February Calorie Counting Club?

[fellyjish]

Hi all,
Hoping there's more of you out there in the same boat? I have been calorie counting since Oct and have now lost (very nearly) 1.5 stone but I am running out of motivation.

Anyone else need a kick up the bum to crack on for February?

I weigh in on a Friday but haven't been good this weekend so really need to knuckle down...

Also trying to keep up my exercise but don't want to do thAt either today!!

Anyone else?!

[CRbear]

Hi fellyjish - I could have written your post though substitute September for October. I’ve also lost slightly less - 17lbs after a blip at Christmas! Feeling pretty chuffed it was just a blip though.

I’m doing 1500 cals a day midweek, 60 mins walking upto three midweek days and two swim workouts and I don’t eat back my calories midweek but I use them as a buffer at weekends when I’m not as strict with my in take.

Want to get to 77kg by end of March for an event. And eventually to 74kg which is top end of healthy BMI for my height.

I was lacking motivation but I’ve bought a couple of eve outfits and wearing them makes me feel so good it’s given me a real lift. Worth a try?

[puds11]

Yes, massive kick needed! Before Christmas I was smashing it. Got from 186lbs to 149lbs at start of jan. then just started being a pig for the last month. Last time I checked I’d put on 2lbs but am too scared to weigh myself right now. I’m back on it today with a calorie in take of 1,400 or less and some exercise!

I have kept up exercise throughout but it deffo hasn’t countered my pigging. I want to loose 4lbs in the next two weeks.

[CRbear]

*new outfits

And should say I’ve got about 10 lbs to go to that first goal.

[fellyjish]

Yes, pleased to find my people 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I am going to try 1600 calories this week as was finding 1400 impossible to stick to - but I have upped my exercise.

The post I wrote helped though and had my diet breakfast of protein shake and fruit for breakfast instead of the peanut butter and toast I wanted!

I want to lose two stone before I go away mid March but it feels almost impossible this week, particularly as I like to have treats at the weekend!!

[Mummytogg]

I have been trying to do 1500cals a day for the past two weeks.

Weekdays are easier but I fall off the wagon a bit on weekends! I have breakfast and lunch meal prepped for the next three days so I feel organized for this week so far🤞

[CRbear]

I’ve shaken up my breakfast today as I have been getting so hungry mid morning. Whoever says porridge fills them up is mad. I’ve been having two instant sachets with water (300 cals) but today I’ve had one sachet with water, one light babybel and I’ll have an apple when the hunger sets in (300 cals).

I’ve also bought new snacks for the week which has given me a lift haha- it’s the small things. Philadelphia garlic and herb snack packs and the babybels, and I’ve kept the kids size apples which I like a lot: I’ve been having all sweet snacks and the more weight I lose the more I notice how sugar affects me. If I have a binge on something sweet I’ll be shaking and sweaty a couple of hours later so I can only imagine what the mini version of that is each day after a cereal bar mid afternoon.

Anyway, a change is as good as a rest they say.

I’ve been over cals Every day since Thursday so not expecting to lose at weigh in tomorrow- hope to maintain atleast but I think I’d be lucky. Better week ahead!

[HarrietBasset]

Hi all
Can I join? MFP has given me 1360 a day which doesn't seem a lot. I'm on day 2 and could use some support and motivation. I'd like to lose 2 stone by the summer. I'm recovering from a bank injury so only gentle exercise and I sit down for a job though run around after 3 kids and a puppy a fair bit and average 7000 steps a day.
Weekends are my downfall generally as I socialise a lot around food

[Muckycat]

Hi everyone! Can I join you? How is everyone getting on?

I have been doing 1200 cals on MFP since new year.

I know it's odd but I havent actually weighed myself, just been going on clothing fit and I am starting to fit into tailored size 14s again after pushing size 20 at my biggest (I was slowly cutting down portions etc and exercising more since about oct but not on a strict diet). Aim is size 10/12 which is my old wardrobe from about 3 years ago.

I really need to get back to the gym which I was doing before i really cut the calories but have been making sure to walk/ run 10k steps every day, this has often meant jogging on the spot or on my bottom stair to get the numbers up if I cant be bothered to go back out!

I would also really like a properly flat tummy which I have never had, even at my slimmest.

[CRbear]

Muckycat that’s an amazing loss- I don’t know how you manage on 1200! Do you eat back exercise calories at all?

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

Me! I'm looking to lose a stone by the summer (it would have been less if I hadn't put on a few pounds over Christmas and let them stay there).

MFP has given me 1410 calories a day and I'm trying to avoid eating any exercise calories so I can counter balance weekend excess.

Feeling quite positive today (day 1 of getting back on track), have stayed under my calorie goal and I did a bodypump class. I really need to get into a habit of regular exercise though!

[Muckycat]

Thanks CRbear !!

To be honest it's been a long time coming and i just wasnt comfortable at the size i was so i have just got the bit between my teeth... konjac noodles have been an absolute saviour though. As well as mini babybels...

the first week at 1200 cal was quite tough, felt like all watery soups and I missed carbs and full fat cheese but tbh it has been easier just not to buy them .

Oh, and I think it's key to.work out what time of day you need your most substantial meal (sounds like brekkie for you but deffo evening meal for me) and devote most cals to that rather than make a more even split between 3 meals.

[puds11]

I don’t eat back calories. I leave it as an extra gain. I have started doing the Bikini Body Guide so will feedback on whether it’s worth it. Am committing to 12 weeks, three times a week.

[Goatinthegarden]

Can I join? Some great losses so far - well done to you all!

I started a week ago and have lost 4lbs (I want to go from 168lbs to 140-something).

I’m doing MFP 1200, but earning extra calories through cycling an hour to an hour and a half at home each day using Zwift (it’s like a road cycling simulator that turns your outdoor bike into an indoor one). I’m fairly active and spend all day on my feet, but have been lazy and overeating since last October!

[Muckycat]

4lb is great Goat !

Yeah I don't eat back exercise calories as a matter of course, I see them as a buffer if I have a meal out or something and go a bit above over the course of the week.

[fellyjish]

Wow I'm impressed with you all at 1200 calories! Weirdly since telling myself I could eat up to 1600 (MFP puts me at 1460) as long as I'd done exercise, I haven't wanted to! Maybe just a hungry week last week?!

I measured myself back in August before I properly started (messed around for a couple of months before knuckling down to MFP) and that's good motivation

@Muckycat that's incredible! New year this year? Or last year? I agree with working out which is your 'main' meal, I can't be hungry all day if I know I've got a decent dinner coming!

I had a baby in June but was much heavier than I wanted getting pregnant. Have decided I want to lose 3 stone (after my weight stabilised after having the baby), but slow and steady - by the end of the year.

@puds11 I don't eat back the calories either although ate a little more yesterday after a decent run.

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo I've been enjoying getting back into exercise, I'm starting to feel better.

@CRbear jealous of the babybel, I can't eat dairy anymore but it used to be my go to snack!!

I've started batch cooking and then entering all into MFP at the start of the day so I know how many snack calories I have!

Onwards and upwards, half way through another week, I think I'll be lucky to lose after the weekend I have but then I've been super good since Monday so who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

[puds11]

@fellyjish obviously if I was feeling a bit weak I would 100% eat, but if I feel good I don’t eat them back. My MFP calorie intake is exactly the same as yours

[puds11]

Just read more of your post, I had a baby in June and have 3 stone to loose, half a stone left. Am I messaging myself

[Mummytogg]

@fellyjish I also put my meals in ahead of time so I can see what I have leftover. Especially if I know dinner is going to be calorie heavy I can kind of work backwards.

I'm currently at 12st5 which is the heaviest weight I've been not pregnant. I am finally getting my totm back after nursing my youngest for almost 3 years. Hormones are sending my cravings through the roof!

[Muckycat]

Well, I've only been doing 1200 since this new year but tbh I bough a pair of size 20 trousers in late summer and they fit. That was the turning point and so I suppose I cut down a lot between then and starting on MFP properly.

Yes to logging food before you eat it! Definitely helps you portion control and decide 'is it worth it?'!

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

Love the idea of putting in food in advance, We meal plan, so I'lm going to start using it!

We've been using pinch of nom a lot recently, it's really helped unsure we have low calorie meals during the week.

I never used to eat breakfast much during the week, and felt if I did I would get hungrier earlier. But now I tend to have a boiled egg and slice of toast and that keeps me going until lunchtime now, I just need to be better at avoiding the inevitable cakes and treats that appear in my office!

[againyouregone]

Ooh can I join? I need some motivation I'm meant to be eating 1200 and I used to be really strict and weigh everything but I tend to just go wrong about 9pm and eat loads of crisps

[CRbear]

Weighing everything and “scribble before you nibble / write before you bite” (secret world of slimming clubs podcast!) are definitely helpful.

I put in all the food for my day first thing. Then I know how I’ll need to adjust it if I want to have a biscuit or cake when they inevitably appear in the office. Sometimes I can without any issue. And if I really want to I can see how it’s going to effect the rest of my day.

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

I'll have to remember that one @CRbear there's always cake appearing in my office!

[fellyjish]

Haha @puds11 I wish I was you if you've only got half a stone left to lose!! I have 1.5 stone!!

[Goatinthegarden]

@fellyjish
Weirdly since telling myself I could eat up to 1600 (MFP puts me at 1460) as long as I'd done exercise, I haven't wanted to!

That makes perfect sense to me, I find that as long as I do at least 30mins of decent cardio a day (or at the very least, walk 15k steps), I really don’t want to eat junk and I really enjoy my main meal. It’s pretty hard motivating myself at this time of year, particularly as I am out the house 7am-6pm and am shattered after work, but being able to exercise in my house has made an amazing difference. And the more I exercise, the more energy I have, so it’s definitely worth the initial effort - getting started is always the hardest bit!

I use a lot of Anna Jones recipes and really enjoy them. I just chuck the recipe in MFP and then portion according to the calories I have available. If I’m still hungry, I’ll have some seconds and take them out of my exercise calories. Any leftovers get used for healthy packed lunches.

I still eat socially, but the effort I put into exercising definitely means I want to make better choices (when I haven’t done any exercise, I just crave - and devour - all the burgers and curries whenever I pick up a menu!)

I lost two stone two years ago in 8 weeks, running every day (we had a beautiful summer that year, I ended up slim AND tanned!) and using MFP; unfortunately my weight has gradually crept up, getting worse over this past winter whilst I’ve been so lazy and hungry. Here’s hoping I can do it again!