Back, and willing to do it;)

NWCountryGal

Just a quick note to let anyone reading know that I had joined this group, but never participated. I did hear some things that sunk in evidently, because I started eating very well in early 2012. I didn't lose any weight because I was still, mostly sedentary. Then, I had gotten up to 142 (light-weight to some but to fat for my preferences). Could not get into my clothes, and was too poor to spend much on new ones. Long story short, I started walking, with no weight-training. But I walked a lot, 18-24 miles a week. That was in July, 2015. I lost 24 lbs, and my legs were looking toned, but not much else on my body was toned.

So I remembered where I heard the things that always made more sense to me. I also know myself well enough that I know I won't eat low-cals, no way will I ever be a 1183 calorie a day girl. So now, I am into a new apartment in a beautiful place I call home. I am joining a gym (waiting for my next paycheck next Wed.) and starting to work with you gals that are my heros. I also joined the eatmoretoweighless forum, and will be posting there, reading, taking advantage of all the freebies they so generously offer;)

I love mfp, I owe everything to the God of my understanding, but the people here who have shared with me, and especially those that take the time to write their experience, and what is working for them. I'm working my diaries again now, and I need to do that to form structure in my daily plans of eating, and workouts. By the way, I'm terribly imperfect and kind of like that fact;) I mean I work hard to do the best for my bod, good nutrition, lots of water (but not too much) and have something active to do for the day.

Just really happy to be back, and I know I've made a good choice, Denise (as far NW California as I can get)

Jennifer_Lynn_1982

Welcome!! Feel free to continue your story in this thread so we can all follow along - it's a great place to keep a diary of sorts in an environment that helps support and encourage

justsayinisall

Welcome to this, small, sane, corner of MFP! So what are your plans for eating? Find your TDEE? Not sure I'll be of much help, as I'm still figuring this out, but there are very helpful people here who know a ton about this.

NWCountryGal

shoot, I didn't know I had replies here. I'll have to check and see if I have "notification" settings;)

I agree on the "sane" thing. I see so many still eating so little, but it's a choice we all have to make. I will try and journal here a bit. Although I am doing that on the website, but I could copy and paste;)

I do have my TDEE at 1183, arggg, LOL! Not even going there, so it figures around 1600 some, I've got it down somewhere, but I set my cals at 1700 per day. I'm 5'2", and right around 124. I am down from 142 from July and that was just from walking uphill, and mostly flat surfaces outdoors. I just ate normal, as I think I mention above, but didn't snack or drink any alcohol. I like to with dinner, but I don't like the habit, so doing away with that. The one food I stopped eating was white rice, I was a pig with those types of carbs, hardly ever ate fruit, and didn't do a lot of vegies. Basically meat and potato type meals. So I will be around, and I am logging, my diary is open if anyone wants to look. Just have 3 days on there so far.:)

Thanks you guys, for all your support, and welcomes;) Denise

NWCountryGal

What a ding dong, I see I have two threads on here, but basically the same subject. Oh well, maybe I better just throw more "brain exercises" in with the rest;) I wonder if there's a diary for that, LOL!!

ambsnic17

Welcome Denise! Feel free to add me if you'd like

XavierNusum

Welcome and I wish you continued success! You have all the pieces in place looks like.

jerilynconn

NWCountryGal wrote: »

What a ding dong, I see I have two threads on here, but basically the same subject. Oh well, maybe I better just throw more "brain exercises" in with the rest;) I wonder if there's a diary for that, LOL!!

Might be a mfp issue! So your brain is off the hook.

NWCountryGal

LOL, thanks Saran;) I have got to find out if anyone on MFP has read The China Study. It's about the links a fella found between animal proteins and cancers, diabetes, obesity etc. I'm all pumped up about it because the book really snagged me so far. I can't see myself as a vegetarian, but I want to finish reading it. I especially want to talk to folks about it, so I'll start a thread in Nutrition area.

Thanks to all of you who have welcomed me, I so need other gals in my life that are working at this thing:) hugs to all, Denise

jerilynconn

YOu'll find a lot of people out there who believe in the china study. There have been lots of documetaries done on similar findings.

I personally don't, but if you choose to go that way, make sure you get enough protein in your diet!

NWCountryGal

Thanks again Saranharm, I am having fun researching, and I am not too far from giving up "red meat" anyway. The only thing I eat that is part of that group is hamburger. I do love animals, and have seen some info on it, I won't go into it but I'm sure you know. But in all honesty, I want to see if I can do this because of the possibilities of avoiding certain diseases. Also, I have some issues that could be helped by dropping the animal proteins. I guess if I go through with it all, we'll find out. I'll certainly share my experiences with it.

Thanks again and see you around forums;)

justsayinisall

yes I read it, and actually became pescatarian for about 3 years. I did it because I was dx with fatty liver disease and know that red meat is "hard" on the liver. My cholesterol never went down while eating the veg life, more proof that diet doesn't influence cholesterol. Weight dropped 30 pounds but it eventually came back. Around year 4 I started eating chicken and turkey again. I haven't had red meat in about 7 or 8 years now.

I don't think I saw any health benefits from eating veg for those years. Well the liver function numbers went back to normal level, they haven't ever spiked back up...so there is that.

I know I struggle a bit because I want to cut down on my consumption of chicken and eat more vegetarian meals but I would have a really hard time meeting protein needs without the meat. Beans, dairy, and nuts just don't cut it.

Jennifer_Lynn_1982

I love this discussion!! And thank you to everyone who's piped up and been considerate of others opinions even if they don't align with your own.

I've been meat-free for almost a year (Feb 28/2015 I started eating mostly plant-based). For me I started out doing it for health (disease-related) reasons and ethical. Now I do it because I feel better being meat-free. I eat mostly plant-based but don't get hard on myself if some cheese slips into one of my veggie burgers. The last time I tried ice cream in April, I thought I was going to pass out from the bloating pain so I've avoided yogurt and ice cream since.

As I mentioned in my PM to you Denise, do what you feel comfortable doing. Eating less meat will give you health benefits as well as other benefits. Keep updating us as you go

NWCountryGal

Wow, I'm still not getting my email notifies:( I'll have to check on my settings again. I know where and how, but something isn't right.

Ok, I'm glad to see your posts gals, I am still eating what I had in the fridge because I can't afford to throw it away, and I don't feel right "giving" it away if I think it could be making me sick;) This is going to be pretty gradual, as I need to be able to become more familiar with what I can eat, and not gain a bunch of fat, or have fat start storing again. People are recommending rice, even white if I like it better, and pasta. Those things are what I feel put on a lot of weight. But, with pumping iron, and doing some Zumba (something really fun) in the Winter months, instead of walking, may "use" those carbs up better than when I was fairly sedentary.

I would like to see someone's diary that is pumping iron but I can't find anyone's. Especially if you are leaning towards Vegetarian, or even Vegan. I don't mind looking at the meat-eating diaries at all, I just want to see how many cals folks are eating. I'm set at 1700 and been maintaining my weight now, even though zero real, exercise/lifting yet. I have to wait until payday to join the gym up here, I can't wait!! LOL!!

heybales

Just keep in the back of your mind - it's overeating that will put on a lot of weight.

Eating rice, even white, and pasta, in moderation and with enough protein and fat - but in correct amounts will have you maintain or lose weight.

Once foods start getting labeled, sometimes bad choices are made.

You could have a medical issue with too many carbs - but even that is a portion control issue then - not type of food.

I will suggest though - enough of a snack to accomplish a good workout (may have to experiment to find that amount), and those carbs afterwards will just refill the depleted stores and prep you for your next workout.

That works better than eating too many first and hoping you'll use them up. Which generally doesn't work that way.

Great results to see to convince you that eating at bare bones minimum isn't needed.
Wait until you do start some hard workouts and how much improvement can come from them then.

retirehappy

You might find this link helpful, it was put together by a vegetarian who lifts. She is the moderator on Eat, Train, Progress, you might want to check out that group as well. Lots of great info over there.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/926789/protein-sources

NWCountryGal

Thank you retired! I am glad I checked in here, I am still not getting my email notifies, and have "set" them twice through clicking on the Bell Icon:(

I will be glad to look at the link, thank you soooooooooo much! I know people are doing it, and I don't know why I all-of-a-sudden got it in my head to switch to plant-based foods. It's funny because I always thought people were weird that ate that way, but I "know" I am weird in lots of ways so here I go, LOL!!

NWCountryGal

heybales wrote: »

Just keep in the back of your mind - it's overeating that will put on a lot of weight.

Eating rice, even white, and pasta, in moderation and with enough protein and fat - but in correct amounts will have you maintain or lose weight.

Once foods start getting labeled, sometimes bad choices are made.

You could have a medical issue with too many carbs - but even that is a portion control issue then - not type of food.

I will suggest though - enough of a snack to accomplish a good workout (may have to experiment to find that amount), and those carbs afterwards will just refill the depleted stores and prep you for your next workout.

That works better than eating too many first and hoping you'll use them up. Which generally doesn't work that way.

Great results to see to convince you that eating at bare bones minimum isn't needed.
Wait until you do start some hard workouts and how much improvement can come from them then.

Really good read, and wise too. I am still logging my foods, and yes, especially after Wednesday, I am going to have to keep fueling with the right stuff, whatever it is. Protein is the one to keep a close eye on according to I think it was Kiki. Or maybe Anitra. She has answered almost all of my posts at the website for em2wl. I'm curious to see if I do find enough foods with protein, I have a list, but am noticing the labels on "those" foods like spinach for example, say a different protein amount, way less than the list I found. So I'll keep looking around for info on that.

Thanks for your reply, Denise:)

Jennifer_Lynn_1982

Take a look at my diary Denise....although not perfect, you can see where my mix of carbs/fat/protein are and how I typically eat through the week (my weekdays are typically very similar and I add variety in my weekends).

NWCountryGal

Oh Thanks Jenn!! I don't think I looked to see if I could read your diary, duh!! Will do sweetie, as I am a little concerned, especially after Wed. when I start lifting. Hey!! That's tomorrow!! Yeehaw!

Do you get your notifies on here, on the forums I mean Jenn? I'm still not, can't figure it out. I'll show you my settings and see what you think.

Jennifer_Lynn_1982

Hi Denise - no, I don't get notifications when someone posts after me in the forums - I just have to check back periodically. That would be handy to have though, that's for sure - especially if its for your own post/thread that you started

retirehappy

Denise, at the top of the page, there are some icons, a star next to the gear icon. Click on the star to bookmark the topic you are reading. The next time you are on MFP, if you click
the star it will open up and show you all your bookmarked pages, forums and the groups.

Personally I don't want notifications every single time someone posts in a group or forum I am following, too much "noise." I like going to the star and checking on the topics I am interested
in. It will show how many new items are there since you last checked on it. Easy-peasy

NWCountryGal

thanks rh;) I don't have but a couple of places I'd "would" get alerted about, but if I don't start seeing some notifies, I'll have to check the way you do. Sounds good, and I appreciate your help;) Denise