At Goal & Successfully Maintaining. So Why Am I Doing This All Over Again?

On the subject of recording workouts….

Be mindful of what you’re putting in your diary for a workout, regardless of whether you’re entering by hand, using what the machine at the gym says, or relying on a fitness tracker.

MFP’s algorithm can return some pretty wild figures.

Gym equipment notoriously records 25-100% more calorie burn than you may actually be burning. That can be because you didn’t take the time to enter your age and weight when starting, lack of equipment maintenance, or simply to give gym goers an electronic attaboy.

IMHO fitness trackers are more accurate, but they’re not 100% accurate nor foolproof. For example, I have fallen in the habit of forgetting to end my “workout” after taking the High Anxiety Dog for a walk or run. My watch is still giving me a few calories after I’ve unleashed, doffed the coat, and given HAD a treat for “no barky bark” (if he’s earned one).

Why does this even matter?

BL has been hand entering his Tai Chi workouts into his diary using MFP’s algorithm.

MFP was awarding him 418 calories for a typical hour class.

Yesterday he recorded Tai Chi on his watch. “Dance” was the closest matching category, and it awarded him 45 calories for 41 minutes. He thought that was low, so awarded himself an extra 100. 🤦🏻‍♀️

In any event, eating back the 418 versus 145 calories is a massive difference- probably close to or exceeding the daily deficit he needs to continue weight loss.

A generous piece of gym equipment that awards you 900 calories for a 30 minute trip on the elliptical can throw your whole plan sideways, leading to plateaus, even weight gain.

And don’t forget, someone with higher weight burns way more calories than someone who is smaller, doing the same exercise. My own calorie burn dropped maybe a third versus what it was in the beginning- even though my workouts are more challenging now. (Hey, enjoy it while ya got it!)


If ever in doubt, take a moment and Google. There’s lots of calculators that can give you an idea if your exercise calories are in line.

Better yet, throw it out here on the boards and ask. You’ll get lots of feedback, helpful - sometimes brisk and to the point, but still helpful.

I’m also going to go out on a limb here with some tough love. If you’re trying to lose weight, recording housework and cooking chores as “exercise “isn’t going to help you. These were things I already did when I was obese. Exercise is workouts or activity over and above what you already do in a normal day. You’re cheating yourself if you start nitpicking every activity.

OTOH, I have a friend who does that and bless her heart, she’s lost a bunch a weight, even though it drives me nuts to see “housecleaning” come up on my feed. Whatever works.

Confession time. I really enjoy doing a one legged sideways yoga pose when loading the dishwasher. I feel like a dog stretching must feel.

We went to the local Mexican restaurant. The good one.

Waitress came to drop a bowl of chips and salsa off and husband put up his hand. ✋🏻

“No thanks,” said he.

I nearly fell out of the booth in astonishment.

“I don’t have the calories for it and really, all we need is the meal anyway.”

Talk about mixed emotions. Cue vast secret disappointment and enormous pride.

I usually get bell pepper strips for the salsa but he said no to those, too. “Just wait”, sez he.

And he was right. Dinner was big and filling and fit in our calories.

Like the anal MFP idiots, no, Warriors we are, we spent our time calculating how many chips in a bowl, and how many calories we’d saved.

BL did awesome today. Well within calorie goals.

Me, I’ve polished of a 500gr pack of chocolate covered glazed Holiday gingerbread and 200 more of little chocolate flowers covered in nonpareils (sugar beads).

Thank God I told daughter to bring only one of each with her.

My stomach hurts and this has been the longest day in memory. She’s asked us not to go to our gyms or the yoga studio, and to wear masks out everywhere while she’s here because she’s terrified she’ll get Covid and won’t be able to get back home (lives in Europe). I didn’t realize how much of my day is filled with classes and workouts. I’ve looked at Pinterest til my eyes have crossed while she recovers from jet lag. I am literally climbing the walls.

BL is fine He closed his ring setting out folding chairs (masked and distanced per her request) for the Veterans Day observation. It ‘s pouring rain and me and the dog are looking at each other like “what’ll we do do the next hour?” because this is usually evening walkies time for the two of us.

Weight loss. The double edged sword. Energy to burn and when you can’t, what do ya do? Boredom eat gingerbread and chug hot drinks.

the irony.