Is there anything I CAN eat?!?

carbs -oatmeal (plain) and brown rice
protein -chicken, fish, anything lean
sugar should only be from fruit -one serving per day
add some protein shakes
eggs
peanut butter, almond butter (natural, none that say sugar or any additional oil in it)
eizekel bread, cereal
veggies -lettuce doesnt have much in it so swtich to spinach, broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, asparagus

i just signed up but you can check out my diary for the last couple days.

I'll agree with him on the sugar and white bread... since passing thirty I have noticed that those two things make me puff up a bit and they never did before. LOL

Definitely do not avoid all fat! You don't have to limit yourself to chicken, and you don't have to completely avoid whole grains.

You're a woman trying to get healthy, and he's a male athlete. In some ways, you are in two different worlds. Seriously.


Track your calories. Eat enough to fuel your body properly, probably 1500-1600 is a good place to start.
Aim for 30g or more of fiber a day, and protein up to 100g.
Keep your sodium below 2300mg/day.
Eat lots of veggies, a moderate amount of fruit, some healthy whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats. A lot of people on here try for 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fat.
Exercise regularly and add some weight-bearing exercise to your routine.


You can do it, and you don't have to make yourself crazy!!

Well, imo the only thing he actually got right was the sodium thing.

If you just want to lose fat, get healthier and slimmer, and not get uber uber healthy, keep a calorie deficit, hit your macros, exercise and lift heavy, then eat whatever you want.

Why cut things out? Why make it harder than it needs to me?

I hit 25 lbs down today, and I eat almost 200g of carbs per day.

It is all about calories in/calories out. Period.

I do not, however, recommend starting at 1200 calories per day. Slowly work down to that. If you are exercising, you need to eat those calories back.

Please read the following post I wrote for newbies for more information:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/470367-tips-for-newbies

you don't even HAVE to exercise. I lost the first 50 lbs without doing anything more vigorous than walking my dogs for 15 minutes a day.

Don't bog yourself down with a million rules.

True, you dont. But, surely you'd want to minimise muscle loss.

for me, because I had been a dancer and then a kung fu instructor before I gained, I felt like I had a reasonable amount of muscle underneath the fat layer. So I did nothing but cardio. Granted that may not be the most balanced approach, I'll concede:laugh:

He's wrong (mostly) about the 1200 calories. Google "twinkie diet" and I you will see what I mean. Very interesting stuff! I say "mostly" wrong because although yes, from a pure calories in calories out standpoint it doesn't matter if you eat 1200 calories of twinkies or 1200 calories of broccoli one will be a lot more filling (and have more nutrition which is important for other reasons). Personally the only way I can stick to 1200 net calories per day is if most of those calories are fruits, veggies, whole grains, low fat dairy and lean meat. 1200 calories of that kind of food is a GIANT PILE of food -- plenty to keep you satisfied all day. If I wanted to get my 1200 calories on nothing but Dunkin Donuts double chocolate donuts (a favorite of mine) my total food for the day would be 3 donuts! Would I loose weight if I truly ONLY ate 3 donuts a day -- yes. Is it in any way realistic to stick to that diet -- no, unless you are the twikie diet guy!

For some very good ideas about things you can eat take a look at the book "Picture Perfect Weight Loss."

One Word: Moderation :bigsmile:

He's wrong (mostly) about the 1200 calories. Google "twinkie diet" and I you will see what I mean. Very interesting stuff! I say "mostly" wrong because although yes, from a pure calories in calories out standpoint it doesn't matter if you eat 1200 calories of twinkies or 1200 calories of broccoli one will be a lot more filling (and have more nutrition which is important for other reasons). Personally the only way I can stick to 1200 net calories per day is if most of those calories are fruits, veggies, whole grains, low fat dairy and lean meat. 1200 calories of that kind of food is a GIANT PILE of food -- plenty to keep you satisfied all day. If I wanted to get my 1200 calories on nothing but Dunkin Donuts double chocolate donuts (a favorite of mine) my total food for the day would be 3 donuts! Would I loose weight if I truly ONLY ate 3 donuts a day -- yes. Is it in any way realistic to stick to that diet -- no, unless you are the twikie diet guy!

For some very good ideas about things you can eat take a look at the book "Picture Perfect Weight Loss."

Agreed.

No. He isn't right.

I ate all kinds of foods, alcohol, Diet soda (OHGODNO) never paid attention to my macros, and only cared about my calorie goal.

I lost 82 lbs. I'm shockingly healthy.

You do NOT have to torture yourself through this. You won't keep at it that way.

Agree with above.

I am 47, and short, (5'2") - have lost 60 lbs, and almost at my goal weight. About 10 lbs less to lose, and still losing now.

I eat lots of "bad" stuff. I do not eat 1200 cals a day (actually eat about 1600)

I eat white flour, white sugar, good and bad carbs - had some dark chocolate peanut MnMs today in fact. I eat some processed foods, fast foods, even pizza, regular soda and so forth regularly. Not everyday, but once, twice a week. Mainly because processed foods are low nutrient and high calorie - so I like more bang for my buck. I aim for more nutrient dense choices for most of my eating. But if I need some chocolate, I have some.

I often eat a cup or more of fruit daily with my lunch.

But I don't avoid any food.

I do make sure I stay in my calorie goals, I do watch my protein. No real concerned with carbs, sugars , fats.

I do exercise regularly and hard, but that's because I am working to loose the last bit of bodyfat.

But before that, I regularly did about 400 cals a day exercise, 6 days a week, and lost weight then also. (cardio and strength training both)

I currently do strength training with heavy weights three days a week, I also do cardio 3-7 times a week.

I personally also have a free day, one day a week, so I can eat anything I miss or am craving. Keeps me sain, and keeps me from eatting a half gallon of ice cream in one seating.

I agree with the sugar comment... but don't forget to "wear sunscreen".

I have lost more than 60lb total. I found that by having foods I couldn't eat I would want them more. Now I eat healthy but if I really want something I will eat a SMALL amount of whatever it is.

I agree with the girls above.. I eat anything.. I hate high protein Low carb restricted diets, I have seen so many of my family members lose so much weight this way, and the minute they add back some refined sugars they blow up like balloons gaining what they lost back plus some! I excercise faithfully 5-6 days a week.. I eat what ever I want.. Grant it not Mcdonalds, But if I was in a pinch I would.. I also eat pastas, breads, Peanut butter , I have 2 glasses of wine almost every night.. and I DO eat back my excercise calories.. I do weights and Cardio and I drink 8-10 glasses of water. I am friending you so that you can see my diary for encouragement.. I am not saying what I do will work for everyone out there.. But Its working for me.. and I am NEVER starving.. I have learned to "edit" recipes to make they healther and lower calorie.. Example.. Taco salad with Ground turkey instead of Beef.. You can do the same with tortillas.. They make smart and delicous brand 100 calorie wraps, you can put chicken in them with lettuce even throw a tablespoon of sour cream in there.. You will do great.. The minute you tell someone what they cannot do/cannot have you throw failure out before even giving it a try.. You will suceed your way, Not by doing what your husband does..

My husband is an Ironman triathlete two times over. By comparison, I am a slug. Through calorie counting and exercise I lost 30 pounds over the last 2 years and had gotten where I wanted to be. HOWEVER, over the last couple of months I have put back on about 7 pounds. YIKES!

At 45, I know your metabolism slows down. I asked the hubster the other day for some advice. All I got was, you need to avoid sugar, you need to avoid fruit because it has too much sugar, you need to avoid simple carbs so no more bread, you need to avoid excess sodium so you don't retain water, you need to avoid fat, you need to avoid protein unless its very lean. (NOTE: He works out about 15 hours a week so he does NOT eat this way!)

Is there anything I CAN eat besides lettuce?

On another note, he says that it doesn't matter if you restrict your calories to 1200 per day if they aren't the "right kind" of calories, you'll still put on weight. Is he crazy?!?

"Over the last couple of months ......." I don't think your metabolism slowed down that much (maybe check with your doctor .... menopause?). More likely you got got a little lax with your eating habits. Do you measure your portions or estimate them? Christmas is a stressful time for many people, and tons of food everywhere. I wouldn't make any drastic changes.

Unless you want to be a triathlete, you should be able to eat regular, but "wholesome" foods.

Calories in = calories out....

However, avoiding processed foods (white bread, white pasta, white rice, packaged meals, sugary stuff, etc) is probably just general good advice anyway.

I'm 31, and I used to be a "carbaterian" . I've cut out a lot of the muffins, bagels, pastas, etc, from my diet, and I feel less bloated. I've upped my veggies and lean proteins significantly. I still eat fruits . And I will NEVER give up chocolate. I still have cheat meals, and I enjoy my food. I just try to eat more whole foods than other foods, and I load up on veggies rather than loading up on other stuff. Oh, and "good fat" is good! You need good fat and protein to feel full and to function.

... he says that it doesn't matter if you restrict your calories to 1200 per day if they aren't the "right kind" of calories, you'll still put on weight. Is he crazy?!?

I don't know if he's crazy ... but he's wrong. a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. one calorie from a carrot = one calorie from a doughnut.

what can you eat? whatever you'd like. just keep it inside your calorie goal for the day. sure there are things you'll want to avoid ... because they won't help you fit your whole day inside that limit. and you can find better snacks. munchies for me now are solved with two cups of various dry cereals. usually about 200 calories. air popped popcorn is 20 calories a cup. both better than potato chips. but I could also eat chips and lose weight, if I kept in my goal. (see the pattern?)

look, you are going to make some healthy choices along the journey. it'll be a process. just like the weight loss. but you can't lose 100 pounds overnight and most people can't completely switch their foods overnight. and you don't have to. last week? mixed in with my meals I think I had four pieces of pizza, a few fudge bars, some candy, some diet soda, some pudding, bread, pastas, even -- GASP! -- some fast food. I lost 3.5 pounds. I've lost 17.4 pounds since I started this, right about two months ago. and it's because I'm not choking down food I hate. I can stick with this. so please, please don't let your weight loss journey be derailed by people who claim otherwise.