The popcorn that I use is Smart Balance. I don't put anything on it though.

The only other thing that I snack on is apples.

I use a program called Diet Organizer. You can find it at: dietorganizer.com
I think that I paid $30 for it. Until I started using this, I knew NOTHING about calories. I've learned a lot about them since. Go and check out the program because I rant and rave about it all the time. I could NOT do this without this program. It's a VERY good investment. It even charts your exercise, tells you how many carbs, protein, fats you've had each day. It's great! I love it.

On one of the reports from that program, I averaged for the past 5 days the
following:

Carbs: 34%
Protein: 43%
Fat: 22%

I'll try to find something for all of you regarding the fats.

The carbs that I eat do NOT include: white bread, white potatoes, white rice, or pasta. I also have to limit the "greens" due to being on Coumadin.

Just a point to make here: don't go eating a whole bunch of big green salads because they are Vitamin K and that helps your blood to clot! I don't think anyone want to end up with a blockage somewhere!

The protein that I eat is mainly the "extra vanilla soy milk" in a GNC protein drink. Anyone interested I can give the specifics on it. I eat a bowl of cereal (ONE serving) of either Atkins cereal or Hi-Lo - that also with the same milk.

For lunch I eat, 2 egg beaters, a piece of Ezekiel bread with raisin, and another Protein drink.

For supper, I eat a piece of chicken, or fish, or veal cutlet, maybe a good filet steak about every couple weeks - all this no bigger than my hand - and that's stretching it!

I do eat an occasional sweet potato. They are good for you.

Good luck everybody - since the 1st of October, I have gone from 144 to 124.5 lbs just from cutting out the carbs I listed above.

Here's some info on fat. It's rather cut and dry and boring in places but you need to learn about it if you want to go healthy. It would probably benefit you to copy and paste this and then print it off. You won't be able to remember it all!*!

Saturated Fats

This is the type of fat you should avoid in your diet. Saturated fat contributes to an increased risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer. No more than 10% of dietary fat should come from saturated fat. This type of fat is found primarily in animal products, especially red meats, lard, butter, whole-milk products, and the skin of poultry. Two vegetable oils, palm and coconut, also contain saturated fat. (We use olive oil)

Unsaturated Fats

These are the types of fat you should include in your diet. Multiple studies have found that these fats may actually lower cholesterol levels in some individuals, resulting in a decreased risk for heart disease. There are two main types of unsaturated fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. These fats are primarily found in vegetable products, such as olive, peanut, and sunflower oils, olives, avocados, etc.

Watch Out for Those Sneaky Trans Fatty Acids

This type of fat is created when extra hydrogen is pumped into unsaturated oil, which chemically transforms it from a normal liquid state (at room temperature) into a solid. This process is basically converting the oil into a saturated fat.

Trans fatty acids can be found in a wide array of processed foods and margarine. Any food with "hydrogenated oils" or "partially hydrogenated oils" on the label contains trans fatty acids. Some researchers believe such foods may actually be more damaging than regular saturated fats.

Eat More Fish with Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Two servings of fish per week may protect against heart and blood-vessel disease and may help prevent several types of cancer, including breast, prostrate and colon. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish, especially mackerel, Atlantic salmon, halibut and herring. Soybeans, flaxseed and green leafy vegetables also contain them. Supplements of omega 3 oil have not been shown to produce the same protective effect as consuming foods that contain them naturally.

How Does Cholesterol Fit In?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is often linked to lifestyle choices, such as poor diet, lack of exercise and/or high stress levels. Coronary heart disease occurs when cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance, clogs the coronary arteries. These small blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Cholesterol is found in all cells and is used by the body to make hormones and other important substances. Most of the cholesterol in our bodies is produced by the liver but some also comes from animal products in the diet.

The American diet is high in saturated fats, which tend to be high in cholesterol and may increase the risk of cholesterol building up in the arteries and causing a heart attack. The best way to control cholesterol levels is through a combination of a diet low in saturated fats, to decrease harmful low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and regular exercise, to increase the healthy high-density lipoproteins (HDL). It is important to have your cholesterol levels checked annually. A desirable total cholesterol level is 200 or less. (Mine was only 226 when I had my heart attack at AGE 49)!!

Good luck everyone! If there's anything else you want info on, just let me know.

LET'S EAT HEALTHY! That means no junk food and no fried foods.

I eat hardly nothing with sugar in it. We do buy the Sugar Twin substitute and also that in brown sugar.

ya know I thought of that :confused: I took that info off aol lifestyles and I was wondering about that fat But according to that info it says you have to eat a certain amount of fat?? anyway here is the link let me know what you figure out? http://diets.aol.com/americatakesitoff/knowyournumbers

I was watching The View on Wednesday and they had these flavor sprays on there that are supposed to be real tasty and fat/calorie free. The ladies seemed to enjoy them, especially the sweet ones and the buttery one (which they smothered on popcorn). Here is the summary from their website. Might be interesting to check out. They even had BACON flavored spray...YUM!!!



Next, David Burke, award-winning Chef, restaurateur, author and now inventor, challenged the Ladies to see if they could taste the difference between his Flavor Sprays and the real thing. This brand new invention, which has been dubbed one of Time magazine's most amazing inventions of 2005, allows you to enjoy all the flavor of your favorite fatty foods without adding any calories or fat! For more information on David Burke's Flavor Spray Diet, please log onto flavorspraydiet.com or visit the ABC TV Store.

This is from the ABC TV Store page...

The David Burke Flavor Sprays™ contain zero calories, zero fat, zero cholesterol, zero carbohydrates and FDA-approved flavoring. Whether you are on a low carb, no carb, low fat, no fat, no sugar, point system, or counting calorie diet, the Flavor Spray is right for you!

By eliminating your toppings, gravies, dressings, and sauces the flavor spray provides the flavor that most diets are missing. No longer when you diet will you crave the sweet taste, or yearn for flavor when you count calories. Just spray our flavor spray and you will no longer need to satisfy your craving for flavor. Follow a low carb meal regimen, and allow flavor spray to add the toppings and sauce to your meal.

Hmmmm, I ordered 3 of them... parmesan cheese for veggies, bacon flavored and butter flavor for popcorn. Hope they're worth the money. Check it out for yourself.

See Pat's note right above yours.
 

I agree with the figures in your previous note if you are eating only the healthier fats described in Pat's note! You just have to choose wisely to get the healthy fats, not saturated or transfats.

I am proud of you, JBarile, for all the research you are doing in your quest for healthy eating!! Hooray! How's everyone else doing? :D

Well I can tell you one thing I would not make any attempts to meeting that fat content requirement! :eek: I have problems staying away from fat foods Now!! :rolleyes:

LOL, me too!
 

Let's just continue to be our fat-conservative selves, lol!! ;)

Amen! I second that!

Keep up the good work!

Do you want weights tomorrow?

Avacado??
 

I have been curious about avacados? Iv'e read where they are fattening to No they are not? does anyone really know this answer! not just by hearing because I have been hearing too! :) Just the facts :D I really would like to end the controversary on avacados?

:thumbs up Maybe I should research the facts on this I was hoping maybe someone has already found some documentation on the subject?
I would just hate to never be able to have another avacado based on hearsay!

Don't forget to get me your Sunday Weight!
 

Either PM me, email me, or post here to celebrate with all of us!

Hope everyone is doing well with their new healthy eating plan! :D

Is everyone trying to do some form of exercise? Maybe some walking?

It takes points away from the calories that you've eaten for the day!

Good luck to everyone with their weigh-in today.

Avocados (total Fat Grams = 22 G!!) Way Too High!
 

RAW AVOCADO
Serving size: 100 grams, 1 ounce (28g), 1 cup, cubes (150g)
1 cup, pureed (230g)1 cup, sliced (146g)1 avocado, NS as to Florida or California (201g)

Total Fat: 22 g
Sat Fat: 3 g
Trans Fat:
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 11 mg
Carbohygrates: 13 g
Dietary Fiber: 10 g
Sugar: 1 g
Protein: 3 g

Vitamin A 4 % Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 2 % Iron 5%

FAT GRAMS IS WAYYYYYYY TO HIGH! I'D STAY AWAY FROM THEM FOR AWHILE OR EAT VERY, VERY SPARINGLY.

Wow you ask for facts! you get the facts!! Pat you are just to amazing!! this is the first time I have seen an avacado be analyzed so that I can understand
it is a bad idea!!

You know that old saying that goes "What you see is what you get?" That's the way of the avocado spelled F-A-T ! ! !

You really didn't want it anyway, did you? LOL

OK....I CONFESS ~!

I deserve 20 lashes with a wet noodle !

I CHEATED :eek: :eek: :eek:

Last night I got up at midnight and had half a Nutty Bar......I think I was walking in my sleep.....it's my 1st time cheating since New Years DAY !

No...I take it back - I WAS walking in my sleep :)

THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKIN TO IT !! :D :D

(I really did cheat and feel SO BAD this morning..... but it was sooooooo GOOD !) oh and please don't use the Wet Noodle to punish me - I would be tempted to EAT IT !

Whack Whack Whack!!!
 

No, honey, I will NOT beat you because you only ate HALF the bar!!! If you cheated with HALF the bar, you deserve half my praise! You could have eaten the whole bar, but you did not! Congratulations!

My sweet tooth has a tendency to strike at odd hours as well. The other night I got up and made a mix of dried dates, dried cranberries, walnuts and CHOCOLATE CHIPS! The chips were only a few, and the fruit and nuts were the majority. But it did satisfy my sweet tooth.

Keep trying!!! You are doing just fine. :D

Ok...since you're praising me now I'm REALLY feeling bad

I CONFESS AGAIN - I HAD A WHOLE BAR - there are 2 in a package and I ate ONE. So technically does that mean I only ate half ? :rolleyes:

hehe....I'm so Guilty ! :p

Oh girl! We all have to cheat now & then. The secret is to find something with less calories, etc that won't hurt your body so bad.

I buy the Snyders Pretzel Rods. You can eat 3 rods for 120 calories. So if I wake up & feel hungry, I go to the pantry and pull out "A pretzel rod - one is only 40 calories". The secret is to eat small bites and eat it very slowly. Plus drink some water with it and it'll fill you up also.

Good luck, girl! Not 20 lashes with a wet noodle! Just "walk in my shoes" for a mile on the treadmill!! hahaha

Well...All I can say is I'm GLAD that ONE BAR is gone - I've been lookin at it for 2 weeks after I ate it's partner and now I don't have to sleepwalk dreaming of Nutty Bars :D

I have been working out and eating healthy for 3 weeks now and not one lb is shed....starting to feel pretty bad about myself over here :(

Now now now...
 

Have I mentioned that it took my body almost a full year to realize I had changed my diet?? And then the pounds fell off me soooooo quickly that I wondered if I was SICK!! My doctor laughed and said NO, you are just too WELL!

I don't imagine it would take that long for everyone, at least I hope not, so KEEP PLUGGING AWAY!! It's going to happen! And if you are giving your body the right foods, you are doing it not just for weight loss, remember, but for continuing health and well being!

HANG IN THERE!
:D

Bmi
 

Go to this website to figure out your BMI.

http://www.hackleyhealthmanagement.c...2/Default.aspx

Here's one for figuring your Basal Metabolic Rate to lose weight:

http://walking.about.com/cs/calories/l/blcalcalc.htm

hey you - 2 years ago I did it ....it tooke me 2-3 months but I went from 130 to 115 and was VERY HAPPY and felt great - I hardly saw a thing the whole first month but by the 2nd month - I started losing weight much better - and I'm probably older than you - I was 45 and went froma size 6 to a size 3 - only took 3-1/2 months...

Problem was - everyone kept telling me to gain some back - that's where I found my Carrot Cake addiction - trying to add a few pounds turned into many pounds lol !

WOW, Pat this is great!
 

Very nice! It really gives you some perspective on what it takes to lose weight! :D Thanks for posting!

Websites To Check Out Nutrition Label
 

I basically have 4 sites where I go to check the nutrition label for foods:

http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/

http://www.nutritiondata.com/

http://www.dietfacts.com/

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcom.../hg72_2002.pdf

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Website
 

http://rover.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/lifestyles.htm

Full of good things to read and learn about.

Figuring Your Target Heart Rate
 

To figure your target heart rate, go to:

http://www.health-news-and-informati...ibv/d21.shtml#

Maybe your just building muscle .We are here for you ..if ya need to sound off about it!

Free Foods ! Whoopee ! ! !
 

Is there anything in the pantry that is calorie-free?

Calorie-free is going to be a bit difficult to find, but the following 25 foods come pretty close:

1. 1/2 grapefruit with Splenda or Equal - 37 calories

2. 1/2 cup of most any melon - 30 calories

3. 1 lemon or 1 lime - about 10 calories each

4. 1/2 orange - about 30 calories

5. 1 peach - about 35 calories

6. 1 plum - about 35 calories

7. 1/2 cup strawberries - 22 calories

8. 2 scrambled egg whites prepared with non stick spray - about 30 calories

9. 1 stick of chewing gum - sugarfree OR regular contain the same 5 calories

10. 1/2 cup of cabbage - about 15 calories

11. 1 RAW carrot - about 25 calories

12. 3 florets of RAW cauliflower - 13 calories

13. 1/2 cup of celery - 10 calories

14. 1/2 large cucumber - 20 calories

15. 1/2 cup of eggplant - 13 calories

16. 1/2 cup of greens - 15 calories

17. 1 cup of butterhead lettuce - 5 calories

18. 1/2 cup of mushrooms - 20 calories

19. 1/2 cup of bell pepper - 15 calories

20. 1 cup of radishes - 20 calories

21. 1 medium tomato - 25 calories

22. 1/2 cup of turnips - 15 calories

23. 1/2 cup of watercress - 2 calories

24. 1 large marshmallow - 23 calories

25. Diet sodas, extracts, seasonings, spices, and hot sauce contain almost zero calories.

There is ONE zero calorie ingestible good-for-you and that\'s WATER.