Ravenclaw Common Room

_gwen

August pics posted on my profile - 21 lb cumulative loss

_gwen

Hey Gwen. Did you read that post that I quoted on here a couple of days ago? It sounds like you might not be getting enough calories - what you're describing is exactly what Mickmelie was talking about. Hope you feel better soon!

I did read your post and I wondered the very same thing. I plan to start adding 100 more calories to my daily goal, starting tomorrow.

Samiwhereareyou

Hi again! I just found this fantastic post by MFP-er Mickmelie called "Eat more to Lose more, explained." about why we need to eat all of our calories. I found it here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/302589-eat-more-to-lose-more-explained

I would just like to take a moment to correct a logistical error I regularly see. I think it confuses people more than it helps...

Most of us who have around the MFP block a few times will tell you: You need to eat more to lose more. This is absolutely true. It's the reason WHY this is true that can be confusing and is often stated wrong by well meaning fitness palls.

When you eat too few calories (not enough to fuel your body) over a long period of time your weight loss can (and eventually will) stall. You can call it "starvation mode" or whatever you want. However, it is NOT because your body "stores more fat at lower calorie levels" Your body needs all those calories and it uses all those calories. It does not and cannot afford to store them!

The reason why you will plateau is because your body thinks you are in famine. In order to "help" you through these rough times of drought and food scarcity, your body will SLOW DOWN. The natural day to day processes your body undertakes without your conscious knowledge turn down a notch so that you can survive on less.

We're not talking about exercises and such... you can continue to force yourself to do the same amount of exercise on 500 calories as you did on 2000 calories. Your body has other, tricky, ways of slowing down that you cannot control. It expends less energy on the daily functions like mucus production, digestion, hair growth, skin regeneration, and so forth. Under normal circumstances, your brain is a major energy suck (some pplz more than others, hehe). In order to conserve energy, your brain slows down. Who wants that? You might fidget less, sit more often, and sleep in a little longer. You might have less enthusiasm when exercising. All of these things add up to requiring less (AND BURNING LESS!) calories during the day. POOF! Plateau!

Now think about what would happen to your body if all these processes were to slow down for an extended (months, years?) period of time. You'd become more prone to infection and illness. Those processes are in place for reason. They keep your body healthy and running the way its supposed to. Hair loss, brittle nails, bad skin, listlessness, and so forth are very common side effects of not properly fueling your body... ask any long-term ED. You're probably not going to die... but you can become very sick.

This doesn't happen in a day, but over a long period of time, IT WILL HAPPEN. It happened to me and to a lot of others here on MFP. So what's the solution? Well DUH! EAT FOOD!

Some extra food for thought.... I ate an average of 900 calories per day for 3 months. I lost the same amount of weight per week as I have eating 1200 calories per day for the past 4 months.My skin is better, my nails are better, my mood is better, I have more energy. It wasn't worth it. But MAYBE being able to share my story and help others will make up for it.

Well, thanks everyone for reading. I love you all! NOW EAT UP, DAMMIT!

I always get about 1200 cals sometimes I eat my extra cals from working out most of the time I Like to drink wine and that is what I spend them on. but sometimes I just dont I ate like 1174 cals and Im done. Im getting ready for a garage sale and moving boxes and I burnt like 1000 extra cals and I dont really wana eat them back. Thats ok right? I dont want my hair to fall out or anything.

psb13

good morning Ravenclaw and happy thursday!! weekend is almost here. just got in a quick early workout (including arms). and off to work. hope everyone has a great day!!

azsuzi

I always get about 1200 cals sometimes I eat my extra cals from working out most of the time I Like to drink wine and that is what I spend them on. but sometimes I just dont I ate like 1174 cals and Im done. Im getting ready for a garage sale and moving boxes and I burnt like 1000 extra cals and I dont really wana eat them back. Thats ok right? I dont want my hair to fall out or anything.

Hi, Sami. Everything I've read says to eat your exercise calories because otherwise you're going to be pulling the nutrients you need from your organs and muscles. Listen to your body - if you're dragging through the day even though you got enough sleep, if your hair and nails are brittle, if you get sick frequently, then its time to consider that maybe your body's not gettng enough food to stay healthy. I don't think a day here and there is anything to worry about - its the long-term, cumulative effect.

I'm having a hard time getting my calories in on my current diet - I'll probably end up making some modifications. I think the quality of my food is heading in the right direction - now to work on quantity! It would be nice to have energy for once in my life!

On a side note - I knew a guy in my teens who got all of his calories from alcohol - literally. He never ate, just drank - and I'm sure he consumed more than enough calories in a day! He ended up dying from malnutrition in his early twenties because the alcohol couldn't feed his body what it needed. Very sad story...

cherubcrnp

Count me in ....Goal for August is 225.....and I will weigh in tomorrow when I go to work.

Pam aka Cherubcrnp

psb13

good morning Ravenclaw I've been wanting to say this all week....HAPPY FRIDAY!!! i am just finishing up my first week of zig zagging. i've been exceptionally tired this week. took a couple of rest days from exercise and i don't usually do that. the workouts i've done have been minimal effort. don't know if this fatigue is related to the zig zagging or not. someone suggested that i try it for 2 weeks to see what it does. not sure if i want to or not. i've done a couple of unofficial mid week weigh ins that don't show any improvement in progress. i'd be happy for any suggestions any of my brilliant fellow Ravenclaws might have!! hope everyone has a great day and start to the weekend!!

_gwen

Happy Friday Ravenclaws!

I too have been pretty tired this week. Yet more overcast days. Temperature still hasn't gone above 85 degrees this summer. Maybe it's the Dementors breeding again...

I bumped up my daily calorie goal by 100 and that did seem to help. My scale still said 193.5 this morning, which means I'm on track towards expected weight loss for Sunday's official weigh in. Keeping up on water has helped too.

I've got some non-weight related issues weighing on my mind, so that's go me down, but having a bit more energy keeps me going.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Gwen

azsuzi

Happy Friday! I've had a pretty good week - with the exception of being very busy and not much time to workout. I got an A on the term paper I was writing last week!!! WOOHOOO! But that threw me off schedule in my other class so I've been doing double homework in that one this week. One more week of classes and I'll get to relax for 2 weeks before my next classes start.

Done pretty good with the challenges this week - 4 days of arm exercises and ice water every morning. It will be interesting to see how my weight looks on Sunday since my calories have been so low this week.

@psb13 - I hope you're feeling better soon. Is your new job more or less active than your old one? Maybe you need to update your settings to change your daily calorie goal...

psb13

good afternoon Ravenclaw!! hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. we went school shopping today -last time for high school as my daughter is a senior this year had a couple of nsv's with trying on smaller clothes-need some to get by with for now!! still not feeling up to par, but i think my seasonal allergies have kicked in and are contributing to my general feeling of malaise recently. hopefully i will get a decent workout in tonight. enjoy you day my friends!! i would add a happy face for you but smiley doesn't seem to be working!!

Samiwhereareyou

I am feeeling really antsy about weigh in tomorrow

azsuzi

I would say that my experiment with my diet last week was a failure. I woke up this morning groggy and starving. Even after I ate something I was still hungry and shaky, so I had a second breakfast! Not much in the house today to fill me up, so I was still way under calories, but tomorrow is shopping day so next week should be better.

Remember to weigh in tomorrow. Good night Ravenclaw!

lottee1000

AM super busy so just weighing really quickly... AM the same as last week which I don't mind because it means I didn't gain back the weight lost when I was ill last week. Don't know what the challenges were so nil points for those!!

psb13

good morning Ravenclaw!! checking in today with a weight of 182.8 which is a 1.8lb loss for me!! very pleased with my first week of zig zagging. i earned 11 house points for check ins and arm strength training-just can't stomach ice water early in the morning!! i am of 2 minds regarding the zz thus far. although i am pleased with my loss this week (my losses aren't usually that much), i don't like being able to eat back my exercise calories. the zig zagging already calculates it in so that you aren't going for net calories but just the total. i like having the option to burn off more then eat them back on a day i might be hungrier. i'm going to stick with it a bit longer to see how it goes.
azsuzi-hope you are feeling better. don't let yourself go too low with this new plan you are doing. how is your husband doing with it?
have a great day everyone!! grrrr-still no smilies (or is it just me?)

azsuzi

Happy Sunday Ravenclaw! Checking in at 161.5 - down 1 pound! We'll see what happens this week when I up my calories again. I earned 16 house points - 7 for checking in, 4 for arm exercises and 5 for the morning ice water.

Hope you all have a fabulous day! I'll post the challenges a little bit later today.

psb13 - I don't have smilies either

_gwen

Good morning Ravenclaws.

Thanks for your advice to eat more calories. I'm definitely feeling better, and...drum roll please....I weighed in at 192.5! I had to weigh myself twice because I couldn't believe it. Down 2.5 lbs from 195.

point wise - 2 first thing waters, 6 check-ins, and 1 for arm exercises.

I started strength training yesterday. Upper Body yesterday, Lower Body this morning. You can see the Before pictures once I have some respectable After pics. :-)

NikkiMustang77

ohai Ravenclaws.

Weigh in: 152.4 =[
Points: 2 for ice water, no arm exercises as i've been concerned with other things (securing a job, buying a car, figuring out financial aid for school, going to a 50th wedding anniversary and getting a teensy bit wasted, etc). Posted just now, once to join, and one other time to check in, so that might be 3? so possibly 5 altogether?

cherubcrnp

I was 233.4 last week and 229.6 today.....I am happy. Didn't make the gym this past week, but was working in my gardens planting, pruning, deadheading, carrying bags of mulch and such....burned alot of calories for sure. Still have tons of work to do in them which consumes every off day and when I get home from work if it is light. Pictures soon to follow....I am really happy with my gardens. I am now ordering fall bulbs to plant in these new gardens. Anyone else a gardener??

Pam aka Cherubcrnp

momofJandA

Ugg . . . I'm having trouble ladies, having trouble. Went on vacation the first week of August gained 2 lbs. Came back from vacation and was still eating like I was on vacation, but said no big deal the extra 2lbs will come off because I was exercising my butt off (running 4 miles a day and doing Ripped in 30). Well, I pulled my Achilles tendon on Wednesday and the doctor told me to rest-no exercise. I admit it I've become a bit addicted to the exercise. Its my release, my time for me. I was all signed up to run my first 5K next weekend and now I can't (per doctor's orders) and I'm just bummed and to top it off I'm an emotional eater so when I'm bummed guess what- I eat. Even my husband commented that I'm eating differently (he wasn't trying to be an a**, just kind of saying "what's up?"). I'm actually sitting here thinking "My foot feels a bit better I could do a video and just take it easy" I know I shouldn't. I don't want to do more damage (especially permanent damage), but I just feel . . . yucky. Its my own doing I know. I need to suck it up, stop eating crap and deal with life- I know, just having some trouble this week.

Weight- still 132lbs
August goal- 128lbs
House Points- TOTAL: 10
water (7points- I love ice cold water)
exercise (3 points- M,T,W)

And a big I'm sorry for being a flake. I used to check in every day and now I rarely do- I'm not being a very supportive friend right now- someone slap me- HARD

Samiwhereareyou

woooohooo down 5lbs this week. 166 to 161!!!! i am so excited!!!!!

craft338

last week - 213.6
this week - 211.8

week's loss - 1.8 lbs

NikkiMustang77

checking in for the day -
actually managed to stay around my general calorie goal. oh yeah. [after a couple no-count days, or unable to count days, i'm happy to finally have some sort of guide to what i'm doing]
how are you guys doing?

Matchamatcha

Urgh. I weighed in and I've put on a kilo. I'm now 67kg again. :sad: :grumble: :sad:

This is my first experience since starting with backsliding, and I'm feeling so bummed out by it. I guess it just means I need to be stricter, and pay more attention to what I eat, which I have been having trouble with.

TwiFan5

Will do my best to weigh in tomorrow as I need to get my *kitten* into gear.

azsuzi

Good morning Ravenclaw! So sorry - I totally forgot about posting the challenges yesterday. Let's keep it easy this week...

Food: Eat 7 fruits and/or veggies each day

Exercise: Choose the part of your body that you tend to neglect in your workouts and work on them this week (abs, arms, butt - whatever). You can add it to your regular workout or use commercial/restroom break mini workouts - anything to give that area some attention.

Have a wonderful Monday! :flowerforyou:

_gwen

Yum, fruit challenge.

Today's FOTD (Fruit of the Day) Raspberries. +1 for fiber

I tend to neglect my stretching exercises (warmup/cool down) so I will focus on those this week.

Have a fantastic week everyone.

craft338

Good morning Ravenclaw! So sorry - I totally forgot about posting the challenges yesterday. Let's keep it easy this week...

Food: Eat 7 fruits and/or veggies each day

Exercise: Choose the part of your body that you tend to neglect in your workouts and work on them this week (abs, arms, butt - whatever). You can add it to your regular workout or use commercial/restroom break mini workouts - anything to give that area some attention.

Have a wonderful Monday! :flowerforyou:

omg i LOVE fruit!! i got this challenge COVERED!! lol

the exercise challenge....not so much

psb13

hi there Ravenclaw!! i was running late this morning and didn't get to post my usual good morning. hope everyone is having a great day. doing ok thus far with zig zagging, hope it continues. tough challenges for me this week..will give it a shot!! :happy:

azsuzi

Hello Ravenclaw! Here are the results of week 2 of our August Challenge:

Samiwhereareyou is our # 1 weight loser with 3%
azsuzi is to top point earner with 16 points

Well done to this week's Prefects! And well done everyone - there were some nice losses this week! :drinker:



Just a note regarding weigh-ins: this is a no-pressure challenge. Weigh-ins are totally optional. I will not chase you down for your weight each week. If you don't weigh in, I will leave your name on the list in case you decide to join in again at a later date. We're all here for the friendship and support. If you just want to drop in and chat, that's perfectly ok too! :happy:

psb13

good morning Ravenclaw!! ready for a great tuesday?? i have lots of fruits and veggies planned for today..lets hope i stick to my plan.
azsuzi..still the best head of house ever. thanks for all of your hard work in keeping us together!! :flowerforyou:
congrats to all of last weeks "losers"!!
have a wonderfully healthy day. :bigsmile: