Real food diet...is that a thing?
AgidGirl
Posts: 138 Member
Well, here I am at the heaviest I've ever been. I haven't tried every diet out there, haven't yo-yo dieted, never taken a diet pill but, I have been REALLY LAZY about my health and fitness! What can I say, I'm a super wife, busy mom-of-three, I work full time, you know the drill. It's time for a change!
So, here's what I'm doing so far:
1. Eating only 'real foods', nothing processed.
2. Tracking what I eat here on MFP (1200 calories or less)
3. Cut out sugar
4. Replacing 1 meal a day with a protein shake
5. Drinking half my weight (or more) in water
6. Taking 1 serving of Amazing Grass each day
I've only been giving this approach a go since last Sunday. I have no problem with the food and I've been feeling pretty good, until yesterday. I think I might have hit a wall or something but...I'm exhausted! Any recommendations on things I can incorporate into my routine to help me feel more energized? Also, any tweeks or changes I should do with my 'plan'? Thanks so much for reading!
So, here's what I'm doing so far:
1. Eating only 'real foods', nothing processed.
2. Tracking what I eat here on MFP (1200 calories or less)
3. Cut out sugar
4. Replacing 1 meal a day with a protein shake
5. Drinking half my weight (or more) in water
6. Taking 1 serving of Amazing Grass each day
I've only been giving this approach a go since last Sunday. I have no problem with the food and I've been feeling pretty good, until yesterday. I think I might have hit a wall or something but...I'm exhausted! Any recommendations on things I can incorporate into my routine to help me feel more energized? Also, any tweeks or changes I should do with my 'plan'? Thanks so much for reading!
3
Replies
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You know you only actually need to eat in a deficit to lose weight though, right?43
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And, eat more calories if you need to feel more energy18
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Sounds like the sadness diet to me. As above, calorie deficit. Everything else is just noise and personal preference.45
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And how many calories are you eating. Your bonking so quickly tells me probably quite low.11
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If you're eating less than 1,200 calories a day, then of course you're exhausted.
You're making this whole thing way more complicated than it needs to be-just enter your stats into MFP and then follow the calorie recommendation it gives you (it will have your needed deficit built in). Nothing wrong with eating more fruits and vegetables (which actually have a fairly high satiety level for the calories), but no need to do extremes like cutting out sugar, replacing meals with shakes or using woo supplements.24 -
I'm a little surprised that a "real food" diet would include protein shakes, as that would seem too processed88
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Is that wheat grass? My cousin in Uganda swears by it.2
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Geez! How much weight are you trying to lose? How tall are you?
I bet with your (ACTIVE) activity level (kids/house/job) you could eat closer to 1700 and still lose if you are logging accurately. PLUS you could eat more on exercise days.
Listen to your body. If you're bonking it's because you're under eating.8 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »Is that wheat grass? My cousin in Uganda swears by it.
It seems to be the name of a company selling stuff similar to shakeology. How this can be considered part of a 'real' foods diet is beyond me
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crzycatlady1 wrote: »JeromeBarry1 wrote: »Is that wheat grass? My cousin in Uganda swears by it.
It seems to be a company selling stuff similar to shakeology. How this can be considered part of a 'real' foods diet is beyond me
Because it's ground up blended grass?!?
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I'm a little surprised that a "real food" diet would include protein shakes, as that would seem too processed
Hi there! It's actually a plant based protein...the ingredient list only has 5 ingredients! Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Life-Plant-Based-Protein-Hypoallergenic/dp/B01N0LBV3T/?th=1-2 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »If you're eating less than 1,200 calories a day, then of course you're exhausted.
You're making this whole thing way more complicated than it needs to be-just enter your stats into MFP and then follow the calorie recommendation it gives you (it will have your needed deficit built in). Nothing wrong with eating more fruits and vegetables (which actually have a fairly high satiety level for the calories), but no need to do extremes like cutting out sugar, replacing meals with shakes or using woo supplements.
Thanks! I have been within the MFP calorie recommendation everyday. I eat most of my 'food' during the day and have a shake for dinner...which for me is nice because I am usually running my kids around in the evenings until 8 PM or so :-p1 -
I'm a little surprised that a "real food" diet would include protein shakes, as that would seem too processed
Hi there! It's actually a plant based protein...the ingredient list only has 5 ingredients! Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Life-Plant-Based-Protein-Hypoallergenic/dp/B01N0LBV3T/?th=1
1 customer review, 1 star. $49.95.
Pass.21 -
Well, here I am at the heaviest I've ever been. I haven't tried every diet out there, haven't yo-yo dieted, never taken a diet pill but, I have been REALLY LAZY about my health and fitness! What can I say, I'm a super wife, busy mom-of-three, I work full time, you know the drill. It's time for a change!
So, here's what I'm doing so far:
1. Eating only 'real foods', nothing processed.
2. Tracking what I eat here on MFP (1200 calories or less)
3. Cut out sugar
4. Replacing 1 meal a day with a protein shake
5. Drinking half my weight (or more) in water
6. Taking 1 serving of Amazing Grass each day
I've only been giving this approach a go since last Sunday. I have no problem with the food and I've been feeling pretty good, until yesterday. I think I might have hit a wall or something but...I'm exhausted! Any recommendations on things I can incorporate into my routine to help me feel more energized? Also, any tweeks or changes I should do with my 'plan'? Thanks so much for reading!
I eat a primarily whole foods diet, but I think 100% whole food 100% of the time is pretty unrealistic...and frankly I really enjoy our Friday night pizza nights and whatnot. Not to mention I eat quite a bit in terms of minimally processed food good like dairy, canned tomatoes, canned beans, etc. I don't eat much in the way of added sugars, but I do usually have some small something or other for desert a few days per week and I don't avoid fruit or anything like that. Also, you don't need to do meal replacement shakes...and frankly, I wouldn't consider them to be "real foods"...they are highly processed food goods.
I also make sure I'm taking in adequate calories. In regards to your calorie targets, they are pretty aggressive and it's likely that you can eat more and still lose weight...one of the issues with aggressive deficits is fatigue and when fatigue sets in you start start to mess with the CO part of the equation...less involuntary fidgeting...less moving in general...things like that. In essence, by being so aggressive, you can actually do yourself a disservice and make weight loss harder than it need be.
Also, you shouldn't really be aiming to be below 1200...1200 is already a substantial deficit from your maintenance level of calories.16 -
cmriverside wrote: »Geez! How much weight are you trying to lose? How tall are you?
I bet with your (ACTIVE) activity level (kids/house/job) you could eat closer to 1700 and still lose if you are logging accurately. PLUS you could eat more on exercise days.
Listen to your body. If you're bonking it's because you're under eating.
Thanks for your reply. I'm 5'4" and trying to lose 80-90lbs.0 -
cmriverside wrote: »Geez! How much weight are you trying to lose? How tall are you?
I bet with your (ACTIVE) activity level (kids/house/job) you could eat closer to 1700 and still lose if you are logging accurately. PLUS you could eat more on exercise days.
Listen to your body. If you're bonking it's because you're under eating.
Thanks for your reply. I'm 5'4" and trying to lose 80-90lbs.
If you're over 200lbs there's no way you should be eating so little... I don't believe for a second that mfp has given you 1200 cals when you're at least light active...?9 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »!
I eat a primarily whole foods diet, but I think 100% whole food 100% of the time is pretty unrealistic...and frankly I really enjoy our Friday night pizza nights and whatnot. Not to mention I eat quite a bit in terms of minimally processed food good like dairy, canned tomatoes, canned beans, etc. I don't eat much in the way of added sugars, but I do usually have some small something or other for desert a few days per week and I don't avoid fruit or anything like that. Also, you don't need to do meal replacement shakes...and frankly, I wouldn't consider them to be "real foods"...they are highly processed food goods.
I also make sure I'm taking in adequate calories. In regards to your calorie targets, they are pretty aggressive and it's likely that you can eat more and still lose weight...one of the issues with aggressive deficits is fatigue and when fatigue sets in you start start to mess with the CO part of the equation...less involuntary fidgeting...less moving in general...things like that. In essence, by being so aggressive, you can actually do yourself a disservice and make weight loss harder than it need be.
Also, you shouldn't really be aiming to be below 1200...1200 is already a substantial deficit from your maintenance level of calories.
Thanks for your kind and thoughtful reply. Yes, I agree I will not be eating whole foods 100% all the time. But, at this step of my 'journey' I feel like I need to cutout as many as possible. I feel like if I have a cheat meal (pizza, pasta, etc) I will fall back into my old ways.
Based off of the reactions here (most of them mean, geesh) about the shakes I am going to reevaluate that part of my plan and add back in an actual dinner. It's hard having dinner on the go which is why I really liked the shakes!
Thanks again, I really appreciate your advice!2 -
Take your calories up - you should never be below 1200 and most likely should be closer to 1500 - and take a look at your protein intake. If you are trying to stay at 1200 calories you really do have to make sure you are eating the right calories. I eat a bunch of raw veggies over the course of the day because they barely count for calories which leaves a lot of room for protein, healthy fats, and good carbs so I rarely feel hungry or exhausted. I also cut out added sugars with the exception of the 70% dark chocolate square or glass of wine every other day or so.
I think you are cutting too much too fast. Try picking one or two things and work on those and then when you get the right balance for you work on the next item. Or try the 80/20 rule as for most people it is easier to stick to. When I cut out sugar I didn't worry about anything else until it was my normal state of being (took a couple of weeks but I also lost about 8 lbs in the process). After I was set with that I started controlling my total sugar intake a little better and watched my caloric intake.4 -
real food and moderating sugar, plant protein.... this sounds like a ketogenic way of eating. If that's the case and you're serious about making a lifestyle change then check out a Facebook group called https://www.facebook.com/groups/OKL4Vitality/, they also have a group on MFP. Based on their macro chart, at your height, they'd recommend... 23g carbs 94g protein (can go up to 1.5x times this if hungry) and 70-164g fat. The method is... don't go over the carb (that's a limit), protein is a must, and fat is a filler not a target.
To lose weight it would be 23g carb, 94g protein, 84g fat. Adjust the protein up if hungry.
It's likely that the feeling exhausted could be your body entering ketosis as it exhausts the supply of glycogen and transitions to using ketones for fuel. There are articles around on keto flu. Perhaps spend some time searching and reading.
I'm not saying that this is the best or only way to achieve your goal - and it's not a way of eating for everyone.
It's all about personal choice and what works best for you.
However as many have said... dropping weight is about a deficit, but you also need to remain healthy and maintain or build lean muscle. Dropping calories drastically won't necessarily get you where you want to be! It most often leads to giving up as it all becomes too hard.0 -
The best advice I ever read on this site was "Eat the way you want to for the rest of your life." Second was "Don't eat what you don't love!"
Do you want to eat this way for the next 50 or so years? Then absolutely keep at it. You will more than likely lose weight on this plan, and eating more healthy delicious food is never a bad thing. But you mention that you're tired only after a few days of eating like this. Food keeps us fueled, and you might just need more food to keep yourself healthy and active, or at least different types of food.
There are no tricks, no easy way to jump start our bodies into looking the way we want it to. It's hard work, and it takes a lot of mental energy, as well as the obvious physical energy. But losing weight can also be enjoyable, or at least not stressful.
Before you continue trying to break through that wall of exhaustion, I'd like to recommend spending more time on the forums perusing the stickies, reading the success stories, and seeing how other people have accomplished the weight loss and body re-composition without feeling deprived.
MFP may give you 1200 calories after inputting your statistics, but that's usually with a 2lb loss a week. You don't have to lose that much that fast! Take your time, learn how your body reacts to different foods and and slowly reduce your food intake over time to create a calorie deficit. Maybe start at maintenance, or 1/2lb a week just to practice, and then drop your calorie intake when you feel comfortable. You'll find out soon what you like to eat and the best way to keep yourself satiated throughout the day, whether it's playing around with meal timing or changing your macros. Baby steps will still get you where you want to go!
You can do this, and congratulations on taking the time for yourself!
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The thing about losing weight and keeping it off is to find a way of eating that is sustainable - are you going to be able to eat like this for the rest of your life. My guess is no. I really recommend that you just plug your stats into MFP, get a food scale and weigh your food, and start a food journal or log to keep track.
I did this, and have lost over 100lbs since October 2015. And maintained it now for about 6 months, but I can easily see that I can maintain it for the rest of my life (or lose a few more pounds!), eating food that I love and it keeps me on track for my health goals. I tend to eat minimally processed foods too, but I love to cook, and dont have the time crunch created by little kids and their activities to keep me from getting in appropriate meals.
I understand you wanting to "jumpstart" your weight loss, but it will only end it tears when you start to eat differently than your current regimen - you can learn now how to portion control and it can carry you for the rest of your life.14 -
Well, here I am at the heaviest I've ever been. I haven't tried every diet out there, haven't yo-yo dieted, never taken a diet pill but, I have been REALLY LAZY about my health and fitness! What can I say, I'm a super wife, busy mom-of-three, I work full time, you know the drill. It's time for a change!
So, here's what I'm doing so far:
1. Eating only 'real foods', nothing processed.
2. Tracking what I eat here on MFP (1200 calories or less)
3. Cut out sugar
4. Replacing 1 meal a day with a protein shake
5. Drinking half my weight (or more) in water
6. Taking 1 serving of Amazing Grass each day
I've only been giving this approach a go since last Sunday. I have no problem with the food and I've been feeling pretty good, until yesterday. I think I might have hit a wall or something but...I'm exhausted! Any recommendations on things I can incorporate into my routine to help me feel more energized? Also, any tweeks or changes I should do with my 'plan'? Thanks so much for reading!
none of that is necessary for weight loss or overall wealth.
You can eat in a deficit, and eat nutritious foods and still eat the foods you like, like pizza, ice cream, etc and you can lose weight and be healthy.
how are you defining processed?
if you are cutting out sugar are you not eating any fruits or vegetables?7 -
I'm a little surprised that a "real food" diet would include protein shakes, as that would seem too processed
Hi there! It's actually a plant based protein...the ingredient list only has 5 ingredients! Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Life-Plant-Based-Protein-Hypoallergenic/dp/B01N0LBV3T/?th=1
still processed...6 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »!
I eat a primarily whole foods diet, but I think 100% whole food 100% of the time is pretty unrealistic...and frankly I really enjoy our Friday night pizza nights and whatnot. Not to mention I eat quite a bit in terms of minimally processed food good like dairy, canned tomatoes, canned beans, etc. I don't eat much in the way of added sugars, but I do usually have some small something or other for desert a few days per week and I don't avoid fruit or anything like that. Also, you don't need to do meal replacement shakes...and frankly, I wouldn't consider them to be "real foods"...they are highly processed food goods.
I also make sure I'm taking in adequate calories. In regards to your calorie targets, they are pretty aggressive and it's likely that you can eat more and still lose weight...one of the issues with aggressive deficits is fatigue and when fatigue sets in you start start to mess with the CO part of the equation...less involuntary fidgeting...less moving in general...things like that. In essence, by being so aggressive, you can actually do yourself a disservice and make weight loss harder than it need be.
Also, you shouldn't really be aiming to be below 1200...1200 is already a substantial deficit from your maintenance level of calories.
Thanks for your kind and thoughtful reply. Yes, I agree I will not be eating whole foods 100% all the time. But, at this step of my 'journey' I feel like I need to cutout as many as possible. I feel like if I have a cheat meal (pizza, pasta, etc) I will fall back into my old ways.
Based off of the reactions here (most of them mean, geesh) about the shakes I am going to reevaluate that part of my plan and add back in an actual dinner. It's hard having dinner on the go which is why I really liked the shakes!
Thanks again, I really appreciate your advice!
no one is being mean, they are telling you that you losin weight is not as complicated as you are making it and it is not necessary to follow a super restrictive diet...12 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »!
I eat a primarily whole foods diet, but I think 100% whole food 100% of the time is pretty unrealistic...and frankly I really enjoy our Friday night pizza nights and whatnot. Not to mention I eat quite a bit in terms of minimally processed food good like dairy, canned tomatoes, canned beans, etc. I don't eat much in the way of added sugars, but I do usually have some small something or other for desert a few days per week and I don't avoid fruit or anything like that. Also, you don't need to do meal replacement shakes...and frankly, I wouldn't consider them to be "real foods"...they are highly processed food goods.
I also make sure I'm taking in adequate calories. In regards to your calorie targets, they are pretty aggressive and it's likely that you can eat more and still lose weight...one of the issues with aggressive deficits is fatigue and when fatigue sets in you start start to mess with the CO part of the equation...less involuntary fidgeting...less moving in general...things like that. In essence, by being so aggressive, you can actually do yourself a disservice and make weight loss harder than it need be.
Also, you shouldn't really be aiming to be below 1200...1200 is already a substantial deficit from your maintenance level of calories.
Thanks for your kind and thoughtful reply. Yes, I agree I will not be eating whole foods 100% all the time. But, at this step of my 'journey' I feel like I need to cutout as many as possible. I feel like if I have a cheat meal (pizza, pasta, etc) I will fall back into my old ways.
Based off of the reactions here (most of them mean, geesh) about the shakes I am going to reevaluate that part of my plan and add back in an actual dinner. It's hard having dinner on the go which is why I really liked the shakes!
Thanks again, I really appreciate your advice!
Nobody is being mean really...just stating that you don't need to do meal replacement shakes...but if that's easy on the go, there's not really a problem with that, processed or not...people were just kind of pointing out that it's kind of funny to state that you're going on a "real food" diet but then have shake replacements that's all. I personally prefer food, but if that's easy on the go there's no particular issue...not sure what kind of shake you're using, but make sure it's actually intended as a meal replacement...protein shakes aren't the same things as meal replacement shakes as they don't provide the requisite nutrition to replace a meal, nor do they provide the calories.
People are also just pointing out that a deficit, regardless of your food choices is going to be what results in weight loss. Frankly, a lot of people try to make whole sale changes in one go, and ultimately burn out pretty quickly. In my experience, evolving your diet over time is what generally makes things stick. I didn't start out eating the way I do...it's been a 4.5 year evolutionary process, though I did clean up my diet pretty quickly. I primarily eat the way I do for nutrition purposes and also, I don't log so it's more difficult to over eat.16 -
TavistockToad wrote: »You know you only actually need to eat in a deficit to lose weight though, right?
This.
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I don't think those goals are attainable, in my personal opinion. I had similar goals as you and you know what? Life happens and soon those goals are out of reach and you feel like a failure. Please don't do that to yourself...baby steps, like maybe cutting out sugar first or going for a walk everyday! 7
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I find only eating "imaginary food" really helps with weight loss.
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To the OP - yes, I eat a Whole Foods plant based diet. I strive to eat as close to vegan as possible. It is possible but requires discipline and maybe even purpose.
Most of my diet is veggies and oatmeal. I opt for less sweet fruit. Grains like cous cous or quinoa and potatoes. And don't sweat the negativity on here - just ignore it and keep positive!0
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