I'm a newbie too so won't comment on diet/exercise

About the scales? I think it's not worth it - I bought one but it kaput after a year and a half .. plus I doubted the validity of the reading. At the time it was very expensive .. RM 200 - 300 .. and they only had 2 models - the "Rozelle"? brand, bought from Fitness Concept. Now they have many different models and the price is better (i think). They probably have some of those Tanita ones which are supposedly better though they are pricier.

Has anyone here actually compared the readings from a BF scale vs. calipers? Accuracy?

I haven't seen them sold here before. Try eBay?

Think he's just kidding There's only three methods I know of - scales, calipers and hydrostatic testing. The final one is so not for us regular people, and i doubt they have such facilities here.

This may not be so helpful but it's a "lesser of two evils" thing.

If you can't go without chocolate every week .. then switch to dark chocolate. If you get those over 75% ones (though they are very bitter and may not be to your taste) .. they have next to no sugar. Bittersweet choc also has little sugar in comparison to milk choc (or other chocs) .. and is just a notch above unsweetened choc. Chocolate is actually not bad for you but it's just bad in mass quantities

Another alternative is to only permit yourself to good quality chocolates only. None of the supermarket or over the counter @ Guardian stuff. Gourmet chocs as a treat every fortnight or per month. Well worth it and each (very satisfying) serving is small in comparison to a whole bar of low-quality choc.

Thanks .. but I'm just a chocolate lover .. thankfully I'm just obsessed with dark choc .. umm .. most of the time. Unless I can find my favorites like .. Rolo which isn't too bad .. or the most tasty but calorifically damaging things in the world .. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Must applaud your attitude and motivation. Keep it up!

I think your supper is fine, it was after your workout and before that you only had a meal replacement shake.

You are doing so great!!! Don't care what people may/may not think at the gym - it's probably not as bad as you've made out in your head. Keep it up!

elise .. still in the US? Any updates? Hope you're still hanging in there and doing okay.