IvoryParchment Member

I would assume cups is cooked. It's hard to get spaghetti in a cup measure dry. Dry pasta would have very low moisture and fat, and would be approximately 4 calories a gram, as that is what the calorie value for both carbohydrates and protein is. Cooked pasta would be much heavier from water, so the calories would be much…

Hellman's mayonnaise 1 tbsp 14 g 100 cal. Hellman's reduced cal mayonnaise 1 tbsp 15 g 50 cal Kraft Free 1 tbsp 16 g 10 cal Kraft Light 1 tbsp 15 g 50 cal To weigh mayonnaise, weigh the jar or bread before and after spreading it and subtract.

Good point, but my bone density jumped considerably on the current plan, so it appears to be working out. I usually take my multivitamin with my fattiest meal of the day.

10 lbs lost, sounds like you've already started. I prefer easing into things. Start logging what you eat now, without trying to decrease anything. (You'll decrease automatically, just out of guilt.) 90% of making this work is being faithful at logging. Then try to reduce portions by imperceptible amounts -- a teaspoon less…

It's the internet. I don't expect people to post their real pictures. It's not a good idea.

If you eat more protein than you need, your body just burns it for energy. That will produce more toxins for your kidneys to eliminate. If you have normal kidneys, that may not be an issue, but if you have chronic kidney disease, it can be an issue. Many high protein foods are also the same ones that cause gout, so that's…

Please tell me you're not the person on the left in your profile picture! If you're 30 lbs overweight and your MFP goal seems even less than what you were eating before with no goals, you need to see your doctor about why your metabolism is so low.

I make sure I limit calories and that I get enough protein and potassium. I'm taking Tums, a multivitamin, a B complex with C, and occasional additional vitamin D (I've got osteoporosis), so I'm generally ok for calcium and vitamins. It's hard to track potassium, since most foods don't include it. If I eat something a lot,…

If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you need to make a lifestyle change. You can't just "go on" a diet that you can't wait to "go off." If the Nutrisystem is a bridge for you, it may work, but you have to see it as a preview of the future. If you can't picture yourself eating that way the rest of your life, it's…

There was a spot on NPR recently about how kids have more acute senses of taste, but that some kids are especially sensitive to bitter tastes. They literally do gag on broccoli. They can outgrow it, just as all people become less acutely aware of flavors as they get older. But being forced to eat nauseating food could make…

I set my activity for sedentary and log all exercise. It's a nice way to be motivated to exercise. Instead of failing if I don't meet exercise goals, I'm instantly rewarded with more calories to eat what I like. I've never been so faithful at using the treadmill in my life :)

If people look different, it is a shock to those who haven't seen them in a while. They're not used to people dieting AND being successful. Usually actually weight loss success means they're sick or on cocaine. People who love you are automatically worried and things pop out of their mouths before they think. Assume they…

Measure something other than your weight. Your hormones could be causing a lot of fluid shifts. That's the only explanation for 5 lbs in a week no matter what your diet is. Try waist circumference. Also, make sure you're really measuring accurately, with cup measures, teaspoons, and a food scale, and double check the…

Two weeks is not a plateau. It isn't even a statistically significant sample. Especially if you're weighing yourself at someone else's house, instead of first thing in the morning buck nekkid. If you're allowing yourself calories for one pound a week weight loss, and you're having 5 lbs of salt/water weight coming and…

Greek yogurt is already strained. This will turn regular yogurt into Greek style yogurt. I made some killer onion dip for new year's with onion soup mix and nonfat Greek yogurt. Hardly any calories and it was actually nutritious. No one even noticed the difference.

If he lost 11 lbs in 13 days, he must have been totally bloated with sodium and water after New Years' celebrations. Maybe you didn't overdo it so badly, or you stuck to lower sodium choices? (Or maybe you drank more alcohol and started the year dehydrated?) Also, what time of the month is it for you now? But as people…

Ephedra is a natural herbal product. Like cocaine and nicotine, you know. If it worked, it wouldn't be the 21st century and the world is still having trouble losing weight. People would have been using it all along. It is closely related to amphetamines, sudafed, neo-synephrine, etc. It gives you a dry mouth, so food…

If you want to see stuff you've never tried, search "Beijing food street" on Google images. There is a saying in China, that the Chinese will eat anything on two legs except people, anything on four legs except a table, and anything that flies except an airplane.

Strawberries and mushrooms. You can eat them by the pint. (not together, obviously)

If you're 100 lbs overweight, you really may not need to eat many calories. You do need to get all the nourishment you need for the day as far as vitamins, protein and calcium. You need to get some carbs so your body makes insulin and can use your fat for energy. (If you don't eat carbs, the ketones you form from burning…

That's true -- once you start logging and are aware of your eating, you may stop eating out of habit and only want to eat when you're hungry. If you're overweight, you just may not need to be hungry for a while. Pack up part of whatever you cook as individual portions in the freezer so you can get them when you are hungry…

If you're losing a pound a week, it will be over a month before you lose enough that the usual ups and downs of water weight won't conceal it. And if you're exercising, you'll be gaining muscle weight at the same time you're losing fat, so it will be even longer before you show a definite loss on the scale. Count your…

Tandoori chicken is low calorie and probably unlike any chicken you've had: http://homecooking.about.com/od/chickenrecipes/r/blchicken2.htm

If she likes oatmeal cookies, she likes oatmeal. She just hasn't had it cooked properly yet. :)

I found out today that my Dave Edmonds Greatest Hits is great for the treadmill -- faster tempos than most other songs. It's kind of rockabilly, which is funny because the guy is actually British and sings with an American accent. http://www.amazon.com/Best-Dave-Edmunds/dp/B000002I7P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325987820&sr=8-1

I agree that one splurge isn't the end of the world. You have to eat 3500 calories IN ADDITION TO your daily requirements to gain a pound. On the other hand, if you routinely eat without logging and just count it as 1000 calories even though you're physically stuffed, you're going to run into problems. I would bet you can…

Have you tried ethnic foods? There are lots of flavors out there you've never tried. Once you've purchased the spices, you can vary the proportions to your own taste. You don't have to stick with pre-determined combinations like chili powder.

You might want to get over the veggie aversion before you actually try lowering your calorie intake. Veggies in rich gourmet foods are a lot easier to get used to. Once you've got your toe in the water, you can experiment with lower calorie alternatives. Sounds like a very smooth puree is acceptable. You eat pasta -- with…

^ this I love oatmeal, but I don't eat it very often. It's a treat for me. It's a lot of calories, and at my age/weight, it would be a considerable chunk of my allowance for the day. Now the Quinoa Porridge from Green Eggs Cafe in Philadelphia, THAT'S a treat. Butter, spices and fresh berries -- OMG!

If you've been eating sauerkraut, you're going to see 3-5 lbs drop off in the next week if you just eat low salt.