PH losers 2021 - The journey continues!

[Funk]

tr7v8 said:

Welcome back Funk, what does premium MFP give you over the freebie versions? Worth having?

Some useful stuff, some arguably not:

MFP site said:

Premium features include:

Ad-Free:
Focus on meeting your goals without distraction

Macronutrients by Gram:
Set macronutrient goals by either gram or percentage

Food Analysis:
See which foods you've logged are best and worst for you

Quick Add Macronutrients:
Quick Add users can now add macros to their calorie entries

Different Goals by Day:
Set custom calorie and macronutrient goals for any day of the week

Exercise Calorie Settings:
Track exercises without increasing your calorie or nutrient goals

Home Screen Dashboard:
Easily keep an eye on your nutrient goals rather than focusing solely on calories

Priority Customer Support:
Premium support requests are handled as our first priority.

Data Export:
Export your meal level nutrition details, progress history & exercise history.

Macros by Meal:
See a macronutrient breakdown for every meal you log right inside your diary.

Calorie Goals By Meal:
Your calorie goals are now easier to reach

Food Timestamps:
Learn how the timing of your meals affects your energy, workout and more (available only on iOS and Android).

Plans:
Plans offer you the coaching and content you need to achieve a health and fitness goal (available only on iPhone and Android for English users. No iPad support).

Workout Routines:
Gain access to exclusive Premium routine content (available only on iPhone and Android for English users).

There's also the psychological fact of having stumped up for it I should make best use of it...! The macro stuff is most useful to me, especially once I get back in the gym (whenever they're allowed to open again..).

I'm still trying to get my hands on a decent direct drive turbo trainer without having my pants pulled down on price...

[tr7v8]

Hmm sounds like it isn't worth it then for me. I agree with the "I've paid for it, I better use it" POV but it never worked with the gym!

[ShortShift811]

Chucking myself into this thread. Currently 12st 3lb after a careless Christmas period. Ideally I’d like to be back to my leanest at 11st 5lbs (I’m 5’10” for reference)

I’m a keen cyclist so provided I nail my diet and recovery the above should be achievable. Back to tracking properly with MFP and building some healthy habits again.

Well done to all on here so far!

[Pete102]

Hows everyone getting on sitcking to your plans?

I'm a self-confessed chocolate and sweet lover, I could easily eat 300g+ in one sitting, potentialy several times a day! no problem. Since the start of the year I've cut it out completely and now it doesn't even register when I'm in shops. Its taken two weeks to get to this point but I've realised that sugar addiciton is a powerful thing.

[tr7v8]

Pete102 said:

How's everyone getting on sticking to your plans?

I'm a self-confessed chocolate and sweet lover, I could easily eat 300g+ in one sitting, potentially several times a day! no problem. Since the start of the year I've cut it out completely and now it doesn't even register when I'm in shops. Its taken two weeks to get to this point but I've realised that sugar addiction is a powerful thing.

Very difficult, we were bought a ton of choccy & biscuits for Xmas, even Xmas cake. On the 1st Jan I managed to switch off from it completely & ignore it, although it is still there. Been quite proud of myself as normally my will power is nil, hence A. being here & B. being the size I am.

[Funk]

First day back 'on plan' and had a good day and on spec to lose 1kg/wk. Intake = ~2550 cals, output ~3650 cals.



A much better 'macro profile' for the day than at any point in the last month too- 54% carb, 29% protein, 17% fat; one thing that I found really helped was adding a protein shake back in mid-morning as it really suppressed the desire to snack on things.

And in other news I think I've fixed an issue with a gear shifter on the bike - it's a Rapidfire Shimano that wasn't always 'catching'. Apparently a known issue and seems the remedial steps I've taken have solved it which means all I need now is the turbo trainer. I'd been looking for an Elite Suito but I may just bite the bullet and go for a Direto or possibly a Wahoo (although the Elite options are preferred as they come with cassettes pre-installed).

Anyway, it's a much more positive outlook for me this week than it's been for a while. The long march resumes!

[Pete102]

I've also been looking at a Smart Turbo Trainer. I currently have a classic Tacx but I'd really like to start using Zwift. As an interim measure I've ordered a speed and cadence meter alongside an ANT+ dongle for my laptop. It should give me a half way house solution before I dive in completely and spend £500 on a Kickr

[ShortShift811]

Funk / Pete - if you haven't already, get yourselves over to the Pedal Powered section. It's a friendly corner of PH with lots of advice on turbo trainers etc. A 'smart' one is definitely worth the investment but you don't need to spend the earth. The 'wheel on' types are fine IMO until you're fully committed and know you will regularly train indoors.

Day one of my proper new food habits today too. 1900 kcal, 49% carbs, 24% protein and 27% fat (that being pushed up by the two poached eggs I had at lunch). Once I've done my Wattbike workout I should have a calorie deficit of around 900 - 1,000kcal for the day.

I replaced breakfast this morning with a Complete 360 shake from The Protein Works. Will sub one or two meals a day with that, just to help me control my calorie intake and increase my protein. No affiliation or benefit from plugging it, but it was definitely filling and kept me going til lunch.

[Funk]

ShortShift811 said:

Funk / Pete - if you haven't already, get yourselves over to the Pedal Powered section. It's a friendly corner of PH with lots of advice on turbo trainers etc. A 'smart' one is definitely worth the investment but you don't need to spend the earth. The 'wheel on' types are fine IMO until you're fully committed and know you will regularly train indoors.

Cheers Gareth, appreciated. I have one of the threads over there bookmarked already but I think I know what I want having done some research into it over the last few weeks. I'm in a flat so a direct-drive trainer will most likely be quieter than wheel-on and potentially easier to store too (for example, the Suito's legs fold in to give it a pretty slim profile). I fully intend to make good use of it once I have one!

Edited by Funk on Tuesday 19th January 15:23

[Anthony Micallef]

Count me in too! Im 48, 5ft 8 and currently 11st 7. I started trying to lose weight from about Sept last year when i was 12st 12. This is the heaviest I've ever been so was determined to drop the weight.

Got to 11st 7lb now and could do with getting to 11st (69kg) i think. The moobs have reduced a lot but havent gone completely yet.

[Pete102]

ShortShift811 said:

Funk / Pete - if you haven't already, get yourselves over to the Pedal Powered section. It's a friendly corner of PH with lots of advice on turbo trainers etc. A 'smart' one is definitely worth the investment but you don't need to spend the earth. The 'wheel on' types are fine IMO until you're fully committed and know you will regularly train indoors.

Day one of my proper new food habits today too. 1900 kcal, 49% carbs, 24% protein and 27% fat (that being pushed up by the two poached eggs I had at lunch). Once I've done my Wattbike workout I should have a calorie deficit of around 900 - 1,000kcal for the day.

I replaced breakfast this morning with a Complete 360 shake from The Protein Works. Will sub one or two meals a day with that, just to help me control my calorie intake and increase my protein. No affiliation or benefit from plugging it, but it was definitely filling and kept me going til lunch.

Thanks for the suggestion! will do.

With this weekends good weather I went out for my first ride in months, a fairly steady 30km but it has sparked an interest again. I've always been keen on indoor training sessions though.

[LosingGrip]

I’ve got to self isolate for ten days . Plus side is I have no sweets in the flat.

Downside I can’t do any exercise as no garden or room to do it.

[giblet]

Deleted my rambling post from earlier. Plodding along, will see how the current approach fares and assess everything in a few months time.

LosingGrip said:

I’ve got to self isolate for ten days . Plus side is I have no sweets in the flat.

Downside I can’t do any exercise as no garden or room to do it.

Ouch, I feel your pain. Had to do the same at the start of the month. No room in the flat for low impact bodyweight stuff just to stay moving?

[ShortShift811]

Pete102 said:

ShortShift811 said:

Thanks for the suggestion! will do.

With this weekends good weather I went out for my first ride in months, a fairly steady 30km but it has sparked an interest again. I've always been keen on indoor training sessions though.

Well done getting out! I ride outside in winter as much as it’s feasible, but love my Wattbike Atom. Indoor sessions are fantastic for fitness and they do translate to the road. Funk, I’m in a flat too so can see your point re noise. I pre-warned my neighbours downstairs!

Back on topic, MFP has me at a 1100kcal deficit with all my food logged and after my training session today. That doesn’t read as sustainable, but with all the protein and veg I’ve had I don’t feel like I need more food (moreso as I haven’t left the flat today so barely any walking). Will see how that goes but may eat a little more on training days if I feel lethargic.

[Steve91]

Pete102 said:

Hows everyone getting on sitcking to your plans?

I'm a self-confessed chocolate and sweet lover, I could easily eat 300g+ in one sitting, potentialy several times a day! no problem. Since the start of the year I've cut it out completely and now it doesn't even register when I'm in shops. Its taken two weeks to get to this point but I've realised that sugar addiciton is a powerful thing.

I'm doing ok so far. I've spent the last couple of weeks working nights so it's been easy to meal prep dinners and just have a healthy breakfast before work. Now I'm back on days the temptations are there but I'm finding them easier to resist.

Booze is something I really haven't missed. I never used to drink much but it doesn't take much to make a difference!

[LosingGrip]

giblet said:

Ouch, I feel your pain. Had to do the same at the start of the month. No room in the flat for low impact bodyweight stuff just to stay moving?

I could do a few things but not much sadly.

Good news is the bloke I was doing overtime with tested negative so I’m allowed out. Downside is they’ve closed the gyms at work.

It’s annoying as we need to be fit for work...yet nowhere to train.

[HTP99]

Pete102 said:

Hows everyone getting on sitcking to your plans?

I'm a self-confessed chocolate and sweet lover, I could easily eat 300g+ in one sitting, potentialy several times a day! no problem. Since the start of the year I've cut it out completely and now it doesn't even register when I'm in shops. Its taken two weeks to get to this point but I've realised that sugar addiciton is a powerful thing.

Good, still off the alcohol, taken up running again, not worried about my diet as its always been good, it's the alcohol that does it for me.

[R56Cooper]

Just closing in on 10lbs weight loss since 6 Jan. Very pleased with that.

I have another 20lbs to lose to get to my initial goal weight - feels great to be a third of the way there.

Tried on some old suit trousers and a waistcoat yesterday. Last time I wore them, they were bursting at the seams but they're now fitting perfectly.

Personally daily weighs are keeping me motivated as I can see the ounces dropping off day by day. Maybe that approach won't work for all but it's helping me. Other thing is keeping a notepad food diary containing everything I eat. That's helped on the odd day where I've had a late evening snack and then felt guilty but when I look back over the day's food it reassures me that I'm going in the right direction.

Not really missing the booze either. I get the odd 30 second pang at around 6pm where I think I could really do with a cold beer but that soon passes.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

[Bill]

Hmmm, bugger!



Barely 2 weeks old and I only gave them an accidental nudge with my foot. It must have knocked a corner on the tile.

Otherwise I'm doing ok. Had a couple of drinks at the weekend so broke dry January but I was surprised how easy it was so I'm not fixed on the idea as a good thing, just reducing pointless calories. Eating well, very few snacks apart from fruit, done 4 runs plus walks with the kids and 5 weights sessions and noticeably more toned and less fat.

I just don't know exactly how much weight on down.

[Bill]

Just got a refund from Amazon, so does anyone have a recommendation for scales without a glass top??

ETA scratch that, I just found the same ones but with a bamboo top.

Edited by Bill on Thursday 21st January 15:53