Posts by magic3

I can sympathize with what you are going through.  Life does go on.  Don't give up.  Make the best food choices and exercise as much as you can for what is currently happening in your life. Losing three pounds a month is great, especially when you have so much going on!!!

I myself have been on a roller coaster of events for the last year (a wedding, a death, illness, a grandbaby's birth, children coming and going to college, going back to school myself) and there seems to be no end in sight.  I'm made some improper food choices and gained 10 pounds of the 55 I lost. So my advice to you is: don't give up! You'll be glad you didn't. Your health is important so you can take care of your husband and others.  Best wishes to you and yours.

Here are three of my favorite meals options.  The first and last are a snack and the second a very filling meal for very few calories.

Greek yogurt and diced apple

Plain flavored Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt is high in protein, no fat, low carb.

Spoon 8 oz yogurt into a bowl.

Dice (dice very small) one small Gala apple with the peel on.

Mix yogurt and diced apple. Sprinkle on about 1/4 tsp or more ground cinnamon and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Mix.  This makes enough for two snacks.  The apples don't turn brown with the yogurt coating them, so the leftovers are even okay for a snack the next day.  You can also substitute nonfat cottage cheese instead of the yogurt.

Filling egg white omelet

1, 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

6 egg whites

1/4 cup Tablespoons fat free cottage cheese (available at Walmart)
1, 1/2 cups spinach leaves

2 Tablespoons chopped tomato or cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 Tablespoons sliced mushrooms
A little salt & pepper (1/8 tsp or less of each)

Whisk the eggs and the cottage cheese.

Since it calls for such a little amount of olive oil, I spray the pan first,
then put the oil in a small non-stick frying pan. Heat to medium heat. Put in
the egg mixture, let it heat a little. Don't mix it in the pan. Reduce heat to
medium low. Cover with a lid and let it cook until the egg whites are done
(about 5 minutes). The eggs can get a little crusty on the bottom if you cook
it too much.  Put the tomatoes and mushrooms and spinach leaves on top, then replace the lid for about 1 minute to steam the veggies a little.

There are 23 grams protein, 3 grams carbs, 7.4 grams fat and 171 calories. (If
you use 1 tablesppon oil it goes to 14 grams fat and 230 calories).

Option:  Gently stir fry some of your favorite veggies, zucchini, onions, and peppers first, then add the eggs to this mixture and follow the rest of the recipe. You can use whole eggs, but that changes the nutritional info and makes it much more filling.

Cottage Cheese with tomato and green onion:

Top 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese with 1/8 cup diced tomato and a sprinkle of some green onion sliced.  Add salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Original Post by Valarieisabunneh:

I just tried artichoke hearts the other day. Just with a little pepper on them. I don't like those at all! :S tastes like soap! I have 4 cans left. What can I make with them?

I think artichoke hearts are yummy.  I don't like the marinated ones though.  The non-marinated type are great in a warm spinich dip with feta cheese, green chiles and mayo.  I have a recipe if you'd like it.  I gently steam veggies (carrots, zuchini, asparagus, etc.) you can hold and dip them in the hot artichoke dip.  Raw veggies are good dipped in it as well.  At your next party bring the hot dip I mentioned and you'll be a hit.  You can also dip crackers, chips and other "evil" carbs into the dip (my husband likes to tease me about "evil" carb containing foods)!  Papa Murphy's makes a great veggie pizza loaded with artichokes and other great veggies.  Good luck!

Original Post by dancerz123:

Knox Unflavored gelatin powder.... I get cans from Amazon.... Add dry gelatin to soft foods such as yogurt or your smoothies for 8 grams pure protein ... 20 calories .... Eating excess protein, makes me drop pounds consistently, and burns like other calories... Just stay within your calorie budget and you'll drop weight faster  ... 0 sodium, 0 fat, 0 carbs, 8 gr protein, 20 cals (serving size 1 Tablespoon) ... I do dry gelatin 3 times a day minimum (Not the same as jello!!!! Has no additives or colors)

I do add it to soup and oatmeal AFTER cooking, tho you must mix slower in anything that is HOT or it coagulates quickly ... Does better in cold foods, but I need the protein so I don't let temp stop me! ...*grin*

I'm within 2 pounds of goal ... Using more protein and calcium helped when I hit a plateau that would not budge ... Consistently losing .2 pounds daily, and it's tougher when you get smaller and need less calories for that weight ... Only allowed 1243 calories per day for me, and should be at goal in 2 more weeks

 

I've never heard of sequence eating, but here is a really good protein meal for you:  mix in a blender, 6 egg whites, 1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese.  Stir fry some chopped veggies of your choice such as zucchini, mushrooms, onions, peppers.  Add the egg white mixture, cook as scrambled eggs or as an omelet until the eggs are almost set.  Season with salt and pepper or Mrs. Dash if desired.  Sprinkle with 1 tsp of grated parmesan cheese, then just before serving sprinkle with a tablespoon or two of chopped tomatoes and a handful of spinach leaves.  Put the lid on for 1 minute  to steam the spinach.  This meal has under 200 calories and is very filling.  I usually do it for lunch instead of breakfast.  Sometimes I use 1 whole egg and 4 egg whites.

I use the handheld Body Fat anylizer that they have at the gym and also my scale which has a body fat anylizer in it.  I realize these aren't too accurate though.  Mostly I'm going by how much fat I can see and feel around my middle and around my back just under the bra line.

Yes I meant 2010.  Thanks for correcting me.

Today in the gym a man who hadn't seen me for awhile said "Hi Skinny!".  He asked me if working out is worth it to maintain the pounds off.  I told him it definitley is worth it.  I've watched my heafty elderly neighbor lose toes and feet from getting Type 2 Diabetes.  She's not having a fun life anymore.

A few years ago a well meaning friend told me I was of "cuddly proportions".  That started my weightloss adventure and it has been an adventure!  Now my husband describes me as "cuddly but leaner".

Thanks to everyone for the 'fat loss' advice.

I'm almost obsessed about finding out my true fat %.  Has anyone tried the hydrodensitometry weighing to see if it is accurate?  I'd like to know how much body fat I do indeed have so I can go from there with my fat-loss adventure.  I may be too dissappointed though to know the real %.

Any advice about that anyone?

I broke my tailbone at ago 20 and after a few months it was fine.  I exercised right off, but avoided things that hurt it.  Now that I'm 53 it's started to hurt again.  My recommendation is to call the doc's office like was suggested before you do any type of exercise.  My other recommendation is to try not to gain an extra 75 lbs like I did between breaking my tailbone (at ago 20) and now; age 53.  The doctor told me to lose weight to help my lower back and tailbone, so since Oct 1, 2010 I've lost 40 lbs and I'm still working on another 20 lbs.  My tailbone pain has gotten better since I've lost weight, but I try not to sit for long periods of time.  I found that there are physical therapists out there who are specialists in tailbone pain.  If your tailbone pain persists; see a (physical therapist) specialist.  They helped me!