Bistro Buddies?

[Lisa1978]

I think that's why we are probably going to make it this time. I'm looking at this in a way I never looked at dieting before. I am seeing it as a complete lifestyle change for the longer haul, and the food is just a prop. It's so delicious that it's making it easy for me to stick to their meals, and yet I can have the snacks I want too. For me it's all about the calorie total per day, and that is working very well.

I was on Diet To Go, and loved most of the food, however the meals were so high in calories that it left me no snacking room period. In fact they told me on more than one occasion not to snack on the low carb plan, and I can see why in retrospect. The calorie content is so high per day that you don't have any wiggle room at all. There were 1400, and even 1500- 1700 calorie days in there! Most were at least 1100 to 1200 for the food alone for the day (and this is without ANY snacks)! What I love about Bistro is that they have managed to create these absolutely delicious and filling meals that only average about 300 calories per day (some are 350 and 400). The meals are so satisfying, and yet so low in calories! It leaves me plenty of wiggle room, and therefore I do not feel so suffocated on this plan. This is exactly what I was looking for!

I have blown it too, so don't feel bad Jen. I've had a few Starbucks Frappucino's here, and there and had two ice cream cones last week. Normally I would have felt really terrible, but I simply looked up the calories of the frappe and entered it in my journal and realized that on that day, I would just not have any snacking room for other things, so that was the price I paid. Same thing with the ice cream cones. They were not healthy choices, but I stayed within my calorie range anyway. It's that wiggle room that made it possible. I fall too. I love candy, cookies and all things evil lol! I did what you did. I just dusted myself off, and realized that it was just a "bad" day and tomorrow was a new one.

I just had the BBQ Pork Tenderloin yesterday, and thought I Had died and gone to heaven. I realizes that this is the only one I have ever been on where I actually look forward to eating! The food is so good! I did have a look at the new Biggest Loser plan, and the food does look wonderful, but until they start using dry ice, I am not going there (and I don't think they ever will). If I eventually get too sick of the food here (which for now I can't imagine), I would only maybe try that one in the winter. The food did look interesting, however right now Bistro has my heart (and stomach)!

[joyfulloser]

Hey there! I'm on Day 4 of BMD (7 days no snack) and I just had to contribute to this thread (been lurking a lil while)

The food (so far) has been really GREAT! I totally agree with the poster who mentioned how she "looks forward" to the next meal.

I have to remind myself that I'm on a diet. I do, however, find myself still craving that midnight snack....but it's a mental thing...not physical. Previous to me starting the program, my diet was extremely horrible! I've gained over 60 lbs this year alone because of it. Mickey Dees (daily), Baskin Robbins by the pint 4 times/wk...FAT...FAT...and uuhhhh...between the piles of SALT...MORE FAT!!!

Although it's only day 4 for me...I'm already seeing positive results. Previous to my start of this program, every morning that I woke up, the bottoms of my feet would be killing me! I could barely walk for about 1/2 hour...went on for about 2 months...

Now...since starting the program...I no longer have that pain. I can only conclude that I should have a real whoooosh of weight loss at the end of this week...as my body is flushing itself of excess water (which probably cause the pain in my feet).

Sorry for the long ramble...just sooo excited! BTW, today's lunch called Picadillo was truly OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!

[Jen516]

Originally Posted by joyfulloser

Mickey Dees (daily), Baskin Robbins by the pint 4 times/wk...FAT...FAT...and uuhhhh...between the piles of SALT...MORE FAT!!!

I can totally relate Joyful. I was the same way and after 5 weeks, I can realllly notice a difference. I always read about "I have soo much more energy when I eat well." I get it now. I really do feel less sluggish! And I have fewer headaches. And it's easier to get up in the morning - wait, maybe that's because I've been trying to go to bed early!

Welcome to the thread! And I'm looking forward to congratulating you on an l-b loss this week!

[joyfulloser]

Thanks Jen! I too can already feel the effects on my sleep and the quality of it (especially since I suffer with insomnia).

Saturday is my "MY NIGHT" and I was wondering if that is my night to eat WHATEVER I want or do I still need to keep it low fat/low cal? What do you all usually have on your MY NIGHT?

I'm hoping I can go to my favorite Jamaican Restaurant and get me a plate of peas/rice, curried chicken and cabbage...wooo hoo!

[Jen516]

I still try to make smart choices on what I'm eating and how much. I still aim for around 500cal and I track it in my calorie count. That said, there have been 3-4 times in the last 6 weeks that I ate more than I should and I'm still losing. Those were usually the result of being in a situation that was out of my control. Picnic lunch while rafting on the river, sunday brunch with friends, or baseball game out of town. I know I still have "control" unltimately, but I'm okay with occasionally going overboard. And I know those occasions are going to come up sometimes. I don't want to force others to modify their behavior because of my situation, ie "We can't go to pizza after the game because Jen is trying to lose weight." So, when I CAN control my options, I try to make good choices. I save the "off-program" moments for sort-of emergency situations.

Of course, all that applies to someone who currently weighs much more than you. What works for my weight now may not work so well for you. You are almost already at my goal weight! Are you really shooting for 140lb?!

[joyfulloser]

Thanks again Jen! I was 150 lbs one year ago....it's a size 6 for me...I'll admit, it is quite thin for my frame (large)...and I prolly look about 125 lbs...but I feel my best between 150-155. At 209.4, I'm a size 16...so I have lots of muscle under all this FAT! haha!

Update: Just corrected my weight...not 196.4, but actually 209.4...I write it down and donno what when wrong there, but want to start out accurately!

I must chime in here to note for anyone out there wondering about the taste of the fish dishes. Well..I just had the salmon w/spinach quinoa and OMGoooodnessssssss...was it FANTASTIC...and I don't even like SALMON!!!

So far...Although I'm only on day 5, I have received a total of 3 weeks meals (had delay in starting...summer, beach, icecream..haha). Anyhoot, one thing I've noticed is the variety and I am soooo looking forward to the next couple of weeks! My meals arrive timely, frozen (w/dry ice to spare), and well packed. There has only been 1 or 2 meals that I didn't absolutely love or felt I could live without them, but that were tolerable. Those 2 dishes were: turkey w/cranberry and butternut squash (babyfood consistency...blaah), and stuffed french toast (may take some getting used to...a bit soggy I thought).

Elsewise, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the food! I've read all the reviews and comments, but honestly, WHO, unless a CHEF by trade is going to take the time to prepare such a gourmet variety of low cal/low salt/low fat/high protein meals such as these? So what if out of hundreds of meals, you don't LOVE a few? I could live on this food for life...never gettting tired (I'll chime in about this statement in a month..haha).

Ok...so after almost finishing my first week...I have only ONE PROBLEM with the program....I had NO IDEA about this "MY NIGHT" or FREE night...more like FREE to Bistro MD since I'm paying for it anyway! lol! Their website explicitely states 7 day program has 7 dinners, etc. not 6! I think if that is the case Bistro MD should be more UPFRONT about it on their website when checking out.

The reason this peeves me a bit is because, I honestly LOVE this food so much (and I don't even add salt...NO NEED) that it would take great effort for me to prepare a meal even close and it probably won't taste as good I don't want to get into eating my favorite foods (jamaican spicey and yes, fatty) for fear of slipping back into bad habits and yes, heartburn Maybe I can have a cheat meal after one month or after my first 20 lbs of weight loss, but week one...naaaaahhhh...I'm not buying the whole "this is train you about portions" excuse....I'm well aware of portions and of the fact that I'm eating about 3-4 portions in every order of take out jamaican!...I just don't care when I'm eating that way....for me, I do better if I stick with something I enjoy (especially if it's good for me)...why mess up my taste buds with salty, fatty foods?

Sorry...rambling again....needed a lil rant there...feel better now

Have a great weekend all!

[Jen516]

I thought it was BS too, at first. And I still feel like I'm paying for something I'm not getting. But I've developed a bit of a backlog of meals, from when I end up out for dinner or lunch with friends (or like tonight, when I fell asleep watching TV before I even ate dinner!). So, I usually just eat one of the leftover meals. I have yet to actually cook a meal for myself.

[joyfulloser]

Ok...after much agony, I SURVIVED my FREE NIGHT! I did wind up having my favorite jamaican dish (curried chix, rice/peas and cabbage) from my fave take out...but I portioned it in my bistro plastic trays...and weighed it at about 14 oz. It was DEVINE! Surprisingly, the smaller portion WAS ENOUGH...and my tummy didn't feel like it was going to burst afterwards...also NO HEARTBURN! haha

My weigh in is tomorrow, so we'll see if it had negative effects on my weight loss. I have a swimming pool and a gym at home, but unfortunately, the only thing that's gotten any use is the pool...couple times this week. I'm really going to have to step up my exercise next week to at least 30 min of cardio 3 times/week.

Anyhoot, back on program this morn with Buckwheat berry pancakes and canadian ham....YUM!

[Jen516]

Originally Posted by joyfulloser

Surprisingly, the smaller portion WAS ENOUGH...and my tummy didn't feel like it was going to burst afterwards...also NO HEARTBURN! haha

I've had the same reaction to portion sizes... and it was smart to use one of the plastic trays to dish up the food! I've been thinking about starting a little collection of them so that I can freeze up my own portioned meals after I go off Bistro.

My weigh-in was yesterday, and I lost 5lb last week. Overall, I'm down 30lb. Dont' really feel that different yet, though some clothes are fitting better. And it was easier to make the 3 mile trek to and from the football game yesterday, up and down hills and stairs.

The football game did kill my diet though. Although it was entirely my fault. This was the first time I totally overate without making a conscious decision that it was worth it. I know that sounds weird, but when I go out to brunch with friends, it feels like I'm deciding "yes, it is worth eating extra because I'm enjoying the food/activity. I'm willing to work harder to burn it off this week." That was NOT the case yesterday. I was disappointed with my lack of will power. I just ate because food was there and I couldn't help myself. I'd forgotten what it felt like to be soooo full. I didn't like it. So, a good lesson and not unrecoverable. I ate around 2600cal, so I'll just balance out the rest of the week.

Best to all!

[joyfulloser]

Today's weigh in: 203.6...WOOOOO HOOO!!! Down 6 lbs!!!!! I didn't even exercise...I think I'm a believer now! I was beginning to wonder that I wasn't even on a diet! Now I know how celebs lose weight so easy....diet gourmet food....now all I need is a personal trainer..haha!

Jen - 30 lbs lost...THAT'S INCREDIBLE!!!! You must be so excited...before Bistro MD, I tried my own lil low carb high fat diet....worked out 5 days a week (45 min cardio high intensity) and lost about 1 pound/week! Okay...so you have a lil slip up at the game...but the good thing is that you caught yourself, analyzed your behavior and will be better prepared next time. That's half the battle. One of the biggest setbacks on any diet is stumbling and not being able to get back up. So KUDOS to you!

Anyhoot...just finished my morning bagel and creamcheese...YUMMY!!!!

[joyfulloser]

Just finished trying the Jerk Tilapia with Yucca (a South American starchy veggy) and peas...Oooooooooooooohhhhhh Myyyyy was it Hmm...hmmm...GOOD! FRESH...FLAKEY...too good to believe its frozen!

I started exercise this week...nothing spectacular....just a 10 min hip hop video which I'm loving...haha! Every week I will strive to add an additional 10 minutes...but its really exhausting...you'd be suprised what 10 minutes of hip hop can do for you!

Still loving this food though...I really have to slap myself every now and again, just to make sure I'm not DREAMIN! Well..ok...maybe that's a bit 'dramatic', but I do have to remind myself that I'm on a DIET...I feel so spoiled.

[Jen516]

Yay for you Joyful! I'm glad the weight loss kicked in -- that's great! And congrats on the exercise... any exercise is good exercise. My doctor says the "best exercise is any kind of exercise that you'll actually DO!"

Thanks for the encouragment. Knowing I lost 30lb feels good, but I don't really see much change yet. I'll keep on keeping on though.

And I'm glad you posted about the tilapia; I was kinda nervous to try it tonight. You must be behind about a week on meals too? I'm glad I have a big freezer!

[joyfulloser]

Originally Posted by Jen516

Thanks for the encouragment. Knowing I lost 30lb feels good, but I don't really see much change yet. I'll keep on keeping on though.

We never SEE the weight we lose...OTHER people do though! Glad to hear your gonna keep hammering away at it! Over the years I've been down to a size 6 and all I saw was what I could pinch around my midsection. The one thing I learned is to congratulate myself for every achievement...no matter how small...cuz then when I make goal this time...I'll actually be able to APPRECIATE IT! Keep on truckin!

Originally Posted by Jen516

And I'm glad you posted about the tilapia; I was kinda nervous to try it tonight. You must be behind about a week on meals too? I'm glad I have a big freezer!

Jen - Haha...yup...I'm a week behind I ordered early before the holidays, but didn't actually start the diet until 1 1/2 weeks later! Had to get in my last trip to the beach (which means FROZEN CUSTARD) before I started my diet..lol!

[joyfulloser]

Started a new past-time...Walking my dog!!! It's been great for the both of us. He's a 90 lb German Shepherd (1 yr old)...so he's not been "walkable" in the past. Surprisingly, he's a dream to walk now...and I feel protected while I jog/walk. I've been doing 45 min to an hour and we both love it!

My weigh in is Mondays...but I can already tell I dropping lbs/inches extremely FAST! My pants are fitting loser and the mirror clearly shows a thinner me..even my 11 yr old daughter notices (and she's brutally honest..lol).

The food continues to "thrill" me and I must also say, the customer service at Bistro MD is really GREAT! They've resolved my issue with the "free meal day" and was very courteous about it. I couldn't be happier with the program. My fourth shipment just arrived yesterday and two of the meal trays were cracked and broken (in transit), so I've contacted BistroMD for a replacement. I'll post an update, but given Customer Service past performance, I do not anticipate any problems.

This morning was a cup of protein hot coco and choco-chip muffin...YUM! Can't wait for LUNCH!

[SuperCurls]

Hey Everybody. I'm brand new here and started MDBistro about 5 days ago. Waaay better and more filling than Jenny Craig. I think half the reason these are so filling is because most of the meals aren't all pasta dishes like many of Jenny's are. BistroMD seems to plump up the meals with lots of veggies and larger portions of meat. Jenny Craig is mostly a little handful of bland pasta. I'm finding this far easier to stick with because the meals are filling and you don't feel as cheated after you eat and you do with other diet meals. I've only been at it for a few days but I haven't been hungry at all.
But oh gag! Most of these snacks are pretty lame. I'm thinking about canceling the snacks and doing my own..but I really prefer individual sealed bags. If I have bigger bags left unopened, I'm doomed. Those of you replacing the snacks...what are you doing instead?

I think I'm opting out of the turkey though. The first turkey dish I had was disappointing. Do the turkey dishes get better?

So far I've only had 1 meal I really disliked with Jenny I hated most everything minus the Chicken Fettuccine. I think I might actually be able to stick with this one for 20 lbs! Woot Woot!