Drumroll plesae!!!!!!

Awesome!!! I've followed your progress since I joined just over 2 weeks ago, and you have really inspired me!

May I ask a favour? Would you mind posting a sample menu for the day (one that you think to be tasty and satisfying!)? I find I'm always eating the same boring grilled meat and veg.

Any secrets to share? Tips for success?

CONGRATS!!!
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Hey! Thanks so much!! I love knowing that my success is inspiring others too! I used to feel so helpless and like it just wasn't possible to lose so much weight, but here I am, losing it..and I have not suffered at all!

I had emailed this list to someone awhile back...but it is some of my staples. I have to say that Trader Joes helps me A LOT. I hate that they aren't located everywhere but they seem to be building more and more stores. I just find such a nice change and variety of healthful and lower cal foods there to keep me from getting bored.

I tend to go through cravings. Like I will have the same 2 or 3 lunches for a couple of weeks, then change it up.

I drink a TON of water. First thing in the morning I drink 24 ounces before I allow myself my one mug of coffee for the day. Then I try to get in at least 72 ounces if not more. Pretty much the only thing I drink right now is water, coffee and green or herbal tea....oh, sometimes I have Swiss Miss Diet Cocoa! I eat around 1550-1600 calories a day on average. Sometimes a little less depending on the day, etc. I have been working out about 4 days a week and have worked my way up so now I am at 55 min on the elliptical at level 17, random setting. I tend to burn around 675-700 calories a session not counting the strength-training I do. I also chase my 16 month old son around, which helps!! I have been bench pressing him too lately, which is fun!! LOL! Ummm, I measure everything. I have a food scale and use it to measure everything from bananas (without the peel of course) to meat and even the mccains oven roasted potatoes I get. I also use a measuring cup and measuring spoons to keep me honest.

Breakfast might be a Thomas Light Multi-Grain English Muffin with sugar free preserves and a yogurt with coffee. I might have a banana instead of yogurt. Or lately, if I am running to the gym early, I will 1/2 a Luna Smores bar before and then eat the other 1/2 after.

Lunch lately has been either a Amy's Mexican Tamale Pie with melba snacks and hummus or Trader Joes Roasted Veggie Enchiladas with Trader Joes Southwest Style gourmet flatbreads. I usually throw a yogurt or fruit in there too. Sometimes I will do soup and sandwiches or even the fresco menu at Taco Bell from time to time.

For dinner I will have 1 1/2 lean trader joes beef patties(cooked on my george foreman grill) with mccains oven roasted potatoes and veggies or I will make baked sweet potato fries, I do that at least once a week. I vary things though to keep it interesting. I also eat a lot of fiber...I shoot to get at least 25 grams if not more. That, along with water helps keep me from feeling too hungry. Plus, I eat things that I find delicious and satisfying so I don't feel the need to splurge.

Anyway, my list of staples is below. I vary it out or try new things sometimes. I tend to eat around 200 calories for breakfast and then eat a good sized lunch and dinner and usually dessert. Having that little sweet thing at the end of the day keeps me from craving.

Ok, this is a lot! LOL But hope it helps!!

*Trader Joes Cinnamon Crumpets: 110 calories, 0 fat (great breakfast with a banana or yogurt)
*Trader Joes Roasted Veggie Enchiladas: 300 calories for the whole thing
*Trader Joes Southwest Style Gourmet Flatbreads: 90 calories and 3 g fat per serving
*Trader Joes Sour Cream and Onion Crisps (made with Rice): 120 calories and 3.5 g of fat per serving. (They really help my craving for chips. You can have 38 of them per serving and they almost taste like cool ranch doritos to me)
*Trader Joes Extra Lean Ground Beef Patties: 150 Calories, 5 g fat per serving
*Trader Joes Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (frozen): 110 calories
*Trader Joes Southwest Turkey Burgers
*Trader Joes Turkey Hot Dogs: 45 calories and NO caseins or nitrates
*Trader Joes Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns
*Trader Joes Apple/Cranberry Bran Muffins: 80 Calories and 13 g fiber!! (I call them colon cleansers)
*Trader Joes Low Fat Apple Tarte Tatin: 1/4 of the pie is 120 calories! Really tasty
*Trader Joes French Toast: 110 calories a slice (Nice thick and flavorful pieces)


Other staples (not Trader Joes)
*Amys Mexican Tamale Pie
*Progresso low-sodium soups
*Mccains oven roasted potatoes
*Butterball or Healthy Ones lunch meats
*Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
*Frozen veggies (peas, spinach, mixed veggies, broccoli, etc) Really love the BirdsEye Steamfresh veggies right now..the interesting mixes they have! Yum!
*Sweet potatoes
*Yoplait Lite Yogurts
*Low-Sugar Quaker Instant Oatmeal (very filling!)
*Eggo Lite Nutri-Grain Waffles
*Sugar Free Maple Syrup
*Bananas, Strawberries, Blueberries
*Sargento Lite Provolone Slices
*Jello Sugar-Free Pudding Cups (60 Calories)
*South Beach Diet Southwest Style Chicken Salad Kit (usually around the lunchables area)REALLY good
*100 Cal Packs (various)
*Old London Melba Snacks (Garlic and Rye are my favs)
*Josephs Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (I spread on the melba snacks)
*Josephs Tortillas (usually sold around the deli section of the grocery store)
*Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Cereal
*Kashi Golean Crunch Cereal
*Thomas's Light Multi-Grain English Muffins
*Edy's slow-churned light ice creams. YUM!!