I was thinking about posting here, but after reading some posts...I'm not sure I'll set any "better example". You see...I LOVE FOOD, and don't feel ashamed by that. I don't eat "diet foods", I love the taste of real butter and things of that nature and eat it frequently. I don't "cheat" when I eat things like cookies, pies, muffins and icecream because they are incorporated into my daily eating. I eat red meat frequently and love mashed potatoes. My day usually starts with pancakes and sausage, but can alternate between oatmeal and even a bagel w/some almond butter every now and again.

Through my weight loss journey, I incorporated one "cheat meal" weekly (usually jamaican food take out or pizza). Now that I'm in maintenance, I usually have 2 cheat MEALS per week.

I'd love for people to see that eating delishous foods that you love is NOT bad and that not only can you eat what you want and lose weight...you can eat what you love and want and MAINTAIN weight. In the past, I've gotten alot of flack for this, so I don't want to rile up any feathers here with my way of eating.

Just wanted another perspective to be heard.

Joyful, PLEASE join us and post whatever you want! Amanda who usually posts here (where are you, Amanda?) has a plan that incorporates daily dessert as well and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Personally, my plan includes WEEKLY indulgences rather than DAILY and that is where I have been falling off the wagon lately, resulting in my post about it earlier. Also there are a lot of people who tend to stop posting their log because they are embarrassed about what they ate -- I figure when you're embarrassed about it is when you need to post it the most!

What I love about this thread is that you can see what a variety of different people consider to be "on-plan" and get a good look at how diverse maintainers are.

K...thanks Paperclippy! I just didn't want to offend anyone. My diet can get pretty delishous!

I'll join ya!

So far today:

Oatmeal w/raisins & splenda
2 oatmeal raisin cookies
filet mignon over mashed potatoes, brocolli
100 cal popcorn
2 oatmeal raisin cookies
spinach salad w/grilled chicken
1/8 slice pumpkin pie
skinny cow icecream sandwich
nectarine

Exercise: Running 5.4 Miles

I knew from the beginning (which was originally quite awhile ago, as you can see from my join date) that I didn't want to eat food I didn't like, and conversely, I did want to eat food that I did like and even loved. In my case, however, I had to admit that some of the foods I love can't be around all the time. That doesn't mean "never," it just means I have an addiction problem with them.

I never had such things as a "cheat meal," because I didn't want to think about food that way. If I wanted to eat something, I would find a way to put it into my plan (which back then was calorie counting).

So yes, please post wherever you like! You'll probably get some different opinions, but that's OK. If it works for you, then that's the proof.

Jay

Joyful, no ruffled feathers here! {penguin pun!} I'd love to see your menus. Personally, I'd rather eat smaller portions of the 'good stuff' than eat 'diet' foods. I even make my own bread once a week.

Joyful - I would also love to see your menus! I don't eat a lot in the way of 'diet food' either. I go for real cheese, real sugar, real butter if I use it. You'll see a Sam Adams light in my food for yesterday only because two came in a multipack.


Sun 6/12
This was my planned higher day for the weekend.

B: Kashi go lean crisp in skim milk
S: popcorn at the movies
L: greek yogurt
S: none
D: ground turkey enchilladas, jasmine rice, Sam Adams light
S: peanut butter chocolate ice cream, iced mocha
50 cals of vitamins and supplements

Mon 13
B= protein shake + banana, vit, iron
L= 2 De pudged Pigs In a Blanket, mustard {Hubby has recently given up fried foods due to high chol, so we found this recipe as a sub for pronto pups. Hubby isn't usually very concerned about his health, so giving up fried foods is a big step for him. They were surprisingly good.}, homemade sweet pot fries.
S= strawberry ice cream
S= handful seasoned crutons
D= 4 homemade chicken taquitos, sour cream, refried beans, baked Doritos

Hubby and I have started watching cooking shows together again. We drift in and out of this habit, its one of our few combined interests so we are cooking together more also, which is always a good thing. Another good way to put our new stove to good use!

Hi again ya'll! Thanks for the warm welcome.

Ok..today's eats so far:

3 cinnamon raisin whole wheat pancakes, 2 turkey sausage links
1/8 slice pumpkin pie
shrimp & cod alfredo over spinach quinoa, spinach
1/8 slice pumpkin pie
handful grapes
100 cal popcorn
Teriyaki pork loin over spinach quinoa, spinach
1/2 cup fresh pinnapple
3 homemade toll house cookies
2 homemade oatmeal raisin cookies

Tuesday:
B - oat bran cold cereal, strawberries, skim milk
L - leftover fried rice
S - banana, yogurt
D - pasta with spinach gorgonzola cream sauce, breaded turkey cutlets
S - toast w/butter, chocolate lf yogurt
E - none

Mon 6/13
Sodium high yesterday, even though calories were good. So 1.2 pound jump in weight. Argh.

B: pb&j
S: none
L: leftover ground turkey enchilladas
S: 4 chocolate coated almonds, fiberful bar, air popped popcorn
D: turkey sausage browned with pepper & onion over rice, frozen yogurt
S: coffee, some pineapple, 4 cherries
50 cals of vitamins and supplements

E: 6 miles at the park, 30 mins of yoga

Jessica - when will you be able to exercise again? I know you have to be going out of your mind.

Shannon, I don't know. I'm seeing a new rheumatologist on Monday and crossing my fingers that he can figure out what's wrong with me. None of the treatment they have done has made anything better and it seems like I'm getting more and more injuries. Yesterday I noticed my upper arms hurting for the first time (and it's not like I have been doing anything remotely strenuous) and today my left shoulder is achy, which it has never been before. I thought I might be making some progress with the PT for my plantar fasciitis, but my feet are super-sore today after she used the metal tools on my feet yesterday.

In any case next week I not only have the rheumatology appointment but also an appointment with the podiatrist and I have to get my thyroid labs drawn since it will be 6 weeks since my medication change. I just hope whatever it is doesn't require more PT because I'm almost at my annual limit on my insurance and once I go past 20 visits I have to pay it all out of pocket.

I did almost 30min on the TM. My workout was cut a little short when April <---- tried to climb on with me at 5mph! Screaming, hugging, and petting later, she's fine, but I may never be the same!! I could just see another trip to the emergency vet in our future.

Tues 14
B= protein shake, banana, vit, iron
L= salad, homemade chicken salad, homemade potato salad
D= 2 slices PH veggie pizza with sausage
S= 2 slices warm homemade bread with butter. {I've been dreaming of that all week!}
E=41min weights + 30min TM

Oh man. My dinner last night was so good. I made this recipe from Cooking Light, plus a "lite" adaptation of my mom's breaded turkey cutlets she used to make when I was a kid. I sprayed turkey cutlets with PAM, coated them in italian-style breadcrumbs, and cooked them in my nonstick pan sprayed with PAM, then cut them up and tossed them in with the pasta.

Did some stress eating after dinner, but I am glad I have leftovers for the next few days now.

Wednesday:
B - shredded oats, strawberries, peach, skim milk
L - leftover zucchini frittata, leftover fried rice
S - banana
D - leftover pasta/turkey
S - spoon of PB, chocolate chips
E - none

Today's eats

3 whole wheat cinnamon raisin pancakes, 2 turkey sausage links
1/8 slice pumpkin pie
Activia light yogart
Filet Mignon (w/A-1 sauce, of course) over mashed potatoes, brocolli
2 oatmeal raisin cookies
1/8 slice pumpkin pie
Shrimp & Cod Alfredo over spinach quinoa, spinach
100 cal popcorn
1/2 banana, strawberry protein shake
few chunks of fresh pinnapple, couple of grapes

Exercise: Running 5.4 Miles

paperclippy - mmmm...that recipe sounds DELISH!!! I love Cooking Light recipes (have their latest book). Thanks for the link!

Joyful, I thought I was the only one who would eat pumpkin pie for breakfast lunch and dinner.