AshleyMarie_Kj

I appreciate all the feedback! Thanks to everyone! I hope I can find the right "diet" plan that works for me. I guess patience is a virtue!

I don't eat breakfast until after my work out, I'm never hungry in the morning, so my breakfast is after my workout. Usually a fruit smoothie (I add spinach and carrots sometimes depending on what else I'm putting in my shake) and I include a protein powder meal replacing mix. I do eat a lot of fruit, after reading your…

No, I just take the average calories burned (comparing the actual cardio machine at the gym to what MFP says) and then I take a number a little lower than that.

I just need a 24/7 coach that tells me what to do and eat all day every day.

I go to the gym 6 days per week, cardio and strength training.

I've only weighed myself twice since I've started, the scale it at the gym, I don't even own one. When I do weigh in, it's in the morning, before I begin my workout. Geez, I've got people telling me to eat more and other people telling me to eat less! ????

Also, I'm not sure how the macronutrients "work." MFP automatically set my goals at 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. That I have a hard time following. It seems I eat way too many carbs. For the most part I've cut back a lot on the "bad" carbs (such as pasta and breads).

Maybe I don't understand fully how MFP works. So the 1200 calorie goal is already a deficit? Should I be eating back all of the calories I burn at the gym? I never sought out help when I had an ED as a teen, I realized what I was doing was unhealthy and would cause serious health problems if I continued, so I was able to…

The only thing I'm using to replace the missing cigarettes is water! :) Already feeling better since I have cut back.

My diary is open now. Also, (and I do NOT want to be beat up for this, kind words only please) I haven't been able to kick the habit of smoking completely yet. I have cut back from a pack a day to about a pack every 3-4 days. Could this have anything to do with the difficulties I'm having losing weight?

I am only 23, that's why I feel as though I really should have seen at least a small change by now!

Getting a scale for my food and weighing out every ounce is not something I can do. I had a problem with anorexia when I was a teenager, obsessing over numbers to that extend would not be healthy for me mentally. When I log, I overestimate my food and underestimate my exercise.

I am eating at a deficit, I usually don't eat back the calories I burned off at the gym. How do I open my diary?

Thank you, both of you. It just gets so frustrating. Maya, I eat an average of 1200 calories per day with more water that humanly possible! And Mags, I totally wish I could afford a personal trainer. I've had up and down weight my whole life, so I know the number really doesn't matter, but it is encouraging to see it going…