So I firmly seated back on the wagon. Went from 210 to 160, and am back to 162-163 now after 5-6 months (not too bad!). Unfortunately, I know my metabolic rate is lower due to dieting, but I still have 15 pounds left to shake. Anyway, here is my meal plan with my daily calories. Please take a look and give me any feedback as far as places I could improve. Thanks!!!

monday 5/14:
Breakfast:
1/2 English muffin - 50
1/2 avocado - 100
1 egg- 80

Snack:
2 dunkin donuts munchkins- 120

Lunch:
slice of cheese- 80
grapes- 110
vita top (low cal fiber muffin)- 100
milk in coffee-40

Dinner:
Chicken breast (baked) -250
asparagus
mushrooms/onions- 30

grapes/blueberries- 150
almonds- 100

Total: 1210


Tuesday 5/15:

Breakfast:
Vitatop-100
20 Almonds- 140
Milk in coffee-50

Lunch:
wheat wrap- 100
slice of cheesex2- 160
spinach
cherry tomatoes
20 almonds- 140

Dinner:
tilapia- 300
Asparagus
Spinach

Snack:
Egg-80
Blueberries-80

total: 1150

Wednesday:

Breakfast:
vitatop- 100
20 almonds- 140
Milk in coffee-80

Lunch:
slice of cheese- 80
egg-80
wheat wrap - 50
spinach
1/2 cup beans-100
grapes-50

Snack:
8 almonds-60
couple of grapes
blueberries-50

Dinner:
chicken -250
asparagus
spinach
cherry tomatoes

total: 1150


Thursday:

Breakfast:
Vitatop-100
20 almonds-140
milk w/coffee-50

Lunch:
1/2 Wheat wrap-50
Slice of cheese-80
grilled eggplant
spinach
Egg-80
Cherry tomatoes

Dinner:
chicken breast-250
zuchini w/sundried tomatoes,basil,spinach,almonds,oliveoil-150

snack:
blueberries-50
yogurt-100
crackers-50
strawberries-50

total: 1150


Friday:

Breakfast:
vitatop-100
egg beater omelette w/cheese, spinach-180
milk w/ coffee-50

Lunch:
2 eggs-160
20 almonds-140
cherry tomatoes
yogurt-100

snack:
1/2 frozen banana-50
blueberries/strawberries-50
yogurt-100


Dinner: 260
pita w/cheese, mushrooms-
asparagus

total: 1200

Saturday:
vitatop-100
1/2 avocado-100
egg-80
milk-40

Lunch:
pita, mushrooms with cheese-250
chicken-100

snack:
banana-100
yogurt w/berries-150
chocolate-150

dinner:
edamame-150
omelette-150

total:1370

Sunday:

Breakfast:
Vitatop-100
almonds-140
milk-40

Lunch:
eggplant sandwich-180
avocado salad-150

snack:
frozen banana-100
cheese stick- 80

Dinner:
Tilapia-300
asparagus
spinach w/olive oil-50

total:1100



Monday (5/20)

Breakfast:
vitatop-50
almonds-140
milk-50

Lunch:
sweet potato-150
yogurt-100
almonds-70
seaweed salad

snack:
apples-200

dinner:
meat-300
Reggies w/ olive oil-150

total:1210

Do you use a system like Sparkpeople that will also track the protein, carbs and fiber for you? I find this useful in terms of seeing what keeps me full. For me, higher protein/fat and lower carb makes me feel the best. Your diet looks carb heavy and protein light. You might try tracking some macronutrients and tweaking those around while stlll consuming the same calories to see if it helps you lose faster.

Things like Vitatops, Munchkins, wouldn't work well for me. I'd be starving soon after eating.

How are you feeling eating like this? Do you think you need a change?

Believe it or not, I actually keep my carbs to about 60-80 a day, and at least 50-60 grams of protein a day. (A lot of lower carb, higher fiber/protein wraps and whatnot with a daily vita muffin being my treat). The macronutrients are working fine for me, but my main issue lately is not knowing whether I'm eating too many/too few calories overall.

When I get into full on "diet mode", it seems like I can talk myself out of hunger pretty easily by telling myself that I don't "need" the food or that the hunger is fake, which to me is somewhat disordered thinking...but hey, it works for now. I -am- afraid that I am going to do more damage to my metabolism, but it seems like the weight loss has just slowed since last time, so I am on the fence as to what I should even do :-\

I would be starving on your plan! It looks quite restrictive but you have obviously found something that works for you and well done for the weight loss so far. You have maintained well. Do you do any exercise, maybe you could step that up a little to get the metabolism going? I love my exercise but it does make me hungrier!!

Your plan looks much like mine.

You have bits of protein throughout the day which will help you stay satisfied longer. However, if you find yourself starving on the days you add complex carbs like the munchkins, rethink that choice for future meals.

I work a bit of cardio and some weight training into my regimen, but not as much as I could I'm sure. We are around a similar weight (Granted you are 4 inches taller than me). What do you keep your calories at? How much exercise do you do with that calorie level?

Your plan seems pretty good, actually. It seems you allow yourself really nutritious things as well as "treats" now and then. The calorie counts just seem a tad low for someone who exercises.

If you feel fine with your current plan (i.e. you feel you have the energy to complete your workouts) then you don't necessarily have to add much—maybe 100 calories or so a day. However, giving yourself fuel for those workouts is very beneficial