Only good protein, fruit, and veggies

M_Garner
M_Garner Posts: 23 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Well Monday I will be starting my 1,999,999,999 time at eating right/working out. I tend to fall off the wagon easily since I am a Mother who does all the cooking for 4 boys. I usually start off good in the beginning but by day 5 or 6, I am craving something I should not have.

I plan to do good proteins (fish, chicken, other seafood, eggs, etc) along with fruits and veggies. I will also get in about 30-45 mins of cardio at least 5 days a week if not more. I have no issue with drinking water so I will drink about 100 ounces. I would like to see the scale drop but I am really trying to lose inches around my waste/hip/butt area so I can fit into some old clothes.

Hope I am on the right track with my intended plan. Keeping my fingers crossed that I stick to it this time. I am getting married next March and would love to be alot slimmer by then.

Age: 37
Current Weight: 210
Desired Weight: 180
Height: 5'7

Replies

  • misschoppo
    misschoppo Posts: 463 Member
    what is a bad protein?
  • M_Garner
    M_Garner Posts: 23 Member
    I guess I was thinking fatty meats and things like that.
  • tracie_minus100
    tracie_minus100 Posts: 465 Member
    I sympathize, I have fallen off the wagon more times than I can count.
    Have you tried something a little less restrictive? It might help you stay on the wagon. Just suggesting it because that's been a huge part of my problem...being too restrictive and therefore being unable to stick to it.
    Good luck! :)
  • misschoppo
    misschoppo Posts: 463 Member
    If you don't particularly enjoy eating cuts of meat that have fat on them then fine but if you do (and a lot of them are really tasty) I wouldn't be trying to cut them out purely because of the fat element. Also you only mention lean protein, fruit / veg.. where are the CARBS!!!?

    I would advise that planning to eat plenty of fresh produce and drink plenty of water is a good goal to have and lean protein is obviously great but if you want to make this sustainable, not feel deprived in the long term and not once again fall of the wagon as you say has happened before on many attempts, you need to eat in a way that isn't going to drive you insane or be really hard to keep up. I would personally find it really hard to live off only lean protein, fruit and veg.

    Perhaps establishing your calorie goal and macros and them eating what you like within those numbers would work better than having any banned foods :flowerforyou:
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I guess I was thinking fatty meats and things like that.

    Dietary fat is necessary....okay there are healthier fats than from meats. Olive oil, avocado, nuts, and nut butters are very healthy. Whole grains are good too...unless you have medical issues.

    As you get closer to goal opt for some form of resistance (strength) training, and cut back on cardio. Cardio is great for burning calories and good for your heart. Strength training helps you keep lean muscle while eating at a deficit and is so good for bone health.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    One reason people tend to fall of the wagon is because they take a very narrow view of nutrition and what proper nutrition really is.

    I would definitely advise making veggies a substantial focus of your diet and some fruit. I pretty much have an actual serving of one or the other with every meal/snack. I generally end up with roughly 6-8 servings of vegetables per day and a couple servings of fruit.

    I would also recommend focusing on lean sources of protein...to include lean cuts of beef and pork...but it doesn't have to be all or nothing...this is where people go wrong. I primarily eat chicken, fish, and other lean cuts of beef and pork...but I also enjoy a good rib roast from time to time...I like grilling up a good 85% burger at least weekly...don't get me started on pulled pork and I have an affinity for chicken skin. All of these things are perfectly fine in appropriate dosages.

    Personally, I'd also add some whole grains into that mix as well...and I personally thrive on legumes (particularly black beans)...they are a staple in my home.

    Beyond that, guess what...you can have a slice or two of pizza from time to time...in the grand scheme of things, not a big deal...same for desert, beer/wine, etc. You have to be able to take a step back and look at your diet as a whole. Most people who get overly restrictive just end up throwing the towel in altogether because for most people, it's simply not realistic to say they're never going to eat pizza again.

    The best thing you can do is rock your nutrition while at the same time learning moderation and portion control and how to enjoy all of the awesomeness that life can provide while still hitting your goals and being healthy and fit. Doing so will likely result in not falling off the wagon...because there isn't much of a wagon to fall off of when you're not practicing deprivation but rather employing moderation.
  • skinnyD2308
    skinnyD2308 Posts: 92 Member
    I will echo the advice to not be too restrictive, especially if you've noticed a pattern of slipping off track when you begin feeling too deprived. How about planning your indulgences within your caloric and macro goals? I recently read the book - "The Diet Fix - Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work by Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, and while chock full of great advise, he states that the only way to lose weight AND THEN TO MAINTAIN the loss is to find a way to eat that you can sustain for the rest of your life. So if you really think you can stick to just lean protein, fruit, and veggies and live that way happily every after, then go for it. But if you can't imagine a life without the occassional pizza, chocolate bar, pasta, and birthday cake, then perhaps you need to find a way to work them in without over-indulging.

    He talks a lot about controlling hunger and satiety with eating regularly throughout the day (he suggests every 2.5-3.5 hours per day, ensuring that meals have at least 300-350 calories with 20 grams of protein, and snacks that have a minimum of 100-150 calories and 10 grams of protein. Remember these are only minimums, you can eat more depending on your current weight, height, activity level etc. I find when I'm eating this way, I can have a 1/2 cup of ice cream while watching tv, with a glass of water and be satisfied with it. I have dramatically decreased binge eating this summer, following this plan. I've been eating between 1600 - 2100 per day all summer and have lost 17 pounds. Yes, the weight loss is slower this time, but I haven't gained even once, I've only had about 2 days where I really fell off the wagon, and I've learned that if I approach an indulgence on a day when I have followed these recommendations for meals/snacks, I can approach some tostistos or ice cream without feeling the need to binge on them.

    I also track religiously (88 day streak!!!), and have discovered that starving myself is not neccessary and being gentle with myself will still allow me to move towards my goals. For the first time in about 5 years, I really feel like I can do this! You can too!

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