I started reading a new blog (Muffin Top to Smokin Hot) recently and sheâs inspired me. Sheâs been struggling and I feel her pain! I have put a lot of weight on over the past few of years and MUST loose it. I am a stress-eater. Food is my security blanket. Itâs AMAZING how a single white chocolate baking square makes me feel better. Problem is I canât live on white chocolate baking squares so I will eat veggies⌠grape tomatoes and baby carrots are often something I reach for. Downside is that they donât really have a lot of calories so even though Iâm eating them and filling up I havenât been eating enough.
I started keeping a food diary again this week. When I had my previous successes I used DietPower but it is for Windows computers only and I have been using a Mac for 3 years. They donât have any plans for a Mac version so I had to go somewhere else. It was VERY VERY VERY frustrating because I had used it for YEARS. I had been very successfully, but felt alone.
I looked at different Mac programs but wanted something with me when I left the house â this was a problem when I used DietPower, too.
Now, I have two iPhone apps, Lose It! (free) and Tap & Track ($3.99). I had started âlogsâ on both of them in the past and wanted to start fresh. I had planned on using Tap & Track, but couldnât figure out how to easily start a new plan without wiping everything it had stored, so I took a look at Lose It! and it was pretty straight forward so Iâm using it. Iâd like to do a comparison of the two so if someone out there knows how to start a new plan or goal or diet without deleting everything in Tap & Track please let me know.
I also created online accounts at LoseIt.com and itâs tied to my iPhone app. I can add to my diary from the web or my app. I love the freedom! If you donât have an iPhone, you can still use their website, but would have to enter your diary via the web.
My goal is 2 pounds a week and a total of 80 pounds. OMGosh! Thatâs so much, but I know I can do it. Lose It! says I should reach my goal by Decmber 28, 2011.
Interestingly enough I discovered that I although I was eating healthy foods, I wasnât eating enough during the day. By 5pm I had only been eating between 700-900 calories. WAY WAY WAY too low! So I added more food.
Here is my lunch from yesterday⌠on the 10-inch plate ⌠one red bell pepper, 6 ounces baby carrots, 8 ounces grape tomatoes, 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese with no-salt seasoning and chives, 2 slices whole wheat bread (no high fructose corn syrup).
Guess how many calories is in that huge plate of foodâŚ
âŚYEP ⌠that huge plate of food is 574 caloriesâŚ
I eat 5 small meals a day. Lose It! doesnât let you do it that way, but I combine my two lunches into one.
My plan is the same as previous successes⌠6 days of careful logging what I eat and Saturday is my free day. Donât get me wrong, I donât totally pig out, but give myself permission to not be so strict⌠like if I want extra dessert or snack itâs OK. Itâs my reward for being âgoodâ during the week and logging my food.
Since I started journaling on Tuesday this week (four days of journaling)⌠I have lost 4.5 pounds! I havenât decreased my food intake or exercised my bum off⌠Iâve eaten more during the day. I did do a custom 45 minute Wii Fit Plus workout one day and walked at the mall while shopping for 20 minutes, but thatâs the extent of the changes. Oh, yeah⌠also making sure I get 72-80 ounces of water a day, more if Iâm working out.
**Update:**Even with going over my target calories two days, I lost 4.5 pounds and kept my nutrients each day near my goals. I also wait 3 hours after eating before going to bed.
Please join me in my journey⌠without any judgement please.
Do you keep a food diary?