Tag: Weight Loss

Lose It App After 6 Months

Six months ago, I started using the paid version of the Lose It App.

As of this month (December 2022), I’ve lost 34 lbs with no surgery, no medication, and no supplements.

Here’s how it works: 

  • First – I track my food intake. I type in my food or scan its barcode. If the food is not included in the app, I can add it using its real, or estimated, caloric information. 
  • Second – I stick to my calorie budget (mostly). When I started my account, I entered my height, age, current weight, and goal weight. The app shared how long it will take for me to reach my goal weight IF I follow my personalized daily calorie budget. Currently, I’m scheduled to reach my goal weight by mid-March 2023. (We’ll see)
  • Third – I enter my daily exercise. When I exercise, not only am I raising my metabolism, but I earn extra calories which are added to my daily budget. My steps app is connected to my Lose It App. After 7500 steps, I can earn extra calories. 

With the Lose It App, I can eat whatever I want as long as I enter my calories. I’ve discovered that when I track my calories that I tend to eat rather than drink my calories, drink more water, and make healthier choices simply because I have to enter what I eat. Also, when I make healthier choices, I get to eat more (which I like). Fortunately for my weight loss and unfortunately for my taste buds, as I lose more weight, my daily caloric allowance lessens. At first, I was upset about this, but now I understand because I’ve continued to lose weight.

I usually weigh once a week on Friday morning. Then, sometime during that day, I give myself a weekly treat (but I still keep track of its caloric information). 

Have you had success using Lose It or another weight loss system?

If so, good for you. Let me know about your journey in the comments section.

*Photo courtesy of Samuel Ramos

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Lose It App at the 16 Week Mark

For 16 weeks, I’ve been trying my best to find a way to cheat the Lose It App. 

Finally, I’ve figured it out. You cheat by not entering everything you consume into the App.

However, the results are like cheating on an eye exam. I can cheat for the day by not entering everything I eat, but it doesn’t translate to my bathroom scale at the end of the week. I guess the proof is always in the pudding (as long as you enter it into the app).

After 16 weeks, I have begun to embrace the intermittent fasting feature as well. At first it seems silly to think of fasting for a 12 hour period. I mean, what good will that do? I probably come close to that several times a week anyway. However, when I begin the fasting time (which I now do about twice a week) I’ve come to see how often I do reach for food late in the evening or even when I wake up in the middle of the night. This feature helps me keep myself accountable and helps me leave it alone.

So, here’s the moment of truth. After 16 weeks, I’ve lost a total of 28.6 lbs. Not bad. It’s kind of exciting when I realize that I could be at the 30 lb mark in another week or so. 

Thanks for following my Lose It App journey. I plan to make an update every 4 weeks or so. See you at the 20 Week Mark.

*Image courtesy of Drew Beamer

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Lose It App at the 12 week mark

I’ve been using the Lose It App for 12 weeks now. 

And…(Drumroll please)…

I’ve lost 22.2 lbs. 

I’m still pretty impressed with the process.

The app doesn’t judge me on what I eat, it simply tracks my caloric intake, my water consumption, my steps, other exercise (if I enter it), and my weight loss. It also encourages me to complete a 12 hour fast once a week. I typically do it from either 6pm to 6am or from 7pm to 7am.

I know, it sounds like a wimpy fast to just do it overnight. However, it’s been beneficial to me because I’ve found myself following that practice on at least half if not most of my nights now. 

And because fresh vegetables are lower in calories than most everything else I consume, I can eat more of them. This process has drawn me toward them in a subtle way.

Touche’ Lose It App people. Pretty clever of you.

I’ve got a long way to go, but this slow process of dropping weight has been good for me. I’m making a real lifestyle change and it feels good. 

Be watching for another update at 16 weeks.

*Image courtesy of Lose It

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Lose It App at the Eight Week Mark

Eight weeks ago, I realized I was fat. I’m not sure what happened. All I did was eat way too much consistently over several years and then boom, suddenly I’m fat. I knew I needed a lifestyle change with a directed plan. So I visited my friendly App store and downloaded the paid version of the Lose It App.  

Here’s how it works: 

  • First, I track my food intake. The app database has over 33 million foods. I either type in my food or scan its UPC barcode. If the food is not included in the app, I can add it using its real, or at least estimated, caloric information. 
  • Second, I stick to my calorie budget (For the most part). When I started my account, I entered my height, age, current weight, and goal weight. The app shared how long it will take for me to reach my goal weight IF I follow my personalized daily calorie budget. Currently, I’m scheduled to reach my goal weight by mid-March 2023. 
  • Third, I have the option to enter my daily exercise. When I exercise, not only am I helping myself raise my metabolism, but I earn extra calories which are added to my daily budget. Currently, my exercise of choice is walking. I’ve connected my steps app to my Lose It App. After 7500 steps during the day, I begin to earn extra calories. 

After 8 weeks using the Lose It App, I’ve lost 15 lbs. Not too shabby. 

The Lose It App’s biggest weakness is probably what I like about it. I can eat whatever I want as long as I enter my calories. As you can imagine, my wife is thrilled about that (Yeah, right). Even so, I’ve found that I tend to eat rather than drink my calories, drink more water, and make healthier choices simply because I have to enter what I eat. Also, if I make healthier choices, I can eat more (which I like).

Have you had success using Lose It or another weight loss program app? Let me know.

*Image courtesy of Volodomyr Hryshchenko and Unsplash

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Lose 45 at 45

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When I was in my 20, my dad described me to others as being busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.  It that was true then, it’s cold hard fact at 45.  Therefore, I knew it was going to be hard to find time to workout.  It turns out there’s plenty of time if you get to the gym at 5:30 AM.

In case you missed it yesterday, I am trying to lose 45 lbs while I’m 45.  I reported to everyone yesterday that I was 220 lbs, which is high considering my height and build.  However, I weighed this morning and realized that I am actually only 217!  So, only 42 lbs to go.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been going to the gym at least 4 times a week, building up my time on the elliptical machine.  I like the elliptical machine because it works out your arms, chest, glutes, and legs at the same time.  Then, if you add an appropriate amount of resistance, you’re not just doing cardio, but building muscle as well.

My first step is to continue exercising on the elliptical for at least 45 minutes for 4 to 5 times a week, then begin adding additional weight training.  This morning, I stopped at just past 48 minutes.  🙂

If you have exercise advice for me, I invite you to comment.

Related Post:  Hello 45!  https://johnjfrady.com/2014/06/09/hello-45/

 

 

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Why I Decided to Lose the Lose It App

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A year ago, a friend shared the Lose It App with me.  I used it faithfully for months because it helped me track my personal calorie budget.  I even shared it with others who have used it with much success. Today, however, after weeks of frustration, I decided to delete it.

Here’s why:  I just can’t bring myself to use it properly.  It’s too easy to cheat because it’s based on calories, not on nutrition.  (I know that there’s nutrition info built into the App, but I can never get excited about using it)  Therefore, I found myself making unhealthy choices, mistakenly assuming that calories are just calories.

If you like Lose It and it works for you, keep using it.  I won’t be joining you.  I’m going back to writing down everything I eat because that works for me.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to post it everyday like I did last year.  I will be sharing it with my favorite accountability partner.  She’s tough, but cute.

Related Post:

3 Reasons Soft Drinks Hinder A Good Workout

 

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