Hello all!
I'm a new arrival on the 3FC forums (found it yesterday). Just looking for some advice from the veterans here. Silly me I missed this thread and posted somewhere else. Thought I'd repost here since you all are the posters who'd be most helpful!
My weight has always fluctuated, though I've been on the rather heavy side for ages. I've gone through the battles of hating every part of my apperance for years. Something about college helped. Maybe it was the one person I had who made me feel beautiful and petite, but I got the extra boost I needed (unfortunately he's not a part of my life right now, so that made the last semester rather difficult).
I carry my weight decently and hope when I lose the weight I need to I can be even more proud of my appearance. It's been a long battle and the few victories have given me extra heart.
I'm in college and live on campus. While visiting home for winter break my mother decided she wanted to go back on MediFast and got me in on it as well. I had done it with her last summer, but because of my schedule just couldn't keep with it. I agreed thinking it wouldn't be too bad, but was faced with the realization my mum was paying for MediFast and I was going to waste my meal plan on campus. I don't have the money currently to keep up with MediFast and to be honest, I'd rather keep with a calorie counting diet. Mostly because calorie counting is less of a diet and more of a way of life. It forces you to pay more attention to what you're eating and in my opinion, you enjoy what you're eating more.
Now I am planning on finishing the rest of my MediFast, but I'm going to transition into regular calorie counting.
It's my last year here, I'm living by myself (staff position on campus!), and senior project is daunting, but will be manageable. I just want to feel (and look) fantastic for graduation.
I was just looking for anyone who had any advice on things to keep me on track or words of wisdom to pass on! Thanks ladies (and gents).
I am a newbie also, so I don't have a lot of advice. One thing that has made my transition into cc much easier is my iphone. I downloaded a free cc app(myfitnesspal) on it and since I take my phone with me everywhere, it's made it super easy to keep tabs on what I am eating. I have learned to double check things because the foods that are entered are done so by other users and the nutrition info can be off sometimes. There are also websites that can help you track calories and keep an online food diary.
I admire anyone who is losing weight while in college I finished up my master's in May, so I know how hectic it can be!
Calorie counting is amazing and it's one of the only reasons I've been able to get to my goal and stick with this. It's free and flexible! I can eat whatever I want!
I guess my piece of advice is to not sweat the small things. If you go over your calories one day, so what? Just get back on track the next MEAL and don't let one "bad" day turn into weeks and months off track
That is the same reason I love calorie counting. I've learned so much about nutrition and serving sizes that really help.
I recommend buying a little scale and some measuring cups/spoons if you don't have them. It can be life savingly helpful and helped me get into the mindset. I also like to get tupperware type stuff and plastic baggies so I can split things up into serving sizes. So I don't have to worry about it later. I can just grab it and go. Super good for things I will over eat like nuts or snacks.
Also a really good calorie counting tracker helps me alot. There are alot of good websites and aps for the phone. I use sparkpeople.com
melodymist: Thanks! That's basically what I've been doing and it's kept me on a decent track.
smashley52683: Ah! Thanks so much. iPhone apps are always a life saver. Downloading it as we speak.
sontaikle: Thanks. Yeah it can be a pain, especially being on a small campus where choices are limited. Even more so when everything shuts rather early. (The school's enrollment is more commuters than those who live on campus so I think that's part of the reason things generally...well suck.) I like your advice. I don't gererally sweat the small stuff anymore, there's always something more important to worry about.
moonkissed: Thanks! I've got some measuring cups, but no spoons. Silly as it sounds I can eye most things when it comes to that. I've been baking forever and write my own recipes on occasion so I get lucky most of the time. As for the Tupperware, that's mostly for long term. I like on a college campus and I've got a limited budget so I'm going to be maneuvering my way through what's available here. Thankfully they're getting better about vegetarian and gluten free options and while I'm neither, they tend to be my go-tos when nothing else is available.
The best tips have already been given: an online calorie counter/phone app and measuring cups/cooking scale. I am amazed at how little 100ml is and how much 1 tablespoon is. So it's always good to measure. Hihi
I understand you are on campus food and on a budget, but if you can't find the right foods with enough fiber and nutrition to sustain you in a healthy diet, there are lot of low budget options. There's a thread about shoestring calorie counting I think. I lived in a really tight budget and was amazed at how much money I saved by going for the healthy cheap options.
I agree with all of the other posters!
Also, join a challenge on here. Right now there is the Valentine's day challenge in this forum. I find that the challenges help me to make small attainable goals and then check in every few days to make sure I'm staying on top of it all.
Another thing, find exercises that you enjoy and that are easily available to you. Getting active and moving more really makes a difference.
Find ways to reward yourself as you make smaller goals. Whether its a new shirt, new shoes, magazine, whatever makes you happy, this also gives you something to focus on.
One last tip: Focus on NSV's (Non Scale Victories). These are anything that you improve that does not include the scale. Take measurements once a month or every 2 months. Fit into a smaller shirt or pants? Eat one more serving of vegetables than you would've in the past? Anything that is contributing toward your health! At times we can get discouraged when we don't see the scale going down in numbers. That doesn't mean we aren't moving forward. For example, the other day I was bloated on my WI day but I tested my body fat % at the gym and found out I went down 4% in the last 3 months and am now in the "average or normal" range. The scale was disappointing, but I was SO thrilled to see my body fat go down!
Oh and one more: When you do indulge (I say when because it will happen) don't feel guilty and hate on yourself. Just move forward by starting fresh with the next meal or the next day (or week depending on how long it lasts). Enjoy the food you eat, and continue on if you eat too many calories. Recently someone explained this to me, and it makes complete sense, you didn't gain all your weight in one day, or even one week, so you're not going to gain back everything you've lost by indulging here and there! Really, one day or week isn't going to ruin your changes unless you continue down that path.
Anyway.. really, you'll do fine! Just keep making adjustments, have fun and ENJOY the food you eat!
Last edited by tdiprincess; 01-23-2012 at 05:13 PM.
I have a bunch of things that make things easier for me. I hope that this helps.
I don't eat a huge variety of meals so I don't have to weigh and measure for every meal. Only when I cook something new. The first weeks of weighing and measuring are daunting but remember that you only have to do it once for each meal and in a short time this won't be often at all.
Find some low calorie meals that you love. That are delicious. That way it's easy to stick to. Also have some fast recipes or at least things that you can make once and freeze. Cooking three times a day is tedious. For example I have bought soup and added a can of tuna for lunch at work, stir fry with noodles is a standard dinner. You can probably google fast low cal food.
Avoid eating out if you can. It's cheaper not to and if it's a once or twice a week treat you'll enjoy it more. Guessing calories is very hard to do.
Get a wee notebook and once a day write up what you ate. I do this on the couch before bed. When I neglect this habit I often gain weight again. Write your total of calories each day. Don't "cheat" or guesstimate. It's pointless otherwise.
Don't forget the calories in drinks. Even milk in tea adds up if you drink it every day.
Tricks like drinking a glass of water will keep you from getting too hungry for half an hour, blended soups fill for a long time, protein fills for a long time.
That's all that I can think of off the top of my head. I absolutely agree with measuring to keep track rather than weighing.
Maybe check out calorie cycling/refeed/spike stuff too. I'm finding this very helpful.
Good luck. And remember there's no such thing as being the wrong shape, it's wearing the wrong clothes.
Living alone is awesome because you can cook all of your own meals without thinking of anyone else. Plus, you have the control over what foods come into your household.
I love to cook full dishes and freeze them into portions. That way I always have a quick meal at my disposal. Also, find some quick cooking foods that you like to eat.
Meal planning also helps me so that I'm not "winging it" and hoping that my calories are appropriate for the day (I have had issues with them being too high and sometimes too low). At night, I decide on my next day's meals and snacks and just jot it all down to make sure the calorie counts are right. Since I'm usually going to work, I pack up my baggie with my foods that I plan to eat when I'm not home, and just stick to the plan. If I have a sudden change in tastes, I go with it and I figure out a way (with amounts) to make the flavor profile I'm looking for fit within my calories. I treat my calories like a budget.
Second, you've gotten a lot of good advice.. I just want to add some things:
I plan, plan, plan. I have every meal planned to a T, and I keep track of what's in my fridge, pantry and storage area in the basement, I keep track of what I need at the store. I have "go to" meals at hand all the time, and I dont get bored with my food choices. I know what my calorie count will be for dinner next thursday - barring an invite out from friends. THIS is my plan. I stick to it, but I refuse to miss out on life (like dinner with friends) while I do it.
If I go over one day, it's not the end of the world, its one day. And I have another tomorrow where I WILL STAY on plan and I WILL keep going.
That's what it's all about, to me. To keep going, no matter what life throws at me. This is the best and worst thing I've ever done and I LOVE IT!
Welcome again, and if you need anything, I'm sure you will find it here.
Thanks so much ladies. I'll keep in mind everything you have said.
The only thing I should mention is, though I live alone, my resources to buy are a tad limited.
As I said I live in a dorm so all I have is my microwave/convection oven and skillet, which normally are all I really need. I don't have any pans and getting to a grocery store is difficult since I do not have a car and it's hard to bum a ride from people. For the next few months I'll be making the best of sorting through campus food and my occasional grocery runs (though I would like to make the best of my meal plan and save for food back home and...my own place )
So thanks again ladies, I appreciate the support and am meeting this head on!
Second, you've gotten a lot of good advice.. I just want to add some things:
I plan, plan, plan. I have every meal planned to a T, and I keep track of what's in my fridge, pantry and storage area in the basement, I keep track of what I need at the store. I have "go to" meals at hand all the time, and I dont get bored with my food choices. I know what my calorie count will be for dinner next thursday - barring an invite out from friends. THIS is my plan. I stick to it, but I refuse to miss out on life (like dinner with friends) while I do it.
If I go over one day, it's not the end of the world, its one day. And I have another tomorrow where I WILL STAY on plan and I WILL keep going.
That's what it's all about, to me. To keep going, no matter what life throws at me. This is the best and worst thing I've ever done and I LOVE IT!
Welcome again, and if you need anything, I'm sure you will find it here.
There are ways to cook eggs in a microwave. I made poached eggs in one recently. I teach so I'm up super early and I wanted to sleep a little longer so I made my breakfast in the microwave I have in my classroom! Never thought you could do that.
The site I had is bookmarked on my other computer that deals with the various ways you can make eggs in a micro, but if you should want it, I'll get the link for you (or you can google it )
I make scrambled eggs in the microwave. Easy.
2 eggs
2 tbsp of water or milk
I just break the eggs into a large coffee mug or bowl add water or milk I whip them up with a fork and Microwave 2 minutes. Time will depend on your microwave.
I like to serve them with a little salsa, salsa is very low calorie
Looking For Some Advice From the CC-ers
I agree with all of the other posters! 
