I am fairly new around here, mostly lurking but posting every now and then, but I hope I can get some advice from you all.
Here is my problem. I need to lose weight (30 pounds or so) and get into shape. I have started exercising and am enjoying it but have not been losing weight and need to get my eating under control. I know what I should be eating but I tend to either get too restrictive and binge, or I allow a few to many tastes, treats and bites - which add up!
The only way I have ever been able to lose weight is by following a diet plan. Right now I am at a place where I don't know which to choose. Way back in the day I did the old WW exchange plan - where you get a set number of servings of various foods (carbs, protein, fat, etc). I have also done South Beach with great success, but those really aren't the foods I enjoy and I haven't been able to stick to the plan. I really don't care for meats of any kind, eggs or milk/yogurt - so I end up eating lots of cheese and veggies. I tried Eat to Live, which is more what I like to eat, but it was hard to stick with the guidelines - I always wanted to eat more fats and refined foods.
I'd love to make my own plan using my favorite parts of the plans above - portion control, lots of fruits and veggies, limited whole grains. I just have trouble sticking to a plan that isn't structured. It is too easy to let myself off the hook if there aren't clear guidelines on what and how much I can eat.
Any advice? I just feel like I keep flip flopping and can't decide what to do and then stick with it.
Why not make your own plan? You can make guidelines. Calorie count & include some of the ideas of the above plans that you like.
You draw it up & write it down & act on it as if it's the same type of plan with clear guidelines. You can refine as you go until you find the right guidelines that allow you to feel satisfied, but also healthy.
I always wanted to eat more fats and refined foods.
It sounds, to me, like your big hurdle is the deadly processed foods.
Before my metabolism took a tank after my surgery, if I wanted to lose weight, I first did 1-2 weeks of "food detox". Nothing but fruits and veggies. It sounds boring, but it got my body off the partially hydrogenated [insert oil here] and high fructose whatever syrup addiction.
After that, I went after fruits and veggies with reckless abandon (you would often find me snacking on a bag of frozen blueberries or grapes), and added back in chicken, fish and some dairy. It always worked. Once I no longer was "hooked" on the bad foods, it wasn't hard to say yes to a salad when we went to a fast food place.
There is the old adage that you can have TOO MUCH of a good thing...but for me, and I think for most people, you don't sit down and much through a 10 pound bag of apples. Just one will do you...
ITA with the others. Why not make your own plan? I calorie count because, unlike you and some of the others, I hate a structured plan. If I'm told I have to avoid a certain food, then that's all I want. I have to avoid nuts, seeds and corn for health reasons and I want those too. However, after a very long visit to the ER and a few weeks of taking antibiotics that turn your stomach, I can avoid those.
I don't go to McDonald's or Burger King. I stopped those years ago and don't miss them. If I want a cheese burger, I use our meat mix (no beef) and reduced fat cheese.
Since you don't care for meat, then you might want to venture into the vegetarian section here and see what they eat. You will want to keep your meals interesting.
I really think you can create your own plan and have some fun with it. Just be sure and write out a menu for each day of the week. That will be some structure for you. Also, check out the nutritional value of the food you've chosen. There are thousands of foods with the nutritional value on this board. There are many many recipes here as well.
Yes...i have to agree with the above posters. You must find something you can live with. It has to be foods you like to eat. Find ways to make them more healthy. But you can make your own food guidelines. You determine how many calories you are going to start off with. And don't start too low. A) you will get hungry too soon and throw the whole plan out the window and binge....B) you won't have any room to drop when your weightloss stalls.
Pick the foods you like to eat, write them down and see how you can tweak them so that you have a healthy dose of fruits/veggies/meats/dairy/fats and also protein/carbs/fats. You can do this if you just put your mind to it.
Thanks for the suggestions. I know I can put something together and if I write it all out and make it "official" I think it will work. It might actually be fun to make some meal plans and balance the nutrients/calories. I know what I should eat and do eat "well". No fast food or junk like chips (well not often I try to avoid that stuff because I have kids and don't want them eating that stuff!) - I make pizza, oven fries etc. from scratch. I think the problem is that even though I am eating healthy it is a free for all especially if my cravings are taking over. I can easily down way too many crackers with hummus if I am not careful! I need to get excited about salads and veggies again!
I like the idea of a "detox" or using different phases like many of the diet plans do. When I have done this in the past it really did help get rid of the cravings - mainly sweets for me.
Just so you know, the current form of WW has two plans that you can follow. They have their points system, which puts limits on how much you can eat while encouraging food habits that will help you stay on plan (water, fruits and veggies, exercise, etc.) and their new Core program, which is basically a whole foods program with limited whole grains. The thing I loved about Core was that it really addresses binge and overeating and teaches you to pay attention to those inner signals (are you hungry or just stressed out? Was that enough food or do you need seconds?)
I switched to a program called DietPower because I needed a bit more flexibility. It adjusts your caloric needs based on your weigh-ins, and it has a heavy emphasis on nutrition. It's kind of like Fitday in that in analyzes your food choices for vitamins, minerals and ratios of fat, protein and carbs, but I just find it much more user-friendly.
So, if you ever find yourself struggling with boundaries or limits and are looking for a plan to follow there's 2 I highly recommend. Really, though, any plan you can follow for the long term is the right one
You've read enough, so make your own plan and use fitday to keep on top of the calories. I don't like meat or fish that much either, but we do lose better when we find some proteins that we like. I need a guide too and have discovered that a lot of programs follow this type of framework
Breakfast
1 protein
1 complex grain or fruit
Snack
protein or small fruit (e.g., almonds or half an apple)
Lunch
1 protein
2 veggies
1 fruit
1 complex grain if you are exercising
Snack
protein or vegetables
Dinner
1 protein
2 veggies
1 fruit
Snack
protein or veggies
Servings are basically the size of the palm of your hand or with fruit or veggies your fist. Lettuce is normally unlimited and a 2 teaspoons of fat should be worked in. I have delicious meals following this and eat a lot of cottage cheese, nuts, beans and regular cheese for my protein. I keep my carbs complex and keep the count under 75. My calories are my goal weight times 10. Very simple to do using fitday. Go for it.
I feel so lost and need some objective opinions!
I try to avoid that stuff because I have kids and don't want them eating that stuff!) - I make pizza, oven fries etc. from scratch. I think the problem is that even though I am eating healthy it is a free for all especially if my cravings are taking over. I can easily down way too many crackers with hummus if I am not careful! I need to get excited about salads and veggies again!
