Posts by kufunray

I have not gained any weight yet, but I can tell that I'm falling into my old habits and am in danger of gaining weight soon.

1) Too busy with work and school schedule, so my exericse schedule is less consistent as it once was. Exercise helped me live and eat healthier.

2) I am more lax with my snack eating.

3) I don't eat as often due to schedule.

Things I want to do to get back on track:

1) Cut "eat whatever I want" to cheat meals or days instead of most days.

2) At least take a walk every day, especially if I'm physically tired from remodeling the house.

3) Keep track of calories in my head.

Original Post by huntermom:

Alot of people may not agree with me, but if you are really consuming 1300 calories a day, I think that may be too many.  I was on LA Weight Loss and lost 60 pounds before I got pregnant with my second child.  When I was on their plan and hit 130 pounds, I still wanted to lose more, but seemed to hit a plateau.  So they took a few foods away from me and I think I was eating between 900-1000 calories a day and it worked.  I got down to 117 when I found out I was pregnant.  I am about the same height as you are, so it is possible do to that.  I know people say do not go below 1200 calories, but I live a very sedentary lifestyle.  I have a desk job and go home to take care of my kids and my house and then it is bedtime, so I don't have much time for exercise.  I wanted to go back to LA Weight Loss after my baby was born because I had prepaid for the rest of my weightloss plan, but they had gone out of business.  So I started counting calories myself and when you hit plateaus you may need to reduce your caloric intake.  That worked for me, so it could work for you too.  And yes, drink plenty of water!!

It might work for you, but the original poster does not live the sedentary life that you described. She is active at work, and engages in exercise--whether at the gym or in sports like dance---several times a week. Also, if you do not exercise and live a very sedentary life, you may not have as many muscles to support as the original poster. In my opinion, it is much healthier to be an active, fit person than someone who is skinny due to very low calorie-intake, but if it makes you happy, then that's what matters. However, for someone who is as active as the original poster, cutting down to 1000 calories can only be detrimental.

Original Post by blue15:

 Thanks for the info, but i work away and have no way cooking or preparing food. Other than a microwave at my office and a kettle in my hotel room.

Is there any prepackaged foods that i can get from a supermarket that are good. I think one of the reasons i only eat fruit is its the only food i dont have to prepare and is good for me.

The research was just to help you understand what you're supposed to eat in a day. Then, using that info, figure out what kinds of foods you can just pack in a lunch box and nuke at work. I usually packed healthy snacks like fruit and got a Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones for the protein. You can bring whole-wheat bread with peanut butter or low fat cheese. If you have a fridge at work, it's limitless what good foods you can bring. The main thing is just not to eat fruit and soup all day. It's not good for your health.

Thank you for all your feedback! I've pretty much decided to go back to my previous way of eating, with a little more room for pre-logged treats (one a day). I realized last night that I can reach maitenance on the same healthy foods just by adding some almonds, nuts, beans, or a glass or two of milk. I don't have to add an extra portion of something or something unhealthy to get all those extra calories. I feel for the poster who wrote about not being able to eat "fun" foods like pizza, so that is still an issue to handle. For pizza though, if you only eat a slice, it's not even that bad. Also, if you take out the cheese and go for just toppings, it isn't too bad either. I'm worried a bit about how I am goign to eat once I get married (next May). We might not have a lot of money to always buy healthy, and I have no idea how to raise a health conscious family, especially since my future husband doesn't always eat healthily. But that's a worry for then, not now. For now, you've helped lots. Thanks!

Original Post by floggingsully:

A lot of the calories you burn weight lifting are actually burned AFTER your workout is over (over the next 36-48 hours).

 Yes, exactly. And you are building muscle

Wow! I'm 5' 3'' and weight 138 pounds. I started at 148. I would like to be around 124.

I would love to join if you still have room. But how does one "join" a group?

I agree with this answer. Food wasn't just a comfort for me, it was what my fiance and I did when we went out, what my friends did when we hung out together, and what I did to reward myself. But I think naturalld had a great point--what comforts you is a learned and practiced habit, just like the way you sleep in the bed or the way you cross your legs. It will take some time, but you can develop new ways to feel good other than with food. I feel like I was grumpy for the first month, but right now I've reached this point of being proud of eating healthy and in proper portions. I haven't reached the point I want to be at, however. Sometimes when I get upset, I immediately think of pigging out, because I want comfort and what the hell, I'm upset and it's not worth it.

But I firmly believe that I can find new ways of enjoying life other than eating empty food that weighs me down, makes me look bad and unhealthy, and gives me a greasy feeling. Maybe you also need to find alternative foods that are delicious. I enjoy fruits a lot lately. And cooking can be rewarding as well.

Original Post by naturallyd:

I'm nodding while I read your post...my thoughts? Food is a comfort to many people, myself included. It becomes like a friend. And when you have to dump some of your friends (my ex best friend - macaroni and cheese ***drool***) it's hard. At First. Then the positive changes start happening. You start to see results. Your body gets used to the new, good foods you're putting into it. Your tastes change. You start to forget the old nasty foods and are actually...kinda repelled by them. Especially if you're calorie counting and you know that the amount of mac n chz that you used to eat in one sitting is like 1000 calories and 50 fat grams and a gajillion carbs....

:) Keep doing what you're doing.

Doing them all at once, then going back doing and doing reps is more of a bootcamp style. It stresses your body out a bit more. I do that at home, and it also gives me an aerobic workout.

I agree with the other posters. Today is a new day, and you don't want to slow down your metabolism by eating below the bare minimum. Besides, if you try to eat 1100 at this point, you are likely to end up binging later tonight :-(.