@colleenyoung The disinterest of your physician regarding your weight issues is surprising to me. My experiences have been much different. I agree that few physicians offer concrete, useful suggestions for losing weight. Almost every physician I have ever seen has commented on my weight, most to tell me to reduce to avoid negative consequences. My current long-term physician was the first one to just treat me for my illness without bringing up excess weight on our first meeting. That is a big part of why he has been my primary physician for over 30 years. I now understand that weight issues are rarely a huge focus of their training. His area of expertise is not weight loss and he refers to those who are experts for that. He has always noted my weight without lecturing and we have a good working relationship. He listens to my concerns and we work together toward my best health. Everyone should have such a physician in their corner.

I don't know what your weight goal is, but what you have already lost is impressive. Congratulations on your good work. I am glad to see that you are not using a fad diet, chemicals or starvation to reach your goals. I must admit that I am resistant to the technical aids now on the market. I become overwhelmed with all the entries, numbers, counting and research I need to get started and maintain these programs. I don't enjoy it and prefer my simple guidelines of: appropriate food lists, portion size, frequent small servings, appropriate exercise and chemical/preservatives limitations. I check my weight every morning. I know this is controversial but works for me, as I clearly and quickly see if I am off track within 2-3 days. If I wait a week, as some suggest, I may have been gaining for 6 days before getting that visual reminder. The scale is my honest friend now.

God bless us all as we walk our paths.

@JustinMcClanahan I wasn't aware of the importance of basal metabolic rate. While I'm not new to physical fitness, I am new to tracking caloric intake and output. In fact, I'm new to tracking and quantifying myself in general. I've not even used a scale regularly. My tracking device has been my jeans for the most part. 😉 When they get snug I cut back on some culprit foods and check in with my activity levels.

@lcamino Lynn - thanks for welcoming me to the club. I,too, think Mayo Clinic Connect is a bit different. I appreciate the encouragement and that tracking calories gets easier. Glad I could make you chuckle.

@2011panc I think your message was meant for @contentandwell. My PCP and I talk about diet, weight and physical activity quite easily. It is usually a part of my annual checkup. We sometimes "run" into each other on our morning jogs in fact and compare routes.

@lcamino Lynn, do you know if myplate will sync with the Misfit fitness trackers? That's one of the things I like about my misfit. The two food applications sound very similar though.
Yep, we are confessing things, things we do not tell our close up and personal friends. I do not generally confess to being a food addict because I don't think people really understand that and they just think you are a pig but it is a real thing.
This is good platform to share on, for sure.
JK

@2011panc I believe your post was meant for me.
At this point I believe the disinterest of my physician very well may be due to him being burned out. Frankly I was quite surprised that he didn't have more interest in sharing the information with any patients but he sort of brushed it off. My husband has to get a new PCP because his old one retired from being a PCP but he has had so much trouble finding one that it's discouraging for me so for now I will stick with the doctor I have.

I too weigh myself every morning. I was keeping track on a spread sheet, the weight, BMI and fluid retention but when I started gaining some I stopped that. As soon as I lose two or three more pounds I will resume it. My weight goal was 143, I did get down to 145. I figured that gives me a couple of pounds to play with. Now I am at 152 (I lost a pound today). I don't feel like I have been that "good" today but I have included everything I have eaten on myfitnesspal and I haven't really been "bad" so hopefully in another day or so I will see another pound come off. The thing I like about my scale is the fluid calculation. I know it is not professionally accurate but it is a good gauge of how much weight is fluid if you are up one day. I know then I had better really limit my salt that day.
JK

@contentandwell - I have no idea if MyPlate syncs with Misfit fitness trackers. MyPlate does sync with my phone and computer but that is all I know.

Food addict is an interesting term I have not heard before but seems accurate. It explains why we keep struggling with eating properly. It's like an alcoholic who has to say no to the wrong foods everyday. I like the perspective and I think it might help me approach my bad habits with a different light.

@lcamino Lynn, food addict really does describe many of us who struggle daily. My difficulties help me to understand alcoholism better, but as I said, you can totally cut out alcohol but you cannot of course cut out food so stopping can be a greater challenge. Right now, as I write this, I am so hungry but I do not want to get started.
JK

To All,
I have found that I need to depend on the positive approach to weight control and exercise. For instance, counting calories and 'depriving' myself', leave me frustrated, grumpy, and hungry. And my mind constantly reverts to eating and cravings.

Trust me when I say, "This is not a paid endorsement".
I purchased a copy of the Mayo Clinic Diet book in the bookstore as a souvenir in 2009. I feel that I have benefited tremendously from the pro-active and positive approach to healthy eating. I am learning to make better food choices that leave me satisfied. It is easy to refer to when I begin to slip into my 'old' eating habits.

This is just a suggestion of what is helping me, in addition to keeping an exercise routine.
Rosemary
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@contentandwell, oh probably. I was trying to be so smart and put the name of the person's post. We all see how well that worked out this time! lol I'm glad it finally got to you anyway. Everyone on this site is so helpful. Thank you all.

@2011panc Got it! 🙂
JK

@lcamino Hi Lynn, how are you doing? I am really back on track, and hungry 24/7. 🙁 I think in some ways the hunger helps me because it reminds that i am working at losing weight. My scale has started to show a loss so that helps to spur me on, both in my food choices and in nudging me to get to my club. I won't be able to tomorrow unfortunately because we have a party to go to, 1 3/4 hours away, beginning at noon. I would go in the morning before that, but if I did that would have to be awfully early to get home and get ready to go.
I hope you are getting on track too.
Jane