A structured diet?

laurenk182004

Ok, so I am using this site and I personally love it, but I have a friend who is looking to lose a lot of weight and she tells me today that she needs a more structured diet or she knows she won't stick with it. I think this is a huge mistake, but does anyone know of a diet I could reccomend to her? She wants all her meals planned and everything. I reccomended doing the weight watchers dinners and stuff, but they are so high in sodium.

laurenk182004

Ok, so I am using this site and I personally love it, but I have a friend who is looking to lose a lot of weight and she tells me today that she needs a more structured diet or she knows she won't stick with it. I think this is a huge mistake, but does anyone know of a diet I could reccomend to her? She wants all her meals planned and everything. I reccomended doing the weight watchers dinners and stuff, but they are so high in sodium.

wriglucy

I am on a low sodium diet, and I know that Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice dinners tend to be less sodium than the others. Hope it helps!

proudmama0118

Not sure what her budget is but there is either Nutrisystem or Ediets plans that deliver all of the food to your door. Seemed a little pricey, but I guess if you aren't eating out or buying so many groceries it wouldn't be all that bad. The Ediets one looked interesting because they were all fresh made meals delivered weekly, and if I am not mistaken you can request low sodium. Just a thought.

kerrilucko

hmmmmmm well since you're on here, and you're likely getting to be a pro at this maybe you could sit down with her and help her plan a weeks worth of meals? She could just follow the guidelines the 2 of you set?

auntkaren

Kerrilucko has a point, because this is a life changing way to eat healthier foods and portions the rest of her life and maintain it . I have a lot to lose myself, and I cook things up ahead of time that I can eat from for at least three days. If I make up a soup, some baked chicken I make enough for a few days because now I have learned to portion my food , instead of eating a whole breast at once, or a big bowl of soup, or a plate full of pasta , I measure a cup for soup, 4oz of chicken, a cup of pasta, throw in some salads and other vegetables and the days planned out. I think things are costly enough without paying for everything premade and measured by some company and it not taste as good as your own cooking....that's just the way I look at it though. Hope she finds what works for her.:flowerforyou:

icandoit

I think using NS or any other already made meals is not the way to go. When they stop, do you go back to your old ways. I think educating yourself and learning how to cook and portion things yourself if the only way to do it right. It makes you stop and think about what you are eating. When you go out to eat, you will be able to figure out your portions sizes too.
Sitting down with her and helping her understand how much, what to and what not to eat is the best structured lifestyle change she could get. For the money she would spend on the NS and others, she can buy her healthy groceries and a gym membership.
I wish her luck and it is great she has a friend like you.

Helawat

The Healthy Living Program from iVillage provides a personalized meal plan, shopping list, recipes, a nutrition journal, calculators, and recipe analysis. It's free and very handy for someone like me who had no idea where to begin. After trying a few things from this site, I went to the nutritionist and she says I'm right on track.

Let me know what you think!
:flowerforyou:

http://www.healthylivingonline.com/profile/index.cfm?fuesaction=firstpage&i=122603&par=

SGFlyinHi

If she wants a structured plan, she should check with a nutritionist or if she belongs to a gym one of the trainers shouold be able to set her up with a good meal plan.

proudmama0118

I think using NS or any other already made meals is not the way to go. When they stop, do you go back to your old ways. I think educating yourself and learning how to cook and portion things yourself if the only way to do it right. It makes you stop and think about what you are eating. When you go out to eat, you will be able to figure out your portions sizes too.
Sitting down with her and helping her understand how much, what to and what not to eat is the best structured lifestyle change she could get. For the money she would spend on the NS and others, she can buy her healthy groceries and a gym membership.
I wish her luck and it is great she has a friend like you.

I personally wouldn't end up going with those because they are so pricey. But I don't think that they are that bad either. I do not necessarily agree that you will instantly go bad to eating bad and overeating when you stop. I use the Lean Cuisines and Smart ones A LOT, and I have found that from eating them so long and learning that the portion they give me really does fill me up I am able to regulate myself alot easier when I cook my own meals. Maybe not everyone is like that... but I think that those plans are probably a good way for some people to go as long as they look at it as a stepping stone to healthy eating instead of a "diet"

Just my two cents.

I do also like the idea of seeing if she would like to make up meal plans with you though... would make it easier for you too!! Maybe to convince her you could print off some of your food logs and show her what you have been doing to get the results you are.

laurenk182004

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I'll talk to her and see what she wants to do. I tried to explain to her about the lifestyle change and that eating a variety of healthy food would be better for her. She is adament that she wants a structured plan. I thought about making a plan for her myself, but she doesn't seem to want to have to cook...lol Anyways, I'm going to have her read your suggestions, maybe she'll decide to do MFP if she sees how helpful you guys all are Thanks again! definately like the sounds of the ivillage program helwat for my friend, thanks!

laurenk182004

Excellant idea about printing off my own food logs for her. I never thought of that!

yesIcan

I really liked the South Beach Diet and Dr. Oz and Roizen's YOU on a Diet... they even make a grocery list for you and they are both created by cardiologists to actually change you body biochemistry.
I've had sucess with both, though the South Beach Diet is my favourite.

icandoit

I think using NS or any other already made meals is not the way to go. When they stop, do you go back to your old ways. I think educating yourself and learning how to cook and portion things yourself if the only way to do it right. It makes you stop and think about what you are eating. When you go out to eat, you will be able to figure out your portions sizes too.
Sitting down with her and helping her understand how much, what to and what not to eat is the best structured lifestyle change she could get. For the money she would spend on the NS and others, she can buy her healthy groceries and a gym membership.
I wish her luck and it is great she has a friend like you.

I personally wouldn't end up going with those because they are so pricey. But I don't think that they are that bad either. I do not necessarily agree that you will instantly go bad to eating bad and overeating when you stop. I use the Lean Cuisines and Smart ones A LOT, and I have found that from eating them so long and learning that the portion they give me really does fill me up I am able to regulate myself a lot easier when I cook my own meals. Maybe not everyone is like that... but I think that those plans are probably a good way for some people to go as long as they look at it as a stepping stone to healthy eating instead of a "diet"

Just my two cents.

I do also like the idea of seeing if she would like to make up meal plans with you though... would make it easier for you too!! Maybe to convince her you could print off some of your food logs and show her what you have been doing to get the results you are.

What I was saying and I have seen this with friends on mine. If you are used to just grabbing and heating the food that is already made for you, you are not necessary learning how to portion for yourself. You are not learning to cook properly for yourself. It is healthier to make your own food. You control what goes in it. You can use less preservatives and sodium. You see what you are doing and it becomes habit when you are getting ready to eat. You measure your own food and you will soon be able to serve without the cups. I strongly feel that when you are relying on prepackaged foods you are not learning. Sure have some for a quick lunch if you don't have time to cook, but whey you are doing NS you are eating there food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. For the $300 a month-you can see a nutritionist and get what you need and have money left over for groceries. I am a strong believer that you have to want to do something to make it work. And if you work hard enough you can do it. Educate yourself and this whole lifestyle change will become easier to understand. Time, questions and lots of support to me a the way to make it through this. Structure I believe is the same...Support from friends, education on foods, step by step and day by day, and exercise.