HELP - Need a book with recipes, grocery lists, meal plans, and workouts?!

thcguy123

So one thing I have found over years and years of trying to lose weight is when I try to design meal plans, workout plans, shopping lists, etc myself - I fail.

I am looking for a book that I can literally turn to a page and know what meals I am eating that day, what workout to do that night, and has grocery lists so I can shop for exactly what I need (and only what I need) each week for my meals.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Was looking at the Atkins Made Easy book maybe?! Also saw one called The Lean Belly Prescription by Travis Stork.

libbydoodle11

I know you are looking for a book to tell you what to do... Have you considered doing your own research and making a list of foods and recipes that you like? Also, what about joining a gym and highering a personal trainer? The two of you could then discuss your goals and the trainer can work up a personal plan just for you.

Edit: You could also schedule time with a nutritionist and get food ideas and recipes from them as well.

thcguy123

Right now I am not ready to try to develop my own meals, nutrition, workout plans, etc. Maybe down the road as I begin to see what I am eating and doing through the book (they normally only last 4 weeks of plans) then I will be - just not yet.

As far as the personal trainer - I wish. They are very expensive and we can barely afford our groceries and bills. No extra $$$ for a trainer.

TavistockToad

There's nothing you can't eat, you just need to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight.

You don't need plans and lists as such, just moderation.

TavistockToad

Double post, oops

I_Will_End_You

Eat what you eat now, just less of it. Check out the recipes forum if you're looking for new stuff to try, there are a lot of different recipes. As far as working out from home, you can check out fitnessblender.com, there are a ton of at home workouts there. Or google prison workout, those are also all bodyweight with little to no equipment needed. You can walk or run, or pick up some cheap DVDs from Target.

Branstin

Sparkpeople.com is a free website that has the meal options. If you don't like an item on the menu, you could swap it for another one that fits your calorie budget. It also has a weekly grocery list option you could print. There is a "Workout Generator" for strength training and videos for cardio. You will have to design your own workout plan based on your goals but it doesn't take that long to do.

dym123

There is this magical place called a Library. At this place there are books, lots and lots of books. You may have to do some actual research to find the right plan for you, but it is a good place to start.

segacs

Branstin wrote: »

Sparkpeople.com is a free website that has the meal options. If you don't like an item on the menu, you could swap it for another one that fits your calorie budget. It also has a weekly grocery list option you could print. There is a "Workout Generator" for strength training and videos for cardio. You will have to design your own workout plan based on your goals but it doesn't take that long to do.

I second the recommendation for Sparkpeople if you prefer a more guided approach. Their meal plans never really worked for me because I prefer to customize my own meals, and their database was much more geared for a US audience (I'm Canadian). But Sparkpeople is good if you like MFP but want more guidance.

thcguy123

I hate when people just say - eat what you want - just eat less. I am eating whole pizzas for dinner, two foot long subs for lunch, a breakfast burrito and quesadilla for breakfast, and a bag of chips as a snack. Of course I should just eat less. I know that already.

I don't thinking eating a 1/2 pizza, 1 sub, 1/2 bag of chips, and large breakfast burrito is going to change much - it's still to much and the wrong types of foods.

I need to be eating healthy veggies, fruits, protein, etc and not fast food. I need to be eating foods that help with fat loss and metabolism.

I eat fast food all the time because I lack a plan I can look at each day and know what I am going to eat, drink, workout, etc.

Maybe it's easy for others to make their own plans and just eat less calories but not for me. I need a step by step guide to follow for now!!!

I will check out the websites - thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. We don't like to use the computer for that stuff (workouts and meal plans - we need something in our hands to look at together) - that is why I was really hoping to find a BOOK. It's also nice to be able to take the book to the store for shopping OR take it to gym for workout. Can't take my PC there (kinda heavy - ha ha) and don't have a printer.

(p.s. - we can't get a library card due to some abuses of the system a long time ago - boo)

thcguy123

By the way I do have a gym membership so I don't have to do home workouts (but was thinking maybe a quick 15 minutes in AM at home - then gym later).

TavistockToad

thcguy123 wrote: »

I hate when people just say - eat what you want - just eat less. I am eating whole pizzas for dinner, two foot long subs for lunch, a breakfast burrito and quesadilla for breakfast, and a bag of chips as a snack. Of course I should just eat less. I know that already.

I don't thinking eating a 1/2 pizza, 1 sub, 1/2 bag of chips, and large breakfast burrito is going to change much - it's still to much and the wrong types of foods.

I need to be eating healthy veggies, fruits, protein, etc and not fast food. I need to be eating foods that help with fat loss and metabolism.

I eat fast food all the time because I lack a plan I can look at each day and know what I am going to eat, drink, workout, etc.

Maybe it's easy for others to make their own plans and just eat less calories but not for me. I need a step by step guide to follow for now!!!

I will check out the websites - thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. We don't like to use the computer for that stuff (workouts and meal plans - we need something in our hands to look at together) - that is why I was really hoping to find a BOOK. It's also nice to be able to take the book to the store for shopping OR take it to gym for workout. Can't take my PC there (kinda heavy - ha ha) and don't have a printer.

(p.s. - we can't get a library card due to some abuses of the system a long time ago - boo)

You don't think halving your caloric intake would lead to weight loss?

I_Will_End_You

thcguy123 wrote: »

I hate when people just say - eat what you want - just eat less. I am eating whole pizzas for dinner, two foot long subs for lunch, a breakfast burrito and quesadilla for breakfast, and a bag of chips as a snack. Of course I should just eat less. I know that already.

I don't thinking eating a 1/2 pizza, 1 sub, 1/2 bag of chips, and large breakfast burrito is going to change much - it's still to much and the wrong types of foods.

Actually that would cut your calorie intake in half and make a huge difference.

thcguy123

I have already tried this of course - when your still eating this much horribly bad food you don't lose weight. The difference between eating 12000 calories a day and eating 6000 calories a day is great and all but I am still eating thousands and thousands over what I should be. What happens is just maintaining current weight or gaining slower. PLUS your still eating all this junk which I don't want to be eating anymore!!!!! It's not just about eating less calories - it's about burning more calories than I consume. If I eating 6000 calories a day and only burning 3000 then I am not really having a calorie deficit and it won't result in weight loss - just much slower weight gain.

Anyway - back to the real question and let's stop getting off topic -- I need a BOOK that has outlined meals, workouts, and grocery lists. Please let's stick to that.

lemurcat12

What kind of diet/eating plan do you want to do? That seems a place to start. You don't want some vegan book if you like meat.

I'm not aware of any books with meals and workouts, but you can get the workout plans separately, again depending on what you like to do. There are run training plans and tri plans and weight training websites that will give you daily workouts and off days and so on.

mommyrunning

I usually get my recipes online or from pinterest but here's a few books I found on Amazon. I haven't personally used any of them. I just pulled a few that had good reviews.

Saving Dinner: The Menus, Recipes, and Shopping Lists to Bring Your Family Back to the Table
7-Day Menu Planner For Dummies
The Fresh 20: 20-Ingredient Meal Plans for Health and Happiness 5 Nights a Week
100 Days of Real Food: How We Did It, What We Learned, and 100 Easy, Wholesome Recipes Your Family Will Love

brandigyrl81

Have you heard of Emeals? Each week they email you healthy meal recipes to make and it provides a list grocery items to purchase each week in order to make those meals. I'm not sure the cost of this subscription and I don't think it includes a work out plan but here's the website: http://emeals.com/

Silverdracos

Daily Burn had multiple programs and meal plans to go with them, but since you're going to the gym I don't know that you'd want something centered around online workout videos. The library or a bookstore might be a good place to start otherwise. I haven't read "Saving Dinner" but I've heard it's good.

Personally I meal plan for a month at a time. One major shopping trip and a few smaller ones for milk and fresh veg. Cooking in bulk helps too. I do a meal replacement shake for breakfast and leftovers for lunch. And when I DO head through a drive thru I try to make smart choices. Eating reasonable serving sizes is miserable lol. But I know it's one of the biggest obstacles I have to being healthy.

AllAboutThatPace

Cook Yourself Thin is a book I have been using. It doesn't really have a grocery list or meal plan, but it breaks it down into each meal, so I have been grabbing recipes from each section.

There is also a WW book that is called "Take Out Tonight." It's one of my favorites, because it has healthy recipes by different food types - Asian, Italian, etc - for all your favorite places to eat out.

thcguy123

This is awesome info - I can't wait to go check this out tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you is all I have to say. Refreshing to get some direct answers that I can use. Awesome - excited!

Kalikel

South Beach Diet works for many people and is a healthy approach. I think there's a website, too.

allrecipes.com is fun to browse.

Need2Exerc1se

If you are looking for a structured diet then Atkins or South Beach are good suggestions. Weight Watchers might also be a good idea.

Fitness sites sometimes also have meal suggestions to go along with their exercise routines, so if you are looking for both that might be a good resource. I know BeachBody does this, but I'm sure there are others.

thcguy123

I think maybe I will take your suggestion on Atkins. Read a review of their book and it says it has meal plans, grocery lists, etc -- no workouts but maybe I can something separate from Mens Health or similar place.

Thanks for your positive feedback on my question.

dbmata

thcguy123 wrote: »

So one thing I have found over years and years of trying to lose weight is when I try to design meal plans, workout plans, shopping lists, etc myself - I fail.

I am looking for a book that I can literally turn to a page and know what meals I am eating that day, what workout to do that night, and has grocery lists so I can shop for exactly what I need (and only what I need) each week for my meals.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Was looking at the Atkins Made Easy book maybe?! Also saw one called The Lean Belly Prescription by Travis Stork.

get the body for life book.

dbmata

thcguy123 wrote: »

I need to be eating healthy veggies, fruits, protein, etc and not fast food. I need to be eating foods that help with fat loss and metabolism.

Then do so. Don't believe that certain foods help with fat loss or "metabolism". Metabolism is a function of the body. If it stops, you die. Having fuel in your body to process keeps it working. There aren't special foods that speed it up. Working out can do that though. This is all easily found in the googles.

DOROTHY45

I understand what your saying I like the book idea!

shadow2soul

dbmata wrote: »

thcguy123 wrote: »

So one thing I have found over years and years of trying to lose weight is when I try to design meal plans, workout plans, shopping lists, etc myself - I fail.

I am looking for a book that I can literally turn to a page and know what meals I am eating that day, what workout to do that night, and has grocery lists so I can shop for exactly what I need (and only what I need) each week for my meals.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Was looking at the Atkins Made Easy book maybe?! Also saw one called The Lean Belly Prescription by Travis Stork.

get the body for life book.

That book by Bill Phillips?
My mom had it when I was younger. I don't know what is actually in the book, never looked at it. If I remember correctly, she even entered the Challenge. She actually got in pretty good shape with whatever that program was/is.

dbmata

Yeah, I know a few cops that went through it and it was great for them, I remember one of the selling points being lists of things to eat, so they didn't have to think about it.

Then a couple of them busted a guy with a huge selection of PEDs that they ended up keeping a good portion of.

WalkingAlong

The books suggested so far are good, also Weight Watchers. It's pretty cheap and teaches you overall healthy eating, starting with a guided plan of recipes you just eat off of. Then it adds exercise tips later.

Biting off too much change at once is a big risk. You might want to work on overhauling the eating first and just have some daily walking goals, and add structured workouts later. When you change your diet 180 degrees and also add a ton of workouts, it's really tough to sustain so much change at once. You don't HAVE TO work out to lose weight, just like you don't have to 'eat clean', either. Find a balance you can live with. You're going to want pizza and subs and burritos in your life some days and that's not unreasonable. We all have some indulgences. Try not to see this as 'black and white'. Success is in the gray area.

Good luck!

Krock83

It's not a book, but I subscribed to Cooking Light for a while because they had a nice variety of recipes and helpful tips. Inspiration/meal planning wise, it was pretty good.

Good Luck on your journey!

stephdmash

skinnytaste.com has awesome, simple, healthy and inexpensive recipes.. and you can import the recipes right onto MFP for easy tracking!