Already over my calorie-limit & it's 2:46pm.. Help?!:(

40-ish days ago, when I started, I was having trouble coming in under the 1590 cal/day goal that was set for 1.5lbs/week weight loss. Over the first couple of weeks, I figured out how to feel good and stay within the goal. The next few weeks, I have been working out and gradually increasing my exercise time and intensity. Now I am having trouble getting to my 1520 net calories by the end of the day on workout days. It's a process. Once you see some results, it all seems much more worth it. I've lost 10.5 lbs in 5 weeks, so you can do it!!!

My best advice is to make lifestyle changes that you can live with in the long term. If you love snickers, make yourself a trailmix with peanuts and dark choc chips (among other things). It will take longer to eat and will make you feel more satisfied (even though snickers "really satifies ya" :-) )

We're all in this together. Feel free to add me. :-)

May be a couple of issues.

1. Your calorie goal may be too low
2. You are eating calorie-dense food

Make sure your deficit is not too aggressive. I agree with setting your rate of loss for 1lb per week as the poster above suggested.

To get more bang for your calorie buck, eat food that is filling with fewer calories. An entire bag of frozen mixed veggies is less than 200 calories and is a lot of food. Baked potatoes, baked chicken, soup, you get the idea. You can eat a greater volume of these for fewer calories. I think there is even a diet based on this idea. Worked for me when I was losing weight.

http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/volumetrics-diet

I agree, plan your day out a little better. A quick bowl of cheerios and skim milk before heading out the door will come in at under 200 calories and last you long enough to forgo the McD; oatmeal or eggs are probably even better options. Pack lunches … when I was in school, my favorites were canned tuna with Wheat Thins crackers (just the tuna, not a tuna salad) and an apple, or a banana, a boiled egg, and a yogurt. Once you learn how to "pace" your calories so that you are satisfied through the day and don't end up with none left at 3pm, there's nothing wrong with hitting up McDonald's or something else like that once in a while. Just think the meal and the rest of the day through first :flowerforyou:

Excercise and drink lots of water!

I concur with the comments people have already posted in planning ur day in advance. Review the daily logging of food in the evening...see where u need to cut down or just drop. Logging my food has helped me realize what I should not eat or take control of. Join a gym n do cardioi...that will adjust ur calorie intake. Make ur goals in small increments which are more reachable...5lbs at a time. Last but not least, pull out an outfit that you like n don't fit n hang it somewhere in your room. Let this be your goal motivation.

I suspect like others have said, that you are being too agressive with your calorie goal. I'd suggest have a day or two where you eat 'normally' and log this. You will then know your normal calorie intake. Then if and when you have an 'off' day, as long as it's 10% lower than your normal intake, you're still heading in the right direction, just a bit slower. Slower is ok, it's more likely to stay off if it comes off slowly.

My 'normal' intake was about 2500 a day. So I find going doing to 1500 quite agressive. Somedays I can do that eating healthy foods - other days, I just can't do it. (Strangely it's the days I don't do massive work outs, that I get more hungry). As others have said, the key is meal planning, so you know what you are going to eat, when you are going to eat it - and I would also say one day a week 'off', to have the naughty things you like, but as a treat, rather than a habit.

I used to eat chocolate every day. I love chocolate. Now I still have chocolate, but once a week. I think that's ok.

I'm biased as I love Zumba Gold. I would say to you to find exercise that gives you a buzz and a lift. Maybe part of your eating is for comfort or a lift, so by exercising in a way that makes you feel good, you need less food to do the same thing, if that makes sense.

Plus once you have burned those calories and feel good you might find, like me, that you don't feel like eating so much. You don't have to wait to go to a class as you can find Zumba Gold routines on Youtube. Look for warm ups and cool downs to start with. You can do them in quite a small space at home. That's how I started. I have lost weight and feel more toned. I've lost weight but I still have days when I want to really go for chocolate!

I hope this helps but in any event very best wishes. Be happy with little steps heading in the right direction. forgive yourself for the backward ones!!!

Caerful. x

I hope this doesn't sound mean but you ate something from Mcdonalds and had soda....you really think that's healthy? Re-evaluate what you're doing sweetie.

One of the best quotes I've seen is: You are what you eat so don't be fast, cheap, easy, or fake.

That being said, if you fail to plan, then you're planning to fail. Meal prep is key. Even if you're making dinner, use some left overs for the next day. Incorporate protein shakes if you can stand them. Learn to cook...and cook healthy items. You're a girl and probably love Pinterest -- it's full of awesome recipes. Eat more fruit and vegetables. Pack your lunch and make healthy snacks. PORTION CONTROL. Yes, I said it. I would say that's where I struggle the most. But when we eat too much of anything, carbs or protein it does more harm than good.

Really take some time and learn about NUTRITION. You're clearly sitting in front of a computer or something with internet access by reading this, so take the time to learn how to properly fuel your body. You won't learn everything or change over night but you have to learn the importance of what fuels the body and how. Why some foods are better than others and why before you can really make smart choices. It's a constant battle but as time goes on, the decisions get easier and easier -- I promise.

You're trying to lose weight which is about 80% NUTRITION (not diet...terrible word) and 20% EXERCISE. So what are you doing as exercise? Swimming? Biking? Walking? Zumba? Yoga? Lifting weights? You have to get more active to burn those calories.

I agree with the previous poster about pre-planning meals. It took me a while to get into the swing of things, but once i did, this is what i do:

think of 5-7 meals that me and my family like for lunch dinner and buy only the ingredients for those meals. Write them down and keep it up on your fridge so there's so surprises, or if you're like me, put it into an excel spreadsheet. This also helps with remembering what you need to thaw or prep the night before.

when cooking, I always cook enough for lunch the next day, possibly dinner too- you can always change it up my making a different vegetable side dish.

I always plan for at least one crock-pot meal during the week, so that on busy days I put everything in the crock pot the night before, refrigerate it, and then just turn it on before i leave for work. If you make too much, just put it in tupperware and freeze. I do this with bbq crock pot shredded pork & beef and beef stew.

I prefer a hot breakfast, I've never been a yogurt or protien shake fan, so I always keep egg beaters, cheese and either Canadian bacon or turkey sausage at work and make a little microwave omelette in the morning. Just spray a tupperware with Pam, mix the ingredients and microwave for about 2 minutes.

For the days I don't have dinner leftovers, I keep bags of pre-cooked, frozen roasted chicken breast chunks at just throw those in the 'wave with a little bbq sauce & cheese or salsa & ranch dressing. Low cal, tasty, and hits the spot! I'm able to have lunch for a week for about $13 doing this.

I don't buy a LOT of fresh vegetables, especially in the winter- I stick to frozen because it's easier to portion out and preserve. If it comes from a can, chances are I won't eat it (unless i'm sick and I want some chicken noodle soup). I was buying lots of fresh vegetables before, eating only part and then throwing them away. If I do buy fresh vegetables, I try to incorporate them into the first couple meals of the week after I do a shop, so they don't go bad.

I also limit the snack foods to string cheese, hard-boiled eggs and plain tortilla chips. My indulgences are one bar of really good chocolate per week (like those big lindt bars), mini snickers ice creams, and a tub of fancy-ish dairy free ice cream for my lactose intolerant husband. With what we save now on our grocery bill we can afford higher-quality treats.

I shaved close to $300 off my grocery/eating-out bill by doing this- and we STILL have too much food! Granted, it's just me and my husband, but if we did have a child we could still feed them on about $100 a month, since there's always enough left over for at least 2 more meals.

I also plan out my workouts for the week, and try to think of them as a commitment- I wouldn't just blow off work because I don't feel like going, and it needs to be the same for exercise. Still working on this one, lol.

I hope this helps!