5pmsomewherenow Member

-- THIS. I agree. I just try to lead a healthy lifestyle, logging and eating back exercise calories. Some days I'm under, some days I'm a little over. Using a Fitbit that is synced to MFP, and logging daily keeps me in line on a weekly glance. I only weigh weekly, on SUN AM. As a two-year maintainer -- I like to stay in a…

I bought a bit-holster on eBay for $4.95 -- it's a piece of tough nylon cording that has velcro connection and a little pocket for the "bit" - I can wear it in my bra, waistband, pocket, etc -- and it tracks the steps more accurately. Also allows me to wear all my daytime jewlery, watch, RoadID on my wrists without that…

I'm also a Market Basket Lover -- and I'm missing my local market while the workers and management get things worked out. Where did you find the Think Thin bars? I haven't seen those and I like what you posted as the protein to sugar ratio. I just picked up some Luna Protein bars today while shopping a bit this morning in…

What's your activity level like? Can you add something like another 5000-7500 steps in your day -- especially now that it's summer? A couple extra 15 minute walks each day, as a start? If you don't think you can cut your calories successfully, you're only choice is to increase activity to create the deficit. How else can…

I've "graduated" from a smart pedometer to the FITbit Flex. I got one free, but they are about $90 or so if you shop around. I do like that it tracks: steps, miles, active minutes, calories, and sleep. With goals for each. I have found mine to be pretty accurate to what my smart pedometer had been telling me about my…

Maintaining is about sustaining a healthy lifestyle that will serve you well for many many years. It's not about being on a diet. It's about moving your body, raising your heart rate, and strengthening your muscles to the tune of between 30 minutes to 60 minutes every day - 7 days a week. Even on "rest" days -- getting in…

That's why I still log every day -- because some rare days I'm over and most days I'm right on or slightly under. It's almost like I can tell what the scale is going to say at the end of each week. It's not magic, it's maintenance. You can DO IT -- just keep and eye on things. You can correct a 500 calorie splurge in the…

I've "graduated" from a smart pedometer to the FITbit Flex. I got one free, but they are about $90 or so if you shop around. I do like that it tracks: steps, miles, active minutes, calories, and sleep. With goals for each. I have found mine to be pretty accurate to what my smart pedometer had been telling me about my…

Maintaining is about sustaining a healthy lifestyle that will serve you well for many many years. It's not about being on a diet. It's about moving your body, raising your heart rate, and strengthening your muscles to the tune of between 30 minutes to 60 minutes every day - 7 days a week. Even on "rest" days -- getting in…

Ultimately, maintenance is about a lifestyle you can sustain and maintain. You may have to try eating the best fuel for your body for several weeks, logging everything, just to see what the calories stack up to be per day, and what affect it has on your weigh ins. Most maintainers find success staying within about a 5 lbs…

I've been there, too. I didn't care, and used stupid excuses like: "but, I don't want to buy all new clothes..." I worked out at a gym, and was pretty strong, but literally TOLD my trainers I did not have a goal of losing weight. I had a BMI of 36, so I was obese. I wore a size 16. I drank half a bottle of wine EVERY…

SW: 209 GW: 165 CW: 150 I think it's more about how you feel when you get to the "upper range of healthy" BMI, and can you maintain the lifestyle (eating and exercise level) to stay there? Set a primary goal to get into the upper range of healthy BMI, and then go from there. The overall healthy range for our height is…

The real question should be... CAN I maintain here? Can you maintain the lifestyle eating habits and exercise that will keep you in the 5-6 pound range of where you think you look good, and your clothes fit fine?? Do you have the time, money, resources, motivation to live this way? Hell yeah! I'm like you -- I'm tall and…

I feel where you are coming from -- I used that same excuse about having to buy all new clothes, too. It held me back, as a pretty lame excuse for quite a while. The truth was, my clothes needed to be updated anyway, so getting more fashionable, smaller clothes was a great plan to work on over time. "A healthy lifestyle"…

Anyone who has been on a transformation to a healthy lifestyle for any period of time (years for some of us) will all relate and agree that if you STOP living the healthy components, the body changes and the pounds add back on & sometime multiply terribly. "Diet" = strategy to get back on track, over and over again.…

I also go on vacation (10 days) in the early spring, and lose about 5 pounds, while on "maintenance." I think it's because I can be more active on vacation than my "sedentary" life at a desk while working. I get better sleep, and don't do any stress eating while on vacation. I've dropped about 5 pounds in the early spring,…

Maybe just stop so much preplanning and calorie counting in your mind. After four years, you must have developed some healthy eating habits, and enjoy some of the low-glycemic, high fiber and lean protein foods that are SO GOOD for a healthy lifestyle. How about just continuing to use MFP as a great resource to keep…

These Skinny Brie Phyllo Cups are a regular standby for me, when it needs to be yummy, look special, and be reasonable on the calorie-side: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/11/skinny-baked-brie-phyllo-cups-with.html

Trust me, it's not so much the number on the scale, it's whether you can maintain the eating and exercise that goes with the HEALTHY lifestyle you are living right now. Many years ago I lost a lot of weight, but then returned to an unhealthy lifestyle and gain it all back plus some. So... I knew going into this lifestyle…

YES! I now have the energy, stamina and strength to lead the healthy lifestyle that includes lots of activity. I've been maintaining for almost two years, so that includes lots of walking (the smart pedometer is by best friend,) hitting the gym three or four nights each week for strength classes, yoga and lifting sessions…

Many years ago I lost a lot of weight, but then returned to an unhealthy lifestyle and gain it all back plus some. So... I knew going into this lifestyle change that if you don't maintain the mindful eye on what you're eating/drinking and don't maintain the exercise that will keep you healthy, then you will gain. Many…

Get a "smart pedometer" and wear it all day. A smart pedometer will keep track of "exercise minutes" vs. "just walking around the office, etc." Set a goal - say 60 minutes for the day, as see how close you can come. Like you, I sit at a desk all day -- but make myself get up and walk the halls, walk outside, climb the…

maintenance is a very long term project -- based on a comfortable set point and range (2-6 pound fluctuation you can live with happily) Just because you think you look best at 115 doesn't mean that your body can maintain that weight based on your average daily diet and calorie burn (BMR + exercise.) Several years ago I got…

I lost 55+ lbs by changing to a healthy lifestyle and using MFP as a tool/resource to keep track of calories and exercise. I've been maintaining for 18 months. I sit at a desk during the five weekdays, so I have my daily activity level set to "sedentary." I wear a "smart pedometer" which tracks ACTIVE minutes of steps, so…

Bullit Whistle Pig Everyday -- Maker's Mark, Jim Beam or JD -- drink it with diet ginger.

I pretty much agree with everything you've said. Unfortunately, a majority of people are not educated about nutrition, and don't learn good habits from their families. It's a major challenge in the US, and the cost of healthy food is dramatically higher than the easy-to-eat CRAP that will make you feel horrible. And, it's…

It took me 9mos to lose 55lbs. I've been on maintenance for 15mos. Tracking foods and exercise everyday helps me to support the healthy lifestyle changes, and make the (hopefully) best possible choices, everyday. This diligence has continued to improve my health, even after reaching my original goal -- and kept me within a…

I used to be an apple: 209 lbs and 5'8" -- did some sort of exercise everyday -- yoga, strength training, zumba, crossfit, horseback riding, tennis, etc. Lots and lots of walking, by wearing a pedometer each day and racking up at least an hour of "active steps." Now I'm a stick: 150 lbs, and I do everything I've been doing…

Please choose a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain once you achieve your goals. If you don't, you'll just gain back the weight or lose the fitness level. In changing your lifestyle to something more healthy, you have to make the permanent changes that will result in the goals you can achieve-- and an exercise regime…

I used to drink quite a bit. I cut way back, and definitely saw enough benefits to want to continue as part of a healthy lifestyle. Here are some of the benefits I wanted to share: **Spend a lot less money on wine and spirits **Effects of just one glass to savor, makes me more mindful of the taste, and appreciative of the…