Swiftdogs Member

I used to have a lot of trouble with the shakes between meals. I don't now, even with a calorie deficit, because I make sure I get plenty of protein and fat. At 1200, you need to make sure you hit or exceed those macros every day. Also consider setting your weekly loss goal a bit lower for a more sustainable calorie number.

Nuts or sunflower seeds are my go-to if I'm short on either fat or protein. They ALWAYS go on the scale for an accurate reading, though.

No. What we're referring to is dropping weight much faster from shoulders and ribcage than from belly, hips and thighs.

I'm 5'9" and have always like being tall, especially in a professional environment. It's hard to "look down on" someone you have to look up to :tongue: . My problem is I'm a klutz ... a big klutz.

Yes, I've been working on it. Thank you for noticing! :wink:

I keep mine closed. I want as accurate a record as possible. I don't want the temptation to omit that second glass of wine or 1/4 serving of Fritos. I am NOT creative and eat weird things (like salad for breakfast) so most people wouldn't find mine useful.

In to see all the suggestions. I'm in the same boat. The top half is starting to look like a coat hanger and two xylophones, but I'm still working on butt cheeks and the thunder thighs.

Just be happy they notice! I'm still waiting ... :ohwell:

Look for an entry with USDA in the description for that cut, plus things like "fat trimmed," "lean only," "grilled," etc. or whatever best fits the one you had. The more generic entries may or may not include fat and bones, and may be raw weight.

Nominated for best post on the forums! :drinker:

My days vary a lot and tend to be fairly active without extra exercise. I'm set at sedentary and let my Fitbit track most things.

That is one of the tougher things to log accurately. If you included the oil and flour when you logged the original roast, they're already accounted for (just on the wrong day). Or you can check the database for a reasonable entry for "beef drippings" and factor that in with the beef tips. When I'm doing one like that, I…

You only get a Fitbit adjustment for calories burned above MFPs calculation, minus your deficit, so you don't have to worry about double-counting. It's a great tool for someone like me who is generally active without doing dedicated exercise sessions.

Knowledge is power!

^^ What they said. Add "USDA" to your search. Also look for details in the listing, like "roasted," "visible fat trimmed," "lean only," etc. Raw versus cooked and with or without fat (and bone) can be some of the differences. There may also be different pork chop cuts (steaks vary widely). It can be very frustrating to…

I'm currently aiming for 130. While I'm broad-framed, I'm also fairly fine boned. I'm also 55 years old and have obviously lost muscle. Ideally, I'd like to get rid of the remaining fat but add more muscle.

I've noticed the opposite (but related) pattern. When I get "stuck" on the scale, it seems to be when I'm also "stuck" in, shall we say, throughput.

I'd say more than "a bit" crazy. I'll echo those that think she's trying to sell lap band surgery. At your size, your deficit should be about 500 calories.

I've always had more control and been more satisfied eating 5 times a day. Lunch is my most important meal, though it doesn't have to be large. I also must have protein in the morning. If I try to skip my mid-morning snack, I'll be ready to chew my arm off by 11:00 a.m., and I need another afternoon snack. Oddly, the…

LOL at EddieHaskell9! I hit my first about 2 weeks in. Like many, I'd set myself up to lose too fast for the amount I had to drop. I also was greatly underestimating my activity level. It was only when I realized both issues (reading these boards and adding a Fitbit) and upped my calories that my weight started dropping…

It took me a long time to learn to trust my Fitbit adjustment, but it seems pretty accurate for me. I've never paired it with a HRM, though. I only log exercise that involves very few steps. Getting stuck for a while is entirely normal, though frustrating.

I wish I had taken an odd measurement when I started - on an angle from the top of the belly to around the butt cheeks. I haven't lost many inches in the normal measurements of waist, hips and thighs. It's the extra "fill" that's coming off and letting me fit into a smaller size.

All deli meats have a ton of sodium. It's only an issue if you have a medical condition, or if the resulting water retention bothers you when it registers on the scale. If you had roast turkey, check the database for a USDA entry. Most turkeys are injected with a saline solution, but they're still not as loaded as the deli…

As you log, it becomes easier to judge your tradeoffs. Ask yourself "Is this really worth xxx calories, or would I rather have that much of something else?" Every little step helps.

^ This. MFP's sedentary setting is for people who walk around 4,000 steps a day, so you're probably well over that. I agree a pound a week is a good target for you with your amount to lose.

I was raised the same way, including having to take some of everything in addition to cleaning my plate. I'm also cheap, so passing up free food is a challenge (and there are donuts in the breakroom). But breaking those mindsets is part of the training I'll need to keep the weight off. I've come far enough to take one bite…

Always keep in mind that this is a lifestyle change, not a diet. The "full throttle" approach is not only unhealthy, but it just sets you up for a yoyo pattern. Lose the weight slowly and steadily, then keep it off by applying the same good habits.

You are at least lightly active. MFP's sedentary setting is for very low activity, less than around 4,000-5,000 steps per day. That was a real eye-opener to me when I started wearing a Fitbit. And as others have said, record your added exercise separately and eat back at least some of those calories.

As long as you average out on or under your target, you're fine. Your body doesn't automatically reset at midnight. A lot of people "save" calories for the weekend. Or if you burn a lot exercising, you can eat part of that later.

I've found that I get a bigger adjustment when I have more "active minutes" in the day, no matter how consecutive those minutes are. I walk on a treadmill at lunch during the week to try to get my 10K steps (desk job). But a busy weekend day, even under 10K, usually results in more calories burned.