Track it, Count it, Move it & Lose it!

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  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    Hi @hk9mm welcome to the group!
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    Oh gosh. Today was a hard day at work. Technology just wasn't working right, making work difficult. I decided early on that I needed to be sure to practice self care when I got home. I've got essential oils going in my diffuser (lavender and bergamot) and I had a cup of decaf coffee when I got home. I love sipping on a cup of tea or decaf coffee in the early evening just because I find it calming. I did a little bit of stretching, and I might do some more. I take these steps, because I've learned that stress can trigger a binge for me. I've had a cookie and a piece of chocolate, and it's tracked! Instead of having 5 cookies and the rest of the chocolate bar. :smiley: Staying on track!
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    hk9mm wrote: »
    Hi all!
    This is my 2nd go around with logging & counting calories. 1st time I lost 20+ lbs (with exercise).
    I’ve been counting again for a month now, along with exercise, & I’m down 10 lbs.
    I’m only counting through the week & keeping the weekends to eat as I please. I think this helps me to stick with it M-F. Last weekend after eating & splurging on pop, I was very happy to see only a half pound gain.
    So keep up the good work everyone! It will pay off!

    Welcome HK!
    Glad to have you... congrats on your 10 pound loss. :0)
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    This is a nighttime motivational quote to help get you through snacking.
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    Great quote!
  • xFreudianSlip
    xFreudianSlip Posts: 45 Member
    I love that attitude!
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    Good morning!
    It’s another day closer to the weekend. :)
    Happy Thursday
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    hk9mm wrote: »
    Hi all!
    This is my 2nd go around with logging & counting calories. 1st time I lost 20+ lbs (with exercise).
    I’ve been counting again for a month now, along with exercise, & I’m down 10 lbs.
    I’m only counting through the week & keeping the weekends to eat as I please. I think this helps me to stick with it M-F. Last weekend after eating & splurging on pop, I was very happy to see only a half pound gain.
    So keep up the good work everyone! It will pay off!

    Welcome to the group :smile: 10lbs is fantastic in 1 month. Do you have much weight to lose?
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    MyEvolvingJourney wrote: »
    Oh gosh. Today was a hard day at work. Technology just wasn't working right, making work difficult. I decided early on that I needed to be sure to practice self care when I got home. I've got essential oils going in my diffuser (lavender and bergamot) and I had a cup of decaf coffee when I got home. I love sipping on a cup of tea or decaf coffee in the early evening just because I find it calming. I did a little bit of stretching, and I might do some more. I take these steps, because I've learned that stress can trigger a binge for me. I've had a cookie and a piece of chocolate, and it's tracked! Instead of having 5 cookies and the rest of the chocolate bar. :smiley: Staying on track!

    Way to keep on top of the stress! :smile:
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    I hope you all had a great day! Tomorrow's Friday! Woo hoo! :smiley:
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Thank goodness its Friday :smile: and we have a Bank Holiday weekend which is even better.. the weather is to be really good as well - makes a change!

    Have a lovely weekend everyone. :smiley:
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited May 2018
    I don't normally have the time to check out diaries but occasionally I do...
    I have to say it pains me when I see people constantly eating under 1200 calories, there are very few people who can function healthily on that few calories (we're talking the very petite, the much older and lighter in weight people). Less that 1200 means our bodies wont be getting all the nutrients it needs. Its a sure way to crash and burn.

    So I almost want to plead with any of you who might think of aiming to eating less than 1200 and say, don't do it. Its not sustainable. You will feel depleted of energy, you will be 'hangry' and eating prolonged low calories has a detrimental affect, hair falling out, brittle nails and loss of muscle mass. When we lose muscle mass. Bone density is also an issue if we don't fuel our bodies probably.

    For any of you ladies who are on the wrong side of 40, we need good muscle mass to help us age healthier, hence the need for strength training as well as some cardio. Its lifting weights that promotes the growth of muscle and aids bone density strength.

    Google calculate BMR, You'll find the number calculated is the number of calories your body needs to function and be healthy if you were in a coma - that's without getting out of bed and doing all the things we do in our day. My BMR at 5ft 2 and 125lbs is 1290 cals. So personally I would need to ensure I eat more than 1290 cals a day. Then there's the NEAT and and TDEE calculations. Those are also useful to have. Anyone with Fitbits or similar will know their daily TDEE as these trackers calculate them and they are pretty accurate, within 5% or so.

    The NEAT is the BMR plus the calories we expend just doing our usual day to day things, thats really what MFP goes by. And then the TDEE, that is BMR + NEAT + Purposeful exercise. And to give you an example of myself again, I am lightly active so my TDEE averages 2000 cals. So IF I wanted to lose weight I would aim to not eat any more than 20% below that TDEE (that would be 1600).

    I hope I'm not bombarding you gals with too much information, but as I always say, knowledge is power and once we understand how our bodies burn calories and know what personally is the right number for us to eat, then the weight loss process works great and we lose weight in a healthy way.

    OK, that's my little 10 cents of advice today.

    Ruth <3
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    Ruth,

    You always have great advice! We appreciate your 10 cents. :)

    Yesterday I was off the wagon with logging... only logged breakfast, and I overate my snacks. Today is a new day, so it’s back to complete logging. I like what Ruth said awhile back... get back on the wagon as quickly as you can... don’t let it get away from you.

    Happy Friday!

    Jill
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    jm216 wrote: »
    Ruth,

    You always have great advice! We appreciate your 10 cents. :)

    Yesterday I was off the wagon with logging... only logged breakfast, and I overate my snacks. Today is a new day, so it’s back to complete logging. I like what Ruth said awhile back... get back on the wagon as quickly as you can... don’t let it get away from you.

    Happy Friday!

    Jill

    Hi Jill, You know you might have surprised yourself if you went back and logged everything you did eat yesterday and found you didn't do too bad. In fact I would still say, if you have time, go back into yesterdays and log, just out of interest.
    But yes, get todays logged and keep logging until it becomes a habit like brushing your teeth :smile:
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    Ruth...you are so wise.
    I did go back and face my food choices from yesterday, and I logged them. I was way over my calories, but by logging them today, I felt better and less guilty about it. I wrestled with a bag of potato chips yesterday...and I lost the match.

    Today is a new day, and I've got this. Have to stop the mindless eating, and change it to mindful portioning.

    I love your logging and brushing your teeth analogy! It makes perfect sense. You brush your teeth everyday, and you should log everyday too.

    Thanks for being there for me! <3

    Have I told you all that I love this group??
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited May 2018
    We love you for starting this group <3

    I'm glad you logged yesterday's food, it's a learning curve and one you'll not want to repeat very often. Seeing it there in black and white means we have to think twice about it.

    Do you pre log your meals?? I find I'm a creature of habit - similar breakfasts, 3 or 4 lunch choices and 5 or 6 dinner choices which I eat regularly. Once they're logged once I SAVE the meal so its there for again under the saved name. The quantities can be adjusted easily too :smile: the more you log the more data you have and the less time it takes to log your whole day. I reckon 2 mins sorts my day and if I change something as the day goes on it's easy to edit.

    Have a great weekend :smile:
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »
    I don't normally have the time to check out diaries but occasionally I do...
    I have to say it pains me when I see people constantly eating under 1200 calories, there are very few people who can function healthily on that few calories (we're talking the very petite, the much older and lighter in weight people). Less that 1200 means our bodies wont be getting all the nutrients it needs. Its a sure way to crash and burn.

    So I almost want to plead with any of you who might think of aiming to eating less than 1200 and say, don't do it. Its not sustainable. You will feel depleted of energy, you will be 'hangry' and eating prolonged low calories has a detrimental affect, hair falling out, brittle nails and loss of muscle mass. When we lose muscle mass. Bone density is also an issue if we don't fuel our bodies probably.

    For any of you ladies who are on the wrong side of 40, we need good muscle mass to help us age healthier, hence the need for strength training as well as some cardio. Its lifting weights that promotes the growth of muscle and aids bone density strength.

    Google calculate BMR, You'll find the number calculated is the number of calories your body needs to function and be healthy if you were in a coma - that's without getting out of bed and doing all the things we do in our day. My BMR at 5ft 2 and 125lbs is 1290 cals. So personally I would need to ensure I eat more than 1290 cals a day. Then there's the NEAT and and TDEE calculations. Those are also useful to have. Anyone with Fitbits or similar will know their daily TDEE as these trackers calculate them and they are pretty accurate, within 5% or so.

    The NEAT is the BMR plus the calories we expend just doing our usual day to day things, thats really what MFP goes by. And then the TDEE, that is BMR + NEAT + Purposeful exercise. And to give you an example of myself again, I am lightly active so my TDEE averages 2000 cals. So IF I wanted to lose weight I would aim to not eat any more than 20% below that TDEE (that would be 1600).

    I hope I'm not bombarding you gals with too much information, but as I always say, knowledge is power and once we understand how our bodies burn calories and know what personally is the right number for us to eat, then the weight loss process works great and we lose weight in a healthy way.

    OK, that's my little 10 cents of advice today.

    Ruth <3

    I agree so much! And that info on BMR is really helpful! I was having difficulty figuring out what my calories should be. If I set my activity as "lightly active" I get 1600 calories. But here's where it gets tricky: according to my fitbit, and I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it says I'm buying 2500 calories a day. I work in food service, so I'm on my feet and walking all day. So 1600 seemed too low. "Active" setting gave me 1960 calories. For a month, I did 1900 and I was gaining and losing the same 2-3 pounds repeatedly. Your comment that it might be maintenance calories really helped! So I lowered it just slightly. And I lost this week! Woo hoo! Now to just keep it going...:)
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    burning not buying
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    Good morning! Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I've got grocery shopping and cleaning to do today and I might get out for a walk. I've got a question for you. I've seen some people count cleaning toward their exercise calories. What are your thoughts on this? I'm on the fence about it.
  • mihalickjoanne
    mihalickjoanne Posts: 37 Member
    I am in a bit of a valley today as stressful work week ends. I just don’t feel like trying today. How do you all nurture yourself when you’re just so tired but wired from stress?
  • mihalickjoanne
    mihalickjoanne Posts: 37 Member
    BTW I do count housework and yard work calories as they really add up on 10,000 steps a day goal
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    MyEvolvingJourney wrote: »
    Good morning! Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I've got grocery shopping and cleaning to do today and I might get out for a walk. I've got a question for you. I've seen some people count cleaning toward their exercise calories. What are your thoughts on this? I'm on the fence about it.

    Personally I say it's best not to count them. We know we'll burn something but let them be a little bonus burn.

    I'm glad the BMR etc chat helped. And bit by bit you are finding what works for you. That's what it's all about. The more data you have on your weight fluctuations and your Fitbit burns, then over time you will know your average cals to eat at to either lose or maintain.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    mihalickjoanne wrote: »
    I am in a bit of a valley today as stressful work week ends. I just don’t feel like trying today. How do you all nurture yourself when you’re just so tired but wired from stress?

    Stress is hard to bust through. A nice walk can really help though :smile: nice surroundings and thinking on the blessings you have in your life. Hope you feel revived and invigorated soon.

  • mihalickjoanne
    mihalickjoanne Posts: 37 Member


    Stress is hard to bust through. A nice walk can really help though :smile: nice surroundings and thinking on the blessings you have in your life. Hope you feel revived and invigorated soon.


    Thank you for the inspiration. I probably should have introduced myself but I found this group and just started reading all the entries. They are so supportive and reading through has already helped boost my spirits.
    I’m Joanne and I have been committed to tracking and moving since March when I saw a photo of me. I knew I had to commit and got this app because I had lost weight years ago by sticking to the goals and tracking. It was about 3 years and 35 pounds ago I stopped being mindful of eating.
    So I have lost 15 pounds since March and I credit the habit of tracking.
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    MyEvolvingJourney wrote: »
    Good morning! Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I've got grocery shopping and cleaning to do today and I might get out for a walk. I've got a question for you. I've seen some people count cleaning toward their exercise calories. What are your thoughts on this? I'm on the fence about it

    Hi MEJ,

    I personally would count cleaning as exercise if you’re dance cleaning.... really moving and grooving to music while getting things done, and working up a sweat. It does count toward your step goal if you’re counting steps.

  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    mihalickjoanne wrote: »
    I am in a bit of a valley today as stressful work week ends. I just don’t feel like trying today. How do you all nurture yourself when you’re just so tired but wired from stress?

    Go out and grab a salad...if you’re too exhausted to make one...find a grab and go good food choice, and relax and regroup.
  • SusanMcMc
    SusanMcMc Posts: 252 Member
    @MyEvolvingJourney I don’t count housework because I assume that it is included in my “lightly active” status in my goals profile.
  • coreawilson1
    coreawilson1 Posts: 7 Member
    hello
  • MyEvolvingJourney
    MyEvolvingJourney Posts: 369 Member
    mihalickjoanne wrote: »
    I am in a bit of a valley today as stressful work week ends. I just don’t feel like trying today. How do you all nurture yourself when you’re just so tired but wired from stress?
    I like what Jill suggested with getting a grab and go salad if you need to. Great idea! When you're stressed, it's best to just keep it simple. Sometimes I'll just cook up a meat like chicken tenders (not the breaded kind) and just season them up and serve it with sautéed veggies. I'm a big fan of pre-chopped veggies! It's fairly quick to prepare and it's nourishing!
    Other than that, make sure you take some time to take care of yourself! I find meditation helps, I use an app, and it often takes 10 minutes at most. Taking a walk outside helps too.
  • jm216
    jm216 Posts: 3,953 Member
    coreawilson1 wrote: »
    hello

    Hello Corea!

    Cool name. B)
    Welcome to our group...we’re glad to have you!

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