I was told by a few people to stop eating after 6:00 pm, because it's to close to bed time. Right now I can't ask hubby to cook, we are dealing with to many other things to add this task to him, and I'm just to worn out to cook when I get home now. I want my bigger meal of the day to be lunch, because that is when I most feel I need it. There are lots of times I could easily have gone to bed and not eaten but did because my husband brought up he was hungry.

I'm not a big chicken eater. I love the Joe's Crab shack Chicken Cob salad. I have never ever cooked chicken well.

As for bulk cooking i'll have to start reading some recipes. I just don't know when I'll have time. There just isn't any, especially with taking over the farm full time by ourselves for two weeks.

What about subway salads, or even their sandwhiches?

I'll change the cerial to something suggested.

Anyone do the Nutrasystem stuff? Maybe I need to look into that.

I appreciate all the comments.

Hello Farmgirl,

I just wanted to write to you on a personal note. I have been going through the weight loss stuggle for a long time now. Until you are ready to take the time to do what needs to be done for you, you are more than likely going to fail. I have figured this out the hard way. I always just thought of the most convenient options and most of the time at the end of the day even those weren't convenient enough for me and I ended up at the nearest drive through.

Take some time for yourself and plan out your meals for the week. Take an hour or 2 out of one day for the week and pre-cut up all of the ingrediants for your meals for the week(for after work) that way you don't have to spend so much time in the evenings making dinner. Make sure you make enough so that you have left overs for the next day for your lunch so that you don't have to buy lean cuisines which in the long run add up to a lot of money.

When I do my weekly grocery shopping, I try to spend some time afterwards dividing everything up and this helps a lot. I am sure that somewhere you will be able to find an hour or 2 to spend some time to try to improve your life. I used to do the same thing as you, I would explain to everyone that I just didn't have the time to do what needed to be done to help me to eat better (I had to work full time, take accelerated accounting classes at night and then do all of the homework every other night, clean the house, do yard work, go to bed on time, etc.) The truth is, is that I wasn't in a place in my life that I was READY to do these things. I am now ready and I hope that you can get to that place too.

Hi farmgirl! :wave:

I think the "wisdom" of not eating after a certain time comes from the tendency of many people to binge after dinner because they are bored, restless...

I have eaten after dinner snacks every day of my weight loss journey (10.5 months) and I have lost 79 lbs. I will have a snack tonight - because I like eating in the evening and I plan my day around that fact. I think shortchanging yourself of real food because of some arbitrary rule is a mistake that will not serve you well in the long term.

Peace, Heather

I have a friend who also says that but you want to know the biggest key to any weight loss plan? Making it your own. I used to come home at 6:40. If I followed my friend's plan, I wouldn't get to eat at all! I agree with batch cooking. I do all my batch cooking on the weekends since that is my free time. I also agree with real food. If you don't have variety, trust me, you'll be miserable and probably give up

well I guess its pointless for me to start then being there no me time. I have way to much responibily right now to have to add the stress of cooking and finding recipes etc. I guess it was a nice thought anyway. I had a complete melt down today just denying myself a piece of birthday cake at work for someones birthday. litterly brought me to tears and had to excuse myself. maybe its not even worth it.

It is worth it. More precisely, YOU ARE WORTH IT. I hope you see this and can somehow find the time to take care of yourself.

You have to decide that it's worth it and make no excuses. It takes NO TIME to throw 6 chicken breasts in the oven and WALK AWAY. It take 5 minutes to cut up and bag them. literally. Put them in, walk away, clean your living room, tidy the bathroom. Come back to the kitchen and take them out. Do some dishes while they cool. Cut, bag and freeze.

MOST of us on here have NO time. I run a daycare. I have three kids, a husband and two dogs that I show. I am treasurer of my schools PAC. I am a breastfeeding counsellor. My girls are heavily involved in dance and dance 5 days a week. I have to get them there, sew costumes and be involved. Even I have time to make some chicken, throw a chili in the crockpot, make a pot of spaghetti sauce. And I HAVE NO TIME.

You have to make time. Because time won't stand still for you. We all got to this weight by making excuses WHY WE JUST COULDN'T DO IT NOW. Stop the excuses and just do it!!! We'll be here for anything you need. But one thing we WON'T do it enable you to lose weight unhealthfully, accept excuses or coddle. But that's a very good thing as you'll see.

Stick around. Incorporate little things daily. Cut out junk. Drink more water. Move your body. Get 5-10 fruits/veggies a day. Use lean cuts of meat. etc.

I hope you do stick around and learn and grow. I have. I've also had my fair share of butt kickings from the ladies here... and I've appreciated every single one.

Ummm...
:hug:
I know you are busy and don't want to cook. This is something that you eventually will have to do. It is cheaper and healthier and better for you than eating out.

HOWEVER, given that you just don't choose to do this right now, here are some options for you:

The Subway Diet:
http://ask.yahoo.com/20011012.html

Prepared Foods diet:
http://astrology.yahoo.com/channel/h...egy-ok-371398/

Help! I don't cook!
http://caloriecount.about.com/help-s...t-cook-ft38938

You can also check out sites such as Nutrasystem and Jenny Craig or Medifast and check out the threads about these programs on this site too. But keep in mind that the $$$ is a factor, as is the ability after these diets to keep the weight off because, IMHO, they don't teach you much about HOW to eat AFTER the diet.

The thing is, at the very least, you need to learn how to use a microwave, because it is hard to stick with such a limited variety of foods for very long. If you REALLY want to lose the weight, you have to do what it takes, not what you THINK it SHOULD take...

I wish you luck...

Kira

I keep the little Snack Pac puddings in the fridge. They are about 100 calories and make me feel like I have had a piece of pie. I really love the Lemon Meringue Pie flavor. You just have to have the will power to eat only one.

You are SO WORTH it. After you've lost a bit of the weight, doing all your daily activities will so much easier to handle and giving yourself more energy!

You know, it sounds like you're really stressed. This is not a normal reaction, especially from someone who wants to lose weight.

One thing about making time for yourself, about getting your body moving and dropping some weight is you begin to feel IN CONTROL again. It spills over into other parts of your life.

The better food reeks less havoc on your body and it feels more like you can handle things. That's what I've found anyway.

I'm sorry you think it might not be worth the effort. It is. But I don't think it's really fair for you to expect it not to be work that takes some effort. I think for many of us, eating that quick, fast, no-time-taking food is part of what got us here in the first place.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

That is so true. Food doesn't rule your life anymore and it's amazing feeling. Especially after realizing this, I don't want to ever lose this feeling.

:hug: Farmgirl:

You are so worth it.

I too have had the meltdowns and the thing that gets me through is I DO NOT dent myself anything. What I DO keep in mind is portion control. I will allow myself something sweet every once in a while because I know that if I don't, I will binge hardcore. So, if there is a party or if I feel like a little something, I have it. Just be mindful of how much of it you are eating.

Like many have said, we are all busy in our own ways. I work full time, a nursing student, have 2 boys, my boy's dad and i are working things out, and a house to keep up with. YOU CAN DO IT!! You need to make some time for yourself or you will go nuts.

The ladies on here are absolutely wonderful and will help in any way.

PLEASE do not give up on yourself!

```````````````````````````````````````````````

SIDE NOTE: How do ya'll freeze your batch meals without having freezer burn? I don't think my freezer likes me!!

:hug:

Well, OK, so your situation is stressing you out and you are overwhelmed. That's a bit different that just wanting Special K type things for supper.

Here's what you can do: eat breakfast for supper. You can make an omelette, a poached egg, fruit and toast. Oatmeal with fresh fruit and some nuts. You get the idea.

One of the things I have done is use food to de-stress. I've been doing some research and discovered that if I over-eat--I put MORE stress on my body, not less.

The best way to handle stress is deep breathing at the moment of overwhelm and exercise.

Maybe you need to take this very, very slowly and just start with some excercise--maybe walk for 15 minutes on your lunch hour for starters. Try it for a week. If it is truly unmanageable, then reassess. Your life could be going through a tumultuous period--but if it'll be all over by July, then re-start then. You ARE worth it--but you're also worth doing it properly.

One thing at a time.