TSA Made Me Do It

Today I happily walked to everyone's least favorite place in the entire world, the DMV. I hold a job where I have to travel frequently and end up in the airport more than I care to admit. On my last trip, the TSA officer at both airports had comments on how I no longer look like the person in my drivers license. This wasn't the first time but to have it happen twice on the same trip was telling, it was time to go. As I was walking, I thought about the journey that brought me to today, and I wanted to share.

This whole adventure started on January 1st, and I have periodically posted in here but mostly read everyone else's comments and stories for inspiration. My face gains are the most telling feature of my weight loss, but there is so much more to life now I am able to do.

I began by simply sticking to a regimen, eating the exact amounts of calories I was allowed and taking walks in the morning to get some additional calorie burn. I ate the same exact thing for lunch for about 4 months because I could track the calories easily and it left me with flexibility for dinner. Slowly I increased the intensity of my workouts, I remember the first day I jogged for a full minute straight and could have cried from the excitement.

Now, I find myself almost normal in a "cutting phase". I wear a large/XL t-shirt and when I look around I feel my body is almost in line with everyone else. I regularly run for at least 30 minutes about 6 times a week and have just added weight lifting for another half hour to my regimen in order to maybe tone some of the loose skin. Taking protein shakes as meal supplements along with fresh vegetables has done wonders for my body shape in a short amount of time.

I've found myself addicted to exercise, as you can see above. Its MY part of the day, I always scoffed whenever I read someone say that because it never made sense. I always thought I had plenty of time to myself, but when I am exercising it's really just me and my entire body working, I can think about making myself better or work out any aggressions or conflicts I have, helps clear my day of stress, in my opinion.

The first few months were wild, I lost an incredible amount of weight in these 10 months but most of it was front loaded. The first 100 flew off to be honest, it's been a slow grind since then. But I am here to say that you can all do this, the science works, CICO works, taking care of yourself is what you owe to yourself.

​

See you in the gym!

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from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2yVISmH

Lost 45KG and gained it all back. I'm at the end of my rope and trying to find some hope.

First off, this isn't a throwaway account but it is one I made specifically for this post. Perhaps I'll continue using it if I become an active member of the community. Also, I honestly don't even know where this post belongs because it comes off as a rant but I decided to post it here because ultimately my unhappiness comes down to one major factor. My weight and self image.

Warning, long post ahead.

So some backstory. I'm a 22 year old guy that's been fat as far back as I can remember. From 6 years old onward, I was already considered fat. At 13 I weighed 115KG. At 16 I ballooned up to 130KG. I honestly can't remember a time I wasn't considered fat or at the very least chubby. I had extremely unhealthy eating habits not to mention a VERY sedentary lifestyle. I'd probably drink 2-3 glasses of soda with each meal, a single helping of food was an alien concept to me but worst of all I basically just sat playing videogames,watching movies and tv shows, anime etc, the entire day.

Being overweight seriously (and even though I haven't really browsed this sub thoroughly yet, I know many of you probably feel the same) messed up my self esteem and image. I experienced a lot of self hate, was repulsed to look at myself in the mirror but above all, I almost always felt people were kinda repulsed by me. "This guy must be thinking I'm the fattest person he's ever seen". "She probably thinks I look disgusting". Things like that. I experience this to this day and I honestly don't know how to deal with it.

From 6 years old I already knew I had to lose weight. Throughout the years I tried to. I remember at 8, I naively thought doing 20 pushups a day would help me lose weight and build big muscles. At age 13 I tried going on a 2 minute noodle diet ( yeah...I actually did that) but nothing ever seemed to stick. Until something happened during 2014 when I was 18. See when I was in high school, I was pretty good in physics. So I decided to start a study group and all of them were girls. These were girls I knew since grade 10 but I never knew them really on a personal level until we got to know each other via this study group. Now I know what you guys are thinking and surprise surprise it's got to do with a girl. I started to develop feelings for one of the girls in the group. I always saw her as a friend but once I got to know her really, I fell hard for her. Eventually I mustered up the courage to tell her how I feel and she rejected me. Needless to say, I didn't take it well. I understood that she didn't reciprocate ( we can't force people to like us romantically hey) and I decided that I need some space from her to think about everything. She was okay with it and there was never any bad blood between us or anything. But insideI felt devastated. In hindsight, I realize I shouldn't have taken this so personally but this was the first girl that I confessed my feelings to not to mention my encounter with rejection.

But something happened as a result of this rejection. All of a sudden, I experienced this ridiculous drive to lose weight. I had been trying on and off that year to lose weight but after being rejected, I felt that nothing could stop me. Now that I think back, I probably internalized her rejection as her not being attracted to me because of my weight (which was probably true but I can't blame her for having preferences) so in my mind, I thought if I lose this weight, perhaps she will give me a chance? I know people say don't lose weight for a girl or a guy but in a way, even though the reason was bad, the results were definitely worth it. I proceeded to lose 45KG by 2016. After the first few months, my reasons for losing weight wasn't even because of rejection anymore. I started to develop my own motivation. I enjoyed lifting weights. I enjoyed doing cardio. I enjoyed feeling more physically fit. I was losing weight for ME and me ALONE. I still kind of lost it on and off near the end but eventually it came down. As for the girl, I got over her and I guess we kinda just drifted apart. Haven't spoken to her in years.

I hit 90KG on the 1st of May 2016. Needless to say, I felt amazing. This was my initial goal weight. I was still a big guy but I didn't feel "fat". I just felt like a husky guy. Eventually though, I got tired with being a husky guy. I wanted to be an in shape, fit guy so I made a new goal weight of 75KG. Funny enough, throughout my entire weight loss journey from 135KG to 90KG, I never counted a single calorie. I just used intuition. No liquid cals, no empty cals, no deep fried foods etc coupled with a solid lifting and cardio regime. My self esteem took hits in other ways though regardless of how good I was feeling about the weight loss. I started balding badly and by the time I hit 90KG, I already had a big bald patch in the back of my head. This was at age 20 so yeah it messed me up pretty badly. One of the things people always complimented me even with all that weight, was my hair. So it was pretty devastating to lose that. I've (finally) accepted it though. I also developed a health condition known as rectal prolapse(this is anonymous so I don't mind speaking about it) that basically caused me to stop lifting weights. This depressed me greatly because I loved lifting weights. I love lifting heavy weights and had even considered going into powerlifting. I also couldn't do any high impact cardio anymore. This was around 96KG mark when I had 6 left to go. I basically lost that final 6KG from simply brisk walking. Eventually the prolapse went away though ( it was a minor prolapse) but it's still risky for me to lift anything heavy and I have to eat an extremely fibrous diet and I still feel physically terrible at times but I've learnt to tolerate it.

Anyway, I made a new goal for myself. 75KG. The goal that caused me to almost lose my sanity. See, I just couldn't get under 90KG. Sure, I know now that I should have simply calculated my calories and develop a solid meal plan but at the time I wasn't even counting calories. I was stuck at 90KG for MONTHS. Five months to be exact. I was extremely frustrated. I started to diet hard and did lots of cardio but I couldn't keep this up and would eventually go on short spurts of binge eating. This became a cycle until one day I just thought screw this, I'm going to eat whatever I want, how much I want for a week. And I binged. I binged on anything food. Eventually this week binge became a month. The month became two months. The two months became a year and 2 years later, here I am, back to square one, having gained all this weight back. Yes, I developed an extremely bad binge eating disorder. I just couldn't stop eating. This was worse than the lifestyle I had initially before I started to lose weight. This was out of control. It didn't even matter what food I ate so long as I could binge on anything I could see. It was also during this time that I developed another condition called tinnitus (it's a condition where you hear ringing in your ears). I used to get a LOT of anxiety from the ringing at first and as a result, I binged to cope with this as well.I eventually gained all the weight back.

I'm at that point now where I feel as if I can't come back from this but at the same time, I don't wanna give up on myself just yet. I started reading the book Brain Over Binge by Kathryn Hansen and while the principles seem a bit pseudosciency, it's actually been really helpful. I can relate to the "animal side" of the brain. I seriously feel as if I have no control during binges so I see where she's coming from. I haven't finished it yet but I'm trying to apply the principles already and I have been seeing at least some degree of success. I gained all the way back to 135KG but I'm now 129.5KG so I'm trying to get down to 90 again at least. But damn, it's just so mentally draining having to lose so much weight AGAIN not to mention I still want to get to that sweet spot of 75KG. Honestly, I'm wondering why I even made this post. Perhaps I just wanted to finally get all these things off my chest or perhaps I just wanted receive some assurance. I know I went off topic mentioning things not related to my weight loss and I apologize for that. I just sometimes feel like broken goods. All these health problems, the weight gain, the binge eating, my self image etc. I just need someone to tell me everything's going to be okay and that I can come back from this.

TL;DR lost weight, got stuck trying to lose more, got frustrated and decided to binge;the binge became a habit and i developed a full on binge eating disorder; gained all the weight back;trying to lose it again

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from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2PMWtDX

I need help overcoming binge-eating addiction. This is my story.

This will be a long one, so you can jump to the end for a bolded TL;DR with the questions neatly formatted.

That said, let's dive into the brunt of the issue: I'm a binge-eating addict. I'm a food addict. I do not know how to take control of these facets of who I am.

I say addict for a number of reasons. The first being that my brain does not let go of the idea of eating, even when I'm objectively not hungry. My brain wants the next chemical high from eating; and as I finish one meal, I'm planning the next. "What do I get to eat later!?". It's like christmas morning to my brain; the excitement and anticipation.. it's like an impossibly positive association that is nearly unshakable.

Another thing is, people would often say "Well, have a cheat day!" - The thing is, if I had a cheat day, that was it for me. Cheating means binge eating. Binge eating means throwing red meat to the invasive thoughts. If I do it so much as once, it results in a horrific backslide. I cheat, and binge, my brain is immediately calculating once that binge ends when it will get to do that again.

There's another aspect that makes it addiction to be touched on later, for now, the last way I know it's addiction is because I absolutely go through withdraw, and during that time I OBSESS over eating; and it's not just 'an item', it's 'A lot of x item'. If I want tacos, and I'm in a binge-withdrawl, I don't want 1-3 tacos, no, I want 12 tacos. And a burrito. With extra guac and sour cream. I can't cheat my brain with "one taco", because that's not what my brain wants. I can't cheat my brain with "a tiny bowl of alfredo" because my brain wants a heaping plate with extra cheese.

Food is often a reward for me as well. A comfort. Having a tough day? Get through that tough day, lets get pizza! Have a big success? Sushi feast! Often, I cannot even keep the motivation to attempt to control it; the beast, so to speak, runs wild.

In my life, I've tried and had differing success with a variety of diets. I did Keto back when it was still called 'Atkins' - I lost a ton of weight! 40 pounds in two months. Aaaaand, I proceeded to put it all back on, because meals of 6 burger patties, and other similarly huge portions of meat don't train you well to maintain when you end ketosis. I found Keto easy, because I was never big on carbs or sugars. I love savory foods like meats, cheeses, and so forth. But it didn't address the core fundamental issues with my dietary habits.

The most holistically successful diet I was on (that is to say, not in pounds lost, but in healthy choices) was a restrictive CICO with what basically constituted a small menu of available food items, which I wouldn't eat outside of. I lost around 40 pounds on that diet, and I noticed two very interesting things:

First, I could resist ANY temptation. Food held no sway over me, and had no grip on my mind. This is the second point as to why I KNOW it's addiction: With the addiction withdraw overcame, the invasive thoughts and incessant demands by my brain to go eat that yummy food were just gone. I could take an offer of a single french fry, and not suddenly desire an extra large fry with a burger.

Second, and the most disturbing: I did not look on my former habits with scorn. I looked back on them with envy. Yes, I was thinner, yes, I was healthier, I was cuter (if people's reactions to me were anything to go off of) but I still looked back on those taco binges as happy times. Happy times I would no longer have.

This cemented it as addiction to me. This was not unlike what I'd heard ex-smokers say when they thought about smoking.

And of course, me posting here, this is my history, after all. I slipped up and binge ate. The invasive thoughts were back, sated only by binge eating, and I put on twice the weight i lost.

I'm 30 years old now. I had hoped against hope that by now I'd be down to a healthy weight, but it has been a struggle my whole life. I'm hoping some of this resonated with you guys, and maybe, just maybe, with some tips, advice, and support, I can overcome this once and for all.

TL;DR: I am a binge eating addict full stop. Food is often a reward for me. I cannot shake the positive memories associated with binging, even when no longer addicted. I need help.

That all said, I guess my questions would be as follows:

1. What do you do to treat yourself, besides food? The chemical dopamine hit is so easy and so instant, I have not been able to find a replacement. I've tried picking out a nice piece of clothes, but my body type is weird, so often instead of feeling like a reward, it feels like a chore. Additionally, I don't want for much as it is, so there's little that I want that I haven't already got.

2. How do you cope with the invasive thoughts demanding food, even when not hungry? I still don't know how I did it before, when I broke the spell so to speak. It's a constant test of willpower, and I don't always have the sheer force of will to resist all the time. And it's constant.

3. How do I come to terms with the fact that even when I'm free of those invasive thoughts, my mind has a positive association with the binge eating episodes? It's not hard to see why, binge eat -> dopamine hit -> feels good -> good memories associated with it. I feel like conquering this once and for all will require confronting this fact directly.

4. How do I keep motivation going long enough to break through? It feels like my willpower is a finite meter that drains over time, and with it my motivation to continue on. I'm very interested in making this work... now. In a week? Two weeks? The invasive thoughts will become defining in their demands for a binge eating episode. They will latch on to something bad for me, and make me desire above all else a gigantic calorie dense meal. I know this battle is coming, be it two days or two weeks, it's coming. How do I prepare?

5. If, after reading all of this, you have any general advice - please, I'm all ears! I've tried everything I can think of, I know the mechanics of weight loss, I know the mechanics behind being satiated, I know the ideas of small meals across a longer time... my biggest issues are overcoming the psychological and addictive aspects of the problem.

If you made it this far, thank you. I know this is going to be tough, but I'm hoping, with a little help from you guys, I can make this diet the last one I need.

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The 30 Most Popular Dessert Recipes of All Time

Nutrisystem makes losing weight easy because you don’t have to give up the kinds of foods you really enjoy, including deliciously sweet treats. You can satisfy your cravings for dessert with lots of options from the Nutrisystem snack menu. When it’s time for something extra special, try one of our easy recipes, each high in satisfaction yet low in calories. We love them all, but these are the most shared and liked.

Here are the top pinned dessert recipes of all time:

1. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups >

Make a better version of everybody’s favorite candy in minutes and have a supply on hand for whenever you’re ready. Bonus: the peanut butter provides one PowerFuel.

2. Cinnamon Spice Baked Apples >

It’s no surprise this delicious dish made the list; it’s packed with everyone’s favorite fall flavors and it’s super simple to make.

3. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies >

There’s no better combo than chocolate and mint. And there’s nothing better than being able to enjoy the decadent duo in diet-friendly cookies like these!

4. No-Bake Lemon Coconut Cheesecake Bites >

The picture says it all. This sweet treat is a light and airy option that makes perfect finger food at parties. Just be sure to double the batch: A dessert this delicious won’t last long!

5. Maple Walnut Fudge >

Featuring all the flavor of that utterly indulgent dessert, fudge, this delicious recipe is so sweet and so creamy, you’ll have trouble believing you can enjoy it while losing weight.

6. Cake Batter “Nice Cream” >

Nice cream is basically ice cream that’s nice to your waistline. And this one definitely does not disappoint. Wait till you find out what the delicious and healthy secret ingredient is!

7. 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies >

Featuring just four simple ingredients, this is one dessert you won’t have to work for. Good thing, because we’re confident that once you give it a try, it will become a staple in your post-dinner repertoire.

8. No-Bake Samoa Chocolate Cookies >

Chocolate-lovers go crazy for this delicious dessert that’s jam-packed with flavor… not with guilt.

9. Blueberry Almond “Nice Cream” >

Our readers love this refreshing treat during the hot summer months, when frozen temptations abound, because it’s sweet, cold and totally guilt-free.

10. Decadent Grasshopper Mint Brownie >

Turn your Nutrisystem Fudge Brownie into a super-indulgent dessert with a layer of quick minty frosting. All that flavor for just 179 calories per serving? Somebody, pinch us!

11. Skinny Cannoli Dip >

We bet you never thought you’d see the words “skinny” and “cannoli” in the same sentence, huh? Lucky for you, we’ve found a way to combine the two into sweet, creamy harmony. This one is perfect for parties and gatherings. Just lay out some fruit slices or graham crackers and you’re all set to be the hostess with the mostess!

12. Low-Fat Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge >

You can enjoy sinking your teeth into a thick piece of fudge and stay on track to your weight loss goal. This simple recipe takes just three ingredients—chocolate chips, peanut butter and almond milk.

13. Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing >

This one isn’t just pretty, it’s super tasty, too! Plus, it’s packed with all kinds of nutrients like antioxidents, vitamin C and fiber.

14. Crust-less Pumpkin Pie >

Celebrate the autumn holidays—or any coffee break—with a slice of this light but flavorful pie. It’s easy to make even if you have no baking skills.

15. Berry-Easy Bread Pudding Mug Cake >

When you’re in the mood for real comfort food, a few spoonfuls of this warm dish will hit the spot. With individual servings in each mug, you’re sure to eat just the right amount.

16. Chocolate Cherry Bliss Balls >

Made with just five ingredients, these sweet and chocolatey bites are rich and satisfying. And they’re so easy to prepare—no cooking necessary.

17. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bites >

Yes, we’re talking about chocolate chip cheesecake, with the creamy texture and rich flavor you love, but only 115 calories per serving. Plus, you get two PowerFuels that keep you feeling full for hours.

18. Vanilla Berry Ricotta Mousse >

Creamy, whipped ricotta combines with fresh produce for a fruity favorite you don’t have to regret.

19. Salted Chocolate Pretzel Bread Pudding >

Just when you thought the Nutrisystem Soft Pretzel couldn’t get any better, this recipe enters the picture. The perfect combo of sweet and salty, this delicious take on a Nutrisystem snack is so decadent, it’s hard to believe it’s diet-friendly.

20. Kiwi Strawberry Slushie >

Naturally sweet and ridiculously refreshing, this fruity favorite will take your taste buds on a tropical get-away… without all the guilt of traditional frozen drinks.

21. Gingerbread Freezer Fudge >

Nothing says fall like the distinct flavor of gingerbread. And now, you can enjoy the seasonal staple all year round, thanks to this delicious fudge recipe that combines a few simple ingredients to create an unbelievably tasty treat.

22. Snickerdoodle Energy Balls >

Our readers absolutely adore these tasty little energy snacks because they’re jam-packed with flavor and they’re super simple to eat on the go.

23. Gluten-Free Chewy Ginger Cookies >

You can choose from lots of cookie options on the Nutrisystem menu, but when you’re hankering for the aroma and taste of fresh-baked, try putting a batch of these in your oven. The blend of ginger, cinnamon, molasses and vanilla bring maximum flavor to these soft and chewy cookies.

24. Red White and Blue Pudding Cup >

With three layers of flavor to dig into, each bite is juicy, smooth and creamy, and so sweet. Better make extra—the whole family is sure to want their own.

25. Peachy Honey Whipped Ricotta >

Sweet, creamy and packed with nutrition, one bite of this fabulously fruity, and you’ll be feeling peachy keen. And don’t worry: If you’re not a fan of peaches, you can easily swap them for any of your favorite fruits.

26. Chocolate Coconut Mug Cake >

Who knew such decadence could be made in a mug? Featuring a few simple ingredients, this decadent dessert is perfect for chocolate-lovers who don’t want to sabotage their slim-down. The sweetest part? No oven, necessary. Just pop your mug in the microwave and you’re good to go!

27. Pumpkin Spice Freezer Fudge >

The quintessential fall flavor, pumpkin spice tastes good in everything from coffee  to cake. And now, pumpkin spice tastes twice as nice in fudge! Creamy and sweet, this fudge is rich and decadent but totally guilt-free.

28. Salted Caramel “Nice” Cream >

Here’s the perfect blend of flavors: Gooey, sweet caramel with a spark of salt mixed in and on top frosty sweet banana-vanilla “nice” cream. It’s a sundae you can enjoy just about any day.

29. Pecan Pie Fudge >

This fudge isn’t just adorable… it’s totally tasty, too. Whip up a big batch over the weekend and have fabulous fudge at your fingertips whenever sweet treat cravings strike.

30. Easy Thumbprint Cookies >

Our readers love these crunchy little cookies because they’re easy to make and packed with fruity flavor. Bring these sweet treats to any party or gathering and we promise you they will be a huge hit.

The post The 30 Most Popular Dessert Recipes of All Time appeared first on The Leaf.

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7 Not-So-Sweet Halloween Candies to Avoid

Starting with Halloween, the end of the year is loaded with temptations and plates and plates of food. But that doesn’t mean your weight loss goals have to go on hold until January—and it doesn’t mean you have to eschew candy all together.

To avoid eating too much candy, try buying varieties for trick-or-treaters that you don’t particularly like: If you’re not a Good and Plenty person, you’ll have an easier time passing on what’s left over the morning of November 1. Even if it’s not your favorite stuff, put the bowl out of sight after the doorbell-ringing is over: Scientists who studied candy dishes found that subjects ate 1.8 more pieces of candy per day when the bowl was on their desks versus two meters away. Get that candy out of sight and keep it out of your mind.

If you do grab a piece at work, keep the wrappers on your desk instead of throwing them away. In a 2011 study, participants who were offered bowls of pistachios in their shells ate 41 percent fewer calories during a period than those given pre-shelled nuts. Scientists theorized that the nut-shellers saw the pile of shells, realized how much they were eating, and felt full—both groups reported feeling just as full and satisfied.

And, if you absolutely can’t go without a piece of the sweet stuff, eat the one you’re craving. Just do it in moderation so you’re not left pining for something else. And try to stay away from these seven candies—they’re all hiding something… and it’s a trick, not a treat.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin:
The trouble with this pumpkin is that it’s oversized: You’d probably figure that the pumpkin shape is just that—a shape that is still the same as a regular Reese’s. But the trick is that it’s bigger: Each pumpkin weighs in at 170 calories, with 10 grams of fat and 16 grams of sugar. A regular Reese’s has just 105 calories, meaning the pumpkin is more than 50 percent bigger. If you must indulge, stick with just one of the classic shape.

2. Skittles, Nerds and other candies that have no relation to real food:
At least peanut butter cups have peanut butter and chocolate—real, actual foods. But these “fruit-flavored” concoctions are the Frankensteins of trick or treat: Amalgams of sugar, chemicals like “tapioca dextrin” and “titanium dioxide,” they don’t come close to resembling real food.

Most of the ingredients on that chemical list are sugar: In the case of original Skittles, there’s sugar, then corn syrup (read: sugar), and later, modified corn starch (read: modified sugar). No wonder a bag contains 46 grams of sugar—almost twice as much as the American Heart Association recommends for women in a whole day.

3. “Health halo” treats like Raisinets:
Come on, they’re raisins! And right there on the package it says that they have 30 percent less fat!

When food companies label things with terms like “low-fat” and “good source of protein,” they do so without regulation—and the consumer suffers. These “healthy” labels create an effect scientists call the “health halo”: When you think a food is “good for you,” you don’t feel guilty about eating more of it. In a 2007 study from Cornell University, dieters eating at a “healthy” fast food restaurant underestimated their intake by 151 calories.

Raisinets fit the “health halo” bill: They’re made of fruit, and are labeled as having “less fat.” But that “less fat” includes 18 percent of your recommended daily intake of saturated fat in a single “snack size.” That also comes with 150 calories—more than in most “fun size” candy bars.

5 Healthy-Sounding Foods to Beware

Read More

4. “Handful” treats like candy corn:
Americans are not great at estimating serving sizes: In one study published in Nature, men and women both guessed the proper portion of a food item only about half the time. So when a portion isn’t controlled—like when you’re grabbing a handful of something instead of eating a discreet, pre-measured size—there’s a 50 percent chance you’re grabbing the wrong amount… and it’s probably more than you’d like.

That’s the trouble with treats like Skittles, Raisents and the Halloween classic, candy corn: You’re more likely to eat more than you plan… and if it’s not your favorite candy, it’s wasted, mindless eating that can really add up. Even though candy corn is made with “real honey,” that’s still sugar: Just 19 pieces has 28 grams of sugar—almost three times as much as a bowl of Lucky Charms.

5. 3 Musketeers:
It may taste lighter and be marketed as lighter, but this swashbuckling bar has a secret: The full-size bar has 240 calories—the same as a full-size Milky Way, and just 10 fewer calories than a Snickers. And 3 Musketeers has more sugar than either of the others: 36 grams in a full-size bar, as much as you’d get in three glazed donuts from Dunkin’.

No Tricks! Just 13 Healthy Halloween Treats

Read More

6. Take5:
When it comes to candy, a trip to conjunction junction—filled with “and” and “with”—usually serves one function: to add fat and calories. When a candy has five features, like Take5—which has chocolate AND peanuts AND caramel AND pretzels AND peanut butter—it’s going to compound the calories. One “snack size” bar has 105 calories—more than 25 percent more than Snickers. And a full-size Take5 has 27 percent of your daily saturated fat and 18 grams of sugar. So don’t even take one!

7. Dove Dark Chocolate Miniatures:
While the kids are eating kids’ stuff, you’ll enjoy these heart-healthy “adult” chocolates that are silky, smooth… and have more calories than comparable “kids” brands.

Dark chocolate may have health benefits, but these minis are manufactured by Mars (one of the “M”s in M&Ms), and they aren’t an 80 percent cacao chunk. At 42 calories per piece, one Dove dark chocolate miniature has more calories than a Milky Way miniature, and a five-piece serving has 40 percent of your daily recommended saturated fat.

*All nutritional information taken from respective company sites and USDA nutritional database on 9/21.

The post 7 Not-So-Sweet Halloween Candies to Avoid appeared first on The Leaf.

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SV - My first time being 16 stone (224 lbs) since high school!

Here is my weight loss story so far…

(TL;DR at the bottom)

A bit of background info to start - I’m 28, male and somewhere between 5’9 and ’10. I have the classic case of a long history of comfort eating/mindless eating and secret eating (grabbing chocolate and snacks and taking them to my room).

My first ‘trigger point’ came when I stood on my bathroom scales in July 2014 and it read 19st 6 (272 lbs). I also did the classic ‘fat guy’ thing of wearing XXL shirts with a t-shirt underneath; this is the only way I could present myself and be less conscious of my body. I joined myfitnesspal the same day in an attempt to keep a track of what and how much I was eating. At this point, I was unemployed and still recovering from a bout of depression that started back in 2010. I tried to lose weight several times before this but I had the old story of not being able to stick to it, hating P.E at school (partly due to being bullied/teased for being fat), leading a very sedentary life and kidding myself that I was not as big as I thought.

Between July 2014 and January 2015, I had some progress with weight loss, coming down to 18st 1 (253 lbs). I found work abroad (usually 4 or 5 month contracts) just after this, bringing the challenge of resisting temptation with all the new food on offer. Late in 2015, I stopped weighing myself, fell off the wagon and my weight slowly began to creep up again. I didn’t actually weigh myself again until early 2017 when I’d gained 7lbs of weight back and my weight didn’t really change for the next year for various reasons. Over this period, I tried going to the gym a few times, maybe once a week but after a few weeks, I would become disinterested and stop going.

In April this year, I had a proper reality check which I see as a mix of being fed up of seeing photos of myself I was ashamed of, fed up of always being the fat single guy and fed up of being unable to play with my nephew and niece for long because I would be knackered. I began following loseit and progresspics for inspiration, I got back to the gym two or three times per week, really pushing myself towards goals and I took the literal first step of couch to 5k. I started working on some of my personal issues (especially regarding my relationship with food) and along the way, I found a new lifestyle change to try - Paleo.

My first week on Paleo was pretty much pure hell to me. I went cold turkey, switching out most of my drinks for water and occasionally green tea, cutting out alcohol, refined sugar, caffeine, potatoes, rice etc leading to a double whammy of headaches and ‘hunger’ (adapting to smaller portion sizes and different food intake) that lasted for at least the whole week, maybe more.

But after that, I could not believe the change that happened! A combination of my new lifestyle and gym work meant I began to have a lot more energy, focus and motivation. I give myself a ‘cheat day’ every week or so where I eat bread and/or more unhealthy stuff. At the start, it was a struggle to resist against my old self wanting everything bad and wanting to start again another day, or next week, or next month. As time went on, sugar cravings and constant urges to eat became less and less as I learned more about the effect that different foods have on my body.

Since May, I have weighed myself at regular intervals (mostly weekly) and after working through occasional obstacles of seeing little progress and becoming disheartened, I stepped on the scales this morning to see 16st (224 lbs), the lightest I have been for at least the last decade.

There is still work to do and progress to be made because I have plans to lose quite a bit more, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride hitting a first goal that I never imagined I would reach. To add to this, I need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe which for once, I am actually excited about because I know more things will fit me and look good. I even bought a new pair of gym joggers the other day that were fitted!

I thought I would share my story so far in the hope that I might inspire other people in the same way I’ve been inspired by everyone brave enough to post here. Much love!

P.S. I’m planning to run my first 5k sometime next year and hopefully I’ll feel comfortable enough to post a progress pic sometime soon!

TL;DR Lost just shy of 50 lbs in the last 4 years or so (36 lbs of that in the last 6 months through Paleo and gym work/couch to 5k) after years of bad food choices and giving up on attempts to lose weight. Planning to run a 5k next year. Still more to lose but it feels great!

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Thank God I’m a man (for weight loss)

I want to express all my sympathies to the ladies out there who don’t have the natural advantage that men have in developing tone, burning calories, generally being taller, and storing less fat. You lot are champions.

To lose comparable weight to me, my girlfriend needs to eat 30% less. My 3 meals can be 500 calories total, and I’ll lose tons of weight. Hers can be 350 (she goes for 400 to hit 1200 a day) and I’ll still lose faster due to my resting calorie burn.

Muscle gain is also significantly slower than my own (although, different body types could surely be the reason behind mine being more visible currently).

Now, i probably have the disadvantage of needing more food to feel full, but I think that doesn’t outweigh the benefits

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