want to lose 20 pounds

I'd look at losing a pound a week, so allow 20 weeks.

Try to stay below 1400 calories a day I've lost 30 pounds need to lose another 20 as well, good luck

In my opinion don't bother with a specific diet, because it can be really hard to stick to over a long period. About all you need to do is get enough protein, eat a lot of veggies to stay full, don't eat anything from a package or wrapper, and don't drink your calories. Most of the successful diets like vegan or paleo have that in common. Calculate your BMR, eat 500 calories less than that per day, work out, and watch the weight melt off. I lost about 50lbs and got pretty ripped doing that, then I let myself go again LOL.

so in regards to not eating anything from a package or wrapper, i just ate my first avacado straight no chaser. pretty darn good. anything else like that i have been missing out on? I am trying to find food that travels well as i am looking ahead 4 months from now when i might get lazy. lol

jnv7594 wrote: »

There's really nothing wrong with eating things from a package or a wrapper. Not sure why people thing there is. I eat some prepackaged foods. I also eat fresh foods. It's about balanced. You can have packaged foods...it won't hinder weigh loss or health if eaten in moderation.

You're right, just stay within your calorie limits and you'll be okay. The reason I don't generally eat packaged foods is because they tend to be calorie dense, and low on nutrients. I end up still hungry after eating packaged foods, then eat a bunch of stuff I shouldn't. When I prepare my own food, I have trouble eating the amount of calories I need because I feel full already. I eat canned tuna sometimes, rice, beans, etc., that are all packaged, but those are one ingredient packaged foods. I'm sure you get my point, just be careful.

hollyshobie wrote: »

so in regards to not eating anything from a package or wrapper, i just ate my first avacado straight no chaser. pretty darn good. anything else like that i have been missing out on? I am trying to find food that travels well as i am looking ahead 4 months from now when i might get lazy. lol

Good job getting your fats in, a lot of people are scared of fats for some reason. Just be mindful of calorie intake vs your BMR. I find that hard boiled eggs are great snacks and travel well. The secret is to steam them instead of boil, and the peel comes off super easy. I just put some hot sauce when I eat maybe two or three with yolk for a snack. Another favorite of mine is eating hummus with celery. You need a high powered blender otherwise it'll start smoking and break(done it before), but the secret is to soak the beans overnight with a little bit of baking soda added to the water. Don't put too much though, or it will make the texture way too soft. Don't put too much olive oil, just enough for a smooth texture, and do the same with the tahini. Peanut butter and a touch of sesame oil works as a tahini substitute in a pinch by the way.