"Diet" support, what do you do?

[croman7]

Hi everyone!
Some great tips here!! Thanks to everyone that posted. I really appreciate it.
I personally would rather count some calories and set a goal for the day (not totally firm, but a goal). Within that goal, I'd try choosing healthier foods and cut down the bad ones. If i had a craving, I'd try to avoid it, or have a small amount.

BUT... the "diet" that the bf has us trying is not exactly that way. It does not focus on calories at all. And it adds whey powder to shakes, something i'm not used to. I figure it's the first time the bf has come up with a plan like this, so i'm going to try to do it his way for a while (at least a while...) and hopefully he can benefit from me being on the same plan as him. If anyone wants to see exactly what we're doing, its a website called fit2fat2fit.com . It's a guy who was totally ripped, and he gained a ton of weight on purpose so that he could lose it "with us" as an inspiration to people. He spent 6 months gainnig weight, and plans to lose it in 6 more months. He started his "loss" in November. We started on Tuesday, but are starting at his Day1. He posts all of his food and exercise choices on a daily basis so you can copy him exactly if you want to. The bf thinks this is a dream come true. I disagree. I dont like the diet and dont find it to be particularly healthy, balanced, or filling. Although, I could stand to lose a bit of weight, and this diet wont kill me if i follow it for 12 weeks or so... That's the bfs plan. so although it's not something i'd choose, i'm doing it "for him" so to speak.

It does involve 5 smaller meals throughout the day, as some of you mentioned. it involves lots of water, which is also good. It has protein at every meal, which is helpful...but i'm worried i'm getting too much. The exercises start good, i think...all core stuff for the first month. That's great for me, cuz that's where all my weight is! It does not have any cardio so far, which is something i'd like to add myself. I just find that i am tired all the time! and i do get hungry. and i'm a bit moody. haha. I need to find some good appetite-suppressing snacks that are still low cal.

I like the idea of the mouthwash for cravings. That's a good tip. And the tictacs sound like a good one too. Maybe a piece of gum would be similar? i'll try all three. I did count the calories on this "diet" one day...adding in the small changes i did make (i added two small slices of cheddar to the breakfast omelette. I added an apple at on snack.. etc) and i got to 1387. I think that's a half-decent number if i'm dieting. (i ran some calculations online and my dieting calories should be around 1400 anyway, so that's around right). it's just that i'm finding i'm still hungry. what kinda foods are filling/lowcal?

Let's keep the convo going...thanks guys!

[francine1985]

for my diet if i want a snack that isn't one of my scheduled snacks i have to have vegetables (avoiding corn 'half a cup or half a cob is 1 serving of carbs' and potatoes 'half a medium potato is a serving of carbs' . or peas, squash and parsnips that contain 1 serving of carbs per cup.
i love snacking on raw broccoli or carrots with a little bit of ranch sauce. or asparagus cooked up with a little bit of margarine. if i'm tired of water i will usually drink diet orange crush or diet pepsi.
i can also have extras "foods low in calories, carbohydrate, protein, and fat. examples are sugar-free soft drinks and jello, broth, garlic, herbs and spices, and small amounts of mustard and ketchup." *quoted from the beyond basics info pack my dietician gave me

[NuCoupon]

My advice is definitely add a multivitamin. I also take CQ10 and cod liver tablets. This will give you more energy and make you feel more level.

Also, change the way you see food. You are not dieting. You are NOURISHING your body will healthy, low-cal food. Often people have cravings because they are deficient in vitamins and good fats. They crave a sugary snack to boost them up when including good foods in your diet will stop you from hitting those lows. You'll just feel more even all the time. Also, things like fruit teas will help you alleviate boredom. It's warm and tasty and gives you something to do and take a break.

[croman7]

I forgot to mention, i do take a multivitamin. i also take b12 and folic acid. my iron levels are normal, i checked. there's no "real reason" for me to be tired.... i just am. also, i have hypothyroidism, but its controlled by medication. i've checked my levels, and they are normal.

[DH666]

As a diabetic I try to eat stuff that is low GI. All carbs are not created equal. I do not count calories, I just eyeball portions.

My doctor said my plate should be 1/4 protein (meat, beans...), 1/4 carb (Pasta, potatoes...) and 1/2 vegetables that are not starchy.

This way, your blood sugar does not go way up and back down fast so its more of a gradual rise and fall so you don't feel hungry.

If you make the carbs you eat either low or medium GI, it will help you not feel hungry. It works for me. Here is the link to the info. The GI index was developed in Canada, but the low GI info is on this University of Sidney web site.

http://www.glycemicindex.com/index.php

[taxsavey]

Actually drs. say that if you eat like a diabetic even if your not, you will lose weight and be healthier! Great advice!

[glowworm2k]

Glad to hear you're doing well. The diet doesn't sound like one I'd pick either, but high-five to you for being supportive of your bf!

If you're looking for low-cal snack foods, I'd suggest vegetables. Cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, broccoli and celery are all awesome raw.

I also love cabbage. I cook up a potful with some chopped onion and just enough water to keep it from sticking and to help steam/cook it. I call it done when there's still texture left to it; overcooked cabbage is just gross I love this (hot or cold) with some chili powder sprinkled on top for a quick snack... it's a little bit like kimchi, but not fermented.

Some people find a hard-boiled egg to be a good snack food because it's really filling and only around 70 calories for a large one. But, if you're already getting too much protein, I'd recommend sticking to veggies.

[DH666]

Actually drs. say that if you eat like a diabetic even if your not, you will lose weight and be healthier! Great advice!

Very true, that's what my doctor said.

[croman7]

Great responses guys! The Glycemic Index info is awesome....great for people who aren't diabetic too. I was watching a video online...if you keep you blood sugars in the "normal range" (not too high, not too low) it helps your body to metabolize things better. that's the range that will help you with weight loss(or maintenance) and keep your moods stable. Awesome!

And thanks glowworm... It is tough to support the guy, but so far so good. Tomorrow is the "one week weigh in" lol. My clothes arent any looser yet, obviously. but if the scale moved down at all, it'll be encouragement to keep at it for next week! I like the boiled egg idea... i'll probably substitute it for some of the other proteins that the diet calls for. I like the egg better than most meats anyway!

[amyjenning]

I don't think the guy who was ripped showing that he can lose weight after gaining it means anything. Muscle has memory and people who have trained before usually bounce back very quickly. I think it's important to incorporate a weight training regime along with your diet. I lose 15 pounds in january and it was mostly due to changing my diet habits around. I don't use sugar anymore and always have a big breakfast. Remember 65% of obese people usually skip breakfast which usually leads to eating late at night which is how sumo wrestlers get so big. They starve themselves almost the whole day then have massive meals later in the day.