cbirdso Member

Absolutely check with your doctor! My sister and I thought it would be a good idea to take iron supplements because everyone just knows we all need more but that is not true. We both suffered from iron overload (and health problems) which took years to reverse.

I'm 5'4" and started at around 210. I lost 45 pounds in the first year, 20 pounds the second year, 5 pounds the third year. Then gained 5 pounds back the 4th year. I am now working on losing those 5 pounds (again!) this year. When I first started, I received a lot of feedback that said I should be sad I was losing so…

I think sometimes it is not entirely mental. Body chemistry plays a large role. Certain substances in food that don't affect most people could be causing this behavior. Take for example alcohol - an alcoholic does not usually start out suffering from low self esteem, moral turpitude, desires for self destruction, etc., but…

I'm from Erie, too but I haven't lived there since 1978! Love dreary Erie the mistake on the lake! I miss Waldemere!

Absolutely! Who cares what other people notice? Probably they are concentrating on their own goals and interests which is only fair. The important thing is that you are working positively toward change that matters - to you. Eleanor Roosevelt — 'You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how…

OP said: I didn't mean to say naturally thin people eat alot. I know they eat less than big people that's why they're not big. Most of them though don't have to run to the computer after every meal to log what they just put in their mouth. I'm just hoping that the "normal sized peoples" mentality may some day be achieved…

After reading some of these posts, I have to agree that line between 'US' and 'THEM' is very faint if non-existent. I know many thin people who have never been overweight in their lives, but it is because they CAREFULLY watch what they eat and MAKE a POINT to exercise regularly. They calculate in their heads from…

I've been maintaining for about 2 years now, THANKS TO TRACKING. I do take little 'rests' now and then because of vacation, Christmas, visits from out of town relatives, whatever... but try to eat the same during these times as when I'm tracking. However, during these times, I do notice the scale inches up very slowly, so…

No, I wil not quit my scale! I got fat by pretending the scale was unimportant and my enemy. Now I see it as my friend who tells me, "You need to eat a little less and exercise a little more", or "You are doing fine, keep at it!"

I always eat breakfast (lunch, dinner, and snacks) but I find that if I don't log, my weight creeps up (like 1 pound every 3 months) from not paying attention to that extra beer or that extra snack or that extra helping that I tend to do on a daily basis. So my thoughts are for you to log your calories on days WITH…

This is confusing because MFP never recommended that I eat only 1200 cals/day. I have never gone below 1600 or so except by mistake.

In my opinion, relying on will power is a loser. You have to out - smart the behavior you are trying to change. For example, I used to get really hungry and then eat too much. I tried and tried to stop this but hunger always seemed to win. I could never keep under calories. I discovered I had to change my eating plan and…

Using the MFP calorie estimates worked for me and I ate back all my exercise calories. To be clear, I never logged 'activity' calories because I assumed they were included when I chose my activity level, which was lightly active. So, I only logged exercise calories when it was a (to me) bona fide workout. I lost at exactly…

This was super difficult for me too. The hint (from an MFP friend) that helped me was to measure out the proper small portion...eat and enjoy. Then force yourself to wait at least two hours before eating something else. I always felt hungry, but kept telling myself...in just a little while you can eat! Practically would do…

Totally this, but I would add it is about the NOW. What you are doing in this moment is either helping or hurting your goals. Choose the activities in the NOW that are helping.

I used to stress about this too, but I've come to realize that even restaurants that post nutritional information are no more accurate than me doing an estimate based on known ingredients and adding additional calories like oil it was cooked in, etc. This is due to the fact that it is really dependent on the chefs and…

I am 5'4" and reached my goal weight of 140 pounds several months ago and fit into a 8/10 on top and a 12/10 below. Then I started to work on strength and gained about 4 pounds. I still fit into the same sizes, but the clothes fit looser in the thighs and waist. My hips are big and bony - (child bearing hips!), so reducing…

In a word, YES. If I wait until I am hungry, I make poor choices, eat too fast and too much. What works for me is to plan my meals ahead of time and eat them on schedule. This has solved mindless eating, over eating, and unbalanced eating problems that contributed to my weight gain. I have found that planning is smarter…

Wow, I really like all these answers. If that isn't enough to motivate the o.p., it can't be done!

My advice would be to not worry about exercise, just concentrate on eating healthy during the week. On the weekend, you could do some activity as a family, like swimming, hiking, playing in the park, etc. Since 80% of weight management is food related, I wouldn't stress on what you can't fit do or control. You can however…

This is what I do. My salads have lots of peppers, cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, etc. so that it is very crunchy and I make my own dressing. I have found it to be so much more satisfying that chips or french fries because potatoes leave my feeling hungry in a very short time.

It is confusing because body chemistry varies. Will I die if I eat peanuts? The answer is no, but that doesn't mean it is true for everyone. Just like some people are alcoholics, other aren't...some people are lactose intolerant, or have soy allergies...the list goes on. I have found that some additives slow my weight loss…

I do! I always have a 16 oz glass of water close by that I sip on whenever I look at it. As soon as it is empty, I refill. I can never understand how people don't like water and have such a hard time drinking even a little!!! It always tastes good to me.

Any kind of soda (diet or not), french fries, and fast food. Don't miss any of it at all!! In fact, I'll bet the person who most hates vegetables on this site would eat vegetables before I ate any fast food.

Sorry, but this is EXACTLY what I did to lose weight...and continue to do periodically in order to maintain, not gain. Oh, and I have a lifestyle outside the home...

I remember seeing you on the TV not that long ago and was so inspired by your success. Congratulations on the weight loss and that goes double for maintaining.

The REAL point is promoting FAT LOSS over tissue and muscle mass depletion. In order to lose weight your body needs a certain amount of NUTRITION (notice I didn't say calories) to burn fat via liver processes and build/tone/maintain lean muscle mass. Exercise uses energy and causes your body to work harder than if you are…

I meet them all - guess I'm part of the 3%. But I'll bet I am not even in the upper 50% for overall health.

WINNER!

I was at lunch and forgot about it - until after!