General Discussion
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AlexandraFindsHerself1971 wrote: »I've personally been hesitant to go see a dietician due to my food intolerances. Yes, I know that plant-based eating makes weight-loss easier. Yes, I can think of all sorts of good moral and ethical and societal reasons for me to be vegetarian. And when eating a nice bunch of fried cabbage doesn't make me pray for death three hours later, and my body doesn't react to refried beans as though I have gastroenteritis, I'll eat my vegetables.
So I don't fit well into preconceived ideas of how to do things, and so I avoid situations like that. They're pretty triggering, in some ways.
I understand that 100%. I have multiple foods I need to stay away from due to medical reasons. Recently I was talking to a friend of mine who is vegan about trying to reduce my meat consumption and increase the amount of vegetarian/vegan meals. Even she was like "Yea... you are one person who needs meat options because otherwise you won't get enough protein." I can't have soy (allergy and medical reasons), lentils, or beans in large amounts.
Then you add in the IC diet restrictions I have had to restart and my able to eat list is much smaller. And a lot of medical professionals have never heard of the condition. It gets frustrating.
I get you. IC and IBS get treated as though we're just picky. Um, no. There's all sorts of things I'd love to cook and eat except for that one little problem of my gut.
Boyfriend's kind of in your position. He had weight loss surgery. And we've tried thick bean stews and it just has. not. worked. Only thing that works is meat.2 -
AlexandraFindsHerself1971 wrote: »I get you. IC and IBS get treated as though we're just picky. Um, no. There's all sorts of things I'd love to cook and eat except for that one little problem of my gut.
Boyfriend's kind of in your position. He had weight loss surgery. And we've tried thick bean stews and it just has. not. worked. Only thing that works is meat.
I am FAR from a picky eater so it gets on my nerves when people assume I am because I can't eat something. Sorry, I just don't want to be in PAIN.
I don't have a diagnosis for my stomach/digestive issues. Been putting it off because my diet is already so restricted I don't want to have to cut more out. Lentils destroy me every time I have them (cries over dahl). Beans I can do in small amounts, but only a couple times a week. I can have iceburg lettuce a few times a week (or even every day if it is a tiny amount like on sandwiches), romaine once or twice, spinach once or twice, but every other green gives me issues. Broccoli and Cauliflower are okay if cooked, but not raw.
It just stinks because I want to be able to eat all the foods and I just can't. It really messed with my mental health too, especially early on. Even now I have issues with food anxiety.
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Honestly doing a meticulous food-and-symptom diary for about six months helped me a lot, because then I was able to see what was giving me grief, and decide not to eat that. I know now that what I eat is safe.3
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Joeblackwell75 wrote: »I have a question for all of you. Has anyone ever used a registered dietician as part of their weight loss journey in combination with MFP? I've been wondering about this and thinking this might be another tool to use with MFP. Any feedback on this is greatly appreciated.
Hi! I forgot who was asking about this for a bit! But here is the post I believe I mentioned to you earlier - the original poster is fine with me copying and pasting her post here. Certainly sounds like a very positive experience for her!
"Had a great appointment with a dietitian on Thursday. Would highly recommend especially if you have months of data in MFP. She took an hour to go through all my stats and what I normally eat in a week. Then full body and bone scan. She made some really good easy to implement suggestions. She is in agreement with my goal, wants to up my calories by 200 a day for the next six weeks with the aim to having me at about 1800 calories a day in maintenance. But is also looking to mix up my macros to better suit my age and body mass. Was just really good to have someone qualified spend an hour going through everything in detail."0 -
Struggling to get back on plan. Last weekend was a mess because I got my second Covid shot on Thursday and it hit me hard. I swear I checked off every normal side effect and then some. I could barely get out of bed Friday so I ended up ordering in both lunch and dinner. Then Saturday I had 0 appetite (also a known side effect) so I was WAY WAY low so Sunday I ate like crazy. Now I can't seem to get myself to STOP eating. Even when I am not hungry I want to just snack away.
Okay... deep breaths. I can do this.
I now have 3 Disney trips planned from next December until sometime in 2027. My goal is to not be in pain with all the walking and losing this weight will go a long way towards that. Just got to keep my eye on the prize. Maybe I need more prizes? lol5 -
Struggling to get back on plan. Last weekend was a mess because I got my second Covid shot on Thursday and it hit me hard. I swear I checked off every normal side effect and then some. I could barely get out of bed Friday so I ended up ordering in both lunch and dinner. Then Saturday I had 0 appetite (also a known side effect) so I was WAY WAY low so Sunday I ate like crazy. Now I can't seem to get myself to STOP eating. Even when I am not hungry I want to just snack away.
Okay... deep breaths. I can do this.
I now have 3 Disney trips planned from next December until sometime in 2027. My goal is to not be in pain with all the walking and losing this weight will go a long way towards that. Just got to keep my eye on the prize. Maybe I need more prizes? lol
From what you described the same thing would have happened to me. Your body and brain are overcompensating.
Now is the time to redirect though. Don't think about stopping, think about detouring. Tell yourself you can eat whatever you want as long as it is very low calorie. That should flip the switch in your brain back to its normal position. As long as you keep eating craveable/treat food the switch will stay on EAT MORE.
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On the subject of what @NovusDies mentioned; not always, but sometimes, I've noticed this myself. If I am in the "goodies" drawer and hitting the chocolate or ice cream or what have you and more more more.... well... eating a tangy pickle with some cheese or tuna or something totally sharply and contrasting in terms of taste which gets me out of the "mmmm tastes sooo good" state... seems to help me pull out of it!5
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On the subject of what @NovusDies mentioned; not always, but sometimes, I've noticed this myself. If I am in the "goodies" drawer and hitting the chocolate or ice cream or what have you and more more more.... well... eating a tangy pickle with some cheese or tuna or something totally sharply and contrasting in terms of taste which gets me out of the "mmmm tastes sooo good" state... seems to help me pull out of it!
This can sometimes work for me too. Always worth a try!4 -
On the subject of what @NovusDies mentioned; not always, but sometimes, I've noticed this myself. If I am in the "goodies" drawer and hitting the chocolate or ice cream or what have you and more more more.... well... eating a tangy pickle with some cheese or tuna or something totally sharply and contrasting in terms of taste which gets me out of the "mmmm tastes sooo good" state... seems to help me pull out of it!
Totally equated to this.... and then got to the part about trying something “ totally sharp & contrasting”! My mind isn’t there to do that when I’m off piste....I must look like a version of a1980’s style Pac-Man devouring all in their path 😂😂😬....sigh!2 -
okay; quickly flying in for a hi, I'm still alive! lol
I admit that I'm in the frustrating place of plateau/regain and its driving me crazy; the brain is winning lately on the cravings side. I haven't been able to get my walks restarted either, but on the other hand, with as crazy as my life has been in the last 2 months, its little wonder!
The wedding went very well and we are still in the blissful stages of a young marriage lol we are slowly refinding the house; at first, our home was just a path through boxes and furniture, but little by little, we've been getting things in order. I still have a cabinet for the kitchen to put together and an old china cabinet to dismantle, a large bean bag to vacuum down and some furniture to rearrange and boxes of books to unload or store until we get more shelving to put them on lol We really do need at least one more room in this house!
And then there's getting the oil changed in the mowers, weed killer to spray, fruits trees to spray, garden boxes to get in order, potato towers to build, a french drain ditch to dig, a footer to dig if I can't find someone with a ditchwitch or a small backhoe to do for me (because I can't afford at this point to rent since we spent so much on the remodel).
So it's probably little wonder that I'm having trouble getting back into diet mode lol I am learning to eat lower carb thanks to the new husband's dietary needs. He's getting back into kitosis and we're learning kitchen routines; now its just a matter of training him to pay attention to the calories and amounts he uses in ingredients, and I really do need to start back to counting my calories and quit the munching! And trying to get my walks restarted. I just have so much to do in the evenings that getting one in hasn't been possible and trying to get up early enough to do one in the AM hasn't worked, either.
I'll get it eventually; I need to re-lose that 30 lbs I've regained and then try to get the next 20 off, and I'd really like to do that this year, if I can ever start winning the battle with my brain again *sigh* But the hubby is supportive without being overbearing, which I greatly, greatly appreciate! And its been very interesting and refreshing to see my state through his eyes. We are still very much twitterpated lol; even with all the stress of hte wedding and moving and remodeling our lives (him moreso than me as he says he stills feels like he's on vacation and Green Bay is home; its going to take a while for him to really get it sunk in that he now lives here and not there) we've found that we are very compatible and have not gotten into an argument. We've seen we can easily disagree without being disagreeable and we seem to have a good knack for backing off when we sense the other is getting frustrated, which is good to learn! lol12 -
bmeadows380 wrote: »
The wedding went very well and we are still in the blissful stages of a young marriage
WHAT??? I disappear for a few months and this is what I miss???? CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!6 -
@bmeadows380 - Congratulations on the new life you are creating. You will make your way back here soon enough!2
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Congratulations Bmeadows and new husband!....would love to see some pictures!4
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I wish you two all the best and all happiness together. Life is so much easier with the right partner.
In my news, I may have a stress fracture in my foot, so I'll be doing a lot more sitting and a lot less weightbearing for a while.7 -
I am recovering from a dangerously low B-12 and I’m starting to feel better. So it’s time to get off the couch. I have been going on a few walks, just not consistently. My work schedule right now is all over the place because of our lockdown. So it is hard to get into a rhythm. Secondly my hubby who also needs to lose weight hasn’t been sleeping well and refuses to get off the couch. How do I convince him to join me?5
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@jwall956 - Good for you! Only way I can think of to inspire your hubby is to do it yourself and enjoy the results. Not suggesting he do it at all - leave it entirely up to him - nor making comments like "see if you got up you would feel this too." (that wouldn't work for me in a million years - I would only sink deeper into those couch cushions...lol).
But - if he sees you enjoying the movement and enjoying some weightloss as a side benefit perhaps he will want to try too?4 -
lauriekallis wrote: »@jwall956 - Good for you! Only way I can think of to inspire your hubby is to do it yourself and enjoy the results. Not suggesting he do it at all - leave it entirely up to him - nor making comments like "see if you got up you would feel this too." (that wouldn't work for me in a million years - I would only sink deeper into those couch cushions...lol).
But - if he sees you enjoying the movement and enjoying some weightloss as a side benefit perhaps he will want to try too?
I second this. I started walking and running at the beginning of lockdown last year, added in some yoga, started trying to do push-ups. My husband wasn't interested, and I never pushed it, but he was impressed with my new muscles and how I went from nothing to running a few miles. Some time in winter, he randomly/secretly decided to start exercising, and now is super into doing daily push-ups, squats, and rows. He's been doing it ever since, and now talks about it allllllll the time
But I think had I pushed it at all, it would have turned him off of it (I know it would have for me!). Do your thing, be awesome, and it might inspire him to do the same. (And it might not, and that's okay too!)3 -
Thank you for the advise!2
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I would say that on occasion, but not every time, you go for a walk, you can say casually, "You can come too if you like," and when he says no, say, "Okay, love you, back in half an hour" or whatever.
That leaves the door open. It's harder for him to ASK to go with. If it's clear that you always welcome the company but you're fine doing it alone, he has a much smaller hump to get over to go with you.6 -
@bmeadows380 - thanks for popping in and giving us an update! Been thinking of you. So glad you are both so happy. Big changes for you both, but life will settle down soon and you'll be back in the grove with your fitness goals.2
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Hi there everyone I am new here. I currently weigh 120KG looking to get down to 85KG. Starting tomorrow I am taking back control of my life. Going to go for a 3.5 mile walk and then setting goal only to drink water for the day. I understand it's a long journey but I am ready 😀3
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mralexanderhamilton wrote: »Hi there everyone I am new here. I currently weigh 120KG looking to get down to 85KG. Starting tomorrow I am taking back control of my life. Going to go for a 3.5 mile walk and then setting goal only to drink water for the day. I understand it's a long journey but I am ready 😀
Have you figured out yet how to log your caloric intake count(s) for the day? Any idea, as of yet, what your daily activity level is and how many calories you normally expend in order to achieve it? What deficit either as a number of calories (as most people would express it), or as a percentage of caloric expended (as I think would be best viewed) are you aiming for?2 -
Lol thank you for all the advise. Lockdown is ending for us now and I am back to work full time, so now I have to try and figure out how I am going to get exercise every day. Uhg. Just when you think you have a routine, it changes.3
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Lol thank you for all the advise. Lockdown is ending for us now and I am back to work full time, so now I have to try and figure out how I am going to get exercise every day. Uhg. Just when you think you have a routine, it changes.
You lose weight in the kitchen, not the gym....I did no exercise the entire first year on MFP...now at two years, I have lost 109 lbs.....best of luck on your new healthy life!3 -
Anyone here deal with anxiety and depression? How do you handle diet when things get really bad? Like, want to curl up in a ball in bed, cry, and not leave bad. Like, want to shut down bad. Because that is where I am today and even making my tuna sandwich at lunch was draining.5
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Anyone here deal with anxiety and depression? How do you handle diet when things get really bad? Like, want to curl up in a ball in bed, cry, and not leave bad. Like, want to shut down bad. Because that is where I am today and even making my tuna sandwich at lunch was draining.
HUGS! For me these days it is more more anxiety than depression, but they do like to tag team. When things get bad, I make mental health my big priority.
I've found that prioritizing my mental health makes sticking to my plan much easier. And, turns out, guilt tripping myself about not sticking to my plan when I'm spiraling definitely does NOT help, lol. Do you what you need to do to try and improve your mental health - meditate, exercise, get outside, take medication if you have it (or ask your doctor about starting/switching if needed), do some CBT exercises, talk to a therapist. The long term benefits will far outweigh any off days in the meantime.
That being said, no matter how well controlled it is, we will all still have bad days/weeks/months. When I'm feeling energetic and able to plan ahead, I try to keep the freezer and pantry stocked with easy, quick, portion-controlled food. Amy's frozen burritos, any microwaveable meal, those frozen bags of veggies, pasta, and sauce, etc... I'll also often freeze dinner leftovers in individual portion bags. Then on bad days, I can still have healthy, homemade food with minimal effort. If I feel like I would be able to control my portions, I might even do takeout.
If you have the energy to make it out to the grocery store, look for pre-cut, pre-packaged convenience foods. Pre-cut veggies and a tub of hummus, microwavable bags of rice or curries (usually heavy in sodium, but manageable for calories). Do you have a partner, friend, or family member who could make you a meal or pick something up from the store? Anything to make it easier on yourself until you are feeling better again.
I hope this passes quickly for you and that you get back to feeling like yourself.3 -
HUGS! For me these days it is more more anxiety than depression, but they do like to tag team. When things get bad, I make mental health my big priority.
I've found that prioritizing my mental health makes sticking to my plan much easier. And, turns out, guilt tripping myself about not sticking to my plan when I'm spiraling definitely does NOT help, lol. Do you what you need to do to try and improve your mental health - meditate, exercise, get outside, take medication if you have it (or ask your doctor about starting/switching if needed), do some CBT exercises, talk to a therapist. The long term benefits will far outweigh any off days in the meantime.
That being said, no matter how well controlled it is, we will all still have bad days/weeks/months. When I'm feeling energetic and able to plan ahead, I try to keep the freezer and pantry stocked with easy, quick, portion-controlled food. Amy's frozen burritos, any microwaveable meal, those frozen bags of veggies, pasta, and sauce, etc... I'll also often freeze dinner leftovers in individual portion bags. Then on bad days, I can still have healthy, homemade food with minimal effort. If I feel like I would be able to control my portions, I might even do takeout.
If you have the energy to make it out to the grocery store, look for pre-cut, pre-packaged convenience foods. Pre-cut veggies and a tub of hummus, microwavable bags of rice or curries (usually heavy in sodium, but manageable for calories). Do you have a partner, friend, or family member who could make you a meal or pick something up from the store? Anything to make it easier on yourself until you are feeling better again.
I hope this passes quickly for you and that you get back to feeling like yourself.
My anxiety has been up all week. There is a lot going on. Work is insane and they are about to start having us back in the office 1 day a week. I am also going to be learning some new stuff. So it's just a lot of change. It's just today it seems the depression has hitched a ride for a wonderful 1 2 punch.
I am on medication (2 in fact) plus I see a therapist. My next therapy appointment is Monday so very soon and I am going to talk to her about what may be going on. I also want to get her advice on how to approach my new doctor about getting a new prescription for some "emergency" anxiety meds without sounding like I just want some drugs. I used to have one but I used it all... it only took me a year to go through like 10 pills lmao.
And I agree about the guilt with sticking to the plan makes it harder. My therapist says I have food anxiety most likely from having to cut so much out and always being worried if something is going to cause me a flare. I become afraid of food. And it's not just the possibility of pain, but it does also end up bleeding into weight loss and if a food is "good" or "healthy".
I think I am going to order in tonight. I have a go to order from the local BBQ place that will fit my calories almost perfectly. Even with their amazing banana pudding. Plus, it is still "real" food as opposed to fast food (not that fast food is inherently "bad" but I know in my mind set it would just make me feel worse right now). I shifted my meal plans around and everything fits well taking tonight off.
Gonna just try to take care of myself tonight, even if that meals curling up in bed with old episodes of Ghost Hunters on Discovery+ and eating delivered BBQ.
Thank you so much for reaching out. Today is a struggle and I am feeling very alone so it did help.
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I feel that so hard lol. I can count the number I've taken in the last year on one hand, and it is hard to get....and mine isn't even the good stuff! Just essentially benadryl on steroids. Sometimes I find that even just knowing I have the "emergency" ones on hand helps to manage the anxiety. Like, they are there if I need them, and that in itself is a relief.HUGS! For me these days it is more more anxiety than depression, but they do like to tag team. When things get bad, I make mental health my big priority.
I've found that prioritizing my mental health makes sticking to my plan much easier. And, turns out, guilt tripping myself about not sticking to my plan when I'm spiraling definitely does NOT help, lol. Do you what you need to do to try and improve your mental health - meditate, exercise, get outside, take medication if you have it (or ask your doctor about starting/switching if needed), do some CBT exercises, talk to a therapist. The long term benefits will far outweigh any off days in the meantime.
That being said, no matter how well controlled it is, we will all still have bad days/weeks/months. When I'm feeling energetic and able to plan ahead, I try to keep the freezer and pantry stocked with easy, quick, portion-controlled food. Amy's frozen burritos, any microwaveable meal, those frozen bags of veggies, pasta, and sauce, etc... I'll also often freeze dinner leftovers in individual portion bags. Then on bad days, I can still have healthy, homemade food with minimal effort. If I feel like I would be able to control my portions, I might even do takeout.
If you have the energy to make it out to the grocery store, look for pre-cut, pre-packaged convenience foods. Pre-cut veggies and a tub of hummus, microwavable bags of rice or curries (usually heavy in sodium, but manageable for calories). Do you have a partner, friend, or family member who could make you a meal or pick something up from the store? Anything to make it easier on yourself until you are feeling better again.
I hope this passes quickly for you and that you get back to feeling like yourself.
My anxiety has been up all week. There is a lot going on. Work is insane and they are about to start having us back in the office 1 day a week. I am also going to be learning some new stuff. So it's just a lot of change. It's just today it seems the depression has hitched a ride for a wonderful 1 2 punch.
I am on medication (2 in fact) plus I see a therapist. My next therapy appointment is Monday so very soon and I am going to talk to her about what may be going on. I also want to get her advice on how to approach my new doctor about getting a new prescription for some "emergency" anxiety meds without sounding like I just want some drugs. I used to have one but I used it all... it only took me a year to go through like 10 pills lmao.
And I agree about the guilt with sticking to the plan makes it harder. My therapist says I have food anxiety most likely from having to cut so much out and always being worried if something is going to cause me a flare. I become afraid of food. And it's not just the possibility of pain, but it does also end up bleeding into weight loss and if a food is "good" or "healthy".
I think I am going to order in tonight. I have a go to order from the local BBQ place that will fit my calories almost perfectly. Even with their amazing banana pudding. Plus, it is still "real" food as opposed to fast food (not that fast food is inherently "bad" but I know in my mind set it would just make me feel worse right now). I shifted my meal plans around and everything fits well taking tonight off.
Gonna just try to take care of myself tonight, even if that meals curling up in bed with old episodes of Ghost Hunters on Discovery+ and eating delivered BBQ.
Thank you so much for reaching out. Today is a struggle and I am feeling very alone so it did help.
BBQ and banana pudding and some comfort TV sounds like the perfect thing. My go-to comfort show is Psych (with Indian food delivery). Also, I'm always here for mental health venting, commiserating, and/or solution brainstorming.
I hope you can get some rest and relief tonight, and that tomorrow is a better day!!
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So... I am feeling a lot better this week, especially after talking to my therapist yesterday. I think we made some progress on what caused my total breakdown last week and what my brain is doing. Next appointment we will work on ways to hopefully keep it from happening or at least coping mechanisms to help me through it.
I am eating out of my freezer as much as possible over the next couple of weeks in order to make space. Once I clear out some room, I want to stock it up. I will get some premade frozen meals (like Trader Joes Chicken Pot Pie) and things that are easy to make (veggie burgers and also freeze buns), but I also want to make a couple things to have in there. Anyone have any suggestions?4
