astralpictures Member

I think almost everyone here is a "foodie," or else we wouldn't be here to lose weight ;-)

Nobody said they have a drinking problem. Do you just assume that everyone who drinks has a drinking problem because you don't drink?

Just use MFP correctly. Put in your stats and weight loss goals, and it will give you how many calories you should eat a day without the exercise. Track everything you eat precisely here. Wear a heart rate monitor when you exercise to see how many calories you burn, then add that amount to your exercise log. MFP will…

What the heck are you putting in your salads? Even most McDonald's salads are well under 1000 calories. I suppose if you put a few chicken tenders and a cup of Buttermilk Ranch on it you can hit over 1000, but I'm sure that's not what most people are suggesting for a 200 calorie salad. For my salads I like to use lettuce,…

What made you pick 1200 calories though? You should go with a computed number to match your goals rather than an arbitrary one.

I think it's because they are still eating a similar diet to what had been working all along for weight loss, without realizing that our metabolisms naturally drop the less we weigh. I know MFP adjusts accordingly to the weight loss by dropping our calories limits, but I think some people don't really drop what they…

So those 8 hours of not eating when I sleep are what made me fat! It all makes sense now.

"Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. But I know that belief is prevalent." If the OP is not losing weight, and has actually had weight creep up, they are overeating. You don't gain weight from under-eating. And while there are many complex factors that effect a person's metabolism, it really is as easy as calories in and calories out in…

It depends on what you're snacking on. Is it high calorie, low density junk food? Snack on low calorie foods (carrots, celery), or foods that make you work for them (sunflower seeds in the shell).

First post and you're 0 for 1. OP got the idea that they need to eat more because of this person spouting the starvation mode myth, and the "eat more to weigh less" representative who came in and made their obligatory post on every thread where someone is claiming to eat very little and not losing. The simple truth is…

Yeah, the doctor is a good idea then! There are so many different possible medical causes of fatigue. Like the poster said above about Vitamin D - I was severely deficient last year and had zero energy for workouts, and my muscles and bones ached. I had to take high doses of Vitamin D and purposely try to get some sun.

Do you have any stress, depression, or anxiety? Is your work dragging you down? I ask because you have a desk job, but said you come home exhausted. I know for me, stress plays a big role in how much energy I have, regardless of how much I eat. Mental and psychological aspects shouldn't be overlooked.

The only issues with diet soda and Aspartame is if you have a rare genetic disorder called Phenylketonuria, although there have been studies that show both diet and regular soda aren't necessarily the best for your teeth. However, moderation is certainly the key.

McDonald's works well for cleaning me out. It helps get things moving, ya know? Just drink plenty of water though.

I was talking to the poster who said they have gained 5 pounds. If you're in deficit and losing obviously eating more, as long as you're still in deficit, won't cause a gain. Not sure why you thought I was talking about your specific case. If the person I was referring to is gaining weight now, then increasing calories…

If you eat more, you'll just gain more.

You listed 138 lbs first, not 238. You need to be eating much more than 1200 calories for a healthy loss.

You don't have that much to lose, so try putting in a smaller weight loss goal.

Have your weight loss goals changed?

1200 is just as random and arbitrary as saying 800-1000. People have this weird idea here that if you eat 1199 calories or less it is unhealthy, but 1200 or more is fine. It depends on each individual, their BMR and TDEE, and how nutritional their meals are to hit vitamin and mineral goals. Seriously, TDEE minus anywhere…

While I think many people can appreciate the concept of maintaining a sustainable food lifestyle by not over-restricting to the point of defeat, this concept is not relevant for the current discussion. Eating more will not suddenly make someone who isn't losing start losing weight (and I don't think that group makes that…

I personally weigh in every day after waking up. It's not for everyone if you're easily discouraged, but I find it interesting to see daily fluctuations in weight. I only really pay attention to trends every week or two to make sure the weight is at least declining.

Three slices of pizza isn't a whole lot. Depending on the toppings and size, it could be anywhere from 600 to maybe 1100 calories max. If you hardly ate anything else throughout the day, then you probably stayed close to your calorie goal.

Buy a heart rate monitor for a more accurate estimation of your calorie burn. Start logging more accurately, because at 1800 calories plus exercise, you should be losing steadily. Wait for the thyroid function test and come up with a plan with your doctor if it's under-active. It's not difficult.

Yes, and my math still stands. That is a pound a week, which is 3500 calories a week or 500 calories a day for a deficit. If she wants to try for half a pound a week, which is still good, I wouldn't start any higher than maybe 1350 calories now and see how that works.