Ad Lib April (All Experience Levels)
Dragonwolf
Posts: 5,600 Member
April is just about on us, so it's time for another challenge! This is now our second annual Ad Libitum April.
What's that mean?
This challenge revolves entirely around not tracking your calories.
Yep, that's all there is to it.
It sounds simple, but a lot of people have become so indoctrinated into the idea that you need to count and consciously limit your calories in order to lose weight or avoid gaining weight. The idea of not doing that is downright terrifying!
The goal of Ad Lib April is for you to prove to yourself that yes, you can lose or maintain weight without consciously counting/restricting calories.
Each week, you'll post your weight or change in weight, as well as any other thoughts you're having about the challenge. That's it!
Tips For Success
Post your targets and starting stats here. Next Friday (4/8), I'll start weekly check-in threads and link to them from here.
Week 1 Check-in -- http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10368200/ad-lib-april-week-1-checkin
Week 2 Check-in -- http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10372305/ad-lib-april-week-2-check-in
Week 3 Check-in -- http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10378004/ad-lib-april-week-3-check-in
What's that mean?
This challenge revolves entirely around not tracking your calories.
Yep, that's all there is to it.
It sounds simple, but a lot of people have become so indoctrinated into the idea that you need to count and consciously limit your calories in order to lose weight or avoid gaining weight. The idea of not doing that is downright terrifying!
The goal of Ad Lib April is for you to prove to yourself that yes, you can lose or maintain weight without consciously counting/restricting calories.
Each week, you'll post your weight or change in weight, as well as any other thoughts you're having about the challenge. That's it!
Tips For Success
- If you want to keep logging your food, so you can keep track of macros, but don't want to see the calorie amount, have a look at the Greasemonkey/Tampermonkey script that we built just for this purpose.. Do note, though -- it's only a browser display modification, so this only works on your computer (not in the app), and only on the computer(s) on which you've installed the script.
- Pay special attention to your hunger signals. Are you eating out of habit, or because it's a certain time? Try to make sure to eat only when you're hungry, and stop when you're satiated. This may mean that your meal times shift. Try to honor those shifts as much as possible.
- Pay attention to your mindset around food. Is it just fuel? Or is a source of comfort, too? The more you can shift toward "just fuel," the more successful you'll likely be, because you'll be less likely to eat when you're not hungry.
Post your targets and starting stats here. Next Friday (4/8), I'll start weekly check-in threads and link to them from here.
Week 1 Check-in -- http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10368200/ad-lib-april-week-1-checkin
Week 2 Check-in -- http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10372305/ad-lib-april-week-2-check-in
Week 3 Check-in -- http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10378004/ad-lib-april-week-3-check-in
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Replies
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I am excited but yes, a little scared.
Especially since I'm new to maintenance and have been experimenting with higher calorie and carb levels. I might try logging just carbs, or mentally keeping track of servings (e.g. aim for X servings of veggies a day, 0-1 serving of fruit, 0-1 small sweet treat, and fill in the rest with fats and proteins.) 0 -
I'm in for this. Is this our reporting thread, or will it be weekly, etc! Thanks for hosting @Dragonwolf!0
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macchiatto wrote: »I am excited but yes, a little scared. Especially since I'm new to maintenance and have been experimenting with higher calorie and carb levels. I might try logging just carbs, or mentally keeping track of servings (e.g. aim for X servings of veggies a day, 0-1 serving of fruit, 0-1 small sweet treat, and fill in the rest with fats and proteins.)
I'm logging just carbs. I'm got too much on my plate to keep mental tabs right now. But your tallying idea sounds awesome.
I've been doing this for a month as you know and I've gained a couple pounds, but it wasn't specifically from not logging calories, it was from snacking way too much. And mistaking not being stuffed to the gills with still being allowed to eat. I've cut myself off from the kitchen after supper. And doing a 16:8 IF, and it's helping me read the satiety signals better.
Unless you go completely off-the-rails-crazy you aren't going to suddenly gain a lot of weight this month. So don't worry. 0 -
I'm in for this one, I actually started 3/25 because I felt like I'd need a few "practice days" before the official start. Should I post my target carbs and SW in this thread or will there be a different one?0
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I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?0
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ms_smartypants wrote: »I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?
What browser?0 -
baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?
What browser?
firefox0 -
Thanks, @baconslave.
I have a long history with yoyoing, and I can gain weight pretty fast but it takes forever to come off. I think the biggest thing I need to watch for is carb creep, b/c I know it's easy to hit that point where suddenly I'm hungry all the time and craving everything.
I might keep track of servings in the "notes" section of my food diary, or do like you're doing and simply log carby foods. I might try a week of each and see how it goes. When you log carbs, do you log things like HWC, certain processed meats, etc. with 1-2 gm per serving?0 -
ms_smartypants wrote: »baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?
What browser?
firefox
OK. Have you installed Greasemonkey yet?
If not install it.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/
And download that.
Go to you Firefox menu button. Click.
Click Add-Ons. Click Extensions on the right hand side. Make sure Greasemonkey is enabled.
Then once that is done, go into User Scripts and enable the script.
Let me know how that goes.
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macchiatto wrote: »Thanks, @baconslave. I have a long history with yoyoing, and I can gain weight pretty fast but it takes forever to come off. I think the biggest thing I need to watch for is carb creep, b/c I know it's easy to hit that point where suddenly I'm hungry all the time and craving everything.
I might keep track of servings in the "notes" section of my food diary, or do like you're doing and simply log carby foods. I might try a week of each and see how it goes. When you log carbs, do you log things like HWC, certain processed meats, etc. with 1-2 gm per serving?
I log everything that has carbs. So processed meats. Eggs if I have more than 1. If you only do one or 2 tbsp HWC per day, I wouldn't worry about it. I do h&h so I log that. It's definitely 1 carb. I'm doing keto still though so it makes a difference for me. It may not make much difference for you if you aren't trying to stay under the hard line.0 -
I am going to try. I am a die-hard logger and used to weighing and measuring everything. Good luck
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I'm in for this one, I actually started 3/25 because I felt like I'd need a few "practice days" before the official start. Should I post my target carbs and SW in this thread or will there be a different one?
You can post your targets and starting stats here. I'll have weekly check-in threads starting next Friday.0 -
baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?
What browser?
firefox
OK. Have you installed Greasemonkey yet?
If not install it.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/
And download that.
Go to you Firefox menu button. Click.
Click Add-Ons. Click Extensions on the right hand side. Make sure Greasemonkey is enabled.
Then once that is done, go into User Scripts and enable the script.
Let me know how that goes.
I have done all that and I still see my calories ....everything is there and enabled ...0 -
ok so my targets: 35g total / 25g net carbs or fewer and SW is 141.0 lbs. as of this morning. Excited to see where this takes me!0
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ms_smartypants wrote: »baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?
What browser?
firefox
OK. Have you installed Greasemonkey yet?
If not install it.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/
And download that.
Go to you Firefox menu button. Click.
Click Add-Ons. Click Extensions on the right hand side. Make sure Greasemonkey is enabled.
Then once that is done, go into User Scripts and enable the script.
Let me know how that goes.
I have done all that and I still see my calories ....everything is there and enabled ...
I haven't touched it in a while, so MFP might have changed some things. Give me a little bit to update it.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »baconslave wrote: »ms_smartypants wrote: »I downloaded the script but I am not sure what I am doing...I am still seeing my calories..Can someone please help ?
What browser?
firefox
OK. Have you installed Greasemonkey yet?
If not install it.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/
And download that.
Go to you Firefox menu button. Click.
Click Add-Ons. Click Extensions on the right hand side. Make sure Greasemonkey is enabled.
Then once that is done, go into User Scripts and enable the script.
Let me know how that goes.
I have done all that and I still see my calories ....everything is there and enabled ...
I haven't touched it in a while, so MFP might have changed some things. Give me a little bit to update it.
Okay thanks0 -
Updated it! As I suspected, MFP made some changes to their system that broke it. It should work again now.0
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Dragonwolf wrote: »Updated it! As I suspected, MFP made some changes to their system that broke it. It should work again now.
Do I need to uninstall and reinstall everything so it will work ?.... I have disabled and enabled and its still not working0 -
ms_smartypants wrote: »Dragonwolf wrote: »Updated it! As I suspected, MFP made some changes to their system that broke it. It should work again now.
Do I need to uninstall and reinstall everything so it will work ?.... I have disabled and enabled and its still not working
I got it to finally work 0 -
For those that want to hide the Dashboard info, as well, I've created one for that, too. However, this one requires a different plugin, called Stylish. Unfortunately, the way the Dashboard is coded, I can't use the same script that I made for the diary page. At some point, I'll find a way to combine the two (ideally in an easy to install setup), but for now, they're separate.
https://github.com/LowCarberDaily/stylish-calorie-hider0 -
So, I've decided to log nothing and I actually started a little over a week ago.
Oddly enough, I think I'm eating less and not because I'm worried about it. It's forced me to pay attention to hunger cues, which I thought I was doing pretty well, even more than usual and I feel like I'm eating a bit less. Not sure of course since I'm not weighing anything...
But my average weight, which had been up over a pound consistently for over a month has come back down half a pound. So, I think I'm good!
I never minded logging, but I like not doing it even more! 0 -
I'm in! To avoid all the calorie hiding stuff, I am just keeping a carb tally on a piece of paper. My carb goal is <20 g net.
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Starting: 120.4
End of month goal: 116ish
<20 Net carbs
I keep looking at my calories. This is hard.
Also, I don't listen to my body when I eat nuts and overeat. I will ban nuts once I finish the bag. Yes, I'm finishing the bag. Don't judge me!0 -
DorkothyParker wrote: »Starting: 120.4
End of month goal: 116ish
<20 Net carbs
I keep looking at my calories. This is hard.
Also, I don't listen to my body when I eat nuts and overeat. I will ban nuts once I finish the bag. Yes, I'm finishing the bag. Don't judge me!
Baconslave don't judge.
I have the same problem with nuts.
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I have that problem with nuts too! I don't even buy them anymore because I have to make such an effort to control portions.0
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Same problem here! They are banned for this month for me too
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My SW as of this morning was 132. Aiming to stay in my maintenance range, ~129-133.
I think my goal really is just to stay in maintenance range, and to get in at least 2/3 of the Wahls Paleo Plus recommended veggies/fruits per day (at least 3-4 cups). I may or may not track carbs and/or aim to stay in ketosis; I'll see how I feel and adjust as needed.0 -
Technically, I am doing this too. I will be tracking for the rest of the burger challenge, but not restricting. This is how I always eat.
You know, this month isn't even fair for me. These are both my normal plans.0 -
My goal is <30 carbs a day, which is what I did today, or I might have gone 2 or 3 carbs over if you're not counting net carbs.
Also, here's a list of foods that are low in carbs but high in potassium:
https://paleomagonline.com/3-shocking-carb-paleo-potassium-sources/
http://www.foodworldnews.com/articles/5941/20140909/potassium-high-foods-low-carbohydrates-top-5.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/268978-low-carb-high-potassium-foods/
(note: according to other sources, a medium sized kiwi is only 10 carbs)
And a list of high potassium recipes, some of which are low carb or can easily be adjusted to be low carb.
http://www.bhg.com/recipes/healthy/heart-healthy/heart-healthy-high-potassium-recipes/0 -
baconslave wrote: »DorkothyParker wrote: »Starting: 120.4
End of month goal: 116ish
<20 Net carbs
I keep looking at my calories. This is hard.
Also, I don't listen to my body when I eat nuts and overeat. I will ban nuts once I finish the bag. Yes, I'm finishing the bag. Don't judge me!
Baconslave don't judge.
I have the same problem with nuts.
Full support here! I dodge nuts, same reason. My helpful DH just gave me a bag full for my flight. Knowing it was something that I could eat. I shared half the cashews with him and put rest in glad snap lock bag for flight. Portion control! 100g bad but 250g inhaled would be worse. Only using them if the food (which looks low carb in pre select menu options) is not low carb or is sweet. DH was thoughtful enough to upgrade me to premium economy n select the seat with most leg room n the food with least carb. Love him.
Flight just pushed back n hit air bridge with wing. Maintenance technical specialists checking damage. This could be a long night, aside from the 11hr plus flight to Malaysia we've been over an hour on the ground here in The Netherlands so far.0
This discussion has been closed.