EmmaFitzwilliam Member

Sure, "processed" can be applied astonishingly broadly. I eat a fair amount of canned foods (tomatoes and simmer sauces), to say nothing of desserts and cereal. But there are degrees. Everything from canned tomatoes and packaged tuna to, say, shelf-stable microwaveable ravioli. Blerch. I *really* wanted pasta, so figured…

I've been there a couple of times. I hope you feel better!

I think you'll totally rock it!

Everyone's journey is different. What worked for me may not work for you, and my tips do not factor in underlying physical or mental health issues. For me, there are no bad foods. There is no food cop. There is no "wagon". What is your calorie limit? Why do you find it insufficient? Do you have binge triggers? Denial was a…

I also work a desk job. When I go to the wc, I take the long way round, and sometimes circle past to make the walk longer. I get out of the office and go for coffee or a walk on my 15 minute break. I eat lunch at my desk, and use my lunch hour to take a walk. Down 70+ pounds in a year.

Congratulations! Portion awareness is a *huge* part of the success path.

I'm lucky in an odd way - my housemate is non-celiac gluten sensitive. And at (roughly!) 125 calories a pop for a slice of bread, I've just made the choice to have really *good* bread occasionally when I go out. (The bread is one of my metrics for choosing a restaurant now!) I love bread. I love being fit and healthy more.…

I've dropped over 70 pounds in the past year. (My total loss to date is 75, but I put a couple of pounds back on. Do you understand how you put the weight on? For me, my portions were out of control, as were my choices. Since I started last June, I've learned that for myself, I will always need to measure my portions…

That I would actually want to choose the healthy option over the energy-dense option. And that I would *really* want to wear a belt over a loose shirt because I want the illusion of a waist.

Absent underlying health issues, do you know how you put on the weight? My weight gain had been mostly a matter of having no clue how much I was eating and how many calories were in a portion. Food logging helped me see that, and for me, portion control and food logging became easy, and while it's taken a year, I've lost…

My "go to" at the moment is 3/4 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt with 1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill muesli and 1 cup of fresh blueberries stirred in. I stir in the muesli the night before. My winter breakfast was 1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill 10 grain cereal with 1 cup of fresh blueberries. Some other options: Wasa cracker with cream…

You can do this. Knowledge is power. You do have to figure out what works for you. What worked for me was finding out how much I actually ate, and how many calories were in what I ate. Food logging and informed choices have helped me lose 75 pounds in the past year. How much control do you have in terms of your food…

That's why MFP has worked so well for me. Once I came to terms with what choices I was making, how many portions I was really eating, and how many calories were in those portions, I found it pretty easy to make healthier choices more often - without feeling I had resigned myself to an ascetic life of "eat this, not that".…

My schedule is somewhat erratic, and I sometimes reach end of day needing to eat to reach the 1200 minimum. Calories can't tell time. I generally make certain I reach my minimum, and (rarely) I eat late at night if I still feel hungry (usually, but not always, if I am feeling hungry, I do have enough calories remaining for…

Red bell peppers, spread on a low carb tortilla, wasa cracker, water cracker, snap peas, cucumber, celery, spoon.

I will easily pour a double portion of muesli. That's why I've accepted that portion control is part of what I do about choosing my food now. I found that an ounce of cheese was more than I expected, pasta servings less than I hoped.

Once I realized that my weight gain had been mostly a matter of having no clue how much I was eating and how many calories were in a portion, portion control and food logging became easy. For me, it's all about "Knowledge is power". A Krispy Kreme chocolate frosted custard filled donut is 350 calories. Is it worth 1/4 of…

This is an awesome thread. I've wanted to start hula hooping, and have a weighted hoop from Amazon on my wish list. I'll research that a bit more, and look into the diy options, as well.

I'm 5'1.5" and I'm looking for 125. Why did you pick 115? I toyed with 117, as "mid-point BMI" but decided that wasn't a compelling reason for dropping my weight that far. I have a medium bone structure, and am looking for 125 with room to go back up with body recomp. Reassessing your goal isn't copping out. It's a matter…

There are competing strategies. It depends on your goal, which may not be the same each time you are out. Generally speaking, salad entrees with an added low calorie protein and no dressing, or dressing on the side, are your best bet in terms of healthy, low calorie choices. Also steamed vegetables, and grilled or baked…

I don't go for fancy plating, but when I have time, I go for nice napery, an individual cream pitcher for my coffee, etc. Little things to elevate the experience.

I've done without it, and switched to tea before.

:smiley: My roommate wanted a salad with shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, and broccoli slaw. The serving bowl was the only bowl that would hold everything. And shopping for lunch containers was frustrating because none of the "lunch salad" boxes hold anything approaching an adequate amount of food.

I use small plates. I also do cumulative math so don't tare after I add each item.

Whatever works for you and your budget! I will note that depending on how much weight you lose, you will have changes in your skin, as well. That would be one argument for waiting, if it's a large tattoo or in a place that may change significantly.

The best analogy I can come up with is you seem to be trying to fill a water balloon with a mister during the week, then using a power sprayer on the weekend. Approaching food choices with misery and deprivation during the week to be made up for on the weekend is not likely to lead to success. That we have all been taught…

I also agree with the previous posters who mentioned the small rewards for interim goals. My roommate is awesome and she bought a bunch of presents (each costing <$20) for each "0" I reached (i.e., 210, 200, 190, etc.). Because I weigh myself every day, we had an agreement that a "zero" counted when I logged xx0.0 for…

::hugs:: I started at 220 pounds almost exactly a year ago, and have lost 75 pounds. I've followed a pretty generous eating plan, and a lackadaisical gym plan; your mileage may vary. I went 5 weeks with one pound bounces from 157 to 157. I had one week (when I was sick) during which I lost 5.8 pounds in three days. And…

The jeans that were way too tight and just barely stretched on two months ago fit very comfortably now.

75 pounds down, and no gym time. The occasional weight lifting session with my roommate's personal trainer, and I walk about two miles a day, 3 to 5 days a week.