6 Weeks to Christmas

CronoDiva

Hi everyone 👋

With Christmas about six weeks away, I thought it might be helpful (and motivating!) to start a small community check-in thread.

I’ve been using Cronometer for almost a year, and while I was really consistent for a long time, the last few weeks have been tough. Work has been overwhelming, and I’ve stalled on logging my food and workouts. I’m hoping a bit of accountability and connection will help me re-engage.

The idea:

For the next six weeks leading into Christmas, anyone who wants to join can share:

• Daily or weekly logs
• Nutrition summaries
• Exercise or movement
• Wins, struggles, small goals

Anything that helps you stay consistent

Nothing fancy, nothing perfect — just checking in so we can support each other and stay mindful through this busy season.

If you’re interested, please jump in! I’d love to do this together. 🌱

CronoDiva

I logged today for the first time in weeks. Only because I made this post last night, so I needed to follow through. Today was "No judgment" logging because I definitely didn't eat according to my intentions, but that wasn't the point. The point was to start facing up to my food decisions as they are now and make improvements as I feel strong enough to do so.

CronoDiva

Husband's birthday celebration today. No judgment because at least I'm logging, and that's a start.

CronoDiva

Did eat 100% as I would've liked to, but feeling a bit more mindful about my choices.

CronoDiva

Better day! Almost went for a 2nd serving of rice chips before tallying for the day, but stopped myself and after, decided I wanted the calorie deficit more than the chips.

CronoDiva

I was gifted a chocolate bar today. I ate it. Still logged.

Maggie

I'm on an 85 day tracking streak since I started once again to lose the weight I lost previously. I've lost almost 22 lbs. My challenge is meeting my protein target, iron, fibre, within a calorie deficit on a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet. Nothing is ever perfect but I have had some success making my menu more interesting and increasing my protein. I switched to high protein milk, I make egg salad with cottage cheese and not mayo, I use a high protein bread. I've been using Hello Fresh meals to learn some new recipes, importing them, modifying them with more vegetables, beanes etc. within Cronometer and changing the serving size. I'm trying to eat more veg at every meal.

Egg Bites with egg whites and feta cheese, guacamole, spinach, tomato.

One of the Hello Fresh salads, Kale Caesar with roasted chickpeas.
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Guacamole on Protein bread, salad.

What doesn't appear here is the oatmeal I ate at 4:30 AM. All logged but I need to work on my sleep.

I supplement Vitamin D and B12, sometimes iron and Omega 3/6. Today I had walnuts with the oatmeal.

CronoDiva

Looks great! I just signed up for Hello Fresh. Get my first delivery on Thursday. Love your pictures. Do you photo all your foods?

CronoDiva

Missed a few days. Resigned from my job last week. Faced the scale after 3 weeks and was pleasantly surprised that my lack of food logging didn't result in weight gain.
Started logging again today and of course a co-worker brought a box of donuts of which I ate two.
Was still able to stay under calories for the day. This is my best right now.

Maggie

Regarding HelloFresh, the recipe import feature is really good for calculating. Not all the ingredients data import i.e Halloumi or tofu and then their serving size doesn't necessarily fit your macros and targets. But overall it's added some interesting recipes into my "diet" making the experience more rewarding.... instead of the same old, same old.

I photograph everything for my Registered Dietician who I meet every 2 weeks and I use it to do PhotoLogging and then I tweak the results because it often miscalculates and of course misses hidde ingredients But it recognized salt and pepper in once instance.

Sorry about your job but maybe that's one stress out of your life. Yeah, it's hard to say "no' to people and those theats in the office. I'm retired now so I'm blessed with the time to prepare meals and avoid the treats in the lunchroom. I still have to prep and plan because I know myself and what I can get up to.

CronoDiva

So interesting! Are the HelloFresh recipes digital? That would be very convenient if they import easily. I chose the lower-calorie plan, but a 650-calorie meal or under is still pretty high. Just trying it out.

I haven't used the photologging. I did it with another app (in the past) for a free digital analysis of my eating, and it was interesting, but not really that helpful. I'm sure meeting with a dietician is better.

I do my meal prepping on the weekend and tend to eat out of the prepping containers, not nicely plated like you. The prepping tends to act as portion control, and I import my recipes at the time of preparation, so logging via repeat or custom foods is pretty low-fuss.

I'm grieving the events that led to me giving up my job, especially since I'm still working out my notice. I cry every day. It's been intense. Having said that, I'm getting some ideas about what I want to do next, and it could be the beginning of a much better situation for me. No gratuitous food today.

Retirement sounds wonderful! We are about 4 years away. So glad you are thriving in this season!

CronoDiva

Today's eating was remarkably good! I'm not the sort to "forget" to eat so I was a bit surprised when I arrived home from work and yoga to realize that I had a generous amount of calories to enjoy. Stayed in my limits. Lots of protein!

Phoenix4life

@CronoDiva Lovin' how you are ahead of the typical January reset....good work!

Maggie

@CronoDiva Regarding recipe import, I guess Cronometer looks for the list of ingredients and volume. It's pretting good but the proteins can be variable based on the customers order. I have found the portions to be generous, so I often have leftovers.

Regarding plates, I try to eat at table as per my dietician's encouragement and not in front of the TV or computer. Mindful eating. And I use nice dishes because I try present everything attractively. Trying to take the sense of deprivation out of an energy deficit? Self-love? "Presentation is everything.:" But I'm retiried, that helps. Maybe I don't have a personal chef but I try to give myself that experience. (I have eaten popcorn right out of giant mixing bowl and I can race you to the bottom of the chip bag but look where it got me?) If I fall off my plan, I log it because I have to be honest with myself. Moved away from the secret eating where I would hind the wrappers. Everyone is different. I'm trying to modify behaviour.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of HelloFresh. There's a lot of rice and pasta there.