Okay, this is day two and I'm doing okay. Not great...but not too bad. Yesterday I was still hungry after dinner and had a bunch of crackers with yogurt cheese and 2 handful of M&M's. The M&M's are now in the trash.

Today started out well, but darn if I didn't eat one too many blueberry muffins. That's okay though! I've got the rest of the day to make up for it. Looks like there's a big salad in my future.

I also wanted to put in my two cents about meal planning. This isn't about the meals themselves, but rather how to organize yourself. ..

I used my word processor and made a list of meals I make on a regular basis. I organized them on separate pages by poultry, beef, pork, fish, and miscellaneous. Then I printed them out, put them in page protectors and into a 3-ring binder. Every month I print off a monthly calendar and use my lists to plan my meals for each night. I don't plan a month ahead, usually only 4-5 days but the lists have made the planning so much easier. There's no more searching through cookbooks (unless I'm looking for something new) or racking my brain for what to fix. I have lists for breakfast and lunch as well and plan them the same way. I have to, otherwise I'll just eat unhealthy things all day long. It really didn't take as much time to make the lists as you'd think. Maybe an hour. I didn't include any ingredients in the lists just the name of the main dish and the side dishes I serve with them. I did note which cookbook it was in if I didn't already know for sure. When I find a new recipe I like, I just write it on the list. It sounds complicated, but it has made my life sooooooo much easier!

Thanks for the great suggestions. A few of our standbys are Spaghetti, Meatloaf and hamburgers and fries. Notice a meat theme here? I personally am sick of these menus. I have a Sat. goal: to clean out my cupboards. I am going to purge the unhealthy stuff. I hate grocery shopping but that will be my next step after cleaning the cabinets. I just realized (now that it is in print) that I'm really happy eating food but not in preparation. I am going to change that. You're right I need baby steps. I was going to take today off from exercise but I think that I should get that in too. Maybe something really fun. Diana

quote:

I guess now I have a goal of better meal planning. Got any ideas for me? My family really likes the old standby meals and really resist any changes in the menus

You're probably starting to sense a baby-step theme around here. Here's another opportunity. Think about only making a limited number of changes per week. Decide on where you want to focus. Less red meat? More veggies? Lower fat? Higher quality carbs? There's lots of directions to choose but your challenge is to pick just one at a time. For example, if you chose less red meat you would want to identify one fish, poultry or vegetarian recipe to try each week. Pair them with things that you know your family likes. As KD would say, rinse and repeat. If you find a winner, add it to your list. If you got a dud, maybe you can do something fun with the family like putting a copy of the recipe in the shredder or fireplace (if you can get them to tell you if there was any aspect of the recipe they DID like, that might help you pick your next try). Once you feel like you are replacing 'enough' red meat meals per week (and that number is going to be your call and your families), move on to the next goal you would like to do.

Make sense? Hope that helps.

Peg

PS) Bee and others on this board are REALLY good at revising old favorites to make them healthier. I encourage you to post some right away and maybe try to that beside whatever goal you pick above if you go for that suggestion.

quote:

Originally posted by DianaB:
I guess now I have a goal of better meal planning. Got any ideas for me? My family really likes the old standby meals and really resist any changes in the menus. Diana

Diana,
I agree with Denise. Start with posting your old standby meals and we can help you make them healthier and even sneak in some more veggies.

Another good place to look for meal ideas is the "what's for dinner thread" where people post their meals.

You may also want to browse the recipes on the website and see what appeals to you. I've never made one of KD's recipes that wasn't a winner.

Hi All,

Another struggling day for me yesterday. See my thread on COOKIE CONFESSION. But I have big plans today. Starting to drink my water now so not to wait too close to bed time. Exercise will be stationary bike and purging more stuff. Our fitness room is almost ready. Meals since its the weekend going to plan and cook for next week so we have no excuses for FF. We did really good so far and haven't eaten out at all this week. Which when you know you don't plan especially those with children they always want to eat right away.

Anyway even though its day 7 and 2 out of 6 have been not great I'm in for the long haul to get fit. So don't count me out these baby steps I just tend to fall on my face alot...lol

Have a great day!

ttfn
Patty

quote:

Originally posted by DianaB:
Got any ideas for me? My family really likes the old standby meals and really resist any changes in the menus. Diana

What are the "old standbys" your family likes?

quote:

Originally posted by patty-mom/of/3:
Need serious watch when my children hand me food they don't want anymore. I think those nibbles, crumbs, taste is where I lose it. So I made sure to write that in the things I shouldn't have. Has anyone every gone way over board on tasting things then realize all those taste could equal a portion?

I knew things were really bad when we were eating dinner one night and my kid moved his plate away out of my reach and said, "I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be back. Do NOT eat my dinner when I'm gone. I'm not done."

My family used to flap their arms and make "caw! caw!" bird noises and say that I was like a vulture circling the table looking for leftovers and scraps...

Another day in the gym for a 30min. walk. My back was the only part of my body that was sore from yesterday. I am actually drinking more water. I, however, am having difficulties with meals. I keep portions down but can't seem to get any vegs/fruits. This evening I was so overwhelmed with what to eat I just had a bowl of cereal. My poor family was on their own. I guess now I have a goal of better meal planning. Got any ideas for me? My family really likes the old standby meals and really resist any changes in the menus. Diana

I had an even better day today. When I asked dh what he wanted for dinner tonight, he said burgers. So I was extra good at breakfast and lunch, had carrots as a snack, drank lots of water. Every time I was tempted I pictured that burger in my mind. So I had to make it worth the wait. We used 90% sirloin, topped with crumbled blue cheese, on whole wheat rolls. Definitely worth the wait, and the missed snacks.

Tomorrow is my panned day for my third WATP this week, I'll go make a food plan now. I've been writing my plan on post it notes and keeping it with me, even at work, so I stay better focused. Now on to my nightly journalling in the planner.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee:

quote:

Originally posted by patty-mom/of/3:
Has anyone every gone way over board on tasting things then realize all those taste could equal a portion?

Patty

Patty
That used to be a very big problem for me. I would eat my dd's left overs and by the end of the day, it easily could have added up to a couple of hundred calories.

It was a hard habit to break but now I just put all her left overs in a small container and she just eats it at the next meal or I just throw it away.

I am in that group too. I taste my families food all over the place. I thought it was a mother's job.
I was wrong. What Bee suggests works for me too.

I have had a good day so far. Did a weight workout this morning and when I got back I made a yogurt sundae: sliced banana, lowfat vanilla yogurt, drizzle of Hershey's syrup, and topped it with 1/4 cup of KD's granola. It was a nice treat.

It's nice to see so many new names here!

Bee -- thanks for the warm welcome and the words of encouragement. I didn't think about having a heads up on what works for me! I appreciate you pointing that out!

So today is day one! So far so good...of course I've only just finished breakfast (whole wheat English muffin w/ 1 piece of Canadian bacon, one scrambled egg and a piece of provolone and 1/2 a banana). I've even had 16 ounces of water already! My main goal today (besides eating well) is to exercise!

I'm off to do my homework for week one. I've got a lot of bad food habits so I hope it doesn't take too long!

quote:

Originally posted by patty-mom/of/3:
Has anyone every gone way over board on tasting things then realize all those taste could equal a portion?

Patty

Patty
That used to be a very big problem for me. I would eat my dd's left overs and by the end of the day, it easily could have added up to a couple of hundred calories.

It was a hard habit to break but now I just put all her left overs in a small container and she just eats it at the next meal or I just throw it away.

Hi All,

Day 5 much better than my day 4. Got all my water in and did a serious cardio Karate class for an hour. Veggies and fruit made my goal. But then had three cookies for a treat which ended up being 3 more cookies and an 1/4 not realizing I popped my dd's piece she didn't want to eat.

Need serious watch when my children hand me food they don't want anymore. I think those nibbles, crumbs, taste is where I lose it. So I made sure to write that in the things I shouldn't have. Has anyone every gone way over board on tasting things then realize all those taste could equal a portion?

Have a great day all.

ttfnn
Patty

quote:

It is getting better. I went to the gym this morning after a 6mo. lapse. I walked 30min. I hate starting all over again. How long does it usually take to get back up to spead again.

Glad to hear that! Good job getting there and getting it done...that's definitely half the battle. I think the general consensus is that you get back to speed more quickly after a break but I'm sure the 'how long' is a really individual thing. The important thing is to just get it done for a while. Quality, etc. will come along after you get your habit reestablished.

I like your idea of the scrapbook! That could come in mighty handy when it comes maintenance time again.

Peg

Ok almost forgot, today went well, I did my crunches, ate 3 servings of veggies again and drank all my water. I had planned today to be a day off from WATP so I'm still on track.

quote:

Originally posted by sautequeen:
I did my homework. What else are you doing in the first week? Haven't gone out to get a book yet. I am today going to call the local bookstore and put one on hold when it arrives so I can be sure to get it.

So far I've mostly been writing my food and exercise. Also wrote a few goals, and added them to my signature as well. It doesn't seem like a lot, but I've already noticed some patterns forming that I need to break. For me this first week is mainly going to be one of discovery so I can plan ahead.

It is getting better. I went to the gym this morning after a 6mo. lapse. I walked 30min. I hate starting all over again. How long does it usually take to get back up to spead again. I was actually running six months ago but I can't yet. I picked up one of the WW food diaries yesterday to record what I am eating then I just make notes in my daybook. I have so many diaries of food that I don't want to look back and read 1c. soup or whatever. I am treating my daybook like a kind of scrapbook that will be fun to read in the future when I am lean and trim. Diana

Got the book at Borders. Love it. There is SO much info packed on the pages.

I use lots of shorthand recording food. Seems to me like there is ample room-

Today looked like this in my book:
B: cer and yog
S: 1 c rasp, 1 c smlk
L: 4 oz turkey/sld
D: 1 c ww pasta, 3 oz beef, gr bns

This is my shorthand- after years I know that I have 1 c cereal and that my yogurt is ff/ss.
In time the shorthand becomes quite readable and means that it takes seconds to record food.

quote:

Originally posted by Amysbabies:
Hi everyone! My name is Amy. I'm new here. I didn't realize that Kathleen had a website or I would have been here a looooong time ago! I hope you are up to adding another friend. I can use all the help I can get.

Here's a bit of background. I am 33 years old. About 2 years ago, I lost nearly 40 pounds. I was doing so well. I ate healthy, joined a gym and went regularly. When I got pregnant with my second daughter, I used that as an excuse to go back to my old ways...not thinking of how hard it would be to get back on track afterwards. So now I'm weighing in at 200 pounds (actually less than when I first starting to lose weight) and I want to lose at least 50 pounds by the end of this year. I know I can do it, but I'm having a really hard time getting started. I just got the Daybook today (and some new exercise videos)! I hope this will help me make the decision to get up and lose that weight!

Any advice and support would be greatly appreciated. I'll definatly need it!

Thanks!

Welcome Amy! Glad that you found us!

In my opinion you already have a head start with getting healthier - you know what works for you because you've done it before. Pick a couple of good habits you used to have and reincorporate them into your routine.
You can do this! And you've come to the right place for support, encourages, tips, etc...