How did you start?

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  • Kelly040404
    Kelly040404 Posts: 21 Member
    history_grrrl wrote: »
    This is such a useful and inspiring thread! I’ve only been back on MFP for a month, but I finally feel like I’m actually doing it. The biggest things for me:

    - logging food religiously and paying close attention to portion size (still shocked to realize how high-cal a normal piece of cheese is)
    - thinking ahead about a snack I might want later so I can eat less of something else earlier (I have a weakness for cashews, for example, and am now counting them out instead of mindlessly digging big handfuls out of the container - and discovering I don’t need a whole 1/3 cup at 300 calories to feel satisfied)
    - not getting the “buy two or three at a discount” items but instead just having one of whatever high-cal thing I love in the house (cashew example, or Baker’s 70% chocolate, which isn’t even that high-cal if you have a half square and savour it)
    - finding lower-cal alternatives or just using a lot less of something. My mindless norm when frying a single egg used to be to throw at least a tablespoon in the pan, but really a third of that is fine. Same with mayo; now if I’m making tuna salad, I measure and use much less - and was happy to discover years ago that half-fat Hellman’s tastes exactly like regular.
    - getting on my stationary bike or doing physio exercises if I’ve met my calorie goal for the day but want to nosh later

    A lot of this is easier when cooking at home, but others here have great advice about restaurant meals.

    I also just got a new scale and discovered how off my old one was (and not in.a good way). Now I have an even more accurate picture of what’s going on and feel like I have more control over the process.

    I have only lost a little bit so far, but even that is still motivating - and it’s so much easier to exercise with even just a few pounds off.



    -

    You are so right! I never realized how much I was eating before actually measuring/weighing. Before, I would just scoop a big pile of rice on my plate with my meal. The other night I actually measured a cup - BIG eye opener! I was probably eating 3 cups at a time before! I have to get used to that feeling of not being "stuffed" when I eat. It's hard at first, because your mind is telling you "eat more - you're hungry!", but only because you're just so used to overeating. I would mindlessly ALWAYS have seconds, sometimes thirds at dinner. Eating out of boredom. Eating just because. I weighed myself this morning and I was upset at first that I haven't lost anything since Monday (today is Thursday, lol, I know - think realistically Kelly, lol) but then I reminded myself that at least I'm not GAINING! Before I started logging daily here, I was just gaining and gaining and gaining every week! So, I'm going in the right direction at least. I also fried eggs in a ton of butter! Now I'll just use PAM. Little things like that will add up over time.
  • bobsgirlz
    bobsgirlz Posts: 9 Member
    Rockmama1111 wrote: »
    When I started this time (the day after last Thanksgiving), the oves earning calories with steps. It's very motivating.

    The other thing that really helped me was to curate a collection of about 10 low-calorie meals I know I like and will eat. I now have a regular grocery list.





    care to share the meals you have curated ? this is an issue for me and I would love to know how this came about for you. Im not much of a cook but i will try if needed ! thanks !

    Steph

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