3 DAYS IN

ibscot740232016

Howdy everyone! My name is Scott and I'm trying not to be fat anymore..Lol. I am a 35 year old male , I am 6" tall and weight 308 lbs. I fell off the wagon 2 years ago because I got burned out on eating the same things over and over again (completely my fault) , though I did lose 30 lbs. This time I'm going in even heavier and more determined to not only get down to a healthy weight, but to also get strong and fit. I feel extremely weak and I can't move very well. Fat immobilizes you. I am starting to show signs of pre diabetes and circulation issues. I'm just going to stop all of these problems before they take hold. I have 2 boys now and they need a dad who is a good example for their health and can keep up with them playing and having fun. can anyone direct me to a good recipe site that has some great dinners or meal prepping etc? Thanks!

kommodevaran

There are no super meals. Most recipes are ordinary, and perfectly fine. You can portion out any meal to suit your calorie need. I suggest looking up recipes for dinners you and your children actually like/want to try.

Likewise, find a routine to simplify and organize your cooking, in synch with your schedule, don't meal prep just to meal prep.

LZMiner

Congrats on being 3 days in....I'm officially 4, so not far ahead of you. I was a little over zealous with planning this week and have way too much baked chicken and vegetables. For me, though, the big difference is WHAT I'm eating, and not necessarily how much....trying to eat clean and avoid anything processed. So really, it's protein and vegetables and a little brown rice! We did crabcakes and baked potatoes one night, then turkey tacos, then pork chops, broccoli and and a spicy mixed veggie saute. Tonight is chicken. Pinterest actually has a ton of meal ideas for Whole 30---you may be able to find some good menus there. Good luck!

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

Start with small changes - no need to eat the same things over and over again! Losing weight does not have to be complicated.

I agree with @kommodevaran - work on learning how log the portions of meals you like to eat. I use the recipe builder and a food scale religiously. And meal prepping can be a great tool, but it's not required. Don't overwhelm yourself. You want to be able to stick with this long term. If you try to change too much, too fast, it can seem like too much "work" and you may give up if you can't keep doing it all.

Here are some good places to start:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300331/most-helpful-posts-getting-started-must-reads#latest

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300319/most-helpful-posts-general-diet-and-weight-loss-help-must-reads#latest

I'd also suggest lurking the forums and asking questions if you need to - this is a great place to come for advice and science-based information to help you along the way.

Good luck!

Tacklewasher

I'm a bit older than you, started out heavier and about the same height. Beyond the links above (all good by the way) here is what I've learned. Since Sept I'm down from ~330 to ~275.

1. Weight loss is not that complicated. But there is a crapload of BS out there regarding weight loss. You need to filter through it. Example, sugar is not evil and does not have to be cut out completely.
2. What works for you may be different than what works for others, so don't worry about what others do if it doesn't suit you. I don't do intermittent fasting (IF). Others do and it works for them. I step on a scale daily, others can't.
3. The MFP system does work. It may not be 100% accurate, but it is close. But it takes effort on your part to log accurately and keep to the calorie goals. Put your stats in and trust in the process. You may have to tweak it somewhat, but don't throw it all out.
4. Weight loss is not linear. You won't lose the same amount per day/week. Weight may climb and then woosh away. Over time the numbers won't lie, but they will bounce around a bit in the process.
5. For meal planning, start off eating what you have been, just less of it. You will then quickly decide what you can keep and what you need to get rid of based on the calorie cost. I got rid of pop (I'm Canadian, so soda if you aren't) because I'd rather have food for the calories, but it was my choice to make. I didn't get rid of chips, I just eat less at a sitting (one 28g bag instead of 1/2 a 200g bag) and not every day.
6. Move more. Do what you can. Go for a walk, take the stairs at work, but try to move more. It will help the weight loss.

The only thing that I think is crucial to weight loss to buy is a food scale. Not expensive but pretty essential. Beyond that, if gadgets help, then you can spend the money. But in reality they are not needed. I'm on my 2nd tracker, have a treadmill, chest strap, weights, bands, a step etc., but I like gadgets.

rks581

Congratulations on starting your journey! It's slow going at times but you'll start getting some results before long, and it's well worth it.

I actually don't use a food scale. Most of my meals are ... well, to be honest, half my food is a matter of counting scoops of protein powder. Much of the rest is packaged or premade so I use the MFP database or the barcode scanner. If you do your own cooking (and let's be honest, you should) then a food scale is a must have.

ibscot740232016

Hi!, I wasn't looking for super meals, just some good meal prep recipes. I meal prep to save money and keep myself out of other foods around that I might be tempted to eat. I used to go out for breakfast AND lunch every weekday. I was spending 15-20 bucks a day. This has quickly put that to a stop

ibscot740232016

Thanks for the responses ! I really appreciate the advice. I have been walking about a quarter mile a day, and have actualy.not been hitting my calorie mark every day. I'm always 50-150 calories under almost all the time. It's day 5 today and I've lost 6 lbs. I know it might just be mostly water, but eating healthy makes you feel MUCH better. Makes me wonder how I'll feel at 200 lbs. Looking forward to it!!

Tacklewasher

ibscot740232016 wrote: »

Hi!, I wasn't looking for super meals, just some good meal prep recipes. I meal prep to save money and keep myself out of other foods around that I might be tempted to eat. I used to go out for breakfast AND lunch every weekday. I was spending 15-20 bucks a day. This has quickly put that to a stop

I'm still a bit lazy on food prep. Breakfast is quick oatmeal out of a packet, not steel cut or anything like that. And skim milk (but I've been drinking that for years and prefer it to 2%). Lunch is 1/2 a Costco frozen lasagna, carrots, snap peas and a banana. Dinner is what the wife has cooked, just less than it used to be.

I've not been one to go out for breakfast, so that hasn't changed much. But I was eating out for lunch all the time, so yeah. Saving money there.

KettleBelle68

Hi You will definitely save money by meal prepping. What you don't spend on take out options, you can put back into buying healthy things at the grocery store. And, once you get the hang of it, meal prep becomes second nature to you.

You can do searches for quick and healthy breakfast and lunch options and find lots of good ideas that you can make ahead of time and reheat and go. Meal planning your week out really does help you stay on track too. A couple of sites I've found that are good for healthy recipe ideas are Allrecipies and Yummly as well as Pinterest. Best of luck on your journey!!

jonjaxmom

I get recipes from diabetesdaily website, they often are lower in carbs and sugars. They also have modified popular recipes that are more diabetic friendly. You don't need to have diabetes to enjoy low carb alternative recipes and they are pretty decent. Otherwise, I go to allrecipes and see whats there, just make sure I search for healthier menus.