Vegplotter Member

I think it's lovely that you are going on a cruise, but it will present real problems. I'd buy a cheap calorie counting book - they are slim volumes and will fit into your luggage. Don't stop counting - unless you wish to bring several pounds of 'duty free' adipose tissue back with you as a souvenir! I'm sure the vessel…

Why isn't it good advice? I'd genuinely like your take on starting low then increasing as you near he end of a diet.

Tell me? Do you think you are down to your ideal weight?

You will lose weight on a 250 deficit - but quite slowly. If you add back exercise calories you may be disappointed. If your maintenance intake is only 1500 then I assume you are pretty petite. Don't start on a high calorie limit only to have to reduce it later on, as you get close to your goal. I'm starting low, then…

Good luck - you can do it. Feel free to friend. Incidentally it's a very good idea to give yourself intermediate milestones.

You probably don't want to hear this but ... If you aren't losing weight after a month or so, then you are simply eating too much. You are going to have to reduce your calorie consumption.

Don't worry about loose skin. A) It tightens over time and B) As you lose weight your fatty tissue becomes softer, which looks like loose skin. Just lose a bit more and that flab will go too!

I'd be very cautious about this diet. I guess that you will lose weight, at first, but you will find it very hard to get to a normal healthy eating routine. I hate the term 'cheat'. You are only cheating your own body out of eating a healthy diet. It's not fun or amusing or naughty - it's just plain stupid. You need to…

I was shocked to discover that children who eat organic produce don't have insecticide in their systems. Insecticide is a strong nerve agent and is one of the major causes of Attention Defecit Dissorder. So I'd advise getting yourself a vegetable garden as well as jettisoning the packets. I agree with the person who…

Perhaps you are eating too many manufactured foods? It's easy to find meat, fish, veg and dairy nutritional details on the Internet or in MFP's generic lists. Fact is, if you are eating out of packets and tins the nutrition will be much reduced compared to fresh foods. If you are not eating all your nutrients then at the…

I don't eat back any of my exercise calories. I eat up to my hunger level and try to stick to nutritious foods. I'm on quite a low calorie level, but often find I'm 50 under or 50 over. I'm only interested in the weekly average. On days when I'm particularly active I might eat a bit more, on sedentary days I might eat a…

I sympathise with your dilemma. It must be awful. I don't think taking sleeping pills for 'years' is saying much for your medical support. Insomnia is curable. Pills are just a panacea. I'd advise eating a maintaining and nutritious diet while you consult a sleep therapist. Once you have cured the insomnia and weaned…

I would say the major problem with the list is that it's overwhelmingly incorrect. I don't use the general lists preferring to rely on my own foods that I've entered and checked myself.

Please note that salt and sodium are NOT the same. 1g salt=400mg sodium. The measures in MFP are sodium, but nutritional info on a lot of packaging gives the weight of salt. There are 1000mg in a gramme. Salt will make your body store more water, so you'll weigh more. Hope that helps? PS Best way to wean yourself off salt:…

In fact 100ml of milk (skimmed or full) does weigh 100gms. So it's easy to convert.

Don't worry about it. US RDAs are based on what the average American eats, not what they should eat. You'll be fine eating lower levels of protein and higher levels of complex carbohydrates. Look at the Japanese, the healthiest nation in the world. Many people would say that's because they don't eat so much protein. Don't…

+-2lbs is too little leeway. It's common for normal weight fluctuation to be +-5lbs. Keep tracking. You'll get there.

Don't attempt to go straight from a diet to full calories. Your metabolism will go mad. You've been eating for someone of about 40lbs. Your metabolism will have slowed right down to cope with that. Keep eating at the lower level you find comfortable and hold off the strength training for a few weeks/months. Continue…

I'm aiming for 40% carb, 30% protein and 30% fat. My average last week is shown below. As you can see I've changed the goals since then.

Try tofu vegetable broth. Less than 200 cals, depending on how many veg you add. Method: Buy a low calorie vegetable broth. My local supermarket does a one portion (350gms) broth with bulgar wheat at 75cal. Marinate 200gms firm tofu in 1tbsp soy sauce and 100ml water - leave in the fridge for half an hour or overnight.…

It's a pain that so much of the MFP database is frankly rubbish - especially for the vits and mins. I've taken to logging most of my foods afresh rather than using the open source database. So many people get the salt content wrong. The database is in mg and so much packaging states salt content in grammes. People under…

I think you are very brave to see that you might be teetering on the top of a slippery slide, and to admit it. Binge drinking is so bad for you on so many levels. It makes you vulnerable to accidents, to unscrupulous sexual advances not to mention general health. And it wrecks a diet. Even drinking a tiny glass of white…

Well done for getting this far. We naturally fluctuate about 5lbs, above or below our basic weight. I'd continue as you are for another two weeks, making four weeks in all. If there is still no weight loss you have three choices. 1. Grin and bare it. You've reached your natural maintenance level and you now know exactly…

For a start MFP gives you a measure of how much salt you should have each day. That's a MAXIMUM. You'll always get he minimum because it occurs naturally in many foods. Salt is the slimmers enemy because it causes you to retain water - causing weight gain and bloating. For this reason it is also implicated in high blood…

I wouldn't blanch about a lower calorie diet, neither would I ever eat back all the exercise calories. If you are enjoying your new diet, I'd recommend sticking to it.

I think you've been duped unfortunately. It's a common misconception that you need to eat more protein to build muscles. In fact almost all of us eat too much protein anyway. The recommendations are not universally agreed. They are not based on research but by collecting data on what people actually eat. Like excess…

Try milkshakes? Or just a glass of ice cold milk straight from the fridge. Can't you buy yourself a cheap microwave and a toaster? Then you can do scrambled eggs, toasted sandwiches, kippers, kedgeree, whatever you like.

Frozen yogurt is a good idea, so are fruit sorbets, but I'm betting it's the creaminess of ice cream that you are missing and not the sweetness? Are you eating low fat yogurt and skimmed milk? I find these have a disastrous effect in my dieting because I don't get enough fats. Try switching to full fat milk and yogurt. You…

I think the proof that they don't work lies in your admission that you gained weight after losing it. I know, I've made the same mistake. I think the further your 'reducing' diet is from your 'normal' eating regime, the less likely you are to maintain weight loss. Try soups and milkshakes instead. And use a few exercise…

85% coco solids chocolate - small portions. Fruit - moderate portions Add lemon juice, cinnamon or fresh mint instead of sugar. You'll be surprised how a sharp taste like lemon juice can trick your taste buds into thinking that whatever you are eating tastes sweeter! Vinegar on fresh strawberries! Yes it works!