Quote:
Originally Posted by carolva77
Do you count calories only Or also grams of fat?
I have a lot of aspects of healthy eating to track:
- Daily calories - within 1700-2000 (I am maintaining my weight loss, my goal was 1400-1600 when I was losing)
- Healthy fats - I eat so little processed food/cheese/junk that it is actually difficult to eat ENOUGH healthy fat a day. My goal is 20-25% of my daily calories should come from healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts/nut butters, salmon, etc)
- Protein - 100 grams a day
- Super Foods - based on the book Super Foods Rx: 14 Foods That Will Change Your Life - at least 10 different super foods/related food a day (spinach/leafy greens, oranges/citrus, tomatoes/watermelon, oats/whole grains, salmon/albacore tuna, beans, nuts, soy, yogurt, tea, berries, broccoli, pumpkin/sweet potato/carrots/orange pepper, turkey/chicken breast
I don't like being hungry, so I eat about every 2-3 hours. I eat mostly whole foods (limited processed foods) and it's mainly a "plant-based diet." I eat a lot of volume - vegetables, fruit, lean protein, low fat dairy, whole grains, healthy fat and I am rarely hungry. I do choose lower fat versions of cheese (normally) and lower fat salad dressings (unless I make my own). I do cook with olive oil and eat natural peanut butter every day. I also like to sprinkle walnuts or cashews or almonds on my salads.
I don't go out of my way to avoid sugar, but it's rarely in the foods that I eat. I do avoid HFCS and trans fat!
It's really hard to explain - but the whole foods diet really helps me avoid cravings. I used to be so...munchy all the time, I was always..searching for something. I wonder if my body was just restlessly looking for necessary nutrition. Now that I eat so many fruits, vegetables, whole grains, I think my body is finally satisfied. That's just my latest crazy theory
