MFP calorie counter not everyone!

mammakisses
mammakisses Posts: 604 Member
edited September 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello I have been here for a while now but I have been yo-yoing alot. What I tend to do is go hardcore on dieting and working out until I feel weak. I have realised that everytime I use the calorie counter I try to eat less than the 1200 calorie that I was allowed by MFP and I would never eat my workout calories. I know it's all bad but I can't stop myself from doing it.

These are my new goals:

1-Not using MFP calorie counter. Instead eat smaller meals more often and allow myself the good fats and protein.
2-Weight in once per month. This one will be hard. I might need my husband to hide the scale for me.
3-Take a rest day every week.

Anyone have some good tips? I really need to do it the slow healthy way this time.
Thanks everyone!
Emilie

Replies

  • meganhopkins
    meganhopkins Posts: 7
    I think the tracking is a good thing - i wouldnt give it up. Just change the way you use it. It adds in your excercise to you consumption goal - so do what it says, and each your calories and your extras. Your body wont let you lose if you dont feed it - but tracking isnt the issue.
  • xXmimiXx
    xXmimiXx Posts: 564 Member
    Oh my goodness the calorie counter is the only thing that helps me stay on track! :glasses:
  • jrivkin
    jrivkin Posts: 1
    I agree with Megan, I like tracking; however, I do NOT like calorie counting! I use MFP as a guide line, the Holy Grail. I try to eat what makes me feel good, which for me are often low sodium foods, and when I am hungry. I refuse to eat a bunch of little meals all day long...I tried it and was force feeding myself most of the time. I eat when I am hungry, and that works for me. My issue is not food, its being active. I get home form work and I don't want to do anything, let alone go to the gym or walk my dogs. My current goal is to be active at least three days a week, even if it’s just walking around my neighborhood for 30 minutes. Good luck, and remember, do what feels right when it comes to food, and don't make it stressful! Stress helps you retain weight!
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    I have the tendency to leave 200 or so calories uneaten at the end of the day. I can't help it. I feel bad if I actually eat all my calories, let alone go over. Instead of giving up on calorie counting entirely, I changed my goals. Instead of setting it at 2 lbs per week, I changed it to 1.5 lbs a week which increased the ammount of my daily calories. Now, when I leave 200 calories I'm not eating so little that it causes me problems like binging or starvation mode. I know it is just mind-games I'm playing with myself, but whatever works.
  • mammakisses
    mammakisses Posts: 604 Member
    Yep it would keep me on track too. But I was undereating by way too much. Now that I know how much calories is in my favorite meals, I think I can guestimate it. If I see the total number in the counter I will make sure that I am under the 1200. I've eaten below a 1000 cals on many ocasions. Yes I've lost some weight but I usually gain some back. I think that this is the way to go for me.

    Anyone else not using the calorie counter?
  • mammakisses
    mammakisses Posts: 604 Member
    I agree with Megan, I like tracking; however, I do NOT like calorie counting! I use MFP as a guide line, the Holy Grail. I try to eat what makes me feel good, which for me are often low sodium foods, and when I am hungry. I refuse to eat a bunch of little meals all day long...I tried it and was force feeding myself most of the time. I eat when I am hungry, and that works for me. My issue is not food, its being active. I get home form work and I don't want to do anything, let alone go to the gym or walk my dogs. My current goal is to be active at least three days a week, even if it’s just walking around my neighborhood for 30 minutes. Good luck, and remember, do what feels right when it comes to food, and don't make it stressful! Stress helps you retain weight!

    Thanks. I wll make sure to relax. Your right stress isn't good for weight loss. I'll make sure to take a nice long bath tonight.
  • shanerylee
    shanerylee Posts: 298 Member
    The MFP helps me realize where I can cut down on calories a bit. I eat for healthy but the calories do add up.
    I have been evaluating my diary and seeing where I can cut, like for instance eating lowfat peanut butter instead of full fat peanut butter. Also, I almost fell off my chair, seeing that sunflower seeds are so high in calories, when I thought I was eating something really low and healthy. UGGGG
  • mammakisses
    mammakisses Posts: 604 Member
    I have the tendency to leave 200 or so calories uneaten at the end of the day. I can't help it. I feel bad if I actually eat all my calories, let alone go over. Instead of giving up on calorie counting entirely, I changed my goals. Instead of setting it at 2 lbs per week, I changed it to 1.5 lbs a week which increased the ammount of my daily calories. Now, when I leave 200 calories I'm not eating so little that it causes me problems like binging or starvation mode. I know it is just mind-games I'm playing with myself, but whatever works.

    I've tried doing that too but I still ate under 1200 calories. There's just something about the numbers.
  • lauren106
    lauren106 Posts: 3
    I feel like 1200 calories is too little for me. I am 5^10 and weigh around 11 stone, I am within my healthy weight range but feel extrmeley hungry only eating 1200 and feel this is not suitable for long term weight loss. I find myself eating over my calories and feeling upset about it then this leads me to over eat and not track.

    Is there anyone that has increased there recommended daily intake of calories and is still losing plenty of weight?

    Look forward to hearing some sound advice :)
  • mammakisses
    mammakisses Posts: 604 Member
    I feel like 1200 calories is too little for me. I am 5^10 and weigh around 11 stone, I am within my healthy weight range but feel extrmeley hungry only eating 1200 and feel this is not suitable for long term weight loss. I find myself eating over my calories and feeling upset about it then this leads me to over eat and not track.

    Is there anyone that has increased there recommended daily intake of calories and is still losing plenty of weight?

    Look forward to hearing some sound advice :)

    I'm 5'2 and 1200 calories would leave me feeling hungry every night. I'm sure you can bump your calories intake to at least 1400.
  • jenng38
    jenng38 Posts: 105
    I don't feel a bit bad if I eat all my calories! lol but seriously, the tracker is what has taught me how bad some of my eating habits really are. I just joined on monday but what I decided to do, at the advice of a nurse that I work with, is to just eat whatever I normally would for ONE day and be completely honest and track everything. well what an eye opener that was! :noway: so mamakisses, I think the guidelines that you are setting for yourself are right on, because we are all different in how we think about food and so on, so good luck! :smile:
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    I feel like 1200 calories is too little for me. I am 5^10 and weigh around 11 stone, I am within my healthy weight range but feel extrmeley hungry only eating 1200 and feel this is not suitable for long term weight loss. I find myself eating over my calories and feeling upset about it then this leads me to over eat and not track.

    Is there anyone that has increased there recommended daily intake of calories and is still losing plenty of weight?

    Look forward to hearing some sound advice :)

    Does MFP only give you 1200? I'm 5'9" and even sitting my goals for 2 lbs a week MPF had me at about 1350. I try not to eat less than 1400. Maybe it is lower because you are in a healthy weigh range. I can't imagine trying to survive off of 1200!!!
  • AmerH
    AmerH Posts: 40 Member
    I thought 1200 calories was going to very hard to follow. But I've been on the program for about a week and it's been pretty easy. I do try to eat dense food so I get that "full" feeling.

    With that said, every body is different. And there are probably other factors that influence hunger pangs and such. No formula can be set in stone for every single person. You have to play around a bit, so to speak, and adapt the formula to your own individual body's metabolism and dynamics. If you put effort into it, you will get to know your body real well and be able to work with it better. At least that's how it's been for me.

    I do have a question. It is OK to leave 200 calories or so uneaten, isn't it? I find it hard to get close to that "0" mark without going over (or maybe my brain is too tired to think about it at night). I know we're supposed to eat our exercise calories, but how exact does it have to be? Anybody know?

    Thanks for all the wonderful input. :wink:
  • Limeinthecoconut
    Limeinthecoconut Posts: 234 Member
    I feel like 1200 calories is too little for me. I am 5^10 and weigh around 11 stone, I am within my healthy weight range but feel extrmeley hungry only eating 1200 and feel this is not suitable for long term weight loss. I find myself eating over my calories and feeling upset about it then this leads me to over eat and not track.

    Is there anyone that has increased there recommended daily intake of calories and is still losing plenty of weight?

    Look forward to hearing some sound advice :)

    Hey! I'm also 5'10 an I'm trying to eat around 1350/day. I'm 143lbs though. I find it fairly easy, as long as I get some exercise in :) feel free to look through my diary, I'm not perfect by a long shot, but it might give you some ideas? :)
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