Baby steps

HannahBFoley
HannahBFoley Posts: 1 Member
edited February 6 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello,

I've only started using my app again. I know I need to lose weight and tone up, I also know that the fact I exercise very little is a factor. Overall my diet is generalyl very good; lots of fruit and veg, water, low GI mutilseed bread and 3 slices a wk max, eggs for breakfast, mostly white meat, but I love food too much as in sometimes I really don't know when to stop.

I wanted to ask the community if they had a top 5 list of key things to keep in mind when cooking/eating each day? I don't want to become obsessive about counting calories because the love and appreciation I have for food will disappear and I don't want that. At the same time I know that you have to be careful with what you put in.

Any tips you have would be great. A personal trainer friend of mine suggested reducing carbs to 2 a day and eating only chicken and veg, steak and veg or fish and veg for dinner, but surely we can do better than that? After all, eating healthy doesn't have to mean being boring ...does it?

Thanks
~Hannah B.

Replies

  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Even though you have a good diet, doesn't mean you at a calorie deficient, which is why logging every morsel that goes in your mouth is important. If you are keeping track of what you burn and what you eat, you'll have an idea of what to expect on your weekly weigh-ins. So, Key Thing #1: Logging, everything, everyday.

    Key Thing #2: Consistancy. I find it beneficial to plan the day before what I'll eat, so I know that I won't under eat or over eat and that I have the food available (I eat 98% of food I cook or buy at the grocery store - very rarely eating out). Some people aren't planners, I am. It works for me.

    Key Thing #3: Worrying about if you are eating too many carbs, too much fat and not enough protein isn't going to help. Concentrate on keeping your calories low first, then worry about what you are eating. You'll learn what makes you hungry, what satsifies you and what you can improve on in the future. Learn good habits now so you can care it through the rest of your life.

    Key Thing #4: Exercise is great. It's good for your health, it's a good stress reliever and it's beneficial to have more muscle mass when you are losing weight, but you won't lose weight if you aren't in a calorie deficient. You can't override overeating with exercise. It won't happen.

    Key Thing #5: Figure out your TDEE and your BMR. Eat at a level between the two (so if your BMR is 1450 and your TDEE is 1860, eat at 1600 for example). Don't eat back your exercise calories. Eat this amount everyday - look back to Key Thing #2.

    Only you have the determination, the persistance and drive to get this done. NO ONE can do it for you. You can have 1000's cheering you on but if you aren't in the game, you'll lose.

    Good luck. It's a long road, but it's well worth it!
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Just having a good diet doesn't mean weight loss. Count your calories. I'm totally capable of way over eating on "healthy" foods. You still need to be in a calorie deficit whether you live on steamed broccoli and chicken breast or you eat Twinkies and Coke all day.

    90% of weight loss will be your diet. You don't have to exercise to lose weight.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    1. Log everything
    2. Discipline (stick to your counts, exercise even when you'd rather lick a toilet seat)
    3. STOP THINKING ABOUT FOOD (my weakness lol)
    4. Stay away from temptation
    5. DON'T GIVE UP
  • ange290981
    ange290981 Posts: 42 Member
    Hi All,

    Wow great advise, i will print this and hang it on my fridge.
    Thank you i needed this too :flowerforyou:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories