Posts by emilie_f

If you had no heart rate, you'd be dead ;) 

To be quite honest, I don't put much stock in any cardio machine heart rate detectors - you actually have to be sitting/standing exactly straight, gripping both with equal force and they have to be clean and dry in order to work properly... And that's when they're not completely broken.

marie_bee - Good! I thought your starting weight was 220 and that you thought you had lost 55 pounds in two months... which, if it had been the case, would be WAY unhealthy (if physically possible?), or that you thought you had lost that and would probably be disappointed when you did step on the scale.

A 14 pounds drop in 2 months does sounds healthy. But like I said earlier, you shouldn't let fear slip into your diet, because that never has good results, whatever its provenance.

Are you afraid because you think that if you're not at 165, you'll be disappointed? 

What was your weight when you started 2 months ago? Because if it was still 220, then 165 is a very large drop is such a short time. I think you should look at what amount of weight seems like a reasonable loss to you and... aim lower. If you think you could possibly have lost 30 pounds...then say "20 pounds will make me happy". 20 pounds a great loss!

If you aim too high, you risk being disappointed when you step on the scale. Look at the number going down not as a challenge or something that's scary, but as a reward for all your efforts - and every single pound, as little as it may seem, is a victory. Have you actually seen what a pound of fat looks like?

I'll definitely try this, but as a sidenote - instead of estimating the calories because more riced cauliflower fits into a cup than regular cauliflower, getting a scale is probably a good idea - it takes the guessing out of things. For a cup of cauliflower, it's nothing major, but for other foods (like rice!), "guessing" can make the difference between a successful diet and an "unexplained" plateau (which is not really unexplained, because it might just be a case of eating more than you think you eat). Opposite is also true, you may be eating less than you are allowed (and we all know how precious those calories are!)

Team:  Green
Week 0.   11/10-11/12: 205.4
Week 1.   11/17-11/19: 202.4 (-3.0)
Challenge #1 Points: 4.75 (water)
Week 2.   11/24-11/26:
Challenge #2 Points:
Week 3.   12/1-12/3:
Challenge #3 Points:
Week 4.   12/8-12/10:
Challenge #4 Points:
Week 5.   12/15-12/17:
Challenge #5 Points:
Week 6.   12/22-12/24:
Challenge #6 Points:
Week 7.   12/29-12/31:
Challenge #7 Points:
Week 8.   1/5-1/7:
Challenge #8 Points:

The calorie coach is estimating your "expected" date based on the weight loss trend, but also based on a healthy weight loss. You can't change the date it displays. You have a goal date, which is the one *you* set up and decide, and then there's the calorie coach that basically does this:

"Great job! If you continue losing weight and lose it in a way that's healthy, this is the date I expect you'll reach your goal!"

And it's a conservative date, generally -  meaning it'll calculate a 0.5 pound weightloss a week rather than 2 pounds a week.  And yes, it does change everyday, not just when you enter a new weight - if you *don't* enter a weight, it'll consider that you haven't lost weight that day, and push the expected date one day further. If you do enter a new weight, it'll adjust and recalculate based on your trend and a healthy weightloss.

Last time I switched to maintenance to break through a plateau, I actually continued losing weight, but I'm not at a healthy BMI yet so might make a difference (or I might have underestimated my maintenance level)

It's possible that your estimated maintenance level is too high, or that it's just water weight. 

I'm in for another go!

It's difficult to tell really, because size is so not limited to weight. For example - when  I was 255 pounds, I wore a size 16, sometimes 18 (which was big on me), and now I wear a size 12-14 (and for some clothes, 12 is big on me), while I weight 202 pounds.  But I have a lot of muscles from skating for 10 years, big boobs, etc, which influences my size vs my weight. I have a friend who is very tall and big-boned and when she was anorexic and weighted 120 pounds (and she's 6'2", so that's WAY below healthy for her), she still wore a size 12.

So, the only solution, I think, is to try clothes. See what fits. It'll be frustrating at first, and I was so terrified and wide eyed the first time I went shopping because I just stood there with no idea what fit me and what didn't, and what looked better on me now, but you just start trying on things and you'll learn what to look for.

Since you still want to lose some weight, I suggest this, which is what I did:

- Clean out your closet. Try EVERYTHING. Everything that is too big or that you don't wear anymore, give to charity (or sell). Everything that might be a bit baggy, but still fits you well enough (for now), keep. 

- Get a good pair or jeans. You can get a cheap one since it'll probably last you only until you hit your goal weight, but one that fits you well. You can get a dressy pair of pants in neutral with the same things in mind.

- Get a few (one or two) fitted jackets that you'll be able to wear over the shirts that might be a tiny bit baggy, but will be given definition with your jacket on. 

- Wide belts can be a good investment too, because you can wear them over the baggy shirts, it'll clinch your waist and you'll be able to wear the belts even after you lost more weight.

But really, it's about getting some key items and not investing too much in them, since they're most likely only transition clothes. But if you get good items, they might still serve you well when you lose more weight.

As much as we'd all like it to be that simple, calorie counting is not exact math. For starters, it's pretty much impossible to know EXACTLY how many calories you burn one day, and EXACTLY how many you eat. The tools provide some of the best approximation out there, but you never know for sure, without a doubt, how much calories you eat or burn. (ex: one grape can have more sugar than another, the number you'll see when you search is an approximation. Same for prepackaged food).

On top of that, you also have to factor in water weight and the way your body burns energy. You might be working hard and your body is retaining water in your muscles to repair them, or you might have had more sodium one day and the next, you flushes most of it out. And there are many many more factors.

Ex: I was 205.8 yesterday, and I was 202.8 this morning. Now, I don't think I had 3x3500 calories deficit. I was probably just retaining water.

gi jane - Thanks for replying

I actually have been eating maintenance level (or over maintenance level) for a little while, because I'd hit plateau and felt that I needed to give my body a break. I haven't regained weight, but I haven't lost much either. I'm also very active - I work with kids so I'm running around, up and down stairs all day, plus working out and walking all the time. Because of that, I eat little meals pretty much all day long, because I need the energy.

I can't tolerate spicy foods - I don't digest it and I hate the taste (it makes my mouth burn for hours and I can't taste anything else for hours after it), otherwise that might help. I also drink warm drinks throughout the day already (coffee, tea, herbal tea), but that only makes a difference for a few minutes.

I think it would probably be best to go see a doctor - I've been meaning to get a physical, as losing 50 pounds is a big transformation and I haven't actually seen a doctor since I started losing weight.

Aislign - Glad to know I'm not alone! I think I'll try the water bottle trick!

Team: Red

Week 0. 9/8-9/10: 211.6

Week 1. 9/15-9/17: 210.0
Challenge Points: 5.46 (water)

Week 2. 9/22-9/24: 205.6 (-4.4)
Challenge Points: 5.6

Week 3. 9/29-10/1: 205.0 (-0.6)
Challenge Points: 4.9

Week 4. 10/6-10/8: 205.0 (-0)
Challenge Points: 3.0

Week 5. 10/13-10/15: 204.4 (-0.6)
Challenge Points: 1.62

Week 6. 10/20-10/22: 204.4 (-0)
Challenge Points: 3.5

eam: Red

Week 0.   9/8-9/10: 211.6

Week 1.   9/15-9/17:  210.0 
Challenge Points:  5.46  (water)

Week 2.   9/22-9/24: 205.6 (-4.4)
Challenge Points: 5.6

Week 3.   9/29-10/1:  205.0 (-0.6)
Challenge Points:  4.9

Week 4. 10/6-10/8: 205.0 (-0)
Challenge Points:  3.0

Team: Red

Week 0.   9/8-9/10: 211.6

Week 1.   9/15-9/17:  210.0 
Challenge Points:  5.46  (water)

Week 2.   9/22-9/24: 205.6 (-4.4)
Challenge Points: 5.6

Week 3.   9/29-10/1:  205.0 (-0.6)
Challenge Points:  4.9 (I'm borderline polpescatarian - only eat fish and minimal amounts of chicken from time to time so this challenge was kind of a breeze!)

Not much, but down a little is better than not down at all

CC info is for RAW mushroom. Uncooked mushrooms with nothing added. Butter is REALLY high in calories, so any you'll add is going to be, as someone said above, 100 calories per tsp.