Getting Frustrated

odirish

I can lift with the best of them, but can't get my eating down. Years ago I wanted to do a Figure Comp. That never happened and now time has passed me by. All I ever hear is don't get caught up in the calories and the P/C/F ratios. Well all that advise has me up by about 45 lbs and now a size 16. I know what to eat but should I carb cycle? Should I take a free day or a free meal ???? Thanks for any advise.

Slrajr

I usually eat good quality foods that aren't overly processed but I like to eat too much of it. It's super hard for me to cut back sometimes.

I'm not sure exactly what you have tried, but since you are tracking your food intake on MFP, why not get caught up in tracking your calories, fat, protein and carbs? Mfp makes it quite easy.

I don't know what you've read but I recommend reading these threads if you haven't already:


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

Also read: "important posts to read" it's all in this group!

My Favourite thread is this:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/841305-corn-used-my-man-parts-as-a-speedbag
Then, after reading if you want more advice answer the questions here;


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/910257-the-new-and-improved-asking-questions-about-your-intake

odirish

I'll do that. Thanks. I am tracking. I don't always stay at my 1200 calories and pick the best foods, but it's a process. Better than what I had been doing (which was yo-yo ing)

Mary Ann

Slrajr

The nice thing about knowing approximately how many calories you need daily to maintain your weight (or your TDEE) is that it makes everything easy peasy.

You don't have to beat yourself up if you eat a food which you consider "junk". For example, if eat 500 calories over my TDEE of brocolli-tofu-lentil casserole every day I will gain one pound in a week. If I eat a variety of nutritious foods plus 2 oz of potato chips (fills my cereal bowl) and the total daily calories is 250 less than my TDEE I will lose half a pound in a week. And... I will love eating my potato chips without guilt or remorse!! You can trust your records even if the scale makes it look as if you've gained weight, and you can custom design what you eat so that your diet is exactly best for you. Personally, I pay most attention to protein and calories because this is what I need to keep an eye on for me. It's so reassuring to feel in control and without "mystery" rules. As long as you fit your diet into your macros, you can make up your own rules for you:)

It's also good to know your TDEE so that you don't deprive yourself too much in the process. For me, I could lose lots of weight at 1400 calories but i would be grumpy and starving and more likely to scoff down the whole 1500 calorie bag of potato chips, thus going over in calories and making it virtually impossible to meet my protein goal for the day. I truly believe that the easier it is to follow the greater the likelihood of success and sustainability.