How to eat more?

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

So my calorie limits have gone up (yay!), but I don't want to go crazy with what I eat just because I can eat more. So how do I eat more and do so in a healthy manner?

That's my next real challenge. I'm finding that I don't eat enough earlier in the day so I end up with more than 50% of my calories at dinner time, which is not good for me. So... how do I eat more during the day (when I'm normally not very hungry anyhow)?

First, I know I need to start having a small snack prior to working out. Sometimes I manage it (a small banana or a half cup of grapes), but not always. I also think I need to eat more at breakfast. I tend to hover around 300 calories for breakfast, and I probably need to up that to closer to 400 calories. Maybe even a little over that. Lunch typically isn't too bad, but still close to 300 calories, when it probably should be more like 400 calories. Then I need to throw in an afternoon snack (today I have 1 cup of grapes for my afternoon snack), and then when I get to dinner, I'll have a more "normal" amount of calories left over, rather than 900+ calories to go for the day.

So I just need to come up with a workable schedule as well as a plan for different snacks and foods I can use (easy access stuff or things I can easily prepare ahead of time) so that I don't have a reason not to incorporate the calories that I need to bring into my day. I am definitely open to suggestions. I don't want to fill these "extra" calories with junk. I want to focus on fruits and veggies when I can, with perhaps some healthy carbs, fats, and proteins thrown in. Let's keep in mind I don't eat meat.

Right now my typical day's meals look like this:

Morning snack (if I remember) - small banana or 1/2 cup grapes
Breakfast (during the week) - fruit smoothie (w/ greek yogurt, frozen fruits, v8 Fusion juice, & flax seed)
Lunch - typically something homemade - chili, vegetarian soups, etc. and a nonfat yogurt
Afternoon snack (not something I've implemented yet) - today is 1 cup grapes, but I'm not sure what else to try.
Dinner - varies - veggie wraps, veggie burgers, PB&J, soup, wheat pasta w/ veggies, etc. Depends what we're in the mood for. :)

So I guess I'm looking for some suggestions to try so I can get more healthy calories in during the day so I don't have to eat so many in the evening.

Thanks all. :)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WHEATIES23 6/30/2011 1:58AM

I also need to make a conscious effort to shift some evening calories earlier in the day. You could try pairing that piece of fruit for a snack with a protein to help balance out the quick sugars in fruit. I recommend cottage cheese: it's a great source of vegetarian protein because it can be low fat while still high in protein. I also like it with blue corn chips. Report Inappropriate Comment

LEGALLYBLONDE81 6/29/2011 9:25PM

If I'm craving a candy bar or chips I just eat them (a small bag cause I won't be able to stop on a big bag). I just track. And now that you are upping your calories (I'm guessing to the 1700/1800 range) you can blow 200-400 calories on crap in any given day and still not starve. Report Inappropriate Comment

DEGENNAN 6/29/2011 3:40PM

I also eat a lot more calories in the second half of the day than in the first, but I don't let it worry me. I do think that I eat more often than you, though. I am the Queen of Snacks!! Like, at least one snack between breakfast (which is often eaten after a small morning snack, too, like a small banana) and lunch, and sometimes two. So I have tons of snack ideas for you :) Things like a cup of blueberries or a cup of strawberry halves or a hardboiled egg with some salt and pepper during the morning. In the afternoon I like cut-up veggies (carrots, cukes, broccoli florets, bell pepper strips) alone or dipped in a few tablespoons of low-cal salad dressings. Or 12 grape tomatoes. Or a baggie of sliced English cucumbers. Or even a whole salad - usually just lettuce, cuke, tomatoes and just a little crumbled light cheese on top. That is really a great idea to see where you are lacking nutrients and adding more food in those columns. Since I snack and eat so much processed foods, I always get plenty of fat and usually enough carbs. But if I'm needing more protein, which is always, then I might eat some tuna mixed with fat-free cottage cheese as a really hearty snack. Or some Better than Peanut Butter spread thinly on some Wasa crispbreads and some sliced banana on top of that. If I am craving chips then I have a serving of reduced fat Wheat Thins - sometimes alone and sometimes with a Laughing Cow light cheese wedge. I love those crackers and those cheese wedges make EVERYTHING taste better, even crispbreads and melba toast. If I'm PMSing and craving a candy bar, I go for a Special K chocolatey pretzel bar or one of those Fiber One bars. Other good low-cal desserty snacks are those little fat-free pudding snacks that come in packs of 4. Also there are many types of low-cal sugar-free frozen things that are awesome in the summer. I currently have Fudgesicles, Creamsicles, Philly Swirls and regular Popsicles in my freezer to keep me cool and satisfy my sweet tooth. And home-made frozen yogurt, but that is a little more fattening - I made it when I was on maintenance but now I'm back to restricting again, doh Anyway, hope I gave you some ideas and GOOD LUCK!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LEGALLYBLONDE81 6/29/2011 1:23PM

Try adding nuts or nut butter, hummus for dipping, full fat cheese and yogurt, a little dessert (low fat ice cream). What nutrients do you tend to be toward the higher end of your rage (fat, carbs, protein?)? Maybe if there is one where you tend to be low look at adding some foods high in that nutrient. I stress-eat Craisins. You can get 100 calorie packets. They are sweet and fairly healthy. You can even add these to your salad (ditto nuts and cheese). Report Inappropriate Comment

So here's the scoop. Graduation and all that.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Had a great weekend with family. The healthy eating mostly went out the window. LOL. But in all reality I guess I didn't do too terribly. I'm at 140 this morning, which I think is mostly bloating because I definitely had more salt/sugar than normal for me. So I expect that I'll be back to 139 by my weigh-in this Saturday.

We were active all weekend - Friday was the aquarium in Atlanta, Saturday we walked around Helen, GA all day and then played miniature golf. Sunday was my graduation, which went awesome! I didn't trip or fall down! Yay! Yesterday was my recovery/straighten up the house day. Which was fine as well. We spent some time in the pool at the hotel all but Friday (thunderstorms kept us out Friday evening. oh well), so I definitely got some exercise in, though like I mentioned my eating wasn't fantastic. Not terrible, but could have been better. I'm not bummed out about it though. I'm happy with how the weekend went, and knowing that I'm right back at it today with getting up and exercising this morning and planning out my meals tells me that I've grown exponentially in that aspect of my life. In the past, one "bad" weekend would have thrown me off for a LONG time. But not anymore!!

I decided to go ahead and set another goal for myself of 135, but am giving myself 2 months to get there. This will increase my calorie range and slow down my weight-loss, but will allow me to concentrate a little more fully on healthy living and fitness rather than on counting calories alone. I want to experiment with some recipes from the Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism cookbook, which I borrowed from the library. So I'll post a few reviews once we do that. I'm also well-aware that what I'm trying to lose now is vanity weight and not weight relating to unhealthy body fat. So I know my body may not cooperate as well as it has been thus far. But I am hopeful that it does. If I can drop a pound every other week, I will be really satisfied with that progress. In addition I'm going to be more focused on measurements than weight, as I do still have some inches to lose, but I know that as I lessen my calorie deficit, I will (hopefully) be building a little more muscle rather than just losing fat, so I expect my weight loss to slow but inches lost to continue a little more steadily. Or that is my hope anyhow. So we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, I am happy with the progress I have made so far this year, and I'm enjoying the fact that I'm not afraid to have my picture taken anymore! I have lots of pictures of this weekend to prove it too! Yay! May post a few on here when I get a chance. Even though they won't truly be "after" pictures yet. But they're certainly an improvement from my "before" pictures!!!

Sooo...... I guess that's about it for now.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WHEATIES23 6/30/2011 2:06AM

CONGRATULATIONS!! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEGENNAN 6/28/2011 4:09PM

Congratulations on your excellent weekend and just your overall progress! Report Inappropriate Comment

RAINBOWCHARMER 6/28/2011 3:14PM

Oooooooh Imma have to look that up for sure! Depends on what time though since I can't get calls at work. Bummer. :( But if it's in the evening or something that would work for me! Although I have no idea what I'd ask. LOL. Honestly my questions are not so much weight related as nutrition related - i.e. vitamins, etc. I'd have to make a list. :) As for what is next... well another 4-5 pounds and then I'm not sure. LOL Report Inappropriate Comment

LEGALLYBLONDE81 6/28/2011 2:13PM

You're going to love 1700 calories a day! I promise. Glad graduation went well! So what next? You've basically reached your weight loss goal and you've graduated... Also, If you're available to be called tomorrow, you can call in a question for the JM podcasts. The info is on her FB page. Report Inappropriate Comment

Well OK then!!

Friday, June 24, 2011

So yesterday I missed my workout in the morning because of the stupid fish tank. But yesterday evening my family arrived (yay!) and brought "Just Dance" for the Wii with them. My sister and I spent some time dancing like fools around the living room, then I talked her into trying a Jillian Michael's DVD while everyone was running to get subs from Subway for dinner. So a 22 minute kickboxing workout along with all the dancing and I felt MUCH better about my fitness yesterday. Anyhow, while most of my family enjoyed big ice cream flurries from Brusters after their subs, I enjoyed one chocolate chip cookie from Subway and a lot of water (sweat replenishment). And I was perfectly satisfied with it too!! Surprising I know. Now I'll admit I did have one sip of my partner's oreo shake (yum) and one bite of my sister's flurry (also yum), but I didn't NEED more than that. I was very shocked about that to be perfectly honest. But yesterday was not my freebie day. Tomorrow is. So today I will do my best to again be good about what I eat. Right now I'm having a cup of grapes before we go to the hotel to meet them for breakfast. I also know that the breakfast buffet has cereals and fruits, which I plan to consume for my breakfast today. Tomorrow is another story. I have big plans for a giant waffle. :) mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmm good.

Also we went swimming at the hotel last night for maybe a half hour or so. Nothing strenuous, so I didn't count it towards my cardio or anything like that (also didn't count the Just Dance), but it was still exercise and still a fun time.

AND (drumroll please), the scale this morning said 139!!!! Not official, I know. But Wahoooooooo!!!!

Ok. Now I must go get ready to leave. Today is a fun-filled day at the Georgia Aquarium with my family. And I'm totally looking forward to it!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LEGALLYBLONDE81 6/25/2011 9:15AM

Congrats on the 139 and meeting you goal AND, perhaps most importantly, graduation. You've done an amazing job. Your tenacity these last few moths has been inspirational. I kept falling off the wagon and you kept plugging along. And seeing you (and others) plug along is exactly what helps me (and others) get back on track! Hells, you've got me listening to JM podcasts! Congrats again! Report Inappropriate Comment

IAFARMERWIFE 6/24/2011 9:23AM

WOW! You are doing awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

NSMJC1 6/24/2011 8:23AM

YAAHHHHHH!! Congratualations!!! Have a grea weekend!!!! You absolutely deserve it!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LADYRH 6/24/2011 6:58AM

Sounds like a great weekend ahead - Enjoy Report Inappropriate Comment

A roller-coaster day

Thursday, June 23, 2011

So part of this is completely not weight related, and many people will be like - who the hell cares about a fish tank??? But here it goes.

So a few months ago I decided I wanted to consolidate and upgrade the fish that I have. Right now I have 4 tanks running in my house - 3 med-large tanks and one small one. Well, cleaning 4 tanks is a huge pain in the patoot and I really wanted to pare down the cleaning routine while also paring down the "stuff" in my house. So a month or so ago we bought a used 125 gallon fish tank - everything went wrong with this thing so far. And this morning was just the icing on the cake. We FINALLY got it up and running last night, and this morning I woke up to a broken center brace, which means the tank is no longer supported at the top and could (and probably will if I left it full) break open and fill my living room with water. So at 4:45 this morning, rather than do the workout I had scheduled, I find myself draining 125 gallons of water out my back door while moving the fish to a temporary rubbermaid tub in my bathtub, and taking apart everything we put together last night. BAH! And my family is coming to visit this weekend which means it's going to sit there looking all broken for at least a few days while we figure out what to do. I'm tempted to sell it, find homes for the fish, and say the hell with it altogether. I love fish. So peaceful and relaxing to watch them, but this whole stupid tank has been a nightmare basically from the beginning.

On a happier note, I was again 140 this morning. So if I can maintain that til Saturday, I will officially have hit my weight goal! Again! That would be 2 in a row! Yay!

But anyhow, I was mad that the tank broke. I was mad that I missed my workout. I was mad that my dogs missed their walk this morning. And in general had a horrible morning, with the one shining moment (before I walked into the living room to find the tank broken) was the unofficial weigh-in.

The rest of my day hasn't been so terrible. I'm still very back and forth about what to do about that fish tank. But in the meantime, I've decided that for now I'm just going to wait until my family heads home before I decide anything else relating to that. I know a lot of what I'm feeling at the moment is frustration and anxiety and not really based on what will make me happy in the long-run. I've sort of done this before - gotten tired of having to deal with the fish tank maintenance, gave the fish away, got rid of the tanks, and within a couple years I bought a new one because I really enjoy them so much. It's an addiction of sorts maybe? I don't know. All I know right now is that I am ready to throw in the towel and just give them up altogether.

So this has definitely thrown a damper on what should be a wonderful weekend. Hopefully I can shake it off and enjoy the weekend anyhow.

  

A glimmer of hope! And more Jillian advice.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

This morning the scale said 140!!! So I have hope that on Saturday I will still be at my goal weight of 140 for this particular goal! Yay!!

I am also making some adjustments to my eating habits. After doing some reading and listening to Jillian's podcasts in the morning, I'm going to try not exercising on an empty stomach. Supposedly the research shows that exercising on an empty stomach causes your body to feed on lean muscle during your workout, which is somewhat counter-productive.

I started this yesterday by having a very small banana before my workout. Did it again today. I didn't feel sick to my stomach (I was afraid I might), and I felt fine through the workout. I'm also adding an afternoon snack to my day (1 cup of seedless grapes and an x-small banana), so that I am not so famished come dinner-time. I'm going to try to stick to eating a little more often because I still tend to be guilty of piling the bulk of my calories in at dinner. I eat around 200-300 calories for breakfast and 200-300 calories for lunch - sometimes 400, but that leaves me quite a lot of calories to consume at dinner-time. So if I break it up a little more, I won't (hopefully) be so hungry when I get home, and I can eat a smaller dinner so that I'm not trying to digest so much while I'm going to sleep. Seems that is problematic to continued weight-loss or maintenance success. Especially as I get down to a "normal" weight and start to work on "vanity" pounds rather than "overweight" pounds.

I'm feeling very "rambly" today with what I'm trying to write. So I'm giving up for the moment. I'll be back with better organized information later. LOL

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LEGALLYBLONDE81 6/23/2011 10:52AM

WOOOO! So happy for you. That counts. So, I'm now 2 lbs from officially being in a "healthy" BMI, so we can go on the quest for vanity pounds together. YAY vanity. Report Inappropriate Comment

DONNAGOWAN 6/22/2011 1:05PM

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