Anyone lost weight eating lean cuisine,Smart ones etc daily?

agoofynut

I eat them for lunch when I'm at the office. I've lost 140ish, but I wouldn't say it's because I'm eating lean cuisines and smart ones. I would say it's more because I'm NOT eating a 2000 calorie lunch before having another 2000 calories for dinner. I hate cooking and the easiest way for me to have a low calorie lunch without having to actually prepare anything is a frozen meal. They are high in sodium. Some people are sensitive to that and some aren't. I'm a big believer in do what works for you and just keep doing it until you are where you want to be.

jonnythan

I used yo eat those but switched to Marie Callender and Amy's frozen meals. Much tastier.

ostrichagain

I agree with Jonnythan. There are much tastier things in the freezer. You could really easily make a bunch of healthy burritos and freeze them to eat later. Cheap, quick and tasty!

herblackwings39

As long as you're eating within your calorie goal and not eating them on top of it they work. There are a couple I actually really like.

tekwriter

I eat them also, but I prefer to bring something left over. I have used both, here counting calories and on WW watching points. I normally do not eat these at night.

AnaCoffee

I'm a mom too and everyone in my family of three has different dietary needs, so I end up cooking just for my vegetarian self. I make regular use of Amy's organic meals (frozen dinners, just different than the ones you listed.) I always add an extra cup or two of frozen vegetables; sometimes a little brown, red, or purple rice or quinoa. Honestly, I don't see a problem with them in moderation. They're great for when I just want a quick meal of something I'm craving on a busy day.

Since folks brought up sodium and frozen dinners, I watch my sodium levels and if I have one the meals, I don't have anything else sodium-heavy for the rest of the day. (Now that I joined this site, tracking will be so much easier!)

PosterPens

ive had a lean cuisine or ww smart ones every day since i started this weight loss in mid-feb.

megsmom2

They're useful for times when Im too busy to cook or whatever. As a regular thing? No thanks. Too much sodium, not enough flavor. Too expensive too.

Rosplosion

Never had Lean Cuisine. I doubt I ever will. BUT - Trader Joe's makes some pretty good Indian food (for what it is, not saying that it's really good, just that for microwave food it's good) and they're between 300-500 calories. I've been eating them all the time. REAL food, chicken or lamb and rice. NOM.

griffith5150

I eat them for lunches at work, something easy and fast. When its my day off or we have leftovers at my house (rare thing) than I bring leftovers for lunch but usually the frozen food. Use them instead of buying fast food!

BrendaLee

Not this time around, but I have lost weight eating them in the past -- for dinner every night.

AlongCame_Molly

Meh. Nothing exactly wrong with them. They are low in calories, but also low on quality and taste, and HIGH in sodium. Not to mention outrageously expensive for what they are. I could make close to a week's worth of lunches and freeze them for the cost of one Lean Cuisine, and it'll taste a million times better, too. If you like them for the convenience, try freezing your own meals, that would be a much more economical and better-tasting choice.

SaraC1977

Wow! When did sodium become such an enemy? If you don't have high blood pressure or hypertension, who gives a crap about sodium intake. As long as your getting your other nutrients and staying within your calorie goal, I wouldn't worry about it. Also, if you work out a lot, you NEED sodium to keep the electrolyte balance in check. That's why most people crave salt after a strenuous workout.
I say if you want to eat a meal that has high sodium once in awhile, don't make a big deal out of it unless you have health issues.

Joehenny

I'd rather get those little frozen pizzas and put lean chicken breast on em. Yum 500 cals and 50 grams protein.

WilmaDennis91

I eat them sometimes for dinner. It's just convenience, just don't eat too much of those.

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michellekicks

I like sodium. I say if you like them, and they keep you satisfied and eating to your calorie target, eat them. Over time you may find you want to alter your macros, but until then, enjoy!

genofreek

They're not great, I had a ranchero beef one that really sucked the other day, but when I'm feeling lazy and really want an enchilada or pasta, it's better than a lot of choices I could be making.

I hate to cook, so they're nice for convenience, but I wouldn't eat them exclusively.

susannamarie

One of my friends lost (and kept off) 60 lbs doing this. She is still overweight but no longer obese and is satisfied where she is.

mizzie1980

Eh, no. Too much sodium will bloat me like nothing else and it takes me weeks to get rid of it, so I avoid things like that. On top it that, there are a LOT of veggies I don't like and those pre made meals tend to have a lot of those (peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc). Plus, I would rather make my own food and learn how to lose weight and be healthy doing that.

My take on it is "are you going to eat like that forever?" If yes, you will keep buying those, then go for it, I guess. But if your plan is to stop when you hit your goal, wouldn't it be better to learn how to manage your eating during the process? You really don't want to hit your goal then have to learn how to eat all over again. I'm convinced that this is why so many people wind up gaining the weight back, they follow some diet plan thinking they can just stop it when they hit goal, rather than learning how to cook and eat real, healthy food. Just my $0.02

arcticfox04

There okay. They have sodium but that doesn't really matter much since you just retain water. If they can help you get in your daily/weekly calorie goal then go for it. Remember just eat foods you like and enjoy. Moderation is always key.

AndiGirl70

I keep them on hand for those crazy days when I need something quick to grab and go for lunches. They may be higher in sodium but which is the better "evil" in a pinch a reduced calorie frozen meal or a Big Mac Value meal at the golden arches drive thru?

PReiss828

When I was doing WW online, I used the Smart Ones because I needed the "structure" and they worked well for me..some I liked, some I did not. But I know if I have to stop and think.."what am I going to have for lunch..or What am I going to do for dinner?"..then I just start picking..and end up eating very badly. So Smart Ones helped guide me...and I lost weight...

kgoodman0108

I used to eat them at least once a day, back in high school when I lost a bunch of weight. They are fine, as long as you are watching your sodium intake. I wouldn't recommend eating two a day, that's too much sodium. If eating one for lunch/dinner will help you avoid a meal that's higher in calories, then go for it. For me it gave me portion control.

bethFromDayton

I eat them regularly because of the convience. I've lost 47 pounds so I must be doing something right. That's not the only thing I eat but I probably eat them 4-5 days of the week.

I probably have 4 or 5 a week, too, and I've lost 40 lbs. I don't usually have them for dinner, but I do have them for breakfast or lunch on work days.

I don't always find them to be enough food, so I augment the breakfast ones with fresh fruit, and the lunch ones with fresh fruit and/or celery and carrots with hummus.

michellemybelll

yes. last year i ate those for lunch religiously and shed some weight. i think they are fairly decent for a quick grab n' go for work. not too highly caloric. got kind of expensive though. i prefer making something with fresher foods if time allows.

all it comes down to, as far as losing the pounds goes, is cals in vs. cals out. you'll see that beat to death all over this website.

DorisInTheDena

Yes!! I eat them every day for lunch during the school year. As far as sodium, I sweat it all out during my workouts every day. I need the sodium.

doctorsookie

I love the Healthy Choice Steam bowls. No preservatives and low on calories and sodium. Much better tasting than Smart Ones. Usually on sale for 5/$10 and very easy. pop in microwave for allotted time, remove combine and enjoy. None of that peel back and stir, recover and heat some more. They have tons of varieties and I eat them five days a week at work most weeks. Last week I got the Smart Ones to try something new. next week its back to healthy choice. I have lost 12 pounds so far and I just started in May. Hope that helps.

paulperryman

i go through patches of having them for lunch at work or occasionaly as a easy dinner, same with the Weight Watchers ones the issue is tho they are low in calories and fat they are extremely high in sodium (550-900gms) of which a suggested maximum for weight loss and healthy heart is 2500mg a day, the only ones that are lower in salt are ones with low of amounts protein and thus higher in carbs which is just as bad for many people.

They are certainly convenient but you dont want to eat them exclusively or you'll end up retaining fat and water with too much sodium in your diet.

IMO Diet foods are just a marketing ploy like low fat, low sugar, read the labels not the name, Non "Diet" food can be far better for the average person wanting to lose weight.with moderation

paulperryman

I love the Healthy Choice Steam bowls. No preservatives and low on calories and sodium. Much better tasting than Smart Ones. Usually on sale for 5/$10 and very easy. pop in microwave for allotted time, remove combine and enjoy. None of that peel back and stir, recover and heat some more. They have tons of varieties and I eat them five days a week at work most weeks. Last week I got the Smart Ones to try something new. next week its back to healthy choice. I have lost 12 pounds so far and I just started in May. Hope that helps.

Healthy Choice are the best of the three IMO too but still if it's a protein type dish it will still contain too much sodium,
Protein = Sodium, plus the extra they add to give back the flavor taken away by limiting the fat content.