STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

You have to find the thing that works for you. I'm essentially on a South Beach like diet. I focus on protein and veggies and good fats. I try to avoid refined sugars, bad fats, and a lot of carbs. I still eat carbs but I limit them and only eat them at the end of meals.

Here's what a typical day looks like for me:

Breakfast - 2 eggs, 1 slice 40 calorie toast, 1 slice 2% cheese / 1 cup special K protein, 1/2 cup skim milk

Snack - 100 - 120 calorie protein snack (i.e. protein shake, almonds, cheese)

Lunch - salad with a tiny bit of fruit and red. fat feta cheese + some kind of protein (usually flavored tuna since I don't like meat that much)

Snack - 150ish calorie high-protein snack (i.e. protein bar, nuts, cheese, etc.)

Dinner - steamed veggies + soy meat product or chicken or fish or regular meat + a sauce that's low in sugar (I tend towards asian foods but you could do something else)

Snack - sugar free pudding with ff cool whip or a protein shake (I make excellent ones that taste like a chocolate shake)

I try to stay around 1200 to 1400 calories a day, sometimes a little more if I have a big gym session.

I am currently doing a sort of Atkins - no bread, no rice, no potatoes, very little dairy, no sugar (all my fave things)

blubirdie, your diet sounds really healthy and liveable. After losing about 10 lbs I'd like to transition to something like what you're doing. Is this a sort of modified plan, or did you read the South Beach books? I read 1 and found that it didn't give me much guidance.

Me. I've been losing and regaining the same 10 pounds since my daugther was born over two years ago. It's getting old. Snacking is a huge problem for me because it's been slow at work and I am totally unfullfilled so I tend to eat out of boredom. I started a food diary on Monday and have been writing down everything I eat, and at what time, and noting how hungry I actually was, and I think it's going to help. Seeing it on paper kind of puts it into perspective. I've also been more consistent with my exercise, so hopefully I can lose it and keep it off this time. I want to lose 15 pounds by the end of August.

Me, too.  I'm trying to think of it less as a diet and more of just trying to live a healthier lifestyle though.

We eat really healthfully, so my problem lies with snacking and overindulgence.  I go just far enough with these things to keep me about 10 lbs over where I'd ideally like to be.  I've been using Sparkpeople online to track what I eat (I really like it - it has every food you can think of pre-programmed in there!).  It automatically tracks your calories (<1500 for me), protein, fat, and carbs, and then I also have it track my intake of calcium, fiber, and iron.  It's kind of fun to see how close I get to my ideal range for all of those items, which makes eating what you need instead of just what you want a little more doable.  I found through tracking that I do a little too well cutting the fat out of my diet, and tend to go too high in sugar/carbs even when I think I'm being 'good'.  That's been one of my hardest adjustments actually!

Instead of restricting calories and working out like crazy to get down 10 lbs and then trying to adjust so I can maintain, I went straight for the maintenance program essentially.  The weight is coming off slower (3 lbs down in 6 wks) but I've felt healthy the whole way through and have avoided any major blood sugar crashes too .

We try to eat a plant-based diet since I cook mostly vegetarian at home.  Lots of veggies, protein from beans and grains, more good fats, not too much sugar.  Sounds like rabbit food when I say it like that, but even my husband has no complaints! 

D: You will probably need to get it either from a health store or from a place that has a very good tea selection - they also sell it at most Origins, which is how I found out about it. 
The brand Origins sells is one of the best quality on the market, and the quality of tea makes a big difference in the benefit - they sell Muzi brand tea which is also available online here: www.muzitea.com
Yes, it is kindof expensive, but it lasts awhile -
Anyway, matcha is a powdered tea, and I tried buying it without the bamboo whisk that is used to make it traditionally in Japan - it just wasn't the same.  Buy the whisk for sure.  You whisk the tea into a small amount of hot water and then add liquid to taste - either more water, or I like to add vanilla soymilk.  It makes it a gorgeous creamy green color, and sweetens it juuuuust enough.
You can also add matcha like if you make smoothies in the morning or something like that.


D wrote:

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I am! I lost 20 lbs, but due to my recent work/life stress I participated in some emotional eating and put 5 back on. I'm trying to get back on track and keep the loosing streak going.

hermione - I am definitely going to buy that matcha tea - a better thing to put in my mouth when I want to snack. Do I have to go to a health store to get it?

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I have been on Weight Watchers since January and lost a lot now I am trying to maintain! I love Weight Watchers, it taught me how to eat again (I used to eat a LOT of really really bad stuff)! I recommend it!