How/what to eat right?
 

One of my biggest problems with losing weight is that I simply dont know how to eat healthy. I dont know what foods to stay away from (except for the obvious, i.e. Candy, cokes and fried foods). Not only that, but portions have alot to do with it too. So maybe we can post up some foods that can help with our goals. Good Luck

Well, I will get this thing started:
1. Stay on the perimeter of the grocery store (fresh vegetables, meats, dairy products)
2. Stay away from processed foods.
3. Bake instead of fry, grill instead of saute'
4. Choose lean cuts of meat.
5. Skim milk, low fat cheese, and low fat mayo
6. 5 servings of fruits and vegetables
7. Wheat instead of White bread
8. Eat lots of baked or grilled fish (this one should be easy for us)

That is a start anyone has any other tips put um up.

How does Gumbo fit in the equation?

Thats what I just had.

Depends what you put in it. It is not the healthiest thing in the world especially the way we make it here in S. La. When it comes to eating the things we love portion control is key. You have to be willing to eat less or exercise more. When thinking about losing weight it is a give and take. If you are going to eat a bad meal you should take it easy the rest of the day. Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch or any combination depending on when the bad meal is taking place.

The best advice or opinion should I say since I am the furthest thing from an expert would be to count calories. I have said it before no more than 2000 a day if that is not working go less.

File(feelay) gumbo instead of a roux gumbo and leave out the sausage, just chicken, okry or shrimp.
Or go with the dry roux instead of the flour and oil roux.

cooking homemade meals, with your own ingredients i heard helps

you got it exactly the way i see it

the problem i face is i dont like veggies , ect... i guess i will have to learn to like em .

I don't like veggies either.

my dad lost a bunch of weight a few years ago. He too doesn't like any vegetables. It just means you eat more baked chicken but not the skin. That or any other meats cooked healthy.

If it tastes good its bad. Thats the way it seems to me. Everything I like is bad for me..SK

they say in order to lose weight you have to make a lifestyle change. i think the mindset that may help is thinking of food as just a means to live not a reason to live. the old saying eat to live or live to eat.

Another tip is do not eat your supper late at night. Try to eat before 6 PM and then maybe some fruit or raw veggies for a snack.

I find watching TV.....is very bad. I snack way too much while watching TV.

Keeping busy doing some kind of chores around the house will keep you active and away from the kitchen.

I need to jump on this wagon too. I went to a doctor about 3 months ago for my jacked up back and when I stepped on that scale my jaw hit the floor. It said 253 and the doc said that could have a little to do with my back problem. I work exactly 24 miles from my house and it takes me 1 hour and 20 minutes to get home after I baby sit 18 grown men 7 days a week. After that 10 hour day of work and that lovely traffic there is nothing more I want then a cold beer. Thats what my biggest problem is cause once I drink my daily 6 pack I eat dinner and got to bed. And I also don't eat any veggies. I'm going to pick me up a scale and see if I can drop a few.

Maybe try the low sodium V8 juice for your veggi source, its not to bad.

you should think of a goal you want to set for yourself and post it in the goals thread on this forum.

One thing most of us enjoy here in the South is white rice. Switch to brown rice for a healthier meal. Brown rice with your gumbo. It sucks making the white to brown rice transition but you will have to keep eating brown rice to acquire a taste for it.
Exercise several times a week by getting your heart rate up for 30 minutes i.e. riding bike, jogging etc. Yeah, sex does count for getting your heart rate up but does not count for all exercise.

unless you can last for all 30 mins.
:*****:

I can't eat brown rice. I have tried several times.
I live to eat. That is my biggest problem. Growing up in Cameron, the only food was home cooked, even in the resturants. There was no fast food down there until a couple years ago and Rita wiped that place out. I was raised by my grandma for a few years and she could cook some good food.
I stay active, but cannot do much to exercise my stomach/back midsection cause
if a bad back.
My doctor said I need to eat right, it is the only way I can lose the weight.
I do walk with my wife in the evenings and we both eat around 5 pm.
I got that habit from working offshore. We eat at 5 am, 11 am and 5 pm.
It is a good habit that I can't break if I wanted to. I have been eating like that
for the past 25 years.

you'd be surprised how easily you could lose some weight by eating earlier. Like said above try eating by 6 and don't eat anything else, esp before bed.

Also, my biggest problem, is only eating 1 portion and not going back for seconds.

Do those 2 things and you can get away with some of the unhealthier options every now and then.

And then cut out completely:

carbonated drinks - diet coke, etc.
fast food

and you should be ok.