New and a couple questions

amctx81
amctx81 Posts: 2 Member
edited February 11 in Introduce Yourself
Hello! I'm on my second day and love the app so far. I'm 33 (today!) and a stay at home mom of 2 little kids. That gives me some challenges with finding exercise time, and having kids food around. I'm 5'7.5 and about 157, want to get to 140. I did weight watchers in 2012 and lost 25lbs getting to goal and I maintained for almost a year but I've creeped back up. I find maintenance really hard. While I love weight watchers, I don't want to spend $45/mo again. I'm missing having free fruits and veggies so thats been a adjustment. If anyone is in a similar situation let me know. I'd like to do a 30 day video if anyone wants to do that with me. I'm ordering the Jillian Michaels on today.

So my questions. Can your calories roll over? How do you handle a day where you know you will go over, like today being my birthday? I'm used to weight watchers and having my weekly bonus points. Second question is the fat percentage. Do most people stick with the 20%, and does it help a lot? I struggled with getting the fats in last time too. I know I can put oil on my eggs in the morning but I hate using up the calories.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to joining y'all!

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Happy birthday! Yes, you can bank your calories. Look at your nutrition for the last 7 days, not just today.

    I use the protein & fiber goals as minimums & ignore the rest. But if you ask 100 MFPers, you'll get 100 different answers. Everybody's different. It will take trial & error to find what works for you.

    For now, meet your calorie goal each week & work on logging everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. You can slowly adjust your macros as you go. (For example, you may find that eating low fat makes you hungrier &/or makes it impossible to get enough protein.)

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • Barbonica
    Barbonica Posts: 337 Member
    Happy birthday! Yes, you can bank your calories. Look at your nutrition for the last 7 days, not just today.

    I use the protein & fiber goals as minimums & ignore the rest. But if you ask 100 MFPers, you'll get 100 different answers. Everybody's different. It will take trial & error to find what works for you.

    For now, meet your calorie goal each week & work on logging everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. You can slowly adjust your macros as you go. (For example, you may find that eating low fat makes you hungrier &/or makes it impossible to get enough protein.)

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    This, totally! I try to stay within a 200 cal range daily, but in my mind, it is the week that is important, not the day. It does take a while to figure out what works best for you. Macros vary for different people. I find that I am happy at about 100 grams protein a day; if I am below 90 grams I tend to feel hungry. Others find fat to be important, or want more carbs because of a strenuous cardio habit. Make a two week commitment to it, and at the end of two weeks, evaluate what was good and what wasn't - then modify. It takes a while, but if you take the time, you will have long term success because it will become your lifestyle - not a diet!
  • kiekie33
    kiekie33 Posts: 65
    I'd have to agree with the 2 people above me, you really have to figure out what works for you. don't worry about one bad day especially if you have such a good reason to celebrate. When I go over on one day I just cut a few calories from the rest of the week or add in some additional exercise to balance things out. Oh, and welcome by the way:smile:
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,588 MFP Moderator
    I also agree with calorie rolling if you want to save some up for a splurge on a day, a really great way to keep track of that is on the mobile app under nutriiton, select weekly and it shows you a bargraph of your weeks calories and how close to your weekly goal you are. There is a tonnnnn of different theories and opinions on macros. IMO figure out how you like to eat and what works for you, alot of people say that trying to up your protein and fats will help you feel more full off the food you do eat. I am not one to preach the evilness of carbs though and I eat plenty of em. You are just going to have to figure out for yourself how you want to work that one. You can adjust your macros settings, under my home, select goals, and manually set your goals, you can use the calorie count that MFP gives you or set your own and then adjust the % for the macros if you want you diary to show the macros you want.

    Glad you are giving it a go and seem to have a really posative attitude, you are off to a great start!
  • amctx81
    amctx81 Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks! I will give it the two weeks. I did eat nuts last night to up the fat for the day and it was nice and filling. I'm going to have to dig around the app more. I don't see a fiber category. I like fruit and it keeps upping my carbs so breaking that down will be helpful. I see the weekly section, just need to get more dates filled in to make it useful.
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