Needing motivation rant...

debrag12

So I just can not get this eating thing down, and I seem to be eating at maintaince.

BMR: 1614
TDEE: 2220

I am forever changing my calorie goal and I currently have it set to 1720 (my goal ends up being more than this most days, I use a fitbit). My eating habits are horrible.

My main meal is dinner so I need to start seeing that as my main calorie meal and small breakfasts & lunches. On paper it looks easy to do but I'm forever going over my goal.

As long as I'm under by the end of the week I'm not really concerned if I go over for 1 or 2 days as long as its not too much, I look at it as, as long as I don't go over my TDEE.

Should I be thinking this way, should I be concerned with being in the red for calories? I need to find the right lunches/snacks for me to feel satisfied. With a salad I have to have plenty of dressing/sauce on it or I just can't eat it, I can't just have plain chicken with veg, I need more. I am stuck on wraps at the moment but I can't just eat one so having two adds on the calories.

My average monthly calorie burns have been around 2400 so it can't be that hard to eat at a deficit!

BTW I don't have alcohol that much (though I do pick the strongest %), maybe I should just up my burns on those days. I rarely buy crisps, chocolates and biscuits.

I need motivation to kick myself into gear. I'm not liking my current gym much but I'm starting a trial next week at a purely strength gym and hoping that with get me going. It probably doesn't help that I know no-one local who works out.

occultllama

Try pre logging and pre preparing your meals, it helps if you struggle with overeating earlier in the day.

VelveteenArabian

Weight loss goes by averages. If on average in a week, your deficit is below 3500 calories, you're going to see a less than 1 pound loss. If your average has you at 0 deficit, well then you won't have a loss.

If your eating habits are bad, it could be affecting your logging, which is going to impact your efforts. If you're already logging and going over here and there, but generally in the red, and still not losing weight, your logging is inaccurate somewhere. It could be in your food, it could be in your exercise.

Try pre-logging your meals. Some people do better if they already have it written down what their meals and snacks are going to be for the day.

Daphnerose86

When something is no longer working for me I change things up a bit. I too eat my biggest meal at dinner and I LOATHE salads! Psychologically for me I can't view a salad as a meal to me it's a side dish. (one which I rarely eat) I always end up starving later no matter what combination of toppings I put on it (chicken, beans, nuts, cheese, etc.) So I feel you on that one.

I cater my diet to work with my work schedule. I eat a small meal before I go to work. Then I eat on all three breaks at work. First break i'll eat veggies or fruits, second break is the longest so I usually eat my main meal (been on a sandwich kick lately) and usually finish one of the veggies or fruits I brought and third break I finish the other one that I brought. I'm still eating but not calorie dense foods so I have a lot left over to cater my dinner meal around with out feeling guilty for having to go over my limit.

For the wraps try pairing them with low calorie sides or fruits and veggies. Maybe try eating it with a knife and fork to help slow down how fast your eating it to give your body time to catch up and tell you when you are no longer hungry? Maybe add more to the wrap itself? Instead of eating a second one add extra meat and veggies and see if that helps you feel less deprived and wont add so many more calories to the meal as eating a second one would.

Eating over your calorie limit isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on how often and how much over you go. Of course don't get discouraged if you have a few less than stellar days- you're human, it's not going to ruin your whole diet. If you are super struggling I'd set your limit higher to a more manageable limit and then after you are able to consistently hit it slowly reduce the calorie limit by a hundred or so over time to learn your body into eating at a lower limit. It's no help having a calorie limit you constantly go over and makes you frustrated. You can do it though!

I hate gyms so I applaud your effort to keep trying to find something that works for you. Right now I can work out outside but once winter comes I'm gonna have to follow suit. lol. Good luck!!

MrsMizart

Eat cooked or raw veggies instead of salad. Give yourself the challenge of doing it for four weeks - there is every chance your taste buds will change.

With the wraps, peel off the part that isn't actually holding the contents together. That way you'll end up with only the calories of one wrap but the filling of two.

Try lower fat alternatives to mayonnaise etc, so you get the tastyness without the calories.

It is blinking hard work for sure, but you have to keep trying different things until you find what works for you. Plus, over time your taste buds will change.

RodaRose

The new gym with help you I hope.
I can't eat salads either. I eat my veggies in other ways for dinner.
Maybe find some new ideas for lunch. Do you ever pack some leftovers that you made for dinner a night or two before?
Or make a week's lunches for yourself on the weekend?
It is o.k to look at your weekly calories instead of looking at each day.

ariesflame

Took a peek at your diary, and it looks like you are coming in way under on protein most days.
Might be worth trying to bump that number up, but be careful how you do it, still need to keep your total calorie count in check even though you need to add protein. Usually, this means you'll have to drop calories in carbs consumed but play around with it and see if that shakes things up enough for you to see progress.