3lb gain???? Seriously

petithamu

It is difficult when you have a family to cook for and if they're not willing to try new things, it can be a pain. I think first and foremost, you need to speak to your husband and let him know that you want to have a healthier lifestyle and it would be beneficial for the both of you if you start making healthier food at home.

As for cost, I actually find cooking at home cheaper than eating out and you can make a big batch. Vegetable and fruit is not that expensive, especially if you can find a local market instead of a supermarket so you don't pay all the extra for packaging. If you just buy one type of protein and the rest veggies, you can cut the cost quite a lot.

I tend to buy a whole chicken and roast it. I then discard the bones and use the meat for everything, from salad to stirfry to sandwiches. There are lots of ways to eat clean on a budget.

I don't drink soda or coffee so I can't really relate to that addiction...so I think probably just listen to others and drink diet drinks. I'm sorry you find water horrible..my cousin and aunties are the same way...but the honest truth is, the more water you drink, the more weight you will lose...I don't know the science behind it but I know it works. Especially if you're eating high sodium food, you really need to replenish and not with sugary drinks...

This journey is hard but nothing worth doing is ever easy, right? It's a life change and it is your choice when you take that step. Just know that your MFPs will be here to support you all the way.

atomdraco

- Cut down your soda
- Stop eating so much donuts
- Cook your own food instead of going to fast food chain that often
- Add vegetable & fruits to your diet
- etc.

From your diary, you are eating more empty calories, which doesn't give your body energy to do exercises. Your diet is not close to be balanced and nutritious.

Look at others (those who knows to eat healthy) to see what they are eating, and change your eating habit.

Serenifly

take measurements .... I've been training for a half - running hours and hours a week, burning minimum of 500 cals per run - and I'm up 7 lbs - but I'm down 11 inches ....

barbarajean3

If you haven't had a good check up lately go see your doctor. If all is well don't let it get you down it goes up and down for all of us. I gained 2 pounds this week. Smile and nod at the scale and keep going.:flowerforyou:

barbarajean3

I wish I could skip the soda and coffee. I add choc syrup to my coffee because I dont like the taste of coffee without it.
Its almost like I have been drinking coffee or soda for so many years in the mornings that it is just habit. And especially with the lack of sleep I get, it helps wake me up.

What are some food choices that you all suggest? I may take a look at some of your diaries to see if there is anything that I know I can please my family with as well as myself that is better for us.

Try sparkling water it might help you get off the soda and add more water to your diet. Plus the bubbles give you a full feeling

knowmydestiny

crystal light has helped my husband and I switch away from deathly amounts of soda. if you are in the u.s. you can probably find the store brand which is cheaper and just as good.

Erica9903

It could definately be water weight. Are your clothes fitting different??

I took a peek at your diary and went back to the 1st of March. I notice that there were a few days that you were over on your calories and sodium (not picking on you at all...we all have those days) but also that you don't appear to be logging all of the water you drink. On the higher sodium days drink more water to help flush it out. What is your weekend eating habits?? There is nothing there to go by to help you there either. Watch your soda intake as well. Give it time and you will start to see with a good diet (low sodium if possible) and exercise the pounds will start to fall off. Good Luck!!!

Bviera

I second the suggestion for Crystal Light to get yourself to drink water. Crystal Light doesn't have sugar and only 5 calories per serving (which I believe is about 8 oz). Much healthier than soda! What I do is make a whole batch of it as per the directions on the package. Then I pour about 4 or 6 oz in my 20 oz water bottle and fill up the rest with regular water. That way, I'm getting the lemony taste and am not drinking 20 oz of Crystal Light. I take that with me to the gym when I work out and it really does wonders to quench my thirst.

Also, if you don't like coffee, don't drink it! I personally love it and have been drinking it for years, but I limit myself to one cup a day (in the mornings) with skim milk and artificial sugar. There are healthier alternatives to regular sugar, such as agave or Stevia. Even honey is better than refined sugar. But if you don't like the taste, find something else to give you energy. Maybe caffeinated tea?

Also, eating healthy does not have to be expensive or lack taste. It took me a while, but I've finally gotten my boyfriend to join me in my healthy eating and he seems to be enjoying it. Sit down with your husband, explain that he needs to cooperate because this is something you need to do for yourself (and for him too). Find healthy recipes he'd be willing to enjoy. Chicken is a lean meat that you can cook in many ways and do many things with. Add veggies and whole wheat pasta to your diet. Whole wheat pasta is actually pretty good now.

Beastiephile

Remember that what we eat is more than half the battle. You could legitimately lose weight with no exercise as long as you're eating the right things. I took a look at your food diary, and I can see there are times when you are trying to make healthier choices which is great. But I see a lot of fast food, donuts, and soda in there as well.

Working out is not enough, and counting calories is not enough. If you only have, say, 1500 calories allowed in a day, you want to make sure you're getting the most nutrition out of those calories. What we weigh is a direct reflection on what we put in our bodies. Put something healthy in, get good results. Put sugars and processed foods in, and you will be sabotaging all the hard work you're putting in though exercise and calorie counting.

I think the best thing to do is go through your food diary and make some decisions on what foods you can do without and some healthy alternatives. Just take it one step at a time, and you'll get there. Good luck.

KELM0710

I have to give crystal light or even brewed tea another try. Aspartame gives me headaches so anything that is "diet" is out.
I dont like going to fast food places but time escapes us on the weekends(mainly when we go) and by then its past dinner time and no time to thaw meat. I need to plan in the mornings which i am horrible at.

You would think I would learn about fast food. I had my gallbladder taken out last May and everytime I eat crap like that it goes right thru me(without too much tmi). If I just need to find foods that I like at the store that can direct me away from fast food.

It may be water weight, I have felt bloated today. That is why i am aiming for so much water to see if that changes anything.

The choc syrup I put in my coffee is less than 2 tbsps. It is mainly for taste. I make iced coffee at home so its already got less calories than if I were to go buy it. I normally dont drink the whole glass either so basically those calories are the max that I take in in the mornings.

mrsparker77

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I gained almost 10 pounds when I started working out. Just watch your calories drink plenty of water, and keep working out. Also take your measurements, I started losing inches before pounds. But whatever you do please do not give up, it will be worth it in the end.

RockaholicMama

Chin up! Don't give up! If I see a gain I use that as inspiration to just work harder. It gives me that extra shove I need in the right direction. Don't worry. I could also be water retention as well. Drink water and keep at it! You can do it!

KELM0710

The smoothie idea sounds really good. My older son would drink it in the mornings with me and thats good for him too.

Lexie28

I just took a look at your food diary, (First thing I do when some one asks a question regarding weight gain)

Nutrition = Losing weight.

There were days you did not log. When you did, you were eating fried chicken, Subway- chicken, bacon ranch sandwiches etc.

You can exercise all you want- but if you do not properly fuel your body with good nutrition, you will not see a great loss on the scale.

Oh- And stay away from soda.

I checked out your diet too. You really need to take a good look at what you're fueling your body with. Best advice...cut out all the processed food and eat more fruit and veg. You won't lose weight by consuming too much processed foods. You may want to stay away from fast foods (i.e. Subway) for a while.

Good luck

KELM0710

The weekends are the worst so this coming weekend will be the my challenge. I need to think of things to do for lunch and dinners on the weekends so we dont go out. Actually sunday I will have to do really good during the day because we are going out for hubs bday that evening for dinner.

Atlantique

The weekends are the worst so this coming weekend will be the my challenge. I need to think of things to do for lunch and dinners on the weekends so we dont go out. Actually sunday I will have to do really good during the day because we are going out for hubs bday that evening for dinner.

Not sure if the Crystal Light has aspartame in it as it's been awhile since I've had it. But 4C makes a line of drink mixes that are all sweetened with Splenda, so maybe that's an option for you. I LOVE their Pomegranate and their Green Tea! And it's cheaper than Crystal Light, too!

I'm still fairly new to the whole 'planning a week of food thing" myself. But just for an idea that's worked for me: Bake or roast chicken. That's your main protein and it's usually inexpensive ( I live alone, so I do 6 breasts at one time and then they go in the fridge). Day 1 I might have a salad and some brown rice with my chicken breast. Day 2 I might dice it up and put it in a low-calorie tortilla with some cheese and nuke it--instant chicken burrito (and a salad)! Day 3 I might dice it up and make chicken salad and have a sandwich. Then start over again.

Buying whole chickens is cheaper, so give your kids and hubby the dark meat (or more of it).

Here's a super easy Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes recipe that I use frequently: http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Main-Dish/Rosemary-Baked-Chicken-with-Potatoes.aspx