New and Frustrated

how many calories does MFP allow you per day?

Hello! In my opinion, just because the rest of your family can eat whatever they want doesn't mean it has to be totally unhealthy. And I am a firm believer of leading by example. The more healthy stuff you eat, the kids will follow. SO keep some healthy alternatives for you and when your family sees you pick up a piece of fruit or veggie, they (especially the kids) will ask to try it. Make it exciting and fun. Not only does that help you keep under your calories but it will change the "bad" eating habits with good ones and the rest of the family will eventually follow!! hope that helps. :flowerforyou:

I have a family as well that seem to eat all day long too. I usually prepare my meals ahead of time so everything is planned and ready for me when its time to eat. Another thing that has helped me is to eat every 2-3 hours so I don't get hungry and over eat when I do. Try avoid buying the "bad" food so that way you don't have it in the house and are tempted to eat it. Feel free to add to me. Good luck!!!

I understand your frustration. I have a house full of teenagers and a husband who can eat anything they want so I can certainly relate about having those temptations all around you. I have made a choice to do little things like buy baked potato chips along with the other options my family likes, switched to bagel thins and the kids actually seem to like those and I have options like Skinny Cows and Fudge Bars for me and then ice cream for the family. By doing these small things I am eating better and losing weight but not denying myself things that I love. I know there are others that go for all natural foods, etc... but I just can't seem to make that huge of a leap so I have done just little changes. I have also added a lot of fresh fruits and veggie options for snacking and was surprised that many times my kids would choose some blueberries over a snack cake. I have lost about 13lbs since beginning of May. Not gangbuster weightloss but I am still enjoying having a beer or some pizza every now and again. Good luck on your journey and feel free to friend me.

I can relate with the frustration I first felt, and most days still do, with my 1200 calorie per day limit (that's what MFP suggested). However, I am trying to learn to eat lots of low calories and filling foods, like veges. It is very challenging because I am one of those people who don't know how to cook, so it is definitely a learning curve for me. But it is helpful!! It is completely changing the way I look at food, and changing from a battle to a partnership. Feel free to friend me

I echo what the other ladies are saying. Being healthy should be a quest for the entire house - especially with kids around they will model the behavior you exhibit and if you exhibit eating health, they will too!!!

I eat alll day long. I eat small things. for me the key is planning my meals. If I do not think and plan what I am going to be eating - I will eat anything that is waved in front of my face

I also find that by checking in with my MFP friends - who are undergoing similar struggles - I have more of my own strength

I'd love to call you a friend, if you want some encouragement I love to offer it and recieve it as well!! make me a friend!

If you have been working out for over a year 5 days a week make sure you look at some of the other benefits of working out that include healthy heart, lower stress levels, energy, fighting off sickness. You have come to the right place for support and some good knowledge. There are many benefits to being healthy so stay positive change your workouts and intensity from time to time and enjoy your health lifestyle

I am great at working out, but have always eaten too much.

The best thing to get me to eat healthy is to find ways to make it fun. I try lots of new recipes, and embrace any vegetable recipe I enjoy (there aren't many)

Check out the recipes section of MFP or try cookinglight.com to get some inspiration.

I think my calorie limit is 1347 or something like that! I am "gym rat" and I have become frustrated with the lack of weight loss. I know it is the food. I used Weight Watchers but got frustrated because they didn't take calories into consideration anymore with the Plus plan, which seemed to be a joke, and so I found this through a friend. I like seeing that I came under my goal each day and I love the amount of items that the program has to add to the diary! I think there is more than Weight Watchers!

I am a licensed Zumba instructor and I want to be able to be better at it and not feel self conscious about my weight while dancing. My exercise has dropped my cholesterol, lipids, and blood pressure....so I have seen some benefits!