Hi! All:
Yesterday was a zoo! Ended up with a visit to the dermatologist and having a couple of suspicious spots whacked off. They weren't very big, so not much weight loss.
In fact, I'm on a bit of a plateau at 53 lbs. lost ... but who's griping! I know that I'm doing everything right...I just call it the 'settle in' period. Now and then my body says, "Whoa!" to the reins on this one and brings me back to reality.
I'm so glad a couple more posters have found us. We want to be as supportive as possible. My "WW group" here at work weighed in this morning and both lost weight. I spent time on the phone yesterday with a friend that was going to Costco telling her all the things I buy there. I should have probably had Costco in the name of the diet. My wife picks up some of the minor purchases at WalMart, but I do the major shopping at Costco.
Here's some of what I buy and how I use it for what it's worth.
First, one of our Oncologists gave a lecture last year or the year before and said, 'Berries every day.' So, even though they are expensive, I buy Blueberries and Blackberries. I count out a Baker's Dozen of Blackberries to eat with my Egg Starts in the morning. I try to eat four egg whites, which is about half a carton. Then I measure out about a half a cup of Blueberries to add to my oatmeal. I make my oatmeal in the microwave with just water, because I do it at work. Then I add some ground flax seed, about a tablespoon+. Can't remember how much I should have so erred on the high side. I pick the flax seed up at a market called Henry's, which is an upscale place that has lots of good organic foods.
I also put Konsul bran in my cereal to give it some bulk. Since I only use less than a half a cup of oatmeal, the Konsul fiber fills it out and expands it in my tummy. It promotes regularity and is good for pregnant women or anyone really. A new gal here at work in the first months of pregnancy took some and came back a couple of days later praising it to high heaven for helping her.
That's breakfast every day. I tell my co-workers that us boys just want something that works, and when we find it, there's no reason to change it. If there are no fresh berries, I get the dried ones at Costco, Stoneridge Orchards "Berrymix," was the latest acquisition.
Second, I eat a protein/carbo snack/meal a couple of hours after breakfast. Usually it is just a small handfull of Almonds and a few of those dried berries.
Third, is lunch. I get the mixed salad in a square plastic container at Costco. To that I add a half a red/colored Bell Pepper, a third of one of their long Zucchinis, some baby carrots, not too many because when you're eating a meal every two or three hours all day, they stick with you awhile, some of the Sweet Peas in the pod, cut up, a Roma Tomato, and an Apple, peeled and cut up. To this I add Salmon some days and other days, thanx! to a tip from this Forum, I've been having a cup of Cottage Cheese, which I've heard is the best protein around.
This is a BIG salad, so it lasts me through until supper, but if I get a little hungry I just grab another handful of Almonds and drink some extra water.
Supper my wife fixes and she has been doing a wonderful job. Sometimes we have fish, and sometimes chicken, rarely red meat, but once in awhile we'll have a hamburger patty. To that she adds one or two kinds of squach, steamed broccoli, a potato, spinach, Swiss Chard, peas, you know, whatever carbs and veggies are available. We end up with a palm-sized portion of protein for muscle building and a couple of carbs for energy.
Interesting thing I learned from WW is that there are so many points (calories) in even Skim milk. I used to drink 2-3 glasses of milk at supper time because I'm usually thirsty. I was ending up with 200 calories just in milk! Whoa! rein this one in, please. So now I just pour a half a glass, about a cup of Skim milk, and then after supper I get a nice cold jug of water out of the fridge and sip on that if I get thirsty.
Now, I should have another protein/carb snack later, but what I've been doing is munching on pretzels...since I sweat so much exercising twice a day, I reason I need the salt. Don't know whether I do, but if you need an excuse to do something, any old excuse will do. I could say my ax wasn't sharp and that would do.
So, what this is mostly is Body For Life kind of stuff, with points and calories thrown in for good measure from WW.
Hope ya'll have a wonderful day!
Bobby
