what's "rule" do you have?

Hrm. Honestly, I don't think I have any hard fast rules about what I can and can't eat. I have guidelines, but there's always an exception to everything so I guess I don't like to have hardfast rules. But that maybe why I've only lost 4 lbs

No complex carbs after 4pm

Hmm... I definitely eat past 7:00 pm, since I stay up late and the evening is when I'm most active! I'm glad it's working for you though!

My only rule, per se, is that I pay attention to feeling satisfied as compared to feeling full.

My only rules are that I really have to want something before I eat it and I try to stay close to my MFP calorie goal. So, I decide if that piece of cake is something I really, truly want. If it is, I eat it. Usually, I don't because I know I'll be happier in the long run eating a larger quantity of lower calorie foods. But I go with the flow and take it one day at a time.

I try not to eat carbs for dinner

1)Moderation&portion size is key

2)Try to remember to log/write down everything i eat

3)Exercise 5 days a week, "rest" 2...

4)Allow myself one day off...in reason;)

5) Above all--I am a work in progress, so love the good and at least try not to focus on the trouble spots.

Rule #1: Do not have junk food in the car on the way home available.

Rule #1a: If you have junk food in the car, do not OPEN IT until you get home (so you can close it).

Rule #2: IF you have junk food in the car, avoid traffic.

Healthy Alternative: Take a healthy snack pack to work or to the gym in a cooler. Example might be a sandwhich bag filled with strawberries, cherry tomatos, to hard boiled eggs (white only), grapes, blackberries, or blueberries (when in season). When you finish your work-out or work and are hungry you can eat that in the car on the way home and it serves several purposes. It makes you less hungry when you get home, keeps you from reaching for junk, and is a good source of calories and fiber. Your body will thank you later! My dance partner did this for me when we'd finish practice or social dancing. It worked great! Bless her for helping me along my journey!


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my hard-fast rule would be half my weight in ounces of water daily.

Oh my goodness. I would drown! :drinker: :drinker:

Oh, I also really try to stick to a lean protein, veggies/fruit, and healthy carb for every meal...

Hard and fast rules .... hmm, well I guess that everyone has something. I just started MFP, but I have decided that there are two ways to approach this whole weight loss journey; your either in weight loss or maintenance.

For my weight loss journey

Hard and Fast Rule 1 ... I seem to be very sensitive to carbohydrates, meaning if I eat anything that has a high carb count, I will put on weight ... sometimes it feels that I can put on weight just by looking at it, lol. So, I decided that I would limit my carbohydrate intake to a minimum, meaning for me anyway, no breads (of any kind), no rice (of any kind), no pastas (of any kind) ... when I reach my goal weight I will introduce these carbs back into my diet but very slowly and monitor my weight to ensure that I'm not gaining because I've reintroduced them.

Rule 2 ... I alway ensure that I get no less than 7 oz of protein per day and no more than that ... again after I get to my goal weight I intend to increase this to 8-10 oz of protein per day. 3.5 oz of protein (split breakfast and lunch), 3.5 oz of protein for supper, these proteins should be consumed 4 hours apart. I also ensure that I eat whole foods, meaning no processed foods, all fresh, lots of veggies, maximum of 2 fruits per day (no bananas).

Rule 3 ... I alway drink my minimum 8-12 glass - 8 oz glasses of water, very important to hydrate and helps flush out those nasty fat/toxin from the system.

Rule 4 ... I exercise everyday (I walk 3-4 km) that's my only exercise but it get you out and moving, I just bought one of the exercise balls, maybe I'll give that a try at some point, but for now ...

Rule 5 ... I don't eat back the MFP exercise calories because I feel it's counterproductive. I get as close to the 1200 as I can and don't worry if I'm a little short.

I'm sure that there are more for me ... but that's what I feel are my "Hard and Fast" rules. Now I'm sure that you're reading this and thinking OMG, but I still have that occassional cookie, cake or restaurant meal. I just account for it, enjoy it, and get back on track the next meal. You are your own "control board".

It's a process and a journey, but you have friends here that can help. Hope this helps ... I am going to add your rule, I like that one, it makes sense to me .... Thanks.

1) Try to hit my kcal/macro targets to the best of my abilities.
2) Do not eliminate foods.

I tend to eat most of my calories right before bed. Tonight was rather extreme in that I ate 2050 kcals between 9pm and 11pm. Feels good.

But that's not a rule for me as much as it is preference. I sleep better when full, and I like fasted training, and compressed feed windows are baller.

My hard fast rule is to not eat past 6:00 and only eat when I am hungry.

You just reminded me of another rule I have.

Which is?

My #1 rule is..

Not eating cake unless its my birthday or my families birthday. I work in a pre school and there is an excuse for cake at least 2-3 times a week...it was getting out of hand! I think if you have "a thing" that is your big battle, just cut it out completely.

I try not to eat late which is past 6pm, unless I'm at work with some coffee & a snack..... work is pretty hectic walking the hospital floor so I usually burn it up. I work out at least 5 days a week, if the weather is bad I do tv exercises.