Planned meals or NO?

EpicMeyri
EpicMeyri Posts: 109 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Good morning everyone! So this week I have only lost 1 pound. My goal this month is to lose 10 pounds. I have 4lbs more to go. So, this entire month I have been going over my sodium! Yesterday was the only day I went over my calories this week by just -53. I stopped planning out my meals b/c i felt some sort of freedom. But now I am thinking. should I start planning them out again? What do you do? & What works best for you?

Maybe instead of planning my meals to the tea, I can give myself a calorie limit for that meal?
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Replies

  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    Planning healthy, varied meals is a good thing.

    Planning repetitive & restrictive meals which are a pain to stick too, is a poop thing.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Planning healthy, varied meals is a good thing.

    Planning repetitive & restrictive meals which are a pain to stick too, is a poop thing.

    Not necessarily. I like to eat the same things over and over again so I normally pre log my meal. The only things I change will be like if I want strawberries or raspberries today. I normally have a cup of coffeenin the morning and the same meal every night with little variance. I don't feel it's restrictive, it's just foods that I like and I already know it fits my macros.
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    Not necessarily. I like to eat the same things over and over again so I normally pre log my meal. The only things I change will be like if I want strawberries or raspberries today. I normally have a cup of coffeenin the morning and the same meal every night with little variance. I don't feel it's restrictive, it's just foods that I like and I already know it fits my macros.

    You pre-plan every single meal 365 days a year and eat the same meal each night, the only variable being either adding strawberries or raspberries?

    You've no idea how bad I feel for you. But, If you're happy with it, I'm happy for you. Good luck.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i make a meal plan each week when i do my shopping list... so i know what i'm having each day and usually log the night before. my husband and i have about half a dozen meals that we usually go for on week nights, which sometimes does get a bit boring but i like to have a plan!
  • KathrynNicole86
    KathrynNicole86 Posts: 40
    Not necessarily. I like to eat the same things over and over again so I normally pre log my meal. The only things I change will be like if I want strawberries or raspberries today. I normally have a cup of coffeenin the morning and the same meal every night with little variance. I don't feel it's restrictive, it's just foods that I like and I already know it fits my macros.

    You pre-plan every single meal 365 days a year and eat the same meal each night, the only variable being either adding strawberries or raspberries?

    You've no idea how bad I feel for you. But, If you're happy with it, I'm happy for you. Good luck.

    Why would you feel bad for someone...because something different works for them? That's too silly. Everyone is different!

    I pre-log my meals each morning, if I have the time. It keeps me from rummaging through cabinets and snacking.

    It also enables me to stick with it more, because humans respond to habit, and structure.



    I don't find it restrictive either, I find it motivating. Experiment, find what works for you...and revel in it :)
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Not necessarily. I like to eat the same things over and over again so I normally pre log my meal. The only things I change will be like if I want strawberries or raspberries today. I normally have a cup of coffeenin the morning and the same meal every night with little variance. I don't feel it's restrictive, it's just foods that I like and I already know it fits my macros.

    You pre-plan every single meal 365 days a year and eat the same meal each night, the only variable being either adding strawberries or raspberries?

    You've no idea how bad I feel for you. But, If you're happy with it, I'm happy for you. Good luck.

    I only eat once a day but generally it looks something like this:
    Crepes
    Oatmeal
    Ice cream
    Buttered flatbread
    Multivitamin
    Vitamin D

    With the variables being:
    Seaweed
    Peanut butter
    Salad
    Hot chocolate
    Strawberries
    Raspberries
    Orange slices
    Apple slices

    I usually pick three thing from the variables list and add it to the first list.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member

    I only eat once a day but generally it looks something like this:
    Crepes
    Oatmeal
    Ice cream
    Buttered flatbread
    Multivitamin
    Vitamin D

    With the variables being:
    Seaweed
    Peanut butter
    Salad
    Hot chocolate
    Strawberries
    Raspberries
    Orange slices
    Apple slices

    I usually pick three thing from the variables list and add it to the first list.

    and thats all you eat? EVER?
  • KathrynNicole86
    KathrynNicole86 Posts: 40

    I only eat once a day but generally it looks something like this:
    Crepes
    Oatmeal
    Ice cream
    Buttered flatbread
    Multivitamin
    Vitamin D

    With the variables being:
    Seaweed
    Peanut butter
    Salad
    Hot chocolate
    Strawberries
    Raspberries
    Orange slices
    Apple slices

    I usually pick three thing from the variables list and add it to the first list.

    and thats all you eat? EVER?

    and all that at once? no judgement....but that would make me sick :/
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    Why would you feel bad for someone...because something different works for them? That's too silly. Everyone is different!

    I don't feel bad because it works. I feel bad because they'd be missing out on a *kitten* ton of other things.
  • KathrynNicole86
    KathrynNicole86 Posts: 40
    Why would you feel bad for someone...because something different works for them? That's too silly. Everyone is different!

    I don't feel bad because it works. I feel bad because they'd be missing out on a *kitten* ton of other things.

    "Pre-planned" doesn't necessarily mean the same thing everyday...maybe it's 365 different meals a year ;) But seriously...I pre-plan, and usually get a pretty good variety. Actually...I think it helps me make SURE I change it up...seeing it on paper and all.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Anyway, getting back on track....

    OP, if your sodium was up it will cause water retention - try drinking mroe and cutting out salt (if you have a lot of processed foods it can be difficult as so many are high in salt to hide the lack of quality in the other ingredients). If you cook for yourself anyway ad less salt - if you hae a shaker block up all but one hole, as most peope shake it a set number of times and don't really know what they're adding!

    Secondly, why do you want to lose so quickly? 10lb a month is rather a lot, given that 1lb a week is reckoned a "sensible" rate of decrease unless you are exceptionally overweight. If it comes off too quick its liable to bounce right back once you take your eye off it:wink:

    I don't necessarily plan meals more than a day ahead, but I do keep in mind what needs using up, what is in the freezer etc. And I preplan t the extent of NOT buying things I know I can't resist, as otherwise I have to eat them.

    And yes, setting a rough calorie limit per meal (don't forget snacks too) is a good idea - especially if you're looking through recipe sites, as you can see the calories per portion.
  • krhn
    krhn Posts: 781 Member
    Many fitness aspiring members would prep their meals a day before hand if not much earlier to get the accuracy count and meet their macros...
    I don't :p I just make sure I get 3 protein shakes daily to fill a large part of my protein intake and eat what comes to hand obviously largely eggs, cheese, tofu, rice - I'm a very boring person when it comes to eating though I do snack on chocolate /crisps / sweets though it would never go over my BMR so I'm still in the cut nonetheless!:smokin:
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member

    "Pre-planned" doesn't necessarily mean the same thing everyday...maybe it's 365 different meals a year ;) But seriously...I pre-plan, and usually get a pretty good variety. Actually...I think it helps me make SURE I change it up...seeing it on paper and all.

    I think you need to read my very first post again...
  • krhn
    krhn Posts: 781 Member
    Anyway, getting back on track....

    OP, if your sodium was up it will cause water retention - try drinking mroe and cutting out salt (if you have a lot of processed foods it can be difficult as so many are high in salt to hide the lack of quality in the other ingredients). If you cook for yourself anyway ad less salt - if you hae a shaker block up all but one hole, as most peope shake it a set number of times and don't really know what they're adding!

    Not to be rude or be an *kitten* about it but there's nothing wrong with water retention, if a person wants to lose weight and largely meets his/her targets, they'll still lose a fair amount of weight anyway ... Water retention is not detrimental to someone's weight loss as it'll come back off in time anyway! :bigsmile:
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member

    I only eat once a day but generally it looks something like this:
    Crepes
    Oatmeal
    Ice cream
    Buttered flatbread
    Multivitamin
    Vitamin D

    With the variables being:
    Seaweed
    Peanut butter
    Salad
    Hot chocolate
    Strawberries
    Raspberries
    Orange slices
    Apple slices

    I usually pick three thing from the variables list and add it to the first list.

    and thats all you eat? EVER?

    Pretty much. I'll stray from this list maybe once a week and have a piece of chocolate or some crackers but working with this list I can keep my macros as 40-30-30 with little effort while eating yummy food. It's healthier than it sounds though. The crepes are wheat/flour free, the main ingredient is egg whites. The oatmeal has protein powder in it, the ice cream is homemade with almond milk and PB2, and the flatbread is high protein/low carb.
  • EpicMeyri
    EpicMeyri Posts: 109 Member
    Anyway, getting back on track....

    OP, if your sodium was up it will cause water retention - try drinking mroe and cutting out salt (if you have a lot of processed foods it can be difficult as so many are high in salt to hide the lack of quality in the other ingredients). If you cook for yourself anyway ad less salt - if you hae a shaker block up all but one hole, as most peope shake it a set number of times and don't really know what they're adding!

    Secondly, why do you want to lose so quickly? 10lb a month is rather a lot, given that 1lb a week is reckoned a "sensible" rate of decrease unless you are exceptionally overweight. If it comes off too quick its liable to bounce right back once you take your eye off it:wink:

    I don't necessarily plan meals more than a day ahead, but I do keep in mind what needs using up, what is in the freezer etc. And I preplan t the extent of NOT buying things I know I can't resist, as otherwise I have to eat them.

    And yes, setting a rough calorie limit per meal (don't forget snacks too) is a good idea - especially if you're looking through recipe sites, as you can see the calories per portion.

    Unfortunately I cannot cook for myself b/c I dorm in school and there aren't any stoves in my building. So I kinda have to go with what I got. But I always thought losing 2 pounds a week was good. I didn't know that by doing this I'd be doing something wrong. So far I have been able to keep it off. and I do try to drink as much water as possible. But I think I will pre plan, I'll try to pre plan the meals and the calories and see how it goes from there.
  • ShandaLeaS
    ShandaLeaS Posts: 136 Member
    I menu plan dinners for 7-10 nights at a time. I don't necessarily say Monday is fish, Tuesday is chicken but more of a list of meals I have stuff for just as quick reference so I'm not scrambling every night to figure out dinner.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member

    I only eat once a day but generally it looks something like this:
    Crepes
    Oatmeal
    Ice cream
    Buttered flatbread
    Multivitamin
    Vitamin D

    With the variables being:
    Seaweed
    Peanut butter
    Salad
    Hot chocolate
    Strawberries
    Raspberries
    Orange slices
    Apple slices

    I usually pick three thing from the variables list and add it to the first list.

    and thats all you eat? EVER?

    Pretty much. I'll stray from this list maybe once a week and have a piece of chocolate or some crackers but working with this list I can keep my macros as 40-30-30 with little effort while eating yummy food. It's healthier than it sounds though. The crepes are wheat/flour free, the main ingredient is egg whites. The oatmeal has protein powder in it, the ice cream is homemade with almond milk and PB2, and the flatbread is high protein/low carb.

    if it works for you, thats all that matters!

    the ice cream sounds delicious!
  • earvizu92
    earvizu92 Posts: 320 Member
    Planned menus is a must for me!! Lots of fruit and spinach for me, add me as a friend if you'd like. :)
  • AMM160981
    AMM160981 Posts: 39 Member
    I plan my breakfast and lunch and make my food every Sunday for the week so I am less likely to go GET lunch while I am at work. I eat any dinner but in moderation. My downfall lately (I was doingreally prior) has been snacking and stress eating. The planned meals works for me and I switch it up every week and breakfast is never the same. I think having a plan for at least the week, esp for breakfast and lunch is good because like someone else said, you can log your calories and know what you have for the day.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Anyway, getting back on track....

    OP, if your sodium was up it will cause water retention - try drinking mroe and cutting out salt (if you have a lot of processed foods it can be difficult as so many are high in salt to hide the lack of quality in the other ingredients). If you cook for yourself anyway ad less salt - if you hae a shaker block up all but one hole, as most peope shake it a set number of times and don't really know what they're adding!

    Secondly, why do you want to lose so quickly? 10lb a month is rather a lot, given that 1lb a week is reckoned a "sensible" rate of decrease unless you are exceptionally overweight. If it comes off too quick its liable to bounce right back once you take your eye off it:wink:

    I don't necessarily plan meals more than a day ahead, but I do keep in mind what needs using up, what is in the freezer etc. And I preplan t the extent of NOT buying things I know I can't resist, as otherwise I have to eat them.

    And yes, setting a rough calorie limit per meal (don't forget snacks too) is a good idea - especially if you're looking through recipe sites, as you can see the calories per portion.

    Unfortunately I cannot cook for myself b/c I dorm in school and there aren't any stoves in my building. So I kinda have to go with what I got. But I always thought losing 2 pounds a week was good. I didn't know that by doing this I'd be doing something wrong. So far I have been able to keep it off. and I do try to drink as much water as possible. But I think I will pre plan, I'll try to pre plan the meals and the calories and see how it goes from there.

    Do they give you menus in advance, or is it pretty much the same choices every day? (I know at my son's Uni they put up a menu for the week). If you knwo in advance then planning will be very helpful because you won't get pulled in by impulses, but can spread everything - good and bad stuff - across the week.
  • kathicooks
    kathicooks Posts: 81 Member
    I totally preplan meals. Two reasons: that way I'm not as tempted to go out of my macros, and I always have the right foods on hand. I use it for meal planning and food shopping. I have next week's menus completely planned out for dinners (6 out of 7 days, one day is "clean out the fridge of leftovers!) I always assume I'll eat 4 weekday lunches of leftovers, and Friday lunch out with my work team is up in the air. I don't preplan my weekend breakfast or lunch, but I can stay on track as long as I preplan my dinners.
    Basically if I don't preplan, I end up picking up carryout, or running out of fresh produce mid-week, and as a diabetic, I need to be particularly careful of how I balance my meals.
    Not that this works for everyone, but it works for me and for my family.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    2 lbs a week is excellent. It is probably going to slow down, though, so be prepared.

    I'm the opposite kind of eater. Every day is a new adventure in the kitchen. But cooking's my hobby. There's no one system that fits everyone. That's the advantage of MFP, we can adjust to what works for us and within certain nutritional truisms. For example, if you started to eat noodles and only noodles you would lose weight. You would also become very ill and perhaps permanently damage your organs. This is true of eating any ONE thing. Most important is a mix of nutrients that feeds your body well and keeps you healthy.
  • obrientp
    obrientp Posts: 546 Member
    I usually plan my meals in the morning or the night before. This may sound weird, but, if I know I am going to a party or big dinner, I will go to that date days in advance and log in what I'm going to have as best as I can. Then, when that day comes it's already in there and I can work my daily calories around it. It also helps me stick to what I've entered and keeps me from overdoing it. For instance, I am going to a birthday party tonight, and I want cake and ice cream. I knew this on Tuesday, so I went ahead and logged it in for today. It's already there, and I don't have to worry about it today. It seems to work for me.
  • EpicMeyri
    EpicMeyri Posts: 109 Member
    Anyway, getting back on track....

    OP, if your sodium was up it will cause water retention - try drinking mroe and cutting out salt (if you have a lot of processed foods it can be difficult as so many are high in salt to hide the lack of quality in the other ingredients). If you cook for yourself anyway ad less salt - if you hae a shaker block up all but one hole, as most peope shake it a set number of times and don't really know what they're adding!

    Secondly, why do you want to lose so quickly? 10lb a month is rather a lot, given that 1lb a week is reckoned a "sensible" rate of decrease unless you are exceptionally overweight. If it comes off too quick its liable to bounce right back once you take your eye off it:wink:

    I don't necessarily plan meals more than a day ahead, but I do keep in mind what needs using up, what is in the freezer etc. And I preplan t the extent of NOT buying things I know I can't resist, as otherwise I have to eat them.

    And yes, setting a rough calorie limit per meal (don't forget snacks too) is a good idea - especially if you're looking through recipe sites, as you can see the calories per portion.

    Unfortunately I cannot cook for myself b/c I dorm in school and there aren't any stoves in my building. So I kinda have to go with what I got. But I always thought losing 2 pounds a week was good. I didn't know that by doing this I'd be doing something wrong. So far I have been able to keep it off. and I do try to drink as much water as possible. But I think I will pre plan, I'll try to pre plan the meals and the calories and see how it goes from there.

    Do they give you menus in advance, or is it pretty much the same choices every day? (I know at my son's Uni they put up a menu for the week). If you knwo in advance then planning will be very helpful because you won't get pulled in by impulses, but can spread everything - good and bad stuff - across the week.

    yea they do, but sometimes its wrong. and the healthy options are available everyday. mhm I guess I can do that. b/c sometimes I go in not knowing what I would eat just yet and I get pulled into the "mac & cheese", "pizza", "hot dogs".. you know all the bad things I shouldn't eat at once.
  • Grumpy2208
    Grumpy2208 Posts: 63
    Planning healthy, varied meals is a good thing.

    Planning repetitive & restrictive meals which are a pain to stick too, is a poop thing.

    Not necessarily. I like to eat the same things over and over again so I normally pre log my meal. The only things I change will be like if I want strawberries or raspberries today. I normally have a cup of coffeenin the morning and the same meal every night with little variance. I don't feel it's restrictive, it's just foods that I like and I already know it fits my macros.

    I echo that. I pretty much eat the same things everyday. As a matter of fact I have been eating the same things for a good few years. It suits my lifestyle and works well for me.
  • EpicMeyri
    EpicMeyri Posts: 109 Member
    I totally preplan meals. Two reasons: that way I'm not as tempted to go out of my macros, and I always have the right foods on hand. I use it for meal planning and food shopping. I have next week's menus completely planned out for dinners (6 out of 7 days, one day is "clean out the fridge of leftovers!) I always assume I'll eat 4 weekday lunches of leftovers, and Friday lunch out with my work team is up in the air. I don't preplan my weekend breakfast or lunch, but I can stay on track as long as I preplan my dinners.
    Basically if I don't preplan, I end up picking up carryout, or running out of fresh produce mid-week, and as a diabetic, I need to be particularly careful of how I balance my meals.
    Not that this works for everyone, but it works for me and for my family.

    this is actually a good idea too. b/c before i used to pre-plan my meals and I felt like super restricted and then I'll want to eat something else and end up going over my calories. and I felt like I was obsessing with food when I just shouldn't think too much about the "bad" stuff. But having one day a week when I don't pre-plan sounds like I should try to see if it works for me.
  • woodsy0912
    woodsy0912 Posts: 323
    I am a planner for sure. Usually on sundays I will try to plan out my weekly meals allowing for 1 or 2 "free meals." I know what I like and I switch it up on a daily basis. It makes grocery shopping way easier and I never have to scramble to think of something to eat.

    I have about 5 breakfasts I cycle through, and about a dozen lunch/ dinner recipes I often make. I will change up some ingredients sometimes and add a different veggie here and there. It keeps me happy!
  • EpicMeyri
    EpicMeyri Posts: 109 Member
    2 lbs a week is excellent. It is probably going to slow down, though, so be prepared.

    I'm the opposite kind of eater. Every day is a new adventure in the kitchen. But cooking's my hobby. There's no one system that fits everyone. That's the advantage of MFP, we can adjust to what works for us and within certain nutritional truisms. For example, if you started to eat noodles and only noodles you would lose weight. You would also become very ill and perhaps permanently damage your organs. This is true of eating any ONE thing. Most important is a mix of nutrients that feeds your body well and keeps you healthy.

    yeah I don't understand how people can eat the same exact thing every single day. I mean I eat oatmeal once or twice a day but different type of oatmeal and with different toppings. but I also love to try new things. I love to cook! I should add you so then we can share recipes!! :)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    it's really personal preference. I've never been much of a planner, and many times when I do plan a meal I end of changing it because either I or my husband aren't in the mood for it when meal time rolls around. But I know others who plan everything, some plan out the whole week in advance.

    Just do whatever works best for you to keep you on track.

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