Congrats on the loss.

I think the breakfast looks good (it looks like a LOT to me, but considering I weigh about 1/2 what you do I couldn't eat all that much ). The one thing I'd point out is that Raisin Bran (or any processed cereal actually) is pretty much all sugar. You're not getting a whole lot of nutritional value out of it. I personally would ditch the processed cereal and throw all that fruit in a big cup of organic yogurt instead - same calories as the Raisin Bran, but much better for you.

Seems like alot to me but I agree ditch the raisin bran. I myself am on a diet and trying to lose a 100 pounds. I have lost 16 pounds since July 6th, but I have also limited my calorie intake byt alot. For the breakfast I eat a bowl of healthy weight control oatmeal and one slice of light bread plus I also drink alot of water. I eat a lot of chicken and alot of salads. But it seems what you are doing is working for you. Good luck

Wow. I knew processed foods were bad, but I figured raisin bran was okay since it has a high fiber content. Guess I was wrong. That could explain why I suddenly gained 3 lbs. today (I've been meeting all of my caloric goals). So yeah... I'll be ditching the bran and look into getting some yogurt. And yeah... I know it seems like a big breakfast, and it is, but I try to get a big caloric burst at the beginning of the day so my body has enough fuel to meet my needs and so I don't get hungry later on. I've been easily making under my calorie mark for over a week now, and haven't went to bed hungry once. Actually, I've only went over my calorie mark once since I started (three weeks ago today), and that was on my birthday... so... yeah...

I do have a question though... Don't read if you're easily grossed out... But is it normal for your stool to be green when you switch your diet? I mean, it's still solid like it should be, just really green. Has been since Saturday. Has anyone else experienced this when they changed their diet?

Thanks again.

I wish you luck. I find that most programs help you count the calories after you have consumed them. The way to go is to use a meal planner and plan ahead. After you eat them it's to late.

1500 calories is not enough for you (someone may have said that, I quoted you without reading on). They recommend a minimum of 1800 calories/day for a man.

Don't limit yourself to just those foods, you will fail if you do (sorry if that sounds harsh but that is my opinion). I am speaking from experiance, I have tried everything.

Going from 315lbs to 190 lbs without learning how to eat will be next to impossible.

Again I won't post the name of the program I am on but if you want it feel free to PM me.

Mods, I really think you need to rethink not allowing links. There is so much crap out there when someone finds something that works and they believe in they should share it.

Yeah.. I've been upping my calorie intake for a little over a week now... since I realized my body was going into starvation mode and hoarding calories. I've been averaging approximately 1900 calories a day since then, and adding more variety to my diet. I usually do use my daily plate account to plan out the calories in a meal before I make it.

Oh, and I just ran out and got some organic yogurt, about six different varieties. I've hit my calorie wall for the day, but I'm going to try a couple of varieties (each cup is 110 calories) for breakfast tomorrow with some fruit and flax seed mixed in.

One thing that I think will really help you going forward is to remember to read ingredients labels on things before you buy them. Eventually you'll get a feel for what's healthy and what's not.

For example, I looked up Kellog's Organic Raisin Bran and here's the ingredient list. I've highlighted in red the things that would make *me* choose not to eat it:

Ingredients:
Organic whole wheat, organic sugar coated raisins (organic raisins, organic sugar), organic wheat bran, organic evaporated cane juice crystals, organic evaporated cane juice syrup, sea salt, organic malt extract, niacinamide, reduced iron, zinc oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1), vitamin A palmitate, folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

Note that of the first 5 ingredients - 3 of them are sugar in some form. When you read ingredients remember that they're listed in order of most to least. That means of everything in this cereal, there is more sugar than anything else. Doesn't matter that it's "organic" sugar - it's SUGAR. And lots of sugar means lots of simple carbs.

I'm not big on all the added nutrients either - for me, I want my nutrition to be part of the food, not supplemented.

So having said that - let me say something about "organic" food - organic does NOT mean healthier. Just because you buy organic food doesn't mean it's any better for you. Organic yogurt - if it's got fruit filling, it still has a lot of sugar and fat. Organic cereal - still has sugar, cane sugar syrup and HFCS are really not that different in terms of what they do to your body.

Don't think "organic" is a panacea. Read the ingredients. There are MANY times I've bought a non-organic product over an organic one because the non-organic one contained less sugar and fewer added nutrients.

If it were me (and I"m not saying this is the only right way, but this is my choice) I'd buy plain yogurt of some kind (where the only ingredients are milk/cream/yogurt cultures) and add my own sweetener or fruit. I love buying plain Greek yogurt and adding honey and chopped fruit. Or adding a spoonful of homemade jam or preserves. I like to control what's in my food.

As far as your last question ( ), it's normal for your stool to change color when you change diet. Especially if you're adding more fruit and veg.