Progress or decline?

[elainey300]

Hi all! I'm a product designer and a fresh starter at FitBit. I have problems about issues like exercising, keeping track of calories and finding motivation. I'd like to get some knowledge and experience from those who would like to join my discussions. My search for answers continues: How do we measure progress or decline in ourselves? How do we know whether we're going fine or worse during our weight loss?

Many thanks to all in advance!

[elainey300]

Meanwhile, I'm one of those trying to avoid scale and looking for alternative ways..

[HelenaFitbit]

Hey @elainey300!  I've been on the same road and I started on may 1st. So far I've lost 35+ pounds despite being out from surgery for 2 months. To keep track of your journey, get a journal, open a blog, write it out!

I like to motivate myself and measure my progress by having a rewards board, every 5 pounds I treat myself with something. Even if it's a cup of my favorite tea, a $2 book or a night out for a walk; they don't really have to be expensive. 

Also, I had a bit of a shopping problem and just got out of a financial pickle; so now I hit 2 birds with one stone since I "pay" for my pounds, every pound lost is $1, every pound gained is $10, every pound stalled is $5. Every day over 10,000 steps is $1 and every day under 10,000 steps is $3. Any NSV is $1 and every day over my limit is $2. I am getting a pretty epic cash fund    

[elainey300]

@HelenaFitbit you are really inspiring me! 

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@helenarriaza wrote:

Hey @elainey300!  I've been on the same road and I started on may 1st. So far I've lost 35+ pounds despite being out from surgery for 2 months. To keep track of your journey, get a journal, open a blog, write it out!

I like to motivate myself and measure my progress by having a rewards board, every 5 pounds I treat myself with something. Even if it's a cup of my favorite tea, a $2 book or a night out for a walk; they don't really have to be expensive. 

Also, I had a bit of a shopping problem and just got out of a financial pickle; so now I hit 2 birds with one stone since I "pay" for my pounds, every pound lost is $1, every pound gained is $10, every pound stalled is $5. Every day over 10,000 steps is $1 and every day under 10,000 steps is $3. Any NSV is $1 and every day over my limit is $2. I am getting a pretty epic cash fund    

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[HelenaFitbit]

Anytime! Let's do this! 

Go visual, get reminders everywhere! 

[LewWagner]

Since the start of my weight loss odyssey back on Nov 1, 2013 until I reached my goal of 170 lbs on Aug. 22, 2014 (130 lbs lost), I have used spread sheets to record and track my nutritional intake, exercise (calorie burn), and weight loss.

Sure, there would be days where I would "plataeu," but eventually I'd continue along my path to a healthier me.  I would religiously enter in all my intake after weighing it or using the nutrition info on the back of the box.  I would then tally up each day's nutritional intake (calories, fat, carbs, sodium, chol, fiber, sugar, and protein) and also tally up a running month's total as well.

I would try to push myself a little harder each week when exercising and other for occassional times when I would hurt a knee or get a bruised toenail, my walking turned into jogging and my distance each time increased.  My speed would increase, as well, but I was really looking to have a net calorie deficit of around 2-3.5 K calories each day.

I've done that and have maintained my 170 lbs since August.

I can see where I've been, where I am now, and pretty much where I'm going in the future.  Just have to be a little OCD-like to keep this up...

Here's my overal weight metrics tracking spread sheet:

[elainey300]

@LewWagner you've been helping me a lot with my questions, thank you so much!

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@LewWagner wrote:

Since the start of my weight loss odyssey back on Nov 1, 2013 until I reached my goal of 170 lbs on Aug. 22, 2014 (130 lbs lost), I have used spread sheets to record and track my nutritional intake, exercise (calorie burn), and weight loss.

Sure, there would be days where I would "plataeu," but eventually I'd continue along my path to a healthier me.  I would religiously enter in all my intake after weighing it or using the nutrition info on the back of the box.  I would then tally up each day's nutritional intake (calories, fat, carbs, sodium, chol, fiber, sugar, and protein) and also tally up a running month's total as well.

I would try to push myself a little harder each week when exercising and other for occassional times when I would hurt a knee or get a bruised toenail, my walking turned into jogging and my distance each time increased.  My speed would increase, as well, but I was really looking to have a net calorie deficit of around 2-3.5 K calories each day.

I've done that and have maintained my 170 lbs since August.

I can see where I've been, where I am now, and pretty much where I'm going in the future.  Just have to be a little OCD-like to keep this up...

Here's my overal weight metrics tracking spread sheet:

---

[USHistoryMan]

Well, since you asked. I used to weigh over 210. At the start of this year I had ground it down to 190. When I started tracking with my fitbit Surge, I listed my "starting weight" at 190 as of 1Jan15. I set my goal at 185. I reached that goal some weeks ago. But the "Weight" section continues to insist that my "starting weight is out of date." It is not. It has not changed at all and I am really tired of being told otherwise. In addition, I have cut my weight further, to below my goal of 185. And fitbit generously informs me that I "want" to gain X pounds, so I am at my goal weight. No, I do not want to gain weight. Gaining weight has been the problem my whole life. Now, with fitbit's help, I have conquered that. And fitbit is telling me I WANT TO GAIN WEIGHT. Enough. Stop. Why not congratulate me for getting below my goal? I know it's just a computer, and I know computers follow algorithms. But does this particular one have to be so **ahem**ed stupid?