Scheduling a Diet Plan
People often ask me what a typical day of eating is like for me. I already mentioned my incredibly awesome cinnamon toast (with a thin layer of butter) I have for breakfast. I also have about 4 ounces of chocolate milk – it helps down my medications in the morning, and, well, I like chocolate milk. It does contain a rather large dose of calories and sugar, so I have to be careful with it. Normal people who don’t have to worry about migraines can have fruit, eggs, cereal, oatmeal, all that other yummy stuff that is wonderful breakfast food. Whatever you have a craving for. I usually try to keep it around 200 calories.
Lunch during the school year is simple – usually either a 100 calorie yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit combo and then some sort of fruit and carrots. I try to keep lunch between 200-250 calories. If I’m at home, lunch is a little looser – maybe a salad, an avocado, leftover chicken, or some combo with fruit and veggies. This may end up closer to 300-350 calories.
For supper we usually have meat, fruit, and veggies. No bread or pasta, no prepackaged or frozen meals, rarely potatoes. I have found numerous recipes for chicken, pork, turkey, and even beef that are prepared simply without being calorie dense. I usually eat 6 ounces of meat and as much fruit and veggies as I want. This meal can be 300-600 calories or so.
Snacks- Some days I have a Sunbelt Oats & Honey Chewy Granola Bar (120 calories), popcorn, fruit, string cheese, a few almonds, yogurt, even 6-7 kettle potato chips.
If I want to really lose weight, I need to keep my calorie count less than 1000 calories a day – I know, it seems low, but it’s something with my genes and being old with a slow metabolism. Believe me I’ve been at this long enough to know. I can eat around 1200-1500 calories and maintain my weight. I did a calculation of how many calories I should eat a day, and that’s what I started with. I just had to lower it a bit to actually see results. My doctor knows my calories and diet plan, which we discuss regularly. Here’s a link to a formula to use:
http://www.calorieking.com/interactive-tools/how-many-calories-should-you-eat/
Now, I do have occasional meals which are NOT diet. But they are not over the top. I do not go out and get a 1000 calorie milkshake or a 3000 calorie meal. But I will indulge in pizza, a hamburger (sans one bun), fried chicken, or even have “a bite” of my children’s desserts. Usually these meals are not over 700 calories, which is not a deal breaker, and keeps me feeling like I can continue on my eating plan forever because I eat ‘real’ food.
