Mfp...will it really help me lose weight?

[IrishDP]

Hi there, just after some advice. I'm 5ft 4 and weigh 11st 4lb and have just created a mfp account. Mfp says that I can have 1230 calories a day. Will I really lose weight sticking to this. I need a kick up the bum and have lost all motivation. Keep eating when I am not even hungry. Help

[Toffeelatteplease]

Yes. Over a stone and a half done with my fitness pal. You do have to religiously log and weight everything though.

[Toffeelatteplease]

Weigh everything not weight.

You do need a good set of kitchen scales with a tare function

[YouMakeMyDreams]

One way it helped me was spending the first couple of days eating normally and logging it. Was a good kick up the bum to see how many empty and needless calories I was putting in my mouth. It can get a bit of a shock. But yes religiously logging everything is a great way to do it and really helps lose weight.

[Barbie1]

It will awaken you to how much you over consume and teach you how to chose your foods more wisely to make the most of your limited calories.

However, this alone will be time consuming, you have to get moving to burn off som calories too.

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

One way it helped me was spending the first couple of days eating normally and logging it. Was a good kick up the bum to see how many empty and needless calories I was putting in my mouth. It can get a bit of a shock.

^^This

I lost nearly 4 stone a few years ago, mainly by watching what I was eating and did some regular walking and cycling, no mad gym sessions or anything.

I don't use all the features like making up my own foods, I'll use existing ones and err on the side of caution by choosing one of the larger calorie counts so I'm not kidding myself into having more calories left over at the end of the day.

The bar code scan function is excellent, and if you tend to eat the same foods over a week then they stay up in your recent foods which saves searching for them every time.

Good luck matey.

[lougle]

Yes it will. I crept up to 69.3kg. I've been using MFP since 18th March, so almost 3 weeks, and I'm 67.6kg now. That's 1.7kg/3.75lbs down, even with a big Easter dinner that broke all the rules. My goal calories is 1200, but I'm adding back in for steps so my daily calories total 1100-1300 ish.

The biggest thing for me is seeing what those carb heavy bakery items 'cost' in calories. When you've got 1200 calories in a day, 479 calories for a blueberry muffin suddenly seems very expensive!

You can eat lots for 1200 calories. I have (homemade) Greek yoghurt for breakfast. Yesterday's dinner was some roast beef with 5 varieties of roasted vegetables and steamed brocolli. It all totalled 610 calories including the oil used to roast the veg.

[IrishDP]

Thank you for all your replies. I'm on day two on putting my calories and it is tough but I need to do something. It's really getting m down that I can't even put my wedding and engagement rings on. Wish me luck.

[lougle]

Good luck!

What is it that you're finding tough? If you switch very carby foods for lower carb food, your calories will go a lot further. Broccoli, swede, courgette, etc. are all low calorie/weight items.

[ChoccyJules]

I lost half a stone in the first two weeks and last week stayed the same which I think is good given it was Easter! I get about 1400 calories a day - I knew I wouldnt stick to anything less, so I factored in a very slow weightloss. Not been slow so far though but I guess it will slow down soon, the first few weeks are always the best!
I find it hard not to have wine when relaxing at night, which is of course an added health benefit, now I sometimes have one glass but other times I actually choose food instead! Am using salad and satsumas to stave off hunger and whenever I find out something is lower cals than I thought, I get lots in.
Everyone is right about weighing food though. It seems a hassle but becomes second nature. Guessing portions doesn't work.
I am aiming to lose 2 stone, maybe a little more, by the way. Good luck !

[familysizepack]

Yes!

I'm on my second go at it - I lost quite a lot, then got pregnant. :)

I now weigh less than I did to start with and tbh it hasn't felt too hard. (Baby is almost 1)

I haven't restricted what type of things I eat much, just reduced my portion sizes a bit (weigh out my cereal instead of filing the bowl etc) and cut down on the number of snacks I eat. If I'm hungry I sometimes do make better choices though, like an apple instead of a chocolate biscuit. :) I still have regular 'treat' foods, just not a whole sharing size pack.

I have set my goal to lose 1 lb a week, and I try to stick roughly to the calorie aim. I usually don't manage at the weekend because wine , maybe I'd lose weight faster if I was better at weekends!

I also use the ideas from Paul McKennna's book to try and eat mindfully. (Drink a glass of water first if you feel hungry, if you're hungry- eat, Eat slowly and stop when you're full, eat what you want, not what you think you should, don't beat yourself up if you have a bad day etc.).

I'm now a healthy weight for the first time in ages and feel more in control of my eating and weight.

I'm a total MFP convert.

[AnnaFulhamMum]

Hi. I hear this from a lot of women, myself included. Being stressed and feeling depressed can create a vicious cycle with overeating. Lots of people have found that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which gets to the core of unhealthy eating behaviours has been very effective in addressing the why someone may be overeating and can alleviate this with some working through emotional difficulties. Waiting list can be a few months but it's free from the NHS. Also speaking to GP about weight loss could be beneficial as there is a lot on offer to help people lose weight.

[Pou]

Yes, linked with my Fitbit I've lost 2 stone. I'm now at a healthy weight for my height and have slowly increased my calories from 1,200 to 1,600 as I now need to maintain it instead of losing it. On some days though I struggle to get to 1,200 because I've changed my eating habits. I snack on nuts and avocados if I need to increase my calories.

It's bit of a ball ache to start with, but once you have all your regular foods stored it's easy to log.

[TwoLittleBlooms]

I am using MFP, it gave me a daily of 1200 (but I increased to 1500 as that is what I should be eating according to NHS - though have only reached my max once - yesterday as I had a pot noodle )

I have gone from 14st 2lb on Thursday and I am now only reading 13st 13lb on the scales - I have been calorie counting and MFP is really helping me stay in control - I am measuring everything though and have made certain substitutes (wholemeal bread, almond milk instead of semi-skimmed and cut the two massive sugars out of my hot drinks)

I have been exercising for 30 minutes a day which is my exercise goal on MFP. I have gone from no real exercise and massively overeating and using MFP is keeping me focused. So I would say yes it could help you lose weight.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

I've lost 14 kilos (nearly 2.5 stone?) since Jan by reducing my calories to 1300 or less daily. Obviously there are days where I exceed that and days when I just have to guess at calories but overall it has changed the way I eat. I do still eat unhealthy stuff, just make sure you tally it up and take responsibility for it in thr daily calorie count.