MENA diet/exercise thread

[~Jackie~ 30]

Ok ok,,,I gained a few pounds over the holidays. Damn them cookies.

J

[Nutty 2]

I guess I can share my weight battle issues on MENA for a while.

My problem is my environment.....I have no real self control and I usually only suceed in losing or maintaining weight when I travel or live in India. The reason I do so well in India - I hike 3 to 4 hours a day, eat local foods which are veggie and lentel based and have a social life. Food takes on less importance.

Here in USA, I work, sleep, work, sleep, not much else. It's dark when I leave for work and dark when I get off work. It rains all the time because this is Portland, Oregon. I am depressed and I miss my husband and my former existance in India.

But it is the New Year..So I'll give it a shot. Gotta look good for my hubby when he comes!

[Nasturtium 500]

I totally get that, Nutty. In Jordan I always lose a ton-- firstly bcause I have an iffy gall bladder, so I don't eat the same meat, meat, meat, fried, fried diet like they are-- I pick more... and secondly because I'm working and I'm going up and down a wadi maybe 4-6 times per day. That's a few miles and in a steep environment. works wonders on the fat!

[sereia 0]

same here... in NY i walked so much i could eat and maintain myself a lot better than CA. here i sit on my ####### all day, walk to the car, sit in the car, walk to some place, and sit there.

*yawn!

[tnh9479 1]

I made the decision in September to go about losing weight. I started a low carb, low fat diet and have lost 50 pounds since then. I have plateaued over the holidays, but I consider it a great feat to really look at what I eat now and to not binge eat. My New Year's resolution was to really use the recumbent bicycle we bought about a year ago. That is my plan for today!

50 lbs!? Wow! Congrats!

50lbs is awesome! Congrats! If you dont mind my asking, do you eat carbs in veggie/fruit form? If you dont, how do you get energy? Just curious because the times that I did try to be low carb I felt lethargic and was wondering how people stuck to it...

I did low carb before and lost a lot of weight. Then I got married and let myself go. So I decided around the time of Ramadan that the time was now. So when my husband started fasting, I started my diet. I had read about this specific diet in Woman's World magazine and decided to give it a try. There was a one-time fee to join the website. I love the women I have gotten to know from it.

As with any low carb diet, you have an induction phase where it is only protein. That should be short lived (like a week or two at the tops). Then you add some lower carb fruits (berries and apples are great for this and my favorites) and some of the lower carb vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, greens, etc). Do I follow the diet precisely? No. I add in things when I crave them (no white objects or sweets though). The main thing I have found is portion control and, as strange as this may seem, eating enough calories to keep the weightloss going. There is nothing more eyeopening than entering your daily diet into fitday.com (and it is free). It keeps me honest with myself.

Twila

[Jenn! 918]

Lunch time! I'm going to take the stairs instead of the elevator!

[~Jackie~ 30]

Low carb and lots of water works good for me. Also sparkpeople.com If anyone wants to fire up a support group there, I am in. It's free and keeps me accountable.

How'd those stairs work for ya jenn?

J

[Jenn! 918]

How'd those stairs work for ya jenn?

I feel skinnier already!

[sarah and hicham 3]

How'd those stairs work for ya jenn?

I feel skinnier already!

I can already see the change in your face.

[Jenn! 918]

How'd those stairs work for ya jenn?

I feel skinnier already!

I can already see the change in your face.

Indeed. The pounds are melting away.

[Nasturtium 500]

Has anyone gotten into natural cheese? I noticed I use a ton less cheese (I love cheese more than I love family... ALMOST) if I use the organic cheddar (sans yellow dye). The flavor is just more potent. Cheese can be a problem for me.

[polarbear 0]

I guess I'm in for now... mentioned to the hubby how if he keeps making me fatty foods and guilt tripping me into eating the entire plate (you shouldn't waste food and I made it for you ) I would be getting fat soon..... he told me to ride a bike to work NOT my favorite solution when I JUST FINALLY got a car

[Alhamdulillah 0]

I'm on the seefood diet... I think everyone's familiar with it

[sereia 0]

here's a great healthy recipe i made for my clients. i love it! i think MENA husband's would like this also.

red snapper with thyme, tomatoes, and olives

Servings: Makes 2 servings.

3 large plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 shallot, chopped

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 lemon slices REALLY thin

2 6- to 7-ounce red snapper fillets

10 Kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives, pitted, halved

Freshly steamed rice (use brown rise or even quinoa)

Combine plum tomatoes, shallot, and chopped thyme in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cut 1 sheet of aluminum foil about 18 inches long. Place on work surface. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil in center of aluminum foil. Place red snapper fillets side by side in center of aluminum foil. Top with sliced lemons, then tomato mixture. Sprinkle with olives. Drizzle fish with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Fold foil over, enclosing contents completely and crimping edges tightly to seal. (Can be prepared up to 6 hours ahead; refrigerate.)

Preheat oven to 450°F. Place large baking sheet in oven and heat 10 minutes. Place foil packet on heated baking sheet. Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Open foil packet over bowl to catch juices. Serve fish with juices over rice or quinoa

Nutritional Information

Per serving: 407 calories, 21g fat (3g saturated), 80mg cholesterol, 333mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 46g protein

*if you want to make this even less fattening i would put a teaspoon of really strong extra virgin olive oil instead of a tablespoon. for even less fat you could leave out the olives. (but i like them. hehe)

Edited January 2, 2008 by sereia

[Jenn! 918]

The Ghirardelli squares at my desk keep staring at me.

I hate them.