Weight loss 2020

[Ambivalent Dave]

I can't be doing different meals to the rest of the family. That's totally implausible.
We have just about time to make 1 meal per night, nevermind 2. She's said she'll try to write some stuff down for me, but I won't push it - she works so f***ing hard looking after 3 kids, 2 of them twin babies - AND she's back at work now (3 days a week).

By the time we've got everyone to bed, then sat down and eaten our tea its usually 8pm. We go to bed about 9pm as the kids have us up through the night and we're both walking zombies 6 days out of 7.

Also, at this stage, I'm not especially trying to "diet". Id just like to get a handle on what I do eat, and possibly make some small adjustments. I don't want to go full WW / SW. I'm miserable enough as it is without that shite.

I bought my oats in bulk, and they're in sealed containers.
A chicken breast can be, I'd say, 100% difference between a small shit one and a large good one.

If I'm stuck at work, and haven't made food - quite regular in my position, then I have 3 choices. Greasy Spoon place, Greggs or a "healthy home cooked meals" place. Tell me, which is the best out of those options.

Its about making choices, not about being Mr f***ing Perfect.

and there unfortunately is your problem. No app/system is going to be able to track and help you out, unless your circumstances allow you the time to spend on recording what goes in I'm afraid. Essentially all these apps do make the tracking job a bit easier

Sorry like, but you're being a complete fanny about this. You have on your phone an incredibly easy to use and powerful tool to log your food intake. It couldn't be more simple to use but yes, it requires a small amount of effort on your part to weigh portions and calulate bulk batchs of food.

You eat things that don't have barcodes? Your oats for example. Google "rolled oats" it'll bring up a bunch of brands, pick one and input that into MFP. Sainsburys taste the difference rolled oats. Done. Veg? Search on MFP for the veg and use one with the green tick. Done. Chicken? Search on MFP for chicken breast raw. Done.

You say you have no time but if you're posting on here then you have time to track your food and use the app. Stop reading up about your gut microbiome and track your cals. You can't see the wood for the trees. IIRC you're over 20 stone? When you're that size you arguably don't have to be obsessing over if you had 75g of brocolli or 80g. It's a guide. Your portions must have been grossly overindulgent in the past. MFP is the perfect app for gaining back some control.

Stop twisting and looking for reasons it won't work and make it work. Tell your wife you want to lose weight and you'll need her help as your partner to weigh things as cooks, it takes 2 seconds longer putting it on a scale before it goes into the pot. Or if she's following a recipe, ask to see the recipe.

Losing weight takes effort, it takes time and it takes dedication. On the plus side, it's never been easier to make informed choices.

Tough love there

 

[PTR]

and there unfortunately is your problem. No app/system is going to be able to track and help you out, unless your circumstances allow you the time to spend on recording what goes in I'm afraid. Essentially all these apps do make the tracking job a bit easier


Tough love there

Two sides of the coin I guess.

I mean, I'm posting this now while having a shit, no site I could use this time any better.
Most of my smb posts come while I'm working, as does my other reading. Time I can't be in the kitchen weighing foods put.

The steel cut oats was just an example, jees.

. Right, I've finished my shit and I'm back at my desk. Then in an hour I have to pack, then drive to Bristol for meetings tomorrow - then I'll be driving home and getting back about 10pm. Then the next 2 days I'll be doing more with the kids to give the wife a bit of a break cos its a f***ing nightmare looking after all 3 on your 2 for 1 night, nevermind 2 in a row.

Please tell me again how I'm being a fanny. I'm merely trying to figure out the disparity between the comments I see that "MFP is dead easy", and my reality, that's its a total fuck on to the point I deleted my account about 2 years back, but yet I'm trying again now.

 

[Ciro_DiMarzio]

I have a feeling I'll spend the next month putting recipies into the damned thing before its of any use to me at all then

It takes a while but eventually most of the things you eat will be in your recents list so you will only be adding new things now and again. My breakfast and lunches are boring all the time so it's only my teas what take much effort to log.

 

[PTR]

no site??? typo. "Not sure"

It takes a while but eventually most of the things you eat will be in your recents list so you will only be adding new things now and again. My breakfast and lunches are boring all the time so it's only my teas what take much effort to log.

That's what I'm taking from this. I'll "guess" as I go, and fine tune as I can. Once 90% of what I eat is in the system, I'm sure it will actually be a doddle.
Giving time to this, rather than say, reading to my kid, is a hard call though. Like I said, I only have about 1 hour per night after they all go to bed. I need to spend *some* time with my missus too. There's more than one priority in life.

 

[Ciro_DiMarzio]

no site??? typo. "Not sure"

That's what I'm taking from this. I'll "guess" as I go, and fine tune as I can. Once 90% of what I eat is in the system, I'm sure it will actually be a doddle.
Giving time to this, rather than say, reading to my kid, is a hard call though. Like I said, I only have about 1 hour per night after they all go to bed. I need to spend *some* time with my missus too. There's more than one priority in life.

I know mate. I've got kids and we both work full time and both work shifts. It does make a healthy lifestyle more difficult, especially because when I'm not at work I am with the kids so getting to the gym is a nightmare but if you want to lose weight then only you can do it. My fitness pal is a useful tool to help. I'm often surprised by how many calories are in certain things which just shows I had no idea how many calories I was putting away before using it.

 

[oROSSo]

no site??? typo. "Not sure"

That's what I'm taking from this. I'll "guess" as I go, and fine tune as I can. Once 90% of what I eat is in the system, I'm sure it will actually be a doddle.
Giving time to this, rather than say, reading to my kid, is a hard call though. Like I said, I only have about 1 hour per night after they all go to bed. I need to spend *some* time with my missus too. There's more than one priority in life.

I'm a father of 2 year old twins too. It's no excuse. Today I input my breakfast into MFP in the time walking from the car to the office. A walk that takes 10 seconds. Once the foods that you eat regularly are in your 'recent list' it takes mere seconds to input. Give it a month and you'll see how easy it is.

This is tough love, I want you to succeed but you need to stop making excuses and crack on with it. All the best.

 

[Ambivalent Dave]

Two sides of the coin I guess.

I mean, I'm posting this now while having a shit, no site I could use this time any better.
Most of my smb posts come while I'm working, as does my other reading. Time I can't be in the kitchen weighing foods put.

The steel cut oats was just an example, jees.

. Right, I've finished my shit and I'm back at my desk. Then in an hour I have to pack, then drive to Bristol for meetings tomorrow - then I'll be driving home and getting back about 10pm. Then the next 2 days I'll be doing more with the kids to give the wife a bit of a break cos its a f***ing nightmare looking after all 3 on your 2 for 1 night, nevermind 2 in a row.

Please tell me again how I'm being a fanny. I'm merely trying to figure out the disparity between the comments I see that "MFP is dead easy", and my reality, that's its a total fuck on to the point I deleted my account about 2 years back, but yet I'm trying again now.

MFP is dead easy compared to the alternative of logging stuff on spreadsheets and what not. You get out of it, what you put in.

Even if I can't be 100% accurate, eating out, drinking beer with unknown details, I just estimate. It's better than recording nothing

 

[Charlestonian]

Two sides of the coin I guess.

I mean, I'm posting this now while having a shit, no site I could use this time any better.
Most of my smb posts come while I'm working, as does my other reading. Time I can't be in the kitchen weighing foods put.

The steel cut oats was just an example, jees.

. Right, I've finished my shit and I'm back at my desk. Then in an hour I have to pack, then drive to Bristol for meetings tomorrow - then I'll be driving home and getting back about 10pm. Then the next 2 days I'll be doing more with the kids to give the wife a bit of a break cos its a f***ing nightmare looking after all 3 on your 2 for 1 night, nevermind 2 in a row.

Please tell me again how I'm being a fanny. I'm merely trying to figure out the disparity between the comments I see that "MFP is dead easy", and my reality, that's its a total fuck on to the point I deleted my account about 2 years back, but yet I'm trying again now.

I understand everyone is busy and everyone has different priorities but ultimately you’ve got to decide whether you’re happy with your current physical state and fitness level, if you aren’t then you find a way to change that for the benefit of you and your family.

Sounds to me like you aren’t ready to make the necessary changes just yet.

 

[Ambivalent Dave]

reet back on topic, weigh day for me today. 2.9 Pounds off this week. Hit a "mini" target this week, weight is now under 200llbs (just!) Next target is 14st, which I might just hit next week fingers crossed.

So, since Jan 1st, I've lost 1st 3 lbs. Chuffed with that like

 

[PTR]

Ok, I'm getting there. Placeholder foods for now, until I actually make new batches.

My milk intake is throwing the sugar well over the top though. Not sure I can face oats or Huel without milk though.

I understand everyone is busy and everyone has different priorities but ultimately you’ve got to decide whether you’re happy with your current physical state and fitness level, if you aren’t then you find a way to change that for the benefit of you and your family.

Sounds to me like you aren’t ready to make the necessary changes just yet.

Right on the cusp mate.
I've been dying to "clear my plate" for about 5 years to really get going with this. Its been a hard few years tbh, but just as I did finally get rid of all the extra crap in my life, the twins came along.

I've created a gym in my garage over the last 3 weeks - so now I have a space to go to. And time is getting easier now - they're not babies anymore (6 months), and its noticably getting easier (as it does, of course, with babies).
So I'm trying to do the groundwork now - while I'm at my desk, in time for making a proper go of it over the next few days. Problem is, I get frustrated easily as I'm still bloody tired most of the time and I know how little time I have spare & having it go wasted is even more frutrating. Just had to plod on, I guess.

 

[Ciro_DiMarzio]

Ok, I'm getting there. Placeholder foods for now, until I actually make new batches.

My milk intake is throwing the sugar well over the top though. Not sure I can face oats or Huel without milk though.

Right on the cusp mate.
I've been dying to "clear my plate" for about 5 years to really get going with this. Its been a hard few years tbh, but just as I did finally get rid of all the extra crap in my life, the twins came along.

I've created a gym in my garage over the last 3 weeks - so now I have a space to go to. And time is getting easier now - they're not babies anymore (6 months), and its noticably getting easier (as it does, of course, with babies).
So I'm trying to do the groundwork now - while I'm at my desk, in time for making a proper go of it over the next few days. Problem is, I get frustrated easily as I'm still bloody tired most of the time and I know how little time I have spare & having it go wasted is even more frutrating. Just had to plod on, I guess.

As you lose weight and get more excercise in you will find you have more energy though mate. It's a long process but you will feel better for it in the end.

 

[Ambivalent Dave]

Ok, I'm getting there. Placeholder foods for now, until I actually make new batches.

My milk intake is throwing the sugar well over the top though. Not sure I can face oats or Huel without milk though.

Right on the cusp mate.
I've been dying to "clear my plate" for about 5 years to really get going with this. Its been a hard few years tbh, but just as I did finally get rid of all the extra crap in my life, the twins came along.

I've created a gym in my garage over the last 3 weeks - so now I have a space to go to. And time is getting easier now - they're not babies anymore (6 months), and its noticably getting easier (as it does, of course, with babies).
So I'm trying to do the groundwork now - while I'm at my desk, in time for making a proper go of it over the next few days. Problem is, I get frustrated easily as I'm still bloody tired most of the time and I know how little time I have spare & having it go wasted is even more frutrating. Just had to plod on, I guess.

lots of tiny small changes make that difference mate. keep at it, it will get easier

 

[PTR]

As you lose weight and get more excercise in you will find you have more energy though mate. It's a long process but you will feel better for it in the end.

Funny, I lost a bit when I was going to the gym a couple of years back (kept getting injured, which ultimately led to me stopping). I never felt more tired than after I'd been to the gym! Absolutely exhausted every night afterwards. And achy the next day. I never once felt "better for it" in that way.
Although my back / hip pains did get better as I got stronger.

 

[Ciro_DiMarzio]

Funny, I lost a bit when I was going to the gym a couple of years back (kept getting injured, which ultimately led to me stopping). I never felt more tired than after I'd been to the gym! Absolutely exhausted every night afterwards. And achy the next day. I never once felt "better for it" in that way.
Although my back / hip pains did get better as I got stronger.

When I get into a routine of going to the gym it really sorts my sleep out. Can't do anything about the aches though.

 

[Good Bloke Fairly]

Can anyone who uses myfitnesspal, and thinks its easy, please help me out?

I'm trying it for a second time, and I literally cannot even put a single meal I've had today in it.

1 - Half a "takeaway container" of home made steel cut oats - made with milk and a full (smallish) bag of Aldi mixed dried fruits and a tsp of sugar. I make it in the instant pot - 4:1 ratio of milk to oats. It comes out very thick, which is better for freezing (takes up less space), and then I add a splash of milk when I heat it up.

2 - 3 slices of white, seedy bread - Cannot remember the brand & it was the last slices, so I binned the bag - 4 slices of chicken (last of that too, so binned the pack), some olive-oil type marg and a little mago, with a few slices of cucumber

3 - A decent sized bit of home made cottage pie - beef mince, carrots, onions, stock. With a few frozen roasties (needed using up, generally hate the buggers personally, but everyone else likes them), so peas, brocolli and white cabbage

I'm absolutely fucked if people think I need to be weighing stuff like "portions of veg" out. Even when it comes to a chicken breast, surely from a smallish crap quality (filled with water) to a larger, high quality one can be double the actual nutrician.

People always bang on about how this app makes it "dead easy". HOW???? Do they just scan ready meals or something?

Buy a kitchen scale. I got one for £6 from Lidl back in the summer and it's piss easy and quick to weigh literally anything out. Once you've scanned an item from a brand, it saves to your account so you're not constantly entering details. If you eat much the same things day to day it becomes, as another poster has said, second nature.

Unless you're incredibly talented at guess work, I wouldn't bother using it if you can't be bothered to use a scale to find out what you're measuring.

I can't be doing different meals to the rest of the family. That's totally implausible.
We have just about time to make 1 meal per night, nevermind 2. She's said she'll try to write some stuff down for me, but I won't push it - she works so f***ing hard looking after 3 kids, 2 of them twin babies - AND she's back at work now (3 days a week).

By the time we've got everyone to bed, then sat down and eaten our tea its usually 8pm. We go to bed about 9pm as the kids have us up through the night and we're both walking zombies 6 days out of 7.

Also, at this stage, I'm not especially trying to "diet". Id just like to get a handle on what I do eat, and possibly make some small adjustments. I don't want to go full WW / SW. I'm miserable enough as it is without that shite.

I bought my oats in bulk, and they're in sealed containers.
A chicken breast can be, I'd say, 100% difference between a small shit one and a large good one.

If I'm stuck at work, and haven't made food - quite regular in my position, then I have 3 choices. Greasy Spoon place, Greggs or a "healthy home cooked meals" place. Tell me, which is the best out of those options.

Its about making choices, not about being Mr f***ing Perfect.

Don't come on asking for advice with that kind of attitude either, people may not be so quick to offer it next time.

 

[Charlestonian]

Ok, I'm getting there. Placeholder foods for now, until I actually make new batches.

My milk intake is throwing the sugar well over the top though. Not sure I can face oats or Huel without milk though.

Right on the cusp mate.
I've been dying to "clear my plate" for about 5 years to really get going with this. Its been a hard few years tbh, but just as I did finally get rid of all the extra crap in my life, the twins came along.

I've created a gym in my garage over the last 3 weeks - so now I have a space to go to. And time is getting easier now - they're not babies anymore (6 months), and its noticably getting easier (as it does, of course, with babies).
So I'm trying to do the groundwork now - while I'm at my desk, in time for making a proper go of it over the next few days. Problem is, I get frustrated easily as I'm still bloody tired most of the time and I know how little time I have spare & having it go wasted is even more frutrating. Just had to plod on, I guess.

Change it for almond milk maybe? Protein to be had there as well.

 

[oROSSo]

Change it for almond milk maybe? Protein to be had there as well.

almond milk is shite for protein but it's a fair bit lower cal than whole milk (the only milk I buy) I use almond milk in my protein shakes due to low calorie content but hating them with water. 110 cals for 500ml is worth it imo.

 

[D.A]

Ok, I'm getting there. Placeholder foods for now, until I actually make new batches.

My milk intake is throwing the sugar well over the top though. Not sure I can face oats or Huel without milk though.

Right on the cusp mate.
I've been dying to "clear my plate" for about 5 years to really get going with this. Its been a hard few years tbh, but just as I did finally get rid of all the extra crap in my life, the twins came along.

I've created a gym in my garage over the last 3 weeks - so now I have a space to go to. And time is getting easier now - they're not babies anymore (6 months), and its noticably getting easier (as it does, of course, with babies).
So I'm trying to do the groundwork now - while I'm at my desk, in time for making a proper go of it over the next few days. Problem is, I get frustrated easily as I'm still bloody tired most of the time and I know how little time I have spare & having it go wasted is even more frutrating. Just had to plod on, I guess.

i mix 1 part milk, 4 parts water. can't notice that it's not all milk.

 

[Mickdundee]

My milk intake is throwing the sugar well over the top though. Not sure I can face oats or Huel without milk though.

How much milk do you drink? I have 250ml semi skilled at breakfast and a home made cappuccino when I first get to work, plus I eat grapes and a cereal bar through the day and often have a bag of the kids’ iced gems if I have calories left with my TV time cup of tea and I barely ever go over my sugar limit. Might be worth looking at what else you’re eating before cutting out the milk.

 

[PTR]

How much milk do you drink? I have 250ml semi skilled at breakfast and a home made cappuccino when I first get to work, plus I eat grapes and a cereal bar through the day and often have a bag of the kids’ iced gems if I have calories left with my TV time cup of tea and I barely ever go over my sugar limit. Might be worth looking at what else you’re eating before cutting out the milk.

The porridge is 4:1 ratio milk to oats - so there's lots in there. Could replace half with water and see how I get on I guess. Be a shame to make a large batch that I hate though

Same with Huel, that's a pint with each one. I could try the same there - I can even make a half batch for tasters. So that's not so bad.

Buy a kitchen scale. I got one for £6 from Lidl back in the summer and it's piss easy and quick to weigh literally anything out. Once you've scanned an item from a brand, it saves to your account so you're not constantly entering details. If you eat much the same things day to day it becomes, as another poster has said, second nature.

Unless you're incredibly talented at guess work, I wouldn't bother using it if you can't be bothered to use a scale to find out what you're measuring.


Don't come on asking for advice with that kind of attitude either, people may not be so quick to offer it next time.

Don't bother replying to me again. You obviously haven't read the rest. Look, don't bother arguing back and forth, just ignore me - job done.