Good-bye MyFitnessPal

No offense... But I looked at your diary and you are eating like s*it. Everything you eat is processed, fried, take out...

Just because you stay under your calories for the day doesn't give you license to keep eating whatever the heck you want! For instance... Not sure what day it was but you ate two grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast. Who the heck can eat that and expect to loose weight? You are mis using this site and completely looking at this the wrong way.

Do whatever you want. I guarantee that people on this site will not miss you one bit.

Um--not to be argumentative, but I can eat two grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast and expect to lose weight. Of course, I make mine with low fat cheese (45 cals per slice), light (45 cals per slice) bread, and the pan grilling is done with either a VERY light skiff of butter or, more likely, a butter flavored, no-cal cooking spray. Total calories for two sandwiches? 360-400 calories. I don't do it often, but sometimes I DO do it. It makes me happy, it satisfies a craving, and it's marvelously fiber and protein rich.

I do get your point, and I was very frustrated and put off by his "I'm QUITTING!" approach, but I'd rather teach the OP how to do things in a way that isn't a diet-buster rather than condemn him for doing them wrong. As for not missing him? I think I would--I want to see him succeed. I'm not a big coddler, I tend toward "tough love," but I'm absolutely rooting for him. I hope he makes the changes he needs to make, even if they're only small steps right now. After all, very few of us came into this knowing how to make eating healthier a practical and doable thing.

I hope he gets some Sara Lee Delightful Wheat or Multi-grain bread today. So that the next time he has a couple of sandwiches, he's knocked 260 calories off just by switching breads.

If he doesn't know how to do these things, what better place for him to learn?

Edited to say that I've just spent some time going over the OP's food diary. There are changes that must be made if sustainable loss is the goal. Portion size is out of control--a 15 oz steak? Cut that in half (or even better, a third) for starters, and fill up the space on your plate with fresh steamed broccoli, spinach, sugar snap peas, zucchini, or whatever veggie captures your fancy. A baked potato is fine now and then--make it a smaller red potato rather than a giant russet. Ditch as many of the processed foods as possible, replace them with home-cooked alternatives. There are many recipe sites out there with great, healthier alternatives to favorites. Kill the daily juice---it's not healthy, it's only slightly better than soda. Instead, have half an orange. Replace sweet, processed snacks with fresh fruits. Make absolutely certain that you're not "numbers shopping" on MFP--choose the listing that most accurately matches your intake, not the one that shows the lowest calories. Lying on a food listing is like cheating at solitaire--who are you hurting, really? This will likely mean reading your packaging and entering values. Do not make entries without sodium and other nutrients listed. It gives you a false sense of what you're doing.

Don't lie to yourself. Your caloric intake is excessive. The foods you're eating are breathtakingly unhealthy in many cases. Many of these foods have healthy and delicious alternatives that satisfy the desire without destroying the body. Start making the changes that will make you healthier for you and for your family. Insulting yourself and hating yourself isn't going to do it--I did that for years and years, and it never took one ounce off me. I would walk past a mirror and cry, "Oh, you fat, ugly slob!" Didn't inspire even a bit of loss. Instead of calling yourself 'the fat guy," take that negative energy and make it positive--instead of telling yourself you're awful, tell yourself you're capable. And then prove it to yourself. Instead of focusing on how big you are, focus on the pounds lost, the changes made, and the physical changes that may not show on the scale but are real all the same.


You have to want this enough to do it. You have to be honest enough with yourself to recognize that you MUST make serious, sincere changes. Not just eating a few fewer Funyuns, but replacing them with home-baked versions. You cannot reach your goal weight by doing what you've already been doing--you know that.


Kris

dont quit. I'm close to you in age. 31. I started @ 480. I am now 340's. had diabetes II. on lots of meds. now I no longer take meds. also reveresed the diabetes and no longer have it. I still have another 130-140 to lose but I've come too far to stop now. as others stated you have a daughter. it doesnt happen overnight. but it will happen if you stick to it.

Ask yourself this "If I really wanted to give up, would I have posted that last message?" You have 12 pages (so far) of people who want you to succeed. Some are offering support and encouragement and others are offering a kick in the *kitten* or a slap upside the head, but each in their own way WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED! Including me. If you change your mind and want another friend on your side, please take me up on it.

I do have a suggestion for a place to start... I looked at your diary and there are lots of days where your sodium is very high. Sodium makes you retain water and that makes you gain weight (even though it's water weight). Cutting back on your sodium and drinking more water is a place to start. I also HIGHLY recommend making small changes that you can incorporate into your life without making you feel deprived or "on a diet". I started with just eating more veggies. That's all, for the first couple of weeks. Then I cut back on my condiments. Then started making my portions a little smaller and choosing healthier side dishes. Then breakfast, then better snacks, etc.

Every other time I've tried to diet I went whole hog and lasted for about a day before my brain got in my way by rebelling and telling me I was miserable and hungry. I did it completely differently this time and it's working great. I would HAPPILY help you to come up with ideas for making the same types of changes THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH to help you get started.

Don't give up - life is worth LIVING. Take the help being offered by those that are offering it. And you can even take the kick in the *kitten* from those that are offering that. Take em both and learn to do this, your way, one step at a time. I'm holding out a hand.. ya just gotta take it.

Check out my inspiration post...hopefully by reading the messages you can get some inspiration to keep you forging along. This isn't a short term thing. I sit here sometimes and think "MY GOD! I'm gonna have to do this the rest of my life" but you know what...I'd rather do this and be healthy/fit than to be like the people I was once jealous of who can eat totally crap/not exercise who may be thin but they aren't healthy!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/256183-need-some-inspiration-operation-inspiration-pic-heavy

No offense... But I looked at your diary and you are eating like s*it. Everything you eat is processed, fried, take out...

Just because you stay under your calories for the day doesn't give you license to keep eating whatever the heck you want! For instance... Not sure what day it was but you ate two grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast. Who the heck can eat that and expect to loose weight? You are mis using this site and completely looking at this the wrong way.

Do whatever you want. I guarantee that people on this site will not miss you one bit.

Um--not to be argumentative, but I can eat two grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast and expect to lose weight. Of course, I make mine with low fat cheese (45 cals per slice), light (45 cals per slice) bread, and the pan grilling is done with either a VERY light skiff of butter or, more likely, a butter flavored, no-cal cooking spray. Total calories for two sandwiches? 360-400 calories. I don't do it often, but sometimes I DO do it. It makes me happy, it satisfies a craving, and it's marvelously fiber and protein rich.

I do get your point, and I was very frustrated and put off by his "I'm QUITTING!" approach, but I'd rather teach the OP how to do things in a way that isn't a diet-buster rather than condemn him for doing them wrong. As for not missing him? I think I would--I want to see him succeed. I'm not a big coddler, I tend toward "tough love," but I'm absolutely rooting for him. I hope he makes the changes he needs to make, even if they're only small steps right now. After all, very few of us came into this knowing how to make eating healthier a practical and doable thing.

I hope he gets some Sara Lee Delightful Wheat or Multi-grain bread today. So that the next time he has a couple of sandwiches, he's knocked 260 calories off just by switching breads.

If he doesn't know how to do these things, what better place for him to learn?

Edited to say that I've just spent some time going over the OP's food diary. There are changes that must be made if sustainable loss is the goal. Portion size is out of control--a 15 oz steak? Cut that in half (or even better, a third) for starters, and fill up the space on your plate with fresh steamed broccoli, spinach, sugar snap peas, zucchini, or whatever veggie captures your fancy. A baked potato is fine now and then--make it a smaller red potato rather than a giant russet. Ditch as many of the processed foods as possible, replace them with home-cooked alternatives. There are many recipe sites out there with great, healthier alternatives to favorites. Kill the daily juice---it's not healthy, it's only slightly better than soda. Instead, have half an orange. Replace sweet, processed snacks with fresh fruits. Make absolutely certain that you're not "numbers shopping" on MFP--choose the listing that most accurately matches your intake, not the one that shows the lowest calories. Lying on a food listing is like cheating at solitaire--who are you hurting, really? This will likely mean reading your packaging and entering values. Do not make entries without sodium and other nutrients listed. It gives you a false sense of what you're doing.

Don't lie to yourself. Your caloric intake is excessive. The foods you're eating are breathtakingly unhealthy in many cases. Many of these foods have healthy and delicious alternatives that satisfy the desire without destroying the body. Start making the changes that will make you healthier for you and for your family. Insulting yourself and hating yourself isn't going to do it--I did that for years and years, and it never took one ounce off me. I would walk past a mirror and cry, "Oh, you fat, ugly slob!" Didn't inspire even a bit of loss. Instead of calling yourself 'the fat guy," take that negative energy and make it positive--instead of telling yourself you're awful, tell yourself you're capable. And then prove it to yourself. Instead of focusing on how big you are, focus on the pounds lost, the changes made, and the physical changes that may not show on the scale but are real all the same.


You have to want this enough to do it. You have to be honest enough with yourself to recognize that you MUST make serious, sincere changes. Not just eating a few fewer Funyuns, but replacing them with home-baked versions. You cannot reach your goal weight by doing what you've already been doing--you know that.


Kris

Umm... Well, I didn't use the word Quit in my post. I believe those grilled cheese sandwiches reached around 1000 calories. I picked something nice to point out. I am not trying to sound like a complete beoytch. But honestly? You can not expect to loose weight while you are eating the way you are. You are basically over on everything except calories. The MFP tools are not meant to be abused in such a way. Some people need to hear it and I believe you are one of them. I am not trying to be a horrible person but you truly need to look at what you are putting into your body and realize that is what is digging an early grave. Perhaps seeing a nutritionist or dietitian would be helpful. You need to learn about what healthy foods you need to put into your body.

I did not read before that you are going to "stick" with it. Good for you! Honestly you remind me a bit of my husband who has a constant battle with weight loss. He gets extremely frustrated when he does not see results right away. Just keep on trucking.

Very sad indeed.

MFP isn't a miraculous device that you can track food in and lose weight just based on that. It's more so for you to visably see how you're eating and help motivated you to eat better, I find anyway. I'm sure we all understand the frustration of losing weight at a regular pace.


This is just a "poor me" post so that you could have people coax you to stay.

wow some of you are really harsh. i thought this website was to enable and encourage .

not everyone got that memo but at least they feel better about them selves right???

Wow. Never mind.

Kris

Ok, Rebel. I'll play your game. You're going to quit trying and you're blaming this site for not doing enough for you. Great. But if that was really the case, why didn't you just sign out and leave? tick...tick....tick..... I know. You want someone to listen. You want someone to care. You just want to be heard. Well buddy, take a look at how many responses you have to your "So Long Everyone" post. The fact is, you WANT to do it, you just don't know HOW to do it. Try "friending" some of the folks that have posted suggestions here that make sense to you. They are the ones that can help you get to where you want to be. Don't worry about the "quitter" BS, either. It's frustrating. Hang in there for a while. You never know which day will be "the day".

Check your calories--you're miscalculating, which is probably part of your problem. Peanut M&Ms have 103 calories for 10 pieces. Your diary lists 44 calories for 18 pieces. It would actually be 185 calories.

You can't just just shop for the lowest MFP listing--some of the numbers here are wrong, and it's easy to know which if you just check the packaging. Chances are, you are eating far more calories than you're tracking in your diary, and your diary is set to allow more calories than you should be eating. July 2nd, your goal is set to 5,133 calories, you consumed 3,462 calories, and you ingested 4,202 mg of sodium. That is not how to lose weight. I know you say you burned over 2900 calories in that one day by climbing stairs, but I would seriously question that number. Perhaps you would benefit from a good heart rate monitor so you can get a good handle on calories burned. I think most of us could benefit from that.

Oh, and you're more than doubling your popcorn calories by popping in oil. Air pop. And do your best not to just manually quick-add calories. Actually read the packages, do the weighing, and do the math. Makes taking responsibility for choices a lot easier when you really examine what those choices are.

If you really want this, you have got to be honest with yourself and stop making excuses. I hope you do--I would love to see you succeed.

Kris

Everyone was talking about your sodium intake, so I checked out your diary too...and was shocked to see that they were complaining about 2 days over a holiday weekend while the rest of your days were in the green. :huh:

I do agree that perhaps you should reduce the amount of processed foods that you have. I read that you were in culinary school, so you are probably a much better cook than I am. That being the case, I think it would be easier for you if you simply knew what to cook since you obviously know how.

I think it might be a help if you change the macronutrient ratio goals. Not everyone responds well to a high carb/low fat and low protein diet which is MFP's default. I find that it is much easier to shed body fat when I am eating less carbs. Not necessarily "low carb" but simply less starches like potatoes, pastas, and rice. Start out your meals by having a lean protein and then add some veggies or fruits. I recommend starches in rhe morning-afternoon, but make your dinners more complete with veggies because they are more nutritious in terms of minerals and vitamins on average, and you will simply feel better and less bloated.

It's easiest to go grocery shopping for healthy foods if you stay on the outskirts of the store...that's where you will find fresh meats, veggies, and fruits and where you will not find a lot of boxed, bagged, or canned foods. Fresher is better when you are trying to get healthy and trim the fat.

I still recommend weighing in less often as I mentioned in my last post. And never weigh in AFTER a holiday weekend. It's never a good thing.

I think it might be a help if you change the macronutrient ratio goals. Not everyone responds well to a high carb/low fat and low protein diet which is MFP's default. I find that it is much easier to shed body fat when I am eating less carbs. Not necessarily "low carb" but simply less starches like potatoes, pastas, and rice. Start out your meals by having a lean protein and then add some veggies or fruits. I recommend starches in rhe morning-afternoon, but make your dinners more complete with veggies because they are more nutritious in terms of minerals and vitamins on average, and you will simply feel better and less bloated.

^^This right here is great advice!

I'm on a high protein diet and it's working wonders. Yeah I'm in the red on protein everyday by quite a bit, but the weight is coming off.

As you are building muscle that muscle will burn more calories when you are sedentary, the protein helps to build and repair muscles, behind water, it's my belief that it's the most important thing your body can have....hope you get where you need to be!

I keep my carbs low because of my diabetes, but my protein is also in the red pretty much every day because that's how I eat. I was reading a "formula" last night and wondering if anyone had any feedback to give about it: http://exercise.about.com/cs/nutrition/a/protein_2.htm

Kris

Rebel - I haven't gotten all the way through this thread yet - but it looks like you decided to stick it out - and I'm glad to see that! Pay attention to the positive encouraging posts and ignore all the hateful mean ones. Maybe some of them thought "tough love" would help, but many of them are just................ mean - a true reflection of their personality, I'm sure. Those people aren't the ones you want to surround yourself with anyway. Best of luck to you in your journey!