Anyone else trying to lose weight?

[magickmaker17]

I think I might have to start taking an iron pill.....that blows, I hate pills.

[aliantha]

Or -- hey! -- eat more protein!

[magickmaker17]

in MOODY!?!? you have got to be kidding me! I'd have to start eating red meat again to get enough iron in the dining hall. no thank you, that's gross!

[MsMary]

I beg to differ -- a cup of raw sugar snap peas is more filling, to me, than a cup of potato chips. Plus it's more fiber and *way* fewer calories. And white flour metabolizes about as fast as sugar does.

Not more filling than my favorite wheat crackers, a handful of nuts, or my favorite individually wrapped string cheese. The string cheese is a pretty good choice, as fat content goes, but it's not lowfat. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to find lowfat cheese options that are kosher.

You're probably right, tho, that you're not getting enough protein. That will stay with you longer than just about anything else. I've also been guilty of not eating enough protein, or relying on regular (not lowfat) cheese as a protein source. I'm trying to learn to think of cheese as a condiment, kinda.

Protein does stay with you a long time. I found that out when I started replacing some meals with high protein South Beach Living meal bars. They really stay with me a long time, for a diet food.
I've used cheese in dishes sparingly for a long time (except, as noted above, when I have a string cheese stick as a snack).

[MsMary]

in MOODY!?!? you have got to be kidding me! I'd have to start eating red meat again to get enough iron in the dining hall. no thank you, that's gross!

Meat and nonmeat sources of iron.. Also, note that iron is better absorbed when taken with vitamin C or vitamin C containing foods. And you can add iron to your diet by cooking your non-red meat food choices in a cast iron pan.

[Brother Charn]

One way to get more protein without adding too many cals is to find a protein powder. These can often be mixed into other foods without damaging their taste too much. Trader Joe's makes a soy protein powder. My wife uses these to spike her MadMuffins, along with BeneFiber. One regular sized MadMuffin - spiked with fiber and protein - is usually enough to carry us for a few hours.

dw

[magickmaker17]

Bread, white 2 slices 1.4
Bread, whole wheat 2 slices 1.7

hmmm....perhaps that explains the reason I eat so much bread....

[MsMary]

So, I don't think that eating according to hunger from a list of allowed foods is going to work for me.

I am back to counting calories.

[aliantha]

Ah well, it was worth a try.... It *is* hard to do. Basically you have to suck it up and cut all snack foods from your diet, and train yourself to snack on zero-point veggies. Then you get the volume of food to fill your stomach without the calories. The good news is that once you've done that, fatty foods make you queasy and high-sugar foods actually *burn*, so you don't want 'em any more. But it's baby steps to get there, that's for sure.

Still hanging in there. The next 5-lb. mark is within shouting distance; hoping to get there this week. With the next 5 lbs. lost after that, I'll be down 45 lbs. -- halfway to my goal. I'll have to think of a suitable reward for the halfway mark.

[AjK]

With the next 5 lbs. lost after that, I'll be down 45 lbs. -- halfway to my goal. I'll have to think of a suitable reward for the halfway mark.

[aliantha]

Well, don't start cheering yet. If people keep shoving free cookies at me, it could take another couple of weeks. We'll know for sure on Friday....

But seriously: thanks!

[MsMary]

Ah well, it was worth a try.... It *is* hard to do. Basically you have to suck it up and cut all snack foods from your diet, and train yourself to snack on zero-point veggies. Then you get the volume of food to fill your stomach without the calories. The good news is that once you've done that, fatty foods make you queasy and high-sugar foods actually *burn*, so you don't want 'em any more. But it's baby steps to get there, that's for sure.

It probably works better if you have meat in your diet.

When all your protein is from bean and dairy products and you have to limit carbs, it's really hard to feel full snacking on veggies. I ended up feeling far too hungry all the time and an overload of veggies just wasn't satisfying.

I actually eat very little fat and sugar overall, so that's not even an issue for me.

In fact, I tend to eat too little fat, according to the nutritional goals set by Sparkpeople (after I entered my current weight and height and my weight loss goal).

[aliantha]

Are you vegetarian then, MsMary? Sorry if I missed that before, or knew and forgot; brain like a sieve, etc....

I do find that I have to have at least one animal-type protein every day, but chicken/poultry/fish/seafood work well for me. I've pretty much given up red meat (Magickmaker's fault).

[magickmaker17]

I've pretty much given up red meat (Magickmaker's fault).

[MsMary]

Are you vegetarian then, MsMary? Sorry if I missed that before, or knew and forgot; brain like a sieve, etc....

I do find that I have to have at least one animal-type protein every day, but chicken/poultry/fish/seafood work well for me. I've pretty much given up red meat (Magickmaker's fault).

I'm not a vegetarian, but we eat very little meat. We generally have chicken once a week and that is all. The rest of our meals are vegetarian. Foamy has given up meat altogether.

[Brother Charn]

One way to get more protein without adding too many cals is to find a protein powder. These can often be mixed into other foods without damaging their taste too much. Trader Joe's makes a soy protein powder. My wife uses these to spike her MadMuffins, along with BeneFiber. One regular sized MadMuffin - spiked with fiber and protein - is usually enough to carry us for a few hours.
dw

Nuts can also add protein, but have to watch the calories.
I suggest you make a fruit/yogurt smoothie for breakfast or snack, and spike it with soy protein powder.
I find that keeping roughly to a 40/30/30 split of Carbs/Protein/Fat gives me the protein I need, no matter what calorie limit I have set for myself. Keeping to that ratio without meat - that's a challenge! Just look at the word itself. Protein. 'Pro' from the latin root meaning progress, and 'tein', which I believe is Greek for "tasty creature flesh."

Of course, I have ramped up my jogging now to between 3 & 4 miles, 4 to 6 times a week... which when combined with alternating upper/lower weight sets 4 to 6 times a week and a calorie restricted diet... I am blasting away 1-2 pounds a week and building muscle. This is the most focused I have ever been. Sorry if it sounds like I'm boasting - I have been a computer geek / band nerd / engineer / pasty-pudgy guy my whole life - so I'm just not sure how I sound to others while the whole way I perceive myself keeps shifting... I know I'm still just me, but I feel more alive - like I "own" my body better... it is a strange feeling.

dw

[Wyldewode]

I've been eating healthy stir-fries for lunch, but finding that I am ravenous about an hour later. I put chix in it for protein--2 oz of it per serving (with about a cup of veggies and 1/2 cup brown rice). It's driving me crazy to be so hungry now, when last week I had to remind myself to eat. Ugh!

I'm going to have to figure out something. . . maybe more protein?

[Cameraman Jenn]

If you allow dairy in your diet I find that a few small slices of sharp cheddar and an apple will hook me up for hours. Plus making a point of eating slow is a big huge factor. Eat slow until you feel full and don't overstuff really seriously helps.

[MsMary]

Yeah, some judiciously used fat and protein can help. I had a handful of pecans today, and still stayed within my calorie count. Sometimes I will have a piece of cheese, but I don't want to overdo that cause of the cholesterol.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Different cheeses have different cholesteral. Sharp cheddar is quite low as far as I know.