New Plan
 

I need to re-evaluate my plan of action. I really, really want to lose weight but I'm just always so hungry for some reason. I figure I have to put more food into breakfast and lunch so I stop binging at night. But will I lose weight that way?

Plan:
- Two Sunnyside up eggs with salt and pepper. Will convert this into a sort of toast on wheat egg sandwich. (Breakfast)
- Soup. Will add either a sandwich on the side or venture into experimenting with vegetarian wraps. (Lunch)
- Whatever I want. (Dinner)
- Will add dark chocolate almonds throughout the day to keep full and curb eating worse sweets. (Snacks)

As you can see, I've reserved dinner as my one meal that I can eat whatever and how much ever I want. Is this a mistake???
What do you think of my revised plan?
Was I eating too little in the mornings and noon?

Are you utilizing portion control? I would not be able to be on a plan without that when eating what I want.

Are you counting calories?

I found that the old adage "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper" works really well.

I like to include vegetables in every one of my meals. Eggs are a perfect food to pair with veggies. I go for only one slice of toast, usually a slice of english muffin.

Lunchtime I do a big salad with protein. Tons of raw veggies not only keep me chewing for a long time but make me feel fantastic. I like to add seeds, avocado, nuts sometimes, grilled shrimp or roasted chicken, beans or peas, the possibilities are endless.

Dinner is the one meal where I consciously portion control. I don't like going to bed with a full stomach anyway. I go heavy on the veggies, moderate on the protein and very very easy on the starch. Eating a light dinner is difficult to do if you eat light meals during the day so you have to consciously stack your meals to be heavier in the daytime. When you do that then it's no big deal to eat a light meal at the end of the day.

I'm not counting calories, no. Mostly because I don't believe that they have much of an impact when it comes to fruits and veggies.

I'm eating veggies in my vegetarian wraps I have for lunch. In them I have cucumbers, broccoli sprouts, spinach, and lettuce.

For dinners, one of my favorite things is mac & cheese. My boyfriend and I usually mix in chopped broccoli with it. With also mix in full broccoli when we eat Tortellini. I guess we really like broccoli. :p

I would still advise counting your calories. It's amazing to see what a portion size actually is when you measure it out using a food scale. It also helps me be accountable for everything I eat.

If you're monitoring calories and portions all day knowing you can have "whatever you want" for dinner you might have a tendency to overcompensate with your evening meal. A bigger dinner is fine, but I would at least count calories for a week or so to see how much you're eating in a day.

At your weight, I think you should be giving the advice.

Well, I've gained 3 lbs as of this morning and judging how today went, I'll probably be heavier tomorrow morning as well.

This happens every time. I do so good for a week or so. Then we start running out of food. I don't drive so I can't go get groceries myself. My boyfriend likes to try to make it as long as we can (even though he is also trying to lose weight).

What happens? First, my mom decides to take me to a market that has basically no fresh food or even good food at all and just packaged food. I'm starved (I usually never go shopping hungry but she surprised me) and I ended up getting crackers, dark chocolate, frozen pizza, wine (which was suppose to be for Christmas only and I'm trying to get into wine as my alcohol of choice as opposed to beer).....this is what I have been eating the past 2or 3 days.

I'm snacking on crackers as I type this. All because I've simply run out of eggs. My boyfriend convinced me to just drink the wine that very day and he gave it as an excuse to get beer and we both ended up drinking both.

This is so frustrating. If we could only get to the grocery store on time, this wouldn't be happening. I guess I'm mostly mad because I feel powerless about it even though I know that's not entirely true (I do have a voice, I should voice my opinion and needs and not be weak).

The wraps are not going as planned. I will be honest, I am no cook (even though I wish I were) and I'm also lazy when it comes to meals. I need things that will be easy for me to compile. I think I'm going to do salads instead of wraps. That way I can just chop up everything when I get back from shopping, toss them into baggies to save in the fridge, and then just throw everything into a bowl at lunch.

Another problem....salads are so...fresh. The ingredients don't last long. Does anyone have tips for that?

I was thinking of putting in my salad:
- Spinach/Lettuce mix
- Green peppers (because they can be frozen to last longer)
- Lime (just squeeze the juice in)
- Olives (maybe not fresh but from a small can? So I can buy multiple small cans for them to last longer?)
- Slivered almonds
- Tomatos (Should I go baby tomatos? Or whole and cut them? Which lasts longer?)
- Cilantro???

Any suggestions?

When it comes to salads anything goes. In my experience I prefer to cut lettuce fresh rather than pre cut it, it lasts longer. There are pre washed organic boxes of greens that make prep simple but they are more expensive so I prefer to buy heads of romaine lettuce and wash as needed. Sometimes I like to mix in arugula or spinach and if I'm feeling fancy I'll buy a small radicchio for color and flavor.

What to put in your salad, well your list is rather basic. There is so much more you can put in there. These are only some of the things I like to put in.

Colorful peppers
cucumbers
grated carrot
avocado
peas
canned beans (my favorites are kidney beans, black beans and garbanzos)
sunflower seeds or other nuts
flax seeds
grilled chicken
grilled shrimp
cubed ham
hard boiled egg
dill and parsley
corn
spring onions
grilled zucchini
roasted peppers
broccoli
cauliflower
grilled mushrooms
chia seeds

I eat a large salad every day and I really enjoy making them, it's so fun. I always add flax seed, it mixes in with the dressing and has no flavor, but adds a little texture and so much nutrition. Don't forget to add a little healthy fat to your salad. Avocados, olive oil and nuts are all good choices. The fat is very important, without it your body doesn't absorb as many of the nutrients from the vegetables.

Olives - canned olives are not really yummy. If you go to a mediterranean specialty store you'll find an assortment of amazing olives and other brined goodies that you can add to your salad.

Peppers - I have an assortment of green/red/yellow/orange bell peppers in my fridge, they last a long time. Why ever would you ruin their beautiful texture by freezing them?

Carrots last a long time! Beans from a can are marvelous and I refrigerate the rest, they last for several days. Peas and corn both are frozen and super simple to reheat.

Protein - I throw in whatever is left over from yesterday's dinner and chop it into my salad. My favorite is leftover steak! Same goes for left over veggies. Just throw them in there!

My most necessary tool is my salad spinner. I just tear up my lettuce leaves into it, wash the lettuce and then spin it dry. It also serves as my salad bowl.

Dressings - my recent favorite is olive oil with lemon juice and a hint of tahini. But oil and vinegar will do just fine, just stay away from vegetable oils and use only olive oil.

Ok I'll stop talking. I'm really really passionate about my salads lol.

The best tomatoes are Campari or Sarpori, a type of cherry tomato that are the closest to home grown. Of course home grown are the BEST but we only get them about 3 months a year.

also start counting those salads and vegetables.

Thanks for the advice! I'm just always afraid everything will go bad before the end of the week is up.

My boyfriend told me flat out today we are not going shopping today. He is sick and already had to go to work and he just didn't want to go. Order in pizza again tonight. There goes all the weight I've lost....

I think you're setting yourself up for too many shoulds and "oh wells". You're a little stuck on extremes: either you're going to eat something "good" or you're going to eat something "bad." If you're going to eat pizza ten enjoy it without giving up on yourself. You don't have to eat the whole pizza you know. You could eat a slice or 2 and have a salad as well. You're victimizing yourself by relying on someone else to take you shopping or choose the food you eat. You're in charge all the time, the truth is you'd rather eat the pizza, don't we all?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to be either ON plan or OFF plan. Moderation is in the middle. I eat pizza whenever I want it, I eat as much as I need to satisfy my hunger and no more than that.

I'm eating the pizza because there is literally no food in the house. The spinach and wrap stuff all went bad. We have milk, ketchup, vodka, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Although after I already bought the pizza, I thought, "Hmmm, I probably could have hailed a taxi to and from the grocery store for the amount I paid for this pizza." I'll research that next time. It's something I am willing to do. Seriously take a taxi just to get groceries.

I don't believe in dieting or anything like that, but I think relinquishing control over what you eat to someone else is a cop out. Pizza is the only choice? Great, make it thin crust, easy on the cheese, loaded with veggies, skip the pepperoni.

And while you're at the grocery store stock your pantry. Whole wheat bread can be stored in the freezer and warmed up quickly in the toaster. Get lots of tuna packed in water. Rice, beans, nuts, yogurt and eggs are staples. You can always scramble a couple of eggs, throw in some frozen spinach and you're set. Frozen food is your friend, there are great choices for veggies and it's better than rotten food in the fridge. Frozen broccoli will do in a pinch, peas and carrots and corn are super simple to warm through, they even sell frozen kale that you can throw quickly into soups.

Make a big pot of lentil soup and portion into individual servings to freeze. You'll always have a healthy hearty soup on hand. Can't cook? Learn. It's a matter of life and death.

Originally Posted by Wannabeskinny:
I don't believe in dieting or anything like that, but I think relinquishing control over what you eat to someone else is a cop out. Pizza is the only choice? Great, make it thin crust, easy on the cheese, loaded with veggies, skip the pepperoni.

And while you're at the grocery store stock your pantry. Whole wheat bread can be stored in the freezer and warmed up quickly in the toaster. Get lots of tuna packed in water. Rice, beans, nuts, yogurt and eggs are staples. You can always scramble a couple of eggs, throw in some frozen spinach and you're set. Frozen food is your friend, there are great choices for veggies and it's better than rotten food in the fridge. Frozen broccoli will do in a pinch, peas and carrots and corn are super simple to warm through, they even sell frozen kale that you can throw quickly into soups.

Make a big pot of lentil soup and portion into individual servings to freeze. You'll always have a healthy hearty soup on hand. Can't cook? Learn. It's a matter of life and death.

I agree 100% with this. I grocery shop once every few weeks because it's just easier for me. I cook my foods that spoil easily first, and freeze dishes into portions for later. I keep nuts/seeds, dried fruits, canned fish, rice, pasta and canned beans stocked up, and I keep corn tortillas, wraps, bread, fish, poultry, and meat in the freezer.

Can you buy two cartons of eggs at a time? Keep more frozen veggies on hand? You can definitely find a way to make this work!

Originally Posted by Munchy:
I agree 100% with this. I grocery shop once every few weeks because it's just easier for me. I cook my foods that spoil easily first, and freeze dishes into portions for later. I keep nuts/seeds, dried fruits, canned fish, rice, pasta and canned beans stocked up, and I keep corn tortillas, wraps, bread, fish, poultry, and meat in the freezer.

Can you buy two cartons of eggs at a time? Keep more frozen veggies on hand? You can definitely find a way to make this work!

We have been doing pretty well since the last post.

I have been buying two loaves of whole wheat bread; storing one in the freezer. Buying two really big cartons of eggs.

Breakfasts I have been adhering to my two pieces of toast w/ mayonnaise, one sunny-side egg up each, sprinkled with salt and pepper.

Lunches have been carrots w/ ranch dressing and a can of soup.

Dinners have been either rice & chow mein; or mac & cheese; or two salami sandwiches (one slice of bread with mayonnaise, one slice with mustard).

A small sweet (like a single piece of chocolate) random times about twice a day.

STILL HUNGRY USUALLY.

Why? I'm wondering what else I can do. My boyfriend puts two eggs each on his toast. Should I do that too? (I feel like my boyfriend consumes WAY less calories than I do in a day. IDK how he does it. He is a fairly big guy. IDK how I'm not way bigger.)

I want to start meal planning too but IDK how into that my boyfriend would be. The latest problem is that he wants to eat dinner at like 5pm and not eat anything past that (we usually go to sleep around midnight). I absolutely cannot do that. Meal planning where we can cook dinner early, he can eat it early, and I can save my part for later seems to be the only solution.

That's a good start! See, staples keep a long time.

You may need to add more fiber to your diet in order to feel more satisfied. It's not about eating more food, it's about eating more satisfying foods. Veg veg veg! Add some veggies and fruit to your breakfast. For example I eat one egg and one slice of toast, but I also have some melon and some grilled mushrooms as well, possibly a slice of lean ham. OR, I eat a smoothie with banana/yogurt/blueberries/spinach/flax seeds and feel pretty full. OR I have yogurt with nuts and honey and fruit, chia and flax seeds. Or you could have oatmeal with fruit and peanut butter.

Your lunch is pretty skimpy. Instead of ranch try hummus, its full of filling and healthy protein. I don't know what kind of soup you eat so I can't comment on that, but make sure it's filling and full of veg. I prefer lentil, navy bean, or chicken rice, each with lots of veggies in them and no pasta.

For dinner try making a salad night. Bare with me, I know it sounds boring but we have salad nights at my house all the time and they're super fun for the whole family. Each person gets a whole head of romaine lettuce and then we add toppings as we wish! My husband likes to add olives, cheese, hot peppers, nuts, cucumbers and tomatoes. I like to add grilled shrimp, peas, avocado, cucumber, and carrots. We have fun in the kitchen, each of us chopping, my 3yr old included and I also have the satisfaction of teaching my son to eat his healthy meals too = he loves his salads!

Many pizza shops also sell salads. You could order one with your pizza. Eat the salad first, then you might be satisfied with only 1 slice of pizza.

Also, I buy a lot of frozen veggies since the fresh ones can spoil so quickly. You can't make a salad with them, but you can cut them up to add to your morning eggs and also serve them with your other meals. Fresh is best, but frozen is a close second.

You are not overweight by any means, but you are smart to be weight concious before it gets out of control.

Originally Posted by Wannabeskinny:
That's a good start! See, staples keep a long time.

You may need to add more fiber to your diet in order to feel more satisfied. It's not about eating more food, it's about eating more satisfying foods. Veg veg veg! Add some veggies and fruit to your breakfast. For example I eat one egg and one slice of toast, but I also have some melon and some grilled mushrooms as well, possibly a slice of lean ham. OR, I eat a smoothie with banana/yogurt/blueberries/spinach/flax seeds and feel pretty full. OR I have yogurt with nuts and honey and fruit, chia and flax seeds. Or you could have oatmeal with fruit and peanut butter.

Your lunch is pretty skimpy. Instead of ranch try hummus, its full of filling and healthy protein. I don't know what kind of soup you eat so I can't comment on that, but make sure it's filling and full of veg. I prefer lentil, navy bean, or chicken rice, each with lots of veggies in them and no pasta.

For dinner try making a salad night. Bare with me, I know it sounds boring but we have salad nights at my house all the time and they're super fun for the whole family. Each person gets a whole head of romaine lettuce and then we add toppings as we wish! My husband likes to add olives, cheese, hot peppers, nuts, cucumbers and tomatoes. I like to add grilled shrimp, peas, avocado, cucumber, and carrots. We have fun in the kitchen, each of us chopping, my 3yr old included and I also have the satisfaction of teaching my son to eat his healthy meals too = he loves his salads!

Thank you so much for all your advice! It has been a great help to me!

I might try doing a yogurt w/ some type of nuts or fiberous oats. My bf does that for snacks and he really likes it. But maybe I'll start doing that for breakfast with just one slice of toast and two eggs. If I'm still hungry, two toasts, four eggs, and the yogurt/nut/oat mix.

For lunch, I have the campbell's chunky cans of soup. I like sirloin burger, pot pie, chicken dumpling, etc. I know it's not healthy at all. One thing we have for dinner that is really filling to me is chicken rice mixed with baked beans. IDK if that would be healthier to make for lunches? (Although it would definitely be much more work.)

I love salads too! But again, the fresh ingredients...and we have only small bowls so even putting lettuce in it fills it up! Maybe we need to invest in bigger bowls.

Originally Posted by Wannabehealthy:
Many pizza shops also sell salads. You could order one with your pizza. Eat the salad first, then you might be satisfied with only 1 slice of pizza.

Also, I buy a lot of frozen veggies since the fresh ones can spoil so quickly. You can't make a salad with them, but you can cut them up to add to your morning eggs and also serve them with your other meals. Fresh is best, but frozen is a close second.

You are not overweight by any means, but you are smart to be weight concious before it gets out of control.

That's a really good idea! Thanks! :)

Another good idea. I didn't think of eating that with breakfast but it might work. I'm definitely a frozen vegetable fan.

Buy some big bowls, they sell cheap ones at CorningWare or Target. Sometimes I make my salad right in the salad spinner because it's big.

When I pack a salad for lunch I put it in a very large tupperware. It's super easy to toss the ingredients together with the lid on.