[Tucson]

I have not been calorie counting. I do not know the amount of calories of the home made Mexican food, but it tasted real good. At least for the holidays, I will be posting just my weight. It will be interesting to see what happens. If there are days that I can ascertain the calories for the day, I will also post my calorie count.

[Tucson]

My weight is 182. This comes as a surprise. I do not think my daily calorie consumption has been that high. Where at one part of the day, I had higher than normal calorie food, and at another part if the day, I did not eat much at all. I have been snacking. I have been a little heavy on such things as the syrup and oil for making french toast. Today I will be more aware of the calories of food I eat. I want to see if I do not need to count calories to maintain weight. I have leftover tamales. I wonder how many calories a piece they are?

I know that it is time for me to start dieting and exercising again, but I will likely wait until after New Years to do it. Yea, diet resolutions at New Years are trite, but seem to be necessary for many of us.

Most all of my clothes in my closet are size 10, which is a size where I look healthy and good, but not skinny. I also have some 8s, some 12s, and a couple of 6s (when I'm really trim). I was looking for something nice to wear yesterday and 12s were my only options that I could fit well into. Yes, I'd really like to get back into the 10s again.

I also have size Medium shirts that no longer fit, though I do have several size Large shirts. It's funny, my chest size has increased a bit over the years. Even at the same weight my chest size now is larger than it was when I was 34. I kind of think that Risperdal and Invega were what changed that. Maybe the ONLY positive side effect from those two meds. I'm a woman. I'm sure it wouldn't have been that positive if I was a man.

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by Tucson

My weight is 182.

Our "paths" finally crossed. My last weigh in was 179. I suspect it would be 180 or 181 if I weighed today. I am logging every day through the holidays. Today is the last of the "feast days". It's my birthday. I had light breakfast and lunch and I have not been sweet hungry so far today. I haven't been very hungry at all. So I haven't had any of my Christmas candy or nuts. I asked for pineapple shrimp kabobs for dinner, so depending on sides and dessert, this could end up being a reasonable day.

[wildflowerchild25]

I, too, am planning to change my eating habits in 2018. I’m really looking to change my relationship with food. I have had a poor relationship with food ever since I first “realized I was fat” in eight grade (newsflash: I wasn’t fat). i started starving myself all day and then couldn’t take it anymore by night time and then I would binge and hate myself for it. That went on for years, probably until I was about 20. Then I got a bit of a reprieve. But after I had my son it all came back because I felt I was so fat from the extra baby weight. Right after my husband died I went on a hardcore dieting and exercise kick because it helped me deal with the pain. But then I started ballooning up from the raised prolactin and started getting into the binge cycle again. 2017 has been been a whole back and forth of dieting and then bingeing.

I bought a binge eating workbook and I’m hoping it will help me a little bit. I also convinced the dr to lower the depakote and my appetite seems to be reducing, giving me hope I might be able to do better. My depression is also lifting, meaning I’ll be more capable of making meals instead of eating out all the time. My plan is to keep my diet as simple as possible. Fruits, lean meats, veggies, maybe some complex carbs. As little added sugar as possible, but room for a treat here and there. It’s when I deprive myself totally that I fail and binge.

[UpDownAround]

My weight this morning is 180. No surprise; I had gone from 181 to 179 in two days and expected some "jitter". Yesterday was my birthday and I went heavy on the cake after dinner, but managed to get the day under goal (if my estimated on portion of cake is right).

[99fairies]

Happy Birthday Updown!! you are doing so well, keep up the good work!

[Tucson]

I still weigh 182. So much for “jitter” being the reason of my higher weight. Today I am measuring my calorie intake. I have gone from a waist size of 44 to 36. I no longer wear “XL” clothing. Now it is just “L”. My daughter gave me some clothing for Xmas. She wanted to know my sizes. I guessed at the measurements thinking that they were too small. Well, the clothes fit me perfectly. I have never looked this good in clothing except in my twenties. I will begin to post the calorie count of my meals again.

I do not want to gain any more weight. So I will go back onto my diet plan. IOW count the calories to maintain no more than 2300 calories, but no less than 2000. I do not want to give this up. Soon I will start mild exersize. Maybe I will be on an exersize bike for half an hour. Then increase the time on the bike when I am ready. As a side note, starting in January, I will be able to afford some regular food. So I would like a recommendation to one of Trader Joe’s packaged meals. I want to try one.

@UpDownAround Happy Birthday!

Happy Holidays!

PS My birthday will be in a few days on Jan 1. I will be 59. This I am not happy about at all. Time is going much much too quickly.

[Tucson]

I came up a bit over 2300 calories. I went out and purchased more yogurt. Using fruit with seeds do not work in yogurts. The seeds make the drink a bit gritty once finished. I will stick to my plan to see what happens to my weight. I will stay away from desserts for the time being.

[UpDownAround]

I went heavy on candy and dessert (the cranberry apple casserole is more dessert than side) yesterday, which is not a good thing even though I made the calories work. I actually ended up 100 under. If I average the last 5 days, it is just about right at goal. I will try to eat more fruit today.

[99fairies]

I have been so hungry lately and I am gaining. This can't go on. There is no way I'm gaining that 40 pounds back. Any tips on how to decrease appetite?

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

I have been so hungry lately and I am gaining. This can't go on. There is no way I'm gaining that 40 pounds back. Any tips on how to decrease appetite?

Not long ago, you were having trouble eating much. What has changed? Meds?

I am torn about allowing treats again. I have been handling it okay (no binges; kept calories in check) but I find sweets make me hungry. Sometimes I will have something sweet when I am not all that hungry and then I will be hungrier.

[99fairies]

My meds are the same. I try to eat between 1000-1200 calories a day, but the last few days I've been eating a lot more calories than that.

Originally Posted by 99fairies

My meds are the same. I try to eat between 1000-1200 calories a day, but the last few days I've been eating a lot more calories than that.

As I have said before, 1000-1200 calories is not enough. Now that you are eating more, likely closer to a normal amount, your body may be trying to hold onto whatever it can to prepare for the next "famine" that you put it through. This will only slow your metabolism over time and cause more frustration.

I encourage you to do some research yourself and see what amount of calories your body should be getting, and follow that amount. Fasting works for some people but it does not work for you, as you have seen. It is not supposed to be a way of punishing oneself for eating too much. Exercise is always a beneficial habit to get into as well.

[Tucson]

Now my scale shows me weighing 178. From 182 on the previous day? Is this possible? I will be watching out for snacking and eating something with allot of calories like desserts. I have this old bag of buttered popcorn next to me. I found myself periodically reaching over and grabbing some to eat. The first few times will not matter much. But if this continues, over time it can add up to allot of calories. This is the problem with snacking. It becomes automatic and keeps on happening.

[scatterbrained04]

Originally Posted by Tucson

Now my scale shows me weighing 178. From 182 on the previous day? Is this possible? I will be watching out for snacking and eating something with allot of calories like desserts. I have this old bag of buttered popcorn next to me. I found myself periodically reaching over and grabbing some to eat. The first few times will not matter much. But if this continues, over time it can add up to allot of calories. This is the problem with snacking. It becomes automatic and keeps on happening.

It's possible. I know my weight fluctuates. One day I can weigh 160, and then a day or two later weigh 165, then be back at 160 day or two later. Water weight and stuff.

[Tucson]

I consumed just over 2000 calories today. Considering this included dessert, I really did not plan my day well with respect to my menus. I need to do a bit better tomorrow. I will plan ahead this time. I could not find any nutritional info on the dessert, so I just added each ingredient separately in my food diary on www.myfitnesspal.com. Then I divided the result by two since my daughter and I split the made dessert. So that is what I listed in the “Snacks” part of the posted calorie chart.

[UpDownAround]

Yesterday I was close to goal again and still a lot of junk in there. This morning I weighed 179.4, which is the same as a few days ago and the lowest weight I have seen. This seemed more like a "normal" weigh in and I don't expect it to bounce back up (but it might). It bounced back up to 180 after the last time I weighed 179.4, but it had dropped to it from 181. So I still see a slow trend down...

[scatterbrained04]

I've lost 15-20 lbs since around May. Some because I tried, some because I've been unstable and lost my appetite. Feels good all the same to be rolling into the new year smaller and lighter.

Sounds like many of you have been successful in your weight battles this year too. So kudos to you! I find you inspiring.

[Tucson]

I weigh 179 today. These weight figures have been very variable lately. I hope this does not mean that I will have to get yet another scale. I have consumed about 2300 calories. Most of those calories are from a dessert that I had late in the day. It was a hectic day where I did not make sure I had three meals. This is not a good way to eat. I will need to do better tomorrow.