Alligatorob's Diary

[Llama]

Great job stopping yourself. The new thing doesn't have to work forever as long as it works today.

 

[alligatorob]

Did almost 3 hours in the gym this morning. A cycling class, a weight training session with the trainer, and a Tabata class. Felt good.

The new thing doesn't have to work forever as long as it works today.

Thanks Lama, that is a great quote!

 

[Cate]

Rob, I use the MFP app on my phone mostly as it is easier & much quicker. For something I eat regularly I just input most of the ingredients & then when I finish I go to the 3 dots at the bottom right under there & "Save as Meal" name it & then adjust it if I need to next time, for example, if I have 1/2 an avocado, rather than 1/4. Next time I have that meal I go to the meal tab & just add it. You can delete or adjust them anytime you want.

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, ate reasonably and got in some good exercise. Feel good tonight. For dinner I had a piece of cake, something a friend made, just one and its gone now. I think that's ok so long as I stay on the calorie track. The biggest problem with it is the risk of starting a binge, it didn't today.

I use the MFP app on my phone mostly as it is easier & much quicker. For something I eat regularly I just input most of the ingredients & then when I finish I go to the 3 dots at the bottom right under there & "Save as Meal" name it & then adjust it if I need to next time, for example, if I have 1/2 an avocado, rather than 1/4. Next time I have that meal I go to the meal tab & just add it. You can delete or adjust them anytime you want.

Thanks Cate, do you know if you can do that on the computer version of MFP? I don't use my phone for things like that much, and it does sound handy.

 

[alligatorob]

I again seem not to have hit the post reply button yesterday, so the post above is a day late...

Today was a good day, I did 2 hours and a few minutes in the gym and I ate well. Feel good tonight. Honestly can say that I did not have any strong binge urges, but I did have trouble stopping after dinner. I don't think any reasonable amount of food will ever leave me actually satisfied. I am not hungry of course, but I sure want to keep eating. So long as I don't I guess I will be fine.

 

[alligatorob]

Seems I missed the post reply button again this morning... oh well, better late than never.

Just did 3 hours and 5 minutes in the gym, I am tired but not bad. A good workout. Made the mistake of eating a "Built Bar" (https://built.com/) when I got back instead of my usual protein shake. Had one yesterday too, a bit later in the day. The trainer I use, and the unofficial manager and mother superior of the gym had a birthday yesterday. She handed these out in celebration.

Looking at the ingredients these seem to be little more than a candy bar with some protein powder and vitamins added. They are of course covered with promises of great nutrition and health. I find them not very satisfying, but a good way to trigger a binge crave. Think I will toss, or give away the rest, before I break out in health and die or something...

 

[Llama]

Protein bars often seem to have that problem: they either taste good or they have decent macros but not both. Which may be a good thing: the ones that taste decent tend to be very expensive.

 

[Cate]

Thanks Cate, do you know if you can do that on the computer version of MFP? I don't use my phone for things like that much, and it does sound handy.

You can, Rob. After inputting your meal, click on Quick Tools & then Remember Meal & name it. For my breakfast this morning I just named it BF-toast, PB & V.

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. Another day without bingeing!

Protein bars often seem to have that problem: they either taste good or they have decent macros but not both. Which may be a good thing: the ones that taste decent tend to be very expensive.

Yeah, I think you are right. They sound good but aren't, and some are expensive...

You can, Rob. After inputting your meal, click on Quick Tools & then Remember Meal & name it. For my breakfast this morning I just named it BF-toast, PB & V.

Thanks Cate, I will try that.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. Been a week or so since a binge, hope its not bad luck to say that but it does feel good.

I did 3 hours and 20 minutes in the gym today, a new record or close to it. However the last 50 min or so was yoga, lighter exercise. I am thinking of getting a fitbit or something to track my exercise. I know its as Llama says a "mild" workout it might help me understand how mild. I think I do better going longer and slower with things.

I normally cut the MFP calorie burn estimates in half, something like a fitbit might give me more realistic numbers. If the MFP numbers were to be believed on a day like today I burned more calories than I ate, pretty unlikely.

 

[Llama]

At under 1400 kcal you're clearly in a deficit. Does it really matter if it's by 400 or by 800 if you're not eating back your calories either way?

 

[Cate]

I think MFP guesstimates with exercise are way out & I only use the Fitbit data, which automatically syncs & I don't have to bother about inputting the data. I think it's reasonably accurate & I allow some of it on some days. Well done not binging, Rob & your weight loss for March

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, but no exercise. I did get just over 12 hours in the gym this week, so I don't think a day off will hurt me. My calories were reasonable, but the carne asada salad was a WAG at best. In the end I did not binge, and any day without bingeing is a good food day for me.

At under 1400 kcal you're clearly in a deficit. Does it really matter if it's by 400 or by 800 if you're not eating back your calories either way?

No it probably doesn't and you are right it makes little difference. The scale is the real metric. However I do find following these details can help keep my mind focused on not bingeing, or sometimes it seems to anyway.

I think MFP guesstimates with exercise are way out & I only use the Fitbit data, which automatically syncs & I don't have to bother about inputting the data. I think it's reasonably accurate & I allow some of it on some days.

I ordered a Fitbit, the model Consumers Report rated most highly, which was also the cheapest one. Do you wear it all the time, or just when you are walking or exercising?

 

[Llama]

However I do find following these details can help keep my mind focused on not bingeing, or sometimes it seems to anyway.

That I understand. I don't know how sustainable that slight obsessiveness will be but as long as it works today and you enjoy it I guess it doesn't really matter. I'm probably a bit too obsessed with sustainability due to my trouble staying on track long-term.

 

[Cate]

Do you wear it all the time, or just when you are walking or exercising?

I wear it all day, but not overnight.

 

[alligatorob]

Did an hour and a half of my home workout exercises. I believe it is harder at home than the gym, things are closer together and no required disinfection. Either place if I am working on my own I take no breaks, but I think I burn a few more calories per hour at home.

I'm probably a bit too obsessed with sustainability due to my trouble staying on track long-term.

You are very insightful Llama! I know that feeling well, for the last year or so I have been working on the sustainability thing. I believe at times that can be counterproductive for me. Thinking about the next year or few years today becomes less important. One more binge, no big deal. I have actually rationalized things that way... Focusing on the short term seems to serve me better.

I wear it all day, but not overnight.

It is supposed to come today, Amazon has one day delivery and Sunday delivery for some things here. Once I figure it out I'll try your approach, thanks!

 

[alligatorob]

A good day, ate well, exercised and I feel good tonight.

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised, and feel good tonight.

And I also gave blood, that felt particularly good, my iron is back into the middle of the normal range. A year or so ago I was turned down for donation due to my low iron, at the time I was not feeling well, dizzy and light headed. And my weight lifting was not only not improving it was declining. That was when I was about 30 lbs lighter than now. I sure want to blame the weight loss for the bad, and the gain for the good. But I am not really sure.

 

[Llama]

It was probably a combination of undereating, being underweight, AND your gut issues decreasing your iron absorption. Humans are resilient weirdos and we rarely have just one issue causing a real problem.

 

[alligatorob]

A good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. However I have to admit to a growing binge feeling, beat it back today, hope its not there tomorrow.

It was probably a combination of undereating, being underweight, AND your gut issues decreasing your iron absorption. Humans are resilient weirdos and we rarely have just one issue causing a real problem.

Thanks Llama, you are most likely right. And I guess there are worse things than being a "resilient weirdo", LOL.