MFP Thread 9

[Not2bObvious]

New thread for those using mfp to lose/maintain weight

Hi all, back from my weekend away and feel fat as a fool. Surprise surprise ate rings around myself and the scale has flown up. It's going to be a lean week...going the gym later and plan on guzzling water/keeping to 1500 cals for the next few days. I know a good proportion of the gain is bloat but it's so disheartening. And what's worse is when I was there eating it was concious gluttony- I felt like I couldn't stop myself. Oh well it's clear I never learn so I need to cut back on opportunities that lead to excess.
Right enough of my moaning, caggie you're right, v quiet around here. Troops check in, doesn't bring matter if it's all gone to pot, let's not let it become pot belly😉

I'm here but funny you say that Not about it all going to pot...anyway catch-ups first....

Caggie woohoo on hitting 10 officially I knew you would do it! And you were able to have a nice dinner out which is great. Well done on sticking to the cals so well the last few days. Good luck with the test today!!!

Ah Not it's very hard to be disciplined when we're away - and you've got a good plan in mind already so I'm sure any excess will drop off in a day or so. I know I keep saying it but your exercise is brilliant. Hope you had a nice time irrespective of the food?

Emily C25K is a great idea - and your approach sounds very healthy. I really must get back into the soup habit soon.

So I'm not doing so well; every morning I get up with good intentions and then even the smallest thing triggers me and I lose my way completely. The last 3 days were a write-off so my weekly average is at 1890. No pouches of chocolate but might as well have, cos I'm eating everything else anyway. Yesterday was an awful work-day and even though there are no snacks in the house I managed to binge on protein bars instead .

I know the tiredness and stress is really affecting me badly, I just need to find the willpower to have some other strategy besides stuffing my face. Feel like I should be saying Sorry again - you are all doing really well I will try to come back with my mojo tagging along next time.

It would be a very short lived thread daw if we all were perfect 100% of the time. Sure if that was the case we'd all be a healthy weight and there'd be no need for watching what you eat. Our drug is choice is all around, we can go cold turkey we have to eat. Rebrand the last few days as maintenance, those numbers will keep your weight stable. You poor thing, your job just sounds so crappy from a stress POV but if that isn't changing, you'll have to find ways to adapt. I know how you feel though, I've felt out of control and so pissed off that a slip off the path for 3 days screws up the last 3 weeks! I know that's not really the case but I've certainly put myself back 1-2 weeks. Vv hard sometimes. Anyway I hope you feel much better soon and thank you for braving it out

I failed again, its really upset me this time and ive not eaten since breakfast. Im going to have a bacon in a bread thin, i was tempted to eat my feelings and blow out and eat shit but thats not what im going to do. I also cant, not eat because that could also lead to a binge.
I also have to agree with Not, if this was plain sailing we would be skinny minnies by now and we wouldnt be on this thread! Its not easy losing weight, and this thread proves it. Try not to think about the other days binge Daw, it happens to us all and im sure ill have many more before i reach target I also need to find away to deal with stress othe than eating, im thinking Yoga. May also help with Driving test stress

Hi all - posted this in the calorie counting forum, but things are pretty quiet over there, so thought I'd try here for some encouragement instead!
My diet started yesterday. I've been feeling down about my weight for a while, after a stressful year in which I was completing my Masters and 'rewarding' myself with treats a lot. I'd just crept up and up, but would ignore how tight my jeans had got and think 'it will sort itself out.' The triggers to actually DO something about it now were a break-up, and looking at my recent holiday photos and feeling like I hate all of them because of how much weight I've put on. I've never felt that way before, and I don't want to anymore.
Looking for some support here - this isn't something I can talk about with friends since they give the stock response of "nooo you're lovely what are you talking about you don't need to lose anything!" I know that's not true, and although it's coming from a place of kindness, it's not what I need to hear right now!
Downloaded MFP and came pretty spot on to 1200 yesterday, although my tummy did start rumbling at about 10pm. I also drank so much water to keep hunger at bay that I had to get up several times in the night to pee, which was a bit annoying. But otherwise, feeling very excited, motivated, and ready to do this!
How long was it before you all started to see results?

Hello Kim, i was excited to see the results in the start and it does happen! I add a picture everyday in MFP and compare it to the months before picture! Im amazed, i look a hell of alot better and the first thing i noticed was how less bloated my stomach looks. Ive done this 87 days and see a big change. I also feel a mental change too! Im very close to loving my body

Aww I'm sorry to hear that caggie, it sucks. When I failed mine and took to my bed in tears and temper - I was a heap about it. You build yourself up so much and then boom, disappointment. Great attitude to the food side of things too - Absolutely right not to starve yourself you will binge.
You're v welcome kim, I know what you mean about friends, they love you & don't see what you see (unless you're going to tell us you're a size 8 and 7 stone but you used to be a 4 - then yep listen to them) I'm fluctuating a lot at the moment so I'm not the best example but take some time to read the thread and you'll see people's results. I personally don't agree with 1200 a day unless you're only burning 1600 a day. What I'd do in that case is get your exercise up to burn 2000 and eat 1300-1500, much more manageable over time. Exercise won't necessarily knock the weight off on its own but it'll keep it off longer term. Best of luck and keep posting😉

Thanks caggie and not!
Not, can I ask why you don't agree with 1200 a day? I'm only doing that because that's what MFP said I needed in order to lose 2lbs per week based on my height and weight, but I have no idea if it's actually right? Using the link that was provided on p2 of this thread though, apparently my daily calorie needs are about 1900... what does this all mean?!
I've been trying to walk 10,000 steps a day, but haven't always been managing it, and haven't been including that in my "calories budget", if that makes sense. I'm embarrassed to say it, but I'm really not much of an exercise person
Sorry, I'm at a bit of a loss... I'm hoping to lose about a stone and half, and while I want to go about it efficiently, I also want to be safe and healthy, and lose it in a sustainable way. Please let me pick your brains!

Forgive me in advance - this is going to be a bit of a rant but since you asked kim 😉

In my experience 1200 calories is v hard to stick to day in day out. Yes mfp reckons you lose 2lb a week but if you manage to stick to 1200 for 3-4 days of the week and then lose it on weekends you can completely undo all the work. And then you repeat it again come Monday (sorry not you specifically of course!) And if you do manage to stick to it, what happens when the weight goes? Do you go back to your old ways? And then you put weight back on, back to 1200 a day. I have been on this thread for maybe 3 years and I cannot tell you how often I've seen Monday to Thursday good as gold, Friday to Sunday carnage. Miserable as anything Monday. And to add to all that weight loss isn't linear - mfp says 2lb a week, that's an average over time. Some weeks you have less/more/nothing/gain - mind melt. Add being hungry to that and you're down the shops with a basket full of choc/crisps/wine and a dose of f*ck it to wash it all down with.
I'm assuming you mean you did the tdee calculator so 1900 is what you burn on average a day. You don't burn fat, you burn calories which in turn if you have a calorie deficit will result in fat loss. Make a special effort to get at least 10,000 a day, march on the spot watching tv if you have to. I try do 15,000 a day. If you increase your calorie burn to 2200 and allowed yourself 1500 a day, you'd be on track to lose 1-1.5lb, on average remember, a week. You wouldn't be too hungry on that and you'd get there in a consistent fashion. Once you got into a habit of being more active when you lost your weight you'd be able to eat 2000'ish a day without gaining.
The weight creep on and it won't slink off I'm afraid. It's going to take time, patience and perseverance. You're lucky, it sounds like you just lost it for a while, you're not old & bitter like me lol!

Sorry to go AWOL but have had a long weekend away as well. I had written a nice long post but it's disappeared.

Not I may have eaten everything in sight while I was away I hope your break was good apart from the eating!

Caggie yay for being in the 10s! Sorry to hear about the test. I failed mine twice before passing on the third try.

Kimono welcome! I agree with Not 1200 is quite hard to stick to. As I'm so darn short (4 ft11) I only get 1270 a day and I find that much harder than when I had 1360. It's only a difference of 90 calories but that equals a biscuit with my tea!
In short, my two cents would be to lower your weekly weight loss goal and not have to be so strict.

Emily you sound like you are doing so well. Have you started the C25K?

Daw I'm sorry to hear things have been a been tough for you lately. We're always here to listen. I'm finding it very hard to motivate myself as well. Hope today is better for you

It was a great break thanks porcus, sorry you were taken over by the munchy monster too😩 Seriously back to the zone, did my BC this morning and then tried to do my run but it ended up as more of a walk. Not to worry, got close to 7500 steps before breakfast, halfway to my daily goal. Trying to think up something nice and active to do with the kids this afternoon to get a few more sneaky steps in😉 I call it exercise by stealth! They'll never realise, ba ha ha ha.

Hello all!

Since Tuesday night ive not been counting calories and ate freely. Not binged, just ate what I wanted and not thought about calories. I am getting back on track tomorrow because I can see old patterns rearing there head. Ive not even been drinking enough water Ill see what ill weigh in tomorrow, and next week I will try and stick to 1370 again because I went off track and seen 10st 11 early in the week, no clue what I am atm. I have no out to dinner plans next week so i should be able to stick to the plan.
Ill check back in tomorrow!

Call it a maintenance week caggie, v hard to go full pelt 100% of the time. Most of my bloat has gone but in usual form I have company for dinner tonight (that means 🍷) and out to dinner tomorrow which is hard to allow for. Totm coming up and feel drained & down. Bigger child driving me bonkers with humours & drama. And I'm guilty of giving my sense as my mother would have said, if I had any sense left! Anyway I'm going to work on keeping control of the cals tonight, weigh in tomorrow and BC.

I have just started using MFP again after a hiatus & a frivolous summer of indulgence, now at an end. It seems a bit easier to use than when I last tried. I have 1200 calories, which works ok for me. I tend to eat huge quantities of salad & veg, some low GI fruit and avoid carbs. I may move to low carb boot camp when a new one starts. Booze is also pretty much off the menu.
My current problem is a wrenched knee, which I am having to rest in order to heal, so cannot excercise, not even swim, til it heals. My plan is to be strict with myself, lose 1-2 stone in run up to Christmas. Taking the long view, noting up-thread someone having used it for 87 days & having results. I am on day 4.
The reminders to post your meals is useful.

Hi Porcus, yes I started C25K along with the MFP. I'm doing 1200 calories though I do allow myself a bit more on days I manage to do C25K. Gives me an extra incentive. I'm doing 9 minutes jogging to 21 minutes walking at the moment but that's 141 calories so not to be sneezed at. I'm not counting any other walking or cycling I do just getting about as I've heard MFP is a bit generous on what it allows for exercise.

I try and keep to 1200 as far as I can but don't worry too much if I'm a bit over by the end of the day. It tends to be only a small amount so I'm still on track to lose weight, just maybe not as fast. I also weigh every day. I know it will fluctuate day to day, but if I see it go up then it does make me conscious that maybe I've not been counting carefully enough and it keeps me on track. My weight's been the same for the last four days and I'm determined to push it down a bit with some exercise and watching what I eat really carefully. Unfortunately I'm at a party on Sunday and it's going to be hard to eat frugally there, so Saturday had better go well!

Wheres all you gone? New people posting, old gone missing? What's going on?

Sorry Not Will do better in the future promise! You deserve a for all the exercise you're fitting in

Welcome Moan Have you tried doing chair exercises? There are videos online aimed for people with injuries or those less mobile. I used to do it when I was on crutches for 6 months.

Emily Glad to hear things are going well for you. Between you and Not, I may be convinced to start running again!

Caggie hope you're back on track now. I'm sure you hadn't eaten nearly as much as you fear P.S. if you have found your way back onto the track please forward me a map

I haven't being doing very well food or exercise wise lately. I seem to have hit a bit of a wall 4 weeks ago. I had 2lb to get to my goal but I've just lost motivation. As of last week I now have 3lb to get to goal weight

Porcus I wish i could send you a map to get on track, but im afraid i lost mine too

I ate what i wanted again yesterday and didnt even bother to weigh in. I am getting back on track today as im halfway there and not turning back! Ive pigged out enough the last 4 days, i can turn this around now and get back into it!

Porcus how annoying to get further away from your goal, but 3lb isn't much at all, you can definitely do it.

I'm now feeling a bit guilty as I haven't been for my run today! Thank you for reminding me to do it!

Im starting again tomorrow, or Monday TOTM arrived, and to be honest i cant be fkd eating healthy. Postive attitude right here Ill be back at it again!!

Hope my negative attitude didnt rub off on anyone else yesterday! 😂
Back on it today, weighed in 10at 13. So no gain or maintain! Tryibg to get plenty of water in again!

Haha Emily Glad I could help!

Don't worry Caggie I was already feeling a bit negative!

I've decided to switch MFP to maintenance for the next couple of weeks and have a bit of a break. Hopefully this will reawaken my motivation.

Two weeks holiday, lots of walking but I logged almost every day though I ate loads.
Still 3lb on over my pre-work-trips weight but just need to get back cycling to work I think. And cooking normal meals.

Hmm. I weigh every day and have been the same weight for a week. It's something to maintain I suppose, rather than putting on weight but I don't feel like in making much progress. In truth I am going a bit over my calorie allowance most days and as I'm still in holiday mode there's been quite a bit of eating out, eating at friends houses etc. where it's a lot harder to work out how much you've really eaten. Quite a few days have been guesstimates and I'm probably miscalculating the calories. I'm hoping it'll be easier to keep on the straight and narrow once the days are more routine.

On the bright side I'm definitely more active and choosing to walk, cycle or even run, so I'm getting fitter if not slimmer.

Porcus Hope your break kick starts your motivation.

Ive had a goodish day today, ive upped my calories back to 1610. Ending the day on 1524. The 1370 worked for three days last week, but I ended up giving in, so id rather stick to what I know. No idea why I thought id switch it up when id done so well on 1670 anyway. Got all my motivation back, and I will be making a better go of it in September!!
Hope to hear from everyone else soon:)