HELP! I've actually gained weight

I use to go crazy thinking about keeping track of my food but then I realized that I basically eat the same foods consistently and if
I save the food or recipe I can just plug it in and forget about it. I use the calorie counter and save the recipes and it's so easy!
Don't freak out about it. I'm to the point where I know what I can eat at each meal and not write it all down unless I go out to eat
or eat something new. Good luck and hang in there. Be sure and weigh your food. Sounds to me like you might not be doing that if
you are gaining.

hello there, I actually dont know you but would be glad to be friends if you would like. I am 43 and so far have lost 52 lbs. Feel free to add me if you would like. I log every day. Good luck on your journey!

Jackie

Julie
i asked you this the other day do you know how many calories you should be eating ?
i eat 40 protein 40 carbs 20 fats
if you look at my dairy you will see that i do occasionally have a treat as i also have a sweet tooth but its a treat not something i have everyday you will also see that i have sugar in m diet it but its all natural from fruits and veggies
i see u like ice-cream have you ever tried Skinny cow ?
Or make your own Sherbet all it is is fruit

Try the small frequent meals, like eat every 2-3 hours. Have a snack that is protein and carb like Veggies and hummus. And have a good quality breakfast and lunch. Seriously! I have been really making myself stick to 2-3 hours between eating, and I've already seen some improvements on my weight and hunger level! When before, eating just breakfast, lunch, dinner with maybe a snack, with several hours between, I wasn't losing at ALL and went up to 223 :frown: So, try that! Could help you quite a bit!

There's some very bad advice here promoting low calorie and low fat dieting (20% fat WTH?!). WHAT you eat matters. Since sugar is a problem (likely carbs from processed foods in general) please look into a high fat (natural healthy fats from animals, coconut, olives, avocado etc), moderate protein, and low carb (I do NOT mean processed foods labelled "low carb") lifestyle.

Contrary to what most people on MFP say, there's far more to fat loss than just calories in/calories out. The endocrine system manages metabolism with hormones and that drives fat storage, hunger,etc.

And I assure you that a ketogenic lifestyle is healthy. The list of health problems that I have resolved is miraculous, but totally typical of other people who have a ketogenic lifestyle. However, I don't recommend a ketogenic lifestyle as a temporary fix or if weight loss is the only goal. This is a way that I can live forever so there is no finish line where I will resume eating the same foods that made me sick.

I hope you find what works for you.

HI Julie,
I started to get control of my eating habits when I turned 50. It's been a long process with ups and downs. Like you I wanted to be healthy into old age, not have a heart attack or stroke waiting for me one day. I began to read everything and knew that healthy eating was where it was at for me. It was a tough choice, but I made the commitment to health and have never looked back.

My first wake up call was meeting folks who had lost huge amounts of weight. When I asked how they did it they told me they cut out white flour and sugar. Bummer. I loved to bake cheesecakes and anything else I could find a recipe for. I was 205 pounds and so sick of the whole package that goes with it! Just sick of it. I made the choice to first stop white flour and sugar. I read Dr. Oz You On A Diet. It was very informative. (That was when he was on Oprah all the time showing internal organs of folks who ate crap in their diets.) Within 2 weeks or less my sugar cravings were simply gone! For the first time in my life I was no longer a slave to my husband bringing in a carton of ice cream or a bag of cookies. I finally had the power to say no to them! I felt I was really onto something. It motivated me to lose 53 pounds.

I started with just walking because my knees are iffy and I didn't want to get hurt. I also began using light dumbbells. For women our age who lived a life of physical neglect, getting hurt is easy, so start small if you do something. Something else that was also important to me was fitting it in to my regular day. Walking works. Soon I was no longer short of breath when I walked and I even rescued a dog to be my walking buddy to make it more fun. Now I tell myself I do it for him.

If you are interested in health you might want to check out www.drfuhrman.com I stumbled upon him on PBS. His angle is food is your medicine. I got on board with that. Nutrition is the basis of his family practice and has helped thousands of people lose weight and more importantly come back or prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, and auto immune diseases just by the use of relearning to eat plenty of produce, something I never did enough of. It has changed my life. I am interested in prevention rather than treatment. I've been following his program for about a year and a half and have never had more energy. I lost my last 10 pounds easier than the first and I eat tons of food! I am never hungry. My goal is to follow him about 90% allowing 10% for "real life" events.

So what ever you choose to do, keep working towards your goal. Keep searching for answers that you need. It's been 6 years for me and I still have my struggles. I made it to 135 pounds and went from a size 16 to a 4! I've never felt better in my life. I did start baking again for the holidays and my weight popped right up 9 pounds! It was very scary. I realize since I met my goal and even got below to 132.6 I loosened up on my eating. That is when all of the old habits come rushing back in. I realize I can't do that. Any little thing I do causes instant weight gain for me. But I know what to do and I know that every day or every week does not need to contain a treat. Good health should be my treat. That is what is important to me now, and every day I need to start by reminding myself.

You can add me as a friend if you like. My profile is open. Good luck on finding your way, I know you can do it as long as you don't give up!

For me, I LOVE sweets. Soda, chocolate, lots of goodies. If you have a hard time getting away from the sweets, change what sweets you're eating. Personally I don't believe in diets, I believe in clean eating. Eating REAL food, not food-like products is what dropped me 10lbs in a month. When you get a sweet craving, eat an apple, banana, anything that is REAL and FRESH! If you don't like veggies, I mean they should be a staple in your diet, try eating sugar snap/snow peas. They are sweet, crunchy, and refreshing. Soda is a great thing to drink less of if you want to trim up. Other fresh, sweeter veggies I'd suggest are carrots and jicama(another root). Good luck!