[UpDownAround]

162.2 this morning. I having been holding pretty steady, which is fine, but I sort of expected to see a little movement down with all the exercise calories I ignore. I would like to give myself a slightly bigger cushion and also I am trying to dial in my maintenance calories. It doesn't seem right that 1800 would require some untracked exercise to work.

Today I paddled my SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) for 2 hours. mfp didn't have that as an exercise, so I looked at moderate canoeing and they had that at 509 calories per hour, which seems high. I set it at 300 an hour. I entered it, but don't really plan to eat all the calories.

EDIT - After thinking on it a little more, I set my goal back to 1600 and will start logging exercise more regularly and eating back some of it. The last few weeks of losing, I was not logging a fair amount of walking and I am thinking it was the exercise that caused the deficit and that 1600 is actually close to my maintenance number.

[Tucson]

I weigh 177 today. I have walked 9,594 steps. I ate an extra meal today, so instead of taking a break from exersize, I walked to burn off some of the the extra calories. That calculator states that I have burned at least 457 calories. This makes my approximate target of 2489.

On this walk, I was pushing myself much less than half the time since I started out a little tired. Now here is a kicker. For the walk of half my total distance, that burn calculator comes out to 215 calories. My wrist monitor comes to 287. So my monitor is now close to 20% of this calculator instead of being off by closer to 50%. The only difference is that I was walking briskly but not pushing myself. Oh yes, I paused my monitor while I was not walking. The burn calculator goes by minutes walked instead of steps taken, also taking into consideration BMI. My wrist band goes by BMI, steps taken, heart rate, and probably other things like fitness level. So my monitor should be more accurate.

PS My wrist monitor shows I have an equivalent physical fitness age of a 42 year old. Nonesense. I think this is very much in error. I think a chest heart rate monitor should improve the accuracy of this and the calories burned.

[UpDownAround]

My watch says 4459 steps but it registered over 2000 steps when I was paddling my SUP. I didn't take a long walk today. I did paddle pretty hard for 2 hours though and I logged 600 calories for that. But I dropped my calorie goal to 1600 since I am logging exercise.

2108 calories consumed; a big day for me. My goal plus exercise added up to 2200 but I am not sure I believe it.

[MooMooMom2]

Im not trying to "sell" my product here. Just wanted to talk about how I feel since I started losing weight!! I take the TruVision supplement pills. Since I started, I have lost 12 pounds (in a month) and several inches. I have started to drink more water and less pop. Ive been a Mountain Dew addict for years so this is a huge step for me! I have more energy and actually want to do things!! It has really helped with my self esteem since I now fit into smaller clothes.

Again, Im not trying to sell anything. Just saying that I struggled with my weight for years and have finally found something to help me lose the weight. I started out at 212 pounds. I now teeter between 198 and 200.

BUT I need help. I know just taking these pills arent the answer. I know I need to eat healthier. I dont like a lot of veggies though. What are some healthy meals I can make to help me continue to lose weight? Or healthy snacks? I do tend to eat unhealthy snacks when Im bored!! Joining a gym is not an option right now cause of money. Advice??

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

My watch says 4459 steps but it registered over 2000 steps when I was paddling my SUP. I didn't take a long walk today. I did paddle pretty hard for 2 hours though and I logged 600 calories for that. But I dropped my calorie goal to 1600 since I am logging exercise.

2108 calories consumed; a big day for me. My goal plus exercise added up to 2200 but I am not sure I believe it.

I think if you were in the same shape as the average person, then maybe the 2200 calorie value would be more applicable. However, you probably are in much better shape than that. The calorie value from your watch does not take into consideration other factors like heart rate and fitness level. So I would only eat short of that figure, maybe by a percentage. FWIW that figure would be more applicable to me than to you. This assumes your watch in this respect is nearly enough to be useful. If this approach does not prove to work, I think you may need to ignore it. This is what you have already been doing.

[Cocosurviving]

MFP calories 1,110. Apple Watch steps 3,741. Water intake 33.8.

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by Tucson

I think if you were in the same shape as the average person, then maybe the 2200 calorie value would be more applicable. However, you probably are in much better shape than that. The calorie value from your watch does not take into consideration other factors like heart rate and fitness level. So I would only eat short of that figure, maybe by a percentage. FWIW that figure would be more applicable to me than to you. This assumes your watch in this respect is nearly enough to be useful. If this approach does not prove to work, I think you may need to ignore it. This is what you have already been doing.

The problem with totally ignoring it is that I have to set my calorie goal to an average day, which is fine if I am consistent about exercise. But I am starting to incorporate some core and upper body exercises and will cut back on walking a little. Also, as it gets warmer and the days get longer I will start doing other activities on a lot of days that are harder to track. Two hours of paddling yesterday was fairly constant exercise. But I am new to SUP paddling (fell in twice) and was getting my "sea legs". Once I am used to balancing and paddling, I will take a fishing rod with me and I might be out on the water two hours with really only 30 minutes of exercise. But I think setting my goal on the low end and ballparking exercise burn will be easier than setting a goal to average total burn.

[Tucson]

I weigh 174 today. This came as a bit of a surprise to me, so I will see what turns up tomorrow. I have reduced calories burned at least for three or four days in a row. I started out taking 80% of what my watch gave me, and very recently, I have used the figure from that online calories burned calculator. If I continue losing weight, which I doubt, I will need to re-evaluate how I am going about determining my calories burned for the day. For now I will continue to use the lower values provided by that online calculator. I am going to walk two to four miles today.

@UpDownAround

Ballparking calories burned may work for you during the short term, but as you improve your fitness, you will have to figure out how much lower that figure will need to go over a period of time. For that matter, the addition of upper body work further complicates this picture. So how do you under these circumstances determine a reasonably useful figure for this?

IMO the only way to come up with a useful figure is to make the changes in your routine static, and accordingly, the calories consumed. Then find a workable target for the calories that need to be consumed that maintains your weight. This value will need to go up over time as you become more fit. Otherwise, IMO you are just WAGing (wild azz guessing) it. Then if your routine changes, like changing reps, or the type of exersize, and yout weight begins to change, go through the same process again to come up with a new target for that calories that need to be consumed. So I think consistency is the key here. No change in exersuize routine is a start, at least for the periodic calculation of your target for calories that need to be consumed.

FWIW

Thoughts?

[Mountaindewed]

I’m just trying to maintain.

I average between 159-161.

I’ll eat whatever until I get to 161 and then I’ll just eat less for a couple days until I’m back to 159.

I’m not sure this is the best way to maintain. Honestly I have no idea how else to do it.

But it seems to be working.

[Tucson]

I have walked about 10,000 steps for exersize. My wrist band calculates this out to 594 calories burned. However, the online calculator pegs this at 380 calories burned. So going by the 380 calorie figure, my target for today is about 2411 calories. So far today, I have totalled 1925 calories for breakfast, lunch, and a couple snacks. I have dinner and possibly a dessert left to go. Maybe a banana for dessert.

@BozDickens: You have a nice straightforward way to manage weight. Once I get my situation stabilized, particularly with respect to exersize, I may be able to do the same thing. I do not know yet, but that is where I want to be. Paranoia may keep me counting calories.

By the way, I am returning my wrist band to Amazon for another one that should turn out accurate enough for calories burned. All I am considering here is walking, running, and hiking. Any upper body work can change the results which I will somehow need to factor in. This should not turn out to be a problem once I have my upper body exersize routine down. Hmm...I have just realized that am definitely OCD about this! I will have to add this to my list of psychological afflictions.

PS My thanks goes to UpDownAround and his diary here of steps taken for getting me to exersize once again. My goal is to walk four miles without stopping. Next it will be six miles. Cocosurviving has helped me here too.

[UpDownAround]

@Tucson - It's a two way street - reporting my walking and diet also helps keep me focused.

@Bozdickens - You are pretty much in my range. I have been 160 to 162 the last few weigh ins. You could log food to see what the amounts that lead to increase and decrease are to figure out about what you need to stay even. But if you can stay within a coupe of pounds without going to all that trouble then just keep doing it...

13269 steps, which is almost 6 miles. I recorded roughly half as 60 min of 3 mph for 240 calories.

Food was 1779 calories today. I weigh in the morning. A little nervous about it because it seems like too high an average for the last couple of days - over 1900. It's kind of silly to be too worried because I know how many surplus calories it takes to truly put on a pound - 3500. If I have had 200 or 300 extra the last couple of days it would barely move the needle. If I am up a little, it wold likely be because I had one of the 100 calories packs of popcorn - salty and spongy. But I will cut back if it is up.

[Tucson]

I have had 2488 calories, just a bit over my goal. I decided to have an anti pasta salad for dinner. I like the honey mustard yogurt salad dressing that I used. I will see if following that online calories burned calculator will provide me values that work well enough for me.This is worth a try until I can find something better, like an accurate wrist monitor.

[UpDownAround]

I weigh 161.8 this morning. I am happy with that. It's about a half pound lower than the last weight. That doesn't mean I have really lost any weight. I am happy it wasn't a spike up, since I kind of expected it to be.

[Tucson]

I weigh 175 today. I wonder what has caused this weight loss? Considering the exersize I do, I have been eating a given amount of extra calories. Let’s see what happens in the next couple days. I will continue to use that online calories burned calculator. Unfortunately, it does not take into consideration my level of physical fitness. What is intense exersize to me is much less intense to someone else who is in better shape than I am. So I wonder how much off is my wrist monitor when it comes to the calories burned? It is considering how fit I am. Maybe it is not off as much as I think? Still, it is pretty high. I will get a handle on this before changing my exersize routine.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

I weigh 161.8 this morning. I am happy with that. It's about a half pound lower than the last weight. That doesn't mean I have really lost any weight. I am happy it wasn't a spike up, since I kind of expected it to be.

What is now your new goal for your weight loss? The reason I ask is you have both lowered your calories consumed, and increased your exersize, I know you want a cushion, but your weight will go up and down by a few pounds over time. As you know, this is normal. Furthermore, you do have the capability and the discipline to reign it in any time you choose to do so. As you have proven, you do know how to lose weight. Remember that there is not just one value but a range of BMI values for a physically fit person. Are you taking into consideration what you have gained in muscle mass? IMO this can make the difference of a couple pounds by itself. IMHO once you reach your weight goal, your feeling the necessity of providing yourself a cushion basically makes your target weight rather arbitrary anyways. Please do not let paranoia get the best of you. I am not trying to come across like I know better than you. It is just that these are the things that I frequently wonder about.

PS I need to take my own advice.

All of this is FWIW

[UpDownAround]

@Tucson - you are spot on about it being largely paranoia. I do not want to see a weight that would calculate a BMI of 25 or higher even if I know it is just a spike from water weight or whatever. I think if I start seeing 198 or 158 as the low bounce, I will have enough cushion. Right now, I see 160 as the low end. So only a couple of pounds lower will be enough. I have only seen one bounce over 164, and it was less than a pound over, in the last 5 weeks, so I really shouldn't be so hung up about it. But I am...

It also is hard for me to accept that it is okay to eat what now seems like so much.

[Tucson]

I understand. I am finding that 40L suits fit me perfectly off the rack. I purchased pants that stay up without the belt. There are allot more clothes to choose from compared to my original 44l waist. This is so good!! Now I am paranoid that I will gain weight and grow out of my new wardrobe, all of which actially fit me for the first time since over thirty years ago. Perhaps I need a cushion too? I tell you, if I grow out of my new clothes, I will have a sh** fit.

[UpDownAround]

12201 steps, approximately 5.45 miles. I did that all in one shot. I logged 60 minutes of 3 mph.
1832 calories. Lots of fruit, but still a fair amount of junk in there.

I have some new wardrobe also, plus some old that hasn't fit in years and now fits loosely. I got all new shorts for when it gets warm and stays warm. A few new shirts; I can still wear the large shirts but I look good in medium now. I got rid of baggy pants and shorts. I am committed to this. It is purely a mental thing to want the cushion. If I gain any, I will go back to 1500 and no exercise calories for a few weeks and get into the upper 150s quickly. I would rather get there slowly though. As long as I don't see any big spikes up, I will stay the course.

[Cocosurviving]

MFP calories 1036. Apple Watch steps 2,636. Water intake 33.8oz.

[Tucson]

I had 2200 calories. I did not exersize today. I will carry over the excess calories to tomorrow. I will exersize tomorrow the usual four miles.

I have purchased several hundred dollars of clothing. Six sport coats, about eight shirts, and three pairs of pants. I still need to purchase some dress socks. Next month I will work on the leasure pants. I purchased the sport coats at $50 each. Retail they are $500 to $700 dollars apeice. Nice. Several shirts are $150 a piece. Instead I have spent $50 for each dress shirt. I guess I am bragging on how I managed to save money on my clothes. I was like a kid in a candy shop, so I overspent on sport coats. OOPS. Now I think you understand what is at stake. I just cannot get over how all of these clothes actually fit me. When I was overweight, nothing really fit me that well.

Thanks to that DUI arrest that filled me with terror, I like lost up to sixty pounds. This is the first time I ever felt terror. BTW I did get the charges dropped. They found nothing in my blood to have caused the episode. Back on topic, so I am taking advantage of my weight loss by keeping from gaining it all back.

[UpDownAround]

I have had days where they would have run me in if I was pulled over; sometimes I could not stop grinning and chuckling. Sometimes I miss hypomania; I have been stable for several months. I am more casual, even in the office. My clothes are mostly jeans. shorts and casual or semi-casual shirts, so I have less money at risk. It's mostly pride - I got rid of the bigger stuff and refuse to buy bigger again.

[Tucson]

It looks like I weigh 176 today. I will walk my four miles later this morning or early afternoon. I will start out with French toast this morning, tuna fish sandwiches for lunch, and a spaghetti dinner. There will be no room for dessert which is just as well.

My new wrist monitor should arrive later in the day. I think I am getting more paranoid. I want a wrist monitor to be accurate with calories burned so I can adjust my meals accordingly. I do not want to gain weight. I have too much money invested in my new clothes. So let’s see if this works out. Fortunately, I can return the new monitor if it does not work out for me. I also can keep it and send back the one I have now. According to research that I have done, a combination of this wrist monitor and a chest heart monitor should provide me with up to 95% accuracy of calories burned. I will believe it when I see this turn out to be true.

As an aside, UpDownAround, we can get some idea about how accurate your wrist band is using some some crude calculations like steps per calorie. I am very curious about this. I think yours is more accurate than the one I have now despite the basic calculations that your band makes in comparison to mine.

[Tucson]

Interesting. I have been using my new activity watch. 5560 steps so far. This amounts to 642 calories for 4.5 miles. For over the first half, I really pushed myself, not briskly walking, but walking almost as fast as I could. The second half I walked briskly for a significant part of the time. The heart rate peaked at 150 bpm with the average of 122 bpm. This average is a bit low probably due to the second half of my walk. I know the heart rate is accurate since I wore a chest strap with a heart beat sensor.

I checked this out through various calorie burned calculators and the value comes out to be about 550 to 600. This does not take into consideration my fitness level. My measure of fitness level may be a bit off. It becomes more accurate over time. So these calories may be off some. I will have spaghetti and I want to have meatballs with my spaghetti. I need to kill about 100 calories to do this and remain lower than my target calories.

The short of it is I think I am now getting a handle on my diet to remain at my current weight. This is what counts.

[UpDownAround]

For today my band says 14883 steps for 6.65 miles and 604 calories. I entered it as 90 minutes of 3 mph and 360 calories. That gave me an allowance of 1960 calories and I went over and had 1996. I got really fruit hungry tonight and bought a ripe fresh mango at the store and ate it when I got home. I did a long steep climb on my walk today that definitely was aerobic.

I will weigh in the morning. Not expecting much movement either way; it's been fairly steady lately and the last couple of days I walked quite a bit (over 27000 steps) and averaged a little over 1900 calories. I think at worst that's a wash.

[Cocosurviving]

MFP calories 1,222. Apple Watch steps 5,454. Water intake 50.7. I walked for an hour