I Need Dieting Tips

joshuakcaron

If you take a look at my diary for today that is an accurate representation of my average food consumption during the week (mon-Friday) minus the coke (I usually have water). I've been slowly working my way up to going into full on diet mode. I quit the energy drinks, I started packing a lunch for work (I work evenings, thermos was a great investment. Soup is pretty filling.) I think the next step is eating better lunches. I usually have something quick for lunch since I'm preparing my dinner for the evening and getting ready for work as well. My parents said they'd help out by setting aside a plate of leftovers (they cook fairly healthy, I don't.) I'm entering a contest at my gym on October to see who can lose theory weight in 60 days, I know it's not a race but I'm extremely competitive an want to win the 1000$ plus a year gym membership. I work really late (sometimes I get home at 1am) so I usually skip breakfast. I'll take any tips on what to eat at lunch or dinner (keep in mind no microwave, or fridge at my work - I have a thermos and insulated lunch bag.) I use a scale also when measuring solids.

Thanks guys.

joshuakcaron

I intend to keep an accurate diary from today on since the personal trainer who's running the contest will be looking at it and making suggestions to help you reach your goals.

cityruss

Don't complicate things.

It's the same age old advice.

Eat the foods you like, that promote adherence, whilst ensuring proper nutrition, at a calorie deficit. You may also want to consider athletic performance issues. There are no specific foods you need to eat, no specific macronutrient ratio you need to have, you are only bound by you having no microwave or fridge.

elphie754

A "diet" implies that this is only a short term change.

To be successful you need to make a lifetime commitment.

joshuakcaron

Thanks but not really helpful at all.

MommyL2015

Are you asking for advice on how to lose weight or what to eat? Because the only one that can decide what to eat is you. I don't know what you like and don't like. To lose weight, eat at a deficit.

SueInAz

If you're entering a contest in October why are you trying to lose weight today? It's easier to lose weight at the beginning. Seriously, if it were me, I'd wait to start until the day the competition starts and drink a couple of gallons of water before I step on the scale.

Joking aside, you already got good advice, even if you don't think it was. The problem probably lies in your perception of what it takes to lose weight. There isn't anything special you need to eat to lose weight, you just need to eat the right amount of calories. You can lose weight on Twinkies and Big Macs just as easily as you can on plain chicken breast and green veggies. The difference is you will feel much better eating the chicken and veggies.

So... if you're looking for advice on what you can take to work for lunches that doesn't need to be heated and will keep well in a refrigerated lunch bag, we're happy to offer advice but we're not going to tell you to eat specifically this or that to lose weight because it doesn't work that way.

elphie754

joshuakcaron wrote: »

Thanks but not really helpful at all.

How is it not helpful to suggest you eat the food you like just in portion sizes that fit your calorie requirements, make life time changes and not make this about a short term "diet"?

TeaBea

joshuakcaron wrote: »

Thanks but not really helpful at all.

Lifestyle changes - not helpful advice?

Ok - your goal is to win a contest......and after that who cares?

For maximum "weight" loss in a short amount of time....low carb. You will see lots of water weight loss the first week or two. Most of this won't be fat loss (but not your concern). Sauna suits before weigh ins....lots of other tricks (diuretics....google Biggest Loser hacks). Again this isn't actual fat loss (some of it is). Don't eat regular (or moderate) carbs before the contest is over because the water weight will come back.

Fast weight loss and healthy weight loss work against each other. Obese people can eat very low calorie (medically supervised) diets & maintain existing lean muscle mass. For those that are merely overweight....we need to eat enough calories (and strength train) to keep lean muscle. But that doesn't win contests. It's all about one number on the scale. So....cardio, cardio, cardio.....these are bigger calorie burns....so bigger calorie deficits.

kbmnurse

Drop the word "diet".

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callsitlikeiseeit

elphie754 wrote: »

A "diet" implies that this is only a short term change.

To be successful you need to make a lifetime commitment.

that.

and whether or not you LIKE it, doesn't make it any less true.

LaceyBirds

Your diary isn't open.

FGTisme

What works for me is this: I eat five meals a day, 3 main and 2 snacks. I have some form of lean protein at each and work in a lot of fruits and veggies. I try to have some small treat each day like low fat ice cream or chocolate, as long as it fits within my calorie goals. I exercise both for fitness and for the extra calories, but I never count all that MFP calculates...it is usually way over reality.

My favorite go to lunch is grilled chicken salad. I try to grill a lot of chicken breast on the weekend to have all week, and I try to have my salad stuff chopped and ready to go.

I couldn't see your diary, so I'm sorry I couldn't comment on it.

There are people I've read about on here that have success with 16:8 intermittent fasting, where you focus your eating in a certain time window. With your work schedule, you might find it helpful in meal planning.

WBB55

My guess is it isn't work days that'll be tough. If you don't have a fridge and have to use a cooler and thermos, it doesn't sound like you have a sitdown kind of job where you can munch all night. As long as you actually pack a lunch instead of eating fastfood or something from a vending machine or chow line, you probably will eat better than normally.

How many calories are you trying to consume? That might help us figure out what to advise.

If it's really just for the month of October, I'd probably Atkins Induction it. At your size you could lose 6 lbs the first week and 3-4 the next.

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goldthistime

Although the $1000 plus a gym membership sounds tempting, I'd pass if I were you. I read something the other day about how women are more likely to crash diet than men because men aren't often willing to sacrifice muscle.

Ang108

kbmnurse wrote: »

Drop the word "diet".

The word " diet " is a perfectly good word to use when it comes to food. Only mostly MFPers and Americans shun the word diet, because supposedly a " diet " is only a short lived regimen.
In the rest of the world people know that " diet " also means the way a whole culture eats, hence the " Mediterranian diet ". I have eaten something like that for thirty years now, which is not exactly short lived and millions of people in mediterranian countries eat that " diet " all their lives. The same is true for the South East Asian diet, the German diet, French diet....the list could go on.
Also, those people who suggest that the word " diet " should be stricken from our vocabulary, what would they replace it with ? Preferably with a word equally short and concise.

BTW: The WHO, UNICEF and similar organization as well as various dictionaries define " diet " as " the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats ".

rosebarnalice

Some of my favorite lunches that don't need a microwave are bean - and chickpea based salads. They're nutrition -dense foods that have lots of protein and nutrients for the calories, and can be eaten at room temperature (although o prefer them cooler.)

A typical recipe for me might be a can on chickpeas (drained), some finely chopped napa cabbage or broccoli slaw mix, a yellow pepper, with a light vineagrette dressing. Sometimes I'll add small cubes of extra firm tofu to up the protein.

I also like to add salsa to a can of red or black beans and eat with a few crackers or baked chips. Cubes of tofu work well with this, too.

Sandwiches are good if you opt for lighter bread options (flatbreads, pita bread, mini sandwich rounds), go easy on the mayo, and load up on nutrition - dense lean meats, cheeses, and veggies.

And with that thermos, soups and stews are always an option. Chili made with lean turkey, beans, lots of onion and garlic and some shredded carrots to add bulk and fiber is filling and tastes great!

TeaBea

Ang108 wrote: »

kbmnurse wrote: »

Drop the word "diet".

The word " diet " is a perfectly good word to use when it comes to food. Only mostly MFPers and Americans shun the word diet, because supposedly a " diet " is only a short lived regimen.
In the rest of the world people know that " diet " also means the way a whole culture eats, hence the " Mediterranian diet ". I have eaten something like that for thirty years now, which is not exactly short lived and millions of people in mediterranian countries eat that " diet " all their lives. The same is true for the South East Asian diet, the German diet, French diet....the list could go on.
Also, those people who suggest that the word " diet " should be stricken from our vocabulary, what would they replace it with ? Preferably with a word equally short and concise.

BTW: The WHO, UNICEF and similar organization as well as various dictionaries define " diet " as " the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats ".

So when the OP asked about dieting tips to win a Biggest Loser type contest....he wasn't asking about something temporary?

The OP - went on to dismiss advice re: lifestyle changes....again wasn't he looking for temporary?

I suppose those giving advice to drop the word "diet" should have said something like....drop the word "diet" (if you are using it as a verb) and replace if with diet (and use it as a noun instead).....but then a low carb diet is often temporary too.

I believe that most Americans do know that diet has more than one meaning, however suggesting adopting a Mediterranean diet to the OP would have been as well received as lifestyle changes (my guess).

999tigger

I assyme he menat he wanted advice for this

I'm entering a contest at my gym on October to see who can lose theory weight in 60 days, I know it's not a race but I'm extremely competitive an want to win the 1000$ plus a year gym membership.

He doesnt mention being bothered about sustainability or healthy rates of loss. I assume he wants to drop the most weight irrespective so he can win the competition.

If you're entering a contest in October why are you trying to lose weight today? It's easier to lose weight at the beginning. Seriously, if it were me, I'd wait to start until the day the competition starts and drink a couple of gallons of water before I step on the scale.

Was good advice from Sue.

Liftng4Lis

#1 TIP, don't diet, make a lifestyle change.

Annr

Life is a conquest...if you think all zen and all. Do you wish to grow old being healthy and mindful of what you put into your body? (this is when you say yep). Or do you wish to lose and gain throughout your life, always searching for that next contest, or conquest to keep you at it? (this is where you question life)..... Do simple things like eating when you are hungry (but not until you are really full)...drinking your water like its a liquid vitamin....logging on here every day like your life counted on it.... You will find food that fuels you instead of food that will make you sleepy. Don't look at this program for the now, but for the long haul.

joshuakcaron

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

#1 TIP, don't diet, make a lifestyle change.

Yeah that's what i meant by diet. But thanks for pointing out the obvious.

joshuakcaron

MommyL2015 wrote: »

Are you asking for advice on how to lose weight or what to eat? Because the only one that can decide what to eat is you. I don't know what you like and don't like. To lose weight, eat at a deficit.

Looking for suggestions on things I could eat. I'm not much of a cook. More specifically for lunch.

joshuakcaron

Loo

shell1005 wrote: »

joshuakcaron wrote: »

Thanks but not really helpful at all.

Well then let us know what you want us to say...and then we can say that.

My advice is plain and simple, but it worked for me. I ate food I liked. I logged my food as accurately as possible. I made sure I ate at a deficit. I worked out 4 to 6 days per week. I ate back at least half of my exercise calories. 60 lbs later, I have little to no complaints.

lookin for suggestions on what I should eat and if what I'm eating for dinner is good or not (nutrition wise). So what I meant diet was not what you define as dieting but rather what I'm currently eating (aka my diet).

MommyL2015

I guess if you're looking for specific things you can eat, depending on what you like, you could always throw some canned soup in your thermos or something to that effect. No microwave or fridge makes it hard for options, especially if you don't want to cook.

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joshuakcaron

joshuakcaron wrote: »

Loo

shell1005 wrote: »

joshuakcaron wrote: »

Thanks but not really helpful at all.

Well then let us know what you want us to say...and then we can say that.

My advice is plain and simple, but it worked for me. I ate food I liked. I logged my food as accurately as possible. I made sure I ate at a deficit. I worked out 4 to 6 days per week. I ate back at least half of my exercise calories. 60 lbs later, I have little to no complaints.

lookin for suggestions on what I should eat and if what I'm eating for dinner is good or not (nutrition wise). So what I meant diet was not what you define as dieting but rather what I'm currently eating (aka my diet).

999tigger wrote: »

I assyme he menat he wanted advice for this

I'm entering a contest at my gym on October to see who can lose theory weight in 60 days, I know it's not a race but I'm extremely competitive an want to win the 1000$ plus a year gym membership.

He doesnt mention being bothered about sustainability or healthy rates of loss. I assume he wants to drop the most weight irrespective so he can win the competition.

If you're entering a contest in October why are you trying to lose weight today? It's easier to lose weight at the beginning. Seriously, if it were me, I'd wait to start until the day the competition starts and drink a couple of gallons of water before I step on the scale.

Was good advice from Sue.

In regards to sue, it's based off of your % lost. So if I start at a lower weight each pound I lose is worth more. Plus I wanted a reason to get back to my 160lbs I was a year ago.

cityruss

Cheese.
Pewter.
Dust.

There you go.

maidentl

It's incredibly hard for strangers to tell you what to eat. None of us knows what you like or dislike or how many calories you want to spend. This is part of the learning process, trial and error. What have you been eating? Eat that, just less of it.