From 363.4 to 197.7 lbs: My One-Meal-a-Day Success Story

paddybonner

OP can you give some examples of what kinds of meals you were eating + their calories pls

thanks

arguablysamson

OP.. when you reached goal weight, how did you transition into maintenance? I'm already having trouble getting all my daily calories in one meal because I get full now on so much less.

This was tricky and proved to be the most emotional part of dieting. Having coming to terms with the way I had to eat at first, I again had to come to terms that not only had my waist and body changed, but my needs had changed as well.

I, at first, transitioned to larger meals, but I went slowly, fearing I would gain my weight back. But at this point, I was working out and clearly needed to gain some muscle and firm up. Hence, the need for more calories. I found that OMAD doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing thing. For extra energy and strength gains, I added in days of multiple meals (MM), reverting to OMAD just two to three days out of the week, depending upon how much I consumed on those MM days; if I felt like I ate too much and noticed a lot of water retention, I would go back to strict OMAD. But I still ended up losing weight if I went too strict at that.

So, to answer your question, I vary my eating habits drastically, being careful to gauge consumption with curbing off the lightest cravings. At times, I still "throw down" and eat a big, less healthy meal. But here again, once you learn you are back in control, then you can enjoy the benefits of normal self-management. And that is the beauty of this!

As to getting enough calories, remember that a number of days can go by on too few calories--if you keep a balance in days of the week where your calories are up, too. A larger meal can work, but just as in the wild, there is nothing wrong with variance. This is something I was uncomfortable with at first, but again, taking back control shows you that you really are not the same as you were when you started the plan and you had to check yourself by always eating OMAD. Things do change.

arguablysamson

OP can you give some examples of what kinds of meals you were eating + their calories pls

thanks

Sure.

At first, it was just about taking back control, which meant portion control with the one-plate OMAD rule. My meals consisted of everything from homecooked all-American stuff, like chili and spaghetti, to junkie fast-food, which I'll admit I consumed much of the first few months. Made no difference in weight loss.

But in time, you change and your tastes change. I believe this to be from the fact that as your nutrient levels fall, your body has to change your tastes to get you to desire good things (well, I know this because I have never in my life craved fruits, but I now LOVE them!) Once you get used to being without junk sugar stuff, your body develops a healthy craving for natural sugars found in fruits.

So, on or off OMAD, my favorite preferred foods involved milk, honey, eggs, wheat bread, white rice, a gamut of meats and fish, hot peppers, nuts, fresh fruits, and vegetables (usually canned or frozen). Just depends.

Here is one of my quickie favorite recipes...

Habanero Veggie, Rice, & Steak Medley (Ok, so it's clear I have no real title for this dish!)

1 cup dry rice, cooked, but only salt added and maybe a few chopped onions bits (735 calories)
4 orange habeneros (60 calories) - chopped finely and cooked in with the rice - tis' a truly heavenly taste!
1/2 a lime (10 calories) - squeezed into the bowl as I stir after cooking.
1 14 oz can of corn (322 calories)
1 14 oz can of green lima bean (350 calories)
1 pinch of cilantro (0.7 calories)
1 cup serving of organic grapes (110 calories)
9 pieces of large organic cashews (160 calories)
1 package of Grill'n Ready steak strips from Walmart (280 calories per whole package)
____
2,027.07 calories

Divide, serve, combine, or change as you like. This is just one example. Naturally, this makes for a mighty spicy dish with everything mixed in. Very, VERY tasty, I might add! :-)

Veil5577

Thank you for the information, OP.

When my willpower flags or the doubts creep in I keep going back to this thread, it's helping me a lot. I appreciate your posting it and dealing with the negative people who keep chiming in saying this is an eating disorder. I've been hearing this from my own family as well, but I'm paying no mind to it.

twalker475

I think it's great you found a method that works for you...congrats on your success! I hadn't heard of OMAD before, but it sounds similar to intermittent fasting. Consistently eating beyond our body's energy expenditure is what causes fat storage/weight gain, regardless of whether it is consumed in one meal, three, six, etc. I could see how it would be easier to stay in a calorie deficit eating only one meal/day, though...we can only fit so much food in our stomachs at one time before the discomfort of stuffing any more in would make most people stop. It is much easier to overeat a little here and there throughout the day if you are not being careful, and those little bits add up. I think the important thing, though, is to find what suits your preference and work that system! Great job on doing that!

psylvester1

bump

persistentsoul

Great job

FaithFamilyFitness215

Crushed it

lelyke

You deserve an award

tarheelmendi

I have been overweight most of my life. I dropped 67 pounds over about 2 years (not fast weight loss) and have excess saggy skin. It is unsightly to me. It will not go away without surgery according to my dermatologist. I think saggy skin is not only related to how fast one loses weight, but the amount one loses, and how long the excess weight was carried. Hope this helps.

shrinkingmags

Great Job! My best friend lost her weight the same way does'nt work for me but it worked great for her:)

Digby55

From what I've read the issue of excess skin is both genetics and length of time one was heavy, as well as how heavy. Some people have skin that shrinks with them, others don't. Mine seems to be on the shrink side, so it's genetic luck in my case, as well as not being too heavy for too long.

vinyladdict

Since starting OMAD about two months ago, I'm down around 25 lbs, while my wife is down 15. It's a fantastic lifestyle and I don't feel guilty all of the time. I know that weight loss is time consuming, and that I need to be patient. I love being able to come home after a hard day, eat a big salad, a nice portion of meat, a carb (red potato, serving of corn, etc), and a light beer or two. It's great to be on a, "Diet," and feel full at the end of the day with a belly capped to the top with healthy food.

Veil5577

Since starting OMAD about two months ago, I'm down around 25 lbs, while my wife is down 15. It's a fantastic lifestyle and I don't feel guilty all of the time. I know that weight loss is time consuming, and that I need to be patient. I love being able to come home after a hard day, eat a big salad, a nice portion of meat, a carb (red potato, serving of corn, etc), and a light beer or two. It's great to be on a, "Diet," and feel full at the end of the day with a belly capped to the top with healthy food.

I'd LOVE to be down 25 lbs in two months... I hope this works as well for me as it has you!

Digby55

Since starting OMAD about two months ago, I'm down around 25 lbs, while my wife is down 15. It's a fantastic lifestyle and I don't feel guilty all of the time. I know that weight loss is time consuming, and that I need to be patient. I love being able to come home after a hard day, eat a big salad, a nice portion of meat, a carb (red potato, serving of corn, etc), and a light beer or two. It's great to be on a, "Diet," and feel full at the end of the day with a belly capped to the top with healthy food.

The best part to me is actually feeling comfortably full (not stuffed!), which I never did spreading calories out over three meals. I think there is something biologically important about the "full" feeling, maybe that is what triggers satisfaction. I don't have cravings anymore, which for me is incredible. I'm eating about the same calories, but now losing weight. Can't beat that!

culo97

Congratulations on your progress. I love how the growth of the baby shows the passage of time.

bootygroove

I have been doing so good for 8 weeks, but the last two, I can feel myself sliding off track. I came on here this morning to see if I could find a spark of inspiration to get me back on track, and I found it. I truly needed to hear this. Thank you!

I have wondered how the one meal a day would work. I'm glad you shared your information. I've been doing two meals a day with a snack consisting of raw veggies or fruit. Here is to a new day!

Great job!

347Gigi

Very inspiring! Super job!!

MichelleV1990

Who am I to judge how you got there....you look great!!!

Lazygal53

Bump ...

FabMeliO

This is working for me. I turned my lunch into lunch/dinner and it's working wonders! So far I'm able to lose 8 lbs a month or so. I also increased activity, if I cheat one day and eat stuff I shouldn't, I try not to overeat. I think this is more sustainable than dieting since it's something I can keep doing for the rest of my life with minimum restrictions.

Of course, now I try to pick the healthier choices of the things I love. For example, I love pizza, so I don't eat the pepperoni or ham one anymore, I pick the one with mushrooms instead. I try to avoid soda now, but if I have one, diet version. If I have cravings for something sweet, I cut on my meal to make room for dessert instead of eating my dinner completely and then adding the dessert. I also try to count calories, but I don't drive myself crazy over them, if I go over my daily calorie goal I don't beat myself up and make up for it with a little more activity or by cutting on the calories the next day. And btw, take the stairs! It does work!

Veil5577

Would chewing sugarless gum be considered breaking the fast? I don't know how much it has in sugar or carbs or calories, but I'm trying to stop smoking and that is the only thing that I know will help.

ndoty_sa

Keep up the great work, Arguablysamso; I've followed the same daytime fasting routine for 15 yrs.

I hope Lintino can learn "to eat in moderation".

arguablysamson

Would chewing sugarless gum be considered breaking the fast? I don't know how much it has in sugar or carbs or calories, but I'm trying to stop smoking and that is the only thing that I know will help.

I've never done it since I don't chew gum, but at just 5 calories per piece, I'm sure it would be fine. Even Dr Pepper Bold with 10 calories I've done and I never worried about it. I'd say anything with 10 or less calories is practically no calories. Even black coffee with nothing else might have about 4 calories and a pitcher of tea might have 6 or 8. Not to worry.

Veil5577

I have now been on OMAD for two weeks as of today. I don't have a scale yet so I don't know if number wise I have lost any weight but I can DEFINITELY see a difference in the mirror. My stomach is not protruding nearly as much as it was and my "test" jeans I use slid on a little bit easier yesterday. This is definitely working for me. And my appetite is down, I can't eat nearly as much as I once did and binge eating is out of the question. A month ago it wasn't a problem at all to binge eat. I am thrilled that I found something that would work for me.

I will be getting my scale tomorrow. Fridays will be weigh days and I will not weigh myself more than once a week.

harmar21

Fantastic job!
This is extremely interesting to me. I just started atkins a couple days ago, but Ill be honest it isn't fun yet.
I don't know my actual weight, but I think it is close to what you were original at, perhaps a tad higher, and my ultimate goal would be pretty much exactly where you ended up at just under 200. I am not quite as tall, only about 6-6'1

This idea sounds intriguing. I have already done plenty in the past where I go 23 hours without eating because busy, or whatever.. I know best time for me would be either lunch or supper (probably supper).

I think for now I am going to stick with atkins, but if that ends up failing I am definitely going to keep this as a backup... because even If I do fail, I am definitely cutting out sugar, maybe not wheats, but definitely sugar. I have always only eaten 2 meals (and maybe 1 late time snack), never eating breakfast. I think this could easily work for me. I would suffer for the first week but I know I would get used to it.

arguablysamson

Fantastic job!
This is extremely interesting to me. I just started atkins a couple days ago, but Ill be honest it isn't fun yet.
I don't know my actual weight, but I think it is close to what you were original at, perhaps a tad higher, and my ultimate goal would be pretty much exactly where you ended up at just under 200. I am not quite as tall, only about 6-6'1

This idea sounds intriguing. I have already done plenty in the past where I go 23 hours without eating because busy, or whatever.. I know best time for me would be either lunch or supper (probably supper).

I think for now I am going to stick with atkins, but if that ends up failing I am definitely going to keep this as a backup... because even If I do fail, I am definitely cutting out sugar, maybe not wheats, but definitely sugar. I have always only eaten 2 meals (and maybe 1 late time snack), never eating breakfast. I think this could easily work for me. I would suffer for the first week but I know I would get used to it.

I am 185 now. I should update pics. Tried Atkins and went INSANE from a lack of sugar. Never lost much, either. Good luck. You always have good ole' OMAD as a fallback! :smokin:

arguablysamson

I have now been on OMAD for two weeks as of today. I don't have a scale yet so I don't know if number wise I have lost any weight but I can DEFINITELY see a difference in the mirror. My stomach is not protruding nearly as much as it was and my "test" jeans I use slid on a little bit easier yesterday. This is definitely working for me. And my appetite is down, I can't eat nearly as much as I once did and binge eating is out of the question. A month ago it wasn't a problem at all to binge eat. I am thrilled that I found something that would work for me.

I will be getting my scale tomorrow. Fridays will be weigh days and I will not weigh myself more than once a week.

Wonderful!

jmapes9

Real nice work, man.

Veil5577

I had my first weigh in today, and I have lost 10 lbs in two weeks doing OMAD.

You have no idea how happy I am seeing that drop on the scale. I knew I'd lost a little but I didn't think it was that much.

Again, I want to thank you for posting this thread. This method is working for me and I'm able to stick to it, and for the first time since starting MFP, I'm seeing results.