Is Snacking All Day Instead Of Meals Unhealthy?
March 9, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
When I started to lose weight, I ate three meals per day AND I snacked in between meals. Snacks were never high-calorie foods, but low-calorie AND low-fat foods – typically it would be things like baby carrotts, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers or other vegetables. I’d also add fruit to the mix and preferred apples and grapes (watch grapes as they are high in natural sugars).
But I didn’t stop there – I would have snack crackers, but checked the labels to ensure that they were not high in fat or salt.
Other snack ideas are nuts - preferably un-salted, pretzels (in limited quantities – NOT the whole bag).
I also made sure that I drank plenty of water to keep myself hydrated.
Eat Food – Lose Weight!
May 26, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
When I first started dieting – years, and years ago, I thought that the best way to lose weight was to starve yourself. So I’d skip meals – breakfast, maybe lunch but then would really sabotage myself as dinner would be HUGE and since it was such a large meal, I’d feel tired after eating and rather than exercise I would plop down on the couch and sleep or watch TV.
This went on for years, until I tried some other programs – which succeeded in helping me loose weight – but I promptly put the weight back on after I left the program.
Then FINALLY my doctor said “do or die” and I made complete lifestyle changes. No diets!
I started eating regular meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I snacked, and snacked, and snacked until I was so full that I couldn’t eat anymore! Snacks consisted of crackers and cheese, carrots, cucumber, fruits like strawberries, melons, kiwi, oranges, apples and grapes. But I didn’t limit myself to the same boring stuff day after day. I’d try mixing it up and adding stuff like bran buds or yogourt. I’d also have cereal as a snack.
Variety is what really helped me lose 100lbs in one year. And now that I am back to a variety of foods, I’ve lost about 15lbs in around 4 months. Not to shabby!
On top of eating less food, more often I also started drinking a lot more water. I found the water more refreshing that having a soda pop. In fact there were times when I would be craving a soda and may give into that craving only to find that I still had that craving. I drank some water, and found that the craving was not for soda, but for water or rather something cold and refreshing.
The soda pop just slows you down – makes you sluggish; but the water is really refreshing! Even now, I tend to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day.
Regular meals, that are part of a lifestyle change will do more than any fad diet will ever do. Although I always hated it, I did count calories. For example, a donut and coffee for breakfast? Probably about 600 calories. How about cereal with milk, fruit and tea? Probably around the same BUT I’ll feel full longer!
I had three main meals, then would snack between meals. I found that this was the best way to keep me on track.
Here is to your health!
Mohamed
