Can someone look at my food diary?

1. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

2. If you aren't already using one, get and use a food scale. Weigh all solids. Measuring cups/spoons are not accurate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

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

4. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

5. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

6. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

Additionally to what has been said about getting a scale, which is absolutely true, i just want to share my experience: I started off with 235 and also wanted to lose 2 pounds a week, but it didn't work in the beginning. I just got frustrated with the 1500kcal a day. So i decided to change my goal to 1 pound a week and got 1790kcal a day, which then worked fine! I just think with your current weight the calorie goal is to low to lose any weight, so i would settle for 1 pound a week and i think it will work better for you.

Your logging isn't accurate. 3 Ribs for example how big are they? How much do they weigh? You need to weigh everything. If it's not a liquid weigh it that is the only way to be accurate. Also make sure you use accurate entries. Any recipes enter your own don't use the ones on the database. Once you have your logging accurate you will then know how much you are actually eating so will then have a baseline to work from.

I think I am going to get a lot of crap for my answer, but here it goes:

I think you have solid advice on the entries above. If you are not making the progress that you'd like, then you *must* make changes or you are going to continue to not make progress: measure and weigh everything. I'm not saying to carry the scale with you to your birthday dinner at a restaurant. But other than that, make it a point to weight.
Those ribs you ate? Were they just boiled plain? Did you add barbecue sauce? salt? (account for everything. Barbecue sauce is not calorie free)

Also, I think you are consuming way to much processed food.

Now, I'm not into the whole "grow your own, harvest and only eat from the earth" approach; but I think you will be making better progress if you introduced more fiber and nutrient rich foods instead of frozen dinners (you can cook ahead and freeze and take the meals to work, if that's the problem) Also, try to limit things like Popeye's and stuff like that. Even if it says it is lean chicken, you have no way of knowing exactly what amounts of sodium and fillers they are adding to them in the factories.

I am not saying stop living and NEVER go out. But if what you are currently doing is not giving you great results and you are committed to changing, then you must try an alternate approach....see if that gives you better results.

Another thing, (please don't hate me) but a bagel and cream cheese is not exactly part of a fantastic breakfast. If you love it, have it every once in a while. But I think you would benefit from having something else like oatmeal and a veggie frittata, hard boiled eggs and apples. Substitute the packaged cereal for steal cut oats and berries.

If you DON'T want to settle for a pound a week, then make hard changes to your diet. Simple as that.

The food you consume is the fuel for your workout, for your day, for your approach to the day.
Make those calories worth it.
Eat lean protein with every meal, whole grains, fresh veggies. If you don't eat a lot of fruit, you may find it easier to down smoothies (and you can add some veggies like spinach and celery and still have them taste really good)

I agree with the poster that said to be particularly diligent with logging and weighing nuts they are PACKED with calories and fat. (Coincidentally, my doctor recommended that eat nuts/trail mix/cheese throughout the day when I was pregnant and had problems GAINING weight, so beware they will pack on the pounds if you eat them a lot)

Best of luck in your journey.

I think I am going to get a lot of crap for my answer, but here it goes:

I think you have solid advice on the entries above. If you are not making the progress that you'd like, then you *must* make changes or you are going to continue to not make progress: measure and weigh everything. I'm not saying to carry the scale with you to your birthday dinner at a restaurant. But other than that, make it a point to weight.
Those ribs you ate? Were they just boiled plain? Did you add barbecue sauce? salt? (account for everything. Barbecue sauce is not calorie free)

Also, I think you are consuming way to much processed food.

Now, I'm not into the whole "grow your own, harvest and only eat from the earth" approach; but I think you will be making better progress if you introduced more fiber and nutrient rich foods instead of frozen dinners (you can cook ahead and freeze and take the meals to work, if that's the problem) Also, try to limit things like Popeye's and stuff like that. Even if it says it is lean chicken, you have no way of knowing exactly what amounts of sodium and fillers they are adding to them in the factories.

I am not saying stop living and NEVER go out. But if what you are currently doing is not giving you great results and you are committed to changing, then you must try an alternate approach....see if that gives you better results.

Another thing, (please don't hate me) but a bagel and cream cheese is not exactly part of a fantastic breakfast. If you love it, have it every once in a while. But I think you would benefit from having something else like oatmeal and a veggie frittata, hard boiled eggs and apples. Substitute the packaged cereal for steal cut oats and berries.

If you DON'T want to settle for a pound a week, then make hard changes to your diet. Simple as that.

The food you consume is the fuel for your workout, for your day, for your approach to the day.
Make those calories worth it.
Eat lean protein with every meal, whole grains, fresh veggies. If you don't eat a lot of fruit, you may find it easier to down smoothies (and you can add some veggies like spinach and celery and still have them taste really good)

I agree with the poster that said to be particularly diligent with logging and weighing nuts they are PACKED with calories and fat. (Coincidentally, my doctor recommended that eat nuts/trail mix/cheese throughout the day when I was pregnant and had problems GAINING weight, so beware they will pack on the pounds if you eat them a lot)

Best of luck in your journey.

P.S: I Found a really nice food scale on Amazon for about $13. The brand is Cuissential. HTH

I do measure the cream cheese and its just tad so my bagel this isnt too dry.

As far as the strawberries I do a guesstimate since I dont eat alot of fruit.

Sometimes I do not have the ability to measure but I am doing my best to be accurate.

I wish I could settle for one pound a week but I dont want it to take 2+ year to get all of this weight off. I lost weight before and lost 70 pounds in about 10 months. I was in a car accident and gained it all back. Not that I am cleared on exercise and I am done feeling sorry for myself (overeating), I want to get the weight off in a fast and safe way.

I am trying my best to focus on the fact that I am eating better and exercising at least 3x a week. I would like the scale to cooperate. Is it possible I am not eating enough on days I do not net 1200?

I think if you maybe start with the 1lb a week and start seeing a difference you can always change your goal to 2lbs. When you don't see the scale move it can be VERY frustrating and then you might sabotage yourself, speaking from personal experience. You'll get there!

How do you weigh everything and not let food take over your life?
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I have found once you start weighing things, it does get easier and you start to recognize what a "real" serving looks like.

Looks like some of your food measurements are either over estimated or under, I suggest using a food scale. And you should be drinking enough water, try this simple formula Current Weight/2 = ? oz of water. Your water shouldn't be less than that.

And also try to recalculate your goals.

Thanks Soy!!

I am trying to not rely on processed foods but the portioned out meals feel safer some days than weighing and going it alone.

I have an addictive personality and I know obsessing over weighing everything may be a rabbit hole I am scared to go down .

If weighing your food can be a trigger for ED or other issues and you still would like to lose weight, I would *seriously* consider the advice of a nutritionist or other professional to help you achieve your goals safely. No other way around it.
Take care of your health first.

I looked at 4 of your days... That's probably not the best representation of what you eat overall but that's all the time I had. Firstly, you're about a decade younger than I am so at least you have metabolism in your favour!

Let me say, good on you for tracking! Good on you for taking control of your health and good on you for being a busy mum!

If I compare myself to you (not knowing your measurements/ body metrics), all I have is age, so I can only say I eat WAY MORE than you do but I eat whole foods. I'm Celiac, so it's 'easy' as I *cannot* eat anything prepared by somebody else! The downside is I'm an excellent cook and tend to far overeat (hence eating way more than you do). I do not eat grains, as a rule, not just the wheat and barley associated with Celiac but I try to avoid them all. If I take rice or corn, it's a treat food. I am NOT low carb! I just do not do well eating grains. I also see a lot of dairy.

Especially as a cancer survivor, I think it'd be great for you to look into the dairy connection. This isn't some hippie stuff. This is biochemistry. Dairy is a growth thing (I'm obviously not a doctor) and that's why body builders who don't want to use steroids walk around swigging dairy. So, it a) is not good at all for people with neurological disease, inflammatory diseases or some types of cancer and b) it makes you bulk up.

I know the ads say 'those who eat our yoghurt lose X % more than other dieters.' I'm just saying that a study and there are other studies which show the opposite. Maybe those yoghurt eaters weren't eating fast food instead, right? So, you have to kind of read a whole lot of scientific stuff and then TRY it. If it works for you, COOL. If it doesn't, well now you know, right?

Anyway, what I see is a lot of grains and a lot of dairy (compared to me). I eat at least 18C of dark leafy vegetables (various sorts) a week in addition to some other veg. I eat little fruit. I'm not perfect but I'd rather eat veg than fruit due to nutrient content. Since I have several autoimmune diseases, I have to really focus on nutrient-dense foods. I still eat sugar and empty calorie stuff--again, not perfect! But focusing on adding things that are nutrient-dense will better serve your body functions and will curb hunger.

I hope sharing my stuff helps. I don't know what's right for you but I can say I think you're great for working it!

Big numbers of sodium are burning my eyes :noway:

While it may mask loss with water, excess sodium shouldn't hinder fat loss as long as they're in a calorie deficit.