slondro Member

Thanks so much for your comment. Well, I basically laid it all out on the table with my original post, so I don't mind your asking at all. It's hard to say exactly what all the factors are, but she's never had a problem with portion control or weight gain, and says she hates exercise. I don't push too hard past that. You…

Thanks so much for your comment! Yeah, I've talked with her, and she said she'd be happy to weigh things out. We'll try it, and I'll make an effort to find ways to make her things she enjoys.

Sauces are a good idea! Unfortunately, I don't live in America. I don't have access to many lean meats (pork and beef are mostly fatty cuts), and turkey isn't commercially available. I do tuna sometimes (fresh and canned) and do like to use eggs, but she doesn't really like the latter.

There is actually a satiety index that deals with more than just macronutrients. Are you aware of it? For instance, donuts are considered to be rather poor at satiating eaters, while boiled potatoes are very satisfying. Fried chicken is very densely caloric (and also tends to be very high in sodium), meaning I wouldn't be…

Thank you for your comments! You bring up some good points. I don't put that many hours into working out (work out around 5 times per week, and I'm usually out by the time she's off work), but the weighing things aspect may have some impact. This is something I am actively communicating about with her, and I think we're…

This is very encouraging! Thanks so much for your input. I like the idea that some of what I make can be eaten by everyone, and I can make a few adjustments for myself. If I prepare a few things for myself beforehand, that could make it even easier. In terms of results, I wish I could say the same. I've lost a lot of…

Thanks for your input. I'm aware that I could fit a lot of different foods into my macros, but satiety and portion control has been a huge problem for me in the past. Chicken breast is more satiating than fried chicken, calorie for calorie, and sliced fruits with yogurt is more satiating than a donut. As for your second…

We've talked about it, but it boils down to her feeling like meals are family time and that everyone should eat the same thing. We don't live in America and she's not American, so I don't doubt that culture may have something to do with it. I've thought about not eating in front of the TV as well... thanks for that…

Thank you very much for your input! This is definitely something to consider. It might be something I incorporate in the future.

As with almost any assertion you could make other than "weight loss occurs from burning more calories than you take in," there is going to be a lot of debate. However, I've heard a decent amount about people who have refeeds (particularly focusing on carbs) to refill their glycogen stores, but this usually applies to…

I still feel hesitant to almost max out my allotted calories, but so far it's been working out nicely. I am firmly convinced that one of the keys to successfully losing weight is ridding yourself of the thought that it's always better to eat less. That just leads to intense hunger and eventually binging. On a healthy…

I know everyone's body is different, but have you checked your macros? When my macros were a bit out of balance--particularly with fat too low--I had unbelievable cravings for fatty foods and refined sugars. And you know what? I started giving my body more fat, and the cravings have all but subsided (fingers crossed!). A…

OP, how active are you? If you exercise a lot, 1580 might be a little too low. The main thing here is that MFP, TDEE calculators, and all that do a very good job with the information they have, but all they can really do is estimate based on a cookie-cutter picture of who you are. Everyone's body works differently,…

I can definitely relate to this, and honestly, some days I just don't feel it. In general, though, the iPod can be your friend. I agree with the suggestion about podcasts. This American Life is a great show with a huge back catalog to keep you company during cardio, for instance. Another idea is to think of cardio as your…

Yeah, I definitely understand the sentiment that the converse side of diligently controlling and planning your calories/macros is that eating leaving matters up to your intuition can become a source of stress. Although I only started logging a week ago, this is something I've thought about as well--what is the logical end…

The urge to binge could come from a lot of different factors, and I struggled quite a bit myself with similar experiences. BackbeattheFire hit on all the important points, I think. To reiterate, what do your macros look like? Are you getting enough protein and fat? Personally, I have 50% of my calories from carbs and 25%…

Fascinating stuff! Eating far below my original TDEE initially produced great results, but then after a while (presumably when my fat stores dropped to a certain point), I started binging periodically. I'm sure the binging affected my metabolism as well (I hear taking in lots of carbs makes it rocket up). To add to that, I…

I'm basically doing an IIFYM plan based on TDEE-20%, and I've already seen some encouraging results. I'll keep watching my numbers! Yeah, one of the greatest joys of MFP is being able to plan out meals that hit every macro and taste great. It's almost like a game, but one where the reward is feeling your body being…

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I'm hoping that's the case for me as well. I've lost about a pound in the past week, so I'm tentatively hopeful! I am aware that water weight and the time of day can be factors, though, so I'll stay vigilant.

Thanks for the replies! I am indeed weighing everything, and even rounding calories up fairly often. I think the main difference is that I'm eating much more fat now, where I was barely getting any before. Perhaps that's a factor?

No fish will be too high in carbs, but some of the cuts will have higher fat than others. I love yellowtail (buri or hamachi), but it's very fatty--about 260 calories per 100 g (3.5 oz.). As pope said, though, it's healthy fats! But the calories do add up quick. Tuna sashimi (akami--the red one) is very high in protein and…

I think our bodies do send some cues for us to eat certain things. When I began logging my intake on MFP, for instance, I realized I wasn't eating nearly enough fat. Suddenly it made sense that I couldn't put down the jar of peanut butter once I opened it. Now that I'm actively paying attention to my fat intake, while I…

It's hard to beat the versatility and benefits of chicken breast, so I have that nearly every day. Also full-fat yogurt, since it's a good source of fat, actually not that high in calories, and is delicious with any fruit. Also, whenever I have the extra calories and haven't had enough protein, definitely natural peanut…

Thanks ksuh and Lissa! Unfortunately short grain brown rice doesn't seem to be in the database on Nutrition Data, but ksuh's calculation is extremely close to what I've been finding. I do find that Japanese rice tends to be stickier and more glutinous, even aside from sushi rice--presumably having to do with the…

Thanks for your reply, Joe. I usually find I'm plenty full even using the higher Japanese values; I just didn't want to cheat myself out of a bunch of carbs and calories and end up binging out of desperation at some undetermined point in the future.

A sweet tooth can come from any number of things, but there are some measures you can take to lessen it. 1. Make sure you get plenty of water. Try having a glass of water and waiting a few minutes--your body may actually be mistaking dehydration for the need for sugar. 2. Try to focus on sources of sugar with a lower…

I eat chicken breast all the time--it's so versatile and is great for protein! I have a few mainstay recipes that are quick and easy, as I'm usually in a rush to eat as well! Here are two I like: Faux-Indian Chicken: Cut a suitable portion (150 grams or so?) of boneless, skinless chicken breast into strips, season lightly…

Basically agree with most of the people before me. Staying hydrated is extremely important, without a doubt, but logging the actual number of cups is probably not necessary. For example, when I'm working out, I usually fill my water bottle once or twice, but I also do a whole lot of sweating. I could report every ounce of…

What kind of workout do you do? If it's primarily cardio and aimed at burning calories, I wouldn't bother if I felt fine without food. Are you doing weight training? In this case, I'd recommend you not do it on an empty stomach. I usually grab 10-15 grams of almonds and a few apple slices, along with a cup of coffee.

Haha, honestly, I started out wishing I could be running, but my flat feet kept causing problems. I find that I sweat more and have a higher heart rate after 20 minutes on the elliptical than after 20 minutes running, though, so I'm sure it's a good cardio workout. By the way, does everyone here use their arms while…