etc. on the side. Also, more reasonable portions of cobbler, ice cream, etc.
So, today, lots of brisket, not so much baked beans, mac & cheese, potato salad. Decent, but not outrageous, amounts of peach cobbler and homemade vanilla ice cream.
I love those foods but if I had them all in one day, it would be hard for me not to go over my cals. What is your daily goal? I did recently learn that our local BBQ shop will cut the brisket lean.
I ate at 1700 for a while and 1600 for one ill-fated week. I'm not a small person, so that was probably relatively comparable to someone smaller with a lower calorie goal.
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[[/quote]I'm sure my calorie goal is way higher than yours, but that just means you eat smaller portions or leave out a side or two and get some the next time.
I ate at 1700 for a while and 1600 for one ill-fated week. I'm not a small person, so that was probably relatively comparable to someone smaller with a lower calorie goal.
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Nah, not much less...I am at 1570, for one pound a week. I did 1610 for a while but then realized, after going to the doctor, I am an inch shorter than I have thought all of my adult life.0 -
Well, that was while I was losing weight. It's about 3700 now.0
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tiffkittyw-
I am wondering if I should try banking some calories for the weekend. I don't usually carry cals over to the next day. So if you are set at 1200, can you change it for the weekend? Or do you pay it no mind for the weekend and just have another goal in mind?
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DeguelloTex wrote: »Well, that was while I was losing weight. It's about 3700 now.
Oh the possibilities ☺
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