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Why I need to keep logging . . .
I dropped by Paneras with my teen son today to celebrate with a snack. He bought a nice cheese danish. I bought a delicious pumpkin muffin. As soon as I started eating I realized it was twice as much as I wanted and split it with him. All good - I was a little full, but not much, and just ate a little less at dinner. Just…
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None of my interview clothes or coats fit!
I know that sounds like a complaining brag, but I really am annoyed. I've given away most of my work and regular clothes that were too big over the last three years and have a winter coat that is big, but looks okay. But darn it, I bought most of these interview clothes when I was skinny and, in fact, weighed the same or…
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National Weight Loss Registry
One of my goals when I lost weight was to join the National Weight Loss registry. To do that, you need to have lost 20 pounds and keep it off for a year. I was eligible last January and joined, filled out their paper form a month ago, and just filled out their yearly on-line survey. I hope to keep this up forever and have…
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Miscalculated BMI - and it was still okay.
So I went to calculate my BMI after being on maintenance for several years. I accidentally added 20 pounds to my weight. And I was STILL well within the healthy category. I love MFP!
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Found a nice piece on why your scale moves around every day
I teach statistics, weigh every morning, and have been logging here forever, so really liked this post on why your weight changes day-to-day. It's much longer than this, but very brief summary: Glycogen stores. This amount depends on your current consumption of carbohydrates. For every gram of carbohydrate that your body…
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Anyone else really cold?
I am freezing all the time. I can feel the air is warm. I am dressed in warm clothes. I am COLD. Fingers and toes feel cold to the touch. I am inside in front of a fireplace wearing a sweater, flannel shirt, jeans, socks, slippers and a hat. I don't have an eating disorder (really - I've been on here a long time and eat…
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Does your metabolism eventually speed up?
This stint on MFP is my first ever attempt to lose weight. I'm 55. I hit my goal range 18 months ago. I'm 5'10", with a goal range of 150-155. I was between 150-153 for about a year, mostly at the 153 end during the winter, at the 150 end when it is warmer. Starting in June I first dropped down 150 and am now at 146. I've…
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Recommended step monitor for teen
My son (16) has debilitating migraines. His neurologist says he should get 60 minutes aerobic exercise 3 times a week. He is trying for 7 days/week when he is up and about, figuring that way he'll always make the 3 days. He is otherwise healthy and slim (6'1" and 142 lbs). When school starts in a week, he'll be walking or…
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"You're beautiful, you don't need to watch calories."
I think the title is the problem. Three times in the last week people have noticed me logging food on my phone at a restaurant or on a plane. Yesterday I was recommending this awesome carrot cake to my mother-in-law and mentioned that I always split it with my husband because it has literally half the calories I get for…
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Steps v. calories?
This is a weird question, but it's bugging me. My husband and I both have fitbit zips. He's a little taller than me but has short legs. When we walk together, he walks 4 steps for my 3. Obviously he gets more steps per day, even if we walk the same distance (I've calibrated my fitbit). Does he actually burn more calories?…
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If you like documenting things . . .
I just joined the National Weight Loss Registry, which is a study of people who've maintained a loss of at least 30 pounds for at least a year. (I know many of you are eligible.) When I was filling out the paperwork I realized how hard it is to get long term records from MFP. The reports only go back a year. I've been on…
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Another dumb reason maintenance is hard
(she says after saying for months that it's not) If you are over 500 calories a day while losing weight, you'll just stall because you've just lost your deficit. If you are over 500 calories a day on MAINTENANCE you're going to gain. No deficit to buffer you. It may obvious to everyone else, but it wasn't to me.
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Great cheesy snack
My husband has a great recipe he has come up with that I love to snack on so I thought I'd share. 35 calories. Cheese crisps: Take a tablespoon or so of shredded cheese (Mexican blend, cheddar, havarti, whatever you have). Drop it in a hot frying pan (plain teflon or regular pan sprayed with pan). Sprinkle on some sliced…
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Holding water - suggestions of cause or solution?
I am traveling and am holding a lot of water. I'm not so much worried about my weight, but my health, and am looking for suggestions - I assume it is diet related. It is certainly not a health threat, just obvious to me, and I would like to solve the problem before it becomes problematic. It's not just my feet that are…
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Join the National Weight Loss Registry
A lot of the research on how people successfully keep weight off (and how many people don't) comes from the National Weight Loss Registry study. I know from reading the forums that many of you could join - and you should. You need to have lost 30 pounds and have kept if off a year. To register, start here:…
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Exercise/Weigt Loss/Maintenance Advice
This is actually a question for my husband, who uses MFP but not the forums. I know there are a lot of really serious workout people here - I am not one of them. My husband was around 60 pounds overweight. He lost 40 pounds through strict diet, got ill, lost a foot of his intestines, and regained 25. For the last year he's…
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Similar question to Skinny Fat
I am happy with my weight and the way I look standing up, in clothes, or naked. EXCEPT when I'm sitting down, when I still have a bit of that ugly apron fat. It seems like skin with fat under it with, basically, nothing under it to keep it tight. When I'm standing or have my legs straight, everything is taut and looks…
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Suddenly can't remember what I eat!
I've logged basically everything I've eaten for a year a half. Easy to do and helpful for me. Hit my weight loss goal (which I never expected to). This is the first time I've ever tried to lose weight (I'm 54). All of a sudden I can't remember what I've eaten. Not that I don't still love food (I do). Or that I'm not eating…
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First fail, Little choices
For the first time since I started MFP, I am going to fail to hit my weekly calorie goal. I must admit, I am bummed. And since I'm going to a wedding this weekend, I hope to, but may not, make it next week. I'll only be over by maybe 1000 calories this week, but it is still not good. Onward and upward. What is interesting…
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New change with leaner body?
When I was young and skinny, I could often skip meals and not be that ravenous. As I got older, and heavier, I found I could push back meals for a few hours without feeling that hungry, although my stomach could get really, really empty and crampy. When I was on a calorie deficit when losing, though, I needed to eat…
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Useful quiz: Do you know enough to maintain by eye?
I just found this quiz from the NIH. I found it interesting because it shows the difference in portion sizes now and 20 years ago. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/portion/portion.cgi?action=question&number=1 More importantly for us, it quizzes you on how many calories pretty standard foods have…
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Favorite splurge?
One of the nice things about maintaining after all this time is that always seem to have a bunch of extra calories left at the end of the day. I usually have ice cream around 9PM, but that's only 100 or so calories for 1/4 cup and I don't want more that that. I'm usually looking for 200 or so. Lately I've been going for…
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Does the MFP maintenance calculation work for you?
I hit my goal 'zone' back in May and am now at the bottom of that five pound range. I hadn't really been trying, but with more exercise and lighter summer eating, I took off another five pounds. Slow, but still down. I am comfortable with my current calories. I am comfortable with how I look, though I'd like a bit more…
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Snacking v. Treats
I have been thinking a lot about a question about snacking and I had an insight, I think. Snacks are part of your regular diet. So they should be generally healthy and in line with the regular food that you eat. A snack is something you eat to get you from one meal to the next without getting hungry. Treats, on the other…
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Thoughts for daily exercise and muscle
I was just reading this piece in the NY Times about exercise and maintaining bone mass: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/building-up-bones-with-a-little-bashing/ It says, among other things, that bone mass is better maintained and strengthened through non-static movements like jumping rope or tennis than by things…
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What's with the capuccino and macchiato calories?
I make espresso, capuccino, and macciato at home. A shot or two of espresso (2 calories?). 2-4 oz of skim milk foamed up. When I go to my local coffee shop, they do the same thing. When I go to enter it in MFP, if I enter capuccino or macciato, I get some huge amount of calories. If I enter the milk and coffee, I get…
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I hate cardio but I like the eliptical
I know there are other people out there like me who hate the gym. I walk and bike a lot but have hated all exercise machines. I have a hard time running as I'm tall and it feels like I'm shocking my system. I've been traveling and needed to exercise so had to use the fitness equipment. I LOVE the eliptical. No shock to the…
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Fit Bit/MFP integration
I just got a Fitbit today to count steps - it replaces my old pedometer. I am hoping for a more accurate read on my calories lost. I am having trouble understanding exactly how to integrate the information across the two programs. - I log all my food in MFP. I am set to sedentary and have always logged 'extra' activities…
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Advice on maintenance?
Hi All - I've been doing this for a year and have been within my 'goal zone' for a little more than two months now. I'm still losing slowly, but more inches now than pounds. I looked in the mirror yesterday and just said 'that's it'. I look good and if I lose more I'll move from thin to skinny - not a good look for a 54…