Diet Time!!! I'm starting, you're invited...

brava Donat, I’ve reached similar conclusions—reworking recipes to suit my needs is quite the hurdle. Since eggs and butter aren't on the menu, I make my cakes without them—using whole wheat flour, unsweetened fruit juice, skim milk and yogurt, Splenda as a sweetener, cocoa powder, cinnamon, carob, carrots... there is so much you can work with if you get creative.👍

For instance, a honey cake can be a great dietary option... or I’ll make a crust out of egg whites with Splenda and a few walnuts or almonds (though I swap some for wheat germ—mostly due to calorie counting). For the filling, I cook semolina with skim milk; instead of butter, I fold in low-fat cheese and various fruits—the result is delicious, and it won't threaten my arteries or my waistline. I believe I posted several of these diet-friendly recipes over on Gastronomy—under the Christmas desserts section...

As for my daily meals—here is what today looks like:

breakfast (around 6:30 AM) — oatmeal, skim milk (0.9% fat), a handful of blackberries, a dash of cinnamon.
snack (right now, at work) — two peaches.
lunch — early afternoon, depending on when I wrap up at the office—a vegan savory pie (mix half a pound of low-fat cheese, two 0.1% fat yogurts, mineral water, and baking powder; lay two prepared pastry sheets on a lightly greased pan with the edges hanging over, tear up the remaining sheets and mix them into the cheese and yogurt mixture, place in the pan, cover with the bottom sheets, and bake—sprinkling with water while baking so the crust doesn't dry out too much).

snack (an hour after lunch) — a diet carrot cake—I baked this three days ago; these types of cakes tend to hold up well in the fridge.

dinner (never after 7:00 PM) — one thin slice of whole wheat bread, a tomato, and some bell pepper!

My breakfast is pretty much a ritual: some toast (about 50g) with just a touch of butter and jam, paired with a white coffee. For lunch, I already had something ready at 6 this morning—collard greens lightly blanched and sliced into diagonal strips, sautéed in olive oil with three crushed tomatoes and a bit of garlic, then simmered low and slow. I paired that with chicken pan-seared in two tablespoons of olive oil, seasoned with sage and a splash of white wine until it gets tender over low heat. For an afternoon snack, I’m grabbing some blueberry yogurt cake from the freezer (I don't have time to bake daily). Dinner will likely be melon and prosciutto—and I never eat after 7 PM during the summer. Throughout the day, I'll stick to watermelon and peaches for fruit.

ironnomad14 said:I guess I'm becoming more convinced that blood types play a role, and maybe everyone just needs a specific type of diet tailored to them.
People wouldn't believe it, but I don't actually eat much. I was even tracking my intake, and my doctor sent me for thyroid hormone tests once she saw how little I was consuming. They're right at the lower limit, but they're still within range.
All those rules—eating less, eating more frequently, cutting out fats—they just didn't work for me. My biggest success was actually doing a hospital diet for 15 days while riding my bike for 9.3 miles a day. Just 15 days of that bland food and I was down 4 or 5 pounds... though it was incredibly boring.
I've cut out carbs now, but it's not really an issue since I've never had a sweet tooth anyway. I love salads, so pairing them with meat works well, and I haven't gotten tired of it yet.
Fitness is a struggle for me. I can't stand aerobics—having twenty women jumping around trying to follow someone's lead isn't my thing. And honestly, I feel a bit self-conscious going to the gym when everyone else seems to have such perfect bodies. 🙂
Cycling is the only thing that works for me because I can just put on some music and zone out without worrying about anyone else. 🙂

👍

So, I was reading this one forum member's post on another thread where she was talking about her dietary changes—though, truth be told, her motivations were a bit different than mine... Anyway, I decided to implement those exact same nutritional shifts myself, and after pairing them with a good amount of physical activity, I’ve actually started seeing some real results!

So, basically, here are the changes I've made...
I have completely eliminated ALL sugar from my diet. First off, I prioritize all refined sugars, followed by everything else; I simply don't touch any juices, sodas, or alcohol. I stick to just one cup of coffee per day—though, if I’m being honest, it would probably be even better to cut that out entirely, but I just can't seem to shake the habit. I take it with organic 2% milk.
I have officially cut out all white carbohydrates. White rice, white flour, white pasta... that’s usually what people reach for. Personally, I try to lean toward brown rice or whole grain pastas made from various grains—basically anything that’s been processed as little as possible. I stick to organic fruits and vegetables, though I try to be mindful of my intake; I opt for more leafy greens rather than the starchier stuff. As for protein, I go for seafood, and I limit meat to just once a week, sticking mostly to poultry.
Strictly olive oil. .
Massive quantities of water. And some pure green tea—you know, for kidney cleansing. They say you should eat as much fresh produce as possible, but if I can't manage that, I’ll just steam my veggies instead. Otherwise, I try to stick to grilling rather than boiling or roasting everything. And absolutely nothing breaded.

I actually kicked off my dietary changes about six or seven months ago, and through that process, I've managed to shed around 45 pounds. Beyond just watching what I eat, I stay quite active—lots of walking, some cycling, and I find myself climbing stairs several times a day (I should probably mention that I live on the fifth floor of an apartment building without an elevator). Every single day, I commute to work by bike, traveling from the eastern side of town all the way to the western side. So, there's a good number of miles logged on the bike daily. It’s a slow and steady process, but the weight is definitely melting away... 👍 🙂

And that’s that. Woke up on an empty stomach and feeling totally weak, hahaha... But look, I'm gonna be whatever I want to be, end of story!!!
Sean Martinez34 hit the nail on the head regarding support; my folks at home are already getting pretty frustrated since my weight has been the main topic of conversation for the last 9 years, oh my God... I honestly wonder how much of a pushover I am, making myself and everyone else suffer just because I crave a decent slice of pizza.
stormylynx4, regarding habits—props to you. It seems like Gerald Kern77 was saying yesterday how certain foods just became repulsive to her; when I first started my diet—a drastic one, I'll admit—I didn't touch bread or anything with a strong flavor for 4 months straight... I dropped 16 lbs, so my mom decided to reward me with pizza... Man, forget that, I took one bite and felt sick to my stomach... I don't want to get back to that point. Like you guys said, we don't have to give up everything because that just makes the cravings worse, but having a small "light" pizza once a month is plenty for me. I know I'm just telling you guys what you already know, so don't get mad, but it feels like I'm just talking myself through this and trying to stay encouraged! 🙂
stormylynx4, please tell me how you prep your meat because that bottom layer is driving me crazy... I pour sauce over mine, but I can never get it tender... And if you could only see how well my pizza dough is coming along, mmmm... 🎉
Frank Hughes56, come join the club, just do it... Ugh, I love it when my stomach is empty, I'm a completely different person, you guys!!!
Anyway, I'm off to scarf down some oatmeal and then clean the apartment—God, I hope some guests show up soon... The rain cleared everything out and chased them away...
Later... 😍

In all seriousness, I have been on a diet since Monday because I am being quite vigilant about my sugar and fat intake. I am paying close attention to what I eat and at what times, while also trying to be more active... It is just that I feel I ought to follow a more structured dietary plan that might instill some truly useful habits, such as eating at consistent intervals and... well...

But regardless... I will continue to follow the discussions on this forum...
kiss

Mark Stewart4 said:And that’s that. Woke up on an empty stomach and feeling totally weak, hahaha... But look, I'm gonna be whatever I want to be, end of story!!!
Sean Martinez34 hit the nail on the head regarding support; my folks at home are already getting pretty frustrated since my weight has been the main topic of conversation for the last 9 years, oh my God... I honestly wonder how much of a pushover I am, making myself and everyone else suffer just because I crave a decent slice of pizza.
stormylynx4, regarding habits—props to you. It seems like Gerald Kern77 was saying yesterday how certain foods just became repulsive to her; when I first started my diet—a drastic one, I'll admit—I didn't touch bread or anything with a strong flavor for 4 months straight... I dropped 16 lbs, so my mom decided to reward me with pizza... Man, forget that, I took one bite and felt sick to my stomach... I don't want to get back to that point. Like you guys said, we don't have to give up everything because that just makes the cravings worse, but having a small "light" pizza once a month is plenty for me. I know I'm just telling you guys what you already know, so don't get mad, but it feels like I'm just talking myself through this and trying to stay encouraged! 🙂
stormylynx4, please tell me how you prep your meat because that bottom layer is driving me crazy... I pour sauce over mine, but I can never get it tender... And if you could only see how well my pizza dough is coming along, mmmm... 🎉
Frank Hughes56, come join the club, just do it... Ugh, I love it when my stomach is empty, I'm a completely different person, you guys!!!
Anyway, I'm off to scarf down some oatmeal and then clean the apartment—God, I hope some guests show up soon... The rain cleared everything out and chased them away...
Later... 😍

For any kind of lean meat, just give it a light salt first. Then, heat up a tiny bit of oil—we're talking teaspoons here. I usually start by heating a stainless steel pan (skip the Teflon) and then add the oil once it's hot so it spreads evenly, kind of like when you're making pancakes 🙂 . Put the meat in the hot pan and cover it to prevent splatters. After a few minutes, flip it and turn the heat down so it simmers gently under the lid. Usually, the meat releases its own juices and cooks right in them. I can get chicken, veal, or rabbit almost perfectly tender this way without adding extra liquid. Toward the end, once it's nearly done, I might splash in some white wine, but since you're dieting, maybe try a little sparkling water instead. Feel free to use herbs, garlic, or lemon juice. It takes some practice, but this method means you aren't constantly adding liquid. The only catch is that it won't be ready in ten minutes.

Just a quick addition—for spreading fat across the thigh, a decent spray bottle works wonders (I have a Fackelman one, glass bottle, spray mechanism). It allows me to mist olive oil—the only kind I use—across a large area while using very little.👍

Umm... tell me honestly, did I totally blow it today...? Back when I was hitting the gym consistently, I used to eat tuna pasta with fresh cheese all the time, so I did basically the same thing today—except I tossed the cheese in a pan without any oil, drained every last drop of oil from the tuna, and cracked an egg right in there. And yeah, it was just regular pasta since I didn't have any whole wheat on hand, and it was absolutely pouring rain outside. 😛 And what about... McCormick...?! Please, someone just tell me it's okay to use it... 😕
Anyway, I'm gonna go finish up my book and then hit the laundry...
Goodnight, people... 🙂

Mark Stewart4 said:Umm... tell me honestly, did I totally blow it today...? Back when I was hitting the gym consistently, I used to eat tuna pasta with fresh cheese all the time, so I did basically the same thing today—except I tossed the cheese in a pan without any oil, drained every last drop of oil from the tuna, and cracked an egg right in there. And yeah, it was just regular pasta since I didn't have any whole wheat on hand, and it was absolutely pouring rain outside. 😛 And what about... McCormick...?! Please, someone just tell me it's okay to use it... 😕
Anyway, I'm gonna go finish up my book and then hit the laundry...
Goodnight, people... 🙂

Stick to low-fat cheese (around 12.5% fat), use natural tuna without the oil, and honestly, you might want to skip the egg or just use the egg white—especially if you're dealing with high cholesterol alongside extra weight. I frequently make tuna salad; I'll toss some veggies—either raw or steamed—into the pasta, and instead of mayo, I use non-fat yogurt. Tofu mayo has also turned out to be a solid option.

Gerald Kern77 said:Just a quick addition—for spreading fat across the thigh, a decent spray bottle works wonders (I have a Fackelman one, glass bottle, spray mechanism). It allows me to mist olive oil—the only kind I use—across a large area while using very little.👍

I actually saw that in an advertisement ages ago,
but I just can't seem to stumble upon it whenever I'm at the grocery store...

So, I actually managed to pull my jeans off today without having to unbutton anything or struggle with the zipper 🙂 For the first time in maybe 7 or 8 years, I’m genuinely feeling the progress... I still have a whole bunch of sizes to work through before I hit my goal pair, but it feels good 🙏

So, Day 4 is officially in the books. Everything is going fine, and looking back at yesterday, I don't think I made too much of a mess of things—though I seriously need to go grab some of that tuna in water. Honestly, cleaning out my pantry and fridge feels just like having to replace my entire wardrobe from scratch. 😉
It’s actually pretty hilarious; my closets are overflowing with clothes, yet here I am, living exclusively in sweatpants. Thank God for summer and elastic waistbands, right? 🙈 But look, I just wasn't ready to buy anything new. It felt like if I bought something, I was basically admitting defeat regarding my weight, and newsflash: I haven't! Actually, these sweats are doing me a solid. I genuinely love them regardless of the scale, but you know how it goes—you don't realize you're gaining weight until that waistband starts stretching, stretching, and stretching... I didn't even try last winter; I just went into full hibernation mode in my sweats, and then when I finally tried to squeeze into my jeans, oooop... No way, Jose. 👎
PEOPLE, GET OUT OF THE SWEATPANTS! Put on some jeans, a skirt... whatever!
Later...👋

ironnomad14, THAT IS JUST TOO MUCH...!!!!!!!!!! 🙏 se

Yeah, yeah... I’m honestly just laughing at myself at this point!!! Once again, I decided to take a "big leap" and once again, I completely blew it!!! Way to go, me!!! I don't even know how to deal with this anymore when my willpower is basically non-existent.
Everything feels totally pointless right now. I am so done with the constant setbacks and then the massive mood swings that hit immediately after I try to "fix things" with whatever quick fix comes my way!!!
Seriously though, how do you guys actually pull this off?!?!?! Is there even any hope for someone like me?! Why does everything feel ten times harder now than it used to be?! Does anyone even have an answer for that?!
It feels like everyone here has stopped posting too, and I’m left feeling like everyone has just given up on me—and honestly, mostly I've just given up on myself!!!
But look, even though I’m spiraling right now, I think I’ll actually make that kale dish stormylynx4 was talking about for lunch...
I feel terrible, just awful... My period is coming and I honestly feel like I could bite my own head off!!!

Look, you have to stick with it; you really can't expect to see massive results after just four days. It’s a process, and eventually, you’ll actually start to enjoy the new diet and the workout routine itself.

Honestly, your best bet is to find a friend—a guy or a girl—to go on this weight loss journey with so you can keep each other accountable. If you don't have anyone like that available, then do this: grab a bigger mirror, take a look at yourself once in a while, and just admire how well things are coming together. Let that visual progress be your biggest motivation to keep pushing forward.

Mark Stewart4 said:Yeah, yeah... I’m honestly just laughing at myself at this point!!! Once again, I decided to take a "big leap" and once again, I completely blew it!!! Way to go, me!!! I don't even know how to deal with this anymore when my willpower is basically non-existent.
Everything feels totally pointless right now. I am so done with the constant setbacks and then the massive mood swings that hit immediately after I try to "fix things" with whatever quick fix comes my way!!!
Seriously though, how do you guys actually pull this off?!?!?! Is there even any hope for someone like me?! Why does everything feel ten times harder now than it used to be?! Does anyone even have an answer for that?!
It feels like everyone here has stopped posting too, and I’m left feeling like everyone has just given up on me—and honestly, mostly I've just given up on myself!!!
But look, even though I’m spiraling right now, I think I’ll actually make that kale dish stormylynx4 was talking about for lunch...
I feel terrible, just awful... My period is coming and I honestly feel like I could bite my own head off!!!

😘 😘 😘 😘

don't give up, you've got this 🙂
go back and read that very first post of yours 🙂
and as for the PMS, forget about it, just channel all that energy toward your goal
and why was it easier before? Look, it's much easier to say it than to actually do it.
so don't let yourself down 😘

I'm grabbing some burgers today... I mean, if I stick to the plan for two weeks and then mess up for just one day... it's not that big of a deal, right? I'll just get back to it for another two weeks... I guess it's just about taking two steps forward and one step back... maybe.

I don't know... maybe I'm just overreacting since I've been dealing with all this for years now... Thanks for the support, guys!!!
I just whipped up some kale, and mamma mia, it turned out so good that the whole family is practically fighting over their plates, hehehe... So glad I actually planned ahead for 😛
Anyway, I'm using emojis again, looks like things are looking up.
ironnomad14, I think you're onto something... Why shouldn't we treat ourselves?! Honestly, I only spiraled last night because I ate half a small pizza, whereas before I would've polished off an entire large one. I'm actually making progress, hihihihihi 👍
THANKS YOU GUYS!!! 😘

This is such an interesting topic!!
Honestly, I’ve thought about dieting, but nothing actually sounds appealing to me. Right now, I just stick to breakfast and lunch, eating whatever I want, and then I just burn it off on my stationary bike and stepper.🙂 Today, I set the timer on the bike for 60 kcal, which took me about 6 minutes and 20 seconds. I guess that means I’m making progress, since last week it took me more than 6 minutes and 45 seconds to hit 60 kcal... Anyway, I do this three times a day along with the stepper—which has this arm attachment thingy—but the main thing is that it isn't exhausting.
I really can't face going to a gym, and heaven forbid I try running outside (I think I’d literally collapse after 100m). I know this is going to be a slow process, but at least it means I won't end up with stretch marks.😉
According to my blood type (Type O), I should be eating as much meat as possible, specifically red meat.🤮 🤮
No way in hell... So far, I’ve tried hospital diets three times (all ended miserably—down 5 lbs, and on the last day, I actually passed out), some 20-day thing where you can't mix certain foods together and all that nonsense... AND ON THE 20TH DAY, YOU JUST EAT CANDY ALL DAY, so you're right back where you started.🙄
In the end, I just lost all motivation for any kind of diet because I love sweets and food in general way too much.😁
Hang in there, fellow hungry souls. Just imagine how great it'll feel when we can finally step onto a scale without being terrified of what it says.👍 👍

Hihihihih, nice one, Bryan Evans19 😁 Hey, about the running thing... I used to be just like you, totally terrified... But I finally forced myself to start at a snail's pace, just jogging as far as I could (like 50 meters) 😎 , then walking, then jogging again whenever I ran out of breath. After two months, I actually managed to finish a route of 1.9 miles without stopping once. I know for all the runners 1.9 miles out there, this probably sounds like nothing worth mentioning, but for me, it was huge—like a whole marathon 👏
When it comes to those aerobic workouts you're doing, keeping an eye on your heart rate is key, though you don't want to reach a point where you aren't feeling any effort at all. The faster your heart pumps, the more calories and fat you burn off... Just make sure you really work up a sweat!!! 🙂 I read somewhere that with cardio, the calorie burning doesn't really kick into high gear until after the thirty-minute mark, because that’s when your body finally warms up enough to start attacking those fat stores. I'm not entirely sure how much truth there is to that, but it sounds logical to me. Maybe try combining those three sessions into one or two? Or maybe instead of counting calories, just set a timer for 15 minutes and see how the burn feels... Anyway, I've gone on a total tangent here, not trying to act like a genius or anything, don't mind me... That's definitely not my style! 🙂
I'm feeling great today, actually. I managed to shake off the guilt because I stopped the manic binge-eating early enough, so things don't look nearly as bleak as they did yesterday!
Cheers, talk later... 👋