Decided to design my own program

lclarkewalker

I've tried everything it seems. Nothing works. I like designing my own recipes and frankly want to eat what I like. So, after a lot of soul searching and sound advice, I decided to work out my own weight loss program.

One thing I discovered was that I had set my calorie count too low. I know they say 1200 calories is good but I could not keep it up and ended up gaining back because I got so hungry! So I raised it, using an online calculator, to 1450.

So far I've not gotten to that higher number but have been up to 1350. Also Im cutting fats and exchanging bad ones for good and more natural ones.

And my mantra is: if I can't count it, I can't eat it.

So, if you're interested in seeing what I write about on this journey, you can ask access to my blog.

Initially I was going to stay out of the community but I thought maybe someone would be curious about my developing program. If not, that's okay too.

Well, that's it. Hi everyone! Hope you're all having a very good evening! And please remember the people in Texas!

usmcmp

I think you'll find that most of us on here don't follow a diet program because we all just want to eat what we like. That's the beauty of MyFitnessPal, you can eat whatever you want within your calorie goal and you'll lose weight. How you fill those calories should fit your likes and what keeps you on track (things that are filling and things you just enjoy).

1200 calories is low for most people and when people start out I often suggest they set their goal to lose a pound per week because that's a more sustainable calorie level. Sounds like you have a good plan that should be sustainable. Good luck!

lclarkewalker

Thanks USMSMP. I got to thinking about why I gain back weight after being short term successful and it really came down to stressing myself trying to live within some ridiculous caloric confinement. The other thing is that I want to show my daughter that its possible to drop the weight without losing out on things you like or trying to make impossible recipes. She's about 200 pounds overweight and asked me how I'm doing it. But I felt bad because I had gained back 10 pounds of the 130 I had initially lost ad yo-yo'd for years (it took me 6 years to lose 130 lbs because of that).

After viewing yet another one of those online "do this" or "eat this" video I said hooey and decided to start my own program. So I told my daughter I would log on facebook what I eat every day for her to use the following week. There's three adults in her home, and only one of them does not have to lose weight. Same thing here. So it really works because person #3 will get the missing fourth person's portion lol. Slick, huh? That advice actually came off here.

Anyway, thanks for the positive feed back. I sure hope things are going great for you, too!

lclarkewalker

So far so good. Its been 9 days (by my count) and so far so good! Not only have I stayed within the calorie count, those little temptations have been shaken off with the reminder that I've come this far..don't mess up now!

One thing I wonder about and maybe someone here has experienced this.

I have a daily intake allowance of 1450. But I never seem to eat that much! Back when I had an intake of 1200 I was constantly trying to rationalize that extra morsel.

Can someone tell me whats up with this? Could it be I'm more relaxed with the higher calorie allowance?

tinkerbellang83

lclarkewalker wrote: »

So far so good. Its been 9 days (by my count) and so far so good! Not only have I stayed within the calorie count, those little temptations have been shaken off with the reminder that I've come this far..don't mess up now!

One thing I wonder about and maybe someone here has experienced this.

I have a daily intake allowance of 1450. But I never seem to eat that much! Back when I had an intake of 1200 I was constantly trying to rationalize that extra morsel.

Can someone tell me whats up with this? Could it be I'm more relaxed with the higher calorie allowance?

All sorts of reasons, you could still be in the "honeymoon" enthusiasm phase so many people get at the beginning, you might feel like 1450 isn't as restrictive as your previous diet or you might actually be underlogging and eating more than you think. Hard for anyone but you to work out.

gearhead426hemi

There's not a one size fits all diet or workout routine so molding one that works with your lifestyle is the only way to go. I would suggest don't really set a certain calorie intake as a limitation but more as a guideline. If you are hungry and eating clean the calories won't matter because your body will be consuming and burning them. If it is not healthy food then yeah you should count them. Best of luck with your goals. Feel free to add me for some recipes and crazy workout routines.

lclarkewalker

tinkerbellang83 wrote: »

lclarkewalker wrote: »

So far so good. Its been 9 days (by my count) and so far so good! Not only have I stayed within the calorie count, those little temptations have been shaken off with the reminder that I've come this far..don't mess up now!

One thing I wonder about and maybe someone here has experienced this.

I have a daily intake allowance of 1450. But I never seem to eat that much! Back when I had an intake of 1200 I was constantly trying to rationalize that extra morsel.

Can someone tell me whats up with this? Could it be I'm more relaxed with the higher calorie allowance?

All sorts of reasons, you could still be in the "honeymoon" enthusiasm phase so many people get at the beginning, you might feel like 1450 isn't as restrictive as your previous diet or you might actually be underlogging and eating more than you think. Hard for anyone but you to work out.

I'm seriously counting every morsel. Of course my foods are easy to calculate. I had been on the 1200 calorie diet for years and then stopped losing and stymied for a year. That's when I got down and gained some back. Dr. says it was too low.

lclarkewalker

Thanks ya all. Right now I'm going to focus on what I'm doing. It actually is working for me.

mph323

gearhead426hemi wrote: »

There's not a one size fits all diet or workout routine so molding one that works with your lifestyle is the only way to go. I would suggest don't really set a certain calorie intake as a limitation but more as a guideline. If you are hungry and eating clean the calories won't matter because your body will be consuming and burning them. If it is not healthy food then yeah you should count them. Best of luck with your goals. Feel free to add me for some recipes and crazy workout routines.

This is not true. Your body doesn't use "clean" calories any differently than "dirty"? calories. If you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight no matter how "clean" they are. Whatever anyone's definition of "clean" is.

OP, it sounds like you have a plan that works well for you - congratulations, that's a big step! Monitor your weight for a few weeks and if you're losing as expected, keep on keeping on Best of luck!

CharlieBeansmomTracey

also op just remember what works for you may not work for your daughter or her household. its going to depend on the persons height,weight and activity level. The more active you are the more calories you need,same goes with those who are obese they will need more calories just to fuel their body.

lclarkewalker

So far so good! Daughter hasn't tried it yet. And yes, you're right. It may not work for her but its as good a plan as any I guess. One thing I am noticing is that eating anything from a source outside of my own isn't necessarily a good idea. Last night I saved up calories so I could enjoy dinner at a meeting I go to every month. No snacks, light lunch, you get the idea. Well, tonight I am up with gas. I mean GAS! I could power a small country with it! And nothing we ate was particularly gassy. No beans or anything. It was an obviously pre-made lasagne, however (I suspect Stouffers). Can eating things you normally don't have on your personal menu do this?

kommodevaran

lclarkewalker wrote: »

So far so good! Daughter hasn't tried it yet. And yes, you're right. It may not work for her but its as good a plan as any I guess. One thing I am noticing is that eating anything from a source outside of my own isn't necessarily a good idea. Last night I saved up calories so I could enjoy dinner at a meeting I go to every month. No snacks, light lunch, you get the idea. Well, tonight I am up with gas. I mean GAS! I could power a small country with it! And nothing we ate was particularly gassy. No beans or anything. It was an obviously pre-made lasagne, however (I suspect Stouffers). Can eating things you normally don't have on your personal menu do this?

Yes it can. You have a certain composition of gut bacteria, that change with what you eat. Change isn't just difficult for humans, bacteria struggle too

Or the lasagna can have been off. Did anyone else get the same problem? You may have to ask, and maybe even then they won't tell you, if they're embarrassed. (Depends on how well you know each other and what you usually talk about.)

CharlieBeansmomTracey

lclarkewalker wrote: »

So far so good! Daughter hasn't tried it yet. And yes, you're right. It may not work for her but its as good a plan as any I guess. One thing I am noticing is that eating anything from a source outside of my own isn't necessarily a good idea. Last night I saved up calories so I could enjoy dinner at a meeting I go to every month. No snacks, light lunch, you get the idea. Well, tonight I am up with gas. I mean GAS! I could power a small country with it! And nothing we ate was particularly gassy. No beans or anything. It was an obviously pre-made lasagne, however (I suspect Stouffers). Can eating things you normally don't have on your personal menu do this?

I get the same reaction from stouffers lasagna too but also get it from homemade lasagna,so Im thinking its all the cheese possibly.

lclarkewalker

kommodevaran wrote: »

lclarkewalker wrote: »

So far so good! Daughter hasn't tried it yet. And yes, you're right. It may not work for her but its as good a plan as any I guess. One thing I am noticing is that eating anything from a source outside of my own isn't necessarily a good idea. Last night I saved up calories so I could enjoy dinner at a meeting I go to every month. No snacks, light lunch, you get the idea. Well, tonight I am up with gas. I mean GAS! I could power a small country with it! And nothing we ate was particularly gassy. No beans or anything. It was an obviously pre-made lasagne, however (I suspect Stouffers). Can eating things you normally don't have on your personal menu do this?

Yes it can. You have a certain composition of gut bacteria, that change with what you eat. Change isn't just difficult for humans, bacteria struggle too

Or the lasagna can have been off. Did anyone else get the same problem? You may have to ask, and maybe even then they won't tell you, if they're embarrassed. (Depends on how well you know each other and what you usually talk about.)

Nobody else got sick, no. Hubby and son ate it as well. So I"m guessing you're right and my gut is not liking weird things! Thanks!

lclarkewalker

Can I take a moment to say I'm really proud of myself. I know we shouldn't boast but sometimes...

Normally I used eating outside the home as an excuse for a real piggery. I didn't do that last night! I tried to calculate and I did very well if my calculations are even close to right. Mostly I went by portion sizes, which in those situations would seem the best.

1 slice of bread (not thick sliced), a spread of butter (a tsp I can eyeball now), 1 slice of vegetable lasagne, 1-2" square; half plate of salad with a lighter dressing, and 1/2 of a mini cupcake. Its really a good feeling to be able to say no and mean it!

A friend was there who had to get surgery to lose weight. She had congestive heart failure and they told her she had to lose it asap. She's lost over 100 pounds in less than 6 months. Since I don't have the same health issue, I'm not going to seek surgery BUT she is still an inspiration to me!

The other thing I'm liking is discovering new foods I never really thought about before. Like right now, I'm sitting here with a cup of pickled artichoke hearts. Drain the juices and oh wow! I am loving this and the cals in chokes are fairly low, too!

Someone show me the way to the artichoke hill! I love these things! lol

Anyway, I appreciate everyone putting up with my ramblings here.

I could use some ideas about something else.

I will be going next month to relieve my brother in taking care of our elderly, bed ridden mother. She is 98. It will be a two day trip up and back and I have my plan meals divided into:

breakfast
lunch
snack
dinner
snack

We're driving with a doggy.

Any ideas for meals that don't need to be refrigerated or heated other than sandwiches? My hubby and son are fine with the idea of lunch on the road and breakfast is available at the hotels. If we have a place with a microwave we will probably do diet meals and salad or something simple like that for dinner. But its on the road I wonder about. Sandwiches can get old 2 days in a row.

Thoughts?

lclarkewalker

UPDATE! For the past year I've tried to break under 240 with zero success. In fact I GAINED weight using the various and sundry diet plans I was put on. Well, I began on here 11 days ago at 245. I am now down to 238.