Bitch About It, Joke About It, But Never Be Too Serious Group

by SGajda on January 19th 2010 at 5:56 pm

You look awful young to be on this site or even to be typing.  Good for you! (ha ha)  Welcome back!!!!

by iwishonstars on January 19th 2010 at 3:17 pm

Congrats!!!
I lost 5 pounds my first week and a half, but this past week and a half I've been stuck at the same weight.

by SGajda on January 19th 2010 at 5:55 pm

I lost 5 pounds in my first 2 weeks!  I am ready and raring to keep it going.  My total goal is to lose 20.....If I can hack it, I have 6 more weeks!  Maybe I will plateau at 5 as well, but I am hoping that if I keep exercising, I won't .  Who knows....good luck  and congrats to both of you!

by HillaryB150 on January 20th 2010 at 7:58 am

Today, I feel Okay.  I wish that the scale would give me better news each day. Since my start date I have lost five pounds too.   It is weird though.  I always thought that your lowest weight of the day was as soon as you got up each day......but mine seems to be a couple of hours later, after I have eaten and had my daily bathroom break.  I have still not been able to break that 170 mark.  It is so disappointing..............Can someone look at my diet diary and tell me what I am doing wrong?  My clothes feel looser but the scale just won't move.

by hitmanaj on January 20th 2010 at 8:47 am

dang that is good news.  I need to lose about 5 more lbs to be content with myself.  I need to have what your having or something.  I seem to be hitting a plateau.  So far I resorted to more cardio and I will see what it does for next week.

by WNYPortGirl on January 21st 2010 at 5:01 pm

I'm going along with "muscle weighs more than fat" line of thinking.  I'm just coming off a heavy training cycle for a 1/2 marathon (for those of you who do the full?  All the power to ya.  Wow.) and now I'm just trying to work my way back into the gym.  I can't remmeber the last time I lost weight but my clothes are comfortable so I think I found my maintenance zone.  
 
P.S.  I threw our scale out 2 months ago.  It was broken and we haven't missed it.  :)

by SGajda on January 19th 2010 at 5:53 pm

1.  sure....I think you can be on here even if you are serious...we are all serious about losing weight and staying on track with eating and exercising.....I just take it to mean that we don't take ourselves so seriously while we do it....
2.  I keep my calories at about 1500 (the lowest # of my allotted calorie scale) and don't eat back what I exercise off with the exception of sometimes on the weekends.   I have been told that it isnt' good to go under your lowest amount of calories either.....
Have fun and don't stress out!!!!  (I lost my first 5 pounds just this week and am pumped to keep going!  Yay me!)

by WNYPortGirl on January 21st 2010 at 5:13 pm

Katie,
I'm 5'0 and around 130 lbs.  My doctor told me to NEVER go below 1200 calories for a goal.  My calorie goal is 1700 a day and I go to the gym 3 days a week burning upwards of 600+ calories between cardio (running 3-5 miles) and weight training/plyo (I don't do the plyo on the days I run) but I can tell you that I DO eat back what I burn off (or try).  I'd starve to death if I didn't!  You're supposed to eat them back. 
 
When you set your calorie goal, you're telling it that you're a specific size and that you want to lose X pounds a week.  That should be your net.  The total is more or less just a number if you're logging your exercise time and it's accurate.  If I go and run 10 miles on a weekend day?  You betcha I'm eating a bigger lunch and maybe some pizza for dinner!  Oh and a beer.  :) 
 
If you put yourself below that 1200 kcal mark consistently I think you'll end up putting your body into starvation mode for the most part.  I wouldn't just eat crap to make up those calories but try and eat a bigger salad or more veggies etc to help. 
 
Now I'm not an expert by any means, and my body fat % isn't as low as I'd like, and what works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else, but it's been trial and error with me to find that magic formula.  I just tell everyone that I'm like a bear and this is my winter weight. :)  Come March I start to thin out...which is bizarre since my diet doesn't change.  The seasons do. 
 
I say keep playing with it.  You'll know in a few weeks whether or not what you're doing is working and if it's not, try something else.  You'll get there it just won't be tomorrow. Hang in there though and don't give up! 
~Abbi

by AnyadelaRose on January 19th 2010 at 5:37 am

Welcome to the site and the group.  You'll find a lot of support all over the place here.  A lot of us have been doing this for a while and can generally answer any questions you might have.  Good luck!

by xoxo_abby on January 19th 2010 at 7:31 am

Thanks!

by SGajda on January 19th 2010 at 9:45 am

 
Good luck!  Everyone in here is supportive.  I think that you lost weight very quickly in Mexico and didn't keep up the same "energy" or eating habits when you got back home.  Slow loss is the best thing I know to keeping it off.  :)

by hitmanaj on January 20th 2010 at 8:49 am

weekends are like bad eating dayz for me too.  Im sure you can get a grip and accomplish what you are trying to achieve.  13lbs in two weeks in no easy task for most of us..lol

by SGajda on January 17th 2010 at 12:32 pm

I think you are right......but, also remember, losing slowly is the best way to actually keep it off.  Good luck.

by HillaryB150 on January 17th 2010 at 1:16 pm

It is just all new to me and a bit confusing.  Today is my free day.  I am not going to deny myself today.  Home with two sick kids so today is about comfort!  :)  Thanks for the help!

by AnyadelaRose on January 17th 2010 at 5:36 pm

The calorie calculator is set up to guess your BMR (basal metabolic rate) which is how much you need to eat every day to do absolutely nothing other than survive.  So, if you set your activity level to sedentary and then just sit in bed and strictly adhere to that calorie limit, theoretically your weight would not change.  When you move your activity level from sedentary, for example to lightly active, then your daily calories go up as Daily Plate tries to guess how many additional calories you personally use every day.  So, if you're not losing weight as fast as you'd like (and that means less than 1 or 2 pounds a week, trying to lose more than that is actually unhealthy) make sure you set your activity level to sedentary and try not eating back all of the calories you burn during a work out.  Also, drink water!  Lots and lots and lots of water.  That will help to keep your body from retaining water and keep things moving.
 
It's a balancing act and Livestrong isn't going to get your calories right the first time around.  The trick is sticking with this long enough to learn what works for you personally.  And think of it this way, if you're losing 1.5 lb a week, that's 78 pounds in the year.  If you're losing 2 per week, that's 104 pounds in a year!

by HillaryB150 on January 17th 2010 at 8:42 pm

Awesome Advice!!!!  Thanks so much!!!!!!!!

by AnyadelaRose on January 15th 2010 at 3:28 pm

It's ok, it happens.  Consider this your one free meal for the week.  And tomorrow, get back to the gym / healthy eating.  1000 calories isn't even a pound and your dairy looks like you're doing well so far this week.  It takes a bit to ease in to it.  Back on the wagon you go!

by cmjanssen on January 15th 2010 at 12:53 pm

If you are including your workouts as part of the "activity level" you set then I wouldn't even log the exercise. What I have done is I set my activity level at what I do every day and do not include working out (I workout 6-7 days a week). I log the se exercises becuase you have to eat a certain minimum for you body to function properly.
 
I try to keep my "net calories" around 1200 but it would be higher for a male.  Many people don't even look at the net calories as they do not "eat back" the calories they burned in a workout.
 
Hope this is helpful and doesn't sound like rambling.....

by Tribix on January 15th 2010 at 12:57 pm

No.. it's good and makes some degree of sense, I guess I'm really  very used to training logs and what not that I typically try to include details... I guess since I track my workouts in otherplaces there's no real reason to track them here, although it would be nice to have it all in one view  

by SGajda on January 16th 2010 at 7:07 am

I track my workouts but only look at the "consumed" calories spot of the overall calories eaten.  That way I don't really take my workouts into account. (well, except on the weekends when I might go out)

by HillaryB150 on January 17th 2010 at 10:58 am

Hi Everyone.  I am new to this site and I am now a bit confused.  I thought that the calorie intake goal was the max number of calories to eat a day to lose whatever number you wanted to a week (1.5 pounds for me a week).  I have kept my eating to that number every day and have logged only the real workouts I get in.  (I don't log stuff like Laundry or feeding the cat as activities)  On the days I did a real workout I would eat a bit more.  I am loosing weight but not as fast as I would like.  Is eating the additional calories I gain back by serious workouts the reason I am not loosing as fast as I would like?   And if that is the case, why on earth is the log set up like that if it is not helpful to loosing weight?!?

by jonahgavinmom on January 14th 2010 at 2:39 pm

by jonahgavinmom on January 14th 2010 at 2:43 pm

I am reading what I think is Jens first book (the pic above) wouldnt let me type after I pasted book cover, you are right she is hilarious, she also has a blog  http://www.jennsylvania.com/ (there are a few articles about Twilight, and they are LOL funny!) and writes about how hard is is to find boots for girls with big calves. I, even at my skinniest have a difficult time finding boots that fit over my "volleyball" size calves! LOVE HER!!! cannot wait to read the rest of her books!!!

by AnyadelaRose on January 15th 2010 at 5:43 am

Haha yep!  That's her first one, 'Such a Pretty Fat' is her 3rd I think and she has 2 others.  I love her so much.  Ok, sometimes she annoys me and I feel really bad for Fletch, but mostly I love her!

by cmjanssen on January 15th 2010 at 8:52 am

I have gone through her blog and I think she is going be hilarious, now I have to go out and buy her books....thanks for the info!!!

by iwishonstars on January 19th 2010 at 4:07 pm

She is one of my favorite authors.  Such a Pretty Fat was the book that really pushed me to have a healthier lifestyle and to loose weight myself. 
Here other two books are Bright Lights, Big Ass and then Pretty in Plaid. She has a new one coming out in May and I seriously can not wait!!
Do you know of any authors similiar to her?? 

by candice9000 on January 14th 2010 at 10:32 am

I've had to stock my fridge with tons of fruits and veggies because I eat out of boredom non-stop.
 
I'd say that if you really just can't stop the urge just make sure you've got plenty of healthy options around. When I'm sitting around bored at home and feel the absolute need to keep rummaging thru the fridge I usually end up steaming a pot of brocolli or an artichoke. No guilt for those items at all.

by AnyadelaRose on January 14th 2010 at 12:26 pm

I agree with candice.  The best bet when you absolutely cannot stop eating is high fiber and high protein.  And, of course, WATER.  I know, everyone's sick of hearing it, but dehydration can cause you to think you're hungry when you're really not.  So carry along some fruits and veggies and make sure to get as much pure water as you can.

by jonahgavinmom on January 14th 2010 at 2:50 pm

Foods that are high in fiber will fill you up! Any kind of cereal that has more then 6 grams should help. Plus, added bonus it just goes right through you and helps clean you out, so pick foods that have lots of fiber, beans, apples anything whole grain/whole wheat. I find when I drink 50+ ounces a day I am not into that snacky feeling because the water helps fill me up!

by SGajda on January 14th 2010 at 8:08 am

I will chant your mantra next time I am on the treadmill!!!!!   LOVE IT!!!!  (I may add a verse in there and change it to BUTT)

by queencassi on January 15th 2010 at 8:58 am

LMAO... that WAS my original version of the song, but thanks to the wave of big-booty gals out there, working "it", I have a new found apprieciation for my "ghetto booty".. even though it may not be quite so cute & perky like the afore mentioned gals!  But feel free to use whatever version works for you! I have no copyrights!   :-D

by candice9000 on January 13th 2010 at 4:23 pm

 Welcome to the group! 
 
It seems like there's a wave of new folks in the last week or so. Which is awesome! Maybe I'll check in more often now.
 
Good luck with the Navy, I'm positive you'll have plenty to vent about from that alone. ;)

by SGajda on January 13th 2010 at 9:06 am

Welcome!  Everyone in here has great suggestions!  I look forward to laughing with you! (hopefully not AT you !!!)
:)

by Stop_Sign on January 13th 2010 at 4:20 am

If you were craviing red meat, its possible your body was craving iron too.  Just a thought.

by fifi1983 on January 13th 2010 at 6:49 am

Have you tried making your own burgers? I know it sounds naff and at first they are "just ok" but now I prefer my own to Macdonalds!

by Tinybeech on January 13th 2010 at 11:00 am

Try an iron enriched vitamin.  When your body craves meat it's usually because you're low on iron.  :) 

by sem40 on January 12th 2010 at 2:38 pm

try to cut your calories about 100 cal/day, or
add 300 cals one day and cut 100 cals the next.
you have to give a jolt to your metabolism.  also, do either one method for couple weeks.  maybe this will work.
btw, welcome to the group

by hjbyrne on January 12th 2010 at 4:29 pm

Thanks for the suggestion Iwill try it, I guess if you do the same thing everyday the idea to jump start your metabolism is a good one and may be what my body needs.

by SGajda on January 13th 2010 at 9:04 am

Welcome! 
I have no suggestions for you at this point....but I will use sem40's suggestion!  :)

by SGajda on January 12th 2010 at 9:37 am

I don't know but my clothes fit much better!!!!!
Congrats to you!  I will officially weigh my self on Wednesday night.

by kristafranks on January 12th 2010 at 10:46 am

New to the site but my jeans are fitting much better!  Less of a wrestling match to get them on in the AM, lol.  And my main issue, the "muffin top", is slowly beginning to shrink!!!!

by dlsilveira84 on January 13th 2010 at 12:16 pm

I am starting to feel the results also! I put on a skirt today and was omg, i don't have to suck in! It is total awesome motivation!!! I've lost 3 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks.. yay! And my hubby is starting to notice which makes me feel like a million bucks. 

by Jayderayn on January 14th 2010 at 5:34 am

Well, I'm back after months of not logging... slowly put on about 15lbs and decided I was sick of going the wrong way.  I kept exercising, but my eating deteriorated a bit (sugar!).  So, I've been back about two weeks and already dropped about 3lbs.  My goal is 21lbs total now.
Had to work fairly hard to break the sugar habit - especially after the holidays.  But, such is life... :)

by 1lovelyladybug on January 12th 2010 at 8:35 am

You are not alone, I am in the same situation.  I do not want to diet alone, and it is tough.  But as a group we can all do it together.  I am also here to make new friends and acheive my goal, to lose weight.  You are not alone, I will read... and i am sure others will give you support as well.

by SGajda on January 12th 2010 at 9:37 am

you are definitely not alone!!!! BTW--I have a husband at home who I call "metabolism man" because he is skinny and can eat what he wants...this really makes me feel alone when I prepare food and eat. I feel your pain.

by matildy on January 11th 2010 at 6:12 pm

 Peach Yoplait Fiber One Non-fat Yogurt  50 cal (or have 2!)
Strawberries (1 cup)                                      50 cal
Fiber One cereal (1/4 cup)                           30 cal
Delicious!  You are right about greek yogurt YUM.

by becks888 on January 13th 2010 at 8:55 am

strawberries with cottage cheese is yum - you can add a few sliced almonds, too!!!
low fat popcorn is a great snack.
english muffin with a bit of peanut butter.
egg white omlett will fill you up.
 
this could go on forever....
 
 

by puglover27 on January 11th 2010 at 8:25 pm

That's awesome. Congrats!

by SGajda on January 12th 2010 at 9:30 am

NIIIIIIIIICE!!!

by Beadinfluff on January 10th 2010 at 11:30 am

Tell me about it! The second anyone mentions that they want some ice cream, I can't not eat some if they're eating it! No matter how little the success, it's still a success. And you know what? It was COOKIE! I totally would have had a hard time not eating a cookie.

by SGajda on January 10th 2010 at 2:03 pm

Tell people to stop offering you stuff.  Your close friends will understand!!!  If they continue, tell them again.  Sometimes people don't know when they are doing something that is detremental (sp) to others.  We have to blatantly tell them.  Food is a drug to many people.  How would they like it if they were a recovering alcoholic and we asked them repeatedly if they would like a drink?!?!?!
 

by Chocaholic-Lady on January 10th 2010 at 3:48 pm

Half of me likes eating their chocolate (means I don't have to pay for it - I'm a moocher).... half of me feels guilty (dietwise and moocher-wise), half of me doesn't care, and half of me can't count.

by fifi1983 on January 13th 2010 at 6:54 am

This has made me laugh! I am having such a hard time at the moment as I am supposed to be dieting along with my mum and my three sisters my boyfriend and as soon as one of them decides they can't be bothered everyone else caves in too! So my mum and sisters have had a "Bad" diet day so they tempt me to eat and when they have had a good day my boyfriend has a bad day and he is trying to get me to eat. It's so hard!