Accumulated Information

Need something inspirational to look at? Check out these links. Have a new link/broken link you want to tell me about? Please leave a comment. Like these? Leave a comment or give it a vote to share with more people! 

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/65377-there-are-no-second-helpings-in-life - Short article: There Are No Second Helpings in Life.  

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/chrissyh/view/year-one-of-the-rest-of-my-life-11053 - Chrissyh's One Year MFP anniversary blog post. 

Look, people. Just because MFP says something doesn't make it true. And just because you "heard" something doesn't mean it will work in the long run. And just because it worked for someone else doesn't make it healthy. 

 Don't just be here to lose weight. Be here to be healthy - and that means understanding what the !@#$ you're doing. 

 So, for the love of Pete, READ THESE.:  

 http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/30898-bmr-vs-tdee-what-mfp-is-telling-you?page=2 

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/64981 ---  interesting-post-about-loose-skin - A thread about loose skin, who should expect it, what to do about it, and things you should know before you start dropping the inches.  

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again - read about eating your exercise calories, why calorie are GOOD and eating FIVE ONLY will HURT you, about how you should expect your weight loss to go, etc. READ THIS. One of the best lists of links to read. 

 http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61460-weight-gain-higher-intensity-workout-question?hl=weight+gain+with+workout%23posts-741030 Why you might gain weight after stepping up the intensity of your workouts... and why it's GOOD.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/67788-body-dysmorphia-check-this-out?page=1#posts-868612 - more proof the scale number should NOT be your number one priority. Yes, when you have 25+ pounds to go, then watch it. When you start hitting 10 or less... read this to keep it in mind.  

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition 

In fact, if you've never read these threads, I daresay you should read them instead of exercising for one day.  

 Feel free to make suggestions. I depend on this community!

In theory, I will try to put together a great list of videos and channels of random exercises as well as actual portions of DVDs witha s hort description of what each one is. Any help would be appreciated. 

If you have the time to read this, you have the time to do one of these:

Channels:

http://www.youtube.com/user/charliejames1975

http://www.youtube.com/user/StandFirm

 http://www.youtube.com/user/expertvillage

http://www.youtube.com/user/diethealth

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW8Fj_Kw4ck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgUMdtNI72s&feature=PlayList&p=FCFC4A05E21895AE&index=40&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4WIwheJX1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxN6vtmPGGA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHIESauCLI8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW8Fj_Kw4ck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgKpzgQpzXg

1. Not pre-logging in your food means that you WILL be surprised that the bowl of nuts you just ate has like a bagillion calories.

2. Posting your life story on the forums might get some negative responses. You asked, you got your answer. Deal with it. 

3. There is a difference between rudeness and bluntness. Learn it. If you're not sure about how to respond, be polite or turn a blind eye. Saying sorry is a wonderful skill as well.

4. Not logging in that bite of chicken, then that small bit of pasta, that one square of chocolate, finishing off your kid's orange juice, and that shot of vodka you knocked back. 

5. Fruit juices. Want orange juice? Eat an orange. 

6. Healthy stuff too expensive? Only buy the stuff in bulk and/or on sale/ in season. 

7. Same exercise = boredom = slacking off. 

I'm new! What should I keep in mind? Tips from multiple members of MFP.

1. Drink lots of water. Not juice, not diet soda. WATER.

2. Eliminate soda as much as possible.

3. Don't eat tons of chemicals just because they've zero calories. It's a different kind of bad, but just as bad, if not worse in the long run. Moderation if you must. 

4. Watch your breads! Tortillas breads cakes cupcakes oh my small amounts, please.

5. Pre-log in your food. Because yeah, you were hunry, and you grabbed the fries instead of the banana, and sure it's fine... until you log it in, realize the several hundred calorie difference, and wish you had done your research beforeputting it in your mouth.

6. I don't care how lazy you feel. EXERCISE. You always have time to exercise. Face it. 5 minutes is better than 0. 

7. Get the support of someone close to you.

8. If you can, toss the crap out of your house. 

9. Ease into this.

10. When struggling, lose less or maintain. Don't binge.

11. If you are an emotional eater, find a new outlet.

12. Make exercise fun, not a chore. Watch your favorite television show at the gym, or play tag with your kid. Run with your dog or do something with a friend. 

13. You'll mess up. You're human. Face it, acknowledge it, change it, and forgive it. Don't be blasé or traumatized. 

14. OMG I GAINED WEIGHT! So keep going. DON'T. GIVE. UP. 

Another variation:

OMG I HAVEN'T LOST A POUND IN 3 MONTHS!

Mix up your food and exercise, watch the snacking, drink more, and keep going. 

15. Make minigoals with minirewards. Who doesn't like a new pair of undies, make up, or soaking in the bath with a good book. Here are some links to help you out. 1  2  3

 16. Take your measurements NOW, and a BEFORE picture.They are super-motivating.

 17. Don't be a scale-whore - no good can come of it.If you must be, A., indulge once aweek, and B. don't freak out if you look every day and see your body weight fluctuate up or down by amounts that can be up to 5-10 pounds. It gets a bit eye-rolling for people in the forums to expain that yes, if you weigh in on Sunday at 189, weighing yourself on a Tuesday night after drinking several pounds of water and several pounds of food will NATURALLY weigh in at MORE THAN 189, and NO IT IS NOT A BAD THING. 

18. Don't look for fast-fix-its like pills or $100 weight loss programs, or pre-packaged diet foods - be in this for the long haul.The pre-packaged ones won't be as nutritious and are high in sodium. Likewise, they're expensive. Teach yourself how to take care of yourself. If you can lose the weight by taking pills without changing your lifestyle, then how do you expect to keep the weight off once you've a. ruined your metabolism, and b. go OFF the diet pills?

19. Measure your success by the tape measure and how you FEEL daily.Went form a size 8 to a sie 6 without losing a pound? Don't whine. I know it's easier to religiously follow the scale, but would you rather be 145 pounds and an untoned size 6 or 150 pounds and a lean size 4? 

20. Don't be afraid to try a new exercise, or to get your exercise via a different route - change is good for the body.

21. Apply tip #20 to your food choices as well. Oatmeal is wonderful, but if you eat it every day for several years, it gets... tedious.

22. Ignore posts like the following: I work out 2 hours a day and eat a total of one apple, one banana, a gallon of water, andall the carrots and cellery I want. I've lost 3,000 pounds this way and I'm as healthy as a horse! Because, no, guys, they're not really. And of course, you're not going to hear the horror stories that are going to result from it.

 23. It's not gonna be easy. Deal.

 24. willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  willpower. willpower.willpower.  

Oopsies! Yeah, I messsed up big time. What do I do?

1. Don't restart tomorrow. Get your butt back on the wagon now. 

2. Do some things around/near the house to burn a couple calories. I dearly beg your pardon, but unless you are in a full body cast, there is no way you don't have a minute to do A minute of one of the following. Because at that point, you're being lazy.

Lunges

Crunches

Jumping Jacks

Jumping

Jog

Run up and down the stairs

Have lots of sex

Hula Hooping

Play tag

Yoga

Scram to the gym

Turn on the music and dance

Look up a YouTube video that lasts for 5 minutes. 

3. Log your food in. See what made you slip up. Not logging it in will not make the calories disappear, but will mean you still haven't mastered holding yourself accountable. Make a note to watch or banish that food or foods in the future. 

4. Forgive yourself and move on.

5. If it's your birthday/ something rare and/or important, shush and enjoy it. Just realize it's a rare thing, and go back to your new normal ASAP. If it's a special event. Don't have more than one special event per month.

6. You're allowed to vent on the boards a couple times about binging. More than that... and people aren't going to be quite as sympathetic. 

I've lost all my motivation. I want to eat more/exercise less/cry/get a kick in the butt.

What are some things I can do?

1. Put on a bikini and look in the mirror. With all the lights on.

2. Make a list of the top 15 things you hate about being overweight. 

3. Make a list of the top 15 ways your life will be better when you reach your weight loss goal.

4. Change your weight loss goal. 

5. Switch to maintenence if you think you're slipping with logging in food because you're eating too much and don't want to face the music/ are to stressed to compeltely stay away from the bad shit. 

6. Do a new exercise.

7. Eating the same stuff over and over? Take three hours to devise a whole new set of foods. 

8. Google inspirational weight loss stories. 

9. Look at before and after photos.

10.  Look at your before photos.

11. Go internet surfing for sexy new clothes that you can wear in 10-100 pounds. 

12.Give yourself gifts for succeeding. EXAMPLE. 

I have a question. What are the three chronological steps I should take?

1. Google it.

2. Search the forums. 

3. Post a new forum thread about it if you still aren't satisfied. 

I need to eat more/ can't make myself eat the full 1200 calories/ need ot start eating all my exercise calories.What can I have a bit of to help me out with an extra 100-200 calories or so? Feel free to link to any of my blogs / make suggestions. 

1. Avocado

2. Drinks, such as milk. 

3. Eat some dessert and drink a glass of wine, darn it!

4. Nuts. Moniter those rascals carefully though. 

5. Pork chops, steak, other yummy treats to be had once or twice a week. Protein is good. Fish is good. Chicken is good. 

6. Some fairly healthy salad dressing

7. Pasta - portion control this carefully. Pre-log. 

8. Bread(Whole Wheat)

9. Peanut Butter

10. Yogurt

11. A bowl of cereal with milk

12. Beans

13. Bananas

14. Olive Oil

15. cottage cheese

16. chick peas

17. sweet potatoes (i thought they were low calories..  must double check)

18. steel cut oatmeal

19. whole grain wild rice 

20. Eggs 

I messed up/ am still hungry. What should I eat that won't be a total calorie bomb?

1. Oatmeal

2.Use these links for some ideas:

a. http://www.essortment.com/all/snackslowcalor_ruts.htm

b. http://www.bhg.com/recipes/healthy-eating/how-to-eat-right/calorie-charts/

c. http://www.lhj.com/recipes/healthy/eating/200-snacks-under-100-calories/

d. http://ezinearticles.com/?Dieting?-50-Foods-Under-100-Calories&id=1440367

e. http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/food-nutrition/recipe-central/healthy-bites/diet-snacks-low-cal

3. Steamed vegetables in general are a safe way to go. So are fruits... but they're higher in sugar/calories. Watch out for large portion of avocados and nuts!

•  apples
• pears
• cold grapes (especially when craving sugar)
• asparagus
• broccoli
• cabbage
• beets

4. Lean protein, such as fish or chicken.