<p>My personal maintenance tips have included: getting rid of the too big clothes as soon as they are too big. Having noting to wear is a great impetus for staying on track. Also, I have changed portion size, for real. I notice I simply am satisfied much sooner than I used to be. I have always eaten healthy food, but far too much of it. And moving my physical self has made a tremendous difference. </p>
<p>I did not do any weight training and found the weight came off easier than 6 years ago when I became ill, and gained weight. That time I spent hours at the gym, weight trained, and did every other exercise available to mankind. This time I concentrated on walking. Only. A lot of it. A minimum of 10,000 steps a day, but often over 15,000. The weight I gained was due to a depression I fell into after losing my mother, dad, grandmother and job all within a short period of time. It was so subtle, I didn’t recognize it as depression. </p>
<p>I feel back on track, and while 5 years ago I physically weighed 10 pounds less, I am now older, and I feel fine. I don’t want to have to white knuckle, and so I think this is where I shall stay. I look good and feel good. Those were my REAL goals!!</p>
<p>Well, you’re right about having nothing to wear being a great impetus! The pants I wore for Thanksgiving dinner don’t fit, just two months later. I almost bought two new pairs of pants in a larger size last week, but thought better of it and put them back. </p>
<p>I also lost my weight through walking only, but this time I really want some classes plus walking to vary things. </p>
<p>I’m sorry about all those losses you had, justamom. Depression and weight gain are often intertwined.</p>
<p>“I’m sorry about all those losses you had, justamom. Depression and weight gain are often intertwined.”</p>
<p>Depression is one of the main reasons that I now realize I never focused on being my healthiest. I’m just sorry it took me to my mid 40’s to realize it and accept it for what it was, so “hugs” Just a Mom, you are not alone.</p>
<p>I’m happy to see that there are others who walked their way to healthy bodies. I find that the more I do it, the more I like it. I can feel the difference in how my body responds, especially when walking on the indoor track. Outside walking has really helped my indoor walking.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the tips, and ideas for lunch. I’m loving them!!!</p>
<p>I don’t know if this has been mentioned but I suggest going to Costco and buying the 4 lb bag of quinoa. It cooks like rice but is tastier and loaded with protein. </p>
<p>It also takes a lot of seasoning in cooking. Example: cut up some veggies, any you like, and add them to the water with the quinoa. Add the juice of a whole lemon. You can tell when quinoa is done because a white line appears.</p>
<p>The book The End Of Overeating would have a problem with even half of most restaurant meals. It is unbelievable what the calorie content will typically be. They want you to come back, so there’s lots of hidden empty calories (there is a scathing chapter on Chili’s and how their super high calorie appetizers are designed to leave room for your large main course) not to mention liberal use of things you can’t see like oils, butter and sugar. It’s very easy to consume 2000 calories in a restaurant while believing you weren’t too bad. </p>
<p>Average restaurant portions of meat/poultry/fish are typically at least three times the recommended 4 ounces. Ever look at the calories in a one pound steak? And dishes with pasta and rice are typically many time what we need, these ingredients are cheap and restaurants can give you large portions while using less of the more expensive (and more nutritious) ingredients.</p>
<p>We were recently at a TGI Fridays where they are now forced to put calorie counts on the menu. I wondered how many customers they have lost since this was mandated. The numbers were surreal. We will definitely not be back.</p>
<p>So if you’re trying to lose, it’s probably more like a quarter of a restaurant meal you want unless you’re ordering grilled fish with no fat added and steamed veggies.</p>
<p>When I need a snack, I try to keep it to 100 calories or less. Just had some vanilla yogurt with granola on top. </p>
<p>Also, in the evenings I like to brush my teeth after dinner and even use Listerine. That way, if I want to eat, it will make me think about it. I would just have to brush my teeth again and nothing will take good because of my Listerine breath. May sound silly, but it is working for me. Unless I am so hungry, that I can’t get to sleep - then I will have a piece of toast with a little peanut butter on it.</p>
<p>Would love to hear some 100 calorie snack ideas. </p>
<p>One day I had a 1/2 bagel - It’s like a super skinny bagel half with a small amount of cream cheese and some strawberry fruit on the top. It was good. Bagel is made by “Thomas”. It’s called bagel thins. A whole one is 110 calories. </p>
<p>Another day I had 1 Tbsp peanut butter and 1/2 cup Cheerios.</p>
<p>Any 100 calorie ideas? Besides just a piece of fruit or celery/carrot sticks, etc.</p>
<p>100 calories more or less:
14 dry roasted almonds (or about 1/8 cup)
3 dried apricots
1/2 med banana with 1 tsp peanut butter or 1.5 tsp. nutella
1/2 cup no-fat yogurt with 2 Tb granola or 1/2 cup of fresh fruit (or combo)
1 slice of extra thin whole wheat bread or 2 or 3 crackers with 2 Tb baba ganoush, hummous, or olive tapenade
2 Hershey’s Kisses :)</p>
<p>As some of you may have noticed, I am the soup lady. I posted several soup recipes on the other diet/health thread and on a thread about what to serve at holiday meals. I love soup because it is filling, you can make a double batch and freeze, you can take leftovers for lunch, you can give to friends who need a break or to elderly parents who need some lovin’ </p>
<p>Here is tonight’s soup:</p>
<p>1 large onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
2 large carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
5 cups vegetable broth ( I use Pacific Brand low sodium)
1 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes or can low sodium tomatoes
2 tsp summer savory
2 tsp thyme or rosemary
1 tsp sugar
2 bay leaves
1 can navy or white beans, drained and rinsed well (or if organized, 1 cup dry beans prepared in advance)</p>
<p>Saute onion, garlic, carrots, celery in large stock pot, about 10 minutes until softened. Add broth, tomatoes, spices and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for about an hour. Remove bay leaf and put 1/2 can of beans in soup. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth, leaving some texture. Add remaining beans. </p>
<p>I wish we had a separate thread that just was a spot for the recipes. The soup sounds good. I think I have almost everything on hand. I like the idea of blending part of it. That should give you the feel of a creamy soup without the added cream.</p>
<p>mathmom, I took a quick glance at this thread without reading eddie’s post. I thought you were listing recipe ingredients for something that was under 100 calories. I had to read it several times, thinking that I never thought of combining those things and then realized my mistake. Good chuckle anyway.</p>
<p>Mom60 - that is the beauty of beans with an immersion blender! If you want to make this “creamier” just add another half can of beans. Actually, all of my “cream” soups are just blended w/out cream or milk. Potato, Parsnip & Celeriac Root, Butternut Squash. I don’t miss the cream at all.</p>
<p>You don’t have to have an immersion blender. A regular blender also works. I just ladle out a few cups of whatever soup I am making into the blender and then pour it back into the pot. I made a potato soup for H tonight that way. If I want all of the soup to be creamed, like a cream of broccoli, I might have to use two pots. Cook the ingredients until softened and then ladle a few cups into the blender and pour into the new pot and repeat until all of the soup has been blended. (I obviously make large batches so can’t blend the whole pot at once.) I guess I could also put an immersion blender on my wish list for Christmas and it would be easier but I have been doing it this way for so many years, I don’t give it a thought.</p>
<p>The Analyst - for years I used my trusty blender. Then a dear friend purchased an immersion blender for me. If you buy one, it will be one of those purchases that makes you wonder why you waited so long. I would put some of the soup in, and twice (I am a little slow), I put in too much and the lid blew off spewing soup out of the darn thing. My immersion blender isn’t fancy, it is a black & decker, but if it blows out, I will be buying a new one the next day.</p>
<p>worknprogress, last night I was thinking a lot about an immersion blender and realized that it’s a really long way until Christmas. Would the world really come to an end if I just went out and bought one for myself? Like you, I make a lot of soups and my method does generate a lot of dishes. I think I’m sold. Thanks.</p>
<p>I just used my trusty immersion blender to make soup from a Thanksgiving turkey skeleton I froze. I couldn’t believe how much meat came off of those supposedly empty bones – I got about two pounds of meat, way more than I needed for the soup.</p>
<p>eddieodessa- my D’s like the Special K bars for snacking. I think they are 90 calories. The Blueberry and Strawberry don’t look appealing to me but I have tried the pretzel/chocolate one when I was PMSing. It hit the sweet and salty craving that I sometimes get.
I am down almost 10 lbs. What has been working for me is having oatmeal in the morning. I am happy to eat it unsweetened which helps. I find the oatmeal gives me the comfort feeling of toast and it seems to keep me full till lunch. I have been able to avoid snacking which I think also helps. I have been taking my walk late afternoon which is the time I usually want a snack.
Spring for the immersion blender. You will be happy you did. No more hot liquid flying out of the blender.</p>
<p>Another vote for the immersion blender. I got it cause I really wanted to try WIP’s butternut squash soup. I love it…and it was pretty cheap at Costco.
WIP’s soup was great (although I roasted the s. potatoes and squash instead of cooking). And added a splash of apple cider. Terrific recipe! I’m gonna go cook up some other veggies now for a pureed soup tonight.</p>