BananaJoanna Member

That's a great idea. Thanks! I'm actually finding it hard to eat all my maintenance-level calories, because I am so used to eating lower now. I'm definitely above 1,500, but it's more like 1,700 instead of 1,990. So yeah, I probably still will lose a bit (or delay gaining longer than would otherwise be the case while…

I should add: before pregnancy, I was doing just fine on 1,500, only going over if I indulged in a little extra for a special occasion, or just because, but not because I was hungry!

I love swimming, which I try to do once a week. I also try to go to a yoga class once a week, but I have to stop going to my hot yoga class and find another one. Otherwise, I really like lifting weights, following along with an aerobics video or literally just jogging around my basement while listening to my jams. For some…

Hello! This is exactly the kind of group I was looking for. I am mid-30s and recently learned I will be expecting my second child next spring. I don't want to necessarily be dieting while pregnant, per se, but since I began this pregnancy about 7 lbs heavier than I began the last one, I want to make sure that the weight I…

Thanks, everyone! I do like Quest bars, but find they get squashed in my bag. I've spent too many minutes desperately peeling a sticky wrapper off a flattened bar. I will try the other ones.

My goal is 140. In my 20s, that was the heaviest I ever got and I had managed to get down to about 125 lbs with intense exercise regimen and healthy eating, but that's no longer realistic for me with my job and being a mom. I'm now 150 lbs and think 140 is achievable and healthy. I really love to eat good food and need to…

Nice work, Coleteo! It turns out it took me a bit longer than a day to get back on track and I was up 1.5 lbs at last weigh-in. Sigh! But yesterday I forced myself to start tracking again and things are definitely looking up for me. I'm excited about eating healthy and exercising again and for keeping up that happy…

HIGH FIVE, fellow Instant Pot lover! This changed my life.

Do you have a slow cooker? This is what started getting into meal prep when I returned to work: http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/

Here's a huge thumbs up to bringing lunch to work. It's probably the single habit change that has had the biggest impact these past few weeks, on both my body and my budget! Sometimes I still bring it to a local food court, though, as buying lunch was as much about getting out of the office as it was about eating. But I…

I'm in a similar situation, except I don't have to get up as early unless I'm exercising. My way of exercising is to go to bed early and get up early, but it seems you're already doing that. Is there any way you could let the chores slide a bit, or get some help? I've never been a SAHM, so mild chaos is my normal, but I…

I'm doing okay, but bracing myself for status quo or even a small gain on the scale this week. I just returned from a weekend away to attend a special event, where I allowed myself to eat and drink with abandon instead of being too careful. I feel like today will be a big test for me. Will I return to my healthy habits or…

I once made some chocolate peanut butter cups using PB2 and Stevia, back in the days that I was using WW and was terrified of fat. They were DISGUSTING. But they helped convince me to leave WW, so all good!

Since this is an angle no one has mentioned: Was the lunch a special occasion? A restaurant you have been dying to try? Forget about it. Consider the tracking a success. My rule for special occasions is that I enjoy the food, even if it's higher calories than I would normally eat. To me, if I am going to order a boring…

Yes, so long as you're not conflating *how much* your body *needs* with *what* your tastebuds *want.* I think starting out by tracking calories for a few months can help set anyone who is having that issue straight and then it's possible to go more with that instinct, so long as you keep making sure you are accurately…

I find a good-sized portion of Overnight Oats (which I am eating right now!) will usually keep me satisfied right until lunch, cutting out the need for a mid-morning snack. I don't experience the same with eggs.

How is everyone doing?

Is your goal to see a number on the scale you are satisfied with on Wednesday, or is it to achieve long-term weight loss by changing your habits for good? I suspect it's the latter. So no, don't respond drastically, especially if you were eating within your maintenance limit anyway. Just treat each day as a new one and try…

I'm about 16 lbs away from my goal, but I have to get to 10 lbs first! Count me in.

In the past, whenever I decide to improve my nutrition and activity levels, I think I have been too strict about maintaining a specific routine. For example, I would follow a program that meant doing a specific kind of workout on a specific day, etc. This would work really well for a few weeks, but inevitably, having to…