Who says dieting can be boring???

FangsForYou

When I first tried losing weight I really hated it, it felt like a complete punishment. “You cant have food until you’ve lost weight!” is what I told myself, so I ate a consistent diet of Chicken Salads, Chicken Breasts and greens for months; and I detested it. Well, 60lbs+ lost and my perspective has completely changed.

Sure, I lost weight rather quickly eating low caloric meals and watching my macros, but I would gain some of the weight right back and thats when it finally hit me. I was too focused on results and not longevity, I cant keep this up, eating this way, it was too unrealistic for me AND I was eating foods that, well…I honestly hated with a passion, I even realized that I despised broccoli with a passion.

So, I made a different approach to losing weight and let me tell you, it’s been working, yeah, Im not losing weight as fast as Id like, but I would argue that I’m just being impatient and the real winning strategy for me is more focused on a BALANCED, healthy, food choices. Meaning, I was still watching my macros and my calories, but I would switch out different foods and different meals so that

A) I wouldn’t get tired of the healthy foods

B) Find new food that I enjoyed

C) Open my mind to trying new things

D) And still eating a balance of the foods that I enjoy, but switching out some food and making adjustments to not exceed my daily calories/nutrition intake.

So, not only am I eating good now, but Im eating meals that I REALLY like AND it doesnt feel like a punishment diet, and Im nice and full which leads me to not binge throughout the day. I say, experiment with your meals daily if you hate the same routine, but hey, if you can be disciplined enough to continuously eat egg whites and chicken breasts then, sure knock yourself out. Me personally, I can only have the same meals about 3 days straight before I crave something new.

So in order to help others finding meals that are low in calories but good enough to feed a king, then let me share with you some of my FAVORITE recipes!

This Chicken Leg Quarter Dish is by far my FAVORITE meal to cook. It’s soooo simple that even a teenager can do it.

1. You start off with preheating your oven to 400°F
2. You lay down some parchment paper on a cooking sheet
3. You apply some light olive oil on the sheet
4. Then you spray your chicken with some light olive oil, season your Chicken Leg Quarters however you want. I recommend, Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Cayenne pepper and some Thyme
5. Next, you place your well seasoned chicken into the oven. I let a fully frozen chicken leg cook for about 1 hour - 1 hour and 15 mins (Check the internal temperature with a food temperature). But I recommend thawed Chicken Leg Quarters at 50 mins.
   
   So, once the chicken is done cooking, I start working on the rice. This dish is Mediterranean inspired so I use Basmati Rice.
   
   1. I start off rinsing the rice over and over until the water looks clear and not cloudy. Depending on how many you’re feeding depends on the cup amount. For 1-3 people I use 1 cup of rice.
   
   2. Then I add a quarter stick of butter into a pot on high heat.
   
   3. As the butter is melting, I add all my seasonings, 1-2 teaspoons of salt (but salt to your taste), pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and turmeric. (If I really want some flavor, I add some diced red onions and crushed garlic.)
   
   4. I mix all the ingredients then I add my basmati rice. I let the rice cook in pot and stir it all around until my rice is well covered in the spices. I’d say I cook it for about 5 mins on high heat.
   
   5. I then add some water to my rice, 1-3 cups depending on how much rice I cook. (But my general rule is I have about an inch of water above my rice line)
   
   6. I set a timer for 12 mins as I let my rice come to a boil. Then I turn the heat down to the lowest setting and let it cook for another 10 mins.
   
   7. I throw in some sliced zucchini into the oven nearing the last 20 mins.
   
   8. Once everything is done, I slice some onions, avocado, cucumbers and tomatoes; and then I enjoy.

This meal can be roughly about 900 cals and it fills me up really well. I hope you guys give it a try! I am really proud to make this for my family, they absolutely LOVE it and believe me, they’re very picky 🤣. Hope u guys like it.

AnnPT77

IMO, that philosophy is perfect: Eat foods you find tasty and filling that add up to reasonable calories and overall decent nutrition, on average over a day or few. Misery is optional, and tends to be counter-productive.

I eat very differently from you (as a long-term vegetarian myself), but that's exactly the approach I found helpful for losing 50ish pounds and staying at a healthy weight for 9+ years since. Figuring out happy habits - at least tolerable and practical ones - is key to success, IMO. That's true for both eating and activity/exercise, and exactly what that looks like is going to vary from one person to the next.

Great post!

Womona

Fantastic post. What a great reminder that this all doesn’t have to be miserable. Thanks for sharing the recipe, your dinner looks delicious!

FangsForYou

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48716016#Comment_48716016

hey, thanks, I think it could help people who are trying to lose weight. 🙌🏻 I hope you try the meal.

FangsForYou

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48715454#Comment_48715454

Thanks for sharing, I think it can be beneficial if people focus on small little changes in their diet that can add to their overall well being.

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SafariGalNYC

great recipe! Glad you have had success!!

As someone who enjoys fresh greens and broccoli and chicken.. I feel like it’s great for me, but not for everyone. Seems like you have found a plan that works for you!

suzu_2

Great post!! I think you have the right philosophy. I get bored with the same meals on repeat too, and I have to have flavor or I will not stick to a plan. I'm 70 and I've lost 68# since January. The first couple of months I thought I was going to give it up. (There are only so many frozen meals and chicken you can eat!!) But then I remembered that I LOVE to cook, almost as much as I love to eat, and I started playing with recipes and macros to come up with meals that my family and I all enjoy. You have it right. It has to be a sustainable plan! Good luck!

Becoming53

😃

neanderthin

Cooking actual real food is now an epiphany of brilliance, we can't make this stuff up. Congratulations on you for realizing real food is tasty and better for us.

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