I think the calories are terribly low, and not much fat or protein. I'd be starving! Now, I know we're all different, and maybe you're not feeling starved on that. But since you also posted about having a hard time staying on track ... I think regularly eating more would make it sooooo much easier to stick with in the long term. You're not a short girl! And, of course, practically no veggies.
Thanks Julie! I just looked at your pictures and you look AMAZING!
I left some wiggle room for snacks which will be carrots or some other kind of veggie I can snack on. I'm ok right now but I know after my lunch and by mid afternoon I'm going to be hungry so I'll fit something in there.
Okay, first - way too few calories. Ack, just looked at the time. Reformatting took longer than I thought. I will come back and add comments. I have to take someone to the train station and run one quick errand.
Consider romaine and/or spinach in place of the iceberg. A little cabbage adds a nice crunch.
Try some chickpeas in your sandwich or hummus with your carrots.
You might find that without over a tablespoon of sugar in the morning that you don't feel as hungry in the afternoon. I'd try cutting that down just gradually.
Definitely too few calories ~ just because you're not hungry doesn't mean you're eating enough! And the weirdness of the body is the lower you go, the lower you may end up needing, so that weightloss becomes all but impossible; or too few calories = weight gain or stall. I do not understand why but:
I was really frustrated with my slow down around the 200lb mark and tracking every nutrient and calorie known to man. When I joined sparkpeople (that's what your post looks like?) I took a chance and believed the allowance of 1200-1550. I regularly eat 1450 - 1500 every day and have lost 15.6lbs more in 50 days.
It is counter-intuitive, to eat more to lose more but I ask you to consider it!
Calorie-wise it looks like you are aiming for an appropriate range if you are eating at least the minimum daily. Overall, it looks decent but I think you need more protein. Yes, it will mean a little more fat too but it's worth it to get the protein up. A good ratio to strive for is 40% carbs, 30% fat and 30% protein. Looks like you are up around 70% carbs.
To get the protein up you could take the bananas you're having in the morning and make a smoothie. Use 1/2 cup vanilla low-fat or fat-free yogurt, a banana, ice and a scoop of chocolate protein powder. The protein powder from Costco is pretty good. If you do that small change in the morning, you'll change the meal ratio from:
149 cal.
38 carbs
1 g. fat
2 g. protein
Ratio for this meal: 92% carbs (ie: straight sugar rush)
To:
305 cal.
35 carbs.
9 g. fat
24 g protein
Ratio for this meal: 42% carbs, 27% fat, 31% protein
Yes, it's more calories but in the morning that's a good thing. The added protein will help keep you full for longer- 2 bananas aren't enough to maintain fullness for 3 hours and instead will spike your blood sugar just like coffee and a donut would. 5 meals a day at an average of 300 calories each would keep you full and your blood sugar at a stable level which should improve weight loss.
By this time most people have said the things I was going to say. What I noticed though is how many of your calories come from things I wouldn't exactly consider food.
That's 215 calories, almost 25% of what you're eating. And depending on how you're measuring them they might be higher. I admit I never drank sugar in coffee, but I watch people put it in and almost always those tsp of sugar are heaping.
If you're going to stick with coffee, wean yourself off on the coffee-mate and the sugar. Indulge in a good coffee and actually enjoy the taste of the coffee. I know people who make a breakfast smoothie with yogurt and/or skim milk, vanilla or chocolate protein powder, and instant coffee. Get's them the caffeine fix and plenty of protein and dairy. Is it the taste or texture of fruit that bothers you? If it's texture, toss some frozen berries into the smoothie (without the instant coffee) and it's like a fruit milkshake. Fruits have lots of vitamins and antioxidants, keep trying others until you find one you like (ie. I hate bananas, mediocre on apples, but could eat oranges, cherries, berries, and peaches all day).
And those that suggested swapping out your iceberg lettuce for something more substantial are right. As well, consider switching your white pita bread for whole grain, again, just a little more substantial. Oh, and to add to those who mentioned it - definitely eat more. It sounds counter-intuitive, but you really do need to eat well to lose weight.
Everyone else beat me to it...I'd lose the coffee mate. Loaded with chemicals. I use skim milk, but if you're allergic to dairy, you could use rice or soy milk. Carrots are good, but you need some dark greens and other colors of veggies in there, and there ought to be some fruits you can have. How about pineapple? Applesauce (no added sugar) would be better than no fruit at all. The white bread should be replaced by whole grain. Where do you get your calcium? Dark leafies or some dairy would supply some.
Try adding: eggs, measured beans and rice, chicken, tofu, Boca Burgers (soy based), lean meat, fish like tuna, salmon, etc. You could eat twice that amount of protein....