Thank you MFP members

For the last 18 years I have taught Nutrition, Chemistry, and Genetics. I could tell you all of the nutrients found in most foods, how they were digested, and what our body used them for. I knew the pros and cons of almost any "diet" you could name - low fat, low carb, "clean eating", etc. I knew intellectually what a serving size was.

And yet - I gained weight. I blamed it on a variety of factors (quit smoking, pregnancy at 41, illness, menopause, etc.). I ended up at 172 lbs, and, at only 5'6', that was not pretty. My cholesterol started inching higher, I couldn't walk as far or as fast as I did in the past, I was getting stiff and achy joints, and in general felt miserable.

Every year I had my Nutrition students track their diets for a week. The most complete reports were from MFP, so I thought I would give it a shot. I started a year and a half ago, lost 17 lbs., had to have surgery and ate at maintenance for a year, and restarted again 6 months ago.

The BEST advice I saw here was to buy a food scale, so I did. Eye opening indeed! I have always eaten a fairly good diet, mostly whole foods with moderate "junk", but had no idea of the AMOUNTS I had been eating. I have not changed too much WHAT I eat, just HOW MUCH I eat, and am down 29 lbs. with 13 more to go. My cholesterol dropped 30+ points in 6 months.

Thank you, thank you all of you that help by asking posters if they are weighing their foods. It was the most helpful advice and, in my opinion, the key to weight loss.