Vegplotter Member

Those estimates are pretty generous and don't take account of age or activity levels. You should also know that eating extra protein does not build muscles - the protein will simply be excreted in your faeces. If you are pooing every day and your hair is glossy, you are eating enough protein. The macros in MFP will give…

Are you taking stomach bands or liposuction?

I suggest you take a tip from baby and drink a glass of whole milk. The great thing about milk is that it provides a very balanced start to the day. By the way when you are breastfeeding I don't think you should drink skimmed or low fat versions of any dairy product. Baby needs fat to build a brain. (sorry if I sound like…

We naturally fluctuate about 4lbs. So wanting to lose 2lbs is a nonsence. You are calibrating for too small a change. You are also exercising quite a lot already - I'd say cool it. It might be time to examine your motives for even bothering about that 2lbs. Does it actually signify something else in your life that's not…

As I understand it, there is no such thing as a slow or a fast metabolism. Our bodies adjust rather well to calorie intake, both up and down. But it takes time. It's a common myth that overweight people have slow metabolisms, but in fact everybody has to eat the same calories to keep the same weight and activity level. Fat…

Well, lugging a set of scales and a wooden board around with you will certainly help you lose weight! But I don't think you should (ever) weigh yourself down with baggage. If you are moving from place to place you'll need to be able to walk around with your bag - so travel light. Take a capsule wardrobe of clothes you can…

I fear these diets come into the quick fix department and unless you are prepared to eat loads of dairy, Quorn and tofu for the rest of your life, and abandon all the delicious grains and pulses that are out there, I'd exercise caution. Perhaps try a couple of months on this diet, then gradually reintroduce carbs while…

You can change your calorie goal manually on MFP (Settings-goals-calories and macronutrients)and I assume on Fitbit. You need to decide who to go with. On MFP you can also decide to turn on or off your exercise calories (settings-goals-exercise). MFP has the pesky habit of deciding for itself how many calories you should…

Banana Melon Shake 8oz full cream raw milk (if you can get it) 1/2 banana 60gms melon 10gms rolled oats Blitz with a stick blender - delicious. The banana will add to your potassium levels, the melon is rich in Vitamin A and the oats add texture and fibre. It tastes really sweet and needs no added sugar.

We oldies get set in our ways, bad eating habits develop. But Selina, you are 34, not 84! I'm 61 and losing weight easily and fast. My body may not be as responsive as it was 30 years ago, and I only walk and do yoga, but I've learned a lot about food and nutrition over the years. I have learned that in diets there is no…

What is salt reduced butter? Butter comes out of the cow without salt in it! They add it in some factories in order to extend the shelf life. I'd suggest buying unsalted butter, then adding a tiny pinch of rock salt on top of the eggs. (Rock salt in its crystal form gives more flavour per mg than table salt - it's purer…

Why not make your own milkshakes and soups? That's what I do. Those proprietary slimming products might be useful in an emergency - but it's pretty low grade food, dull to eat and unsatisfying. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life eating food that comes dry and powdered from a packet I'd say save your money. Even…

Not sure I agree with this 100%, though I do agree that eventually the fat will recede from every part of your body. Massage and exercise of the problem area has certainly helped me reduce in those those hard to shift places. For me it's the tummy. I use a proprietary soap massage pad when I shower, and gently massage the…

The estimates of recommended protein intake that USA and UK rely on are very general. There is loads of research out there that says we don't need as much protein as the medics advise. MFP had a protein tracker, so you have a good ready reckoner, but there are other ways of judging it for yourself. Sorry to get personal,…

If you are eating between 1200 and 1400 calories each day, and getting a good balance of nutrition you are eating enough and unless you are very short and very sedentary you will be losing weight. Workouts often take a day or two to show up as weight loss, just as a binge eating day might also take a while to shimmie down…

Try tracking your waist measurement as well (there is somewhere on MFP to do that). That will give you another measure. The books say 5lbs either way is perfectly normal. So unless you have gained that much I wouldn't worry too much. Just take care with your calorie counting, track your exercise (but don't eat back all…

It sounds as if you are having a pretty stressful time at the moment and I send you loads of hugs of support - even if they are only digital hugs:). I think the solution to your problem might be in the last line of your message. You say the calorie counting isn't helping. But MFP gives you a lot more information about your…

Cold soups are great at this time of year. You can take chives or vegetables cut in strips to add to the bowl. Try gazpacho or creamed watercress. Pre cooked omlette, frittata or tortilla(potato omlette) Tabouli or quinoa salad is a change with minted yoghurt.

Well done so far. While you will probably never attain perfect beauty, you should remember that you already are a beautiful human being. Losing weight and taking exercise will make you feel healthy and look healthy. But nothing will make you feel different inside. Try to be a bit kinder and less self critical. Admire how…

I'd check swollen ankles out with a doctor. Especially if you aren't exercising much at the moment.

Well the one good thing about all this is that you know what your maintenance level is likely to be! Good luck.

Hi! Thanks for responding. I wonder whether it isn't time to increase calories (counterintuitive I know) and decrease exercise. Also cut out eating the exercise calories (if you are) You may be building muscle now, which is heavier than fat. (And you can have too much of a good thing muscle wise I'd say!) Do it very…

Try making your own shakes with milk instead. If your shake comes in a packet it's likely to be made of powdered milk, artificial flavourings and a multi vitamin. They will cause constipation. It's lack of liquids, fat AND fibre that causes constipation. I add a desert spoonful of oat flakes to my homemade milkshakes and…

My grandmother used to swear by something called Haliborange, a small pill containing VitaminC and fish oils. They are a useful supplement. Are you dieting very aggressively? It may be you need to check the macros to check that your diet is balanced. Fish oils from oily fish like tuna, mackerel and wild (but not farmed)…

Hi! The macros help us ensure that we are eating a balanced diet. If, for example you get all your calories from one food group, chances are you are not getting a good mix of nutrients. Also it's easy to fall into eating the same thing every day. If you don't mix it up a bit you might find that by the end of the week your…

I'm sorry I didn't realise your daughter was only seven years old. That's hard luck and I'm sorry the specialists have failed to help.

You are right to be cautious about any of these protein drinks. Try the 100% natural version. It's called milk, it's cheap and good for you. If you've got something against fat -and you shouldn't, you need it to metabolise vitamins - buy buttermilk which is what whey protein actually is.

I think you might have been believing the bit of the app that gives you exercise calories. Switch that off for a week or two and see the difference.

I think it's important to see exercise as a part of your day, something you do naturally, not a chore. So for me walking, gardening, volunteering, cycling instead of driving - those are the 'forever' activities. At the weekends hiking, or swimming or kyacking might be fun. In the evenings go dancing or join a yoga class.…

I have a tracker and I think it's excellent for recording steps and then motivating me to get more active in normal situations. There's no point for exercise or games because you can more accurately add that into this programme manually. What I do like to know is how many steps I've done each day. I walk, go shopping, cook…