Willing but unable to lose weight

MarcusFenix

Hey guys,

I'm in a bit of a pickle, im 22, 5' 7" and around 15 1/2 stone:eek:.

Ive recently giving up smoking after 9 years and want to lose around 2-3 stone which has slowly accumulated over the last 6 odd years, a trip to Chicago two years ago being the eye opener, or should I say the return home and point blank "christ the size of ya!" comments. Anyway I gave up the fags with the motivation of being able to be as fit as I once was, i.e. play a full soccer/GAA game with ease. Oh and about 5 years ago things got so bad I ended up in CUH with a burst peptic ulcer, for those of you not in the know....sbad!

Anyways since I quit ive put a bit of weight on, nothing to do with quitting, more of a healthy appetite really. Im now my heaviest and trying really hard to control my diet but I have a good few minor obstacles.

Firstly, and most importantly Ive always been blocky, but as soon as weight goes on I go from being blocky to fat, no middle ground.

Secondly, I haven't kept active due to college and ironically, lack of energy in the evenings. I was hitting the gym regularly about 3 months back for maybe 2 and 1/2 months but my diet was completely overlooked and I just put on weight again, yes some muscle but my belly persevered and eventually won out when I started work experience and had to give up, partly due to time but mainly due to diminished motivation. I now get up at half six every morning drive an hour to work...work...then drive another hour home, this doesn't lend itself to gym attendance!:(

My current diet is something loosely based on this:

Breakfast: apple, fruit n fiber, full fat milk, apple juice from concentrate.
Snack: Banana, tangerine.
Lunch: two pitas with ham and Dijon mustard, pot noodle, tangerine.
Dinner: Anything from a few baked spuds to a large omelette and maybe some natural yogurt with fruit.
Snack: tea and a few hob nobs.

I know this is probably too much but I have a big appetite, my gf was in weight watchers a few times and I decided to give it a try but was always miserable because I felt like I was depriving myself and it actually felt like the few failed attempts to give up the fags.

I need help!

Can anyone recommend something to curb my appetite?
And if anyone has any opinions on my diet that would be great too,

THANKS!:)

EileenG

That is an astonishing diet. I can't remember the last time I've seen someone eat so little protein and stay functional.

Seriously, start replacing some of the cereal/yogurt/fruit/spuds/biscuits/pita with good quality protein and some green vegetables.

MarcusFenix

what kindof good quality protein can be brought to work for lunch?

EileenG

Tinned fish and a bag of washed salad. Anythings better than pot noodle. If you have a microwave, cook extra at dinner and reheat for lunch.

MarcusFenix

well I do like tuna, what about if I ate a can of tuna between snack and lunch. What else would you recommend? I know being able to function is important but I also want to lose weight firstly.

brianthebard

Chicken, beef, lamb...I would've thought bring meat/protein for lunch was the easiest part.

MarcusFenix

Should be alright, I was just eating what I was eating for both handyness and cos I thought it was relatively healthy.:(

EileenG

Base your diet on food that rots. The majority of what you eat should be stuff that will go off if you leave it for more than a few days. Eggs, fish, meat, chicken, lots of veg, some dairy, nuts, fruit, small amounts of wholegrains. No sugar, no transfats, no processed food, no ready meals, nothing with a lot of ingredients, nothing with ingredients that belong in a chemical lab.

It's not difficult. Now, meat and fish are sold ready to eat, and fruit and veg are already clean when you get them. It's as easy to throw a steak on the grill or a piece of salmon on the pan as to put a frozen meal in the microwave.

lazywhole

Fair play to ye for giving up the smokes!thats the hardist bit and you have done it..its just that loosing weight takes time and good eating..2-3 stone allow about a year at least.. best of luck

MarcusFenix

EileenG wrote: »

Base your diet on food that rots. The majority of what you eat should be stuff that will go off if you leave it for more than a few days. Eggs, fish, meat, chicken, lots of veg, some dairy, nuts, fruit, small amounts of wholegrains. No sugar, no transfats, no processed food, no ready meals, nothing with a lot of ingredients, nothing with ingredients that belong in a chemical lab.

It's not difficult. Now, meat and fish are sold ready to eat, and fruit and veg are already clean when you get them. It's as easy to throw a steak on the grill or a piece of salmon on the pan as to put a frozen meal in the microwave.

Don't get me wrong I love cooking and that sounds class, I have no problem grilling/steaming etc. But I'm clueless with what I'm SUPPOSED to eat.
Thanks anyway for the advice!

menoscemo

If you stick to a diet of fresh meat, fish, eggs, fruit and vegetable, nuts, some dairy and some good fats (e.g. butter and olive oil) you can't go wrong.

EileenG

That!

Base your diet on quality protein, healthy fats and plenty of green vegetables. Fill the corners with fruit and wholegrains, but the majority of your meals should be things like eggs, fish, meat, veg etc.

Also, get into the habit of eating only when you are hungry. Right now, you are eating five times a day (and I'm guessing if someone offers out a few chips or whatever in between, you won't say no). It's unlikely that you are always hungry when you eat, sometimes it's just habit. Learn to listen to your body, and eat when you are hungry, but don't eat unless you are.

MarcusFenix

menoscemo wrote: »

If you stick to a diet of fresh meat, fish, eggs, fruit and vegetable, nuts, some dairy and some good fats (e.g. butter and olive oil) you can't go wrong.

Ok cool, how about 2 poached eggs and wholegrain toast for breakfast, random fruit and tuna for snacks and lunch? If so that's ok but my dinner is probably my major downfall, where could I get a few good dinner recipes?
Thanks!

EileenG

Eggs and whole grain toast is fine if you are maintaining. If you want to lose weight, ditch the toast and put them eggs on top of some wilted spinach instead. Or use them to make a mushroom and herb omlette.

For dinner, go for a basic meat/fish/chicken and two or three servings of vegetables. It's hard to go wrong with steak, but if you are on a budget, make your own burgers. Things like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, kale, chard, spinach, asparagus, etc all cook in the same sort of time that the meat does. Broccoli and steak are a classic, so is salmon and spinach.

Or you can get creative and chuck some veg and diced meat or chicken into a big pan and stirfry them. Or put them in the oven for a casserole.

MarcusFenix

Sounds good, thanks

amacachi

If you can touch the food or see it when you're buying it it's almost certainly good; fruit, vegetables you can touch, meats, fish, grains you can generally see. Hell they even seem to put a transparent window in the packaging of porridge to make this rule I thought of work. :pac:
If ya still feel clueless then get some vegetarian recipes and add chicken.

MarcusFenix

Thanks again, that sounds like a pretty good rule to keep in mind actually, nice one on inventing it!;)

amacachi

MarcusFenix wrote: »

Thanks again, that sounds like a pretty good rule to keep in mind actually, nice one on inventing it!;)

I think I did anyway, I'll be annoyed when some ****er makes a book out of it. :pac: