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Posts: 11
11/20/09 11:14 A

I think that college cafeterias are created to betray dieters and encourage the freshman 15+. Sure, they offer a salad bar...but who's going after that salad bar when there's a enormous dessert bar right next to it? Don't deprive yourself...you don't have to miss out on the food you love, just change the way you eat it. Like many people have said here, find healthier alternatives. If you can't find healthier alternatives, go ahead and get those chicken fingers, but don't eat a whole order of them. Just eat one to satisfy the craving. If you're grocery shopping, make sure you do it when you're feeling most ambitious. I like to go after I've done a great workout. That way I don't end up buying a bunch of junk because I don't want to ruin my work! You've just gotta be strong, girlfriend.

Posts: 18
11/16/09 11:13 A

Try going for small periods of time without eating out or only eating at certain places too. For example, there isn't a cafeteria at my college anymore. It was replaced by taco bell and pizza hut. However, they did put a subway in another building. So I do not eat out throughout the week unless it is subway and I limit myself to the 6 grams of fat or any chicken choice. This way I never even see the taco bell or pizza hut and I get my bread fix. Also, try having someone else order for you. If I have my friend order for me, I don't get tempted by the cookies when I eat a really late lunch. Having a friend around everytime I eat out helps too.
For the most part, I make my food at home, even the stuff I eat on the go. Most of the time I can make extra and freeze it for later.
I have to agree with most of the other posts about eating what you want, just in moderation and in a healthier version. Most of the time, homemade stuff is much healthier.
One problem I run into is wanting to eat before the food is done. To get in extra veggies, I started putting out carrots, grapes, celery, or apple slices on the table. This worked out great for my husband too who doesn't like to eat veggies very often. Generally we play cards while dinner cooks and when he sees me eat those veggies, he will too (great feeling!). I also found out that the jarred lays ranch dip is only 60 calories for 2 tbsp. When you put that on a small plate with carrots it looks like a lot, but not very many cals.
Hope some of this info helps!

Posts: 218
11/10/09 12:55 P

I'm bad for grazing too. I've found that if I keep a lot of healthy alternatives on hand that are no brainers I do better. I keep 100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn in my cupboard, I always have apples, pickles and low calorie crackers around. I can't find low fat cheese, but I always keep a few types of cheese around, but limit myself to 1 oz servings. When I feel like munching I get a plate or bowl and put 1 serving of something into it, it's tedious, but it definitely helps. If I'm feeling really snacky I'll get a plate and cut up an apple, put some different pickles on there, cut up a little cheese and put some crackers or tortilla chips and a little bit of salsa there too. The plate is usually filled with food, but for not very many calories. I also do things like steam veggies if I feel like a snack, but I really like veggies, so that's kind of a treat for me.
I also healthify a lot of my favourite foods, instead of fried chicken, I bread and bake it, instead of fries, I make sweet potato oven fries, when I make nachos I load them with fresh veggies, I use ground turkey instead of beef for most recipes. I also choose non-fat or low fat dairy when I can find it. Simple things like that can go a really long way.

Posts: 34
11/9/09 10:16 P

katie, i would suggest trying to take away the temptation. Make your friend a cupcake flavor that you don't like (hard to do, I know). If you are truely craving something, put what you're craving in a bowl (if its chips) or on a plate (if its a piece of cake). The important thing to know is how much you're eating. I think that what you should have done after eating the three cupcakes is still had a real lunch. I always try to get in my veggies and fruits, and your day didn't seem to have any. Your dedication to working out is great! You can do it!!!

Posts: 142
11/9/09 9:40 P

The brownies are actually from a mix. Here's the link: http://www.nopudge.com/

You just add 6oz of plain or vanilla or whatever flavor nonfat yogurt you want. I've also added walnuts before.

They come out super moist.

current weight: 194.0

217 202.75 188.5 174.25

160

Posts: 61
11/9/09 5:13 P

There's something really nifty that you could do for the chicken tenders, and you can make them yourself if you don't want to skip out on the real chicken.

Preheat your oven to 325, and get a pan ready by putting foil over it for a quick clean up, and then a wire rack that will sit in it, make sure it's up off of the pan though, that way any juices that cook out won't stay on your chicken.

Cut up the chicken into small tender-sized pieces, get some skim milk and season it with black pepper and pretty much whatever else you want to throw in. Go light on the salt though, you really won't need it.

Corn meal is the alternative that you'll be using for flour, corn meal and some more seasonings. Go for some hearty seasonings like chili pepper and a good garlic powder (not salt) or cumin for the dredge portion.

Dunk your chicken in the milk, then the dredge, set it on top of the wire rack, then spritz your chicken tenders with some butter substitute.

They'll need to go in the oven for about 15 minutes, check them, flip them, spritz the other side,and in they'll go for another 15.

These are soooooo good, and a much better alternative to the fried chicken tenders.

You can make a light dip for them too with a light mayo and either ketchup or bbq sauce. I'd go with a sweeter sauce, mix it with the mayo, about a 1/3 of a cup of light mayo, 1/5 of a cup of bbq, mix them together, add in some allspice lemon and nutmeg, and you're set. You'll have extra, so just jar it and stick it in the fridge.

^-^

Posts: 1
11/8/09 3:05 P

Can you share that low-fat brownie recipe? I love to bake and I would love to build up a good list of less-unhealthy options! I've actually noticed that the more I bake, the less I want to *eat* the things I bake - I still eat them, but certainly a lot less often & smaller portions than I would if I say, just bought something at the grocery store to satisfy a craving.

Posts: 142
11/5/09 8:26 A

It's not about depriving yourself. My advice would be, if you like chicken tenders have them, but just choose a healthier version of those. Say Morning Star Chik'n Strips with low fat dressing so you don't feel like you're depriving yourself. And honestly, a serving of those could be the same equivalent of the granola bar, yogurt and coffee.
As for sweet I cook a batch of sweet things all the time. I cook fat free brownies and cut them up to individual serving sizes, so I don't even have to think about it. I also keep sugar free candies on me all the time, just in case I get an urge.

Why not cook your friends lowfat/low calorie foods when you want to celebrate? I made those fat free brownies for a sporting event which had a bunch of guys and girls coming over my house. Everyone was raving about the brownies, then they all went crazy when I told them they were fat free and 100 calories per serving. They had no idea because they were so delicious.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you're craving something...have it but choose a healthier version of it. Say you want a cheeseburger, got for it. Just leave out the bun, and mayo. If you want to get even more out of it, see if you can find a turkey or boca burger. I know BurgerKing offers boca burgers. It's not about depriving yourself, because if you do, eventually you're going to snap and eat everything in site.

Good luck!

current weight: 194.0

217 202.75 188.5 174.25

160

Posts: 10
11/3/09 11:38 P

SOOO I would be doing well if I wasn't constantly faced with so many delicious treats. I work out each morning and burn 700 calories but then eat 2,000 calories or 3,000 calories a day..... Today i had 2 eggs and 1 piece of whole wheat toast and 1 baby bel cheese. THis isn't wonderful but this was a great start for me, then I remembered i had made my friends cupcakes to congradulate her...and ate 3....I later on in the day wanted to make up for this and was really smart. I had a cup of yogurt and a granola bar with cofee for lunch. was feeling full and then smelled chicken tenders and got chicken tenders with bbq sauce and honey mustard and ranch. I just don't know hwo to say no. I am extremely impulsive and when I want something I just have it. With soo many temptations around me how can I say no? PLEASE HELP ME!! I am EXTREMELY dedicated to working out (5-6 days a week in the morning) with 500-700 calories a session. I just cannot seem to get my eating down at all.

Katie