I decided to come back and take charge of my life...

alethionaut
alethionaut Posts: 2
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
I joined MFP last year with the intention of keeping myself motivated. Three years ago I lost 2.5 stone on Weightwatchers and felt amazing. Since then, there have been house moves, career changes, relationship breakdowns and although none of this is an excuse, in the three years since I have gained over 3 stone.

Two weeks ago I started re-using My Fitness Pal and for the past month I have been working out in the gym 5/6 mornings a week - 15mins on Cross Trainer, 15mins on Bicycle and doing 10mins jog/10mins walking on treadmill. My first goal is to try to gain some element of fitness back before I work on my core strength.

I have seen no weight loss in the past month or so making the gym effort (I weigh once a week on the same set of scales, before exercising) although I have felt good, more energetic, and I itch to go to the gym. My skin is looking a lot better too that I have cut out the junk. I know I should measure to get a better estimate of how things are going but I know that I have joined the gym to yes, kickstart the weight loss but also because I am sick of being unhealthy and unfit. I have three dogs - I want to take them for runs. I want to be able to swim lengths to get my dream job.

I have got 40 pounds to lose to get to my first personal target, for my height and age this is the "higher" weight according to those snazzy online calculators.

I joined Slimming World at the start of this year but I didn't like the way the plan was organised (I prefer writing it down and seeing the damage rather than this 2/3rds this and 1/3rd that and this is a sin and that is a sin malarky). However I'm wondering if the group support would spur me on?

I guess I could just do with a bit of motivation and support to keep me going.

I have had my profile set at 1800 calories a day - is this too much/ too little for me?

My stats
26 yo female
Started eating meat again after 15 years of Vegetarianism (I will go back to Veg when I know I can maintain my weight after target)
12st 10 (178 pounds - when I joined MFP last year I was 184 so there has been SOME loss but not what it should be)
5foot 4
Sedentary Lifestyle (up until a month ago when I started the gym I was very lazy! Desk Job, Car Driver, Yadda Yadda)

Replies

  • svincent1217
    svincent1217 Posts: 10 Member
    I have had my profile set at 1800 calories a day - is this too much/ too little for me?

    My stats
    26 yo female
    Started eating meat again after 15 years of Vegetarianism (I will go back to Veg when I know I can maintain my weight after target)
    12st 10 (178 pounds - when I joined MFP last year I was 184 so there has been SOME loss but not what it should be)
    5foot 4
    Sedentary Lifestyle (up until a month ago when I started the gym I was very lazy! Desk Job, Car Driver, Yadda Yadda)

    I seem to have the same stats as you
    26 yo
    174 (186 when i began)
    5 foot 7
    Sedentary life (desk job that requires 3 days a week at gym - 60 minutes ea)

    MFP set my calorie intake at 1200 a day. At my weight and sedentary lifestyle with the goal of wanting to lose 2 lbs a week, it set it to 1200 calroies. At 1500 calorie it would be a 1.5 lb loss a week and at 1800 calories a day it would only be a pound each week. I would adjust the setting on MFP to your goals. I think you will find that maybe 1800 is too much for your current weightloss goals. Make sure you input your workouts in MFP as well though as it adjust your calories for the day to take into account the activities.
  • alethionaut
    alethionaut Posts: 2
    Thanks!

    I guess I am really disheartened by all this as I am following a healthy food plan, I have cut out junk and making better choices regarding eating out and alcoholic drinks. Add this to the exercise I am doing - I am definitely getting fitter, but not losin any weight. It's hard to keep myself motivated =[
  • kimdarren
    kimdarren Posts: 76 Member
    You'd be pleasantly surprised at the support on MFP. Like you, I've tried absolutely everything and I've only ever lost about 7lbs and then not been able to go any further with it. I've now lost 19lbs, over nearly 6 months, but it's soooooo much better than any other program i've done. Although I'm loosing it slowly, I am KEEPING IT OFF! With the other programs I lost alot quickly but then put it back on again once I stopped their routine/program of eating. I'm eating the same foods as everyone else in the household and I don't need different foods for me. I look at this as a lifestyle change, not a diet. It took me 20yrs to put the weight on, I'm not gonna moan about it taking a few months longer than I'd hoped. And the support from other members of MFP is much better than anything I've experienced before.

    You'll be fine. When your clothes get too big, and you've got more energy to do things, it doesn't matter what the scale says. No two scales are ever the same anyway.

    Good Luck xx
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