Sunday, October 2, 2011

Weight Loss Meals

I know a lot of people tell you to avoid all carbohydrates if you are trying to lose weight. I do not believe that is a healthy path to be on...nor is it realistic, even if they mean "starches" rather than true carbohydrates.

Instead, eat foods that provide you a balance of nutrients for optimum health. Give yourself a break--not every meal has to be perfectly balanced...look at what you eat on the whole. So in a given day or week are you eating enough fruits and vegetables, are you getting in healthy fats, etc.

Eat consciously, mindfully, rather than distractedly or unconsciously.

And include some carbs (yes, even "starches") in your menus. They help us to feel satisfied and avoid feelings of deprivation which can lead to binges later.

For example, for our mid-day meal today (it will be our main meal, which is common for us on Sundays these days since Mom has moved to town) we are having pork roast (very lean), baked potatoes and steamed broccoli. Yummm! Yes, there will be butter on the potatoes (I like my broccoli plain, thank you, but others in the family will add butter to their broccoli.) Or I may use EVOO and some Bragg's liquid aminos...I like that combination and it is healthier than butter.

And for dessert we have fresh strawberries...maybe the last of the year. :-(

What are you having to eat? Are you making a healthy choice today? Why or why not...no judgment, just want you to think about it and make the choice on a conscious level. There is nothing inherently wrong with making some unhealthy choices--as long as you recognize what you are doing and are in control.

4 comments:

sotm121097 said...

I missed reading your blog. I'm glad to see you back. I Hope everything is well. Today i'm working on just eating when hungry and stopping when I'm full. I'm not too focused on what i'm eating just yet. I will get there though.

Laurie Tossy said...

I'm glad to be back, too! I am recognizing that I probably won't be as regular about blogging as I once was due to other commitments. And I'm trying to okay with that! No good will come from it if I beat myself over not being "perfect" about blogging or eating.

Keep up your good work. I focus more on why and when I'm eating since those are my biggest issues. That alone may be all it takes for your weight loss success!

Hurray! You can do it!

Jo said...

I enjoyed this post very much! I'm struggling with losing the baby weight for a year now and when I get unsolicited tips all I hear is carbs, carbs, carbs! Yes, limit carbohydrates and starches. But they also need to be present as they are one of the brain foods. I would rather be healthy and smart than skinny and starving my brain :) Great post!

Laurie Tossy said...

Hi Jo--Thanks for visiting and the positive feedback. You are absolutely right, carbs are brain food...the brain uses "sugar" which it converts from carbs. The problem with so many diets is they restrict these sugars (which we should get mostly from complex carbs)and when we restrict them we then crave them...unless we are actually in starvation mode, which isn't something we can or should keep up for long term health!

Keep up the great work--aim for health and you can't go wrong!