joaniegray Member

I cut out sugar in my coffee by putting rich cream instead, then homo milk, then 2 percent. Now I can't stand sugar in my coffee, don't like the taste. I also cut out artificial sweeteners, I really believe they cause cravings. Mostly drink water, sometime add lemon or lime to it. And I use olive oil and garlic a lot too.…

You have so much to be proud of - 90 pounds! Loved your post, very honest.

i would never weigh in on a monday in case I've been out on weekend! I tend to weigh daily, but Friday is my official day. That gives me incentive to stick to my plan Monday to Friday even if weekend takes me a little off track.

I know what you mean by weight creeping back. This site really works for me, hope it does for you. Just the daily planning of my meals and the tracking of my exercise brings "awareness" of what I do every day and if one day I am out socializing and eat too much, no sweat. Next day, the tracking brings me back to where I…

One way to avoid this - when you cook for two, cook sometimes for 3 or 4 and freeze meals (for one). Then times like this, it's just a matter of using microwave. This works very well for me. What do you think?

I have never counted it but today am doing 3 or 4 hours housework to help a friend who is moving - the calories burned are much higher than I expected - I can't imagine tracking this daily but I will in future if I do a big clean. Otherwise, it's just day to day living. When we do our profiles, we are asked if we live a…

I am going to try green tea after reading all this - I know it's good for you and why not? I don't like a lot of artificial flavors though so will make my own I think. Adding lemon or lime sounds good. Does everyone drink it cold? Or hot? Which tastes better?

The hardest part of being short is I can't eat as much as my taller friends! Unfair.... but c'est la vie. I will just keep trying, I'd love to be 140 and then go from there.

You look fabulous, good for you!

It takes time. I find if I stick to it for 6 or 7 days, then go slightly over on a "cheat" day -but also Work out - I don't do a strenuous workout - just Qi Gong, walking, and dancing about on a daily basis, with a bit of stair climbing when possible. Slow and steady, think tortoise not hare! Good luck, it will happen.…

Plan a snack at night that fits into your 1600 calories - I have a snack every night before bedtime - I know this is frowned upon byt it helps me sleep to have an english muffin and peanut butter with banana.

I eat 1/4 avocado at a time = they are really good for us and I just love the taste. Lots of good ideas here for avocados. I like to eat a couple of walnuts too for good fats as well. But have to limit size. I'd say a whole avocado is about 1/2 cup but these are small avocados I guess. Good luck to all of us today.

I try to turn people on to this site - I like calories in and out and exercise. You are probably very inspirational to many people. Keep up the good work.

I do not eat all the deficit calories - I will do that when I lose the weight I want to lose For now, I try to eat 12-1500 calories a day, usually around 1350 and those extra calories from exercise? I think that might be why you are not losing as quickly as you might like. When I do have to eat out with friends, I feel I…

You really do have the right attitude. No way you can fail this way, it's success all the way!

Fantastic. You are inspiring. Love the photos and wow, hats off to you!

Good question - yes, the sodium information was new to me. The exercise calories burned is also helpful - very helpful. Seeing how much I can lose in 5 weeks is also a very helpful tool. Other than that I pretty much knew what to do, I just wasn't doing it!!

Best: Avoid processed food. Worst: Weigh in once a week (this just doesn't work for me, may be someone else's best advise but really hurts me). Great question, I've enjoyed reading the replies.

ALWAYS! Good luck⁄

A lot of people just weigh in once a week and that is often recommended by weight loss gurus. But for me, usually I weigh in first thing in morning on an empty stomach - at least at beginning of this journey. Now because I pretty much do eat the same amount every day, I skip a few days now and then. But for me, it's a…

Congratulations on achieving a healthy BMI - I am close but no cigar yet! I'd try to take a few more pounds off before going to maintenance but hey, whatever feels right for you.

My goal weight is 147 as that puts me into healthy BMI - I'd like to get to 142 though so I shall try for 142 once I hit 147! Right now 147 is just 9 pounds away, and spring is coming so hope to up the exercise and veggies.

isn't it amazing what a few pounds can do. It feels good, good for you.

I do it daily but - have not weighed myself since Saturday night when I overate at a pot luck dinner! However, I MUST weigh in tomorrow and hope I am back to where I was pre pot luck. If I did not weigh in soon, I'd go off my healthy eating regime for sure. So for me - DAILY - only way I am accountable to myself! Too easy…

I gain and lose a pound or two constantly and I do weigh in every morning. The main thing is I am down 10 pounds since starting myfitnesspal in mid January - I really think it is just water or plain balancing of prior day's intake and activity. Let us know when you drop a pound of two. I tend to "drop" 2 at once, then it…

Great question, one I asked myself. I do not count it though as I see it as regular activity such as sleeping (apparently we do burn calories as we sleep).

This site - logging calories ahead of time - even if I don't stick to my day's plan, i do try to compensate as by logging, it is in my head! Sweet potatoes, bakery bread that is about 110 calories for 2 slices. Lots of snacks - eating every 4 hours. Exercise and water and NO JUNK FOOD available in my home, no exceptions.…

I don't know about using as a replacement meal but I have used milk, honey, soya, almonds, vanilla and plain yogurt for breakfast. My favourite smoothie is mixing 3 tbsp plain yogurt, 1/2 cup of milk, 1 tsp local honey, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup raspberries. Or at bedtime, 1/4 cup berries and 1/2 banana (helps me…

Fantastic! You can be very proud of yourself. Excellent progress!

Weather and exercising. I like this site because it does let me know how much I will lose if I eat so much and then exercise so much. I see that the more I exercise the more I will lose. So on cold rainy/snowy days like today, it's hard to motivate myself. I know I won't be walking briskly outside today so will have to do…