Whole Foods Lifestyle - Weightloss Progress With Eating SuperFoods/Whole Foods

I know the best possible payoff of eating what we have all committed to eating is the gift of great health. And there are a number of other benefits that will trickle down and enrich our lives in ways we never imagined! It's already started happening to so many of us!

I know that Glory87 started a thread about changes since we've started eating SuperFoods. I wanted to start one that focused on weight loss since we've incorporated SuperFoods into our daily menus.

I want to be healthy. But I also want to lose a significant amount of weight! And while I love eating this way, I'll be honest...what peaked my interest was seeing Glory87's weight loss pics and reading her story!

I believe that some other people who are searching for the 'right' plan would be more inclined to give SuperFoods a chance, if they heard of some positive weight loss stories to go along with our positive health stories.

That said, I hope we all see some significant weight loss while we are seeing our health improve at the same time!

So, don't be shy! Post your weight loss stats here!

I began really focusing on eating whole foods and no junk foods several weeks ago. I began with The French Diet and eventually incorporated the SuperFoods (as listed by Steven G. Pratt) on July 28th.

I also began counting calories on that day. I keep my calories between 1400 and 1600 per day. My goal is to lose around 2 to 2.5 pounds a week.

As of today, day 6 on my SuperFood journey, I have lost 3 pounds.

It's not the rapid weight loss that I experienced on Atkins (in the beginning). But I feel better than I ever have in my life! And slow and steady is just fine with me!

Eating this way allows me to focus on the quality of the foods that I am eating, and less on the quantity of weight that is coming off and the speed at which said weight disappears. Don't get me wrong, I like to see the numbers go down, but I'm not scale obsessed anymore! And it feels great!

Considering the fickleness of the scale, just make sure you make some goals that are NOT scale-related. For me, the toughest part of weight loss was staying motivated without the reward of the scale moving downwards.

I am trying to be careful with this. The focus of eating healthier foods should be just that...to eat healthier foods! I don't want ANY scale related goals, to be honest. But I know that the whole reason I joined this website was to find a way to lose weight. But it's so much more rewarding to focus on eating healthy, and not so much on weight loss, you know?

Daily goals for me are to get in as many SuperFoods as possible! My weightloss goal is to lose 2 to 2.5 lbs per week. However, I am still working on a way to develop a more well rounded goal that involves pounds lost, sizes gone down, the number of SuperFoods eaten daily and how much exercise I've done. I'm not too concerned with some magic number on the scale at this point. But I don't really know how else to measure my weightloss progress, other than to list actual pounds lost, KWIM?

I know that even eating like this, I will hit stalls and plateaus. Fortunately, this way of eating makes that easier to deal with. I can focus on other things...like 'what SuperFoods can I get in tomorrow?' or 'how far can I walk today?' or 'let me see if I can fit into these pants yet.'

I don't want people to focus too much on the scale. But when they do notice a drop, I'd love to hear about it!

My journey has been a lifestyle change for the last 7 weeks. As of Monday I have lost 32 pounds. I eat 5-6 meals a day, am never hungry and I have no cravings. :cloud9: :high:

Wow, now I need to learn more about beans as I know nothing about them except strong beans. LOL Someone mentioned Chili and I have not a clue how to make it!

Thank you all for posting about Superfoods! I think I just found my diet and baby steps life stye change.

I began trying to be healthier in April. So far I have lost 18 lb. It turns out I was eating pretty close to superfoods. I was following good common sense, counting calories and some advice from a book called Dr. Ann's Ten Step Diet: A Simple Plan For Permanent Weight Loss And Lifelong Vitality. When this discussion started I got Dr. Pratt's second book from the library and have incorporated even more superfoods. My weight loss has been slow but this is a way of living I can continue the rest of my life so there is no rush. I have 2 lb to goal but that won't be the end.

I started thinking about my weight loss journey and I don't think I've ever lost weight without eating Super Foods. When I lost my initial weight, I ate mostly chicken breast, Spinach, tomatoes, carrots, fish and various other veggies. I would incorporate whole wheat and brown rice as well. I didn't know what Super Foods were but that is what I ate. I've also started to lose weight again and it was also when I started eating Super Foods without knowing they were Super Foods. I think my success is mostly from eating Super Foods and not eating junk.

Well, I've dropped 4.5 lbs since Monday doing this. Granted, it is mostly water, but I do feel much better eating good things and not crap!

My mom raised us to eat a bunch of healthy, whole foods. We were the only kids on the block lucky enough to have whole-wheat pasta and vegetarian lasagna with bean sprouts (don't try that one, ick). I diverged from that plan in my 20s and early 30s. I started incorporating fast food and restaurant food, which has NOT been conducive to a whole-foods lifestyle! Simply eliminating fast food and embracing the "slow food movement" has basically gotten me back into whole foods. I've lost 65 pounds doing that.

I just started investigating the SuperFoods concepts, and haven't fully incorporated it yet. I love learning about phytochemicals and antioxidants and what they actually do. I share as much of this information as I can with my son, and that gets him to more readily accept a handful of chopped kale in his chicken-noodle soup!

My mom raised us to eat a bunch of healthy, whole foods. We were the only kids on the block lucky enough to have whole-wheat pasta and vegetarian lasagna with bean sprouts (don't try that one, ick). I diverged from that plan in my 20s and early 30s. I started incorporating fast food and restaurant food, which has NOT been conducive to a whole-foods lifestyle! Simply eliminating fast food and embracing the "slow food movement" has basically gotten me back into whole foods. I've lost 65 pounds doing that.

Funny how life comes full circle, huh? My mom made sure I had healthy food and snacks, while never making candy completely off limits. I remember eating steamed broccoli as an afterschool snack! My fav cereal was frosted mini wheats. It was never forced on me. I just enjoyed healthy foods. As I got a little older (high school age), I began buying junk food. Not all the time, but enough. Then it was off to college. I had my own apartment and began eating how I liked, which was pretty healthy, except for the addiction to white pasta! Now, I am free of that addiction. I really don't miss pasta, especially that overstuffed feeling at the end of the meal.

All of my desire to eat good foods, I attritube to my mom who made healthy foods readily available to me. I am doing the same with my girls.

-Water for 75 to 90 percent of their fluid intake. We have a water cooler, so they just grab their cups and fill them up whenever they are thirsty!

-Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies for snacks

-Whole wheat pancakes with pure maple syrup

-Whole wheat bread for sandwiches

-Whole wheat pasta

These things are second nature for them. And even if down the road they veer off into Fast Food Alley or Junk Food Lane, they (and their bodies) will remember how eating good, whole foods made them feel, and they'll come back 'home'...just like I did. And just like you did!

I don't have a scale, so I won't know til I go back to the gym after vacation, but I feel better, I'm not bloated, and maybe it's just wistful thinking, but my "upper ab fat" seems to be decreasing. :lol:

I've been eating whole foods for some time now but my husband and I decided about 3 or 4 weeks ago to eat vegetarian meals during the week (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) during the week and only eat meat on the weeks (if we felt like it).

We have also taken up Bikram yoga and we've 5lbs each and can feel the changes in our flexibility and strenght in bodies from doing yoga.

I think the combination of eating less meat and doing yoga has really been working for us. :)

I've been eating whole foods for some time now but my husband and I decided about 3 or 4 weeks ago to eat vegetarian meals during the week (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) during the week and only eat meat on the weeks (if we felt like it).

That's a great idea, to just do meat on weekends. I might try that, now that DS is going to be living at his dad's house (ugh, I still don't like this idea). As it is, I have to remind myself to eat meat/protein every other day or so.

I'm trying to not get too obsessed with the scale, but I agree that I love to hear about how this way of eating/life is having positive effects on weight loss goals :) As of this morning, I have lost 4 pounds in the last 8 days - and I'm past the water weight stage, so I'm EXTRA happy!! :carrot:

The beauty of this is that I feel better than I have in a looooong time - not just physically, but mentally too. I feel more "at peace" with the process, so to speak - I love the abundance mentality mentioned before, and the fact that this really is becoming about so much more than just weight. I feel empowered eating this way, and feeding my family this way - maybe that sounds silly, but it's the best way I can describe it!

Great topic - I hope to add more as time passes. :)

I never tried 100% whole wheat pasta until a week or so ago. I had tried low-carb pasta and that was horrible!!! Never again! Anyway, I tried 100% whole wheat spaghetti and the family raved about it. I'll never go back to white. I also bought 100% whole wheat tortillas and no one complained.

Yesterday, at Costco, I found pomegranate seeds with a recipe for a salad which DH and I will have for lunch tomorrow:
Spring mix lettuce (I got the kind with baby spinach mixed it)
pomegranate seeds
walnuts
blue cheese
raspberry vineagarette
Toss and serve. I'm going to add some chicken for protein, but it sounds so good.

The pomegranate seeds are addictive--I open the package and eat them with a spoon! I remember being little and sitting at the table with my Dad peeling and eating pomegranates. What work for so little and what a mess! Red fingers that didn't want to wash off!

I have always been confused by pomegranates - so do you eat the seeds, and not the flesh?

And can you tell me where in Costco you found the seeds? Was it near the dried fruits?

Thanks in advance.

The beauty of this is that I feel better than I have in a looooong time - not just physically, but mentally too. I feel more "at peace" with the process, so to speak - I love the abundance mentality mentioned before, and the fact that this really is becoming about so much more than just weight. I feel empowered eating this way, and feeding my family this way - maybe that sounds silly, but it's the best way I can describe it!

My sentiments EXACTLY! I'm at peace with the slower process, because I'm focused on healthy living. Weightloss is just the icing on the cake, or rather, the flaxseed on my oatmeal! :lol:

It's hard to say because there are so many factors. I've lost over 105lb, but some of that is exercise and some is eating. One thing I can say though is that I've never counted a calorie, and I've pretty much always focussed eating on clean unprocessed food as far as possible, with fruit and veg in unlimited quantities and carbs (as close to wholegrain as I can get) in measured portions. I'm probably one of the faster losers I know (there are faster, but I lost at a fairly steady 2lb per week for a long time until I slowed down closer to goal), but it helps that I got addicted to running and started running half marathons and training for a full!

At the moment I'm fairly relaxed about my eating, I just make sure that I'm eating quality ingredients and as far as possible cooking them myself rather than buying processed food (and I've turned veggie since I started this), but I'm also training for a marathon which makes up for a lot of chocolate and wine sins! (My weekends tend to go long run, eat, open wine, eat some more, top up wine glass, nibble, eat...)

When I went veggie I told myself that the point was to eat more vegetables rather than processed meat replacements, and that's pretty much why I do it - it makes me look for inventive ways to eat vegetables to stop me getting bored, and I feel much healthier and saner than I did before. I've "only" lost about 15lb since that point, but I guess that maintaining at or below my original goal for nearly 6 months is still something to cheer about!

I love pomegranates - yes, if you buy a whole one you cut it open and there are loads of seeds inside, that's what you eat rather than the skin/membranes. Once you cut it open it all makes sense, honest!

Helen, I'm almost near the 100 lb mark myself and I've also never counted calories. Sometimes I'll do a day here or there to kind of gauge where I am at. I'm also in the process of going veggie for a couple reasons.
- Meat just doesn't taste the same anymore. I don't know why but I really used to enjoy steaks and other various forms of meat. The past few months I have realized that it doesn't taste as good as it used to. If it doesn't really taste all that good, why eat it?
- Meat has a high percentage of fat compared to the return in protein.
- I can spend my calories better elsewhere and as long as I educate myself about how to eat complete proteins by mixing legumes, whole grains, soy and various veggies.

I also can't stand the taste of "wannabe meat" so I avoid it. I like unsweetened soy milk so I am using that. I also bought some tofu and tempeh so that I can cook those.

I have always been confused by pomegranates - so do you eat the seeds, and not the flesh?And can you tell me where in Costco you found the seeds? Was it near the dried fruits?

Pomegranates don't have flesh, really, it is a thick rind surrounding a bunch of seeds, each seed surrounded by pulp. Okay, that doesn't sound very good, here's a picture!

http://www.factsaboutfruit.com/pomegranate.jpg
http://images.foodnetwork.com/webfood/images/cooking/fruitandveggieguide/pomegranate.jpg

Each of those red "kernals" is an edible seed surrounded by a tart, delicious bit of fruit. The white membrane inside is actually fairly bitter and I usually try to peel it all away.

Preparing pomegranates is a mess, they are a very juicy, messy fruit. I normally cut the rind and then start popping the seeds out into a container. It is time consuming but worth it. The juice will splash EVERYTHING around you, heh.

I don't have a Costco, but Trader Joe's has recently started selling the seeds ready to eat (ie out of the rind, all the hard work done). They aren't dry, so they would probably be in the refrigerated section of produce.

I haven't tried this but saw the recommendation to immerse each pomegranate half in a large bowl of water and use a spoon to dig the seeds out under water. Maybe less mess? Or maybe it would be messy AND wet!

I tried it with the water the first time, then decided it was easier without.

I have always been confused by pomegranates - so do you eat the seeds, and not the flesh?

And can you tell me where in Costco you found the seeds? Was it near the dried fruits?

Thanks in advance.

The only edible portion of a pomegranate is the seed. The skin and the membranes between the seed areas are waste.

I found the seeds in Costco's refrigerated fruit area.

Preparing pomegranates is a mess, they are a very juicy, messy fruit. I normally cut the rind and then start popping the seeds out into a container. It is time consuming but worth it. The juice will splash EVERYTHING around you, heh.

Which is why I usually serve them outside in the backyard. I like to eat them while sitting on the patio. First I just cut into large chunks then eat holiding the rind. I sure do need to rinse my hands at the hose when I'm done.

Thanks for the pomegranate info. I bought one, one time, but never cut into it, since I didn't know what to do with it.

I love eating pomegranates. I am pretty good about avoiding a mess, I basically start peeling the peel with a knife. Then I do it with my hands and pull apart sections to let the seeds fall out. I like that it is fun to do as well as it takes a long time to eat one.

Today is my 16th day following this WOE. In the last 15 days, I've gotten rid of 7 pounds!

While I'm very happy to see the numbers go down, I hope the loss will slow down to no more than 2.5 lbs per week. I'm going to see how the next couple of weeks go and look at my average loss for my entire first month on this.

I may have to increase my daily caloric intake. I still eat appx 1500 calories per day, with no exercise. I will add exercise after this first month, and after the temps here dip a bit! It's tooooooo hot for walking outside right now! Once I do, I'll probably be eating more like 1700 calories per day. Don't know yet, I'll have to tweak this as I go along...

Well, personally I feel like I have "seen the light"!

I have been eating for health, without thinking too much about my weight. This has caused me to lose about 4 pounds in about 5 days. Water weight you say.... if it included my water weight it'd be about a 9 pound loss. I retain a lot of water sometimes (pitting edema actually, due to the hypothyroid), so I know when I'm retaining. Granted, I have incorprated more exercise as well.

This is an excellent result for me as I am really starting to feel the effects of my weight, including the doctor telling me for the first time ever the other day that I have HBP. :?: I have also been feeling way better and haven't been getting sleepy in the afternoons.

Seems most of my hypo symtoms are being slightly relieved. That coupled with yesterdays blood test and possibly increasing my Synthroid on Tuesday to a more suitable dose (I am recently diagnosed) I just may be on my way back to the road of health. :D :flow2:

Hi LadyNorth! Congrats on your weightloss! And there's more loss to come...along with great health!

Helen and Nelie,
how did you know when enough food was enough (without counting calories?)...
and same thing about eating carbs in measured quantities, how do you know when to stop eating them (grains I guess?)
do the superfoods books suggest portions or amounts of things like grains vs. beans vs. etc.?
do you have any suggestions?

I feel like I'm constantly asking questions... it's just that I truly do NOT want to count calories but I DO obviously want to lose weight as I eat healthy and exercise.. I want to exercise and eat healthy for so many reasons beyond weight, but as someone said... weight loss is equally important to me at this point.

thank you!

The superfoods RX book does suggest portions and it has taken me a while to do portion control. I do have to say when I first started losing weight, I didn't portion at all. I did limit my grains and fruit a bit but I would basically eat all the lean meat, low fat dairy, veggies and legumes I wanted. Now, I basically portion using either small plates (salad plates) or lunch containers. So I know if my plate is brimming with rice or pasta and nothing else, then I need to readjust. I gave up using dinner plates because they are too large. I sometimes measure with a measuring cup to know how much I'm eating rather than eyeballing it. Right now, I'm also cutting back on the amount of snacks I eat during the day. It is more of a refinement process for me. I do calculate calories sometimes (couple times each month) to see where I'm at and my normal day usually contains around 1400-1500 calories which is pretty good for someone who doesn't count calories.

it's just that I truly do NOT want to count calories

Though this was not directed at me, might I make a suggestion?

I was dreading the thought of counting calories too! Who wants to have to count every single morsel of food that crosses their lips??? I certainly did NOT want to do it. I didn't want to measure, count, weigh or anything else that involved such tedious regimens. HOWEVER, I decided to give FitDay a try and fell in love with it!

It makes tracking calories so very easy! I had never in my life counted a calorie, but have done so meticously for the past 2 1/2 weeks!

I kindly suggest that you give it a try. If only for a few days, a week even. That way you'll get a general idea of how many you are eating per day. You'll be able to look at a portion of something and know appx how many calories are in it.

Even if you don't input all of your daily intake of food into FitDay, atleast take a look at what the nutritional info of different quantities of food is. You can enter in the amount that you plan on eating to see how much fat/protein/carbs/calories it contains.

Check it out if you have the desire and time...it only takes a couple of minutes, I promise!

I only recommend this because I began calorie counting on the same day as I began eating SuperFoods and attribute my weightloss to both of them!

I wish you much success...with whatever method you try! Just be sure to stick to eating SuperFoods! :)

~Hope~

I love pomegranets. I cut in half, and then turn over holding above a plate and beat with a wooden spoon. All the seeds just fall out on the plate.
I saw this on the food network and it works great! Plus, you get a little stress release with all that beating! ;)

After reading about Superfoods, I started incorporating them more into my diet (that's diet, not "diet" :) ), and I've lost almost 5 lbs. in the past two weeks just with that change alone. Since I'm so close to goal, a time when weight loss slows, I am just stunned what a difference eating Superfoods has made for me. I've not changed my exercise routine nor my portion sizes.

I forgot to post my 3 week progress!

I started working a part time job recently and sometimes find it a challenge to eat the way that I have been for the last 3 weeks. Also, DH & I went to the beach a couple of times & I ate some real no-no's!

At any rate, at my 3 week mark on 8/17/2006, I was up 2 pounds to 211, from 209. I have been diligent in sticking to my SuperFoods & calories every since and am currently down to 208 as of today 8/22/2006! I've also been fighting some kind of viral infection, and eating enough for the day has been difficult, as I have little appetite right now. But, I really make every effort to get it all in!

I'll check back in at my 4 week mark, which will be the morning of 8/25/2006!

EDITED TO ADD: My 4 week weigh in was 208!

Just checking in with my official 1 month stats!

Official weigh in is 208. I've lost 8 pounds total during my first month.

I've managed to stick to the 'plan' for the first 3 weeks. During my 4th week, I veered off a little bit with trying to juggle too much at one time. I'm back in the game now, and look forward to my 2nd month of SuperFoods & calorie counting!

Keep it going everyone!

great job olivia! keep it up. i just started eating superfoods/whole foods the past week or so, i hope i can look forward to success too.

Congrats Olivia. Eight pounds is GREAT!

WTG, Olivia!

Thanks guys! Another pound down this morning to 207! 1 pound away from my 10 pound goal! :carrot:

GO, Olivia! ;) Great job :)

Way to go Olivia!
I can't wait till next week when I'm moved. I've been living with no kitchen as I'm trying to get moved while being on the road half the time. Very frustrating! Don't think I've gained any real weight, just retaining some of the water that I wasn't before.

The superfoods RX book does suggest portions and it has taken me a while to do portion control.

I suggested the Superfoods Rx book to a relative that needs to lose 200 pounds. She started right away eating the portions recommended and gained 4 pounds! Since then, she has adjusted portions. I need to check back on her progress.

I suggested the Superfoods Rx book to a relative that needs to lose 200 pounds. She started right away eating the portions recommended and gained 4 pounds! Since then, she has adjusted portions. I need to check back on her progress.

When I first read the book, I wasn't sure how much I should eat to lose weight. I realized that this book is not a weightloss book. It's more like a guide to healthy eating. So I decided to watch my caloric intake, while pretty much only eating SuperFoods. I don't get in his recommended portions daily. However, I do get in several SuperFoods and just keep the portions in line with my calorie goal for the day.

You really have to tweak this to fit your own personal goals and eating plan. Good luck to your relative! And please post her progress after you speak to her!

LadyNorth, we're moving into our new house (and my brand spankin' new kitchen) in about 2 weeks or so! Sounds like BOTH of us are excited about our new kitchens!

I made it to my first 10% goal as of this morning I have lost 27 lbs. I was stalled for quite a while until I kicked it up with the superfoods. I know that it has given me the energy to have more stamina while working out and just feeling better for the most part, so the weight is coming of slowly and steadily. Anyway just thought I would share about getting my first 10% off. WOOOHOOO

that is fantastic trishn222, keep up the great work!!

great job for you this week too olivia!

Great job Olivia and trishn! Keep it up!

trishn222, congrats to you! I know it must feel GREAT to reach that goal! I know I'll be doing a little victory dance when I hit my 10 pound mark!

**And thanks everyone for your encouraging words!**

Finally -- a forum that embraces a whole/raw/super foods diet! I've lost a significant amount of weight since moving to California in 2004, and the two factors that made the biggest difference were exercise and switching to whole/raw foods. In January and Feb 2006 I was on an all-raw/superfoods diet and lost 30 lbs in two months! The power of whole nutrition and superfood is very real.



Like most of you I aim for multiple servings of these turbochargers daily. However, I find that I hit major stumbling blocks when stressful situations come up in my life. I'm trying to work on myself and find ways of overcoming those obstacles, and not letting life's trials and challenges be translated into bad food choices ... but like you all know, it isn't always easy :(



Have any of you struggled with the whole convenience thing -- as in, the instant availability of fast food/junk food, vs. the time investment to prepare many whole and super foods? That's been my killer in 2006. I end up going too long between meals, feeling ravenous, and pulling into a fast-food joint for quick satisfaction instead of taking the time to prepare something healthy. Any tips/suggestions on how to handle this?



Please, please, please, keep these whole foods threads going! :D



- T.

Have any of you struggled with the whole convenience thing -- as in, the instant availability of fast food/junk food, vs. the time investment to prepare many whole and super foods?

My idea of convenience is the packages of veggies (at Vons and Trader Joe's) that have washed and cut veggies all ready for the microwave! 3 to 4 minutes and you have perfectly steamed veggies!

We live in a very weird place where the only drive throughs are drive through ATM's at banks and a couple drive throughs at drug stores for prescriptions. I guess it's a good thing that they make you park and get out of your car to go in to order and get fast food. They (the local government) claims it cuts down on litter. I don't know, but it does cut down on instant availability of fast food!!!!