My old habits

fbmandy55

Wow. Just put into prespective how much MFP has changed my life. I used to drink 3, 32oz fountain Mt Dews a day. That is about 1200 a day in just pop! Not to mention the Taco Bell, burgers, sweets and other crap I used to eat. Really gonna stop beating myself up when I go over my calories by like 200 on occasion..

I also used to watch my 13 year old sister once a month and we would get a large pizza hut stuffed crust pizza, each get a pint of B&J's ice cream and play wii all night. I was so unhealthy! I cannot even imagine eating all of that in one sitting anymore!

Anyone else realizing how much MFP has changed your life and you don't even notice it!!??

EricaSno28

MFP has changed my habits drastically and made me so aware of calories!!!!!!!!!!!! I consider eating (for example - a pack of chocolate Zingers from a vending machine) a WASTE ..... there is 440 calories in there .... && to think I use to eat that AFTER my lunch which was usually McDonald's, Taco Bell ... you know anything fast food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Love it & the people here are wonderful. I;ll send you a friend request!

alynnbennett

I have noticed how much it changed my life and I LOVE it! I have never felt so much more energized and healthy. It's a great feeling. Calories were every where and I never knew what I was actually consuming till I started MFP. Some of the things I was eating were horrible and now I don't even want to eat them knowing the calories and the way they made me feel.
Good for you! Keep up the good work. Kudos to MFP!!!!

thecanface

i know right!! i logged a day the way i used to eat.. i had 3.5 days worth of food in one day.. sick.

thecanface

I have noticed how much it changed my life and I LOVE it! I have never felt so much more energized and healthy. It's a great feeling. Calories were every where and I never knew what I was actually consuming till I started MFP. Some of the things I was eating were horrible and now I don't even want to eat them knowing the calories and the way they made me feel.
Good for you! Keep up the good work. Kudos to MFP!!!!

not to mention so in control! i love that i know exactly what is going into my body and how much of it..

eliz_in_pink

I also used to watch my 13 year old sister once a month and we would get a large pizza hut stuffed crust pizza, each get a pint of B&J's ice cream and play wii all night. I was so unhealthy! I cannot even imagine eating all of that in one sitting anymore!

Confession... I used to do the same... And not with my 13 year old sister, but with my fiance!!! Shameful.
He's my biggest supporter now!!

gatorflyer

Oh yeah am I feeling this. Used to be a serious Pepsi addict. I always had an ice cold glass of pepsi with me no matter what, at home, in t hecar, at work, you name it. And, when I emptied it, I filled it back. I have replaced that with water and lots of it. I think if I used to drink 1 8 oz glass of water in a day, that was a big water day. Most days I had none. I just used to eat and not care about silly things like calories and sugar. Now, I want to know the calorie count of every thing that goes into my mouth. I never used to exercise AT ALL - bump on a log. Now, I make a point of adding exercise into everything I do, and I feel guilty when I do. I never would run or jog, and hated walking. Now, while I still am not a runner or fond of it for that matter, I still incorporate jogging into my walking routine and absolutely LOVE to walk and have made it a regular part of my routine. I did my first 10K a couple of weeks ago, something I never would have even thought possible. I look for ways to incorporate exercise into whatever I do. Haven't had fast food in 8 months, and while I won't say I will never have fast food, I will say I will make healthier choices whenever I'm in a fast food situation. Sometimes circumstances just make that the only choice. So yeah, I would say a few things have changed. Great Job!

Tzavush

I also used to watch my 13 year old sister once a month and we would get a large pizza hut stuffed crust pizza, each get a pint of B&J's ice cream and play wii all night. I was so unhealthy! I cannot even imagine eating all of that in one sitting anymore!

Confession... I used to do the same... And not with my 13 year old sister, but with my fiance!!! Shameful.
He's my biggest supporter now!!

If we're going for confession, I think there may have been a time or two where I ate the entire pizza and the tub of ice cream MYSELF (and not done the Wii which may have burned off some cals but rather lounged on the couch watching TV)
Now, I can't even conceive of eating anywhere near that much.

isabelk

I thought i was so healthy, and my problem was portion size. Wrong! I ate rice for three, I used five times as much oil in cooking than I needed, and I drank a day's worth of calories in lattes, coffees and teas. I thought a bagel had fewer calories than a donut, and I ate butter but avoided ice cream... I was clueless! I can't believe how much fat from dairy I ate before MFP. And all those giant bags of natural cheetos... LOL. I still miss those, but not how they made me look or feel.

jazzhottie

MFP has seriously changed my life too! I can't believe that this site is free. I tell everyone I know about it. It is so great to have an objective, non-judgmental object help keep me accountable to what I put in my body. My husband who was leery of the site has changed his mind. After seeing me lose 35 lbs over 4 months he decided to join too. Now we are in this together and he is as amazed as I was at the effectiveness of the site. :-)

Irene8509

MFP helped you on your journey...YOU changed your life. My congratulations are for your determination and motivation and a new healthy lifestyle:bigsmile:

jennifir

And logging in calories also encourages me to exercise because I love to log in those exercise calories! Not to mention it really does feel good to exercise. It's just getting through the doors of the gym I have a hard time with most of the time.

MommyLumpkin

My old habits are alot like yours...except it was Dr Pepper instead of MD.

Now, my worst habit is telling people how many calories they're eating. I have to bite my tongue alot. I don't want to be "that girl/*****" LOL

ladybg81

MFP has changed my life as well. My DH and I used to eat SO bad! Fried this, cheese covered that every night. I am amazed we were not bigger than we actually where!

I want to shout from the rooftops to people to shut up and stop making excuses. This is really not that hard. You have to want to do it. So SHUT UP AND DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ladybg81

Now, my worst habit is telling people how many calories they're eating. I have to bite my tongue alot. I don't want to be "that girl/*****" LOL
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My DH does the same thing! He actually did that at lunch with his boss one day, brave I know. The next time he saw his boss, he had lost 12 pounds and is using this site. Sometimes it only takes 1 person to make you realize how bad you are eating!

fbmandy55

I know. My friends hate me now... They think we can never eat out and I am always telling them how bad their food is. I think they are all excited for me, there are a couple who I know are jealous because they choose to do nothing but pack on weight.

_Aimée_

I want to shout from the rooftops to people to shut up and stop making excuses. This is really not that hard. You have to want to do it. So SHUT UP AND DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally feel the same. My mum and sister are grossly overweight now. My sister is at least trying to do something about it.. albeit half-heartedly but my mum has 'tried' on and off for year and I think she has given up. At first she was supportive when I lost weight, now she is mean about it because it shows up just how awful her eating habits are. She tries to feed me crap and send me home with buckets of food every time I go around.

She is only mid 40's but I worry everyday I'll get a phonecall that she has had a heart attack or stroke. I just want to shout at her I don't want you to die, look at me, it's not that difficult!!!

asudheimer

I have been eating much much better since joining this site. I do find it ironic though, that my ad banner above was a cheesy Papa Johns pizza for $11 and my side banner is groupon with like cupcakes or something... subliminal messaging and traps everywhere! lol

simplysara9

I have been on MFP religiously for 10 days! I know it's not very long but my husband made a comment to me today and it really made me think.... I was telling him how I have had 800 calories today and MFP is telling me that I still need to eat over 1000 (it's after 5pm already) according to MFP. He said something along the lines of since I started tracking my calories I am aware of what I eat and am eating a lot less than I use to. There were times that I would eat 3000 - 4000 calories and not even realize it!

It makes me feel good to know that I can eat wholesome foods and stay full for a long time and not binge. In the past 10 days there has been 1-2 days that I have gone over my allotted calories but I am still learning and have definitely done a 360 with my habits!

I have also exercised for an hour today and tracked the calories with my heart rate monitor. Before you couldn't get me off the couch for anything!

_SusieQ_

Starbucks addict, big time. At least 4 times a week for me, and we're talking Venti White mochas. Once I reallllly looked at it and realized I'm packing away 400-500 just in liquid, OUCH! Now I limit myself to one time a week, MAX. And I typically get a Grande Skinny Caramel Macchiatto. I miss the White Mocha's but not for those calories!

beckibb

You are doing great. I am just getting started. Please give me some encouragement. I really need to lose 60-75 pounds...........Thanks.

astovey

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long long ago used to go to the Rally's drive thru and get a giant cheese burger, curly fries, and a strawberry milk shake.

and that's just one example...

I don't even go through drive thus anymore...gave them up years ago...makes it too easy to get fat

ales1979

Yep! A lot of my old habits have gone out of the window! I too was eating enormous amounts of fast food (I live in street where everything I could want - fish&chips, pizza, indian food, chinese food) is within 5 doors of my street door! One of my favouties was a half pound burger with cheese, topped with donner kebab meat and all the sauces, with a large side of fries and a 2 litre bottle of full sugar pepsi!! Or I'd get a large box of a mixture of donner meat, pakoras, tandoori chicken, chips/ fries, chicken wings and all the sauces, which was served in a 14'' pizza box and I'd eat from it for about 2 or 3 days (obviously I would put the leftovers in the fridge between 'pickings') I would eat whole multipacks of chocolate bars in one day, or perhaps they'd last two at the most!!!Admittedly I was quite poorly over the winter, but I wonder how much I could have avoided feeling so ghastly, if I had been eating better!!

My BF came to visit me about 3 weeks ago, he was very late getting here and I'd already had my dinner!! He got himself a chinese take-away, I was able to have one piece of pepper squid, and leave it at that!

I've made large changes to my eating habits everyday, can't even rememebr when I last had a takeaway, and am trying to eat as cleanly and as 'paleo' as possible! The clean and paleo is still a very new thing to me, so I've had some blips over the last few days, just purposefully trying out what foods suit me and what don't anymore! however, now I know that grains and dairy definitely don't!

I woudl never have found this out if it wasn't for the wealth of information and fantastic friends who are ALWAYS there to support me (which I think is whats made this so amazing!) on MFP. Usually by now I would be getting bored of the change and looking for the next 'big thing' to sink my teeth into, but not this time!!

I really love it here and I know its going to be for life this time, not just some faddy quick fix that I get bored of quickly, then end up being even heavier/ more unhealthy than I was to start with!!

xx

tladame

I know what you mean. When I see someone eating donuts or cake or something, I almost feel sorry for them. But then I remember, I used to eat that stuff too! I certainly would never tell someone what they should be eating, or how many calories are in their food. I might still indulge in something like that every once in a while, but it's not something I would eat every day.

Happy to be here, losing weight the healthy way!

Mojave69

In my 41 years I've never knew the calorie content of any food or drink! MFP has definitely opened my eyes to what goes into my mouth these last few months! I always wondered how gained weight and kept it on even though I've always been a regular gym goer and always played football (soccer) & squash... NOW I KNOW!! One of these days I'll get around to entering a diary of what I used to eat during a regular day before MFP! I bet I'd be utterly mortified!. For instance, I've never been a 'salad dodger'.... but little did I know how many grams of fat & calories were in the old Caesar & Ranch dressings I used to drown the lettuce in!!!

Thanks for opening my eyes MFP! Reading these fantastic Success Stories are absolutely one of my favourite things on these quiet night shifts now.

christine24t

I have been on MFP religiously for 10 days! I know it's not very long but my husband made a comment to me today and it really made me think.... I was telling him how I have had 800 calories today and MFP is telling me that I still need to eat over 1000 (it's after 5pm already) according to MFP. He said something along the lines of since I started tracking my calories I am aware of what I eat and am eating a lot less than I use to. There were times that I would eat 3000 - 4000 calories and not even realize it!

I agree. Keeping track of my food for the day helps me keep myself in reality and know what I can and can't eat. Now I cringe when I add something to my food diary that is 300/400 calories in just one serving.

JeanHaynes

Practically every meal I ate before starting this lifestyle change was fast food. I never considered calories. I would have a 400-500 calorie breakfast sandwich from Panera w/ a 600 calorie coffee drink, then grab Wendys for lunch w/ a frappucino, and lastly a double quarter pounder from McDonalds for dinner w/ a coke. I never drank water. I would easily drink a 2 liter of Mountain Dew in a day. I was so unhealthy it was absolutely ridiculous. I never worked out.

Now, I make healthy choices on my meals out. I cook so much more at home. I am always conscience of my calorie intake and I drink my water. I never drink regular sodas, rarely diet sodas, and when I get Starbucks I choose non-fat or low-fat options w/ sugar free flavors. I work out and I am a happier person.

I think back to how I ate before and it disgusts me. This is definitely a lifestyle change that I plan to keep forever!

fbmandy55

I am so glad you have all posted. I too cringe when I have to add something over 300 calories to my food diary. But at least now I know I can work out and burn off some of those calories where as before I wouldn't have cared.

I loved on Biggest Loser last night when one of the "home" contestants said, "i promise you can do it, anyone can!" and she was so right. It didn't take very long to see the old habits go and the news one's stick. Now that I've stuck with it for a couple months, I realize how easy it really is!