Diet: What to Eat & What Not to Eat..? Recepies

Use your toddler as an exercise weight.
Getting off the couch and doing things and getting your heart rate up is the best thing you can do for yourself. If you get enough exercise you can eat whatever you want.

I believe Garfield the Cat had it right: http://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1978/08/30 Diet is "die" with a "t".

Eat sensibly. If you are nursing, you need to have a higher caloric intake of course, but sensible.

It's all about portion control. Don't eliminate your fave foods, just have smaller portions of it. Example, if you crave a double cheeseburger and fries, have a powerade instead of soda, make it two portions and eat them a couple of hours apart, with a brisk walk after eating. Have your cake, just make it sensible. I made mine small portioned. One cup microwaveable bowl, 3 tablespoons fave cake mix, and just enough water to make a thick batter. Microwave one minute, check, and microwave 10 more seconds if needed. Let cool and enjoy with a nice glass of Whole Milk.
When I was nursing my son, I ate 6-8 smaller meals/snacks daily. I ate high protein breads(breadmakers rule!) l made breads where I replaced a cup of bread flour with high protein Amaranth flour.

Here was a typical day for me while my son was little.
I had 2 servings of Bob's Red Mill 7 grain hot cereal with cranberries(boiled in the water to soften them before adding the cereal), and agave nectar to sweeten it, a sliced apple, and a glass of Whole organic milk.
I had a serving of cottage cheese with a tablespoon of milled flax seed and pineapple slices(canned in juice, not syrup) and a glass of water for a snack.
I had an avocado, provolone and baby spinach sandwich with Amaranth bread, and a glass of orange juice for lunch.
I had a slice of that bread and yogurt butter with a sliced cucumber with a glass of water for a snack.
I had grilled chicken(with a rub made of garlic, black pepper, and a dash of hickory salt for smoked flavour), cut up and tossed with baby spinach, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds, cucumbers, and a ginger sesame vinaigrette with a glass of red raspberry leaf tea for dinner.
I had yogurt with a tablespoon of flax seed and blueberries as a snack with a glass of water.

I'm also fond of smoothies and milkshakes. I make mine a bit different.

1 brick extra soft tofu(or plain yogurt--I use Stonyfield organic)
1 cup frozen fruits of choice
1 banana peeled and sliced
I use just enough fruit juice to help it blend to desired consistency.
Add to blender and blend.
I have a deluxe magic bullet blender system and a full size blender. You can make smaller portions if you have a single serve blender.
If making milkshakes, add 2 tablespoons malt ovaltine or
vanilla carnation instant breakfast powder(if using milk or nondairy beverage)and enough milk or nondairy beverage of choice to blend to desired consistency.
My sister had gotten me Designer Whey natural whey protein powder, and I usually added a couple of scoops to my smoothie mix instead of the tofu.
The smoothies/milkshakes made up the other snack/meals with a half a dozen whole wheat crackers.

Remember, smaller portions over the day. Make sure you play(exercise) with baby to combine exercise and Baby play time with Mommy. I did "helicopter" stretches with baby, went on walks(weather permitting) with baby, I did beginner yoga stretches and light freeweights when baby was sleeping.

Hope this helps.

Just don't do artificial foods or sweeteners. I truly believe that we will find out they are the item that has caused so many of our kids issues nowadays. I think it is just safer and better for us to eat in moderation and not use fake foods.

I agree with a previous poster. It's all about portion control. I went on a "diet" in October of last year and I've lost 35lbs since then. I started out with the webiste Calorie Count to keep track of what I eat. I just make sure I keep under calories and now that I'm so used to what size portions I should eat I don't even think about it. I can't really eat too much because I just get full. Also I eat more fruits and vegetables, cut back on how much creamer I put in my coffee, measure out portions and read food labels. I also don't eat as much cheese as I used to. I don't go out to eat too often but when I do I opt for something healthier. Also I exercise every morning and evening.

ETA: I never drink soda or juice. I always drink water with meals, except for dinner when I drink milk. I still enjoy dessert but usually have a smaller portion.
Good luck!

Weight loss is a simple matter of calories in vs. calories out.
Eating healthy is helpful, but the short answer is...eat fewer calories to lose weight. It's less about what...more about how much.

Protein will keep you full as your body adjusts to consuming less.
I suggest tracking everything you put in your mouth for a whole day. You'll be amazed how fast things add up. Handful of chips here...that latte with breakfast...finishing kiddos mac and cheese, etc...

You need to eat 500 calories LESS each week in order to lose 1lb.
Track yourself for a week, see where you can make adjustments. Then it'll start to fall off.

I've tried WW and other diet plans or "ways of life plans" and I'd follow them for awhile and then go back to my regular bad habits of eating whatever I wanted. I'd not only eat some junk food , but I would also include really healthy veggies/fruits and because I did that, I thought, "I eat healthily" why can't I lose the weight....... :(

Fast forward, I now go to OA.. been losing about one pound a week ... It's been easy on the one hand because I think this time around , when it came to losing weight, I was ready to put the work into it, on the other, it's been the hardest thing I have done in awhile.

The 12 step really gets you to look at all aspects of being over-weight. Not just the physical. In the program, I've had to look at the emotional, physical and spiritual.. and let me tell you, sometimes it AINT pretty :):)

Not sure the program is for you (you'd have to online and check it out) but it's what is working for me... and as they say, the program works when you work it...

good luck in whatever program/diet you choose..