How to be Successful

1st advice: stop eating out so much. I only went back 4 days and I see TGI Fridays, Dominos (twice), Chick-fila, and another.

2nd advice: no reason to estimate calories on anything. If it's not in the database, find out what's in it and add it yourself. You can eat in moderation but you must eat real healthy food.

Definitely as above. You need to stop eating out so much and start making helathy meals that are filling. Don't get me wrong, I eat crap at least 2 a week, but do extra cardio on those days and very rarely step outside my allowance.

Veggies are generally low calorie and are you are able to get more quantity. I can eat about 20 Brussels sprouts, steamed in a bag in about 4.5 minutes and they are only 180 calories. That's a lot of cabbage.

I just had a quick look and I'm just seeing quite a bit of cool drink (soda), I would cut those out and have water instead or if you don't want to stop drinking them, switch to ones with no sugar. Also with the pizza, there is so many calories in such a small amount of food, you can eat heaps of food for 600 calories instead of 2 slices of pizza. I'm not saying cut it out altogether, but maybe have it just once a week instead of two or three times. I love a Dominoes pizza, if I buy one, I freeze the leftovers (in an airtight container so it doesn't dry out), then I can still enjoy it another day but maybe not all in one week

try having diet drinks/water instead of full fat soda... and as has been said. try and get out of the habit of eating out so much

regular soda does not have fat.

it has sugar. a lot of sugar

I'd say make gradual small steps. When having the pizza, make one slice, sit down and eat it, then wait till you have a second.

When going out don't get the combos, just get the sandwich (or whichever part you like)

If you know you are going to splurge for a certain meal, plan your other meals around that.


Just tracking is a great beginning start as you'll be more aware of where the calories are coming from.

random internet advice, take it for what it's worth.

First you have to get into a mind set that you WANT to lose the weight MORE than you want to eat what you want. Telling yourself you can do this with "moderation" or "without deprivation" typically means you aren't "there" yet.

I'm sorry, I'm not being mean but just by what you typed and the way you asked your question I know that you aren't "there" yet. When you get there, here is what really helped me.

The secret to my success - planning. Planning, Planning, Planning. Know what and where you will eat tomorrow today. Pre-log what you "can" eat (using a balance and your macros to guide you). That way you won't feel deprived and you will have less of a reason to "veer off course". I found when I was losing, the best way to lose was to limit eating out, make 90% of my own food (so I knew what was going into my body), and telling myself if I wanted to change what I pre-logged (say a friend asked me to go to dinner that evening short notice or to a Happy Hour) I had to work out to compensate for those extra calories. I picked the best thing on the menu for my body that still tasted good and instead of having 2 beers I had 1. I drank water like it was my job, I quit soda, I made sure I ate a veggie with at least 2 meals a day (sometimes a couple at each) and a lean protein (eggs, chicken breasts, lean turkey, etc). I didn't let myself go "full hog" on weekends, in the "losing weight/getting healthy" arena weekends are just like any other day, not a reason to lose all control.

If you want it, it will happen and there will be MANY people in the same boat around here to help you out. Good luck!

1st advice: stop eating out so much. I only went back 4 days and I see TGI Fridays, Dominos (twice), Chick-fila, and another.

This, and set your diary to show sodium...restaurant food has about 10x more than most things you can make for yourself. Just watching that alone will help you break the habit of wanting to eat out or pick up carryout so often!

^ sodium in those restaurant meals are sky high. this will cause you to "feel" fat (I sometimes go overboard on sodium, but I try to at least keep an eye)

Also, stop drinking your calories. No more soda. Eat more volume of low calorie foods.

And all that lemonade and orange juice and crap crap crap...just eat the fruit!

First you have to get into a mind set that you WANT to lose the weight MORE than you want to eat what you want. Telling yourself you can do this with "moderation" or "without deprivation" typically means you aren't "there" yet.

I'm sorry, I'm not being mean but just by what you typed and the way you asked your question I know that you aren't "there" yet. When you get there, here is what really helped me.

The secret to my success - planning. Planning, Planning, Planning. Know what and where you will eat tomorrow today. Pre-log what you "can" eat (using a balance and your macros to guide you). That way you won't feel deprived and you will have less of a reason to "veer off course". I found when I was losing, the best way to lose was to limit eating out, make 90% of my own food (so I knew what was going into my body), and telling myself if I wanted to change what I pre-logged (say a friend asked me to go to dinner that evening short notice or to a Happy Hour) I had to work out to compensate for those extra calories. I picked the best thing on the menu for my body that still tasted good and instead of having 2 beers I had 1. I drank water like it was my job, I quit soda, I made sure I ate a veggie with at least 2 meals a day (sometimes a couple at each) and a lean protein (eggs, chicken breasts, lean turkey, etc). I didn't let myself go "full hog" on weekends, in the "losing weight/getting healthy" arena weekends are just like any other day, not a reason to lose all control.

If you want it, it will happen and there will be MANY people in the same boat around here to help you out. Good luck!

Excellent post!! Loved everything!

Looks like you could cut out an easy 1000+ calories a week by not drinking your calories. Eat out, but get water instead of soda. That and cut your treats in half - instead of a piece of cake or pie, eat half.

try having diet drinks/water instead of full fat soda... and as has been said. try and get out of the habit of eating out so much

Where do I find the full fat sodas?

I log everything on MFP, but I'm also an "online Weight Watchers" member and convert the info on MFP to WW points. MFP is usually a little on the low side....but with doing the WW points, I feel like I have a range that I'm not going to beat myself up if I go over MFP number, but am still within WW points range. (hope that makes sense)

You can still eat out - but it's definitely a case of "choose your doom..." If you want fries, don't get a bun on your sandwich, and/or ask the server not to bring the complimentary bread to the table. Rather ask yourself, "If I'm going to have a carb at this meal, what's it going to be?" so you don't go overboard on carbs. Try to get high protein items.

Here's a link to my blog of things that have helped me along the way:
http://baysweightloss.blogspot.com/2012/05/things-that-have-helped-along-way.html

For what it's worth...

One thing that really helped me was setting my macros and then monitoring sodium and fiber. In order to meet my fiber goal and stay under my sodium goal I have to eat way more healthy and I really have to plan to have something like pizza (which I do on occasion.) Find out your TDEE and eat 15% less or eat at the TDEE for your goal weight. Log every day. Give it some time. Keep reading the information people post on these forums--most of it is valuable. That is how to be successful IMHO.