Great question @craigo3154 I started on MFP because I wanted to lose weight, hadn't been successful and was looking for some help. Initially, I was just using the food tracking, but then joined a Biggest Loser group and now have joined this wonderful group! It has turned out to be so much more than just tracking my food for me as I feel like I've found a new group of friends who are supportive, thoughtful, insightful and kind!

Also, after tomorrow, I will be out of touch for the week. Heading to the upper peninsula to visit my niece who is working at Isle Royale National Park on a wolf release project. The moose population is elevated and out of sync with the wolf population. I'm hoping to see lots of wildlife and do lots of hiking, but I don't think there is cell service on the island. No winner's circle for me, but I plan to watch what I'm eating. I should do very well with the exercise!

ForAmanda222 wrote: »

I've always been doing it alone before. but not any more x Thank you x

You are never alone at UAC...we are always here cheering you on to be the best you can be for your own self. Each of us has received the special gift of life. Only we can make the very best of it...but it sure helps to have "friends" along on the journey! Glad you are with us.

@ShareASmile Sounds like a wonderful project your niece is working on at Isle Royale National Park. Please share some pics of your journey if you get a chance, even if it is after your vacation.

@craigo3154 I started with caloriecount.com and changed to MFP when caloriecount transitioned their users to a useless program at which time I switched to MFP some 6 months later.

My sentiments, exactly, on weight loss. You are to be commended on achieving your goal and sustaining maintenance. I, too, wanted to be successful without any diet gimmicks, paid weight loss programs, etc. I do admit I'm not crazy about exercise, but I know it's good for me. Health is all about nutrition (not a "diet" as that is a 4 letter word which is NOT in my vocabulary) and physical activity (and UAC doesn't define what that activity might be) which is what makes UAC unique. UAC works for anyone who is looking to achieve their goals or sustain maintenance long term.

June 6

Calories: Yes, under
Tracked: Yes
Exercise: No, not beyond normal running around

I dropped out of here previously because some days I can do 1-2 hours of exercise and some days none above normal activities, leading to a pass day. But have realised I need the group as put weight back on/ plateaued and need to focus on always having calories under target and try as much as possible to fit in more exercise. So I won’t be in Winner’s Circle often, if at all, but keeping track of everything and managing calories still helps me achieve my actual goals.

Tracked yes
Under yes
Exercise yes

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? yes 60 swimming weight training
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day?yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? yes
I came here to track my food first but I stayed because of the great surport I get here.

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes, recumbent bike, 30 minutes, 9.67 miles
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

I originally started with MFP back in 2011 or 2012, but started and stopped so many times I just decided to delete my old profile. I started fresh on November 30, 2018, after a conversation with my older sister.

Our whole family struggles with weight issues and after talking with her I decided that I was done yo-yo'ing and was going to start and not quit ever again. I have logged in every day since then (logging every bite and all exercise) and give tons of credit to UAC and TBL for helping keep me motivated to stay the course. I no longer wake up with feelings of guilt and shame over my abuse of food and what I was doing to my body. Now I wake up thankful for a day where I can move better and enjoy life more.

I have my second doctor's appt tomorrow with my new primary doctor. My first visit with him was in December and I can't wait to see his face when he sees that I've lost 30 pounds since then!

Thanks, @RangerRickL and @craigo3154 for all you both do to make this the best group on MFP.

Bonnie

P.S. We NEED to see those old ice skating photos!!

Exercised: yes mmx
Tracked: yes
Under: yes

Yes x 3 for Thursday
Prelogging dinner to keep on track

I started MFP after getting into the smart phone 'bandwagon' lol. Before that id use the Livestrong website since i sat a computer all day. I wasn't really that committed to tracking until the convenience of an app in my pocket, though.

I believe it started as more of an expirament to see how much i was really eating. I had wanted to loose weight for so long and found some success with the South Beach diet but gained it all back so easily! I knew there had to be another way, so i thought id give it a shot. It worked like magic, blew my mind! I distinctly remember thinking along the lines of "it CANT be this simple to loose weight."

Now, years later im much closer to my goal and tracking has kept the loss sustainable. Found that the saying "its simple but its not easy" is true. We might not like the reality of what tracking tells us (im a shortie and its JUST NOT FAIR sometimes lol) but numbers dont lie. With dicipline and honesty, MFP has been the only way ive seen real change and maintained it.

June 6

Exercise: Yes, cleaned the house 30-45min then a 15-20min workout.
Calories: Yes
Tracked: Yes

Joined MFP cuz I got tired of doing all the calculations on my own lmao. And the UAC is such an awesome community that I decided to come back too! 🌟

6/6

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? yes

- On track for four days out of six. I guess that isn't bad.
- Kitchen is closed.
- Exercised kind of minimal. Six hill repeats around the block in the neighborhood. Maybe 200 calories. Didn't eat all of it. I usually figure 10 calories per minute for moderate cardio exercise. 11 or 12 cals for hard cardio. I have not really done much hard cardio this year. Still it is climbing that counts as my best sort of exorcise.
- Alcohol 2 units

Tracking... I don't use MFP diary very much anymore. I have a whiteboard on my refrigerator door. I use the database to look up calories for food that doesn't have a nutrition label like beverages and fruits and stuff.
I get exercise calories from a tracker watch. I caution people to be suspicious of the calories their tracker watches tell them.
My tracker watch has a 2x difference in the exercise calories it tell me for when I wear a heart rate strap and when I don't.
But I done the same climb 100s of times so I kind of have a good correlations going between my time spent and my calories.
Then that stuff all gets logged into my strava. Strava keeps track and motivates me.
Tomorrow is climb day. My little Buddy is coming over afterwards. His birthday is Saturday.
I wish I could figure out what diet is right for his metabolism.

June 5
Yes X 3

June 6
Exercise yes
I walked this morning early (even before coffee). Lovely morning so I decided to get my exercise in early. Got another walk in with hubby so that was a win.
Calories yes
I did well today on my eating. Made good choices that filled me up early. I still have over 500 calories left will be under by several which is a switch too.
Tracked yes

How I ended up on MFP:

I had a MFP account for a while. However I was not able to stay with any special program. My exercise was hit or miss. At one point I had been on the scales and was appalled by the last weight that had crept up on me. I remember distinctly the night I went on MFP and said to myself there has to be something on this that will help me make a change. Somehow I stumbled upon the UAC challenge. When I read the requirements I thought "I can do this". The one thing I needed more than anything was accountability. I lost 8 lbs the first month (August 2017) by January I had met my goal weight loss...a total of 26 lbs. For a while I didn't do the challenge. I was able to do what I needed myself. Eventually life happens. I have had low blood pressure and fatigue issues that I have had to work on. I went up 10 lbs so I hopped back on here to get my act back together again. That's kind of where I am now.

Just an note to you guys. There are so many more on than when I was on back then, So many encouraging posts and so many people making good choices with their health and fitness. Thank you so much @RangerRickL for still being here and still encouraging us. @craigo3154 as always so encouraged by your diligence. I like your comment about not spending money on diets ect.. they don't work anyhow. The encouragement and the hands on experience you get here can not be bought. Thanks for still being here too!!

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? YES (mall walk)
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? NO
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? NO

Overate again ... fail #2 -- progress not perfection.

I joined MFP way back in 2011 or 2012. Deleted my account twice and have been on since 2013. I met my weight goal a couple years ago but had since gained it back and then some. I'm in the process of losing it again. I want to feel healthy physically and mentally.

Exercise - yes 1.25mi tempo run with 10&15 minute walks before and after
Calories - yes, 350 under. Much less hungry today, so yesterday and today evened out!
Tracked - yes
Passes so far - 1

I started MFP as I know the real way to weight loss is a simple what goes in vs what goes out and MFP seemed to have the best reviews. I've joined in the past, but since I had a bit of a shock when I stepped on the scale and I was 150. I've only been 150 when pregnant! Obesity & diabetes runs in my family, so I know I need to get my act together now before it gets out of control. I've logged 25 days in a row now and I'm down 6 lbs. I am awful holding my self accountable, so finding a group to share my daily progress has been great. Thanks for the convo topic!

Date: 6/6/19
Exercised?: Yes: 89 minutes outdoor walking (lunch break plus commute)
Calories?: Yes-within goal
Tracked?: yes - all foods tracked


I started using MFP after using a paper food diary for several years. Starting in 2002, I went from 196-135lbs over a couple of years, and it was because of logging my food. I know for sure that my weight will creep back up whenever I stop. I'm in maintenance now. I use a Fitbit Charge HR and MFP, and it's pretty terrific together whether I'm walking, riding my bike, or doing a workout. Have a great evening, everyone.