i don't understand what i can and can't eat!!

therobinator

TECHNICALLY, you can eat anything you want, and still lose weight. You don't even *need* to exercise. All that matters is calories in versus calories out. That said, eating good foods and exercising certainly have their benefits. So, check out the links in my signature block for detailed information.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

dinner: Try to make baked lean protien should be 25% of your plate, whole grain starch (brown rice, plain baked potato or sweet potato, quinoa etc) another 25%, and veggies to fill up the rest. If you must have dessert one of my go to's on a light calorie day is home made fat free pudding pops made with fat free milk. They're like 25 calories per pop.

hroush

Starting out I would suggest just reducing your portion size. As you progress, you will learn more what is better to eat and what to consume less of.

DonnaLFitz

You have to find your own balance.

For me, I have found that starchy carbs and sugars make me gain, no matter what my calories are for the day. While I'm losing, I eliminate all starches (including oatmeal, wheat bread, brown rice, and potatoes), all junk foods (chips, pretzels, candies, etc.), and I limit my sugar to one serving of prepackaged ice cream (Klondike bar or Snickers ice cream bar) so that I won't overeat at dessert.

The rest of my weight loss diet (I'm stressing that here, because for weight loss you actually do have to give up something) focuses on:
2 servings fresh light fruit (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, pears)
1 serving light yogurt (I add 1/2 scoop protein powder to thicken it)
1 serving cheese ( I like babybel)
3-7 servings fresh or frozen vegetables (canned vegetables have a lot of sodium, which can sabotage your weight quickly)
2 4-oz servings of lean meat (chicken, turkey, fish -- once in a while beef or pork)

I add a protein bar in the afternoon for a healthy snack. I drink 6-8 glasses of water daily.

I allow small amounts of low-fat dressing and condiments and parmesan cheese. Some of the bottled marinades are really good, too, to dress up your meats and keep them from being dry and tasteless.

Good luck!

therobinator

....diet (I'm stressing that here, because for weight loss you actually do have to give up something) ....

Incorrect. You don't have to give up anything. You may have to limit somethng or several things, but never have to give it up altogether.

HeyLisa

Eat what you like within calorie limits. Never restrict yourself to the point that it's not enjoyable, or too difficult to find a meal.

You can even lose weight eating junk food.... http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

Tis what I believe...

kristelpoole

I like to follow the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method.

Food Rules by Michael Pollan is great resource...

Here's what works for ME:

1) No meat. I'm a pescetarian so I don't eat any meat (even stock) but I will allow seafood.

2) Buy local, organic, fresh, and unprocessed as much as possible. Eat real food. Avoid ingredients I can't pronounce, processed sugars, hydrogenated oils, enriched/processed/white/bleached flours, etc. If it wasn't food 100 years ago, why is it food now?

3) Veggies and/or fruits in every single meal and most snacks. (By increasing the volume of veggies, you can automatically and easily reduce the carb-load.)

4) Measure, track and be precise, but also don't beat yourself up. If I'm in a hurry and utilize a frozen Morningstar Farms veggie burger, so be it.

5) Exercise and drink water - LOTS of it.

Good luck!

dls06

Look online for healthy low cal, low carb, low fat, low sodium recipes. I use dlife.com.
Look for Low cal-carb bread, I use Whole Wheat Breads like Thomas's Sahara mini pita. Pepperidge Farm Light Style Bread and La Bandarita low carb,low fat tortilla's. Also look for low fat low sodium Cheese and Deli meats, Swiss and Turkey are the best but there are many to choose from. Cook you own foods. Lots of Veggies, Fresh, Frozen (without sauces and gravys), Canned no sodium veggies and tomatoes, Fresh Meats and Fish, Use chopped raw or cooked, tomatoes, peppers, onions, avacados, Mustards or muchrooms to top meats and fish. Go to the store and read lables. Stay away from processed and fast foods. Don't bring things into the house that will tempt you. Dont' say you have to have it for everyone else. They don't need it either. Look for healthy snacks. Popcorn low fat, 40 cal fudge pops, Fat free pudding, Fresh cheese and Whole wheat crackers, Fruit and Nuts, Cut veggies with 1 tbls. of dressing for dipping, Natural no sodium peanutbutter, I use crazy richards. Watch your sodium and drink a lot of water. I don't drink anything but water, If I go out to dinner I'll have a drink but never soda. It is wasted calories. I would much rather eat my calories. Don't make excuses that you don't have time. Pick one day to cook all your meats for the week and you'll only have to make the veggies. You need to make time if you are going to do it right. When you are ready you will find the time.

LorinaLynn

There are no bad foods, only bad portions.

I eat all the same stuff I did before. The only thing I've stopped eating is Pop Tarts because once I realized that "one" tart is considered a serving and how many calories are in two of those nasty little things, I'd much rather an English muffin with Nutella or cereal. Even my absolute favorite Asiago Bagel is less calories than two Pop Tarts, and a lot more filling.

Err... enough on the Pop Tart tangent...

What worked for me is adding more NEW healthy foods, rather than just limiting what I ate. I'm still eating frozen pizza, but once a week instead of two or three times a week. I used to live off Hamburger Helper and Rice A Roni, and now I have similar foods, but made from whole wheat pasta or brown rice instead of a high sodium, high calorie powder from a box. I can eat more of it for less calories, and it's tastier and healthier. Win Win!

I don't watch my carbs, and I'm always low on fat (except pizza night), but I do make sure I have plenty of protein. And I eat back my exercise calories. I'd be absolutely miserable if I had eat within my calorie goals without adding in the exercise.