I dont understand why

b00b0084

sounds like i need to make a trip to the store for some stuff

elliecolorado

I struggled with feeling tired all the time too when I first started here. I went from drinking several energy drinks and diet sodas a day to drinking almost nothing but water (I still have a soda or energy drink when I have calories left over, but only one every few weeks). Living a healthy lifestyle isn't about eating fewer calories, but still eating the same foods (just less of them). I don't just watch my calories, I watch my carbs, fat, protein, fiber and sodium. What helped me get all of the numbers fairly consistently at a healthy level was to plan ahead! When I started I'd plan a few days worth of meals in advance and even put them in my diary just to see what the numbers looked like so I could tweak things if I needed to. After you get used to it, you will pretty much know what kind of things you can have and what the numbers will look like. The cleaner you eat, the better off you are nutritionally.

MyNameIsNotBob

What is wrong with cheese as a snack?

Nothing. But calling Kraft Singles "cheese" is questionable at best. Have a string cheese, a chunk of cheddar or a smear of brie instead. So much more satisfying and real.

teejies

Hi - try water, and at least 2 - 3 litres a day. Fresh fruit and Vegies (or frozen ones- they are just as good, just check the packets for sodium and sugars).
I love my caffeine, but since I have been losing weight I have not had one Diet Coke - it just does not appeal anymore.

I make my own pizzas - Pizza Hut thinks I am dead, good luck to them and better luck to me.

As it is Autumn/ Winter in Australia, we have the warming yummy foods coming along, but I went to our local market and bought up big on really colourful foods (this is a great vision tool to use - bright colours in foods make them more tempting).

I know it sounds hard but try cutting down your junk food intake, get your water in and maybe try green tea and cut down your coffee - and dont be so hard on yourself.

must update my profile pic - I dont look like her anymore.... I look better !!!!!

cacrat

You don't have to give up on caffeine altogether, tho since you're coming from such a horrible diet to one that will likely taste horrible to you, coffee isn't going to be all that pleasurable to you either. But give it a shot.

b00b0084

I have a bad "urgency" reaction to coffee (if you get my drift) so I dont drink it very often. But I so enjoy cofee with flavored creamer.

annacataldo

try for whole grains instead of white flour items (everything from flour u cook with to pasta, to crackers, to pancake mix, to...bagels, bread, english muffins)...

compare labels and see what brands have lower sodium. look for anything that says low sodium, reduced sodium, etc. Compare labels for lower calorie options too--like jarred spaghetti sauce is double the calories as canned spaghetti sauce, as an example...

I like fiber1 granola bars--oats and chocolate as a healthy treat/snack.

And i didnt realize the cheese that was in question was a kraft single... so yea... if u liked pre-sliced cheese, u can take ur block of cheese to the deli at a grocery store, and have them slice the entire block and they dont charge u for it (unlike if u bought real sliced cheese in the store aisle its like $3 for a few slices--ridiculously priced). processed cheese is a processed food, and ur right, it is "questionable" LOL

TimWeis75

Spend more time/money in the perimeter of the grocery store: the meat, dairy and especially the produce section.

And (if you're in the northern hemisphere at least) it's spring: the produce aisles are going to have all kinds of new selections of fruits and vegetables every week (and great sale prices on the old standbys), making this a great time to make a dietary change.

Painten

Like you i was brought up on complete rubbish. Severeal takeaways a week, loads of chocolate and crisps etc. We'd have a tub of icecream instead of an actual meal. I Shudder to think of the crap my mother fed my sister and i and i kept it up thought adult hood. I think your doing great. Being aware or how bad the food is and cutting it down is the first step. Changing some and drinking more water is the next. Take it slow step by step. Too much too soon and your likely to give up. I still have to eat some rubbish now as i do miss the taste. Nothing homemade tastes remotely like a takeaway so i still have them for now but not as often as i used to. Dont' swear off everything right away just do what you can. Just incase i need to carify this is a suggestion and not me telling you what you should do. I have already been misquoted on here as telling someone what they should and shouldn't do. You have to find a way that works for you and a way that you can sustain to make it a change for life. I've lost a few mfp friends who have pretty much starved themselves for a couple of weeks then disapeared.

annacataldo

Id also like to say that I go out to eat all the time, especially lately since my bf's dad died on Saturday, and was sick for a couple weeks before that. Its day 12 of this month and I've been out to eat every single day except 1, possibly 2x (and today is unknown since its only 10am).
Before the last couple weeks id go out 1 to 2x a week generally with my bf for dates.

Making this lifestyle change doesn't mean u can't live! I enjoy eating out and being n a small town there is not much else to do for dates anyway while its still cold & wet out. If I know I am going out, I plan my day around it. I eat low calorie all day so I know ill beable to afford some extra calories for a resturant. If I know where I'm going, ill think about their menu and get food ideas b4 I go. If I don't know, then ill look for healthy options right off the bat on the menu--most places have at least salads or grilled chicken burgers. I ask for a fat free italian or ranch, not everywhere has them, and instead of dressing on salad I ask for it on side. Instead of pouring it on I dab my fork in it, then take a bite, and its just enough to season the salad (oh I also put pepper on my salad to help use less dressing--at home I use pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes & usually don't use dressing at all). I don't eat any croutons that came with it (fattening) and I drink water with lemon. Then with chicken burgers (grilled, not fried) I ask if they have a wheat bun instead, I don't have mayo/sauce on it, and sometimes ill only eat half the bun, especially if they didn't have a wheat bun...if on the menu it comes with fries, u don't have to get stuck with fries, ask for them to be replaced with a salad, or baked potato, or something.
At chinese I get no items fried (brocolli chicken or sub gum w/no chow mein), no fried rice--steamed rice. Mexican ill get a rice & chicken dish called arroz con pollo (rice, chicken, mushrooms, onions in a tomato sauce & cheese), either light on cheese or no cheese. And ill only eat half the plate (plenty). I usually indulge on some free chips while I'm there but I never go over cal cuz I saved up to beable to eat that dinner.

Livig a healthy life style doesn't mean ur dead and can't go anywhere anymore!! Healthy choices all around u, u just have to choose them!!

My diary is open booboo if u need any ideas. I'm a picky eater too. Mustard & pickles r the antichrist. Hate raw tomatoes (unless its salsa), don't like squash or that crap. Lots I don't like...