Weight loss mission.....finding some new dishes (not necessarily egged).......

GrateEggspectations said:

While only tangentially related to the OP’s question.....

Here are a few things that I have found helpful on health and weight control.

The first step to weight loss and control in mindfulness. If you are overweight, it is because you are consuming more calories than you are burning (i.e., caloric surplus). Your portions are too large. You eat too frequently. You are drinking your calories without realizing it. Being mindful of what is causing your weight surplus is the first hurdle, as is accepting that you need to do things differently to obtain different results.

The second hurdle is also mental. You need to really want to lose weight. And not just want it, but be mentally committed to making daily sacrifices for it. This includes ensuring active decisions on each and every morsel that goes into your mouth. 

In addition to being mindful of caloric intake and committing to goals, something that has worked extremely well for me is the concept of nutritional density. There is no food I am unprepared to eat. But anything I eat, I am cognizant of what my body is getting out of it (and correspondingly, what it may be adding to my body, whether muscle or fat). For example, I am not inherently a proponent of low carb diets. Carbs can offer many benefits, especially in the context of active lifestyles. However, I am very mindful of my intake of high glycemic index carbs. Potatoes, white bread, etc. provide very few benefits for my body relative to their caloric counts and I therefore generally avoid them. However, I also recognize the benefits of oats, whole grain rice, and sweet potatoes and will actively seek to include them in my diet, especially on days I am exercising. Some opt to cut out carbs altogether because it’s simpler to do that than to learn how they work, which to seek out and how they should be employed. 

You can live a little and still be healthy. You have to find a balance that is conducive to your lifestyle. My wife and I have a shared general approach to healthy eating. Quite pious Monday through Thursday. We do what we want Friday through Sunday (within some reason; e.g., neither of us are binge eaters or chronic snackers). We find this to be a great balance between health and our love of food. One of the reasons it works well for us is that we do most socializing on weekends. We therefore don’t have to impose dietary restrictions (which can prove problematic for social engagements) while seeing friends and family. Truth is, weight loss can really accommodate ANY type of food. You can have beer, ice cream, brisket, cookies, etc. Just be sure to restrict portion sizes accordingly. If you haven’t read about the Twinkie diet, it is worth a look. http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

Finally, exercise is helpful and very beneficial to weight loss, but it is not absolutely essential. For weight control, it is much, much easier to lose weight by restricting calories than by exercising. The one huge benefit to exercise is that it builds muscle and speeds up metabolism. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Build more muscle and you can afford to consume more calories without gaining fat. Understanding how metabolism, which is fluid, works is very helpful in understanding the role exercise and nutrition play in weight management. 

GrateEggspectations said:

While only tangentially related to the OP’s question.....

Here are a few things that I have found helpful on health and weight control.

The first step to weight loss and control in mindfulness. If you are overweight, it is because you are consuming more calories than you are burning (i.e., caloric surplus). Your portions are too large. You eat too frequently. You are drinking your calories without realizing it. Being mindful of what is causing your weight surplus is the first hurdle, as is accepting that you need to do things differently to obtain different results.

The second hurdle is also mental. You need to really want to lose weight. And not just want it, but be mentally committed to making daily sacrifices for it. This includes ensuring active decisions on each and every morsel that goes into your mouth. 

In addition to being mindful of caloric intake and committing to goals, something that has worked extremely well for me is the concept of nutritional density. There is no food I am unprepared to eat. But anything I eat, I am cognizant of what my body is getting out of it (and correspondingly, what it may be adding to my body, whether muscle or fat). For example, I am not inherently a proponent of low carb diets. Carbs can offer many benefits, especially in the context of active lifestyles. However, I am very mindful of my intake of high glycemic index carbs. Potatoes, white bread, etc. provide very few benefits for my body relative to their caloric counts and I therefore generally avoid them. However, I also recognize the benefits of oats, whole grain rice, and sweet potatoes and will actively seek to include them in my diet, especially on days I am exercising. Some opt to cut out carbs altogether because it’s simpler to do that than to learn how they work, which to seek out and how they should be employed. 

You can live a little and still be healthy. You have to find a balance that is conducive to your lifestyle. My wife and I have a shared general approach to healthy eating. Quite pious Monday through Thursday. We do what we want Friday through Sunday (within some reason; e.g., neither of us are binge eaters or chronic snackers). We find this to be a great balance between health and our love of food. One of the reasons it works well for us is that we do most socializing on weekends. We therefore don’t have to impose dietary restrictions (which can prove problematic for social engagements) while seeing friends and family. Truth is, weight loss can really accommodate ANY type of food. You can have beer, ice cream, brisket, cookies, etc. Just be sure to restrict portion sizes accordingly. If you haven’t read about the Twinkie diet, it is worth a look. http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

Finally, exercise is helpful and very beneficial to weight loss, but it is not absolutely essential. For weight control, it is much, much easier to lose weight by restricting calories than by exercising. The one huge benefit to exercise is that it builds muscle and speeds up metabolism. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Build more muscle and you can afford to consume more calories without gaining fat. Understanding how metabolism, which is fluid, works is very helpful in understanding the role exercise and nutrition play in weight management. 

SciAggie said:

Food for thought - you might also toy with a “tapas night”. My wife and I find we eat really small portions that are spread out over a period of time. You get to taste and enjoy cooking several things. We end up feeling very satisfied while again eating a small amount of actual food. 

HoustonEgger said:

@northGAcock check out the book - Fit Men Cook - great recipes for weight loss and meal prep: https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Men-Cook-Women_Always-HealthyAF/dp/1501178725

Mattman3969 said:

Battleborn said:

I have also found this website to be really good. 

www.skinnytaste.com

I honestly can say that I’ve not found anything that sucked from this sight.  

This is a favorite at our house 

https://www.skinnytaste.com/grilled-romaine-corn-and-chicken-salad-with-salsa-dressing/

caliking said:

I had a go at the Mexican shrimp cocktail mentioned by @fishlessman , and it was REALLY good. Tweaked it with some habanero hot sauce,  and other stuff, to give it more zing. 

northGAcock said:

HoustonEgger said:

@northGAcock check out the book - Fit Men Cook - great recipes for weight loss and meal prep: https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Men-Cook-Women_Always-HealthyAF/dp/1501178725

Thanks....just ordered. 

500 said:

I joined WW 2 months ago.  Made lifetime in 6 weeks.  Lost 20# and still keeping it off.  Tracking and going to the meetings has kept me on track.  I'm in maintenance now, and still have a glass of bourbon or two in the evenings.  Rethinking your choices of what and how much to eat made the difference for me.  You really can eat anything, so it's about making choices and sticking to the tracking and walking 8 or 9,000 steps a day.