-
I have failed
The pandemic was very good to me - no stress, no classes to teach or events to lead in person, no socializing with friends (which invariably means either eating a meal out or going to an event that includes food). Left home alone most of the time, I could control every bite that went into my mouth and I did great. In the…
-
Subject to Emotional Eating
In this past month, I have had TWO binges. Both came as letdowns after a period of high anxiety or stress. (At five feet tall and weighing 95-97 lbs, MFP limits me to under 1400 calories before it warns me I'm on a weight gain trend - and its projections have been accurate enough that I do take this seriously and continue…
-
Encouragement for Newer Maintainers
I just got back from a trip Thursday night. I was away for a week, wasn't logging, am a stress eater and had the airports and airplanes and other crowds to deal with, was involved in a fender-bender, and I was with my grandchildren who are mostly fed healthfully but do enjoy a LOT of treats. So I basically binged for…
-
Trade-Offs and Treats
Okay, I am fully aware of how I got to how I was and that I need to remain accountable to myself not to go back up! But I do like to plan treats into my day and I guard them jealously. So I pre-log my meals for each day to see what's left. Do I have enough for an Enlightened bar? 1/4 cup of unsalted mixed roasted nuts? A…
-
What I Love About Being in Maintenance
1) Weighing what I'm "supposed" to weigh; 2) Fitting in to all of my pretty clothes again; 3) Not feeling ashamed of my appearance and having to wrestle with myself to go places; 4) Feeling a lot better physically, not just emotionally; 5) Being able to eat as much as 400 calories in a meal and still program in snacks and…
-
Loaded Kodiak Pancakes
I have been enjoying these pancakes so much the past few days that I am considering eating them for three meals a day! These are made with ingredients that I already have on hand. You can certainly substitute as you deem fit for whatever you don't have. ************************ Loaded Kodiak Pancakes 1 c Kodiak Pancake mix…
-
Fat Macro
As a vegetarian, my protein comes from nuts, dairy, tofu, and added protein powder. I buy everything low-fat and low-sodium, but I have gone over my fat macro every single day in the two months since I've been on transition and then maintenance, because these sources are all rather high in fat even in the reduced version.…
-
Vegetarians and Protein
I have started working with a personal trainer. (I'm in maintenance now but really need to recomp.) She suggested that I have 100g of protein each day. I told her that's what MFP has suggested, too, but it's really hard for me to achieve that as a vegetarian. I find myself adding protein powder to everything and still fall…
-
"Resistance" to Fiber?
I've been in maintenance for about 3 weeks now. During the weight reduction phase, I was pretty regularly constipated - despite the 60-72 oz of water I drank each day, at least 4 servings of vegetables, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, Benefiber every day, lentils and black beans and nuts and seeds and dried fruits…
-
MFP estimates calories low?
I have been doing the YouTube exercise videos. MFP seems to give me very low counts for calories burned. For instance, I did one hour-long brisk walking (4mph)/aerobic group fitness class video, and it gave me 122 calories. The site says it would be 300-450 calories depending on your weight and intensity, and another…
-
Almost There
I am within a pound of my stated goal weight (in my heart, that's the top of my desired range, but I wanted to feel success as soon as possible). It has been a LONG, LONG haul. The last time I lost weight (and kept it off for 4-5 years and only gained back because I had gone back to school and that's always a real stressor…
-
Adding Turmeric
I am trying so hard to work turmeric into my eating plan every day. I have added it to my Greek yogurt & fruit, added it to my oatmeal & kefir, added it to my crockpot veggies and to my salads - it can be tasted strongly everywhere I try to include it. I'm not sure I even WANT to add it to a smoothie! (To me, it tastes…
-
My Plan in Maintenance
I'm just over 5 feet tall, almost 70 years old, and weigh 105 pounds (bottom of my goal range). When I first went into maintenance, I added 100 calories per day for two full weeks, going from 1200 to 1300 per day. Starting today, I will add another 100 calories per day for another two full weeks. If I don't gain at that…
-
Having to log makes a huge difference
I just took a road trip all alone over the holiday weekend, a time when I would normally "treat" myself. On the way down, I looked at a King-Sized Payday bar - hey, no chocolate, how many calories could it possibly have? Um - 460. More than most of my meals. So I skipped it. Then, on the way back, I stopped at Cracker…
-
Supplements eating into my calories!!
I bought protein powder because I'm always falling short of protein every day and I do work out at the gym, so feel I need it. But it's 100 calories per scoop! Also bought aloe vera juice to help with acid reflux, of which you're supposed to take 2 oz four times per day, but I am only taking it once or twice a day because…
-
Cooky Baking Secret
I'm in the process of baking cookies right now - fudge-filled minis & chocolate-filled orange cream puffs. The secret? I'm allergic to chocolate! Keep granola and mixed nuts far away from me, but chocolate can't tempt me. (As for cookies, oatmeal with a butter-based dough is my weakness!) I think this is something that…
-
Pounds rather than inches?
I know that people can build up muscle if they both diet and exercise and that your scale might not show much loss but that your measurements will show a decline, your clothes will fit better, etc. I am losing rather slowly (1 pound per week) - set MFP to 2 pounds, but it doesn't want me to go below 1200 calories in a day…
-
Help with the food database
I am having trouble with the food database. For instance, I know I already have strawberries among my own foods - but did I pick up "Fruit-Strawberries", "Generic-Strawberries", "Organic-Strawberries", or "Strawberries"? I have to search through four pages of my own foods carefully before I decide whether I need to conduct…
-
Height and Weight
I'm barely more than 5 feet tall. My maintenance calories, even with a decently active lifestyle, are only about 1400, and I'm doing 1200 calories right now in my weight reduction phase. I'm getting some friends here, and I see that people are eating 1600, 1800, etc calories per day and losing weight nicely. I know you…
-
Fast food
So if a calorie is just a calorie, we should be able to eat certain things occasionally that are not our healthiest choices, right? I have been craving a Mediterranean Veggie sandwich from Dominos. Looked up the nutrition info - it's manageable at 680 calories, but I know the fast food culprits and looked at sodium - sure…
-
Anxious about tonight
I have been to a few group events since starting MFP, but it's easy for me to avoid eating in those situations - I carry around a glass of water or cup of tea and talk to people and nobody seems to notice that I'm not eating. But tonight I'm having a dinner party (social obligation) - one couple coming over - they will…
-
Minor - but first! - success
I'm about three weeks in back on MFP again and the scale won't budge. Appears to be painted on. Quite discouraging but I keep on. But then today, I pulled on some jeans and realized that they zipped right up - I didn't have to hold my breath, pull with all my might, and then feel like I was blossoming over the waistband.…
-
"Cheating" in MFP
I imagine we all do this but thought it would be good to check in - I "cheat" on what I actually eat vs what I put down. If I've put down 1 cup of almond milk for breakfast, I might really have 1/2 cup - if I put 2 tbsp goat cheese in my salad, I might really have 1 tbsp - etc. So I leave myself a cushion in case I'm…
