sbrownallison Member

Please don't let this discourage you; clearly this group was not for you and sounds really toxic. That's the last thing we need, right? I agree that walking is a wonderful solitary activity, and now that better weather is almost here, don't waste a minute of it being discouraged. I've discovered podcasts (yeah, they've…

I've noticed that here (in the US), every magazine near the grocery check-out line has an article (prominently displayed on the cover!) about "how to lose belly fat". Guaranteed to sell magazines, right? I'm about your height and weight and am always concerned about how any weight I gain goes right to the belly. First to…

I received a Fitindex Smart Scale for my birthday last month ($25 on Amazon) and really like it. It syncs to my iPad AND to my Fitbit and My Fitness Pal apps. You can, of course, sync with your phone, which most people might prefer. I just weigh in the morning with my iPad nearby and then everything posts to the other…

After getting off-track (not logging food, not weighing daily, not being hypervigilent in food choices) for the last two years, I have gained a few lbs which don't look good on me; I'm aiming to lose 7. I'm feeling more motivated and have returned to logging in MFP; DH got me a bluetooth scale for my birthday this week, so…

I agree with others who cite food choices as predictive of hunger issues. For me, so true. When I was younger/stupider, I thought I could eat chocolate cake and make up for the calories by eating less at dinner. This is the kind of thinking that got me to over 200 lbs. I would eat the cake (and of course a larger portion…

This has been my problem too (and many others in MFP, I'm sure). For me, food choice makes a big difference. I find the most success if I eat highly satiating (and clean) foods, as opposed to highly-processed foods and/or sweets. I used to look at my daily calorie limit and think that I could find room for a candy bar…

You have proved that you can tackle the problem. Think back to one or two steps that got you there and take them on, one at a time. Not every step, because it may be too overwhelming. The scale might be one that you will want to delay for awhile. Once you feel you are in control again, then facing the scale will not throw…

I have used various models of Fitbit for three years or more, currently wearing the Charge 2. I have never had any trouble with any of them and find them to be highly reliable. As others have stated, the device provides motivation, as well as a good understanding of what it tales to achieve one's movement goals. Apart from…

Yes, on-line shopping is impossible for me, too. I've learned to only order items that I already know will fit by virtue of already owning it and need a replacement or a different color. I've actually done that thing that retailers loathe, where I go to the store and check the fit before ultimately ordering it online at a…

This is an issue, for sure. I'd say mostly for women. Younger women's skin will probably bounce back better than old gals like me. I lift hand-weights on a consistent basis and have noticed more muscle definition on outside of my arms and shoulders, but, sadly, still have the batwings. I'm an older woman who has come to…

Sorry about the loss of height; it's bone loss, of course. I'm in the same boat. Good on you to be working on your overall health, which includes eating mindfully and simply. Like you, I eat very little meat. I also simplify meals by having the same breakfast every day (oatmeal). Ditto for lunch (apple, celery, peanut…

I have a long (40+ years) history with WW, finally getting to Lifetime in 2005, yay me! Then within 3 years had regained 40 lbs, like many others have. So, in 2011, I went back. That was before Smart Points. Anyway I had fairly good success with the program and was losing about a pound a week. After about a year, I stalled…

I often find that recipes have so darn many ingredients that they become super-expensive. I've bought a bottle of an exotic spice for a recipe and find I've used it once in 3 years! One of my go-to crockpot recipes involves two ingredients: One can of tomatoes (diced, stewed, whatever) poured over four small chicken…

I've been there, too, and am just coming off a two-year period of not logging food. I just grew tired of being hyper-vigilant, so stopped. I found this to be a mistake because it has been a fight for control every since. Pattern of not logging leads me to give myself permission to overeat. Overeating then leads to avoiding…

Yes, I noticed the lack of steps while pushing a shopping cart recently. I had upgraded to a Fitbit Charge 2, which gives a prompt when one hasn't yet reached 250 steps within an hour. So, this was a new feature for me and I was gung-ho about getting credit for all my 250-step hours. I was at Marshall's, busily shopping,…

This idea may be difficult to accept but it's one I've been using the last few years during my journey from obese to my current normal weight: I go to resale shops to find jeans. In my area we have Value Village plus a more-or-less upscale shop called Blue where I have found cotton petite jeans. I do not go to Goodwill or…

Me too, back to logging food again. I logged consistently for a couple of years while losing weight. At some point, after I reached my goal weight, I got tired of the relentless burden of it. I'm back again, trying to reestablish what I realize is a vital part of how to keep one's weight goals in mind. MFP really does make…

Good for you! It's never too late to reclaim your health, so you are on the right track. Your journey is one that starts with getting your mind in the right place: a need to feel better, and understanding that improved health is the key motivation. You will need some tools: a kitchen scale to weigh foods and a scale to…

I'd say that it's 80% diet and 20% exercise. HOWEVER, cardio makes you more fit, strength training (weights) makes you more toned and stronger, and the combination of better diet AND exercise will boost your weight loss -- and make you feel better. Your balance and posture will be improved with consistent exercise. AND, as…

Some really great ideas here! The only idea I can put forth that might resonate with some others among you is that eating sugary treats sets me up for failure. Health/protein bars are just like candy bars for me, so I avoid all the snacky/processed stuff like that. Treats like this are trigger foods for me, likewise bread…

For those of you who want to know more about intermittent fasting (and other aspects of nutrition and obesity), you might want to take a look at Dr. Jason Fung's blog, with an extensive archive. He has also written some books on these topics. Very readable, great insights. I am interesting in the whole fasting idea, but…

Christine, I'd love to have those features! I have the Charge HR, so no buzzing (except for reaching 10K and alarms). I have to watch the clock. Such a hardship!

Lots of humor and hipster comments here. Best for overall health, however, is to avoid processed food, like canned salmon and frozen lasagna. When you enter your supermarket, turn right and traverse the outer wall of the store, avoiding the inner aisles. You will find mostly lovely and fresh foods there.

In the far ago past, I took diet pills in a desperate effort to lose weight. Not effective, harmful, ultimately a total failure. They are only a money-maker for the company offering them. No one ever lost money marketing something "guaranteed" to help us lose weight. Losing weight requires patience and attention to detail.…

I am really into the tile for getting 250 steps hourly. I first noticed it awhile back; it may have been on there for ages before I even noticed it! Anyway, I'm at the point where I easily get over 10K steps per day but was aware that I was sitting too long (and you know sitting is the new smoking, right?). So for the last…

I feel great sympathy for you, girl. I've struggled all my life with being overweight or obese, mostly obese. It depressed me, made me withdraw, got me bullied, became my life's biggest shame and regret. Been through every diet club (WW, Jenny, Nutrisystem, and others I've forgotten the name of). I've joined and rejoined…

Such a good observation, angie; a mirror can definitely take away confidence or build it. When I have slipped back into bad habits (not logging food, eating unhealthy food), I find my confidence diminishing. If I log food, I find accountability and feeling in control. After losing 60+ lbs awhile back, I have kept it off…

Some good ideas here: I want to find out more about "Precision Nutrition". Is it a book, or what? Also one apparently very bad idea: Double Deckers. No idea what they are, and it's probably better that I don't know. They sound British...

I can identify with the first one you list. That is strong for me, too. It seems that when that sensation kicks in, I am in real danger of binging, so I try to distract myself until I forget that I wanted to eat more. Doesn't always work. I haven't noticed it affecting my sleep. For me, I've noticed the effects that…