Living the Lifestyle (LTL) - Thursday, 1/3/19

gadgetgirlIL

We meet here to explore, share, celebrate, and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Thread starters for January are below:

Monday - imastar2 (Derrick)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - myallforjcbill (Bill)
Thursday - gadgetgirl (Regina)
Friday - Al_Howard (Al)

Today's topic: The right tools

Many of us have discussed what we would like the outcome of 2019 to be. My question for you is do you have the right tools to accomplish your goals? Tools include tangible things like kitchen gadgets, fitness trackers, a pantry stocked with what you deem to be the right foods, etc. They also include things like support (family, friends, your WW meeting, medical professionals), the environment where you work, live, or pursue recreational activities.

So do you what you need? Or is there something else that you need to add to your toolbelt to help improve your chance of success?

gadgetgirlIL

While I feel that I have the tools I need, it was becoming obvious the last few months that something needed tweaking as too often I was logging my food into MFP at the end of the day and finding out that I had eaten well more than my budget. That would explain my weight creep. I have two primary means of logging food into MFP: 1) my iPad (preferred), and 2) my iPhone. My iPad is old and the app has been taking a very long time to load and then would be slow to respond when I tried to enter foods. Sometimes it would even crash and I'd lose what I had entered. My iPhone is my speedier and reliable but if I don't have my reading glasses handy, it was hard to use. The fall semester was very hectic and I just didn't have the patience to wait for my iPad to respond. I have been more diligent the past week as we have been on break but the quiet time won't last.

As my reward for surviving a hellish fall semester, I decided to get a new iPad. It will arrive today. I anticipate that once I get it set up, it will be much easier for me to stay on top of my food intake. I know that my internal fuel gauge is broken so tracking is essential for me.

The other tool that I needed was to replace one of my food scales. Our scale at home died this fall and I relocated a scale from one of my work locations. But that left me guesstimating too often at work. I finally got to Target last week and used a gift card I received to get a new scale. Now I really don't have any excuse for staying on top of my food intake.

So the moral of my story is you not only need the tools, but they need to be ones appropriate for the task at hand!

Onward and downward as one of you always says!

Jerdtrmndone

I do have the right kitchen tools and use them all the time. I do fault at my food journal not always following thru the whole day.

myallforjcbill

I have all the tools I need frankly. I can track on MFP on my IMac, IPad or IPhone. My scale works fine, I am not hurting for measuring cups, spoons, steamers, crock pots, recipes, or other "necessities". Family support is there. The only tool I am currently short on is the determination to persevere translated into action. That I am working on. So in short...no excuses.

steve0mania

I think I have all of the right tools available, including support from loved ones, a good home/work environment, etc.

Perhaps, though, the most important tool is determination. None of the physical/environmental tools will be helpful if you're not determined!

steve0mania

Ha ha, I just read myallforjcbill's comment (after I posted mine). I guess we're in agreement!

imastar2

Thanks @gadgetgirlIL good topic and also good way to start 2019.

If there is a tool to keep me on track I probably haven't heard of it. The one thing on your list DW and I may be short of are items on the pantry list. We need to work on this. DW will not eat anything out of a can except maybe tuna. No can veggies. We eat everything fresh or fresh frozen and prepared daily. When schedules get hectic for both of us this becomes a situation. So room for improvement in this area. We are currently discussing ways to improve on this preparation of food.

My biggest challenge is making sure I have something prepared for lunch for 2 reasons. 1 To have something that's healthy and 2 to keep me from going out to lunch and wrecking the budget.

The last item for me would be tracking. MFP or WW or both. Their both so different and taking results are definitely different. The weight specialist MD I'm seeing says not to concentrate on tracking and wants me to follow a no complex carbs diet and the items she has on the printed diet will not fuel me on a daily basis. So tweaking has to be done somewhere. One thing for certain either way I know one thing is certain. I've decided to lose 52 lbs this year come h*ll or highwater. Also to get moving on an organized basis and routinely.

SW 400.8
CW 341.8  🙂 - 8lbs
1st 335.0 Goal
2nd 300.0 Goal
Final GW 185.0

59.0 lbs Total Loss

whathapnd

I have all the tools I need, but an excuse I've been using to not cook more is that my kitchen is still disorganized from what seems like four months of non-stop cooking for others. I do much better losing weight when I cook at home, and I actually enjoy cooking. But right now, getting the kitchen back in order seems overwhelming . . . so we're eating a lot of take-out.

The lameness of this excuse really hits me when I type it out loud.

Al_Howard

steve0mania wrote: »

Ha ha, I just read myallforjcbill's comment (after I posted mine). I guess we're in agreement!

'Three of a kind".
Also, like Steve, Need to limit my beer better.

88olds

As long as I have my food scale, my iPhone and internet access, I’m good to go.

I could use a good Dr to tell me what’s wrong with my foot. I’m going to see if my GP will send me for an MRI when I see him next week. This foot thing is a bummer.

minimyzeme

My question for you is do you have the right tools to accomplish your goals?

So do you what you need? Or is there something else that you need to add to your toolbelt to help improve your chance of success?

I think for the most part, I have (or will have) the right tools to accomplish what I hope to in 2019.

My primary tool is the WW tracker app. It helps me keep my program between the ditches. I'm not perfect and therefore it isn't either, but that instant feedback of point use relative to my allotment is the first step in accountability. As I proved to myself this summer (happenstance more than intention), if I conscientiously track, my weight management is relatively even-keeled.

I use three sources of support for WW, all of which are helpful. Obviously, GOAD is one of them. My weekly WW meeting is another and the Connect app is the third. I also have a close friend with whom I've interacted while we both do WW--her online and me my way.

As I turn my attention to doing C25K this year, I will invest in decent running shoes and download the app, as well as reading up on it. I think prepping for and completing the C25K will help me up my game a little. The way this Winter's going, I could start today (sunny and 50 is what's predicted).

I'm glad for the tools I have. If I didn't know better, I might be one of those guys who says "I've got this" but being here the last few years has taught me better. I don't need a lot of tools and I could probably get by with a deletion or two. But why would I when everything is working?

cakeman21k

Like several others here I have all the tools except motivation & will power! I think thats a 4 for 4 kind of expression here. Hopefully the new year will help me in that regard. I have been good at tracking and some activity for the first 4 days of the new year even though my intake has been high due to us being on vacation. We are back now so hopefully we can settle in to a little more routine life for a while.

podkey

Oh definitely the right foods in the pantry and my trusty food scale.