Chunkahlunkah Member

First off, I'd say that overall it sounds like you're doing really well, both with what you eat and how you budget the limited funds you have at the moment. So congrats on that! One reason I asked if you really need 1200 is because if you can bump that up a few hundred to around 14/1500 a day, then it's easier to fit in…

Hello and welcome. :) Before you put too much time into researching 1200 calories a day on a tight budget, are you sure 1200 is what you need? How did you reach that number? If it was here at MFP, what did you select as your loss per week (1 pound, 2 pounds, etc)? Also, how much are you aiming to lose and how active are…

Please don't take this seriously if I'm way off base, but are you sure that is the right place for you? By that, is the culture just not a good fit for who you are? I personally haven't found intense places to necessarily breed drama and backstabbing. I've found that behavior more correlated with the quality of the people…

+1 From what I've observed, it's not just sympathy they want but also to reduce you to a prop that they use to feed their own ego. But yes, the sympathy part is big. They're always the victim and in their mind that justifies their negativity. I'm sorry your mom is the sort who needs her daughter to be "less" than her, OP.…

+1 This is a tough situation for you because she's your mom and it's completely understandable that, of all people, you'd want support and kindness from her. She's clearly damaged goods on this topic though. In other words, it's not you, it's her. The best thing in that situation is not to engage or invite her into that…

I gained over 40 pounds a couple years back, so I’m working on getting back to my usual weight range, which happens to be in the middle of a “normal” BMI. I’m more than halfway there. :) I’ll probably stop at the higher end of my usual range and start on a recomp at that point. I’ve been about 10 pounds below my usual…

Thank you! I'm off today and will make them right now. :) ETA: Doh, not nearly enough PB on hand right now. Will make after my next shopping trip.

These sound great, @acorsaut89 . Do you have a favorite recipe? I've never made oat bars before. I have a huge container of oatmeal that I'd like to use up, and this sounds like a tasty way to make a dent in it. I saved the casserole too, sounds like something I'd really like.

I usually have a few things available during the week that I prepped ahead of time. For example, yesterday I made a frittata and that'll give me four breakfasts. Last week, I made baked oatmeal and had four breakfasts from that. For foods you don't want to freeze, it's important that you're ok with eating the amount you…

Yeah, satiety can vary by the individual, so best to note how you react to different foods. In general, you’ll often see it said that the holy trinity of satiety are fat, fiber, and protein. That’s definitely the case for me too. I don’t need all 3, but 2 last longer for me than just 1, and all 3 are delicious…

Is this food to eat while in the car driving or while in the hotel/taking a break from driving to eat? I’m not really a road trip snacker, makes me feel queasy to eat while in a car for hours. Still, I would keep something like protein bars on hand to take the edge off hunger when a stop isn’t convenient. If the food’s for…

+ 1 I'm a big fan of experimenting, so I'm in favor of trying different styles of eating to see how you like them and what they offer that you'd like to keep going forward. But if this ends up being a pain or you just don't find it satisfying, I wouldn't try too hard to make yourself do it unless your dr confirms it…

Breakfast: French press coffee with milk. Vanilla Greek yogurt with granola (coconut & baobab). Lunch: Triscuits and hummus. Radish and pea salad (with lime juice, olive oil, and chili powder). Dinner: Pasta bake - Rigatoni, shredded cheese, seasoned ground beef, and peas, topped with Parmigiano Reggiano.

I’d log it as about 415 ml of whatever type of milk they’re using (most likely skim milk if they call it “skinny” but not necessarily).

Today was leftover homemade “hamburger helper”. My current schedule gives me 2 or 3 hours before I have to leave for work, so I often eat non-breakfasty foods. I probably couldn’t stomach this type of food right upon waking though. Tomorrow will be Greek yogurt with granola.

So many great tips and links in this thread. With some planning and avoiding wasting any food, that should be a pretty doable target to meet. :) I spend $140-200 a month on food, but I’m usually in the $140-160 range. I used to spend a lot more. I still buy my fav name brands, spring water, and I don’t even feel like I’m…

Like you said, you may just need a little more time. I'm also short. About 6 years ago, I was 109 pounds. I'd been that weight for a few years. (My norm is usually around 112-117.) I wanted to get more toned but hadn't yet heard of doing a recomp. In retrospect, I would've just strength trained and ate at maintenance or…

I grew up with 2% and still use that. I like the taste and mouthfeel best and find it filling.

Yesterday... I thought the day would end with it being the pb and Nutella sandwich that I had for breakfast. That ended up getting edged out later in the day though by a perfectly sweet and juicy navel orange. I love when fruit is just right.

I'd suggest making it as easy on yourself as possible. There are some great ideas in here for foods you can make ahead of time and then grab each morning and also for quick breakfasts to cook. If you don't think you'll end up doing that though, then it may be better at this time to rely on convenience foods like ready made…

Thanks, @AnnPT77! Checked online and my regular store carries both, so I'll be trying them soon.

Over the years, I tried a few protein powders and ended up wasting them. I didn't like the taste of any of them. Last year I bought Bluebonnet Whey Protein Isolate for the first time. It's the only one so far that I've liked. I got it in chocolate. Next time I might try it w/o a flavor. The chocolate uses stevia and I'm…

Yup, me too, been drinking it room temp for many years now.

I ate way over maintenance yesterday. :( I ended up having guests over last night and ate while socializing. Breakfast: Coffee with milk. Protein cheesecake. Lunch: Chicken salad on pita bread. Dinner: Half a baked potato topped with a little butter and a fried egg. Cucumber salad. Unplanned for Evening Feeding…

Loose leaf! I'd been drinking bagged tea since I was a kid. I still have a stash of tea bags that I periodically return to in order to finish them up, but my purchases from here on out will mostly be loose leaf. I was gifted a kit last year and, to me, the flavor is a significant improvement. If you're a tea fan, I highly…

@AnnPT77 I'm intrigued by these crispy broad beans you mention. Do you make them or buy them prepared? If the latter, is there a particular brand you rec? They sound like something I'd really like.

Yesterday... Breakfast: French press coffee with milk. Avocado toast (2) Lunch: Homemade veggie soup with Parmigiano Reggiano. Dinner: "Egg Roll in a Bowl" with chicken breast for the protein. (Not sure, but I think I first heard about that dish from this thread. If so, thanks to who mentioned it. It was good!) Snack:…

I feel ya! I’m in the same boat where even picking a slow rate of weight loss equals a low calorie level. I also find a high protein breakfast indispensable for satiety at this calorie level. Do you like Greek yogurt? I find that very filling, easily one of my most filling foods. There’s a recipe in this folder for…

^ Mmm, that salmon sounds so good! My favorite yesterday was dinner: steak, baked potato, and broccoli.

I wish you all the best, @MossiO. Thank you for sharing your beautiful writing.