I know you've mentioned before that you really enjoy your shakes, but I still have to suggest that you use them less even if you don't want to cut them out completely. Maybe instead of using them for two meals a day, you could use them for just one. The rest of the day could be filled with portions of healthy, nutritious food (like the above posters have mentioned).
Ok, this is what I am eating everyday......And please tell me if I need to cut down or eat more.
Breakfast ~ Whey protein shake.
Snack ~ Apple
Lunch ~ Whey protein Shake
Snack ~ Apple
Dinner ~ Baked chicken with mrs dash. and steamed broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and squash.
Snack ~ Fresh fruit salad
1 gallon water
1 hr. of fast pace walking, cardio, swinging my arms and waist.
I alternate the chicken meal at either dinner, or lunch...depending on my schedule. but I always have a shake at 2 meals.... do I need to add. or take away... please help... I need to be told...
Lots of great advice given. I'll add my two cents. Many of the suggestions advocate using real food rather than the protein shakes. I'm assuming that your protein shakes are meal replacements. Looking over your typical daily menu it does seem that you are not getting enough nutrients, protein or calories for successful weight loss...esp. w/your exercise routine.
I lost a little over 135#s in a little over a year using a modified Medifast (meal replacements) plan meaning that I had 3 meal replacements, 1 whole grain starch, 1-2 fruit, 1 LF dairy & 1 healthy meal of 5-6 oz. lean protein & a large serving (2-3 c.) of non-starch veggies every day. For gallbladder health it was imperative to have a fat serving each day (I usually used 1-2 tsp. of olive oil to either cook my protein or make up a homemade salad dressing vinaigrette.) As you can see, this type of menu is much more rounded food & nutrition-wise while still giving you the protein, nutrients & low calories for quicker weight loss.
Most protein shakes provide a suggested weight loss plan using their products. I would look at that or research other diet plans using protein shakes for other ideas on diet plans. LA Weightloss uses a combo of real food & protein shakes. You can do their program on your own & there is an excellent support & info forum right here on 3FC for lots of info & help. DietDirect offers their Wonderslim program that uses protein shakes + real food too. Their plan uses more shakes & less real food.
Just a few ideas. I would also suggest using a food tracker like FitDay to see how your diet adds up nutritionally. By researching some of the established weight loss plans it will be easy to see how your menu is stacking up & you can make needed adjustments to make sure you are getting all the nutrition your body needs.
Weight loss plans are a very personal choice. If you look through the different forums here you can see that. It is important to find the right plan that will suit you. All I can offer is that you make it one that will enhance your health as well as your appearance. Losing 135#s is a LOT of hard work...I know. It can & will be frustrating at times. Hang in there. Find a good plan you can live with & stick to it. You will get thinner. Really really.
Please understand that what I am going to say is just my personal opinion and that I am no expert. I don't like your eating plan at all. I would not want to eat that - it seems very boring with little variation.
Meal #1 - shake
Snack #1- apple
Meal #2 - shake
Snack #2- apple
I would not be looking forward meals like this - but that may be just me. I am not a fan of meal replacements, I consider them an emergency options when you have to eat and there is nothing else or you have no time to cook, but I would not want to live on them. You can lose weight with real food.
Again, this is just my opinion.
I tend to agree with all of the above suggestions. If I can give you some of my opinions:
For me, I tried those meal replacements, and numerous other things, some healthy, some not so, but what I've found is. None of them work for the long haul, I'm tired of doing this diet thing, so now I just eat healthy, and the weight is coming off, not as fast as I think it should be, but it is slowly coming off.
No one understands more than I do, how much you want to shed those pounds, but for your body, mind and soul, you do need to eat more.
Chubs - I think Weight Watchers would be GREAT for you - you seem like you're looking for a plan that tells you exactly what, when, and how to go about this...and WW gives you that, PLUS all kinds of tips, PLUS support from other members! And it really does work!
You could even start going to meetings now, and use your canister of shake mix to figure out the points per scoop. Then you could use the shake during your Weight Watchers plan without any problems.
What can I add to my diet plan to make my calories. I think when my shake container is empty, I will switch to weight watchers.
Make sure you hop on over to the Weight Watchers section under Diet Central if you ever have any questions or want any support I've been using WW for a year, and I've found it to be healthy & sustainable.
Weight Watchers sounds like a great idea for you. I agree with everyone else, you have been eating too few calories. That will lead to a slower or non-existant weight loss, a feeling of deprevation, and hunger...all of which lead to going off plan. If you are able to get to your ideal goal weight, on your current plan, you will face a much harder time of maintaining that weight because your current plan doesn't really teach you how to eat.
I have yo-yoed for so long...this tie I really feel like I am going to do it and make it work. What is different this time??? My attitude for one. I know I will always have to control my eating. I made a decision not to do anything this time that I can't do for the rest of my life. I have kicked pre packaged food to the curb!!
You have definately come to the right place. There is so much support and knowledge here it amazes me!! Go to the GOAL section and read other success stories...and think of how good it is going to feel when you write your own!!
Good for you for taking that first step! We both are starting around the same area--- both tall, both in the 300's... you can do this!!! I've lost 40 pounds so far, so I KNOW you can too!!!
As for weight fluctuations... I would recommend keeping track of everything you're eating and make sure you're getting enough to eat, as well as making sure you realize how many calories there REALLY area in everything you're eating. Time of month ALWAYS makes me go up on the scale... and all kinds of other hormonal fluctuations.
I weigh myself every day (morning and night) and take ONE weekly official measurement on Wednesday mornings. So that way I'm in tune with how my body works, but only have 4 weights a month on which to base my progress. That helps me get over the weird scale fluctuations, and also have PROOF that my body does weird stuff around TOM!
I really appreciate everyones opinion, I am realizing that I am not eating enough, and I am probably starving. I know that now that a little over a week has gone by, and I am not feeling so great. I am feeling like I want to eat.... and eat, but I tell myself NO! You do not need that. That is because all I see see is high calorie foods. I will check out all the suggestions mentioned. I am proud of you all, for what you have done to improve yourselves, I hope inshallah, that I will be one of you in a few months. uno? with some weight loss to speak of. I am wishing, and praying for you all. and that your healths may be at its best. Thanks you all so much. I am listening....
You got GREAT advice. You're in the perfetc place for weight loss support, that's for sure.
#1 - NEVER give up
#2 - it takes time. A lot more time than a week, or two weeks or even a month. It takes day after day, montha after month of making (mostly) right choices to take off a large amount of weight. But it will happen if you (see #1).
Chubs, there is no need to starve to lose weight. I am never hungry on my plan. I eat lots of wonderful, satisfying, nutritious foods that keep me full and feeling great.
At your weight you can eat a lot of calories and still lose weight. If you are suffering with hunger, you have a very slim chance of sticking with the program long term.
I would also suggest using a food tracker like FitDay to see how your diet adds up nutritionally. By researching some of the established weight loss plans it will be easy to see how your menu is stacking up & you can make needed adjustments to make sure you are getting all the nutrition your body needs.
If I can give you some of my opinions:
but it is slowly coming off. 
No one understands more than I do, how much you want to shed those pounds, but for your body, mind and soul, you do need to eat more. 
That will lead to a slower or non-existant weight loss, a feeling of deprevation, and hunger...all of which lead to going off plan. 
If you are able to get to your ideal goal weight, on your current plan, you will face a much harder time of maintaining that weight because your current plan doesn't really teach you how to eat.
Thank you all!!!!
