Daily Health Challenge (Spark, WW, everyone!)

[NYJen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chprfan I have a question for you ladies, i have finally gotten back into the routine of going to the gym (step 1), now i need to really focus on the diet (step 2) haha. So what you guys eat for breakfast & lunch....its really hard for me to eat before i go to work, but i know it is important. Also I rarely leave for lunch so need some good ideas for lunches!! Thanks!!

Oh, I love this question. Now, I'm no expert but this seems to work for me.

First thing you do (before even brushing your teeth) is to drink some water. You don't need a whole 8 ounces or anything, but some water. Gets your body started for the day.

Then I start out in the morning with a piece of fruit (usually a banana, but grapfruit would be better.) And then wait 30 minutes before eating anything else. Fruit breaks down pretty quickly and gets the metabolism going.

Then for breakfast I usually have 3 hard boiled egg whites with a packet of oatmeal (made with water and nooked in the microwave.) That will usually hold me until my first snack (mid-morning) when I have a yogurt. I've been eating the Dannon Activia low-fat strawberry. Love it!!!

For lunch, I usually have a veggie burger on a wheat english muffin or a Lean Cusinie Panini. Sometime I go to Subway and get a veggie sandwich on a 6 inch wheat hero. They have really good Light potato chips too.

Then two more snacks (mid-afternoon) - first a 100 calorie pack of something (chips a'hoy, pringles, hostess cakes, etc.) The second afternoon snack is either veggies or fruit (cucumbers, celery, carrots or grapes.)

Dinner is usually the same as lunch. However these days I've been finishing up my Nurtisystem meals. Once those are gone, I'll probably switch to a light chicken with veggie dinner.

Also, I have two cups of green tea a day. Usually with my snacks. It's been linked to helping with weight loss as well as curing some cancers. Plus, it makes you pee a lot. (LOL!!!)

And that's it. Also, the key for me is that I eat all my meals at work (between 8:30AM and 5:30PM.) No more food after 5:30PM. I know for some people, they'll be starving by morning, but I think my body is used to it now.

Good luck!!!

[NYJen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chprfan I have a question for you ladies, i have finally gotten back into the routine of going to the gym (step 1), now i need to really focus on the diet (step 2) haha. So what you guys eat for breakfast & lunch....its really hard for me to eat before i go to work, but i know it is important. Also I rarely leave for lunch so need some good ideas for lunches!! Thanks!!

Oh, I love this question. Now, I'm no expert but this seems to work for me.

First thing you do (before even brushing your teet) is to drink some water. You don't need a whole 8 ounces or anything, but some water. Gets your body started for the day.

Then I start out in the morning with a piece of fruit (usually a banana, but grapfruit would be better.) And then wait 30 minutes before eating anything else. Fruit breaks down pretty quickly and gets the metabolism going.

Then for breakfast I usually have 3 hard boiled egg whites with a packet of oatmeal (made with water and nooked in the microwave.) That will usually hold me until my first snack (mid-morning) when I have a yogurt. I've been eating the Dannon Activia low-fat strawberry. Love it!!!

For lunch, I usually have a veggie burger on a wheat english muffin or a Lean Cusinie Panini. Sometime I go to Subway and get a veggie sandwich on a 6 inch wheat hero. They have really good Light potato chips too.

Then two more snacks (mid-afternoon) - first a 100 calorie pack of something (chips a'hoy, pringles, hostess cakes, etc.) The second afternoon snack is either veggies or fruit (cucumbers, celery, carrots or grapes.)

Dinner is usually the same as lunch. However these days I've been finishing up my Nurtisystem meals. Once those are gone, I'll probably switch to a light chicken with veggie dinner.

Also, I have two cups of green tea a day. Usually with my snacks. It's been linked to helping with weight loss as well as curing some cancers. Plus, it makes you pee a lot. (LOL!!!)

And that's it. Also, the key for me is that I eat all my meals at work (between 8:30AM and 5:30PM.) No more food after 5:30PM. I know for some people, they'll be starving by morning, but I think my body is used to it now.

Good luck!!!

[JessicaM]

Thanks Jen....I need to go to the store and stock up on some "good" food now. I dont know about breakfast since I am always running out the door but I will try the rest of what you suggested. I heard good things about Green Tea so I will have to pick some up and try it along with LOTS of water!!

[NYJen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chprfan Thanks Jen....I need to go to the store and stock up on some "good" food now. I dont know about breakfast since I am always running out the door but I will try the rest of what you suggested. I heard good things about Green Tea so I will have to pick some up and try it along with LOTS of water!!

One other tip - I hard boil all my eggs for the week on Sunday night. This way I don't have to think about it in the mornings. Also, the South Beach diet breakfast wraps are GREAT!!!! Love the Denver style one. YUM!!!

[NYJen]

Oh, and Jessica - you really should try to eat breakfast. It slows down your metabolism when you miss meals. Plus, your heaviest meals should be earlier in the day. So you have all day to burn off those calories.

 

Maybe invest in cereal bars or something you can heat up quickly in the microwave.

[JessicaM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYJen Oh, and Jessica - you really should try to eat breakfast. It slows down your metabolism when you miss meals. Plus, your heaviest meals should be earlier in the day. So you have all day to burn off those calories. Maybe invest in cereal bars or something you can heat up quickly in the microwave.

That is a great idea Jen!! I will have to do the hardboiled egg thing as well, so I dont have an excuse not to eat something!! Thanks again for the great ideas!!

[NYJen]

I also forgot to mention why I eat the egg whites with oatmeal. It gives you lots of fiber and protein first thing in the morning. It's a great way to get your body going.

 

So this morning I weighed myself again and my total weight loss now is 11 pounds. (That means I lost only 3 pounds this month - not good.) I'm going to need to kick it up a bit in December. I may cancel my upcoming dinner plans so I can stay on track. I need to do this for me - it's crunch time and I'm serious about losing this weight.

 

How did everyone else do this month?

[Jenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chprfan I have a question for you ladies, i have finally gotten back into the routine of going to the gym (step 1), i need to really focus on the diet (step 2) haha. So what you guys eat for breakfast & lunch....its really hard for me to eat before i go to work, but i know it is important. Also I rarely leave for lunch so need some good ideas for lunches!! Thanks!!

I have a sort of different meal strategy... I usually eat 2/3C plain yogurt or Cottage Cheese with 1/3C low fat granola and 2/3C berries (I buy the frozen ones now that the weather is getting cold). I put the berries and yogurt together the night before and then put the granola on in the AM. I can eat at my desk at work, so if its made the night before, all I have to do is grab it. Whole kit and kaboodle is about 300 calories. Sometimes if I don't have what I need, I'll do the hard boiled egg white thing, or even just grab 2 south beach granola bars - 10g of protein each!

Then I have a South Beach or Lean Cuisine for lunch... sometimes a granola bar or piece of fruit for a snack, and I save about 500-600 calories for dinner - which is usually a lean protein and a lot of veggies/salad. I don't really have bread or pasta or carbs with dinner though. I will use starchy veggies though... squash is great roasted and really satisfying!

[JessicaM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopels I have a sort of different meal strategy... I usually eat 2/3C plain yogurt or Cottage Cheese with 1/3C low fat granola and 2/3C berries (I buy the frozen ones now that the weather is getting cold). I put the berries and yogurt together the night before and then put the granola on in the AM. I can eat at my desk at work, so if its made the night before, all I have to do is grab it. Whole kit and kaboodle is about 300 calories. Sometimes if I don't have what I need, I'll do the hard boiled egg white thing, or even just grab 2 south beach granola bars - 10g of protein each!

I love this idea for breakfast...thanks for the tip!! Next week I plan on starting my strict diet along with the workouts!!

[-Kate-]

My breakfasts are the same as you two!

I get the Quaker Oats Low Sugar oatmeal packets and make them with water. I also sprinkle flax on top to get in some Omega 3s. I always have some sort of tea also.

Another breakfast is the same yogurt/granola/fruit combo. Just be careful when you pick out granola - there are a lot of calories and picking the right kind can lower per serving calories from like 250 to 150. Big difference.

Final breakfast when I stop at starbucks - the lowfat cheese/egg white/turkey bacon sandwich. Only 2 WW points and it's nice and hearty and warm.