emilygduran Member

Seeing if this works... I'm terrible at this picture thing. The before is around 200 lb and I unfortunately don't have many pictures. The after is my current weight of 130. I'm so excited to be here after so many years of failed attempts. I really owe it all to mfp.

I'd start with active and adjust from there. I'm a server working around 16 hrs a week and lose on track with that setting, it sounds like our activity might be comparable.

I forgot to say my hunger is manageable at this level.

My bmi is about 23 and my current deficit is around 500. I'm fairly active so that still affords me at least 1600 cals, I don't go any lower or my energy level suffers.

I would say time might help. I'm your height and weight and looked very similar when I first dropped weight. After a few months things tightened up a bit more. I still have a little excess skin but expected it since I've had 3 children and been overweight most of my life.

Using an app that tracks your weight loss trend is helpful. I use Libra, I think there's one called happy scales too.

I had almost your exact stats when I started using mfp in November except my nursing toddler was slightly older. I was able to lose weight quite easily around 1600 calories, shakes and restricting to 1200 isn't necessary and might be harmful.

I think you should bump yourself up to Lightly active at least, maybe even active but then on your more laid back days deduct some calories? I work as a server around 3 days a week (15 to 20 k steps a shift) but on my off days average 6 k steps. I have found that I lose a bit faster than predicted at the lightly active…

You could type it in as a food (it has a negative value and gives you more calories) or just manually adjust your daily alloted calories. The amount you should add depends on your baby's age, I'd add 500 for an exclusively breastfed baby but more like 200 for a toddler.

I would say dizziness is a definite sign of a low calorie goal. You're very active from the sound of it and could likely lose on quite a bit more, especially at your height. For reference, I'm 5'4" and a server part time, with only a couple yoga sessions a week and losing on approximately 1700. Eat more, youll have more…

That seems like a really low calorie intake. I serve part time, maybe 15-20 hrs a week, and even eating 1600 was too little for me at one point.

I enjoy it on occasion. Ginger limeade is my absolute favorite. When I used to make it myself and drink it regularly I think it helped with digestion issues.

Ingesting essential oils can be dangerous if not done under the care of a certified aromatherapist. I would be cautious.

That's weird, it worked for me :(. Maybe try restarting the app/device/computer you're on? When I chose the option that says breastfeeding, generic 25 oz, -500 I can watch the calories from food at the top of my screen reduce. I hope you can figure out out, I hate seeing red numbers as well

I went and looked since it's been a while, there are some that add calories consumed and there are some that deduct. When choosing, use the ones that have a negative.

At least the ones I used did.

If you choose the one that says "-500" it adds the 500 to your daily total.

Log it as a food. Search for breastfeeding, there's different negative calorie counts depending on the age of the child. -500 is the one you want if the baby is only eating from you.

Hi, I'm 5'4" 141lbs and have recently lost the last of the 'baby weight' from my last daughter and would love new friends as I try to lose 10 more! I've only ever seen the 130s once in my adult life and am excited to see that number again :) feel free to add me!

Emilygduran, feel free to add me.

Congrats! Unrelated, but that might be the first time I've seen Belfair mentioned in a a magazine lol.

Applebees salads are no joke! If I'm going there I get a yummy burger with broccoli as my side, it's the same as or less than, calorie wise. If I'm eating over 1000 cals it better be worth it lol.

@jmbmilholland, I have read that but looking through my diary I'm not doing nearly as well in that area as I thought lol. Should I be aiming higher than the number mfp gives me?

OK awesome, I'll make sure to pick up a few different ones and go from there!

Apples with almond butter, babybel cheese with a few pretzel thins, jerky, celery with hummus, dried apricots, or whole wheat fig bars.

I have a similar week to you. I'm fairly sedentary on my off days but 3 to 4 days a week I'm a server. I average my activity level by setting it to Lightly active and not logging my shifts as exercise. That way I have a similar calorie goal everyday, which is how I prefer it.

This is what I was going to say. Congratulations on the baby!

I just tell myself is not worth it. When there's dead food in the window I tell all the other servers so someone will eat it before me lol.

I cook it in broth with a little taco seasoning, brown up some ground turkey with chopped onions and peppers, and mix it all together with some cheese. Black beans is a good addition too.

Thanks for the input SusanFindlay, I'll definitely start slowly increasing to find my sweet spot. It's nice to know that there is someone similar around my stats. I was starting to get confused since most of what I read about here is people eating 1600 and less and losing less.