Just signed up at 'My Fitness Pal'. Any advice, experience, or desire to join me?

[worriermum]

I read about the website, myfitnesspal.com on MN. Am truly desperate to stop the ever rising weight gain - I have just topped my full term pregnancy weight. I've never really been a dieter, or even believed in diets, but I Have To Do Something. Would love to do it with some other Mumsnetters - anyone interested in joining me?

All the weight loss threads seem so bloated, if you'll pardon the metaphor. I'm intimidated by 537 messages, or 219 messages. Feel I cant be arsed to read through all that and I will never be part of the club if I dont read the history. Advice please?

[foreverondiet]

gilbonzo I also have PCOS (and underactive thyroid) - I was diagnosed in 2002 when I was TTC but didn't have any cycles - I followed a low GI diet (and took thyroid medication), I lost a stone (with a couple of months) and got pregnant with DD. I was probably only a stone over my normal though (caused by the undiagnosed underactive thyroid as well as the PCOS). I also suffer from bloating, never been officially told that its IBS but triggers include eating huge meals, esp carb heavy ones, aspartame, pulses and cruciferous (sp?) veggies. Interestingly I can eat any of those things on its own, its when its part of a large meal that I end up doubled over in pain. You'd think that this alone would be enough to stop me from eating big meals!?

I am basically following dukan but with no only protein only days. So I mainly eat lean meat, and poultry, fish, eggs, soya, quorn, fat free dairy & veggies & oatbran. Occasionally have low GI carbs eg 2 oatcakes. I also now allow myself one piece of fruit a day and a small treat (eg 10g dark chocolate). I stick to MFP limits. Once I get to 9 stone will start adding some more carbs into diet.

Yesterday I apparently did 800 calories worth of exercise - I didn't eat any of it - I basically save it for the weekend and have at least one cheat meal that I don't log. I go to the gym 3x a week so figure that the cheat meal can't possibly be more than 2,400 calories!!!

In terms of what I look like thanks, yes, I could probably now wear bikini (I don't have any), I am now a size 10 - 34 bust, 28 waist and 36 hips. And toned . But it was hard work, and it will take an effort I imagine to maintain. But in October I was pretty much a size 18 - waist 36, bust 41 and hips 43.

[gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck]

Bloody hell - that's amazing since October! I've been told I have IBSbut I reckon they say that when they don't know what the problem is as it covers such a large array of symptoms.

According to my BMI I'm 4 stone overweight but my UK doctor said that if I came into his surgery weighing what I 'should' weigh then he would be treating me for the opposite problem. Apparently I really do have 'big bones' . I do have 3 stone to lose though and I discovered through trial and error that diet alone is not good enough. I have to exercise a huge amount as well and make up my calories from proteins and veg more than carbs. In the last 9 months I've changed my whole lifestyle to make me more active. Instead of putting a pile of washing on the stairs to take up the next time I go, I take them up there and then. I know it sounds like a tiny thing but multiply that by all the other odd bits (coffee cups back in kitchen straight away, toys put away etc, etc) it makes a big difference. I've lost 2 stone in those 9 months so I'm hoping to carry on and not get stuck on a plateau for too long.

[worriermum]

Sorry Forever, I now know who you are on MFP - I very much understand why you dont want to compromise your MN anonymity. It's now 8.15pm my time, DS is asleep (at least I pray he is) and instead of cramming Nutella into my mouth, I am typing to you on MN. How much better is THAT!! Thank you, this is working already.

Re: the Nutella. DS had been begging me for ages to get some (I never have before) so I eventually agreed. Then scoffed the entire jar over about ten days. I bought a replacement which DS saw me unpacking, and then, when he asked me why I bought another jar, just lied!!!! I said 'the other one smashed to the floor when I was rooting around in the cupboard'. Felt awful to lie to him, but - in the moment - even worse to tell him that his mother is capable of eating an entire jar of Nutella on her own, while urging moderation on him. I still feel awful about the lie though.

But, at this stage, I have finished the day with calories to spare - yahoo!!!

[foreverondiet]

worriermum well imagine trying to explain why you are buying a 3rd jar whenever you are tempted!

[surprise]

Hi - can I join you too please? I've installed the MFP app on my phone and have just logged in online as well.

I need to lose 2.5 stone and I keep trying all sorts of things, but really less food and more exercise is all that's needed .

I have bought all the necessary ingredients to do the Jason Vale juicing diet (although I only do it through the day and have a low-cal evening meal) so will be doing that for the next 5 days. Last time I did that I lost half a stone and felt great, so I thought that would be a good kick-start. (If I stick to it that is). Good luck to everyone who's struggling and well done to all of you who've already lost so much!

[gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck]

Hi surprise, what's your name on MFP?

[surprise]

Hi I'm detta68 - ooh it will be exciting to have some friends on there!

[gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck]

I've added you - I'm gilbonzo on there aswell

[foreverondiet]

Another tip / thought I had about MFP is that although it measures very well the quantity of calories you are eating, its not quite as great as measuring the quality.

I started the diet using tesco diet totaller, although its not as user friendly as MFP and I had to pay for it, it was much better as estimating the quality of what I was eating. I had 15 totals per day.

Although 4.5 mars bars and 24 apples both are 1200 calories, the mars bars would be 21 totals and the apples only 10. So it I ate loads of fruit and vegetables I'd be over 1200 calories for the day, if I ate pizza, chocolate or bread I'd be under 1200 calories.

This one is for you worriermum - it would only take 140g of chocolate spread to eat 15 totals - and it would only be 788 calories.

I lost an average of 2lb a week for the first 3 months. It then slowed down but I was only around a stone over my ideal weight by that point.

Just something to think about.

[tookoolforskool]

hi.

im on my fitness pal as well. I want to lost 2.5 stone...

I dont know if anyone wants to add me too?
im tinybitofcake

[gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck]

Hi tookool, I've added you as well. I'm loving this instant friends thing

[tookoolforskool]

thanks for adding me. i should say i also have PCOS. and had my gall blader out 2009.
and actually i pretty much follow you in the either ' eat hardly anything, lose lots of weight' then that being totally unsubstainable and then eating lots and gaining it all back.
and repeat.. for years!

[psychoduckkilledtheeasterbunny]

I have a twin! Welcome to my fucked up world We'll get there!

[tookoolforskool]

lol.
I think there are probably a fair few people with pcos who do the same. when i finally got diagnosed... only took 10 years to get that diagonis! i got a few books on it and read that a lot of people with pcos have a very distorted eating pattern, following the eat nothing, then eat lots thing. and that low gi was the way to go.
i ate low gi for a few weeks and felt great.. but gained weight.
so kind of went back to the eat nothing or eat everything thing.

I lost a ton of weight, about 3 stone before i had my gallbladder out and since then have been yo yo- ing between 1.5 stone.

Ive got 1 stone to go to get to my lowest pre gall bladder out weight and then another stone to go after that. ( i say the first stone.. it might be 1 stone and a few lbs.. wont know till i weigh in sunday)

Interestingly, although when im heavier i hate it, i seem not to pay attention to my body and how i look... so im happyish. its only when im dieting that i look in the mirror and think i look awful.
is anyone else the same. or is that just me?

[hairypotter]

Good morning all. Well I'm just back from a wee short break with dh dd1 and dd2 and I have stuck to my miserable allowance of 1300 calories every day. It was hard going because we saw so many tea rooms, cafes and fab restaurants along the way. So, as I haven't weighted myself since last saturday I decided today was the day! Was expecting to lose 2lbs and instead I have lost...... nothing! not one single lb!

I am so disappointed and wonder where I could have gone wrong. I have added every calorie into mfp, and where I wasn't sure how many to add (homemade meals etc) if anything I over estimated.

I probably didn't exercise as much as I should have although we did walk for a couple of hours each day with the kids. I even ran along the beach racing dd2 for a bit.

I know I am going to find sticking to my diet difficult now, as I cant see results at the moment. I would be happy to hear any thoughts as to where I have gone wrong. I have to admit that I think 1300 calories is fairly low for my weight/height (5'6 12st 12lbs) so I don't want to go lower so early in my diet.

Im feeling really feb up as I know I have not gone over and have felt hungry most days. Now I am back home I will be doing more excercise and as soon as shred dvd turns up I am going to give it a go.

Please, please help me stay on track ladies, usually this is just the thing that would make me fall of the wagon so to speak. I am in a huff with myself and contemplating an indian takeaway for dinner if Im not careful.

Btw, if I have missed adding anyone, can you let me know, or add me. Thanks

[BettyButterknife]

Oh poor you - that's rubbish, isn't it? There could be many reasons why you haven't lost any weight. Is your period due? How long have you been dieting for? Maybe you have plateaued or your body has got used to what you're doing... Very demoralising, I agree.

I have to confess that I haven't been regularly weighing myself on any particular day, so when I do weigh myself and have lost 2lb or something I'm really chuffed, even though it might've taken me a couple of weeks.

Further up the thread someone suggests we do a Monday weigh in with all our measurements as well - although you might not see weight loss from week to week, you might well see a reduction in waist etc. which could help. Actually, they do say muscle weighs more than fat, don't they? So it'll be these measurements that might well be more accurate once we all start doing our shred dvds! I really must start mine...

Incidentally, I right royally messed up last night and had an Indian takeaway. I logged it all though, as far as I could, and figured it had been an extra 700 calories above my allowance of 1200, so a total of 1900 yesterday. But given women are supposed to have a ballpark allowance of 2000 per day I'm not going to be too down on myself.

1200 is so low, I'm finding. My downfall at the moment is those Sunbites crisps - I am a demon for a salted snack - which are 120 cals per bag. That doesn't seem much but it is 1/10 of my allowance and if I have a packet I find that I'm going over each day. Sigh... Have to get smarter about meal planning I think. Any tips, anyone?

[worriermum]

Hairy that must have been so demoralising. If I found the discipline to stick to my diet in the land of delicious teas and cakes then I would expect sainthood at the very least. I wonder, if you were hungry a lot of the time, could it be that you would lose weight more easily if you upped your calories a bit? Forever, are you around? I'm sure you know much more about this then I do.

I must admit that I have been over my calories every single day so far. 1200 just seems so LITTLE and I am not exercising so I get no grace at all. But MFP is helping me hugely: I have definitely turned down some chocolate here and a slice of cake there because I know that I am nearing my calorie limit. So I will be very interested to see if I lose weight despite going over my calorie allowance. I am using this first week or two on MFP to gain information about my eating first and foremost. It probably sounds crazy but, despite knowing that I am eating badly and too much, I havent known exactly how much I am eating each day. MFP is really helping with that.

It will be interesting to weigh in on MOnday and so start my 'official' MFP regime.

[foreverondiet]

I think the answer is to eat lots of vegetables each day and to eat protein with every meal and cut right back on the white carbs ... so yes hairy smarter about meal planning - you should not be going hungry... as I said in an earlier post (on friday) I really do believe that the quality of the calories makes a huge difference - of course ok to have one small treat each day but you'll feed much more full and satisfied if you eat a good quality protein and veggies at each meal.

I have read lots of diet books - Rosemary Conely, dukan, pig to twig, south beach, low GI, low GL. I basically have picked the best bits from all of them. I try to avoid white carbs, have protein at each meal, oatbran each day, low fat etc.

I have made my food diary public on MFP - ignore today's lunch though - it was my cheat meal - we had guests round and I ate loads, but you can see how I used my calories if you look at the rest of the week (missing a few days last weekend as we were on holiday and I didn't bother logging in)

There are lots of reasons for weight stagnation - eg TOTM, water retention from carb heavy day, constipation, building muscle. I have scales with fat % and often I find that when the weight stays the same for a week, but I have stuck to the diet the fat % drops meaning that I did loose fat, hence just water retention. I just bought my sister some for her birthday in John Lewis (£35) so if you get demoralised by scales might be worth investing in.

[hairypotter]

Yes thats it!! Sainthood was expected!! . Now after Ive stopped sulking about it I have looked at the bigger picture. This is the start of my fourth week and over the last three weeks I have lost 6lbs. I should be happy about that, as it averages out at 2lbs a week which would be amazing to keep up. However, my problem was that I lost all six lbs in the first 10 days (probably fluid etc) and nothing for the next 10. Very annoying as I had been just under allowance almost everyday.

Have just been for a long walk with dd1 and feel nicely exhausted. My shred dvd has arrived so if I can get house to myself for a bit will have a go tomorrow. (can't have dd's laughing too much at me)

Thanks for kind words and sympathy, much appreciated. Think I need a boot up the bum as well tho!!

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to stick to 1200 calories. Is that what mfp decided for you both? I know what you mean about thinking twice at chocolate worrier knowing you have to account for it later, although like you betty it's crisps and other savourys that tempt me the most.

I will def get the tape measure out for monday but im not sure if I will weigh myself again so soon. I have an awful feeling I would probably be heavier!

Has anyone had a go at the dvd yet? Would love to know if it is as brutal as I am imagining.

[worriermum]

HI Forever and thanks for the tips. How do you eat your oat bran? As oatmeal porridge? If so, what do you put on your porridge if not sugar and cinammon? I'll take a look at your food diary - it may answer my question.

[foreverondiet]

I stir the oatbran into a yoghurt, nicest into a fruit one. If I need to sweeten yoghurt or otherwise (generally have learned to taste the natural sweetness of the milk) I use a tiny amount of algave nectar as its very low GI.

Yes 1200 is what MFP recommended for me. I think 1200 very low if you have a lot to loose (ie over 2 stone) - in that case I think aim for 1300-1400 but make sure to eat lots of veggies and protein at each meal.

[hairypotter]

You are right forever, white carbs are another downfall of mine. Fruit and veg are no problem as I eat lots daily. I had a wee peek at your food diary and will take some meal ideas from it as I like the look of a few.

I wish I liked yoghurt as I can see your brekkies look much more than I have but a similar amount in calories. Maybe I should keep trying til I find one that I can stand

Thanks for advice and fingers crossed I can report a loss soon.

[foreverondiet]

hairy yes I love yoghurt could live on it ... what is it about it you don't like? Fruit ones def nicer, I think natural esp greek more of acquired taste. How about cottage cheese or fromage frais or quark? Eggs and / or white fish also good low GI high protein lowish calorie breakfast foods.

And yes, need to look at average weight loss, totally normal to loose in chunks not in straight line.

I think if doing oatbran porridge would use half oatbran and half jumbo oats. Would use skimmed milk to add protein and cinnamon or vanilla and little bit of agave nectar for taste/sweeten.

If white carbs are a big downfall and you find them addictive might be a thought to try 2 weeks without carbs altogether if weight loss stalls...

[gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck]

I am loving MFP. I'm planning all my meals first thing in the morning, entering them in and then seeing how many calories I have left to play around with, which is really useful as I'm only 2 weeks into giving up smoking so sometimes it's nice to be able to justify a treat.

I just took my measurements ready for tomorrow morning and had a happy surprise. I found my old measurements list and discovered that in the last year I have already lost 6 inches from my waist, 3 from my hips and 1.5 from my thighs

[worriermum]

Weigh -in/measurement day looms tomorrow. I am astounded that I am required to measure my NECK....it never occurred to me that the neck gets porky too, with weight gain.

Forever why would mix you porridge oats with oat bran? What's the advantage of that over just straight oatmeal porridge? Is it just the added fibre or is it also lower in calories ?

Yes Hairy it's 1200 calories for moi - brutal innit ? I havent yet stuck to it but you know I sneaked a peek at the scale ahead of weigh-in Monday and I seem to have lost a bit. So there!

Now two questions: what is this shred dvd of which you all speak?

And Forever - algarve nectar..WTF??? Help!