SparkPoints: (15,763)
Fitness Minutes: (49,334)
Posts: 6
5/13/12 6:27 A

Great insight. As a registered dietitian I do not believe there is good food/bad food but only good choices and better choices. If you use the 95-98% rule and make the better choices 95-98% of the time the remaining % is used for the good choices. Remember losing weight IS JUST A MATH EQUATION: calories in vs. calories out. You take in more than needed-we gain weight, less than needed we lose.
You can do it!

Posts: 553
5/6/12 1:23 A

I've struggled with my weight for a long time. I went back to school and it took up all my free time so I've gained much of it back due to not having time to exercise.

But before starting school, I noticed that when I worked out 5 days a week (30+ minutes of cardio each day with 3 days of strength training), I lost weight without having to watch what I ate as much. Losing weight was really hard for me. Anyway I'll get to the point now....

Focus on adding healthy foods to your diet rather than taking things out of your diet. Next, try eating bigger portions of healthy foods and smaller portions of the bad foods. Then finally get to the point where you have to eat a healthy food before you eat a bad one. For example: I would tell myself, "in order to eat this piece of candy, I have to eat some broccoli first."

This isn't the best diet in the world, but it's a start.

Posts: 277
5/5/12 8:55 A

Try eating more protein so you feel fuller.

Posts: 2
5/1/12 1:45 P

Thanks so much for all the advice! I really appreciate it and am excited to get started!

SparkPoints: (12,275)
Fitness Minutes: (9,144)
Posts: 163
5/1/12 10:49 A

I follow a 1000-1200 calorie plan mainly. I started by writing out all the meals I would normally eat, such as Roast chicken with roast potatoes stuffing and vegtables. I have cut the calories by roasting the chicken on a grill rack in the oven, when cooked discard the skin. Par boil the potatoes and parsnips, lay on baking tray that I have sprayed with one cal frylight, then spray over top of potatoes and parsnips , because I like the taste of stuffing, but not the cals, I sprinkle a little dry stuffing over the veg, and bake on high gas 9 for 40 mins I do check to make sure they don't burn. The rest of the veg Isteam for 12-15 mins. Hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration. Maureen

SparkPoints: (118,859)
Fitness Minutes: (110,526)
Posts: 19,530
5/1/12 10:44 A

Have you tried using the Spark-generated meal plans in the Nutrition Tracker? Even if you don't follow them exactly, they can be good for giving you ideas of what to eat. Just a thought.

7 Days since:  Exercise Before 3PM

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Posts: 2
5/1/12 10:38 A

Help! I really don't have a problem sticking to a workout plan, it is a diet plan I have trouble with. Just tracking what I eat doesn't motivate me enough. Does anyone have a daily meal plan I can use as a guideline?
Thanks so much!!