Healthy Weight Loss

[Medusa]

Scorp - Don't beat yourself up so much! It's a process, one that we all have to move through one day at a time. I think many of us have had ups and downs with food and eating and there are so many outside circumstances that can affect our commitment.

Just remember that everything you put in your mouth is a choice. Some days the bad choices are going to win out over the better ones but we can move through that with every meal!

[Gráinne]

Those of you pressed for time (all of us), like me-invest in a slow cooker. It will become your best friend. You can pop in your ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and go to work. Dinner's ready when you get home! Best of all, in this heat, it doesn't heat up the whole kitchen.

I especially like the Fix It and Forget It series-they have a "Lite" version, but all the recipes can be modified.

I have the kind that has a removable inside unit; it is easy to pop in the dishwasher, and sometimes I mix everything in the night before (like a marinade), and pop it in the fridge overnight.

[Medusa]

Im a huge slow-cooker fan but it seems like all the recipes I know are chock full of calories and such. Would anyone care to post their tried and true recipes?

I love chicken and would eat pretty much anything with chicken!

[atomiczombie]

I have found a couple things about my own struggles with weight that I figured I would share here:

1. The bigger my stomach (how much I can fit into it) the hungrier I get. The stomach secrets hormones, I have read, that cause hungry feelings. The bigger the stomach, the more hormones released.

2. My body gets accustomed to doing the same amt. of exercise daily, then I stop losing. So I have to change it up every few weeks if I want to continue to lose. That means longer cardio workouts, or different cardio machines, more frequent work outs, etc.

I stopped going to the gym last December because I got really depressed and just quit doing what I needed to do to take care of my body. I used food as a palliative measure and my stomach got huge. I was then hungry all the time and I easily put on 20lbs. I have that taken off now, and my stomach is smaller so I don't feel so hungry all the time. That was very tough to do. I have still not gone back to the gym, and my chest reconstruction surgery made that not possible for a while. However, I am feeling depressed again now due to certain stresses in my life, and with my agoraphobia getting worse, the gym is the last place I want to be. *sigh*

I wish you all good health and success with your goals!

[Galahad]

I've been off work a month. I go for an hour long walk most mornings. I haven't lost weight or inches. My back is getting better though.
I've been making smoothies with a cup of turnip greens packed, a banana and an orange. Pretty good way to get the greens I need. Spinach is tasty, but turnip greens are cheap right now. I have a Ninja to blend them and I like it alot. It's really easy to clean.

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Im a huge slow-cooker fan but it seems like all the recipes I know are chock full of calories and such. Would anyone care to post their tried and true recipes?

I love chicken and would eat pretty much anything with chicken!

Not a slow-cooker idea, but...

I buy the big bags of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. When I grill, I grill enough for 2-3 days. I use the uneaten breasts in salads, with rice & beans, shredded on a thin bun, etc...

I'm on a tuna kick right now too. I season it up just a little and eat it on the multi-grain thin buns.......toasted.

[Medusa]

I LOVE tuna! Jack won't touch it so I can mix up a bunch and it's all for me!

My fave way:

tuna
purple onion
hot mustard
the tiniest dash of miracle whip
relish
lots of black pepper

WEE!

[Queerasfck]

We have been eating much healthier in the past month or so. Last night I made broccoli my favorite way. Take a bunch of florets and put them on a sheet pan and spray them with some of that olive oil spray (if you want to use more you can toss them with a few tablespoons in a bowl first) then add coarse salt and pepper generously. Roast in the oven on a super high temp, 470 degrees for about 12 minutes (depending on the size of your pieces you can actually flip them over if they are large and cook for about 7 more minutes). When done the broccoli should be roasted nicely with brown flecks on it. It's crunchy and delicious and will taste nothing like raw broccoli which I am not a huge fan of!
I have found roasting this way at a high temp with minimal oil or fat is a great way to cook many different types of veggies. You can add them to other dishes or eat them as a side dish.

I've had really good success increasing my fruit and vegetable intake and it has really helped me feel satisfied. Watermelon, strawberries, other berries are so plentiful right now it's really been much easier for me to stay with my plan on Weight Watchers. I am grateful to have the momentum right now and keep my goal in focus. I go to the weekly meeting and even though I don't share I feel the meetings help me stay on track and make me feel accountable.

Good luck to everyone and keep eating healthy!

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Pinkie,

I am the same way in the morning. I usually, have Greek Yogurt, coffee and chocolate soymilk for breakfast. I got a compliment the other day, when one of the girls I worked with said, it looks like I have lost weight. I thanked her and she asked me how I did it, and I told her, that it was from laughing so hard, that I was having asthma attacks.

Have a great day,

Zimmy

Originally Posted by PinkieLee

Like Medusa, I LOVE smoothies in the mornings. It's so damn hot, I can't eat a hot, big breakfast. What I usually make is...

a few frozen strawberries
a few frozen pineapples
a whole banana
and a splash of the 50/50 orange juice

I've never figured out the WW points on it, because it would pretty much just be for the juice. Sometimes I'll make a piece of toast or a bagel thin with a lil' bit of butter, too to fill me up.

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Atomic,

You can do it and if it takes just to go walking to help then, do it. I know when I start to feel like crap, I grab my iPhone and I go power walking. I have also found that when I lost my original 60lbs, that my stomach shrunk and I eat like a bird now.

Have a good day,

Zimmy

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I have found a couple things about my own struggles with weight that I figured I would share here:

1. The bigger my stomach (how much I can fit into it) the hungrier I get. The stomach secrets hormones, I have read, that cause hungry feelings. The bigger the stomach, the more hormones released.

2. My body gets accustomed to doing the same amt. of exercise daily, then I stop losing. So I have to change it up every few weeks if I want to continue to lose. That means longer cardio workouts, or different cardio machines, more frequent work outs, etc.

I stopped going to the gym last December because I got really depressed and just quit doing what I needed to do to take care of my body. I used food as a palliative measure and my stomach got huge. I was then hungry all the time and I easily put on 20lbs. I have that taken off now, and my stomach is smaller so I don't feel so hungry all the time. That was very tough to do. I have still not gone back to the gym, and my chest reconstruction surgery made that not possible for a while. However, I am feeling depressed again now due to certain stresses in my life, and with my agoraphobia getting worse, the gym is the last place I want to be. *sigh*

I wish you all good health and success with your goals!

[PinkieLee]

I really like EZ's way to roast the veggies. I'm gonna try it out tonight!

One of my favorite ways to cook veggies is on the grill. I cut up a random mixture of zucchini, summer squash, tomato, mushroom, red/yellow bell peppers (that way we can both pick what veggies we want). I make little foil packets, put the veggies in with either a dab of butter with seasonings or fat-free italian dressing. Close up the packets and throw them on the grill. Then we grill either chicken, shrimp or boneless pork chops.

I LOVE corn on the cob cooked on the grill...yummy!

[little_ms_sunshyne]

My Name is Sunshyne...and I am an Choco-holic!!!!! Actually I am a anything "food" holic!!!!

Yay for this thread! I have started to follow it and am still catching up!

Just wanted to share with you that I am working on living a healthy lifestyle...and since its a lifestyle change I am sure slip ups will happen! I found this website...Ginas Skinny Recipes...if it has already been shared, sorry for the repeat. If not, check it out! I love these WW friendly recipes. They are really yummy! I even thought about starting a "food porn" thread with pictures of the meals and how they tasted.

Anyhow, I look forward to following the thread and hoping that I can join in and help hold eachother accountable!!!!

Alright Beautiful Ladies...We can do this!!!

[Scorp]

Well, the good news is that I started to journal again today. I haven't done that for at least the last 3 or 4 weeks . It feels pretty good slowly but surely going back to "doing the right thing".

[Medusa]

Ok, SO. I brought lunch to work today and it was a wonderful tuna fish mix and some rosemary Triscuits on the side with carrot sticks and an individual ranch thing to dip them and a banana. I had alllll these intentions on eating a healthy lunch and relishing in the glow that it would surely cause.

Instead, my coworkers decided that today was to be "Cheap Mexican" day. (our coined phrase for the day we all go eat at a local Mexican restaurant where no entrees are over $5!! And it's all homemade WONDERFUL food).
At first I was nervous because Mexican food for me usually equals BINGE!

Instead I won a little victory. I had a chicken taco salad with no guac, no sour cream, and no cheese. It was basically chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, tomatoes, and onion. I used the salsa as my "wet sauce" and did not eat the shell like I usually do. It was amazing and good and I don't feel like I "blew it".

Victory!

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Ok, SO. I brought lunch to work today and it was a wonderful tuna fish mix and some rosemary Triscuits on the side with carrot sticks and an individual ranch thing to dip them and a banana. I had alllll these intentions on eating a healthy lunch and relishing in the glow that it would surely cause.

Instead, my coworkers decided that today was to be "Cheap Mexican" day. (our coined phrase for the day we all go eat at a local Mexican restaurant where no entrees are over $5!! And it's all homemade WONDERFUL food).
At first I was nervous because Mexican food for me usually equals BINGE!

Instead I won a little victory. I had a chicken taco salad with no guac, no sour cream, and no cheese. It was basically chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, tomatoes, and onion. I used the salsa as my "wet sauce" and did not eat the shell like I usually do. It was amazing and good and I don't feel like I "blew it".

Victory!

Wow!! That *is* a victory! Good job, Ang!!!!!!!

[little_ms_sunshyne]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Ok, SO. I brought lunch to work today and it was a wonderful tuna fish mix and some rosemary Triscuits on the side with carrot sticks and an individual ranch thing to dip them and a banana. I had alllll these intentions on eating a healthy lunch and relishing in the glow that it would surely cause.

Instead, my coworkers decided that today was to be "Cheap Mexican" day. (our coined phrase for the day we all go eat at a local Mexican restaurant where no entrees are over $5!! And it's all homemade WONDERFUL food).
At first I was nervous because Mexican food for me usually equals BINGE!

Instead I won a little victory. I had a chicken taco salad with no guac, no sour cream, and no cheese. It was basically chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, tomatoes, and onion. I used the salsa as my "wet sauce" and did not eat the shell like I usually do. It was amazing and good and I don't feel like I "blew it".

Victory!

Whooohooo!!!!

I have to tell you that this is one of the hardest things for me. When I get put in social setting, I always think "What the hell? Why not? Everyone else is eating, I have no choice" And that is how I initially fall off the wagon..EEKS!

Way to go Medusa! Victory fo sure!!! And being a latina, I can never pass up good Mexican food!

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by little_ms_sunshyne

Whooohooo!!!!

I have to tell you that this is one of the hardest things for me. When I get put in social setting, I always think "What the hell? Why not? Everyone else is eating, I have no choice" And that is how I initially fall off the wagon..EEKS!

Way to go Medusa! Victory fo sure!!! And being a latina, I can never pass up good Mexican food!

Me too, little ms! Eating out with friends at work every week, I always have to try to figure out if there is anything on the menu that I can do. Sometimes I have to get realllllly creative. There is a place that many of my coworkers LOVE that is your basic "Southern Comfort Food" type of place with everything being fried or smothered in gravy. The last time we went I ended up eating a bowl of green beans, a small side salad, and a cup of white rice.

It was random and not nearly as good as that yummy-looking chicken fried steak with gravy but I didn't regret it.

[Rockinonahigh]

Well the forth of july is over so I need to get back on the food wagon,not that I was off it much but ate way to much of the free foods I could get away with.I ended up giveing half a watermellon away cause it has to much sugar in it,I did eat a couple slices with salt and warm french bread..I know weired..anyway its gone righ along with the half a canteloup I put in the trash.I mean one small bowl was over 30 carbs and the half of canteloup I did eat with cottage cheese was 27 carbs.Im trying to stay somewhere around 50 to75 a day but the last coupl of days its been80 to 95 carbs,im allowed 130 but it takes me being at the lower end of the amounts of carbs to begain burning carbs and not storeing them in my fat cells or godess forbid make another fat cell.Sometimes its difficult to stay on this low carb thing the doc has me on but im doing it one day at the time..I also keep a food journal with my trusty carb counter book close at hand.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

Well the forth of july is over so I need to get back on the food wagon,not that I was off it much but ate way to much of the free foods I could get away with.I ended up giveing half a watermellon away cause it has to much sugar in it,I did eat a couple slices with salt and warm french bread..I know weired..anyway its gone righ along with the half a canteloup I put in the trash.I mean one small bowl was over 30 carbs and the half of canteloup I did eat with cottage cheese was 27 carbs.Im trying to stay somewhere around 50 to75 a day but the last coupl of days its been80 to 95 carbs,im allowed 130 but it takes me being at the lower end of the amounts of carbs to begain burning carbs and not storeing them in my fat cells or godess forbid make another fat cell.Sometimes its difficult to stay on this low carb thing the doc has me on but im doing it one day at the time..I also keep a food journal with my trusty carb counter book close at hand.

I hear you on this Rockin....being diabetic I have to watch my fruit intake as well. I love melon, but it does have a lot of sugar in it.

My most recent efforts are small, but I know it helps. I used to be a huge soda drinker (3 or 4 Cokes a day), which I cut out when I was diagnosed with the diabetes. Unfortunately, diet soda replaced it far too often...and it's addictive for me. I've read an awful lot about how the chemicals in diet soda still make you store fat, and also crave sugar (irony)....so I've cut it out now too.

Instead, I'm brewing a pitcher of iced tea (unsweetened or with the tiniest bit of agave nectar) and drinking Sobe Life Water instead. Baby steps!

[Rockinonahigh]

Im still battleing the coke/diet coke thing,I use to dring a 12 pack of regular coke a day now in drinking three diet coke a day,tho I will admitt to leting more than a fue turn to a watery mess after the ice melts tha go down the drain.I do my best to drink as much water or sugar free ice tea as possable.