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?

That is so brilliant - apparently there are many foods that our bodies can't metabolise so well (although I can't claim to be an expert in this area OR actually have followed through on anything!) however it doesn't always mean that you won't ever have them again, as I am sure that if you give it a couple of months you can start introducing them again if you fancied it!

Its really funny actually as I get these bumps on my arm as does dd, they look like little white heads and they do have a specific name that I can't remember what the hell it is without googling and can't be bothered. Someone told me that refined sugar was the main culprit - which makes lots of sense especially with dd who is a mostly fussy eater and seems to survive on smoothies, petit filous, fruit yoghurts, toast and the occasional sausage. All fab foods obviously but if she didn't eat those she wouldn't eat anything!!!!

If I could do a spa trip to switzerland i would bring you with me - perhaps if I win the lottery...................but not happening here either !

(((((((hauls lard arse into thread)))))))

Hey ladies, I was wondering whether it was too late to join you?

I have signed up to myfitnesspal (geordieminx). I have put on nearly 3 stone since getting married 2 years ago. I need to get at least 2 of them off before it gets totally out of control. Since this time I have been on 100's of diets, loose 10 lb's or so then fall off the wagon and put it all back on again

I am determined that this is going to be the last time, that I am wasting my life, binge eating, dieting, and being forever unhappy with my weight.

Hello Geordiminx - Welcome! I'm a very good 10lb loser as well but I find they always find me again and bring friends. I'm determined this is my final diet and I will look all lovely at the end of it.

Am figgyrolls on mfp - add me as a friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

geordie - I think the point about falling off the wagon, is quickly brushing yourself off and getting back on. You don't even have to wait until the next morning, it can be done straight away. One thing that I have found useful for falling off is Paul McKenna's eating rule of only eating when hungry.

If I fall off in the morning, I say, well I fell off, so now I will not eat anything again until I am actually hungry. Sometimes that means eating nothing for the rest of the day. Occasionally if I fall off at night, there is no breakfast the next day. That way no guilt and very easy to climb back on.

Thank you!

I guess I am just annoyed with myself that if I had stuck to it properly I could have been back to goal weight months ago (well it would have been helpful if I hadn't put the weight on in the first place), but instead I have prolonged the agony by pissing about.

Had a holiday and a fab wedding in the past month that i was determined to loose weight for... Lost the same 7lb for each, and looking at the pictures of myself I shudder... But at least its motivation.

Quick question ... How often do you all get weighed? I tend to get lot bit obsessed, getting on the scales every morning and night. Should I try and cut back on this?

Welcome Geordieminx, I'm pretty new to the thread too so I haven't any advice in keeping motivation in the long term unfortunately.

On the weighing in front, I can tend towards the obsessive too but am trying to limit myself to 2 weigh ins per week, but those scales are always calling, especially if I think I'm doing well! For me the problems really start when I am avoiding the scales though, so I don't beat myself up too much for frequent weighing, it's better than the opposite.

Good luck with the weight loss.

I weigh myself 3x 2x a day, yes I am obsessed but have only put weight on when i stop with the weighing....

Haha - I weigh myself when I get up, again when I've had breakfast, once I've got home from work after lunch and again when I go to bed. Bad, bad habit I know but I only really take notice of the first one and I know I shouldn't do.

I 'officially' weigh myself first thing on a Friday morning and I'm going to take my measurements once a fortnight. First time for that today and I've lost 13.5cm from various places on my body :)

Geordie I'm Morningsunrise over on MFP so feel free to add me if you like (or I'll add you if I get there first). I'm more active over there than here but I do pop in here from time to time.

Figgy - may I add you too? The more the merrier and all that.

I think I only weigh 3x a day not more is that my scales (tanita) require bare feet to do the body fat measurement!!!!

Hi everyone :o

Welcome Geordie! Have accepted yoru friend request. Welcome back figgy! It's been ages since you've been on here!

Had a terrible day yesterday for food. I went out to eat at Frankie and Benny's for my friend's birthday (the same one with the posh afternoon tea) and it was not very carb friendly at all! I ended just thinking "oh sod it - it's weigh day and i've lost 2lb anyway" and had Bruschetta to start, Veggie burger and chips for main and chocolate brownie and ice cream for dessert. Really bad, i know. If it's any consolation though, i felt awful afterwards - really sluggish, bloated and ratty. It's deffo to do with the amount of carbs i ate. I still felt a bit ropey this morning too but thankfully, i started to feel better about mid-morning after getting well and truly back on the wagon again. :) I'm very determined that i wont fall off the wagon this time around.

I made some gingerbread men with DD today and as tempted as i was to munch as much as she was, i held on to my restraint and just had the one (although i have to say it was effin' delicious!!).

Figgy - it's interesting what you say about spots on your arms. Are they on the backs of your upper arms, i.e. the tricep area? DD has rough "spots" there too but it's more like it's dry skin than whitehead lookalikes. She eats more refined sugar than i would like, so maybe that's the problem as no amount of moisturising cream seems to get rid of the pimples.....

[rant] OK so i am REALLY pissed off with Asda!! I found some really really really lovely seeds that i have been snacking on religiously for the past few weeks but guess what?? They have bloody DISCONTINUED them!!!! WHY?!!! GGRRR!! I know i could probably just buy some more from somewhere else but I LIKED THESE ONES!!! Pesky Asda twats!! lol!! [ /end rant]

Haven't done any cycling lately, unfortunately and tonight i have decided that i am no longer going to do my tuesday night bodypump class. I have been doing it over the last few months but the next day when i attempt to do a step class followed by another pump class, i am finding i just dont have enough energy and i really struggle in both classes. Something had to give and it's Tuesday pump. I still went to the Body Balance tonight tho as it's just stretching and strengthening so i still had a work out of sorts. I dont think dropping the class will make too much difference to me because i will be able to put alot more effort into my wednesday classes if i'm not exhausted before i even start!

Anyway, enough of me waffling, i'm off for an early night and some TV in bed.

N'night all!! :o

Hey ladies, thanks for being so welcoming!

RG you still into your music?((( closes spreadsheet))))

Had pre-arranged lunch with girls I used to work with, at Frankie and Bennys - you are right about not being very diet friendly! The Caesar salad has 810 kcal!!!!!! How ridiculous is that?? It all seemed to be pizza or creamy sauces... So had cheeseburger without cheese... Or mayo...or bun and a small portion of chips.

Tried to balance it out tonight so have only had half a tub of Asda chilli bean soup which was delicious and only 128kcal!

In a moment of madness have signed up to do half marathon on Sept with friend. Probably just gonna power walk it, but it's a start!

RGPargy, I wouldn't worry about falling off the wagon on weigh day, thats the day to do it!

My weigh day tomorrow and I'm off to pizza express for lunch....

Last week I was 11st 12lbs. So gutted about it i didn't log it on mfp, wish I had now cos if all goes to plan I will be 11st 5lbs tomorrow, which will be a loss of 7! I want that to show on mfp!!! [Wink]

Well that wink went wrong!

Hi Geordie!

Half a marathon is amazing, I don't think I could even walk it!

5lb loss! So not the 7 I wanted, but i did have another bottle of wine on Monday night so I'm very pleased....

Previous: 11st 12lbs
Now: 11st 7lbs
Target: 10st 10lbs

Three weeks to do it!

Hello, just marking my place as I lost you all for a bit there!

Sounds like everyone's doing well!

I'm a bit despondent at the moment, had 2 weeks of seriously healthy eating under 1200cals per day, then had one day at the weekend where I ate 3 meals a day instead of two and put on the 2lbs I lost and an extra one for good measure. I despair...

Morning all.
Some fab losses - well done :)

My pc has died, so im only about to access while at work on via phone, which is a pita.

This weekends eating turned out to be a bit of a food fest really. I have not got on the scales as yet... lol.

But, i was staying in a lovely 4 star hotel, with wonderous food, and to be honest, why not, life is too short.

Anything ive put on will only be water weight, i have not eaten in excess of 3500 cals each day ( required to put on a lb of fat)

But im back on it today :)

cherry are you only eating 2 meals a day normally? If so why?

red i agree about life being too short, just get back into it now

pebbles thats a great loss, I know not 7lbs but still really well done.

Hi. Can I join you? I signed up last week and have lost 5lbs. I'm so chuffed as that's more than I lost in 6 weeks at SW. I really didn't get on with all that unlimited food. I've never counted calories before but I've been surprised how easy it is! Can someone explain how the friends thing works on there?

hi football - tell us your MFP name, we add you as our friends and offer encouragement both on this thread and on MFP.

Great loss in your first week.

FWIW I found that I did eventually plateau with calories counting, but I was at a healthy weight by that point and managed to get below that by cutting down on the carbs.

Thanks forever-im gingerslimmer over there. I'm actually desperate NOT to diet but I need something to keep my portions under control and this is perfect. I'm hoping that a combination of portion control and an increase in exercise and the extra stone that I'm carrying should come off naturally. That's the theory anyway!!

I do prefer a lower carb diet but I'm running 2 to 3 times a week so I need to take on a certain amount.

I'll look out for your friend request-I assume it works a bit like Facebook? I'm using the MFP app on the iPhone.

I also work out have just done a triathlon. I am not doing no carb but have significantly cut back, and have found I don't need as much as I thought.

eg today my carbs were in the form of yoghurt, small amount oatbran, cottage cheese, 4 x pieces of fruit, vegetables in my dinner. But the amount needed will vary by person.

Anyway only really worth considering cutting back further if weight loss slows down.

A triathlon. Wow. I'm always a bit in awe of people with that level of fitness! I'm just about dragging my way round a 5k run! Interesting what you say about carbs. I'd assumed that on a run day I needed to carb up? I really need to research the nutrition side of running a bit more because I don't think I'm getting it right.

It was a sprint triathlon, so that's a 750m (open water) swim, 20km bike and 5km run. I don't need lextra carbs for a 5km run, I do that at most gym sessions (after something else, eg spin / cross-trainer or before a swim) and have my usual eggs and yoghurt breakfast before but obviously would need more for a longer run or triathlon (added 25g oats to my yoghurt that morning!)