Some Diet Stuff

I went shopping recently to get some new "fun" diet stuff for the fridge.  What diet am I on?  I'm just basically watching calories.  It's mind blowing how many calories are in the foods you would normally eat.  Currently I'm trying to keep my calorie intake under 1200 per day vs. the "recommended daily allowance of 2000"

I can totally tell my stomach has shrunk in the past weeks as I don't have to eat much to keep away the hunger pains :-)

Here's my current typical routine:

• Hit the treadmill in the morning for 30mins ... 4mph walking and a short 5mph jog.  Then about 10mins on the Total Gym (Chuck would be proud) working upper body.  I don't do this everyday ... yet.
• Breakfast consists of a yogurt (120cals) and a diet bar (140cals)
• Lunch is usually a diet bar (140cals) and a Sprite Zero (0cals) ... sometimes a 2nd bar is required ;-)
• Dinner is usually a salad with low cal dressing (20cals) and whatever Kim has made.  I try to keep plain white rice on hand when she makes stuff I know will not help me :-)
• Drinking lots of water through the day.

So here are a few of the items I picked up at the store that have some nice flavor but low to no calories:

• Salsa (570cals for the whole entire jug!) ... who knew yummy salsa was low cal?  NOTE: A tasty low cal snack is celery and salsa :-)
• Spicy Mustard (5cals)
• Kraft Light Zesty Italian (25cals) ... this was the lowest cal dressing I could find on the shelf.  And it's got some descent flavor to boot :-)
• Horseradish Mustard (5cals)
• Miracle Whip Light (20cals) ... it's just hard to eat a sandwich without some white stuff.
• Tabasco (0cals) ... I put Tabasco on about anything and everything.  Plain white rice + Tabasco + shot of catsup = good
• Peppers (5cals)
• South Beach Diet Bars (140cals) ... these are my lifesaver.  Kem introduced me to the them and now they are my main diet foodage.  Taste good, have good protein, and other vitamins and such.

A few people have asked what my weight goal is.  I hadn't really made one yet.  I believe I was 175 back in college when I was pretty lean ... so I guess that's where I'm aiming currently.  I've eventually get to the doctor for a checkup and get his thoughts.  It's been at least 5 years since I've seen a doctor ... geepers, I'm past due.

Comments

[Samurai Jack]

Wow! I'm on the calorie band wagon too, but am limiting to 1,400. Some things i've found that can be fun "treats" if you happen to go out:

* A Chipotle "veggie bowl" w/black beans, fajita veggies, pico, corn salsa, hot salsa and green salsa is only 630 calories.

* A Subway club without cheese (6") on wheat bread is only 320 provided that you don't put anything other than mustard as the condiment.

* 4 cups of popped popcorn (unbuttered) are only 100 calories. Excellent for an evening snack!

Finally, if you can burn 500 calories in the first 30 minutes of exercise, then you continue to burn 500 calories per 30 min afterward, even if you decrease your level of activity to something more muscle than aerobic.

Woo-hoo! We're all going to get skinny! - Shinken! -sj

[Todd]

Jason - Watching calories is good, but you also need to keep the protein levels up. Ideally, especially for breakfast, you want something high in protein and something with a few carbs. The carbs will give you a quick "up", and the protein then kicks in and gives you sustained energy through the morning. (And, the more protein you get first thing -- the less hungry you feel until lunch.) Good to hear how your losing, keep it up!

[Rick]

A weight goal is not necessarily the best indicator of how well you're doing. Consider looking at your bodyfat %, or size measurements to evaluate your progress.

Be cautious of diets that are calorie restrictive. Your body's metabolism will eventually adjust downward to match your calorie intake. Take a look at adjusting the timing of your food intake to 6 small meals a day versus 3 larger ones. An intake of small, nutritious portions every 2-3 hours keeps your metabolism up. Eat to lose! Evaluate everything - a calorie is not just a calorie.

South Beach Diet Bars - good move. I wouldn't use it as a main meal replacement, but it is a good substitute for one of the 6 smaller meals.

South Beach Diet Cookbooks - get them! I have three at home: The original South Beach Diet Book, The SB Diet Cookbook, and the SB Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook. Every recipe I've had is a winner.

Good luck!