Hi Kriss. Yeah, I could understand you not being able to read my story in one sitting. It IS kinda long . And I suppose I do have a hard time containing just how incredibly happy I am to have shed the pounds. My life really is THAT much different and THAT much better now.

Most certainly do not worry about the fat found in fish. Heather's 100% right. We DO need some fat and fish is one of the best ways to get it.

A sweet potato wouldn't be a meal for me. I would perhaps have a small one with a piece of fish or a chicken breast. Maybe some salad too.

You can saute (in cooking spray) some onions, garlic, zucchini and tomatoes in a pot. Add a little water, some spices and let it cook til soft. You can add in some cooked or canned chick peas too. Very yummmy.

Here's a link to a great vegetable recipes thread here at 3FC:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...ake+vegetables

I use Sugar free maple syrup to sweeten my oatmeal. You could cut up those strawbverries in put it in there. Whenever I eat oatmeal, I eat it with an egg white omlette. To make if more filling, more protein filled and to help stave off the affects of the carbs found in the oats.

My typical day consists of me eating often. Every 2 hours or so. I like to eat protein at every meal - fat free yogurt with high fiber cereal, chicken breast, egg white omlettes with lots of sauteed veggies (spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli), fish - including tuna, veggie burgers. Lots and lots of veggies, cauliflower is one of my favorites, at least 2 salads, dressed with balsamic vinegar or lemon with salt and pepper. I don't like to "waste" my calories on dressings. I snack on clemintines, lady apples, sugar free ices, raw vegetables, like grape tomatoes, cucumber spears, baby carrots and string beans.

Like chick-in-the-hat says, "you will learn as you go along". You can't expect "to have it all together" right from the get go. You will need to experiment and tweak as you go along. It's important to find foods that you love. If you love them, well then you'll want to STICK to your plan. No reason to go off plan, if your on plan foods are tasty, delicious and satisfying. Eating healthy foods does NOT mean depriving one self of tasty and good food. Just the opposite, IMO.

Do lots of reading. Scour the internet (and 3FC) for healthy recipes and ideas.

Most importantly, get EXCITED about the changes you are about to make.

I love taking zucchini and saute it in olive oil and sprinkle it with garlic powder or salt and parmesian cheese, just enough to taste. it's yummay! and I love to make "fries" in the oven with sweet potato.

Hey everyone!

Hope you are all having a happy holiday! Today has been a great day for me. It has been hard and still is hard but I just need to get through the next few days then I'll feel stronger I know.

I ate tuna with a load of veggies piled on for lack of imagination today! But it go me through and filled me up. I have had about a million cups of herb tea also. That gets me through too cause I am not a huge fan of water yet.... I know that will come. I have stopped diet drinks and artificial sweeteners . I think I am am one of those where these products seem to increase my appetite. Plus I have a huge issue with carbs and sweets so I think I should get away from the whole sweet addiction.

RRobin does maple syrup have less calories than sugar? Thanks to all of you. I have asked DH to bring me a new techie scale. Ciao! Kriss

Hi there Kriss. I use sugar free maple syrup, which is less calories then sugar. Maple syrup has 54 calories per tablespoon, sugar has 49 per tablespoon.

There are quite a few on line calorie counters, like Fitday.com, which are VERY, VERY useful in helping you decipher all this calorie stuff. I strongly suggest you take a look at it.

Tuna and veggies is a GREAT way to go.

And I know it's hard in the beginning. I found the first 2 weeks quite difficult. But it really does get easier. Just get through the initial period anyway that you have to. Hang in there. You're doing great!!!

Hey RRobin, Thanks for the response. I started using fitday today. Still trying to work out some of the kinks. I had my morning coffee with 1 splenda and 2 tsp of coffemate. It was seriously gross. So I think I'll have my morning cuppa joe with a splash of full fat milk... and a tsp of sugar. I thought maple syrup was the way.... too bad. I had recieved a huge jug of it as a gift. Nightime...ie right now is incredibly hard for me. Its 9:30 pm here and I am soooo nervous! This is when I usually go into comando eating. Liker nonstop till bedtime. Then go to bed loathing myself. This seems so very much harder than the times I have lost weight in the past. Many years ago I was down to 140.I had reached this goal by swimming daily 200 laps come rain or shine I know I can do this... right? I like the morning so much better! lol. Take good care thanks for keepin up with me. You he chick who made it. I showed your photo to my daughter. Very impressed. Bye 4 now, Kriss

Hey Kriss!

I take a slightly different approach--I do use artificial sweeteners, but only in certain things, like in diet sodas. Otherwise, if I want a bit of sweet, I'll use natural sugar cane sweetener or maple syrup or honey. BUT, and this is the big but, I limit how much I use.

I got used to not having sugary foods, and when you do that, your desire for a really sweet taste goes away. I will add a teaspoon of maple syrup to a bowl of cut-up strawberries, and it tastes fine to me. That is only 17 calories, and well worth it for the natural flavor and sweetening.

I use Coffee Mate Lite in my coffee, but no sugar. I found it easy to give up sugar there--and the Coffee Mate Lite makes it nice and creamy tasting to me. I have a couple of spoonsful of the CML and that's only 20 cals.

As for fat free foods, I don't eat those very often. I do use 1% milk, which I never thought I could--but once I got used to it, I like it fine. Full-fat milk would have too many calories--and isn't worth it. Same goes for cottage cheese, except I use 2%, not 1% or fat free. Those last two just have no flavor at all to me.

The idea of eating only fat-free, sugar-free foods doesn't appeal to me most of the time, because it's sort of like eating... synthetic chemicals instead of food? But occasionally I'll do that if I am planning to eat a big dinner, for example. Or, if it's munchie time in the evening and I can't afford any more calories. Fat free sugar free Jell-o can help with that, if you like it.

Just hang on! You can do it! It will get easier!

Jay

Hi Kriss. Gosh, the nights ARE rough, aren't they? I've been having a tough time with them myself once again, after I thought I was way past it. Hmmmm. Not sure why.

I find for me, that that first bite of food, past the time when I "shouldn't" be eating, like I'm not really hungry, sends me OVER the edge. It's like once I take that first bite, there's NO stopping me. I can't get the food in me fast enough. So, hard as it is, I do my darndest to not have that first bite.

I've been drinking lots of hot tea at night. I've also been giving myself a "project" every night to do. Whether it's straightening out a messy drawer or a shelf in the linen closet or making some phone calls. Reading a particular magazine. Something - anything to keep me busy. I plan it in the morning, this way I KNOW I have something to do and to focus on, other then the food.

I've also been brushing my teeth earlier then usual and getting into my PJ's earlier then usual. This is helping me to get into "sleepy" mode, and AWAY from "shoveling food down my throat" mode.

Oh and I've been going to sleep earlier. You can't eat if you're asleep. Or can you???????????? Just kidding.

Jay

I'm sometimes astonished I DONT eat whilst sleeping!

Anyway, hey-o Kriss, youve made a cracking choice by choosing here.

Id like to put my vote in for kicking diet sodas. They are foul poisons.
x

Hi People,

Okay I dodged the bullet a little by having some popcorn. I know this is not the answer but it is waaaaaayy better than what I could have done! WHEW!Okay I keep on sluggin the h2o and herbal tea but I have to PEE.... again! I have read that after this initial sort of flush that the need to uhm.."go" gets better cause this is driving me nuts. I think TV at night may be the enemy of my cravings to eat at night. We are on winter holiday now so we are staying up a bit later etc. I think I need to make a cut off for eating and a bedtime. JayEll I cant get my hands on nonfat dairy here but I can get them on CML. I just love that morning cup of coffee. I know that is a fake food but I dont have any others so will indulge in that. I know taking the sweetness factor down is crucial cause after I get used to it I know very sweet things will taste too sweet.

RRobin ... Maybe the holidays makes you want to nibble a bit but you know what to do. Dont Take The First Bite! Dont You Dare! Im with you on a lil project to get into. I'm thinking sewing. This takes alot of concentration and also the great feeling of accomplishing something. My big project is to paint my living room. { great arm exercise} I like to tidy my clothes and admire the smaller sizes I own and sneer at the stuff I would love to burn... One being a long denim skirt just like the one in your before photo. I had that on today and caught my reflection in a store window. Man nothing can wither a I look good today moment like a refelction in a window. Blech! You wrote in your story that you love wearing heels. Me? I am a boot fan. I love em and cant wait to get a completely hot pair! I have this outfit planned in my mind. This is the outfit that the inner me... the real me longs to wear. Not long denim skirts with big Indian tops. ugh! turn off. Good night chicks. Thanks for all the ideas and advice. Kriss

1 serving of microwave popcorn, of the "natural light" variety, can be a good snack! I have a serving about twice a week, average, sometimes more. But you need to watch... a bag contains more than 2 servings.

Jay

Hey! Hope you are all doing well. I'm staying on track. Night,Kriss

Good for you, Kriss! cheer2:

Jay

Hi! You wanted to know what kind of diet plan I was following or what I was doing to get my weightloss going....really all I did was cut back what I was eating by half so that I burn most of my calories that I ate off by the end of the day. Fitday can help you with knowing how much you're burning too!
I haven't lost much weight recently, but I'm not really trying. I want to start cutting back on my fat intake like you because my body fat % is a lot higher than what I would like it to be. I am going to get a lowfat cookbook or something to get me going. I just need to wake up and stop eating so much fat and sugar!
Good luck!

Hi there!!!! So glad to hear that you are staying on track! Just keep at it. Keep at it.