Thanks for the advice everyone, I have been trying to eat more than 1000 cal but when I realize it's that low I am not hungry, and I am not going to eat just to eat. But I do realize that I need to get it up I think today it will be better I am already at 895 cal for today and I have yet to have dinner, and I will make sure I met 1200 today. The thing that makes it hard for me is that I am such a picker eater. I don't really like vegetables and that. Plus I have no idea how to really cook. I am trying to learn and try stuff. Hey maybe I will like it now that I am older. LOL This coming from a girl that had a pop and candy bar every morning for the 4 years in high school and never had the weight problem... Oh if I could only go back to then, lmao...
Anywise THANK YOU everyone for confirming what I was thinking.
Mary

I have no idea the exact amount but I would have to say probably 2500. I am trying to stay between 1200 and 1500, but for some reason the last 2 days I was only around 1000. I wasn't hungry anymore either, I will be kicking it up to what it was last week.

Another thing is... if you have been either overeating or dieting (or both!) for a long time, your body and brain may have a bit of a 'disconnect' when it comes to communicating hunger and fullness. You might not be able to trust what it is telling you. Sometimes you may have to do what is good for your body, even if it tells you it wants something else.

An obvious example of this is when we think our body tells us it wants candy bars or sugary soda or french fries or 3,500 calories in a day . Our BODY is not telling us this. This is "head hunger". Likewise, I think you can feel "head fullness" , when you don't crave a binge or a lot more food like you once did, so you think you don't need to eat more.

But it does take time, a lot of patience, and endless flexibility to find what suits our body. I'm still in the process myself, and I never feel like I've got it figured out, that's for sure!

Lindy

Thanks Diva for the Fitday info - That is what I needed!! I totally agree the calories are off - WAAAYY Off!!! I really only use Fitday for foods, I track my exercise in a notebook at home - I'm not an Excel Nerd like you!

Todays calories will be at 1205 today - I will get on the treadmill tonight - 3 miles for me!!

Thanks for the encouragement on the weight loss!!! I need to keep it up!!

I can't wait to get the HRM! I'm really into tracking things lately. I've tried to log my food in the past but never stuck with it past the first day of overeating, so I never even found out how many calories I was eating. I love the idea of having this HRM come up with an accurate calorie burn number as I've always taken a wild guess as the numbers you hear are so varied. I want to try the calorie deficit calculation for a few weeks and see what's really going on!

I've been lurking this afternoon on your"Tom", weigh gain and bloating. I can't decide if I want to push the clock back to mensuration days or stay an old bag. I decided I like my life of leisure too much, I worked for 33 years and it's nice not having to get up and go to work.
Robin...I'm curious, do you get a healthy oil in daily? What's your fat %? Somedays I don't get my Tablespoon of Olive oil in and I'm always short of calories on those days.
Julie...I'm jealous, I'll take your snow off your hands for you. It's brown and ugly in Minnesota.
Petra...I weigh 1st thing in the morning too and every day! I don't let the night before popcorn weight affect my enthusiasm. It also keeps me on track.
SlimLindy...I add applesauce and cinnamon to my cottage cheese, Yum. Sometimes I'll make a Danish out of Light Toast, Cottage cheese with splenda and SF Strawberry or Raspberry jam on top.
Charlene...Speaking of Raspberries, where did you find Raspberry mustard. It sounds heavenly!
Mami...I use the Fitday too, but totally ignore the exercise portion, I do enjoy the menu log and the custom section. I hate looking up the same old foods everyday and the custom or favorite section takes all the work for you.
'Diva...Three cheers for baggy butt jeans.
I've worn size 6 clothes in the past but I have to work at staying there. My closet has mainly size 8 clothes and that's where I'm the most comfortable and my weight seems to settle there. I agree with Mami about not buying bigger clothes, I haven't. I refuse to and my punishment for gaining is having a very limited wardrobe. (Good thing I have a couple of dress skirt with elastic in them) I've already gone down one jean size with 8 pounds off. My two sisters and I were laughing about everyone having fat jeans, not so fat jeans and regular jeans.
I've been living in my fat jeans but with my 8 pound loss so far, I can squeeze my fat butt into the next size down "Not so fat Jeans"'
Hi to Fl-Mom - Sakuya - 4Me - anyone I missed. I enjoy hearing from all of you, your stories and comments.
DH is out in the kitchen making us a salad for supper, I need to go out and make the pizza. I made a whole wheat pizza crust and we're topping it with Elk burger seasoned with sausage seasoning and lots of veggies/FF Mozzerela cheese, etc. ....Catch ya tomorrow, Bobbi

Florida,

If you want the spreadsheet, I can e-mail it to you with all the formulas. All you have to do is plug in the numbers and it will calculate everything for you.

Mami,

I look at my deficit for December (19 days... I started on the 11th) and it was only 1.9 pound. Explains why I lost only two pounds. Seeing that deficit was what got me back into the gym full speed ahead.

Doing three times a week in January, four days a week in February (two weeks) and three the other two weeks, and keeping this pattern going every month until I finally build to a five day week.

If you'd like the spreadsheet with the macros (formulas), I can send it to you as well.

I'll probably post my stats tomorrow... gonna get ready for George's address and going to bed afterwards. I am whooped!

I am definately going to second the Polar F4. That is what I use as well. I always use it for exercising now and have no idea how I got along without it. I am slowly catching up with this thread. I have tomorrow off so I will reply to a few people then.

As for tonight, Top Chef is on so that is what I will be doing!

Gosh, this thread moves at quite a clip!

Yesterday was rough, and I ate terrible things. Around 2700 calories. Today, I'm back in action with 1188.

I'm over halfway in my January exercise challenge!

And I just burnt my mouth on some soup, so I'm whiny.

Julie

Day 1 food:

Snack: banana protein bar
Breakfast: Breakfast burrito (egg whites, broccoli, provolone) in flat out wrap; banana
Snack: almonds
Lunch: turkey chili
Snack: string cheese, apple
Dinner: sweet potato, mixed veggies, 2.8 oz chicken breast
Snack: sugar free fat free pudding

Calories: 1659
Exercise: 40 minutes lower body, 30 minutes kickboxing

Hello Ladies!
I had a great day today!
Breakfast was the protein special K
Lunch was two grilled chicked soft tacos w/ onion and cilantro and half an apple
Snack was string cheese and grapes
And Dinner was a grilled chicked sandwitch (home-made) with some baked broccoli...
Calories were just under 1000... I dont know why I cant get more down thnan that... I could if I were eating terrible things, but I just cant seem to get more in.. ..
I have some GREAT NEWS... I have worked at my local Borders Bookstore for just under two years now, and for the past three months I have been looking for a more professional, higher paying job... I had been getting lots of interviews, and jobs, but something would always fall through because I am looking for part time work since I am in college.... I would get frustrated and my mom would always tell me that these ones weren't working out because God had something better in store, and well he did!
I got the call today that I got a job at a credit union that is literally behind my house! It pays more than any of the other jobs, and is close enough so that I can walk to work and back! I live in a community of houses, and just outside of my little gated community is a shopping center, this is where the bank is...
I am excited, my life change is going great, its a new semester, a new year, with a new job and a great support system!
Have a great evening everyone!

Imenonelse - awesome!!! I finally got a job I love not that long ago, after tons of lame ones. I can share your enthusiasm!

Today's calorie deficit is 846, yay! We finally made it to the gym and even though I'm feeling bloaty and crabby and chocolate-craving-y, I'm managing to keep the eating under control.

I swear to god if I don't lose a pound this week, i'm CUTTING one off!

j/k

Hi all,
I too like reading about everybody's experiences-sorry if I'm not commenting to each person individual I'm kinda tired and ready for bed.

Pretty good day. I can tend to "hole up" especially when there's snow everywhere outside which is getting to be a bit of a bummer and we're supposed to get more this weekend with highs in the teens. My mom's coming to visit tomorrow and I love her very much but you know the whole mother daughter thing can be well....I can't think of a word but I'm sure some of you know what I mean! We can drive each other nuts by the end of a five day visit.

Bobbi-the Raspberry mustard is made by Annie's Naturals which I find in the health food section or at TJ's if you have one (my mom brought it to me from Calif.) It does have sugar but has a strong taste so a little goes a long way and at 15cals for 1tblsp and no fat, is way better than mayo.

Today's menu: 1326 calories
497deficit--which I know how to do thanks to SmartButt
40 minute hike with my dog

B: Smoothie: 1scoop soy protein powder, 1/2cup Citrus C Monster juice, 1/2cup lf kefir, 1tsp flaxseed oil, 1/2cup blueberries, 1/2cup raspberries

S: 1/2oz walnuts

L: 2 cups sauteed spinach w/1tsp olive oil, garlic, sundried tomatoes, sprinkled w/1/2oz goat cheese. 1/2 ww bagel w/1tblsp almond butter

S: dark chocolate (73 calories for 4 tiny squares of 70% Green&Black dark chocolate. Yuck. I won't buy it again. I like my Newman's dark orange chocolate even though it's probably not as high in cocoa%).

D: Crockpot chicken: 3oz chicken breast w/1/2cup salsa verde, 1/4 cup pinto beans, 1/2cup brown rice w/tomatoes. Raw veggies: few carrots, cauliflower, orange pepper, mushrooms.

Just a thought...

MAYBE THE CALORIE COUNTERS MONTHLY CHECK-IN SHOULD BECOME A WEEKLY THREAD???!? THIS IS PRETTY LONG!

What do you guys think?

Lindy- it is long and it's hard to keep up with everyone IMO.