[flummoxed]

@kfunk: NOOM is quite a charming little app. I never signed up, always used the free version. It really helps to keep track of your intake and of the balancing of things. Concept is very easy: green for less than 1 kcal/100 gramm, yellow for I think 2-3 kcal/100 gramm and red everything above it. Unfortunately, the free version doe not take account of nutrition, such as protein, fats, carbs etc. But in the end everything comes down to the calories-deficite anyways. And I like how you can add approximations of your workout and it does NOT add all the burned calories to your allowed calories per day but only a fair percentage of it. Since burned calories can't be caculated 1:1 against calories intake, I really like that
Have you tried it yet?

[wallace]

LauraRVA42011, thanks for sharing the details of your journey thus far. I’m impressed with your focus and commitment to Medifast- VLCDs (it was low cal correct?) are hard to stick with (I know from my own experience). It sounds like you achieved some excellent fat loss to kick off your health journey! I lost 45 lbs on 12 weeks of a strict VLCD (800 calories/day) then transitioned slowly up to 1200 calories/day for another 4 weeks. The transition part was HARD (I cannot emphasize how HARD the transition period was!). I definitely had to use more will power and more focus during transition (not to mention now as well!) than when I was on the strict VLCD. I think the key to those diets are to use them as a tool to re-familiarize yourself with portion sizes, thinking of food as fuel, etc and brings a fresh perspective on one’s relationship with food (learning how to recognize the unhealthy aspects and hopefully evolving to a more healthy relationship)… it especially helped me understand and KNOW that I can survive/exist/excel on a more reasonable amount of calories (rather than the 2000++ calorie days I can so easily succumb to)… But like you said those VLCDs are really best for a short period of time so you don’t burn up too much lean muscle. Do you think the same or did you have a different experience? Thanks for sharing your NOOM experience as well. I’ll check it out!

kfunk6113: Thanks for the kudos! Sounds like you got this week dialed in! Rock on!! Regarding your carb question: I am trying to keep the carbs to 70 grams or less per day. It is difficult b/c I like higher carb veggies like sweet potatoes. But the good thing is it is forcing me to incorporate veggies I normally pass by in the produce section. How about you? Are you doing low carb? If so how low?

finallyfreekelly Congrats on your 5 lb drop!!! Keep up the good work. May I inquire as to your low carb value? Also what do you mean by "IF"? Thanks!

[LauraRVA42011]

Wallace you took the words right out of my mouth. My experience was very, very similar. I had done a VCLD program about 10 years ago and just over 100lbs but when I wanted to transition to maintenance, the program people did not agree and left me high & dry to navigate maintenance unguided. I was impressed that Medifast reveal their maintenance strategy up front. I like how you positioned the retraining portion size perception and the living on fewer calories possibility. When I first started with NOOM I initially was a bit panicked at the calorie restriction, but eventually I adjusted and have no problem eating conservatively.

flummoxed the paid version is not much different in the nutrition tracking, they do not factor macronutrients. I track on both MFP and NOOM, the first to keep my sodium in check, the second to keep my calories in check. I was relieved to learn early on about how they move your top calorie number higher if you add exercise. Very laid back app.

[kfunk6113]

Laura and flummoxed Thank you for the great information about NOOM, I am definitely planning on looking at the different versions. One more question, in the free version do you have access to the message boards and community?

flummoxed This sounds like it will work quite nicely, I am excited to check it out further! I use MFP and can get the breakdown of micros there like Laura does. How do you like this website so far?

wallace Thank you for your support!! The true test will be Friday evening and throughout the weekend! I briefly experimented with low carb, but ended up going back to calorie counting after a couple weeks. It is something that I will be open to trying again! I was staying under 30 net grams per day. Do you count net grams? When I am calorie counting my total grams, not net end up coming in a little under 200!!

laura That is awesome that Medifast had an upfront maintenance strategy! I would love to get my portions back in check and it sounds like NOOM is perfect for that!

[Finallyfreekelly]

Wallace Thanks! But you seem very disciplined yourself ! That's awesome!!
My carbs are at 20 gm or less, unless it's my splurge day. And IF is intermittent fasting ( means different things but I use an eating window of 4 to 8 hours depending on day.)

Today was a tough one but not going to let it get me down. Had PMS Headache, went off plan a bit but will be better tomorrow. Not giving up. No weight loss for 7 days.
Started Period ugh.
Weight still 235 lb.
Good luck all this weekend. We can do this ..Yes we can

[wallace]

@kfunk6113 it is indeed net grams per day. I actually dropped the total carb net down over 3 days ago (kept it under 50g/day) and had a whoosh- could be water retention or 50g is the magic number. IDK… time and sticktoitness will tell. I suppose staying under 50g consistently is considered a ketogenic diet. Never been on a strict one before so this will be interesting. What was your experience? Did you get used to it? (i.e. does it get better? LOL). Stay strong tonight and have a great weekend! You can do it!!!!

And you, Finallyfreekelly, you seem to be ALL IN on the low carb diet. That’s awesome!! It is hard to go from not really thinking about carbs (especially when you finally FINALLY incorporate veggies into your diet) to having to actually research low carb veggies (like, WTH!? LOL). Who knew there were veggies one must avoid when on a (certain) diet! How long have you been on this? And how far into it did you start to see success? I’ve read some about IF and it looks promising- really curious about your experience with that strategy too. Sorry to hear about your not-so-good PMS day. So much fun being a woman, eh!? LOL. Good luck to you too this weekend! I agree, we totally can do this!!

EVERYONE, Keep up the good fight this weekend! You got this!!

[kfunk6113]

wallace That is awesome that you had a whoosh, 50 could be your magic number!! It is fun finding the "zone" that our bodies respond well too!! I only did it for 2 weeks and I wasn't very creative, I ate a lot of processed meats and ALOT of cheese. I think I should have given it more time!! I think that it will get better, I just didn't really try hard enough! I have heard wonderful things about Keto diets!! For what it is worth, I love IF!!!! I have an 8 hour window during the work week and it is amazing!! I am trying to reduce my window on the weekends. Thank you for your support!! I think that I am going to make a weekend thread to help me stay on track!

kelly I hope that you feel better soon! I always gain a ton of water weight before my period and for the first couple days and then it whooshes away!

[Wannabehealthy]

Weigh-in day! I maintained. I think the only reason I didn't gain is because DH has a cold. We haven't been going out and he doesn't feel much like eating so I haven't been cooking meals for him.


Valentine's Day Challenge

Challenge Begin Weight: 203
Challenge Goal Weight: 195.5
Challenge End Weight:

1/1: 203
1/7: 202
1/14:204 + 2lb
1/21:200.5
1/28:202
2/4: 199.8
2/11: 199.5
Valentine's Day:

[flower1]

Hi everyone. I'm close to my goal and will try my best to make it by Valentine's Day. A lot of progress has been made on this Challenge.

wallace, kfunk, finallyfreekelly, laura and flummoxed: I enjoyed your discussion about the Noom app and also about the low carb diets. I don't count carbs but I'm thinking maybe I should give it a try as I get a lot of plateaus in my weight loss and my weightloss is pretty slow. I think it would be interesting for me to see what my carb grams are to begin with and then see what happens if I lower them.

Challenge Begin Weight: 138.2
Challenge Goal Weight: 132.2
Challenge End Weight:

1/08: 138.2
1/15: 136.6 (-1.6)
1/22: 136.2 (-0.4)
1/28: 134.8 (-1.4)
2/04: 133.4 (-1.4)
2/11: 132.6 (-0.8)
Valentine's Day:

[kfunk6113]

Carol congrats on maintaining in onederland!! I hope your hubby feels better soon.

Flower Do you have MFP? I love how easy that app makes it to track macros! I think it’s a great idea to see where you are prior to cutting back! You are doing so well, I hope you make your goal!!

Laura I ended up signing up for the “fatgirlfedup” diet bet! This is my first one ever and I hope that it gives me the little extra boost to behave on the weekends! This weekend went very well. How is it going for you?

I was 171 this morning. Has everyone thought about what their goals will be for the next leg of the challenge?

[wallace]

@Wannabehealthy good job the maintenance! When my husband is sick I usually take a break from the cooking BUT then find myself making poor food choices… so congrats on staying the course. I hope you didn’t catch his cold!!

@kfunk6113 congrats on your successful weekend and weight loss! Those days are the hardest. I need to think about my next goal (thanks for reminding us- so easy to get bogged down in the day to day)... how about you? What are your thoughts? Thanks for asking too!!

@flower1 congrats on the weight loss!! Good work!

@kfunk6113 and @flower1, I totally recommend the low carb diet. I know I am only a week or so in to it but the fat is coming off pretty consistently. I have been diligently logging my calories and macros and weight and can see a direct correlation between between lbs loss and drops in carbs for the day. I started at no more than 75g per day and had some consistenly decent drops but when I switched to 50g or less per day the lbs loss significantly increased. So, so far so good. I will stick with the 50g or less and see if the loss rate remains or plateaus.

I hope everyone else is doing well and has a great week!!

Challenge Begin Weight: 204 lbs
1st Challenge Goal Weight: 198 lbs
Challenge End Weight: 150 lbs

1/22: 204
1/29: 199.8
2/5: 196.6
2/12: 191.6
Valentine's Day: 191... on to the next challenge!

[kfunk6113]

wallace Thank you!! Congrats on shattering your goal it is very inspiring!! Do you have a calorie goal as well, or do you just keep an eye on them? I definitely want to incorporate a couple low carb days to see how it feels! I think I am going to shoot for an even 10 lbs. for the next goal.

I can't believe that the first challenge is already over!!


Challenge Begin Weight: 176.8
Challenge Goal Weight: 166.8
Challenge End Weight: 171.8 (-5)

1/1: 176.8
1/8: 178.2 (+1.4)
1/15: 172.6 9 (-5.6)
1/22:
1/29:
2/5:
2/12:
Valentine's Day: 171.8

[flower1]

Wallace - Thanks. Congrats on crushing your goal - great job

kfunk - congrats on your loss - well done. Your goal for the next challenge is inspiring.

I was fairly pleased with my progress in this challenge and will see everyone over at the next challange.

Challenge Begin Weight: 138.2
Challenge Goal Weight: 132.2
Challenge End Weight: 133.0 (-5.2)

1/08: 138.2
1/15: 136.6 (-1.6)
1/22: 136.2 (-0.4)
1/28: 134.8 (-1.4)
2/04: 133.4 (-1.4)
2/11: 132.6 (-0.8)
Valentine's Day: 133 (+.4)

[LauraRVA42011]

Hey Kfunk! Sorry I couldn't reply earlier, I've been travelling for work and only just recovered enough to get back online. Glad to hear you joined the diet bet!! I really need to hunker down as I basically stayed the same as my inflated weigh in number from travelling and being lax. Since returning home Monday, I've tried to dial things back in, but I've not been able to exercise due to my knee. Hoping the down time I'll get this weekend (long weekend here in the US), will be the thing to get me back on track as I really don't want to lose my second bet!!!

Will join the next challenge and see you all over there!!

[LauraRVA42011]

Challenge Begin Weight: 240.6
Challenge Goal Weight: 230.6
Challenge End Weight: 235.8 (at least it's a loss...)

1/1: 240.6
1/8: 239.4
1/15: 239.1
1/22: 236.3
1/29: 233.5
2/5: 230.6
2/12: no weigh in, travelling
Valentine's Day: 235.8 - boo!!!
__________________
Cheers,
Laura