Can I just say, and I'm just being honest...

[mlmooney89]

Sorry I read this thread from newest first so I missed joods comment when I replied.

Joods depression can do things to you that you would have never thought possible. You didn't "let" this happen, you didn't say fuck it I don't care, you were hurting and it just happened. You didn't do anything wrong you are human. I agree with CL in that you are taking the right steps to help yourself and that's all that matters.

[Joods]

Thank you. I just feel so sad over this. Today - with what I made for lunch - a lot of people wouldn't think that 3 ounces of chicken is a lot of food and on its own, it isn't. But if I add two ounces of shredded low fat cheese, by weight, fills up a six ounce bowl, by looks. So it's a lot more than I care to eat. But I have a portion size thing I have to go by and this is what makes it difficult. Where does five ounces of sugar-free jello fall in this? It's neither a protein, a fruit, a veggie, a whole grain or a healthy fat.

I'm allowed:
7 servings of protein. 1 oz = 1 serving.
3 servings of dairy. They give examples that go from 1 cup of skim milk (yuck) to 1 ounce of fat free cheese.
2 servings of fruits. A serving is the size of a tennis ball.
2 servings of veggies. 1/2 cup cooked is a serving. 1 cup raw is a serving.
3 servings of whole grains. I don't eat bread. I'm not a fan of it. This one's gonna be challenging.
2 servings of healthy fats. 1/8 avocado is a serving. Who only eats a sliver of an avocado?

I need help.

[brewer]

The weight loss clinic wants me to eat three meals a day, based around a 1200 cal. per day diet. I don't know how to accomplish this because I have way too many questions about it that they didn't have time to answer.

There are a lot of 1200 diet plans on the net, here is one: www.md-health.com/1200-calorie-meal-plan.html

What are your questions? I believe we have a nutritionist here at AF.

[J a c k]

[Joods]

The weight loss clinic wants me to eat three meals a day, based around a 1200 cal. per day diet. I don't know how to accomplish this because I have way too many questions about it that they didn't have time to answer.

There are a lot of 1200 diet plans on the net, here is one: www.md-health.com/1200-calorie-meal-plan.html

What are your questions? I believe we have a nutritionist here at AF.

Good site, but if you notice my previous post, I'm only allowed x number of servings per protein, fruit, veggie etc. I can't have more than two servings of fruit. As per the dietitian at the weight loss clinic, 1/2 of a banana is equal to one serving of fruit. So looking at the website's suggestion for day 1 calls for a serving of fruit juice, an orange, a banana, and a piece of fruit. That already puts me at five servings of fruit - three over what I'm allowed. Also, day one there are no proteins listed. I am required to eat 7 servings (7 ounces, divided) of protein per day.

This is why this is so hard. It's easy to find 1200 calories in stuff. Not so easy to follow the serving requirements by the doctor and the clinic.

[The Valkyrie]

[Shell B]

Joods, you don't have to eat bread to get your grains. You can get whole grain pancake mix, whole grain waffles, steel cut oats, etc.

[Joods]

Joods, you don't have to eat bread to get your grains. You can get whole grain pancake mix, whole grain waffles, steel cut oats, etc.

Thanks Shell. I'll look into this.

[KevinM1]

Judi, is your diet carb limited, too, or just calorie limited?  As a diabetic, I've found some very low carb, yet tasty forms of bread-like things in my area.

We have a chain of stores in New England called Market Basket.  Their store brand reduced calorie sliced bread has only 1-2 carbs and 35 calories/slice, and comes in a ton of varieties (italian, white, oatmeal, multi-grain, whole grain, etc.).  It actually tastes like real bread, not cardboard.

There are also low cal/low carb sandwich wraps.  I forgot the brand I use (it's in an red-orange package, and brags about being made with flax seed oil), but they're great.  Some lettuce, cucumber, cheese, deli turkey, and condiments (I use a tomato basil vinaigrette) and you have a big, filling, yummy sandwich for not a lot of calories or carbs.  It's enough to satisfy me for 5-6 hours.

Also, look into protein powder.  You can find it in a lot of places... definitely in a place like GNC.  It comes in a variety of flavors (generic, vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter), and can be something of a flour substitute.  I wouldn't do a 1:1 swap, but you can bake with it.

Dunno if this will help, but I hope it does.

[The Industrial Atheist]

Joods, however far you are from where you want to be there's always somewhere better you can go. About a year or two ago I also wore a size 3x. I'm down 2 sizes now.
You can reach your goals, Joods!

I have heard that gaining weight when you don't eat enough is a thing. Sorry you're going through that right now. I think I may have had that a little bit once or twice in the last few months.

Thanks IL. I started measuring out my food this morning. I pushed myself to eat two hard boiled eggs for breakfast. For lunch, I'm having 3 ounces of chicken breast with a tablespoon of dressing and 2 ounces of shredded cheese. I'm really not all that hungry, but I know I have to push myself to eat something.

That doesn't sound like much.   But good luck on your efforts!