My Take on Diet...
So I get a lot of questions about my diet and I can't even remember them all right now so if you have one that I didn't answer just post it to the comments.
THE BACKSTORY:
When I first started I wanted the weight off and I wanted it off NOW. I started out trying to lose 2lbs/wk. This made my caloric intake 1200cal/day. That is just not enough for someone who works out as much as I do. The first two weeks I was STARVING and miserable. I would wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I was just dying of hunger. I did manage to stick with it and I did lose 2lbs/wk the first few weeks. I eventually reset MFP to lose 1.5lbs/wk, then 1lb/wk, then 0.5lbs/wk. I slowly increased my calories. With each increase I did notice a fluctuation up on the scale for a little while then the numbers dropped again fairly quickly.
HOW MANY CALORIES DO YOU EAT IN A DAY AND DO YOU EAT YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES?
I am now at 1500 calories per day + my exercise calories. I usually burn at least 500 calories each gym visit so I consume around 1900-2000 calories a day total. I DO eat back most of my exercise calories. I will let myself go under on some days because I know that I will always go over on the days I do not go to the gym. I never work out on Sundays and sometimes I miss a day during the week because of work or some other event. I just try to make sure everything evens out for the week.
ARE THERE CERTAIN FOODS YOU AVOID?
YES! I was a former sweet-a-holic and since sweets are my nemesis I stay away from them. No cookies, cake, candy brownies, etc. I know myself. I can never use moderation with those. I loooooove peanut butter and this is how I fill my sweet tooth. I eat it every day on toast with bananas. I also like the Fiber One bars, Oats and Chocolate is my favorite. The protein shakes are pretty yummy too. I do not cut carbs though. I still eat bread, pasta and rice regularly but in moderation.
ARE THEIR CERTAIN FOODS YOU EAT REGULARLY?
I eat the same breakfast every morning and the same snack every night.
Breakfast: 1 cup Fiber One Honey Oats, 0.5 cup Kashi Go Lean with Flax seed, 1/2 a banana, 1 cup of milk
Snack: 1 slice of toast, 4 tbsp of PB2 (mixed with almond milk instead of water), 1 tbsp of flavored peanut butter (the real stuff... right now it's cinnamon raisin swirl... mmmmm), with sliced bananas on top.
On the days I work out I usually drink a shake when I get home.
Protein shake: 3/4 scoop of Dymatize Elite powder, 1 cup almond milk, 1 scoop of PB2, 1/4-1/2 of a banana
Other regular snacks: apples, carrots, turkey breast (sandwich meat) with cheese rolled up inside, Lays light potato chips, boiled eggs, Luna bars, Fiber Bars, etc.
My diary is actually pretty boring. I eat the same stuff over and over. I have come to think of food less as something to be enjoyed and more as just fuel.
DO YOU STOP EATING AFTER A CERTAIN TIME A DAY?
Nope. I often eat my snack at 10pm. I don't think it matters one bit. I like to eat it late so that I don't wake up during the night hungry.
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