Meal Plan vs. No Meal Plan

BrandyontheRun

Just wondering about meal plans. Who has had success with a meal plan? Who's had success without meal plans? Who's tried both and which worked best for you?

Lorleee

I needed a plan. It was the only thing that got me going.

elstadj

My nutritionist put me on a meal plan that was based on an excel spreadsheet. That lasted awhile, but it became too cumbersome. I quit tracking my eating and my weight plateaued.

When she suggested I try myfitnesspal.com I started to lose again. I'm at a 68.1 pound loss since I started in May 2011. I'm a firm believer in meal plans. I have 20.4 pounds to go. I plan on keeping up with the meal plans when I go on maintenance.

BananaCat83

I don't do too well with meal plans, I feel like it's too much to keep track of. I just try to take it a meal/snack at a time and make the healthiest choice I can when it comes down to it.

therealangd

What do you mean by meal plan?

Do I plan my meals a week in advance? No. Do I plan my meals for the day? Typically. But I can get to dinner time and not have a clue what to have.

Or do you mean track my food? Yes.

theginnyray

Also wondering what you mean by "Meal Plan"? Are you talking about planning your own vs using a planning service? Or planning your own vs a food program, like Medifast or Nutrisystem?

I plan my meals a week in advance, all meals and all snacks for the whole family. I've used planning services too, but I'd never, ever in a million years use a food program that sends me frozen/pre-made meals.

BrandyontheRun

When I say meal plan I mean the weekly/monthly meal plans that often come with exercise programs. I definitely track my food, and that in itself I find helpful. But I wonder if these structured, plan ahead meal plans (weekly/monthly) really make a huge difference. So of course I'm interested in everyones experience with long term meal plans

BrandyontheRun

but I'd never, ever in a million years use a food program that sends me frozen/pre-made meals.

Oh god no. LoL, definitely not refering to anything like this!!

sweetnlow30

As a busy mom, I need to have some planning with flexibility. I generally eat the same type of foods for breakfast and lunch each day so I make sure I always have them in stock. I usually make a rough meal plan for the next 5-7 days just before grocery shopping. I buy all the ingredients I need and I write the meals down on a white board on the fridge. We also store all of our veggies in "green bags" so I don't have to shop as often and I always have fresh foods available. All of my recipes have been adjusted ahead of time to be about 400 - 550 calories per serving, so I have no problem with having to juggle my foods to fit my plan, unless it is a treat night. My plan is flexible because I can just pick a meal off the list each day and work it into my schedule. On busy days, I use the crock pot or pick a dinner with less prep time. I believe that planning is key but allowing some give and take is also helpful if you are busy. I am not sure if this is the sort of meal plan you are referring to though

hepsi

I started trying to follow a meal plan given to me by a nutritionist. A person who is amazingly organised can do it maybe but not me. A lot goes into following a meal plan. sometimes i am too strapped for time or just feeling plain lazy to make something that requires effort. Also my meals depends on what I feel like having that day, so following a meal plan becomes an inconvenience again in those times...

Although not planning my meals meant i have tonnes of food in my freezer but not everything I need for one single recipe. hence a trip to supermarket follows due to lack of planning.

so i found a middle ground. I came up with few healthy recipes. On weekdays, I eat veggie or chicken wraps (wraps are homemade, with whole what flour and whey and are 60kcal each). The stuffing is boiled veggies/chicken cooked with spices. I can go to supermarket, and buy anything and I can prepare a meal out of it. My meals do not exceed 350kcal and are very filling. If i am busy, I prepare different stuffings at the beginning of the week to last all week.

I do have pasta occasionally as well. And being on this diet means, I am eating all nutrition I need and having low calorie, low fat diet and not much needs to go into planning.