What should I do to adjust?

TenebraeBloodwake
TenebraeBloodwake Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been losing weight for the last year and a half though its gotten serious since I joined MFP. I had tried dang near everything over the years but have found the simple act of logging everything I ate to be the most effective so far. Since I started here 3 months ago I've lost about 27lbs - 12.8 the first month, 6.4 the second, and 8.2 the third. I bought a nice digital scale and track my weight daily - right after I wake up and before I eat. I bought a food scale and weigh out foods. And I have been diligent with logging everything I eat from one 24 hour period to the next.

I generally lose big chunks of weight, then it fights and bounces up and down for a while before dropping again. Lord forbid I throw caution to the wind on a holiday or special occasion because that takes at least a week or so to recover from but its not often so I deem it worth it. Because I have three jobs and go to school regular workouts are a nonstarter. I generally squeeze in a little time at the track once or twice a week though I had to curtail that over the last 2 months when I went too hard and twisted my ankle - it refuses to fully heal.

Cooking meals is generally a no go because in all honesty I can't cook and usually have no time. I'll boil a bunch of eggs when I think to and keep em in the fridge as a quick snack but I haven't done that in a while. What I'm looking for is suggestions about what I should be looking out for and what I should probably be doing differently. Quick healthy ideas would be welcome - salads have been tried and are a waste of time for me. I tried small bags of carrots and apples and found...digestive issues involved with those...yeah...Suggestions? Comments? My diary is open to whoever. Thanks in advance.
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Replies

  • KatJ_NZ
    KatJ_NZ Posts: 31 Member
    I find a healthy time-saver is to roast a week's worth of chicken breasts on a Sunday. I take them to work each day with a single-serve packet of frozen veggies, and microwave it all together at lunchtime. I know you said you can't cook, but it's worth learning a couple of simple things (and roasting chicken breasts is not tricky!).

    A filling breakfast for me is plain low-fat yoghurt with flavoured protein powder mixed in. It's low calorie, high-protein, and very very quick.

    Hope that helps :smile:
  • TenebraeBloodwake
    TenebraeBloodwake Posts: 19 Member
    Boneless skinless chicken breast might be a way to go. If I cook a bunch on Sunday do they keep well in the fridge for 7 days? And though I do love yogurt mixing in protein powder sounds less than appetizing...Meh, I can try anything once. I've been doing the cheap little weight loss protein shakes because their quick, cheap, and kill cravings.
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    I think you need to learn to cook! Either get on a course or buy a book. One aimed at the student audience might be good.

    (Do you mind me asking how you can get to adulthood and not know how to cook?).
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    And no, don't eat 7 day old chicken. You want to be eating cooked chicken within 2 or 3 days.
  • TenebraeBloodwake
    TenebraeBloodwake Posts: 19 Member
    As I ALSO said - three jobs and school. I also know how to build computers and code but that doesn't mean I have time for those either. Hence why I asked for suggestions for quick easy and healthy options.
  • beccag28
    beccag28 Posts: 43 Member
    For me setting aside an hour on a sunday to make a big dish of something healthy, maybe a chicken stirfry, and refrigerating some, freezing the rest worked out well. Then atleast lunches are sorted.

    Another easy meal is big crackers or rice bread topped with veges and tuna or tinned salmon - even some cheese :-)
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    With respect, knowing how to cook is a little bit more important than coding, especially when your goal is to eat healthier, more interesting and quicker meals.

    It's a matter of priority I guess.

    Would you like people to actually suggest quick and simple recipes? That's why I suggested a student cookbook - simple, cheap and healthy.
  • Abi198111
    Abi198111 Posts: 76 Member
    I steam my chicken/turkey in the microwave. It's simple - just put it in a microwaveable bowl with a plate or something over the top and set the timer to 2:30, when its done I turn it over and put it on for another 2 minutes and voila, perfectly cooked, juicy chicken breast. You can sprinkle a little seasoning on it too to keep it interesting.

    Failing that, try protein shakes and bars.
  • hovis153
    hovis153 Posts: 6
    Are you drink sufficient water. Being dehydrated can massively stalll weight loss and if you have a busy life, you maybe overlooking fluid intake.
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    With respect, knowing how to cook is a little bit more important than coding, especially when your goal is to eat healthier, more interesting and quicker meals.

    It's a matter of priority I guess.

    If coding is your profession, then yes you need it more than learning how to cook. Without money you can't even buy food. And lots of people can't/don't cook. The OP is asking for suggestions to fit the way his life is structured; we're all different yet we can all find a way to lose weight on our own terms.

    OP: I'm assuming you don't want to eat too much processed food, But if you're not as concerned about that, a lot of supermarkets carry frozen meals (have to watch the sodium though). When I started my weight loss journey, I relied on them for work meals and dinners until I could figure out how to best eat (I had a bit of a learning curve...).

    One of the things many supermarkets have is pre-cooked rotisserie chicken (and the poster that suggested doing your own chicken breasts is another option; I actually poach them since I just have to boil water, but the chicken in, then fish it out!). Pre-cut veggies and fruit, as well as pre-fab salads or simple frozen veggies--while not as economical as whole produce etc. still works fine if you don't have a lot of time to prep things for yourself. I like the idea someone mentioned about cooking on a Sunday for the week. You could buy whole produce and prep it all for the week and put things in little ziploc bags so you can grab and go.

    If you have a blender/immersion blender, you could do protein smoothies and carry it with you in a thermos or just drink one in the morning before going out for the day. There are a lot of good smoothie recipes on MFP. Wraps are helpful too. A tortilla and there are tons of fillings to pick from.

    No shame in not knowing how to cook; there are lots of options out there. It's good to have a strategy/make a meal plan ahead of time so you don't have to think about what you're eating when you're so busy.
  • TenebraeBloodwake
    TenebraeBloodwake Posts: 19 Member
    I'm liking the chicken breast idea however I doubt they'd keep in the fridge past four days but that's fine. I'm thinking stir fries and pots of whole wheat spaghetti might fill in the rest maybe some fruit cut up and placed in containers. Can I freeze this kind of stuff and shove it in the fridge to thaw like the night before? Will this destroy it?

    Protein bars and shakes might make up a few meals too.
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    I'm liking the chicken breast idea however I doubt they'd keep in the fridge past four days but that's fine. I'm thinking stir fries and pots of whole wheat spaghetti might fill in the rest maybe some fruit cut up and placed in containers. Can I freeze this kind of stuff and shove it in the fridge to thaw like the night before? Will this destroy it?

    Protein bars and shakes might make up a few meals too.

    Sometimes chicken/beef stir frys can be a touch rubbery, but in general I find they freeze great.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,725 Member
    While I don't doubt the veracity of the advice to eat chicken within X days, I usually go past that window. I just try to get it up to temp when I nuke it in the microwave at meal time. I use a small rice cooker to make single servings of the food I want so it helps that the chicken is already cooked and waiting for me. Freezing should be even better for keeping the food edible, but I wonder if it wouldn't change the taste of some foods a bit, so you'd want to experiment

    I use the allrecipes.com app. It's easy to search for anything I'm craving, and ignore recipes with too many ingredients or that sound like they'll be super challenging to make. Since I typically align a new recipe search with a craving, I'm actually motivated to make the food
  • ritan7471
    ritan7471 Posts: 99 Member
    I'm liking the chicken breast idea however I doubt they'd keep in the fridge past four days but that's fine. I'm thinking stir fries and pots of whole wheat spaghetti might fill in the rest maybe some fruit cut up and placed in containers. Can I freeze this kind of stuff and shove it in the fridge to thaw like the night before? Will this destroy it?

    Protein bars and shakes might make up a few meals too.

    Most chicken dishes and pasta or rice with sauce freeze fairly well. When I was living alone I would cook on the weekend and then freeze portions for later in the week. I guess it got a bit rubbery but was honestly still way better than any frozen meal I would buy at the store. I do tend to use spice packets or pouched seasoning packets to make sauce, mostly because I haven't learned to make sauces from scratch.

    You can cook up a lot of simple dishes and freeze them for later. With your busy schedule I think that would be a good way for you to eat a more balanced diet without spending a lot of time in the kitchen during the week.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Cooking meals is generally a no go because in all honesty I can't cook and usually have no time. I'll boil a bunch of eggs when I think to and keep em in the fridge as a quick snack but I haven't done that in a while. What I'm looking for is suggestions about what I should be looking out for and what I should probably be doing differently. Quick healthy ideas would be welcome - salads have been tried and are a waste of time for me. I tried small bags of carrots and apples and found...digestive issues involved with those...yeah...Suggestions? Comments? My diary is open to whoever. Thanks in advance.

    On the weekends we buy two rotisserie chickens and bags of frozen vegetables. We cut up the chicken (if does not come cut) and freeze it in baggies. We also buy tons of frozen broccoli, green beans, okra, carrots. -- when the vegetables are cooked they are more easily digestible. And remember that frozen vegetables are flash frozen near the fields and generally more nutritious than fresh.
    During the week we microwave them.


    Yes, stir fries and pasta are o.k. to freeze.
    This link explains freezing and reheating pasta better than I can: http://www.thekitchn.com/5-tips-for-freezing-pasta-179160

    ---- 'Looked at your diary. You are doing fine. One way to cut calories is to eat sandwiches / burgers with only one piece of bread instead of the two that they come with.
    It's o.k. to eat fast food that fits into your calorie plans. Just eat less of it than you were eating before.
    Many grocery stores sell ready to eat food at the deli. Watch out for the calorie-laden options like potato salad and such.
  • logg1e
    logg1e Posts: 1,208 Member
    If coding is your profession, then yes you need it more than learning how to cook. Without money you can't even buy food. And lots of people can't/don't cook. The OP is asking for suggestions to fit the way his life is structured; we're all different yet we can all find a way to lose weight on our own terms.

    But his thread isn't about earning money, it's about eating better. Also, after breathing and sleeping, eating is pretty much up there. Surely 99% of people over the age of 7 years old know how to cook. It's not a specialist skill.
    OP: I'm assuming you don't want to eat too much processed food, But if you're not as concerned about that, a lot of supermarkets carry frozen meals (have to watch the sodium though). When I started my weight loss journey, I relied on them for work meals and dinners until I could figure out how to best eat (I had a bit of a learning curve...).

    He is practically living on convenience junk food.
    No shame in not knowing how to cook; there are lots of options out there. It's good to have a strategy/make a meal plan ahead of time so you don't have to think about what you're eating when you're so busy.

    I think there's no shame in acknowledging a weakness and doing something about it.

    I hope this post doesn't come across as hectoring, trying to reply quickly.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,725 Member
    99% of people over the age of 7 can cook, that's rich :laugh: Well duh, OP can cook just fine the man said he can boil eggs!! He's actually taken action by creating this thread so I guess I'm not sure how you think you're helping
  • TenebraeBloodwake
    TenebraeBloodwake Posts: 19 Member
    Thank you to everyone who was helpful. You've given me some great ideas to try as soon as I get a night to myself. I appreciate it.
  • mortalkowgirl
    mortalkowgirl Posts: 134 Member
    Thank you to everyone who was helpful. You've given me some great ideas to try as soon as I get a night to myself. I appreciate it.

    Darling. you are a better person than I... I am proud of you.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    My George Foreman grill is a lifesaver during shows (I'm in theatre, so I work 14 hour days for 2 straight weeks whenever there's a production). Chicken, fish, and pork are super easy to cook on it, it cleans up in minutes, and it's FAST. I "bulk" cook chicken tenders and porkchops (2-3 days worth) when I know I'm getting busy so I have a little variety in my food but can still eat healthy.

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