Not Working and Gaining Weight

RachaelsarahK
RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
in Motivation and Support
Currently, I am off work due to a motor vehicle accident which occured in April of this year. Due to this motor vehicle accident, I find that going to the gym is a little bit difficult, as I am not really supposed to be working out. Today was my first day at the gym since I guess two weeks ago, and I am trying to get into the habit of going every other day a minimum of three times a week, as I have a daughter who is in daycare monday to friday. Another thing that I am finding difficult is the fact that my sister always buys a bunch of snacks and junk food when it's her turn to the grocery shopping and I am also dating a man who is a chef at a five star restaraunt.. and he often cooks for my family, and although he tries to make it as healthy as possible it's often not.. for example last night for dinner, he made

Lean ground beef, with a tomato sauce with yukon gold potatoes, with broccoli, spinach, carrots, and onions and mixed it together.

I guess, I'm just trying to figure out what the best way for myself to lose weight is in my current situation.

and any help would be much appreciated.


Should also note that I am 5'2 and 190 lbs,

Replies

  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    The way to lose weight is by eating at a caloric deficit. if you are eating less than you burn in a day, then you will lose weight.

    I lost my first 50 pounds with ZERO exercise (I regret that now, but I was not injured so I had no excuse).

    Edit: I was 197 and 5'2" when i started...
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    I am also dating a man who is a chef at a five star restaraunt.. and he often cooks for my family, and although he tries to make it as healthy as possible it's often not.. for example last night for dinner, he made

    Lean ground beef, with a tomato sauce with yukon gold potatoes, with broccoli, spinach, carrots, and onions and mixed it together.

    What about that meal do you not consider healthy?
  • michellechawner
    michellechawner Posts: 892
    I have lost my 9 pounds (granted, I didn't have much to lose) by just walking and doing yoga. I don't do the gym (money), I do watch my calories though, and I know I'm eating a lot less than I used to, that's what's helped me. Some days I do feel good enough to exercise, and I take a longer walk, get up and walk at lunch at work, etc.

    Before someone says "hey you're 27 why the hell can't you exercise" I have Fibromyalgia and have been struggling just getting out of bed and working everyday to support myself. I am trying to get healthy though and starting to do a little more each week! :)
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    Currently, I am off work due to a motor vehicle accident which occured in April of this year. Due to this motor vehicle accident, I find that going to the gym is a little bit difficult, as I am not really supposed to be working out. Today was my first day at the gym since I guess two weeks ago, and I am trying to get into the habit of going every other day a minimum of three times a week, as I have a daughter who is in daycare monday to friday. Another thing that I am finding difficult is the fact that my sister always buys a bunch of snacks and junk food when it's her turn to the grocery shopping and I am also dating a man who is a chef at a five star restaraunt.. and he often cooks for my family, and although he tries to make it as healthy as possible it's often not.. for example last night for dinner, he made

    Lean ground beef, with a tomato sauce with yukon gold potatoes, with broccoli, spinach, carrots, and onions and mixed it together.

    I guess, I'm just trying to figure out what the best way for myself to lose weight is in my current situation.

    and any help would be much appreciated.


    Should also note that I am 5'2 and 190 lbs,

    You should figure out how much you need to maintain your weight; losing may be too much of a challenge right now. Tell your sister not to buy snacks. Your boyfriend's meal sounds fine. Eat fewer of the potatoes.
  • RachaelsarahK
    RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
    The potatoes was probably the most unhealthy part, if he had left them as just cubed potatoes as opposed to a mash it would have been fine, and I know that I need to consume 1500 calories in order to lose weight,
  • RachaelsarahK
    RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
    I have lost my 9 pounds (granted, I didn't have much to lose) by just walking and doing yoga. I don't do the gym (money), I do watch my calories though, and I know I'm eating a lot less than I used to, that's what's helped me. Some days I do feel good enough to exercise, and I take a longer walk, get up and walk at lunch at work, etc.

    Before someone says "hey you're 27 why the hell can't you exercise" I have Fibromyalgia and have been struggling just getting out of bed and working everyday to support myself. I am trying to get healthy though and starting to do a little more each week! :)

    I honestly have no idea what Fibromyalgia is, and congratulations on losing nine pounds, the thing about Yoga for me though is that I've never tried it for one and all of the nearest yoga centers are far away from where I live.
  • RachaelsarahK
    RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
    I just need to stop slacking, and continue to go to the gym even if I do not want to go and not eat snacks at home, and stop eating out too, I almost bought extreme pita today after the gym but decided to make the same thing at home without all the sauce and all that extra crap that I dont need.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    Well, if you're not working out, you'll need to be extra accurate when it comes to logging. And when it comes to the chef's cooking, just take smaller portions.
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    The way to lose weight is by eating at a caloric deficit. if you are eating less than you burn in a day, then you will lose weight.

    I lost my first 50 pounds with ZERO exercise (I regret that now, but I was not injured so I had no excuse).

    Edit: I was 197 and 5'2" when i started...

    I agree with the above post. I lost the first 40 pounds with no form of exercise, sitting in a wheelchair following surgery to repair my shattered ankle. Your calorie deficit is what makes you lose weight. You can do it without exercising! :flowerforyou:
  • RachaelsarahK
    RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
    My boyfriend knows that I am trying to watch my weight so he does give me smaller portions, and I do notice that when I eat I feel full on less which is a good thing.

    I'm thinking about asking my gym to create a nutrional plan for my self which is a cost of 20 dollars extra per month..

    and getting tested for wheat allergies as I often look puffy after I eat wheats and glutens.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Losing weight is almost entirely based on what you eat, not how much you go to the gym.

    Potatoes are very healthy. Don't knock the potato.

    When you're trying to lose, you have to be really honest with yourself about portion control. You can lose on more than 1500 calories, but 1500 calories is a good guideline for a sedentary person, so long as you are actually consuming that. Have your boyfriend use the MFP recipe feature and determine serving sizes so you can weigh out a portion of the food he cooks and know exactly what you're eating. I make some pretty tasty ethnic dishes and have used the recipe feature for lots of meals to know how much I can eat. Take last night's roast lamb with my own homemade curry powder. I took the weight of the lamb, added in the calories for the olive oil and curry rub and came up with the portion size and calorie count. Then, when it came time to eat, I used a food scale to determine my portion. You have to weigh the whole cooked meat dish then divide it by the number of portions determined in the recipe to get the correct weight of what you should be eating. It allows you to eat foods that you love and know exactly how much of the food you're allowed, not just eyeballing something that turns out to be a double portion.

    Don't eat the junk. I have kids who eat the full fat cheeses, enjoy the higher calorie ice creams, etc., etc. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to eat it.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    I just need to stop slacking, and continue to go to the gym even if I do not want to go and not eat snacks at home, and stop eating out too, I almost bought extreme pita today after the gym but decided to make the same thing at home without all the sauce and all that extra crap that I dont need.

    Maybe you should try doing one thing at a time. As calorie reduction is more important, focus on that first. Walk daily if you can. If you stick with that, try going to the gym after a month or six weeks.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    My boyfriend knows that I am trying to watch my weight so he does give me smaller portions, and I do notice that when I eat I feel full on less which is a good thing.


    That's a very good thing.
  • RachaelsarahK
    RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
    So far I've gone to the gym twice within posting this, and I am going to go again tomorrow.

    still weigh the same though
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    So far I've gone to the gym twice within posting this, and I am going to go again tomorrow.

    still weigh the same though

    Two trips to the gym and six days is hardly enough time to see changes.
  • RachaelsarahK
    RachaelsarahK Posts: 17
    I'm more than aware of that, I need to work out a minimum of four times a week and consume less calories.

    Although today, I've only consumed 600 calories and feel rather full.

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