Experienced MFP'er in the Home Stretch - What do I do now?

bcdg24

Hello!
I want to slim down to 135 lbs, and especially to lose the extra fat on my outer thighs and abs. I'm 5'6", 27 years old, and currently weigh around 143. I have lost 30 pounds using MFP from last year, and even now I am losing a pound at a time, slowly, but steadily. However, I want to make sure I lose these last few pounds, so I reassessed my goals yesterday, and it has me at a 1500-cal-per-day goal. I have some good things going for me: I workout (cardio + strength training) or go on long walks a few-several times per week, and I have two small children (26 and 45 pounds) that end serving as intermittent weight training. I also work for a company with an excellent employee wellness program that encourages physical activity. However, I work full-time at a desk job, so that means sitting a lot during the day, M - F. And I have a sweet tooth problem that I can't quite kick.

What do I need to do to tighten those problem areas, and slim down to my ideal weight, and then maintain that weight loss? My diary is open. Please let me know what you think I need to do, specifically. Thank you for your time!

kcoftx

I don't try to kick my sweet tooth completely. I just give myself portion limits. I allow myself up to 1-2 bite size pieces per day. I've gone up to 4 a few times with smaller pieces but I'm pretty good about meeting my limit and even that is about half a candy bar. That's only if I have room. I allow myself to have dessert once in awhile if I split it and I have met my goals for the day. I do find myself making choices about whether the caloric value is worth it or not and now at least half the month, I don't even bother. Sometimes a single serving of Lucky Charms helps me satisfy my sweet tooth and helps me get in some iron. Generally though, the lower we go, the less wiggle room we have. But I don't have the mentality of never.

Some people do, however, have to completely cut it out because just one piece is never enough. So you have to figure out what you can handle.

LPCoder

Replace your chair at your desk with a large exercise ball. During work you can bounce, squeeze, rotate your hips, pulse, and work those thighs, hips and buttocks.

tgcitw

You track the calories you take in, do you track all the calories you expend? And I mean all of them, even at rest. I use a Fitbit to track my movement all day. It links to my MFP account, so it gives me a more accurate calories burned. If you're not sure what a Fitbit is, its like a pedometer on steroids. After you figure how many calories you're burning, just do the math. 3500 burned calories is one pound.

I have a sweet tooth, I eat those zone chocolate bars there awesome and only 190 calories.

Last but not least, I have an office job, I sit almost all day. But whenever I get up I do ten pushups. I know that sounds crazy, but movement is movement. Need copy paper, 10 push ups, need a cup of coffee, 10 push ups. I have done this so much, other people at work now do it as well. However the looks you get while doing this is priceless. Good luck!

bcdg24

Hi tgcitw, No, I don't track all the calories I expend, and because my activity level varies from day to day, it's difficult to calculate how much I'm burning. Do you think I could be under-eating? I've noticed that most days I'm way under my calorie goal, then my hunger catches up with me and I go way over, kind of like my body needs to stock up again. For instance, a week ago I had a 1200 calorie meal (I would never dream of eating that much normally!) and it actually seemed to help my weight loss along...

Do you think the Fitbit accurately captures all the calories you're burning throughout the day?

The pushups & exercise ball-for-a-chair ideas are good ones, I just need to get past my fear of what other people think and get to it! Besides, why should "what other people might think" stop me now?

PCoder & kcoftx: congrats on your weight loss! That's impressive.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

tgcitw

As for the under eating, I don't know what you're eating , I didn't see your diary, so I can't even make an educated guess. I will say that we do need to eat lose. Your metabolism has to stay in burn mode, it does this by having food in your system. I would recommend having 5 small meals a day, to fuel your self. I know for me as of today I am 201.8 lbs, I am 5'6 ( no short jokes please not many short guys are honest online about their height ) going from my dietician calculations I can have 2300 calories a day and if I did nothing I would maintain my current weight. I shoot for 1500-1600 calories a day, food intake only I don't care if MFP says I now can eat 800 more calories because of a work out , my goal is always to stay in the deficit side of the calories I intake.

As for the fitbit accurately tracking the calories we burn a day, no its impossible. I think the polar watches with the heart monitor strap would work the best, but I don't have it in me to keep that strap around my chest all day. But all things considered the fitbit is a great start to trying to count your calories out everyday.

From the outside looking in, you sound like you have done a great job for healthy weight loss, thirty pounds in a year is awesome.......... I have lost around 38 pounds and I did it in about four months and the dietician I use freaked out on me for losing weight in an unhealthy manner. She was actually mad, called me a name. Slow and study wins the race, and it does sound like you're winning.

bcdg24

Well, I actually lost 30 pounds in 3 months (Apr-Jun '11), kept it off until January '12 (for 6 months), then I gained back the last 5 earlier this year when I wanted to take a break from MFP. But now I've vowed to make these lifestyle changes, not just "look better" changes, and I've been able to lose 7 (including that pesky 5 pounds i had gained back) since i started MFP again this year.

I think I'm doing things right, but I know weight loss gets more complicated and more difficult when one has less to lose. So I'm open for any specific advice that might help.

tgcitw

Burn baby burn, cardio it up elliptical, run, bike, count calories and cardio good luck! Track those calories, in and out! Good luck! I got 26 pounds to go myself!