Once you get your new habits down- Portion Sizes
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:25 pm
I have noticed a few newbies struggling with meals whether it's plating or over/undereating with their plates and weight gains.
I was reminded a few months ago (I can't remember who now) that if you are doing 3 meals a day, each meal needs to be 500-600 calories or thereabouts.
Now, I'm the LAST person who wants to be waving around measuring cups and writing down calories (I actually did that for 3 years with great success- from 206lbs to 170 in that time period- but I did plan snacks... and it was SO much work, I had a little notebook to keep track of it all and when I stopped counting and obsessing, I gained it all back plus 30 more!!)
It might be worth it to look at your food package and see how much an actual serving size is so you can estimate and get a meal with appropriate energy amounts. (Women should get 1800-2000 depending on activity level and weight loss and men 2000-2200). Don't forget to account for caloric drinks.
And I also notice myself that if I "balance" my meals- 1/3protein, 1/3carb, 1/3 veggie and/or fruit that my cravings during the day are next to nil (except during TOM, <ahem>) the fruits and veggies help a LOT, as they provide fiber and all kinds of goodies in their nutrients.
Now the last thing I want anyone to do is start counting calories or perfectly measuring their food, as that is just WAY too much work and too hard to keep up for very long.
But hopefully this will help someone else like it did for me, to get my plates right
Happy N days!
I was reminded a few months ago (I can't remember who now) that if you are doing 3 meals a day, each meal needs to be 500-600 calories or thereabouts.
Now, I'm the LAST person who wants to be waving around measuring cups and writing down calories (I actually did that for 3 years with great success- from 206lbs to 170 in that time period- but I did plan snacks... and it was SO much work, I had a little notebook to keep track of it all and when I stopped counting and obsessing, I gained it all back plus 30 more!!)
It might be worth it to look at your food package and see how much an actual serving size is so you can estimate and get a meal with appropriate energy amounts. (Women should get 1800-2000 depending on activity level and weight loss and men 2000-2200). Don't forget to account for caloric drinks.
And I also notice myself that if I "balance" my meals- 1/3protein, 1/3carb, 1/3 veggie and/or fruit that my cravings during the day are next to nil (except during TOM, <ahem>) the fruits and veggies help a LOT, as they provide fiber and all kinds of goodies in their nutrients.
Now the last thing I want anyone to do is start counting calories or perfectly measuring their food, as that is just WAY too much work and too hard to keep up for very long.
But hopefully this will help someone else like it did for me, to get my plates right
Happy N days!