A survey :)

1) i am definitely a planner--i try to plan a full week so i know how to grocery shop, but then if i need to alter things as the day goes by i make changes as i go

2) how low cal? i try to save about 200 calories for dessert and i love the edy's mini cups of ice cream

3) running is my favorite, i also go to boot camp class and sometimes play tennis but that's more for fun

4) i aim for 1400/day which would be a .7lb/week loss and i ate back about half my exercise calories (am training for a half marathon so i dont want to short myself on fuel) Ive lost about 10-15 overall but have been gaining and losing 3 lbs for the past few months.. thats more becasue of weekends getting out of hand than anything else though

5) staying in my calorie limit is WAY harder than working out for me

1) Honestly, I just eat as I go. All my planning is really in the grocery shopping, making sure there are lots of choices to pick from. I never go over on calories, so I must be doing something right!


2) Chobani Greek Yogurt is my go to dessert.

3) Walking is my only real exercise(but I do at least 10,000 steps a day) because of some health/medical limitations I have.

4) I zig zag...so my calories are between 1200-1650. I lose around 0-2 a week. I am 2 pounds from goal now, so the losing has slowed way down.

5) Working out is definitely the harder of the two, the calories are the easy part!

1. I just eat as i got and check the calories before i eat it to make sure ill still be in me limit
2. I like those little 100 cal packs with the cookies those are good and only 100 cal
3. I get up every morning and run and also do a lot of things around the house during the day to stay active
4. My limit is around 1800 but i eat around 1400
5. For me i would say working out is harder for me. i know the things i can and cant eat to stay in my limit and just have to work harder at getting up in the morning to go work out

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits? Both

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert? Ice cream

3. What is your go to exercise? Walking

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week? 1200, 0.5 a pound

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit? staying within calories !

1) I don't "pre-plan" as much as "casually think ahead"...i know what kinds of foods i can eat or combine to be 300 calories or less for my 3 main meals in order to leave wiggle room for snack, desserts and other things...i tend to log things ahead of time if i can, because then i stick to my plan better.

2) favorite low cal desserts are the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches...they come in many different flavors, have less then 200 calories, have fiber and protein and are super delicious! they're expensive but i always have them on my grocery list.

3) my "go-to" exercise is walking/jogging. i used to go to the gym a lot more, but now that it's nice out i've been doing it outside and just stopping to the gym a few times a week for strength training.

4) I'm scheduled to eat 1400 calories a day. this is only my 2nd week following this plan, but i lost 3 pounds the first week!

5) Staying in my calorie limit can be trickier for me, because i always know i can walk a couple miles, enjoy it and earn myself that skinny cow ice cream!

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits?
It just depends. Today I planned because it's sunday and I didn't really have anything to do. However, during the week I never plan (maybe one meal a day I'll plan) because I'm in school and it's hard to know what time or where I'll be eating during which classes etc.

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert?
An ice cream cone from chickfila (170 cals) or sugar free chocolate pudding (60 cals)

3. What is your go to exercise?
the elliptical or jogging on a track, or if I'm with a friend we will play basketball or racquetball

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week?
Right now MFP has set me to eat 1500ish cals per day, but after exercise and eating healthy I usually have a lot of cals left over. I have lost 8lbs in 2 weeks

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit?
hmm maybe working out, just because I HATE walking over to the gym! It's hard to be motivated to exercise when I work night shifts (11pm-3am or 3am-7am), go to class, do homework or projects, see my friends for a little and then head to the gym. Time consuming but worth the effort Staying within my calorie limit isn't difficult, only when I'm with my boyfriend because he always wants to eat at fast food places or something, lol. But if I know I'm hanging out with him I'll go to the gym for twice as long and watch my other calories throughout the day

1) I pre plan the night before. Mainly breakfast and lunch and wing it for dinner. We only have decent stuff at home for dinner so that is never a problem. I just have to remember to take something out of the freezer before I leave for work. Once I'm home, I just start cooking.

2)Skinny cow anything.

3)Walking on the treadmill.

4)1200 per day. I'm losing a little more than a lb a week

5)Working out if definitely harder. I just really do not want to bother!

1. I tend to do a combination of the two, but for the most part I stay within my calories as I go. I eat the same breakfast every day, and I tend to have the same selection of snacks. I aim to be around 1000 calories right before I workout after work, and then my dinner, snack and protein shake add another 500 or so calories to that.

2. Right now I'm a huge fan of Jello Temptations, the Lemon Meringue is 100 calories and delicious! The other flavors have more calories, but look tasty too.

3. Running, either outside or on the treadmill. I know I can get a good calorie burn and I'm training for a 5K right now, so I'm trying to improve my running endurance to be able to run the whole distance.

4. I eat around 1600 a day, and I aim for at least 1000 net calories, preferably 1200. I had to increase my calories to break a recent 3 month plateau so I'm just starting to see losses again. It's been between 0.5 and 1.0 pounds per week since the plateau broke. I'm also near my goal weight, so weight loss is slow.

5. Definitely staying under my limit. I tend to workout on a pretty regular basis, 4 nights during the week and once during the weekends depending on my schedule. But I eat out sometimes, like to drink beer, want the occasional treat and I have to focus on staying within a reasonable calorie range.

1. I've noticed if I plan my day ahead or most of it then I eat what I'm supposed to and I've already mentally prepared myself. It's harder for me to go off base and eat something that blows my day.
2. I don't really have a sweet tooth but when I do find myself reaching for something I tend to grab an Activia. They're cold, and creamy and hit the spot. They also carry a bunch of flavors which is a total plus.
3. The 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.
4. MFP has me on 1300 calories but I weigh 225.4 .. as I've lost weight my calorie intake has lowered as well. When I weighed 60 lbs more and I got serious about losing weight, my nutritionist started me on 1800 then lowered it to 1600.. and so on. Since I've started losing I've maintained my weight and haven't gained a pound back. It's been almost 2 years. :happy: On average I lose about 2 lbs per week IF I eat the right amount & I HAVE to workout. If I'm not logging in my food or working out I stay at the same weight. week after week. :grumble:
5. It's harder for me to workout, mostly because I'm full of excuses. When I'm super pumped and motivated I see changes and I workout and I'm sore. haha I just wish I was like that more of the time.

Honestly it's a journey but it's a worthwhile journey. I hope this helps you. If you have any Q's or you want to chat feel free to add me!

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits?

I LIKE to plan my days out. Typically, I decide what is for dinner tomorrow night, and add it right away into the next day's diary, and then I plan the rest of my day around it. Sometimes, I know before going to bed everything that I plan to eat the next day. However, that's not to say that I'm not flexible, and that I can't switch things up if need be.

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert?

Trader Joe's Vanilla Meringue cookies, at the moment. Past favorites include: Smart Ones desserts, Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, fruit sorbet, Jamba Juice popsicles, and those devil's food cookies. For a dessert treat, as in, to get something out, always frozen yogurt. Wayyyy better than ice cream and SO much better for you! My current favorite is the devil's food cake batter from Yogurtland. Rich and creamy and delicious, and totally fat free!!

3. What is your go to exercise?

Treadmill.

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week?

1200 per day. I've been stuck in a plateau for a few months now, and really not losing much, but before that, I was losing about 5 lbs. average per month, so about a lb. a week or so.

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit?

Working out. I don't mind planning out what I'm going to eat, but getting myself to the gym is and always has been difficult for me. I'm not the type of person who feels great about myself afterwards or gets excited to go. Wish I was, but I'm just not.

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits?
I take time every weekend (Sat or Sun) to plan my meals for the entire week... it keeps me focused and prepared.

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert?
I really don't do desert per say but I do like greek yogurt with honey by Athenos; I also like peanut butter a lot so I do eat it on a half side of a sanwhich twin with bananas which s more of a snack between meals; I occasionally have a glass of champagne or desert wine with grapes and laughing cow cheese

3. What is your go to exercise? Jillian Michaels Banish Fat Boost Metabolism (it takes care of those days I don't get to the gym or really need to shock my body... love the cardio/circuit training); at the gym I love the elliptical trainer.

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week? I was averaging around 1200-1400 but I hit a plateau because I wasn't eating back my exercise calories and I worked out everyday. Now I'm shooting for 1400-1800 (trying the Zig Zag type process for a week or so to see if it gives me a boost) I was averaging 1.5 - 2 pounds per week but hit a plateau and it has slowed to approx .5 pounds per week... hope this will pick up a little from changing my workout and eating more

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit? Neither one are hard for me ... I never really exceed my calorie limit ( I try to choose low calorie items which fill me up, I eat 2-3 snacks between my 3 meals, and drink lots of water) ... I have become somewhat addicted to working out because I love the way I feel afterwards and even when the scale doesn't reflect a change the inches are the results which motivate me the most from working out ...I love the way my body is changing as a result of it.

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits?
I eat as I go and pray Im in my limits.

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert?
desert flavored Yoplait Light

3. What is your go to exercise?
In home walking (leslie sansone)

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week?
Around 2000 a day and I have no idea if I am losing or not.

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit?
both lol

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits?
I just try to stay in the limits.

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert?
A diet Dr. Pepper or fresh fruit. Not exactly low calorie I know, but better than chocolate.

3. What is your go to exercise?
Zumba or yoga. If there aren't any of those classes available, then the elliptical.

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week?
I'm eating 1650 a day, with the hopes of losing two pounds a week.

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit?
Working out, only because I have a hard time fitting it in my schedule.

this is fun!

1. Do you pre plan your days food, or do you just eat as you go and stay within your limits?
I usually cook my meals, so I plan what I'm going to have for each meal. On the weekends, I usually eat as I go

2. What is your favorite low calorie desert?
1-2 pieces of chocolate - the ones I love lately are Dove Silky Smooth Promises. Each one is only 42 calories, and oh so decadent. And chocolate is not bad either... lots of antioxidants!

3. What is your go to exercise?
Zumba - I look forward to this class every week!

4. How many calories are you eating each day? How much are you losing on average per week?
I eat a net of 1500 calories daily, and I've lost about 20 lbs in 3 months, averaging 1.5 lbs/ week

5. Which is harder for you, working out or staying in your calorie limit?
I'm actually doing well on both fronts - my body craves daily exercise (never thought i'd be the type to say this!), and if I go over in calories, it's 1x/month on avg. If i had to choose one, it'd be staying in my calorie limit - there are times I may not be hungry, but wish I had leeway to do some extra snacking instead of watching that I don't exceed my calorie ceiling