Need to Lose 60 Lbs but DO NOT like FRUITS and VEGGIES

I'm with you on the fruits and veggies. I think your idea of going to the grocery store to buy a variety of fruits and veggies and trying them all is a great one! You never know what you'll end up enjoying.

I'm not the healthiest eater either but my husband tends to be on the healthy side. A couple of suggestions I have are:

Try smoothies with: any fruit you like (banana & strawberry are usually very good), skim milk and ice in a blender. This way you don't notice the milk is skim (some people don't love the watery skim milk). It is filling and healthy!

Go to a nutrition store to find a protein powder (I like myoplex light) in a flavor you like (chocolate) and create a shake with skim milk, ice, peanut butter, banana (anything you like, these are the ingredients I like). The key is that this is a meal substitution, not a snack. They are pretty filling and yummy.

Start making easy, small changes that are lifetime changes like: drink 1 or 2% milk or skim if you can handle it (instead of whole). Carry water bottles with you where ever you go. Change to diet soda (if you already drink diet soda, quit soda altogether). Whole wheat bread instead of white. Cut back on portion a little bit at a time (so you're not starving all the time). Eat smaller portions and eat more frequently, but only when you really are hungry (not bored, etc.).

Buy "healthier" snacks for the house (baked chips, low calorie snack foods, etc.). Bring a ziploc bag of these snacks in the car so when you're hungry in the car you won't steer toward McDonalds.

You should start comparing the backs of the packages to see if the ones that say "low fat" are really what they say they are. I'm not an expert but you should learn what are the most important factors (ie, 0 trans fat v. other fats). I'm a big believer in buying the choice with the least amount of sodium too.

Use splenda or other substitutes for sugar.

Eliminate drive-thru and all fast foods. If you really need a fix, Taco Bell is better for you than McDonalds. Or, you can get the wraps at McDonalds (although I'd give it up altogether for your son's sake).

Try to eliminate all fried foods and desserts.

If you do these changes but keep eating the things you like it will get easier. Then, in time, you can become more strict with your eating habits (eat more veggies & fruit).

Hope these suggestions help! I'm very impressed with your decision to change your life style for your son's sake. You can do it, just take baby steps! When you make small changes and they become a permanent change it's better than a quick fix.

You go girl!

Hey Girl.
Im kinda with you on the veggie things. I like them and will eat them but not first choice. I mean who wants to eat carrotts when you just want a snack. I put on 60 lbs with my last pregnancy in June and here I am 5 months later with it all off. I've just cut my portions and water water water. Soda is a waste of calories. I have it as a treat, if we go out to dinner Ill get a soda. But the big thing that has helped me, because I LOVE food was cutting my portions. If I made chicken I would cut half my chicken breast and eat the other half for my lunch the next day. It'll help by putting your dinner on a smaller plate that way you can't load it up. And down a big glass of water a few minutes before you sit down to eat and you'll feel fuller. Don't feel like you can't enjoy that Mickey D's every once and awhile, but I commend you on catching your eating habbits at an early age for your baby. Kodos. Good Luck Girl. You can do it...

Here is what I have learned, talk up and at least pretend to like what you try. Most kids go by what their parents say or how they react to foods. My son LOVES veggies and even though I hate some of them, I eat them and smile while eating it because he will just sit and eat it too! Sure that will change but he is 5 now and so far it has worked!
He eats "trees" (broccoli), baby carrots, celery, baby tomatoes, and cucumber with ranch dressing (we buy the one with no artificial colors/flavors). He will also eat a salad (lettuce, canned low-fat chicken, ranch and he loves the chow mein noodles or croutons in it too!)
He likes unsalted canned cut green beans (add a small amount of Smart Balance with a sprinkle of TexJoy steak seasoning), black beans (add a drop of hot sauce in it), corn (small amount of Smart Balance), bushes baked beans, and mashed potatoes (Smart Balance with salt, pepper and cheese).

Chicken get the boneless skinnless breasts. Steaks get the eye of round or other LEAN cuts. We prefer to grill ours and usually just use TexJoy steak seasoning (there are other brands depending on your area but I grew up in Tx).

You can make homemade chicken nuggets with certain healthy brands of cereal too! Tastes good.

Ohhh and if all else fails. Buy the book "Deceptively Delicious" ...You puree veggies and add them to foods you cook and you cant taste the veggies at all! Obvisouly offer whole veggies but yeah. I LOVE the idea and am going out to buy the book soon (saw it on a show).
http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/

Good luck on the losing weight thing. Im currently working on it but it is hard. I have mostly broken my addiction to fast/convient foods (it is like an addiction because some people get withdrawal symtoms when they dont get their "fix" so to speak). And sounds untrue but after a couple of weeks once you arent seriously craving the fast foods, if you eat it again, it usually makes the person feel sick at least the first meal because of all the grease and what not in it.

this is what worked for me and i was about your measurements--watched everything i ate--i limited my calories to 1500. when i started i had to make myself eat veggies and fruits adn drink water. i mean no dressing on my salads because that was extra calories. i also started out doing 30 minutes of cardio. it was not intense cardio because i wouldn't have been able to do the 30minutes however i stuck with it and increased my speed and then increased my time. it was not fun and i didn't always enjoy it but i had to do it for my daughter. anytime i would get discouraged or just didn't feel like getting up to do my exercising i would think of her. i also used visual distractions like putting pictures of her on my fridge and pictues of me at the size i wanted to get--this helped me stop the snacking. i have done this since mid june and have lost 53lbs. now i love vegetables, fruits, and water. it just takes time.

First off, let me say way to go on your realizing you need to be healthier and you need to do it for your child too!!! You are right, they learn habits, good and bad, from us!!! Try your fruits and veggies!! And don't give up!! Just because you don't like something cooked one way, try it a different way. I don't care for broccoli but I will eat it if it is in something like a cassarole. Also, don't for get protions sizes!! Make sure you aren't over eating at every meal. Eat breakfast too!!! It gives you energy for in the morning and you won't be starving by lunch time either. Healthy snacks, granola bars, fruit grain bars, etc. What also worked for me is cutting out soda!!! I lost almost 10 lbs in about 2 weeks from not drinking it! I drank water, gatoraid and 100% fruit juice instead. Now when I drink a Mt Dew I feel bloated!! YUCK!! Oh, and I've also stopped smoking back in OCT and I haven't gained a lb since because I watch what I eat and how much of it! I struggled to loose the weight after I had my DD 7yrs ago so I did my homework on how to be healthy and smarter eater. Don't fall for fad diets like South Beach, and low carb, no fat stuff. Watch your intake of foods marked as Light too, most of that stuff is very high in sodium which isn't good for you at all!! I like to use Olive oil for cooking (great on the grill too!) and sea salt is wonderful!! Macormic's (spelling) has one out in a grinder. Oh, and don't forget there is a cook book out that an actor's wife did on how to sneak veggies into things like brownies and the kids eat it! Try that if all else fails!! Good luck to you and keep us posted good or bad!! We'll support you and keep you going in the right direction!!!

S.
www.shariegraf.scent-team.com

Tiffany,

I grew up eating donuts, Egg McMuffins and sugary cerals every morning for breakfast. As an adult it is hard to overcome those habits and to make yourself eat better. Good for you for thinking of your son's eating habits while he is so young.

I would suggest going on the websites of the fast food restaurants that you frequent the most and find the least fattening meals for both you and your son. So when you can't resist the fast food temptation you'll atleast make the best selection available. I will usually go to Arby's and get a french dip sandwich.

I started baking my french fries 11 years ago (when I lost 40 lbs) and I love them that way. If you bake them long enough (about 30 mins) they are actually good - not soggy. If you buy chips you should try the reduced fat brands and reduced fat Cheeze its/Wheat thins. Water is great. I drink 60 oz every day. It is hard to make yourself do it, at first. But try a straw or a large glass (instead of filling up a small cup 8 times). If you drink sweet tea, sweeten it with Splenda instead of sugar. If you like mayo and butter you can try Hellman's Light and the spray butter that has no calories. They both taste really good.

I am not much help with veges/fruit as I was raised on fast food and I am trying new things so that I can teach my (9 mo old) daughters good eating habits. I am getting Jessica Seinfield's cook book for Christmas to help me in that department.

I can suggest some quickie meal ideas though. In the freezer section of the grocery store you will find heat and serve meals like pot roast, beef tips, etc. They are ready in 4 mins and minute rice is ready in 5 mins. So you and your son could have a nice meal with little effort. There is also shredded BBQ chicken and BBQ beef ready to heat and serve for sandwiches. I also like the Southwestern chicken strips for quesadillas. I also buy the boxed Chef Boyardee Pizza. You prepare the dough and add what ever ingredients you like. If you grill you could grill several pieces of chicken (or what ever meat) and freeze much of it. I will marinated a 10 or so chicken breasts and freeze most of it. They when I need to put a meal together the hard part is simply thawing the meat out. I sometimes cut some of the chicken into small pieces and add it store bought spagetti sauce and cook penne noodles - instead of regualar spagetti. I also prepare the packaged Alfredo noodles and sauce and instead of having it as a side dish I add my cut up chicken to it (maybe some sliced almonds) and have Chicken Alfredo as my main dish.

Well I've rambled enough. I hope I've helped. Have a Merry Christmas.

T.

Maybe your appreciation for veggie soup will be your key. The high water content in soups make you feel full much faster than other kinds of food. You will eat less. More water in your diet will help clean your system of the bad preservatives in fast food. Since you like it anyway, why not start eating it as much as you possibly can stand it. And since it is the homemade kind you like, there is a lot of room for creative potential (changing out the veggies, the herbs, adding different dairy condiments: parmesan cheese, sour cream, etc.) and thus, creative satisfaction!
If you never saw the movies "Fast Food Nation" or "Super-size Me" you should watch them. It may sting to hear those messages but it will feed your motivation for change as well. They are INTENSE. All the best to you!

You can do it!! I have always hated fruits myself, even as a child. Only thing I would eat was berries and bananas. So I was so needing to loose 75 pounds myself. I took it one week at a time, one fruit each week to try. I found now that I am an adult and put my mind to it, I did it. I now eat all kinds of fruits every week. So it can be done, I know. Keep an open mind and try something new every week with your son too. He will learn to be a much better eater if he sees you eating your fruit and veggies too.

N.

HEY coNGRATULATIONS!!
Seems like you have a plan and determination and what you need is encouragement and also probably learn how to eat fruits or veggies. Which are definately very healthy and beleive or not taste great!! just give theme chance. I would suggest tha you try to find some good recipes and ways to eat them so you get used to the taste and learn that they can be eaten in so many different ways. I think if you just cook some broccoly or just eat a say, a plain apple or so, you may not like the simple taste right away. Start buying first a fruit salad at the super market. Why? beacuse you have a mixt af all of them and ussualy they are very sweet. Get a bowl and eat it with your son. Make Kabbobs with the fruit to make them fun,dipp them in some low fat YOGURTH if you must, don't fall for the caramel or cream cheesse based dips.Do the same with vegetables, steem or grill squash, zucchini, some bell pepper,yeallow and red. You can add for taste after they are ready Benacol (instead of butter) with some salt and pepper for great taste. If you grill them you can also grill some chicken and cut it into pieces and also make kabbobs alternating, chicken , a piece of vegetable etc.
I would get a easy to make recipie book, and start trying it. I am sure you'll learn to like them.
I wish you all the sucsses in the world!
Mery Christmas!!

A.

Hey Tiffany,

I would recommend doing low carb for a while. I started low carb last year when I found out my brother was getting married, and in 6 weeks lost 20 pounds. It really helps the weight come off quickly, and as long as you don't over do it when you start adding carbs back to your diet you shouldn't gain the weight back. At this point I have lost about 35 pounds, and unfortunately I haven't exercised at all. It's also easier the more you have to lose. It's not the easiest way to lose weight because you have to make your mind up that you aren't going to eat carbs, but once you get your mindset on it, you will do fine! Not to mention that once you see the weight melting off you won't want to do anything to stop the progress! Good luck with the weight loss, if you have any questions just send me a message I'd be happy to talk to you.

I lost 35 lbs before my child and then 60 after my child using Weight Watchers. After the baby I lost the 1st 40 just knowing what to do (which it sounds like you know, too) but the last 20 took support.
The main thing is to keep track of everything you eat. You'd be surprised what the little things add up to.
I still ate fast food for lunch nearly every day while loosing weight. You just have to pick the right things. There is a great website that has menu items with so many restaurants in it. Go to WWW.DWLZ.COM and click on the Restaurants link. You can choose the lower point stuff when you eat out. For reference, your weight and height would be around 26 points and less as you loose weight.
I don't count points anymore, but I try to do what's right. And teaching my daughter good eating habits is what keeps me on the straight and narrow (literally). Best of luck to you.

Two words: Weight Watchers! It worked for me and now that I'm pregnant again I will use it after this kid too. Trust me, you don't have to eat anything you don't want to and you can still eat out. It just encourages you to make smarter decisions and control your portions. The meetings are super kid friendly and if you can't make it to the meetings, they now have the online program which I have heard is pretty cool. Good luck!

M.

I had lost about 50# four years ago and have kept it off except for 10# that I seem to play around with. I eat smaller meals more frequently,but my biggest change is that I eat much slower and less amount of food per sitting. My friend told me about this when she lost a lot of weight. It takes time before your brain realizes that you are full,therefore when you really slow down your eating, you will eat a lesser amount of food. One of the challenges as well is to stop eating when you feel comfortable. I used to eat until I was full, now it is easy for me and feeling full is uncomfortable. Your stomach over time will shrink as well.

Tiffany,
Sounds like you like food fast but it doesn't have to be fast food, as someone else suggested fruit on the go is natures fast food. Apples, bananas, grapes and oranges are all great to stick in your bag washed and easy to munch on also granola bars and other whole grain snacks are an easy way to quench a hunger attack. The thing about alot of fruit is they all taste diffrent so a red apple is diffrent than a green one and so on, just go to the store and pick one of each color because color tells you a bit about what vitamins they contain. Talk to a the produce guy at the store and ask whats ripe and came in in the best shape and price is another good way to judge whats in season, the least expensive usually means its in season. Almost all fruit and veggies adhear to these rules: no bruises, firm skin, gives to gently pressure and it should smell like what it is for instance a pineapple should smell sweet like a pineapple and a orange should smell bright and fresh and so on. Don't be intimidated and look at it as an adventure, oh and one last tip those international markets have some of the best and most ecletic produce for half the price of the chain groceries. Good luck!

I have the perfect solution to your problem Tiffany. There is a product on the market right now called Juice Plus. It is a combination of 37 fruits and vegetables. This is like taking vitamins. It comes in capsules, or a drink. You take it on a daily basis. It is available for children also. Go to Juiceplus.com for more information. I have been taking it and I feel great. I have not been over-eating and have no cravings. Good luck and I hope you find a solution very soon.
L..

I'm working on losing 40 lbs so I understand. The best thing to do is no nibbling and be kind to yourself. Get a digital scale so can rejoice everytime you drop even a tiny bit of weight. Good luck to you and find a veggie to love!

Hi,
I noticed in one of the responses someone suggested using Crystal Light. This is a huge diet no no. Splenda, Sucrolose, Aspartame, are horrible for your body. This is a sweetened Chlorine. Your healthy alternative is STEVIA. It is liquid can be found at most health food section of a store.
Eat every 3 hours, but only 2 cups of food at a time. When you get up in the morning 15 mins before you eat, squeeze a half of a lemon in a glass on water, this starts the acids in your stomach so it helps digest food. I have had a horrible time loosing weight, these are little tricks that I have learned.
Hide veggies in your food. If you make a meatloaf grate a carrot and put it in with the meat. You won't even taste it!
Hope this helps. Good luck.... don't loose your motivation!!

I have a soup recipe for you since you like soup and this is one my children will eat. Boil a chicken and let it cool. Take the fat off the top of the water you boiled it in. Slice up a cabbage into small slithers and throw it into the water. Dice up a couple of carrots and put them into the water. In a pan, put a teaspoon of olive oil and when it gets hot, put in a diced onion, diced celery and diced garlic. When that gets soft, add it to the soup. Add in a can of diced tomatoes. Pull the chicken off the bones and add it to the soup. Put in a tablespoon of red wine vinegar and a tablespoon of dill.
And my teenagers also like this fitness drink as well: Mix in a blender 8 oz of mango. You can use fresh or from a jar. Then peel a lime and try not to break the peel so you can use it for garnish. Squeeze the lime juice into the blender. I also add another teaspoon of lime juice from a bottle. Next add 4 teaspoons of brown sugar and then 1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut milk. Add 4 tablespoons of protein powder. Turn on the blender for a few seconds. Then add a cup of apple juice and blend again. Moisten the glass with water and then turn the glass upside down into grated coconut to get the rim of the glass coated in it. Then put ice in the glasses and pour in the drink. Put the lime peel and a slice of mango on top for garnish and serve with a straw.

Eat baked, broiled or grilled meat...and the veggies you do like..however you will get bored with it if you dont open yourself up to other veggies..With the water add Crystal light powder in it..It comes in many flavors..That way you will lose weight and you are still eating healthy.
Leave mcdonald alone...

Hi Tiffany, I would love to say it is easy. Mcdonalds will pack it on quick. I am trying to cut back on my fast food eating too. I need about 20 more pounds after my 2 boys. One thing that helped me before I was pregnant was the gym and drinking a slim fast shake anytime I felt hungry. Make your trips to McDonalds once a week and get a Racheal Ray express meals cook book. They are great and all under 30 minutes to prepare. Another thing that I have done is quit drinking coke and tea. lots of belly sugar there. I lost 6 pounds in a week from jsut drinking water. One more thing. Go to www.provida.com and do your body type and figure out the foods you need to eat for your body type. it is called the 6 week body makeover. and it works by using food to lose weight. thei kit is kind of expensive for a diet plan but I have 2 of them if you would like to try it I can mail one to you.
K.

Im also losing..taking a while but just altering my eating habits has helped. I cant knock weight watchers b/c Ive never tried it but I have tried PHC and all they did was monitor my eating and weight and ask me if I had done it..for 200 a month I can do that MYSELF. I'm not for paying anyone to monitor me...I think you can lose weight without going broke...

The only real way I've found to lose weight was to research all the ingredients in the foods that I really liked to snack on. I was incredibly surprised at what I found.

Anything with "hydrogenated vegetable oil" or anything "hydrogenated" is horrible for your body. It's like injecting crisco straight into your veins.

I totally love veggies and fruits. I have a husband who doesn't. So I puree his veggies and put them in chili, hamburgers (very small amounts but, hey! he's getting a little something, right?), and any type of meat dish that he likes. He'll eat french cut green beans but only out of a can which has absolutely NO nutritional value. I puree fruit and put them in cakes and desserts that he loves.

Try a different recipe each week from the food channel. They have great ways to disguise your fruits and veggies and oh! so tasty!

Hi Tiffany,

You don't have to give up anything EXCEPT the dangerous stuff.(And you should give that stuff up anyway.) Eating meat and potatoes and sugar and stuff is perfectly okay if you don't eat the processed foods. Once you start eating better quality food, you won't crave the bad stuff. Go watch "SUPER SIZE ME" and that will scare you away from McDonalds!

My husband has lost 110 pounds by a good vitamin regimen, healthy food (not bland, tasteless stuff), and only slightly changed his activity level. He completely quit drinking carbonated drinks also. The key is getting healthy. The weight WILL fall off.

I speak on weight loss, nutrition, cancer prevention, heart disease prevention and toxins in the home. If you would like to talk I would be glad to share what I know. The body is a wonderful machine that works best with good fuel. It's not hard to lose weight if you really want to do it. And think of the benefits your son will have.

Best of luck,

M.

Just a note on the McDonald's thing... I'm trying to lose 5 or 10 lbs... and I find when I'm out running errands and don't have time to go home for lunch before picking up my kids, I end up at Mickey D's. When you are on the road and REALLY hungry it's hard to resist. When you are out and about, try bringing some healthy snacks ... keep them in the car and it might fill you up at least enough to be able to resist. Good luck.