Healthy or Risky?

CharleneJ14
CharleneJ14 Posts: 13 Member
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
So, I've tried and tried and tried and nothing is working. I'm thinking of cutting down to fruits and yogurt and low fat cereal for breakfast and lunch and then just having a regular meal for dinner. I don't know if this is quite a good idea in terms of health or not so I'm asking for advice. What does everyone think?
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Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    as long as you aren't vastly undereating with said plan, i don't see a problem with it. meal frequency is a personal preference
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    I eat mainly fruits, vegetables and then grilled tilapia or chicken everyday. I find it quite filling, perhaps too filling since everyday MFP tells me to eat more.
  • SunshineKisses_2012
    SunshineKisses_2012 Posts: 471 Member
    If you are trying everything and nothing is working, I would suggest you take your food diary to your doctor (printed out) and find out if there is an under-lying health issue that is holding you back. Under eating is unhealthy for you, just like over eating is unhealthy. You won't lose weight if you don't fuel your body.
  • glitterpiss
    glitterpiss Posts: 113
    I don't think its a good idea. You're going to get really sick of fruit, yogurt, and cereal for breakfast and lunch. What do you have your daily calories set at?
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    If you are trying everything and nothing is working, I would suggest you take your food diary to your doctor (printed out) and find out if there is an under-lying health issue that is holding you back. Under eating is unhealthy for you, just like over eating is unhealthy. You won't lose weight if you don't fuel your body.

    EXACTLY!~
  • snookumss
    snookumss Posts: 1,451 Member
    You can do that for a week, as long as you don't intend to do that long term :)

    Try eating more and smaller meals. Eating often helps me, I eat like 5 or so times a day and I seem to digest pretty quickly because of it.
  • Skeith5
    Skeith5 Posts: 89 Member
    How many calories are you eating every day? How much fat and sugar? Are you eating natural or more processed foods? How often do you exercise? Are you taking measurements? How long have you been on the program?

    Scott
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    How many calories are you eating every day? How much fat and sugar? Are you eating natural or more processed foods? How often do you exercise? Are you taking measurements? How long have you been on the program?

    Scott

    Exactly...there are a lot of factors involved in things like this.
  • CharleneJ14
    CharleneJ14 Posts: 13 Member
    my calories are set at 1230. I tend to eat around that amount. i stopped going to the gym a few months back because i was discouraged but have recently started up again and plan on going at least 3 times a week. but i am also on my feet for 4-8 hours a day at my job so i know i'm burning calories that way as well. i eat home cooked meals the majority of the time. oh. and i've been doing this since february
  • tmarie2715
    tmarie2715 Posts: 1,111 Member
    Cal goals? BMR?
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    my calories are set at 1230. I tend to eat around that amount. i stopped going to the gym a few months back because i was discouraged but have recently started up again and plan on going at least 3 times a week. but i am also on my feet for 4-8 hours a day at my job so i know i'm burning calories that way as well. i eat home cooked meals the majority of the time. oh. and i've been doing this since february

    assuming your ticker is right, you should prob be cutting at closer to 1900ish cals then 1200ish
  • SunshineKisses_2012
    SunshineKisses_2012 Posts: 471 Member
    my calories are set at 1230. I tend to eat around that amount. i stopped going to the gym a few months back because i was discouraged but have recently started up again and plan on going at least 3 times a week. but i am also on my feet for 4-8 hours a day at my job so i know i'm burning calories that way as well. i eat home cooked meals the majority of the time. oh. and i've been doing this since february

    Um...eat something?? My calories are set at 1910 and I do a descent job of eating most of those on a daily basis and I have lost 27 pounds since July 20th. If you don't eat more, your body will hold onto what you have with a DEATH GRIP. Starvation mode. That's what 1200 calories says to me.
  • hyenagirl
    hyenagirl Posts: 206 Member
    Low fat cereal can have just as many calories and if not more sugar than fruit and yogurt. Low fat does not mean healthy, I think it's a gimmick. Coco Puffs had the healthy heart check until last year. Coco puffs, because it was "low fat". What are you eating now, besides fruit and yogurt, you said home cooked meals? I used to be the same size you are now when I was eating 1400 calories a day, but it was all pasta and bread. I cried and cried that I couldn't lose weight, until one day I really looked at what I was eating and decided to drastically cut down on grains.
  • CharleneJ14
    CharleneJ14 Posts: 13 Member
    i tend to have a bagel or something of the sort for breakfast.. lunch i'm lucky to eat most of the time. and then whatever my mom makes for dinner which always has meat.. it's like southern cooking with a twist i guess.. if i'm at work i'll have a fruit salad or yogurt.. i'm starting to think i eat too little...
  • SunshineKisses_2012
    SunshineKisses_2012 Posts: 471 Member
    Low fat cereal can have just as many calories and if not more sugar than fruit and yogurt. Low fat does not mean healthy, I think it's a gimmick. Coco Puffs had the healthy heart check until last year. Coco puffs, because it was "low fat". What are you eating now, besides fruit and yogurt, you said home cooked meals? I used to be the same size you are now when I was eating 1400 calories a day, but it was all pasta and bread. I cried and cried that I couldn't lose weight, until one day I really looked at what I was eating and decided to drastically cut down on grains.

    I've actually started considering doing this myself, but haven't made the jump yet. I love me some bread, but I don't want my *kitten* to look like a dimpled faccocia loaf the rest of my life either. You may have just pushed ME to do this!
  • tmarie2715
    tmarie2715 Posts: 1,111 Member
    i tend to have a bagel or something of the sort for breakfast.. lunch i'm lucky to eat most of the time. and then whatever my mom makes for dinner which always has meat.. it's like southern cooking with a twist i guess.. if i'm at work i'll have a fruit salad or yogurt.. i'm starting to think i eat too little...

    Eek, bagels are pretty cal heavy while not filling you up (or maybe that is just me). Try lean protein like veggie meat replacement, beans, lean turkey or chicken. Fiber is good, too-- celery, apples, whole grain breads.
  • MIMITIME
    MIMITIME Posts: 405 Member
    First, get your thyroid checked. I have thyroid issues and they have to be dealt with for many reasons including weight loss. If you have thyroid issues, you will lose slower but you will lose. Honestly, I don't think you are eating enough calories. Things have changed from the old ways of thinking. You have to eat enough calories to keep your body out of starvation mode. If you are starving yourself, your body will cling on to just about every calorie you take in just for survival. I do follow the MFP guidelines for a steady stable one pound a week loss and so far I am on track. The only variation I make is I take in more protein grams when I can.
  • glitterpiss
    glitterpiss Posts: 113
    Its surprising how many people here don't know how to feed themselves enough food. Just eat more, you're just slowing down your metabolism and storing fat because you aren't eating enough.
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    my calories are set at 1230. I tend to eat around that amount. i stopped going to the gym a few months back because i was discouraged but have recently started up again and plan on going at least 3 times a week. but i am also on my feet for 4-8 hours a day at my job so i know i'm burning calories that way as well. i eat home cooked meals the majority of the time. oh. and i've been doing this since february

    -keep up with the gym and try to get at least an hour in
    -being on your feet doesn't necessarily mean you are burning calories, it just means you are on your feet
    -all calories aren't the same, what type of homecooked meals are you eating-they can vary drastically in calorie and fat content-
  • CharleneJ14
    CharleneJ14 Posts: 13 Member
    lol. idk. it ranges from potato soup to wet burritos. i always try to eat as little as possible of the high cal meals but she's a good cook and i love those dishes lol.

    what some of you are saying is i need to eat more? so snack more during the day on like fruits and low cal items? i'd say veggies but i don't like them so thats out.
  • Ruby11222
    Ruby11222 Posts: 114
    When my loss stops I make up a big pot of soup with broccoli, zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, onions, garlic, red lentils, chick peas, red kidney beans, I puree' it up and just eat that as much as I want all day, along with a lot of water. Gets my system going again.
  • skinniewannabe
    skinniewannabe Posts: 106 Member
    Its surprising how many people here don't know how to feed themselves enough food. Just eat more, you're just slowing down your metabolism and storing fat because you aren't eating enough.

    I started 2 weeks ago at 180 lbs and MFP only gives me 1200 cal as well. I only eat more if I earn more cal by exercising. I really don't think I'd loose anything if I ate any more than this.
  • skinniewannabe
    skinniewannabe Posts: 106 Member
    When my loss stops I make up a big pot of soup with broccoli, zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, onions, garlic, red lentils, chick peas, red kidney beans, I puree' it up and just eat that as much as I want all day, along with a lot of water. Gets my system going again.

    This actually sounds really good!
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    When my loss stops I make up a big pot of soup with broccoli, zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, onions, garlic, red lentils, chick peas, red kidney beans, I puree' it up and just eat that as much as I want all day, along with a lot of water. Gets my system going again.
    This sounds delicious do you have a recipe?

    Also OP-I know I've added my two-cents a lot already, but look up the volumetrics way of eating. The basic premise is to look at food and try to get more bang for your buck, so to speak. It's all about the amount of food you can eat for the calories-as in 100 calories of fruit is much more filling and healthy than 100 calories of chocolate. It's all about what you eat. I know it's hard to eat heatlhy at home, believe me my mother sabotaged me all the time, if you can use the george foreman grill to cook stuff-and look up healthy recipes online etc. Maybe find something your mom can cook so she'll understand how much eating healthfully means to you.
  • MIMITIME
    MIMITIME Posts: 405 Member
    Ok, on the home cooked meals, you may want to have a sit down with your mother and get the ingredients to different dishes. It was amazing to me when I found out on this site how many calories a little olive oil adds and more for a little butter. Same amazement for ranch salad dressing calories, just add ons like these things can make a huge difference in calories so you could be getting hidden calories you don't even know about since your mother does the cooking. It is also important not to skip a meal. I keep something in the console of the truck and in my purse in case I get delayed and can't eat on time. Small packs of peanuts are good to keep and I love those Special K Strawberry bars. I do enter my food before I eat to keep me on track and I try to eat 6 to 8 times a day because my metabolism has been close to dead the last five years.
  • StevLL
    StevLL Posts: 921 Member
    Hard to really give good advice withourt knowing what your calorie make up is. When I eat more lean meats and lots of veggies with fruit throughout the day I lose pretty easily. When I eat lots of high fat high sodium foods I stall. I have the hardest time with sodium, but good fiber, good hydration and clean eating is key for me.
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    Hard to really give good advice withourt knowing what your calorie make up is. When I eat more lean meats and lots of veggies with fruit throughout the day I lose pretty easily. When I eat lots of high fat high sodium foods I stall. I have the hardest time with sodium, but good fiber, good hydration and clean eating is key for me.
    I concur...
  • gogonunubean
    gogonunubean Posts: 160 Member
    Well two things leap out at me without seeing your diary.

    First, when I started with gym, I worked out for an hour and a half, three times per week. In the first 2/3 months, I gained 2 pounds (and I went from being a couch potato pretty much). I was so down and disheartened, but I was getting stronger and had more endurance. I really pushed myself too. Muscle weighs more than fat and new exersizers gain fast. Muscle also needs more water to grow, so you have a lot of water weight.

    BUT muscle needs good nutrition. Also, it is easier not to eat 500 cals than it is to burn it off.

    So secondly, don't look at your cals in isolation. Look at your food as fuel. Cereal and a yogurt might fill your calorie requirements, but do they provide your body with all the phytonutrients and antioxidants it needs? My body clung to every pound until I started feeding it in a clean, balanced way....now I am dropping a pound a week which is my goal. It did take some 'tweeks; to get to a losing pattern though.

    Don't lose hope. Give your body the best food you can and get back to gym. You'll feel better and the weight loss will follow!
  • Ruby11222
    Ruby11222 Posts: 114
    Not really but i'll write out a rough one.

    2 large brown onions
    3 cloves of garlic
    1tsp olive oil
    Masterfoods All Seasoning Powder - 3 tbsp
    Masterfoods Garlic Powder - 3tbsp
    2 large broccoli
    3 large zucchini
    2 small carrots
    2 medium sweet potatoes
    400g can of red kidney beans
    400g can of chick peas
    1 cup of dry red lentils
    2L-3L of Campbell's Chicken or Vegetable stock - enough so it Just covers the veggies in the pot


    Wash all the veggies.


    Fry the chopped onions in the olive oil until the onions go clear, add the garlic and all seasoning powder, add 2L of stock.
    Put in peeled and diced sweet potatoes. Add chopped unpeeled carrots.

    Chop and add all other veggies. Put beans and chick peas in a strainer and rinse with cold water until the water comes out clean, put them in the pot. Add lentils. If the stock isn't covering the veggies, you can add more. Add garlic powder and mix around. Pop on the lid and leave on a low heat, stirring every 10 minutes or so just to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom.

    Blend up with a metal stick mixer.



    When my loss stops I make up a big pot of soup with broccoli, zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, onions, garlic, red lentils, chick peas, red kidney beans, I puree' it up and just eat that as much as I want all day, along with a lot of water. Gets my system going again.
    This sounds delicious do you have a recipe?

    Also OP-I know I've added my two-cents a lot already, but look up the volumetrics way of eating. The basic premise is to look at food and try to get more bang for your buck, so to speak. It's all about the amount of food you can eat for the calories-as in 100 calories of fruit is much more filling and healthy than 100 calories of chocolate. It's all about what you eat. I know it's hard to eat heatlhy at home, believe me my mother sabotaged me all the time, if you can use the george foreman grill to cook stuff-and look up healthy recipes online etc. Maybe find something your mom can cook so she'll understand how much eating healthfully means to you.
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    When's the last time you went to the doctor, Char? I would definitely consider getting your thyroid checked because I've heard that can cause a lot of problems with weight loss. And, there's nothing wrong with eating your mom's cooking....it's all about portion control. Do you have your work set at sedentary or lightly active? Rather than setting it at sedentary and adding the time you "fish in the river", lol (which I assume is when you're at work)...maybe try setting it to lightly active and see how many more calories it gives you per day.

    And, if you need someone to kick your butt and keep you accountable, I can do it =)
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