Just Starting - Looking for Advice

kgor1957

Hi !! I heard about MFP through a Weight Watcher thread, and decided to give it a try as I had stalled a bit, and was getting frustrated with having to count for just about everything that i put in my mouth. Last night I sat down, and entered my menu for today. It took some time, but I managed. I have set my menu for tomorrow, but i have a question...... When you first started, did you make sure that you stayed within the guidelines that were set for you ex: caloies, fat, carbs, and protein, or did you just focus on the calorie end until you got a bit more comfortable with this program? I just about drove myself crazy last night when I was making up my menu for today. I don't want to have to go through this every time.... Is there an easier way to get started? Thanks Kat

DaniKenmir

I just started with calories. I find it super easy to log everything at the beginning of the week and if I change what I eat I just make those adjustments. I am now looking out for my sugar, because my diet has always been high in protein and thats never been an issue for me. next I'll be sorting out carbs then fats

Sailatsorf

I started out just exercising without watching my calories. When I plateaued two weeks later, I started watching just my calories. When that stopped working, I started watching fat, then carbs, then saturated fat, and now I've finally added watching sodium into it. I just took it one step at a time, and now the weight is REALLY coming off. I would recommend doing one thing (ie calories) at first, getting to the point where you've got that one thing in check, and then keep adding elements until you're watching everything. It's a breeze that way.

HypersonicFitNess

To start, yes try to focus on calories but also making sure you're eating healthy foods. Try to incorporate vegetables and fruits into each meal and work your way up to making them 1/2 of each meal. Don't worry about macros until later. Pre-logging and preparing your meals in advance really does set you up to succeed. That is how I lost 35lbs.

JudeGilford

I wouldn't suggest logging in advance. Just log as you go. But don't just look at weight loss - look at body fat percentage, body mass index, waist to hip ratio. Take measurements, set reasonable goals. These are the things that will keep you motivated! You'll see, life at MFP is not about losing a few pounds. Good luck!

kgor1957

Dumb question..... What is a Macro? Kat

Xaspar

I started out with calories only. Then as I learned more and became more confident I started making custom goals so I could tailor it to my specific needs a little more. Basically do the program. Eat the calories, if you work out, eat back the calories. I lost 23 pounds the first time without taking a single look at macros. Then I decided I wanted a break and gained back 15 of those pounds because I wasn't tracking. This time in, I am setting custom goals and changing my thought process a little bit so progress is a little slower, but I can see it lasting at this point.
Get your feet wet, look around in the forums. Find friends that motivate you and keep asking questions ... there are so many people here who are willing and able to help you out.!

shorty35565

I did just calories for a LONG time. And I lost 30lbs or so w/o trackin macros.
Macros are: fat/protein/carb...stuff like tht.

Xaspar

Dumb question..... What is a Macro? Kat

Term for macronutrients ... % of Carb/protein/fats in the daily diet.

ferrytrip

I started by logging everything, that I ate.
Saw where I was on a normal day, adjusted to reach my calorie level.
Then I started exercising. I've lost weight but I have to work on my fat & sugar intake.
I've plateaued a few times but continue to lose weight slowly.

GypsySoul_74

i know a lot of people (me included) who just started with trying to get the calories right, and working on one macronutrient (carbs, protein, or fat) at a time. usually protein is the one you really want to concentrate on--when you get enough protein, the other two often start to get in line.

think of your protein goal as a minimum that you want to reach and your carb & fat goals as maximums that you don't want to go too far over. and be patient with yourself.

i pre-log my days a lot just because i don't have great willpower when i'm faced with a lot of choices. but some people have much better self control and can just log as the day goes on.

no matter what, don't beat yourself up over it. the ONLY way you can lose this battle is if you don't get up tomorrow (and the next day, and the next) and try again. the number of times you fall isn't going to matter. what will make all the difference is the number of times you get up and try again. best of luck to you

Tammyinbali

Right from the start I tried to stay within all the numbers set up for me (cal/fat/prot/carb/fib/sug). To take my head out of the equation (since that is a big part of what got me in trouble to begin with) I ate the same menu for the first week (meaning only 1 breakfast/snack/lunch/snack/dinner/snack plan that I followed Mon-Sun), made a new meal plan for the second week, same for the third & forth...by the end of the first month I had figured alot of stuff out & making the right choices (versus following my cravings all over the place) started to come naturally. After that I started to eat a different menu plan most days, always planned out the night before with any adjustments made as they came up. I found that being so involved with my health was good for me, it made me feel in charge & I got obsessed with searching online for all sorts of new recipes to try...there's nothing more exciting than trying out a new healthy recipe or finding a new healthy ingredient and finding out that it's totally and completely delicious
Good luck with your journey!!!

jniffers2001

i started this a month ago. i have just been logging the carlories its really helped just knowing what im eating a day. i have been bumping up the exercise for the last couple weeks. its still coming off. the only regret is i didnt take any measurements. and dont beat yourself up for over eating. use that as a tool to continue on. ive been learning i can still eat stuff that i like in moderation. just changing your mindset and not giving up is key.

kgor1957

Thank you sooooo much for the input. I was getting a bit frustrated, but now I understand a little. Will focus on calories first, and then the rest will come. Thankyou again. Kat

Diyah13

I started using MFP at the end of June, and I was lost, too. With the help of someone who has been using MFP for almost a year and a half, I learned to go with the calories. Everything seemed to fall in line from there. I had the hardest part with figuring out how many calories I was burning with the sporadic exercise I do. I ended up getting a fitbit, and I have lost almost 1/4 of the weight I am hoping to lose. Not bad for 3 1/2 months . . . .

Hannah645

I would start first by focusing mostly on the calorie goal. People will argue on what percentage of your calories should be protein, fat, and carbs. I find it difficult to always eat a specific ratio unless I eat the same foods every day. That works for some people, but I get really bored.

I do not stress over carbs. I grew up with a mom who I watched yo-yo on the Atkins diet for years. If you're diabetic or have other health conditions, obviously it's different. I also know a lot of people who if they start their day off with a sugary doughnut, then they end up craving empty carbs all day long. Choose carbs that come along with fiber or are whole grain.

I seek protein heavy foods if I'm having a day where my appetite is uncontrollably strong. I've seen a lot of advice on the forums to shoot for 100g protein a day, and I do feel the most satisfied when I'm able to do that. The default protein goal on MFP is very low. Please do not be alarmed to go over your goal.

You'll see this argument on the forums too. People are shouting a calorie is a calorie whether it comes from spinach or a twinkie, and then the other side says that your body needs a specific balance between protein, fats, and carbs in order to function properly.
I just kind of stick with a middle ground philosophy and make reasonable choices. It's worked for me so far.

Deipneus

When I first started, I just looked at calories. As I went along, I noticed certain deficiencies and adjusted my diet accordingly. I also did not worry at the beginning if I hit the goal or not. The most important thing is just to get used to the routine of logging everything.

I don't share my diary with anyone, even my wife. It is hard enough to be honest with myself without the temptation to lie to avoid looking bad. Some days my diary is absolutely horrific. I always log as accurately as I can though. I've been at this almost a year and have logged every single day.

Musically_Blessed

I only looked at and still only look at calories. Although now I look at cholestrol and fat as well. Don't drive yourself mad over following all the guidelines. Going over a bit on sugar or fat never hurt anyone.

Andrea3030

Why did you come to MFP if you were tired of accounting for every bite of food? Don't you actually have to account for MORE here because WW lets you have zero point foods?

kgor1957

Even though WW lets you have "0" point foods, they still have calories. Fruit was also "0" points, but some people had a tendency to go overboard. Altho I am not a fan of writing everything down, I will if it helps me get somewhere. I was finding with WW that I was getting very lax with my accountability, and was starting to go in a different direction.

Kimjanebrooks

think of your protein goal as a minimum that you want to reach and your carb & fat goals as maximums that you don't want to go too far over. and be patient with yourself.

Thank you for this!! I was just gonna ask about protein! I go over my protein every day and wondered if this was a problem. A chicken breast and porridge and i'm over!!