Testify!!!!!!!!!

i started this site, the beginning of April, and although im still working on my weight loss, before this i had hit a plateau, and this has helped me to break that, in addition it educates you on the nutritional facts of the foods your eating, to be able to look at the foods and go wow that has how much sodium, carbs etc, and make the necessary changes helps you to be more mindful,and smart about some of the food choices we make. I think this is a great tool, and it's free, what's the worst thing that could happen? Regardless if your goal is weight loss, or just eating more healthful, this is a great site. Good luck, and stay positive.

I joined MFP on January 5th. I set a goal to lose 60 lbs by the next Christmas and get back to my high school weight. I was overeating, inactive, and unhealthy. Almost 4 months later, I am 32 lbs lighter, have gotten out of the "obese" category, and have passed my half-way mark.

I have had my target set at 1.5 lbs/week. Some weeks I lose 1/2 a pound, other weeks I've lost as much as 5 lbs. I eat most of my calories every day - that's counting exercise calories. Most days I have 100 - 200 left over, but I figure that gives me room for errors in the nutritional values estimates, and tiny bites I take here and there. I think I've only gone over my calories 3 or 4 times in 4 months - by 100+ calories. I haven't really denied myself any foods. I eat the same stuff I always did, just MUCH SMALLER portions. And lots of extra veggies and fruits now. I've also switched white bread for whole wheat, regular pasta for whole wheat pasta, 1% milk for skim, regular beef to reduced fat or ground turkey, regular cookies/snacks to 100 calorie snack packs. I still go out to Happy Hour with my friends, I still eat pizza, I just plan for it. I log almost everything the night before so that I have a plan for each day.

I'm not a hard-core exerciser, but I'm proud of my work so far. During the week I do cardio, light weight, or yoga videos at home, and on the weekends I spend about 45 minutes at the park doing a combination of jogging and fast-paced walking (4.0 - 4.5 mph). Sometimes I will go hiking, go out dancing, etc.

This website has been exactly what I needed. I love being able to log everything, see it's nutritional value, and keep myself on track, but I've learned how to do it on my own (should I ever have to). My tips for new people:

1. Set realistic goals for yourself.
2. Get moving!
3. Eat all (or most) of your calories every day.
4. Be HONEST with yourself about what you're eating, why you're eating it, and about the exercise you do.

Best of Luck!!!

Prior to MFP I thought I was doing a great job of watching what I ate and exercising....BOY was I WRONG!

Since MFP:
- I am losing weight consistently every week,
- understand that I was living in a constant state of starvation,
- was not pushing myself hard enough during workouts
- own a heart rate monitor
- read all kinds of articles related to health and fitness
- Shop at Trader Joes! Yum!

I read these posts for hours each day, read all of the links found in the posts and eat all kinds of healthy foods I would never have thought to try before.

BUT THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME! My husband is making better decisions.
This morning my husband made himself oatmeal for breakfast instead of making a pound of bacon. At lunch he had a baked potato instead of french fries.

I've been here the same amount of time as Eve (this is a new username... my name was skinnier_me) so it will be a year in August.
I have been following this site to a T.
I give myself a "reward meal" once every week.
I've lost 10 pounds and have maintained it.

My workouts are:
Tae Bo
Turbo Jam
Running
Walking
Stationary Bike
Jogging in place (when I can't go outside to run)
Hop on my treadmill when my 2 yo isn't leached on my leg.
Aerobics from youtube.com or sparkpeople.com
Pilates

I eat ALL of my calories PLUS the exercise calories.
I was at 1200 calories when I started.
Am now @ 1820 calories.
It surpasses 2000 calories when I workout and sometimes it so hard to eat all of those cals.

This really really does work!
Eat the calories that is appointed to you plus the calories you accumulate from your exercise and you will see & feel a change in your body!


~Joanna:flowerforyou:

:flowerforyou:

I've certainly seen the light! or lighter version of me I should say!

been here since end of Jan 08, down 14 lbs and 14 inches overall...could be more I am staying away from my scale this month LOL...sigh its Banks fault LOL...

but I totally agree w/ the concept of this site, and exercise will bring you closer to your goal faster...but you have to eat!

I also think that the support and encouragement of doing something as a group especially at this place, brings you back and coming for more, more, more....w/ rebels yell and all!:glasses:

I hope this helps LOL
hugs,
Ali

I have been on here since January, have lost 27 lbs and still loosing, still have 18 pounds to go. Yes I have tried fad diet pills in the past but I loose it fast, never get to my goal weight and then when I went off it, horrible headache (addiction to the caffine I think) and I gain all my weight back because my eating habits didni't change. Anyways this time I am doing it the healthy way, taken a little bit of time, but I see the positive in the new healthy lifestyle that I made for myself and my family, I also feel good about my weight loss and don't ever seeing it come back after I do meet my goal.

I'm givin' this post the bump!!!!

...and adding my testification...I've been on MFP since late December 07, and have now lost 10 pounds...the first 7 came off rather easily just by increasing my activity level, then I got stuck. :sad: ..after reading all the posts about eating all your calories and finally doing it, :blushing: I have lost 2 pounds in 2 weeks. :drinker: ..I now check my net calories to make sure I'm at or near 1200 net every day....for all of the skeptics...EAT those calories..every last one of them!!!!!!! :drinker: :flowerforyou: :drinker: