Dieting tips, low cal snacks, ways to boost metabolism

[TeachMe]

I've been dieting for 2 weeks now.
I've lost about 8 lbs.
I also have a little outside help from the doctor for an appetite suppressant. It's mild, not very strong at all, but it helps some.
He has a diet clinic and I have to go weigh in every 2 weeks, and I have to keep a daily journal of what I eat totaling daily calories or they won't let me weigh in.
He also will only let us have the appetite suppressant for about 2 or 3 RX's then we have to be off of it for a while. So he watches us closely and it is well monitored to stay on his program.

So I was wondering if anyone else is currently dieting and if we could get a thread going for everyone to offer their dieting tips, low cal snacks/easy to fix meals, exercise tips, what you do to boost your metabolism?
Anything that is helping you might help someone else.

I just had a SouthBeach lunchable, that is 2 tortillia shells, topped with ham and turkey slices, grated cheese and mustard. It is 220 cal.
These would probably be really economical to fix by buying the ingredients yourself and just as low calorie.

Another good one to fix that would be low cal would be refried beans, topped with grated cheese and tomato sauce, wrapped in a tortillia shell.

I have some of that Nutrisystem food, but I don't like it, but I bought it, so I've got to use it.
But I think I can come up with low calorie stuff just as well as nutrisystem.

Years ago when I did another weight program, they had a recipe for a frozen pineapple smoothie........
I think the ingredients were about a TBSP of powdered milk, some crushed pineapple, some low cal sweetener and crushed ice. Mix in the blender and it makes a great frozen low cal smoothie. Haven't made any of those in ages, so I think those are the ingredients. Maybe someone else knows??

So what are YOU doing on your diet?
Got any tips or low cal recipes for easy to fix meals or lunches?

[lisaann]

I keep things like cut up fruit and veggies around to munch on. I try to have a little something every 2 hours too keep from overeating. Sugar free Jello Jigglers, homemade hummus as a dip, hard boiled eggs, pickled red beets, homemade yogurt with a Tablespoon of granola (very filling) are a few things I can think of off the top of my head.

I am currently trying to help my dh lose 100#'s. He is very set in his ways and is having a very hard time changing his eating habits. One of the first tips I gave him was to change one thing at a time. If you do too much at once it will discourage you and you will quit. I encouraged him to start off with completely staying away from fried foods and only take one helping of everything at a meal. This was a HUGE and difficult change for him! :panic Once he makes these changes a habit then he needs to step it up a notch and change something else like "no doughnuts". :tape :rolleyes After that step it up another notch......you get the picture. You didn't gain the weight overnight so don't expect it to come off overnight. Slow and steady wins the race and becomes life-long habits. :thumb :hug

[Betty]

I like a half of peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a yogurt with splenda for breakfast, on a slice of high fiber bread.
I keep fresh fruit and those 100 calorie snacks for snacking. Low fat popcorn is also a good one. Lisaan is correct, you are better off losing slowly.
There is now fat free ice cream that is pretty good, but you have to measure it and be honest about how much you are eating.
betty

[TeachMe]

Great tips so far! I see some I want to use.
And I also eat something about every 2-3 hours, and that DOES keep me from pigging out at meal time.
I also have a tendency to have a blood sugar that drops if I don't watch it, and I can get really weak in like a matter of seconds. Eating a very small snack or small meal every 2-3 hours helps to avoid a dropping blood sugar.
I like apple slices, and baby carrots. The beets are a good suggestion, too.

Does anyone have the walking videos by Leslie Sansone?
I have those and I'm going to try that for some exercise.

[Eternally]

I am wearing clothes I couldn't fit in last summer! Granted, they are a little tight, but they are zipped!

I have been exercising a LOT and trying not to eat unless I am hungry. And then stopping when I am not.

I got a meat and rice and a vegable and a piece of cornbread at the cafeteria today and I ate some around noon (first food all day) and some around 4 and STILL have 1/2 of the cornbread and everything left.

1 thing helping me is seeing the results so quickly, and the fact that our sr pastor recently did a talk on taking care of our bodies and not overindulging and several pastors have slimmed, AND that we did 10 miles of strenuous mountain hiking a few w/e's ago and that REALLY has my heart pumping and craving to burn!!!!!

[Betty]

You should always eat breakfast. Not eating breakfast slows down your metabolism.

[Seemomgonuts]

I am a low carb-er so I snack on hard boiled eggs, almonds, string cheese, cut up cooked chicken, sf jello, 1/2 a low carb protein bar, dill pickle, or a thin slice of ham rolled up with green onions and cream cheese inside. Those things are great between meals. :nod

[lisaann]

or a thin slice of ham rolled up with green onions and cream cheese inside. Those things are great between meals. :nod

My mouth actually started watering when I read this. :lol2 :thumb

[Rebekah]

A tasty breakfast or snack is to mix an individual lowfat 4 oz cottage cheese and mix an individual (snack size) can of mandarin oranges. Add a little Splenda and cinnamon. Tasty!

No sugar added instant hot cocoa is good.

Make ranch dip from lowfat plain yogurt mixed with the ranch powder to use with veggies.

Thinly sliced cucumbers layered on sandwich bread with a smear of low fat butter or plain yogurt makes for a tasty sandwich. Or sliced tomatoes layered on a crusty baguette. Either way, you get veggies.

Skinny Cow brand frozen ice cream and cheese is good.

Top your salad with a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar with Italian spices. Or make a chopped salad and use pico de gallo as a flavorful additive.

[Betty]

For those of us who do not like to eat a big meal in the morning, you could do like I do and divide your breakfast in half. I eat part when I get up and the other half a couple of hours later. This morning I had a 100 calorie yogurt and coffee when I got up. The an hour and half later ate a half of peanut sandwich. I find if I skip breakfast that end up eating too much at lunch.