Had the meeting with the nutritionalist

[KSH]

Well, we started the meeting with testing for my resting metabolic rate... I think that's what it was called. Basically I had to breathe "naturally" into this machine so it can determine how many calories I burn just resting.

So, I found out my body burns 1600 calories a day... without any exercise, etc. That was $50 to find out.

After that I got on the scale. Oh, how depressing that was. It was 130 lbs. I know to some... that would be great... but for this gal who has NEVER seen the scale go over 128 lbs (and that started only 2 years ago... before that it never went above 122 lbs)... it was so depressing. But hey, I did it to myself.

Before you start to say, "But it's MUSCLE"... read on...

Then came the fat pincher... could a gal get even more depressed? YEP!

Back in February 2006 (7 months ago!) I was at 20% after the challenge with my friend... today... I was at 26%

As far as us discussing my food intake, etc. I think I just frustrated the hell out of her. Unfortuantely, I have caloric intake stuck in my head. And she wants me to monitor that, but maybe not as closely... since I need to change my lifestyle.

Was it helpful? Gosh, the jury is still out on that one. The truth is, is that I know what I am suppose to eat... and how much of it I should be eating... I just choose not to. That is what this all comes down to.

And she wants me to see healthy food as something enjoyable and fulfilling to eat. That's great and all... but I figure I will always have a battle in my head... between what is yummy (to me!) and what I should be eating.

I need motivation and meeting with her will do that... but to the tune of $80 a pop? Not sure about that. I could get just as much motivation being in a challenge with a friend.

So... I'm not sure if I will stick with it. I have a lot of extras to pay for in the next 2 months... and I don't think what I will be getting will be worth the cost.

[Lise]

KSH, I think you're brave to even meet with her. Although I agree, it sounds like for $80 an hour, you could be doing other things. You know what you need to do, now you can find a way to motivate to do it.

I would not be caught dead in a room with a fat pincher. I do not need to know! So, kudos to you for exploring and investigating.

[midgetcycler]

Maybe you could turn it around and make a visit to the nutritionist a punishment??

I mean, if you continue to see the scale remain the same or creep up, you can make yourself go the nutritionist and paying that $80 will be a punishment for not eating right! But as long as you are behaving and eating what you're supposed to be eating, you can just do your own thing and spend that $80 on something more worthwhile.

[KSH]

Maybe you could turn it around and make a visit to the nutritionist a punishment??

I mean, if you continue to see the scale remain the same or creep up, you can make yourself go the nutritionist and paying that $80 will be a punishment for not eating right! But as long as you are behaving and eating what you're supposed to be eating, you can just do your own thing and spend that $80 on something more worthwhile.

HA! HA!

Love it... I will keep this in mind as my motivator... THANKS!

[spindizzy]

I'm working my way up the postings: I posted my sad metabolic rate on a previous post.

Last year I used "The Zone" as a primer, just to clean up my eating act. I called it my Peanut Butter diet. My breakfast generally is cottage cheese (I eat all fat contents, but never no-fat), and two servings of fruit and some natural PB, on a spoon. Yep, it's like dessert for me..at breakfast. Lunch is some protein and a couple of veggies (spinach and mushrooms cooked with oil and garlic), salad, green beans and garlic, zucchini and mushrooms in oil (Olive, canola - heart healthy oil), whatever I have time for or I make extra at dinner the night before. Mid afternoon, it's a small piece of fruit, usually half an apple, a cheestring and PB (Yumm!) on a spoon. Dinner is much the same as lunch. Before bed it's usually a glass of skim or 1% and some peanuts (would eat other kinds of nuts but I'm allergic) Following this, I lost 20 lbs in about 8 weeks. I avoided the white stuff (bread, rice, potatoes, pasta) but now have them occasionally. I've kept the weight off for a year. I train very hard and play hockey. I thought I would not have any energy, but I have tons! I also drink about 1.5 litres of H2O a day. I also take Iron, B12 and a vitamin supplement. My iron level prior to weight loss was borderline, with the hard training and limited caloric intake, it dropped. So my FD and I monitor my iron about twice a year. I used to get very hypoglycemic and shaky. Since I have very few refined carbs, I don't have that problem anymore.

It took a lot of discipline to change my eating habits those first 8 weeks...but I was tired of sore knees, tight clothes and an ability to maintain weight despite a lot of physical activity. I was just very determined.

People at work think I'm still losing weight but I have not. The training has rewarded me with a trimmer, healthier body, and I am totally delighted where I am.

I am currently on a month off of scheduled training, my coach says, do what I want. So I've been indulging a bit, but I tell ya, I don't feel as good as I did previously..the right food really makes a huge difference.

I don't think you need someone to tell you what to eat for that price. But if it will make you more accountable..sometimes that works for people. I just think of all the nice bike stuff I could buy...

My coach told me about a website to monitor my caloric intake if I want http://www.fitday.com/. I'll have to try it sometime. Due to have metabolic rate tested again to set new training HR for winter training for bike and run. He wants me to try Olympic distance next year. I don't know....

[kaybee]

Oh, KSH, I can so relate! I'm more active than I've ever been and I weigh more than I ever have. It's probably due to my, um, mature stage in life, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with! I also know what you mean about the battle between yummy and good for you. Yummy usually wins out with me! Midgetcycler had a great idea. Nothing wrong with a little motivation.

KB

[KSH]

I don't think you need someone to tell you what to eat for that price. But if it will make you more accountable..sometimes that works for people. I just think of all the nice bike stuff I could buy...

My coach told me about a website to monitor my caloric intake if I want http://www.fitday.com/. I'll have to try it sometime. Due to have metabolic rate tested again to set new training HR for winter training for bike and run. He wants me to try Olympic distance next year. I don't know....

Exactly! Now, I have to find a way to politely refuse her services... who knows, I might have the money to try it again in the future?

OH! And as your for your RMR... you are fighting some serious genetics there. I wonder what "normal" is. Or is there even a typical range for a certain height/age/weight? Who knows?

I checked out fitday.com, as the nutritionalist recommended it to me. Honestly, it sucks.

www.calorieking.com is 100 times better! Fitday just had general food listed, whereas Calorieking actually lists name brand foods/fast food/etc. You can look up "Outback Steakhouse" and get results.

With Fitday, I tried to enter my breakfast foods, but even trying to find the correct amount of calories for a slice of FF American cheese was impossible. What they had, did not match what I eat, calorie wise. Very frustrating.

Calorieking has a program you can download to your computer to track your food... free for 7 days... and $45 to purchase. I like the software, BUT... you can't access it via the internet. So, unless I am at home, I can't put in my food. Not really worth the $45 for me.

Oh well, maybe I can find something else in the future?

Anways.... train for the Olympic distance! See how it works out! With proper training, I bet you can do it.

[KSH]

Oh, KSH, I can so relate! I'm more active than I've ever been and I weigh more than I ever have. It's probably due to my, um, mature stage in life, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with! I also know what you mean about the battle between yummy and good for you. Yummy usually wins out with me! Midgetcycler had a great idea. Nothing wrong with a little motivation.

KB

Well, I have been thinking that my getting older... and being on BC (which typically puts 10 lbs on a woman)... is part of the reason for the weight gain.

But in the end... I think we both know that eating too much of the yummy stuff... goes to the hips.

[Bikingmomof3]

I really hate fitday, but that is just me. The other one I have heard so many talk about loving is sparkspeople.com, I hate that one as well. Do you think it is me?

Try myfooddiary.com I cannot recall how much it is, it is a monthly fee, and there are no term limits.

I have all my food there and it is SO easy to enter everything. They have major brands and my favourite, Trader Joe items.


As for weight gain, I am gaining. I am burining more calories, eating the same as I was when I exercised less and I am gaining. Not a lot, but enough to ticked me off! I just know it is this new medicine the neurologist gave me. ugh.

[KSH]

I really hate fitday, but that is just me. The other one I have heard so many talk about loving is sparkspeople.com, I hate that one as well. Do you think it is me?

Try myfooddiary.com I cannot recall how much it is, it is a monthly fee, and there are no term limits.

I have all my food there and it is SO easy to enter everything. They have major brands and my favourite, Trader Joe items.


As for weight gain, I am gaining. I am burining more calories, eating the same as I was when I exercised less and I am gaining. Not a lot, but enough to ticked me off! I just know it is this new medicine the neurologist gave me. ugh.

Naw, it's not just you... Fitday sucked.

I will try the other site... myfooddiary.com. I'm willing to pay a reasonable fee.

Sorry to hear you are gaining weight... it might be your medicine. But, better alive... than skinny and dead!

[Bikingmomof3]

I think it is $9 a month for myfooddiary. I could figure out all the nutritional info myself and keep a manual journal for free, but to not have to spend that time doing it is worth the $9/month for me.

I only gained 5 pounds and it appears to be coming off, but I was really ticked to see the gain. Obviously not taking the medication is not an option, so I may need to work a little harder. I can and will do it!

[kaybee]

My running buddy also uses and likes myfooddiary.com.

KB

[midgetcycler]

and being on BC (which typically puts 10 lbs on a woman)... is part of the reason for the weight gain.

Don't put too much stock into BC making you gain weight. The hormone levels in them are so low anymore that it really shouldn't make you gain weight. So if you do gain weight after you start taking them, it is probably more of a "psychological" reaction to them than anything else.

If you're convinced it is the BC, tell you doctor. Maybe they can try a different brand that has different levels and you can compare.

[KSH]

OK, I checked out myfooddiary.com... that's not going to work either. I tried looking up the foods I typically eat... they weren't there. I found the list to be even worse than the fitday list.

CalorieKing thus far, has the best list. I may just have to buy a plam pilot so I can count calories throughout the day on their software.

As for the BC issue... well, I'm not putting too much stock in it. I get the Depo-Provera shot... and even if it's making me gain 10 lbs... then so be it. Without the shot, I would have a period 20 days out of the month (yes, I have had this tested- there are no serious issues- my body just works that way). Otherwise, I heard there is a new 3-year BC that is injected into the arm that is due out next year. Looking forward to that!

[lawyergirl]

I had my RMR tested this weekend, too! Mine is 1646, so it looks like we are pretty close. I've been stuck in the 145ish range for 3 years now. I've been down to 138 and up to 153 (after a 7 day cruise!) and now I'm back around 146. I think the bottom line is that to get down to my goal weight (130ish) that I would have to cut out all the things I enjoy - nice dinners out, wine, occasional trips to the ice cream store, wine, etc. So far I haven't been willing to give that stuff up and I know that I really do a good job for the most part, so it's these occasional indulgences that are keeping me from my goal. We shall see.

Oh - and I use www.sparkepeople.com to keep track of my calories. It has a lot of stuff in there already, including restaurants, and you can also add in things that are not and it saves them for future use. And it's free!