Hi there -

I got on these boards a little while ago and while I have had a lot of success at weight loss in the past months (196 to 148 in the past 15 months, while increasing muscle), I need to go the last 10 - 15 pounds or so. I'm 5'6. I want to get to 134-139 but more important get to 32 or 30 inch waist with the skin under my chin being being horizontal to the ground (not sure if that's clear - think about when you take a sideways picture of yourself!).

I'm getting to the gym 4-5 times a week - weights 2x to 3x a week, cardio (boxing/running/rowing) 2x to 3x a week, my issue is the food.

I tend to binge too frequently. I am usually good to stay on my diet for a couple of weeks at a time, but then will binge and erase the good work I have done - I've gone between about 148 and 155 five or six times in the past year... As soon as I get to 148, its back up again.

Basically I need to stay on my diet keeping the binges to a minimum - having some fatty food once or twice a week is fine, but not to have big fatty meals all the time every day for several days in a row!

Binge foods are - eating my entire almond inventory, going to the store and buying cookies, other baked goods and eating them all at once!

I'm hoping when I feel the need to binge - well if I do - having to write it down here will make me stop more quickly! Also, since I live a lone I have to make sure that I keep active and not spend long periods at home in front of the tv and/or computer - tends to make me look for food!

My typical food day is:
Breakfast
Steel cut oatmeal 60-80 g with raspberries and a very small amount of cream on top
OR
A smoothie with a cup of berries, protein powder, flax oil, fibre and maybe a bit of banana

Mid-morning
Toast with peanut butter
OR
Cottage cheese 1% - straight! - used to have with fruit, now can't be bothered

Lunch
Chicken breast plain, with a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red peppers

Mid-afternoon
Some almonds
OR
Half a sandwich
OR
Toast and peanut butter (if I didn't have above already)
OR
a Salad from the takeout near work - its a very good healthy salad

Dinner
Fish (cod, tilapia, salmon) with lots of steamed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) and/or eggplant, tomatoes
Some fat like cheese sprinkled (sometimes)

After dinner (especially if I don't have some fat at dinner)
Some fat to keep my stomach from growling overnight. Maybe a protein bar like Luna - which is a small one.

Anyways - if you've gotten this far, thanks! and hope to "talk" to you soon!

Hiya, Nature Boy!
Congratulations on the weight you have lost already! YOu are obviously very committed to your healthy new life. Good on ya for hitting the gym so often!

I could NOT make it if I didn't allow myself one treat per day. I mean, one cookie, or one bag of 100 calorie cookie thingys, or one skim milk/sugar free syrup latte, just something sweet. I totally work it into my daily allotment, otherwise I feel deprived and you know what THAT can lead to! I encourage you to find a way to make your eating habit doable/sustainable in order to make your change permanent.

Best wishes on your journey,
ABBA

You're doing great!

And I must say, your diary title cracks me up! A Ric Flair fan, huh? I'm a Cena girl myself.

Hi

ABBAGirl - Thanks for the feedback. This is a good point about having a treat every day - I am trying to do something like this - but I still don't like going off the diet. Maybe a solution is to have a treat once every two or three days. Its better than having no treats for two weeks then several treats in one day!

I am still more "feast or famine" than I would like to be. The good news is I think that I'm almost there for the long-term - I like enough of the healthy food to sustain long-term. Some of the binging is really stress etc. related rather than hunger (maybe that's true for everyone).

daiseeangel - thanks - yeah - I needed a handle for all these websites I sign into - seems to work much of the time. I like Cena too. Maybe Cena will be the one to retire Flair!

Ok so for today - good day

Smoothie as previously described.

Toast w/ PB

Plain chicken breast / tomato / peppers

Luna bar (did not get to the salad place before closing)

Running at the gym at lunch - 35 minutes, 10 minutes at 8mph on treadmill IIRC.

Cod, broccoli, cauliflower, shredded cheese on top

I have to remind myself to record tomorrow any more food that I eat tonight.

Had two pieces of bread with pb tonight at 10pm.

Today
Oatmeal with berries/banana/light cream
Work out with personal trainer
Protein shake (about 35g protein with water)
2 toast with pb
Chicken/tomato/peppers
1.75 meeting room cookies (in an all day meeting)
Pack of M&Ms (ok this was bad)
Salmon/broccoli/brussel sprouts/pinch of cheese

Need to update for anything tonight!

Good day
Regular smoothie for breakfast
Toast with pb
Gym - 25 mins rowing, 10/15 minutes boxing (note put watch on bench and use to help in knowing total time and timing of rounds).
Chicken/tomato/peppers
Take out salad (no extras)
Fish/luna bar/a bit of eggplant (threw out most bc was bad)
Apple
4/5 pinches of shredded cheese

Wow that one healthy meal plan you got there lol keep up the good work

I think it will be Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania!

Parkour - Thanks!

Daiseeangel - I see that. I've never actually watched a WM but I think I may have to shell out this time with the retirement and all!

Good day
Regular smoothie for breakfast
Toast with pb
Gym - PT session with weights, mostly legs.
Spoonful of peanut butter
Chicken/tomato/peppers
Take out salad (no extras)
Fish/broccoli/cauliflower

I may have to snack tonight on some fat. I am getting hungry.

lol I'm curious as to why so much pb? Or is it just something you like ? Ever think about using Almond Butter ?

The pb is a recent addition to get a bit more fat into my diet. I don't eat alot. The almond butter is a good idea; I've had it before... Of course, it is not as accessible as pb, but perhaps I will try to pick some up. Cheers!

Good day
Regular smoothie for breakfast
Luna bar
Gym - Boxing
Chicken/tomato/peppers/cucumbers
Take out salad (no extras)
4 pinches of shredded cheese
Salmon/brussel sprouts
Apple

May need to eat more tonight - to update