Twenty three days ago, my oldest son told me about CICO, which stands for calorie-in calorie-out and sent me a link to an article written by a lady who had lost 90# in a year’s time by using calorie counting. I was impressed with what seemed like a painless way to take off the many extra pounds I’m carrying. I started using the free website, My Fitness Pal, on my computer that day and every day since then. Anyone who knows anything about the Weight Watchers site and calorie counting, it’s just like that only it doesn’t cost anything.
I used an average of multiple websites to calculate what would be the ideal # of calories per day to consume to lose what I want to lose, based on my age, current weight, and activity level. I’ve been sticking to the calorie limit religiously and it doesn’t feel like I’m depriving myself which a lot of diets I’ve tried over the years has felt like. My body has actually adjusted to how I’m learning what foods jack the calories and mean less of other things. I’ve lost 8 pounds in 23 days.
What really makes this plan work is when I exercise the exercise burns calories, but on my calorie limit it shows I have that many more calories I can eat. This is giving me a lot of incentive to exercise. Aside from working in the yard, which I haven’t counted at all, I’ve taken one hike and two fairly long bike rides. The ride earlier this week was just shy of 14 miles (selfie above is from that ride.)
Even though I despise facebook for so many reasons, it is a good way to link up with local interest groups. I found a group of people who like to ride bike trails. This morning a group of us went out and did a ~22-mile ride, stopping halfway at a small brewery for a drink and conversation outside on their patio. I don’t drink beer so I had root beer, which was fine. I was next to the slowest rider but the group was so supportive and even a few came back to find me when I got behind. Back at the starting point some of the people waited for me and one other person to get back to applaud us. The other person was nowhere in sight so the ride leader went back with her car to find him (she did.) It was a very pleasant experience to get exercise and to be around a friendly group of folks. I will be taking more rides with this group.
Two final things. One, for a person with an eating addiction who has felt guilty for every bite of food eaten, to use calorie counting and staying under the limit has been a true blessing as there is no guilt with eating now. The other, taking steps towards health, where tangible results are seen, gives a grrrreat feeling!
Tao Talk 
Yay! Sounds like a great plan ❤️
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The lifting of the guilt makes it all worth it. It was as heavy a burden as the weight itself. I have come to the realization that this isn’t a diet, it’s a new life-long lifestyle.
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Keep up the great work Lisa!!!!
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Thank you! One day at a time…
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That’s all you can do- and if you would happen to have a bad day- start a new tomorrow. You can do it.
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🙂 ❤ Thanks Hans
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Lisa,
Sounds like a committed and caring group! I’m glad you found them. 🙂Twenty-two miles! Makes me tired to think of it. Bet it feels great afterwards though.
pax,
dora
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Dora, I feel like a wet, tired rag. Too tired to do much right now. Me too on finding the group. They travel all over the state to ride the trails.
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Sounds good. You’re more adventurous than I was at your age, beats dull indoor aerobics.
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Fantastic!! I really need to do the same! I’m really struggling. Can’t remember if I have a My Fitness Pal account. I got out and walked today, which is a bonus….
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Thank you very much! Good for you on walking. It’s finally getting cool enough to walk and bike.
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Keep up the great work
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Thank you 🙂
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Great plan…We have bikes and we rode a trail for a while and I would like to do it again. Right now I just walk at least 3 miles daily when possible.
I have stopped drinking soda and sweet tea…which sweet tea is in my DNA because I’m a southerner lol.
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It’s a fun activity to do with others. The couples that were there seem very well-connected with each other. I gave up all pop and sweet drinks (except for my Magners!) a long time ago, even though today I had a root beer. It was like drinking sugar! Still better than beer! I like iced tea but with herbal tea. Have you ever tried Tru-Lemon? It’s a packet you add to water that tastes like lemonade. It’s only 10 calories and tastes great.
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Yes…you have been away from sugar so long that anything seems sweet. I ate a grape last night…and it was like eating sugar.
See I gain most of my weight from sweet drinks…I don’t like desserts much…I also gave up fried things.
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Fried things would be a very tough one for me to give up.
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I know it was for me…
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I’m happy you found something that works for you because that’s often more than half the battle. A bless your son for telling you about CISO. Keep having fun with your new lifestyle. 👍
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Thanks much, Gia. My older son has made my health his mission to improve lol. He does it out of love so I’m ok with him trying to help me.
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No problem at all. 🤓 I definitely saw the love in your son’s assistance. My brother did something similar for my mom when he was 15. Such good sons! 😁
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Yes 🙂
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Congratulations, Lisa. I know from my wife that losing weight can be extremely tough. Most diets don’t really work, especially the ones that are on the “extreme” side and deprive you of certain foods altogether.
Biking is great exercise. I salute you! Three months ago or so, I told my wife, ‘we should really get the bikes out of our garage, clean them up and go on rides. Unfortunately, it never happened! Bike on! 🙂
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Thank you for the support, Christian!
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This is really good way to get healthy. Bravo
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Thank you, Sadje 🙂
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You’re welcome
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Kudos to you, Lisa! Looks like you’ve found great support to help you on this journey.
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It’s about time I got back to the world of the living. Thank you ❤
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💞
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So awesome to hear Lisa and biking is great on the joints.. You go girl❣️❣️
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Cindy thank you very much. It felt good to push myself a little.
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You are so welcome and good going!💖
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They sound like a great group – and 22 miles is no mean feat!
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Yes, very laid-back and friendly, and many of them stayed back to ride with me for stretches, which was going above and beyond. Thank you, Marion! Update: the leader posted the official results and map (she kept saying the ride was “22-ish miles”) and it was 24.16. Unreal I could that far being so out of shape! I was taking a lot of breaks that last few miles.
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So great to hear 😊 and wow! over 24 miles! Just goes to show how easy it is to under estimate ourselves.
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Yes!
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Yeah, guilt is useless! It just makes everything worse! PROPS to your son for giving you that invaluable info.! I rode my bike to work for 20 years, believe it not. Before you’re impressed, it’s only because the three different locations of all three jobs were RIGHT down the street from where we lived! I was so lucky. So it only took 12-15 to get to each place. Faster without stoplights. A few years ago when the job finally moved too far away for the bike….man, have I noticed the bodily changes! That little ride was holding the fat off like nobody’s business. I’m amazed at your 22 miles, though. And the group does sound wonderful: friendly and caring. And congrats on your 8 pounds!!! Sounds like you’re totally on the road to success this time!! 🙂 🙂
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Stacey, so very awesome you were able to ride your bike to work for 20 years. That’s an ideal to strive for that you actually realized. I need to keep up the momentum. Back in the day I rode 2-3 times a week and loved it. What is keeping me from doing it again? Nothing! Yes, a real good group of folks. The leader gave me an annual book of all of the bike trails in MI. Thank you on the 8# loss. I really hope so.
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I’m actually not THAT awesome, hehe. I mean, I DID have to get t work every day. That was a prime motivation. Riding a bike regularly without a prime motivation like that–even just for exercise–is an admirable discipline!
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Um, Stacey? You ARE that awesome!
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Sounds like a great plan! Glad it’s working out for you. 🙂
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So far so good, Barbara, thank you 🙂
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Finding what works for you is what its all about.
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CB, so far so good on the CICO along with the bike rides. It’s been 33 days as of today.
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33 days is fantastic.! They just keep adding up.
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Thank you, CB. Yes! I told my son the other day that I realized this isn’t a temporary fad but a lifestyle change.
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Very inspiring!
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Thank you!
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I wanted to pick an old post so I won’t look like a fool lol… I’m so happy! This drinking no sugar is really working. I haven’t weighed because I get so obsessive about weighing… today I just put on a pair of jeans that I haven’t been able to wear since months before covid…I know you are the one person who would understand my happiness.
BTW…before you take your break Lisa I will catch up with your posts!
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Fabulous on getting back into some old jeans, Max!!!!!!!!! I’ve got a pile of jeans I can’t wear anymore. It’s my fondest dream to get back into them. Your hard work and new drinking habits are paying off! No worries on catching up on posts, Max.
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Thanks Lisa! It made my day… and I haven’t really suffered at all…it’s been slower but steady.
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You’re welcome. Slow and steady wins the race.
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