New and HELP

[moonlights]

Sorry if this goes through twice, the site is being odd for me.

Anyway I'm new and after failing miserably in Jan and Feb I need to get on the wagon tomorrow and I'm hoping this site will help me along.

Please add me on mfp: my username is moonlights and I really need inspiration.

I also need some tips on low calorie (pref 400 cal and under) but big meals. I am at uni during the day and snack then - usually 2 alpen light bars and a bag of quavers - but need proper filling things at home, and things that don't take much effort as I'm not a good cook and have chronic fatigue so usually have little energy.

I have a few medical problems so I can't do restrictive diets like Atkins or Cambridge.

I am 5'2 and about 14.5 stone. I'm going to try 1600 calories a day as I need a certain amount of food. And of course I'm a bit of a gannet!

All tips greatly appreciated!

 

[KatiePillow]

I have recipe for a really nice turkey lasagne which is about 350 calories per portion, It takes a while to make but I made one and cut it into 4 to store in the freezer.
It's suprisingly easy to have an under 400 calorie meal, you just need to make the right choices on meat and pad things out with veggies.

I'm sure you'll be able to stick to calorie counting, I'm a university student too, and I find it suprisingly easy (unless I get a whiff of curly fries) Maybe swap one of your alpen bars for carrot sticks, or an orange.. just because they contain more nutrients (a large naval orange is only 69cal, which I know isn't a lot less than an alpen light, but it's so much better for you - (says she who just finished a bowl of sorbet)

Good luck anyway, will add you on MFP

 

[moonlights]

Thanks Katie the alpen bars are amazing for fibre which is part of why I have them, as well as to fill a choc craving, but think I might take a satsuma along too.

Other than that tomorrow I'm planning on having a low fat mushroom risotto (ready meal) at about 390 cals, and heinz veg soup & a slice of linseed bread with dairylea. Undecided on breakfast, will depend if I have time. & maybe an alpro soya chocolate dessert (120 cals) in the evening, or a banana.

Just worried I'll still be hungry.

 

[futuremrsoodit]

Stir fry is cheap, low cal & easy to make, also I tend to have weight watchers soup and ryvita, pitta bread filled with chicken and salad,

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins

 

[KatiePillow]

I was going to get some of the alpen bars, the one with fudge looked amazing, but at £1.99 for 5 it was a bit steep

Sounds like you'd be under calories with that plan anyway? Don't worry about being hungry, that's what I always did.. and I ended up eating more than I should have.
I tend to have yogurt and a banana in the morning, about 3 tbsp of yogurt and a banana is 160 calories.
I then have a snack about 10am, lunch at 12/1, afternoon snack and then dinner.. and then evening snack
If you allow for those snacks then you won't end up hungry and you'll not end up binging. When I first started I wrote out a weeks meal plan, and I found that really helped me, I didn't always have the snacks when I was supposed to, but it meant I didn't hoard my calories and feel starving all day and have 500 or so left at the end!

Do try to have something for breakfast though, really helps.
Have you decided on a weigh in day yet? Best day of the week when you've got a loss

 

[Legomom]

Eggs you can a make a big old ham omellette and salad for well under 300 so you could have a few oven chips or some cheese with it? ( I think cheese and eggs is a disgusting mix personally!!!)

Chicken breast new pots and loads of veg either grill and boil or you can roast with herbs and fry light.

Prawn couscous and salad veggies.... I love love this!!! You can use a few brown pasta twists instead of you like. Make your couscous with stock or the new curry oxo cubes for extra flavour.

A pizza made with a wrap as the base low fat mozzerella and some jar pasta sauce as the red sauce. Top with whatever you like

Stir frys you can use pretty much any meat/sauce with lots of beansprouts. I buy cans of water chestnuts for about 50p and I love em!!!! If you want use real ingredients not processed then use fresh ginger chilli garlic and a good pinch of Chinese five spice instead of a packet sauce maybe a splash of Oyster sauce too.

Tomato based curries are really good too. Onions chickpeas peppers and your choice of meat, packet of dry spice mix and a tin of chopped toms make the basic sauce.

Can't think of any others as I'm tired lol

 

[moonlights]

Thanks for the ideas so far guys. I think I'm going to have to get creative with some veggies. I saw someone mention butternut squash chips, which sound good. I've never really made stir fries or curries before, but when I get a high energy day I might give one ago.

I also have some zero noodles, they're calorie free so I can just add passata and cheese.

Hopefully it won't take me too long to get the hang of this and get losing. Starting in the morning so weigh in day will be Thursday.

 

[moonlights]

Found marks and spencers count on us vegetarian moussaka. 400g for 280 cals! Amazing! Just waiting for that to cook. May end the day with some cals left!

 

[KatiePillow]

Well done

I meant to ask.. what are the calorie free noodles?

 

[Legomom]

Well done

I meant to ask.. what are the calorie free noodles?

Zero noodles? They're noodles made with a Chinese plant thingy (can't blooming remember the name) and they have no calorie content. You can google em. They are a bit pricey and a bit rubbery but I know a few ppl who love them!!

 

[moonlights]

Shirataki or konnyaku noodles! They're made from yam root and are pure fibre so they have no carbs or calories.

They're not like egg noodles, more like rice noodles in flavour and a little rubbery but they're very filling and good with a sauce. Some people hate them but I think they're okay. They're very popular as a diet food in japan.

Well I'm 200 calories under target today and going to sleep pleased!

 

[KatiePillow]

Ahh, I've never heard of them.. I've heard of spaghetti squash, and thought that might be what you were talking about, but awesome

 

[moonlights]

I'd like to try spagetti squash but never seen it in the shops.