(Sorry if I got this in the wrong Area!).

My first attempts at weight loss,were calorie counting. I figured, Hey, I can eat 1200 calories a day, lose weight that way. That failed completely.

My next attempt, more recently was to give myself 1400 calories a day and again I failed. I found that the more my focus was on staying under X amount of calories a day , the more I would eat. I would get to my calorie limits, but I'd feel like I was starving,and would end up binging that night.

I stopped calorie counting,and went back to eating like I had been previously,and found that food was not as much of a priority,and that I was eating for less in terms of actual food.

My question is, what kind of foods are good to keep someone satisfied and healthy. Please keep in mind I have to ask my mother to buy my health food for me (because I'm a teenager without an income ), so nothing TOO expensive. I'd just like some input from what really worked best for people to keep them satisfied.

I have no alleriges that I know of,and I'm not too picky about foods I eat. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Whatever vegetables you like, canned or frozen. Canned is cheap, frozen is not. But frozen is better. And for protein, boneless skinless chicken breasts, and any and all kinds of fish. Then just spruce it up any which way you want with low fat condiments/marinades/dressings. I've been doing it for like 8 months now, it doesn't get old.

okay,

From personal experience and by the sounds of it, you're going into this too fast which is why nothing is working out. I had the same problem (of sorts) and its taken me nearly 4 months to 'detangle' my self (so-to-speak) of the quick fix additude. Firstly I would just scrap the calorie counting at this stage. Just learn to eat healthy foods. You would be suprised at how full you get by eating healthy foods not only because they fill you up for longer but you also don't have a tendancy to pig out on a salad wrap (however delicious they are!) then you do with ice-cream.

Secondly, you have to teach yourself portion control and eating times throughout the day. Naturally the former of the two you develope yourself just by eating healthy and feeling fuller for longer because of it.

And then the last of your worries (even though it is the science behind it all) is the calorie counting. Healthy food is low in calories! Unless you're going to be making avocado smoothies (which I'm pretty sure you won't be) or eating nuts all day you'll be fine and save yourself the headache of it all. Not to say that it is a bad thing. People do lose alot of weight with strict calorie control, personally I just don't think that it is realistic for me and many other people to constantly be thinking/stressing about it. So now that I'm not a human calculator anymore, I find that I eat way less and deffinently healthier.
As far as I can explain it I was so intent on just eating the right amount of calories that I was missing the bigger issue here - healthier food. I guess the only good thing that came out of it is that I am now so used to counting up calories in my head that I naturally do it, so I have an general understanding of how much or how little calories I am consuming each day.

As to what keeps you full... Protein is good. If you're having problems with learning about portion size then things such as (rye) bread wraps with heaps of salad stuff (lettuce!tomato!sprouts!) and your favourite sauces are good because they are very low in calories (200 calories and way less) but look and are 'big' enough that you'll be satisfied eating them throughout the day (in place of 'snack time'). Mashed bananas' on corn thins are also excellent.

Hello and welcome and goodluck to ya.I count calories and usually
keep mine right around 1200 after a while you get used to how much
of a certain food to eat and how much. I like to snack on special K
bars or I will buy a bag of frozen chicken breast (usually 6 piecies)for
$5.99-6.99 I fixe a few at a time and have 1 for the next day and 1 for
snack.Apples and peanutbutter will last a while and not to exspecive.
Microwaveable lowfat popcorn, a bowl of cereal w/skim milk.All of
these I listed last ya for a while and not to exspencive.Hope it helps ya!
Tammy

I prefer fresh over most things. I have a friend who was telling me she'd cut up peppers,and keep them in baggies. She'd take them out when she needed snacks. I think I do tend to go after the snacks more than I do meal food and I do like the food that gives me the instant gratification.

I've been trying to slowly add fruit to my diet more. I will eat fruit more often when there's nothing else to snack on. My mom keeps a lot of snack foods because she uses them for studying. I think I may have to just start creating new habbits, yes.

I am a later night eater as well, which I am going to try and replace with water. When I binge on water, it makes me extremely full,without the desire to eat as much, the only thing however is, I don't think making yourself ridiculously full is a good thing either, even if it has no calories. However, my thoughts are if I drink more water through the day,that I may be able to balance out my hunger anyways.

But I have read whatever everyone has said, I am going to try and make structured eating times, with healthier foods included in my diet. I do eat a lot of bread, generally whole grain breads, but with the new variety I hope to come into my life, I hope to only get reasonable amounts of it

Now because I won't be able to go shopping with my Mom Friday, I would like some help making a grocery list please, essential fruits, vegetables, etc.

Keep in mind Winter fruits,and vegetables are in season for us now.

Currently I have on my list

Clementines They are easy to peel baby oranges, that are very tasty, and healthy, and just over all are a pleasure to eat, and easy to prepare in time to save me from food temptations.

oh,and again, thank you for the help guys

I personaly love seedless grapes. I almost ALWAYS have them sitting on the counter. I pick at them all the time.

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE fuji apples. They are sweet and so yummy.

I but bags of frozen veggies and cook up (boil) the whole bag and what I don't eat I put in the fridge and warm up the following day. You can get the plain or mixed bags.... or mix your own blend, which is what I do.

I mix fat free/low fat refried beans, salsa and a little splenda together for a fairly good dip. I buy baked tortilla chips to eat it with.

Healthy Choice soups are pretty low in calories and don't taste too bad either.

You can buy a head of cauliflower and clean and cut it up... boil it until done. Then, smash it really well... add spices (garlic, onion powder, chives, salt, pepper, ect). It's actually pretty good. If you pretend, it can be mashed potatoes...lol.

Aunt Millies fiber for life bread only has 35 calories per slice. You can also use lettuce in replace of bread or eat sandwhiches open face (with only one slice of bread).

Yogurt! I eat lots of lite yogurt(60 calories). I cut up fruit and mix in a yogurt and a few walnuts. (1 apple, grapes, 1/2 banana, ect. Whatever you like)

Ask your mom to buy sugar free in anything she possibly can. They make alot of things in sugar free now. I'm a firm believer that all the little things add up. I have to agree with the others about portion control. I think portion control is extremely important. If you eat five-six small meals a day you can eat fairly normal foods.

It sounds like you are getting a really good grasp on your eating habits. It's good that you know what you are doing wrong and what doesn't work for you. Good luck, hon. You seem to be on the right track. Give mom a hug for being cool enough to help out with this.