Getting Started on My Fitness Pal

jmkel64
jmkel64 Posts: 1 Member
in Getting Started
I am peeking in here to see how it fares to WW online. I'm a member there but considering cancelling my memberstip as I am not much of a fan of the new Freestyle program. I'm also not a fan of a lot of weighing and measuring of food. I don't have a lot of time - I know - the biggest excuse. But I do work full time in the day and I have a part-time evening job Mon - Thur and every Saturday. Doesn't leave a lot of time for grocery shopping, meal planning or even meal prep. Exercise is also hard to fit in. Both jobs are 'sit down' ... ALL day. I am in my chair from 7:15 AM until 9:00 PM - except for a 30 min lunch and a 15 minute drive over the bridge between jobs. I need some fantastic advice on how to squeeze in a bit of exercise and some really great meal prep ideas!!! I know y'all will help me out!! I have a cruise booked for October which I am really looking forward to, deserve and want to feel better so i can enjoy all the activities and walking involved with vacationing!

Replies

  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    How much weight do you want/need to lose?

    Unfortunately MFP is all about weighing and measuring food - its the only way we can accurately track our calorie intake. The main reason most people don't lose is because they are eating more than they think, so weighing foods is the place to start.

    It also takes very little time to weigh food, we're talking a minute if even that so if something small like that could have a huge impact on weight loss success then its worth doing imo.

    Can you do an online food shop? have it delivered so that's one less thing to do. Plus it also means you can plan ahead your meals and order all the food you need to prepare/make those meals.

    I'm a fellow cruiser, our next one is coming up in July :smiley: You have time to make some better eating and exercising habits which will make all the difference.

    All the best.
    Ruth :smile:
  • sebedina
    sebedina Posts: 161 Member
    I am in EXACTLY same work situation as you. I also tried the new WW plan online, but couldn't follow it and found it quite restrictive so stopped doing it.

    I am trying to do a combination of Paul McKenna and calorie counting, eating slowly, stopping when full. I have only started today and I have given myself a 1,700 calorie allowance because I am heavy and get very hungry so can't stick to anything less otherwise I become too hungry and then binge.

    I have seen on posts that exercise isn't strictly necessary (but it is good if you can do it).

    Could you diarise 2 activities at the weekends or one evening a week one day at the weekend?

    You can also do stuff at home, e.g. dancing, stretches or get a treadmill/exercise bike etc. You can also try doing 10 minutes a day then building to 15 minutes a day walking ?

    My main problem is that i have a bad mental self talk and create a lot of negativity for myself. That is my main issue and the other issue is hunger so I am trying to tackle these two demons.

    I usually don't track my meals and eat mindlessly, whatever I want so my daily calorie intake becomes too high usually around 2,500 to 3,000 on a bad day.. so any weight loss has been impossible. Despite me going swimming 2 times a week the figures still don't add up.

    Private message me if you wish and we can support each other. I just had a home made chicken and tomato sandwich deep fill sandwich and going to have half a tub of a fruit yogurt.

    My problem is also portion control.

    All the best. Perhaps do some salads with proteins and crackers, easy to carry stuff, tuna and mayo and oven easy meals so that you can just shove in the oven.

    Keep in touch let me know how it is going... I am in the same problem boat as you as regards meal prepping. I leave the house at 7.20 then come home around 4.30 then out of the house at 4.45pm until 7pm.

    When I get home I am starving and exhausted so end up over eating.

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    edited April 2018
    A lot of people do meal prep on (say) Sunday or whenever they can set aside a couple hours to do it.

    Weight loss is all about the food. Eat enough but not too much and lose weight. Doesn't particularly matter what you eat as long as you are staying energized and staying comfortably within calories.

    I mean, everyone is busy. Eating well doesn't take that much more time. Crockpots and pre-prepped food makes it really easy. Buy some little containers and prep two meals per day for five days. Freeze or store in the fridge.

    If you want to lose weight, the digital food scale is your friend. It takes only a couple minutes to enter into the food page. Set up Meals and Recipes for your common foods and then it's even faster.

    You do have to be accountable and make some sacrifices - both time and food.

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