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<\/a><\/p>\nI was always very lucky, ate like a madwoman and maintained a low weight and size 6 figure. Until……..my 30’s then it fluctuated, by 5 to ten pounds. I had some very stressful incidences over the last few years that had me “stress eating”. Not healthy. I knew when\u00a0 I put my mind to it and when I was ready,\u00a0 I wold get in the zone and get serious about losing a good 20-30 lbs. And about two months ago, that is exactly what has happened.<\/p>\n
I have found the internet to be priceless in helping me with ideas, tips, motivation etc…..There has never been an easier time to lose weight with so many healthy options at our disposal and with more and more people thank the lordy, being more health conscious.<\/p>\n Most restaurants are now focusing much more on healthy lower calorie meals and are more conscious of serving sizes, another huge plus for anyone wanting to watch it.<\/p>\n The irony here is that two months later I have dropped about 15 pounds, feel great, have more energy but rarely feel hungry. I am not a big exerciser but I do walk at least 3-4 days a week and I am constantly on the go. Being active is super important in addition to watching what you eat.<\/p>\n I am doing what is referred to as smart eating (high protein, low fat and low carb), until I am comfortably full never allowing myself to get ravenously hungry (danger zone). I have really changed what I buy, keep in the house and as a result my husband is kind of doing this too. So it’s become a really healthy move for my entire family…..<\/p>\n (Not saying this is the holy grail for diets but it has worked very well for me)<\/p>\n About 3-4 days a week, I will sautee whatever vegetables I have on hand (mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, zucchini) and add that to sauteed tomatoes and then egg whites (love Egg Beaters in the carton, so easy)!<\/p>\n The other days I will have a bowl of Kashi cereal with non fat milk and some kind of berries. At the end I will take one mini Babybell (light) and chop it up and sprinkle it in. If you really want to indulge you can add one of the 40 calorie slices of multi grain bread or a wrap and make a breakfast sandwich. Coffee…always and lots of water!<\/p>\n Egg whites with yellow tomatoes, mushrooms and bellpepper (water with Crystal Light lemonade) which now I have found to be too sweet so stick with water and lemon (and of course my coffee)!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Normally almost always a salad or if I am at a restaurant, a chicken or fish dish with lots of vegetables. Most salads I opt for one with lots of vegetables and protein which will fill\/sustain me. I also eat the 80\u00a0 calorie wraps with either tuna or fresh roasted turkey piled with vegetables, and a side of hummus and veges…it is quite filling!<\/p>\n I love alfalfa sprouts and they are a great addition the any kind of sandwich. A local market sells really good low fat vege tuna which I buy weekly, I get an 80 calorie wrap, fill it generously with\u00a0 tuna and load it up with alfalfa sprouts.<\/p>\n Add carrots and a mini hummus and it makes a great meal!<\/p>\n \u00a0This salad below is my newest most favorite salad…recipe at bottom. It is super healthy, very filling, low calorie and can be made ahead of time. This is the dressing (yogurt based) above for one of my favorite salads below, click here for full recipe<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n This salad below is green leaf with kale, almonds, cabbage, avocado with lemon dressing and I had fresh roasted turkey on the side<\/p>\n I often will marinate chicken breasts (several) and grill them for 10 min and then keep them for a few days to make quick salads or sandwiches-<\/p>\n You can get virtually any dressing and marinate chicken in it, for 30 minutes to an hour-<\/p>\n This salad was where I threw in whatever I had, grilled corn, grilled peppers, radishes, 2 types of lettuce grilled chicken, yum! It’s fun to experiment<\/p>\n LOTS of water throughout the day. I carry a bottle at all times and love both flat Poland Spring for me and carbonated, Pellegrino and grapefruit or lime Perrier…I drink water literally all day long.<\/p>\n I carry around a little bag of dry unsalted almonds, mini carrots, sometimes one of the 80 calorie brownies to make me feel like I am not missing out:) Those mini portions of humus are great snacks and my favorite brand of multigrain crackers is Crunchmaster…they are soo good! I would eat them even if I was not on a diet.<\/p>\n Once or twice a week I treat myself to a glass of Rose, typically on weekends. But I order a big bottle of Pellegrino too and pour half wine and half water. Its a Rose spritzer, very light and you feel like you are getting two glasses:)<\/p>\n Dinner mostly consists of either a big salad, some kind of grilled chicken, fish, and always lots of vegetables (grilled with\u00a0 maybe a bit of olive oil and salt) and when home, once or once or twice a week a bowl of Kashi cereal with fruit (its surprisingly very filling and satisfying).<\/p>\n I buy fresh vegetables every week and try to hit local farmstands when in season so that I always have a lot of hand<\/p>\n Vegetables are a huge part of my diet, they are almost nothing in calories and if you have enough they can fill you up more than you might realize<\/p>\n I grill corn and then shave it off the cob and add to salads<\/p>\n Nothing like a summer tomato off the vine with basil<\/p>\n Here is a salad of simple mixed greens, avocado and tomato with the trusty little Mason jar with the lemon and olive oil dressing-<\/p>\n A BBQ we made for the family, I had 2 of the chicken burgers (no bread) and a yummy vege kebob..didn’t feel like I was missing out at all<\/p>\n A healthy serving of fresh fruit is always a good idea, satisfies the sweet tooth. I took one of my 100 calorie brownies warmed it up and put blueberries and raspberries on top….felt like I was having a decadent treat!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nSo I wanted to share some of my tips and would really welcome yours!<\/h3>\n
Breakfast-<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLunch-<\/h3>\n
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A few takeaways that have worked well for me-<\/h3>\n
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