FrancesGallagher Member

A better choice with your bread may be turkey, lettuce and tomato, toasted or untoasted 100% wheat bread, with a very lite spread of Hellman's lite mayo (can be any kind you like). Peanut butter is a good food but it is high fat so you have to be careful with that. Tuna sandwiches are usually mixed with too much mayo…

I was a TOPS member for a number of years and it was a good group. The members encouraged each other but no one was given a "diet" to follow. Each member was to ask their own doctor for advice about diet for themselves and the members were there for support. There were goals set and awards given and maybe it could be…

I am surprised that you think a 15 pound loss is not GREAT. I think it shows that you are doing well in the losing weight department. Weight that is lost quickly is many times weight that will be regained quickly so think of that when you feel it isn't quick enough. Why do you feel you can't eat pizza and many of the other…

You needed to get your frustration out and now maybe you can start some creative thinking about what is ahead and what action to take. I hope your husband can collect unemployment benefits, at least that would buy the groceries. Have you considered checking with the Salvation Army or your church to see what is available to…

If you haven't checked with your health professional it is time to do so. You could have an allergy such as glutten intollerance and that certainly gives intestinal discomfort and other problems. You should not be sick often, everyone gets a cold now and then or some minor illness but if it happens often it is time to find…

If you haven't had time to exercise it may be that you are getting exercise in what you are doing. Exercise doesn't have to be a set kind of exercises. If you are moving you are exercising. Counting your calories will keep you losing weight if you are being careful to eat healthy. Exercise is important, do it as much as…

MFP recommends 8 cups of water a day. 8 x 8 is 64 ounces for the day. If you are thirsty or sweating alot you might need more but with other liquids during the day there shouldn't be a need for more water. In a rather recent Dr. written column in the newspaper the subject of the need for large amounts of water was the…

Righr now concentrate on your health. I find that I use the food diary of MFP and I have been doing this since March 2011. I have lost 16 pounds and I am not on a "diet", I do divide my calories between three meals and if I have snacks I usually have an orange or an apple. I do like the hot chocolate drink mix w/o sugar. A…

It sounds like you have made a very good decision to limit gatorade and soda. I don't know what gatorade has in it but soda can have lots of sodium (and sugar if not diet). The sodium content may be what was causing the swelling in your legs. Water is the very best drink for the health of your body. There are a number of…

Probably you need to STOP beating yourself up and concentrate on your successes. Negative thoughts and action do nothing except replace the time you should have positive thoughts and actions. Use the food diary, record what you eat, have three meals every day (healthy foods) and a couple of snacks (an orange, apple, pear,…

Oven-Baked Chicken 1 Tbsp margarine 2/3 cup "Bisquick Heart Smart" mix 1 1/2 tsp paprika 1 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 3 - 31/2 lb - cut up chicken (remove skin) Prep time 10 minutes - bake time 50 minutes Heat oven to 425 melt margararine in 13 x 9 baking dish Stir bisquick mix, paprika, salt and pepper, coat chicken.…

From things I've read 80 % of losing the weight is food, 20 % is exercise. Keeping on top of what you are eating with the food diary is important. Eat a healthy choice of foods, eat enough that you aren't hungry, but follow how you feel. Drink water but that doesn't have to be excessive. Stay away from soda, diet or…

I would say you should continue to eat the foods you like but be sure to use the food diary and learn what those foods add up to in calories. Then adjust the amount of food you eat, smaller portions of the more calorie dense foods, and larger portions of the lower calorie foods. Vegetables are a good example of low calorie…

A loss of 18 pounds is no small accomplishment, why do you think you are not losing enough or quickly enough? Just eat a bit larger portion of the foods at your meals that you already eat, especially the foods you really like. If you do like those snack foods then I suppose they are OK within reason. Don't get impatient…

Thanks for the recipe, I intend to try it. A good way to have extra veggies. FG

It won't hurt your back to do your food diary and hasn't it been said getting your weight where it needs to be is 80% what you are eating and 20% exercise. Be gentle to your back, it is the only one you have, and be diligent in doing your food diary. Tracking your food with the calorie chart is a learning activity that…

I think it is sad that anyone, skinny or less skinny, should want to wear a bikini, if anyone needs that much exposure they should do it at home and not in public places (just my opinion of course). A healthy body has some "meat" on it not an emaciated shadow of what it should be. MFP with its calorie counter is really…

In the newspaper health column by Dr. Peter Gott (he does have a web site) he states that forcing yourself to drink large amounts of water isn't healthy. Water is great as needed and mostly should be used to quench thirst (or in times of exercise as needed), also interesting is that some of the drinks for people…

I find it difficult to understand why people put themselves through such agony. I believe you can live just as long and just as well (and get to the weight that is right for you) if you never do a jumping jack or any of the extreme exercises. Walking is good if you can do it but not while your knees are painful. Do your…

You have taken the first step. You are a busy person with two jobs and your child. Make the food diary your important learning tool, be patient and very faithful in recording your foods eaten. Try very hard to eat on a regular schedule and healthy choices, this is so necessary. This is a goal for you: your child will learn…

You could try doing some exercise so you would have more than 1200 calories to use. 1200 calories does get used fast if you are eating healthy. The program you were on with WW may be the one you need to stay with. Good luck in whatever your decision. FG

Congratulations, good job !!!! Ten pounds lighter in one month is alot of weight. Try not to be impatient, because losing too much weight in too short a period of time doesn't give your body time to adjust (you don't want to have baggy skin and that needs time to adjust). Wishing you continued success with your program. FG

You can keep from gaining weight even if you can't exercise at this time. The choices you make with your food is more important than the exercise right now. Are you recording your food on the food diary?? That is your learning tool. You need to be eating enough but the portions need to be controlled. Check the calorie…

There is a lower sodium bacon (I'm not sure of the brand name). I have used it and didn't notice any difference from regular bacon. I use two stripes of bacon when I have scrambled eggs and that works well. I like scrambled eggs now and then for lunch rather than breakfast. My breakfast during the week is oatmeal (cooked…

Thanks for the recipe, it sounds very good. FG

I'm not sure I understand "good"/"bad" calories. Salad is good because of the vegetables found in the green type salad, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, shredded carrots, etc.,. Salads such as potato salad, if made with high fat dressing, wouldn't be a good idea (although any food in reasonable amounts (portion size) is…

Start planning, maybe only a few meals at a time until you get used to it. Eat three meals a day, have a couple of snacks, and you can split up the 1200 calorie daily count into equal amounts. If you exercise you will be able to have more calories and still lose the weight and be healthy. You probably have a pretty good…

Good for you !! Diets, as such, with a listing of things you must eat at each meal are for most people not the way to go. The food diary lets you eat more of the foods you are comfortable with, then you check calorie counts and portion sizes and this will lead to success with your program. Do not get in a hurry to lose…

You joined MFP in July ?? This is only a few days into August and you are probably trying too hard. If you have already lost 3 pounds in less than a month then you are doing something right and it will take some time. That much working out does sound excessive to me, do you really need that much exercise ?? Try to be…

Thank you Juliana, it is a great message and needed for everyone to read. Good luck in all your activities and staying on track and healthy too. FG