Originally Posted by Scorpio1986:
about how what I have been eating rates on the healthy scale! I am starting over after disappointing myself too many times. Sigh...So here is what I ate yesterday, and what I ate so far today...

March 29, 2009
roasted chicken - 300
Oven baked potato - 200
Ketchup - 200
Veggie dumplings from wf - 300
Cantaloupe – 100
Ch.Cheese - 200
Blueberry kefir - 100
Iced unsweetened green tea – 10

March 30, 2009
Pb&j - 450
Bacon wrapped date (roommate made it, had to try ;) ) – 50
Baby carrots – 50
3 scrambled eggs, 2 piece wh toast, bit of shredded cheddar - 500

Be constructive please, I'm sensitive...I also live at college and don't have tons of money so I have to make do...

how about switching the baked potato with a yam?

with the scrambled eggs, take out 1 piece of toast and add some vegetables into the eggs...spinach & feta cheese go good (<-my favorite :D), peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus... endless combinations you can do with vegetable omelets.

someone suggested cutting up vegetables for snacks... green zucchini and red pepper work good for that. cucumbers are also good sliced up. you can still throw in some carrots, they have alot of good vitamins, so don't cut them out completely.

replace the iced green tea with real green tea made from tea bags...

Mix up some veggies (like red pepper, onion, asparagus, mushroom, etc) into an omelette for breakfast. Do the same as above for a nice healthy stir fry. I like to steam some veggies (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, etc) and serve them with a meat... remember veggies should be filling up half a plate. Also, salads never fail!

I think you're doing a lot of things right. But one piece of advice. If you aren't sure about the amounts of things you're eating (like the ketchup) invest in a kitchen scale so you can weigh everything when you're at home. As you can see, it can make a big difference!

As for the food, think lean meats and dairy, veggies and fruits, whole grain breads (if you can) and "good fats" -- from nuts and olive oil for instance. You're doing some of that! That's a good path to take!

To me it appears you are rounding your points up or down, I dunno, which. Have you tried logging them in to a free calorie counter like Fit Day or myfitnesspal, or the daily plate? That will give you a more accurate number to go by. I use my fitness pal and it gives you how much you've eaten, and how many calroies you have left for the day all by goals you decide for yourself when you sign up.

And YES you are doing something right, no one starts off perfect, you are trying to find the best way to go about it and what better way than to ask!!

I also agree about sneaking in more veggies if possible. Also, try new things. My dietician said that it takes at least three trys for an adult to decide if they don't like something. Two weeks ago I ate my first tomato on a sandwich. I have never eaten raw tomatoes before. Now I am adding a slice to two to everything. Even cutting them up to go on top of scrambled eggs or one of Amy's Organic burritos. I have decided that they aren't my favorite thing but I can eat them.

Other tips from my dietician, switch to a 40 cal per slice whole wheat bread, eat whole wheat when possible. Opt for reduced fat cheese like Cabot 50% reduced fat. Choose organic and fresh foods as much as possible. Not just the calories we should be concerned about but the chemicals we put in our bodies. She believe they can/do cause us to feel bad, which stresses our bodies and in a long about way causes us to eat and gain weight.

Another thing- walking 30 min, 3 x week is a good start. That's what my exercise physiologist recommended for me to start out. She also suggested strength training for 20 min 2 x week. Can be on the same days you do your walking.

Good luck! you can do it!!!

100 calories of ketchup? Really? That's a lot of ketchup and a lot of sugar.

If you're in college and have limited food options and $$$, stop shopping at WFM. Seriously. Go to a chain supermarket or discount supermarket. Or Trader Joe's. Believe me: I know all about spending way too much at WFM. Love the place! I've scaled back to two trips a week at $15-20 at lunch.