Working out....again!

[Scarpozzi]

I just started working out at the beginning of the semester. It's like I don't buy a parking permit cause they're $80 a year and the parking lots suck at my university anyhow...so I just get up at 6am and park on the street before everyone else gets there....it's great cause it forces me to workout and study before classes 3 days a week. I've gone from 225 to 213 in a little over 2 weeks just from doing extended workouts...and I'm still eating.

Does anyone have any suggestions on low fat or no fat foods to eat? Things are going to get REALLY tough when I get down to my old target weight of 208 in about 3 more weeks. I figure my bottom end weight is going to be around 200 but just to get to 203, it's going to be really tough because I haven't weighed that little since I wrestled in 1997. Things I've been eating now is tuna in spring water on fat free crackers (nothing else), Balance bars, Grilled Cheese with fat free cheese (like 1 gram of fat), small portions of salmon fillets grilled with no oil (fish oil is already in the meat)....stuff like that. I just need to broaden my menu and I'm wondering if anyone has any good suggestions.

 

[prontospyder]

fruits and veggies.

 

[skace]

If you are a big breads and pasta fan like I am, make the move to whole wheat. Whole wheat pasta is incredibly filling.

 

[vi edit]

When you have bread, make it whole wheat.

Replace red meats and pork with low fat meats like fish, turkey, and skinless lean chicken.

Have your foods grilled or baked instead of deep fried.

Instead of putting mayo and cheese on sandwiches, use mustard for flavor.

When you get the urge to snack, have pickels, or dip some pretzels in mustard.

A huge sorce of empty calories is in what you drink. If you are drinking non-diet pop, just stop drinking it and replace it with water. If you are drinking lots of fruit juices, replace them with unsweetened varieties.

These are just a few tips. Remember though, that your body DOES require some fat and cholesterol on a daily basis. Cutting it out completely is unhealthy for you. Also remember that more importantly than cutting fats, you should concentrate on moderating your fat intake and trying to shoot for a heathly daily caloric intake.

A guy your size probably needs about 3200 calories just to sustain normal day to day functions. Dropping your calories down to 2200 a day should *in theory* help you loose about a pound and a half a week.

You can eat very well for 2200 calories a day, you just need to be smart about it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Thanks. I'm not sure what my calorie intake is right now... I've just ate 3 eggs and a tall glass of cranberry juice for breakfast....I just needed protien since I lifted and hit 25 mins on a stairstepper this morning... Thanks for the ideas....I have been cutting out Mayo since it's so high in fat(seen the stuff made before...ICK!) I'm trying to do some research to find the best foods that are high in fiber...whole wheat is great choice, but I need to get a shopping list and force myself not to buy anything that's going to ruin a week's work. I'm allowing myself a couple of meals a week to be regular meals (aka overeating high fat foods), but I'm making sure I do it before 2pm just to be safe and cutting dinner down to mid-sized snack. I guess we'll see how all this goes and hopefully I can lose the last 7-8 pounds to get to my target weight in about 4 weeks.

 

[Kev]

the parking lots at my school are $260 for 12 weeks

 

[DAWeinG]

Ramen, cereal, granola bars...

Ramen has about 20% fat per serving...
Cereal like frosted flakes have 0% fat, lots of carbs, minerals, vitamins
Granola bars about 10% fat and really tasty and inexpensive. I recommend sunbelt granola bars at your local stater bros. if you have one. They're $1.59 for a pack of 8!! That's less than 20 cents per granola bar. And it's great when you need an energy boost, especially right after class

 

[snoopdoug1]

Well, I totally agree with the whole wheat move. Just make sure that the bread you buy has fiber in it, since some breads claim to be whole wheat but they really aren't because they don't have the fiber

Also, I wouldn't say that frosted flakes if your best bet on cereal. I would go with Special K, or something like that, you'd be much better off. It has low calories, and 7 grams of protein per serving.

To me, your best bet would be to eat a lot of fiber, maybe 30 grams a day. That way, you'll feel full all day long! And don't forget your protein!

-Doug

 

[Juniper]

Eat regularly. Avoid fats and oily foods. Find lower calories substitutes.

Dont starve yourself, cos when you do, you tend to crave for sugar/sweet stuff.

 

[HappyFace]

Swim and run a few times per week. It helps tone your muscle.

 

[Tauren]

Cut down on the Carbs! Base all meals around protein and eat 5 smaller meals a day. Carbs only give energy and any more than you need is a detriment to losing weight. Protein builds muscle and muscle needs more energy to maintain, so more of calories you consume are used up and fat will get converted to energy once you exceed your caloric intake. Also, you begin burning fat as energy after roughly 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise.

 

[skace]

Heres my daily schedule:
Breakfast (7AM): 24oz water, glass of orange juice [or an apple / orange].

Lunch (11AM): Chicken Salad w/ mustard, onions, tomatoes, lettuce on wheat. (Uh, I need to cut out Mayo but its hard :S)

Dinner (4-5PM):Whatever is made, full dinner. (Pesto, any other pasta, meatballs, chicken, anything) but I only eat about half of whatever I would eat of that meal before.

Since my breakfast is tiny, I get hungrier for lunch sooner. This causes me to eat lunch and dinner earlier which causes me to usually go to bed on an emptyish stomache. Last summer I lost 60lbs in under 3 months. It wasn't the healthiest way to lose weight, I burned some muscle away, but overall everything I lost was fat and the muscle is coming back a lot easier now. I'm going to start working out a lot more seriously soon though and I think I may have to change my eating methods again.

SO....tell me how they make mayo, maybe I will get grossed out and stop eating it