Comments : 32

Hello hope everyone had a wonderful and festive July 4th weekend! Ours was very relaxing, and though we had a hiccup in our plans for Monday it turned out fine. We had the most gorgeous weather, so no complaints!

Moving along and breaking away from interior design, fashion and all things pretty….yes I am talking about that dreaded word,  (enter Jaws music)….D I E T. Just the sound of it makes most shutter. So….this is the subject of today’s post and one I am betting most can weigh in on, no punt intended! I miss these posts where we “talk” and you chime in, so you can count on these more regularly on a whole host of subjects.

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I was always very lucky, ate like a madwoman and maintained a low weight and size 6 figure. Until……..my 30’s then it fluctuated, by 5 to ten pounds. I had some very stressful incidences over the last few years that had me “stress eating”. Not healthy. I knew when  I put my mind to it and when I was ready,  I wold get in the zone and get serious about losing a good 20-30 lbs. And about two months ago, that is exactly what has happened.

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I have found the internet to be priceless in helping me with ideas, tips, motivation etc…..There has never been an easier time to lose weight with so many healthy options at our disposal and with more and more people thank the lordy, being more health conscious.

Most restaurants are now focusing much more on healthy lower calorie meals and are more conscious of serving sizes, another huge plus for anyone wanting to watch it.

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The irony here is that two months later I have dropped about 15 pounds, feel great, have more energy but rarely feel hungry. I am not a big exerciser but I do walk at least 3-4 days a week and I am constantly on the go. Being active is super important in addition to watching what you eat.

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I am doing what is referred to as smart eating (high protein, low fat and low carb), until I am comfortably full never allowing myself to get ravenously hungry (danger zone). I have really changed what I buy, keep in the house and as a result my husband is kind of doing this too. So it’s become a really healthy move for my entire family…..

So I wanted to share some of my tips and would really welcome yours!

(Not saying this is the holy grail for diets but it has worked very well for me)

Breakfast-

About 3-4 days a week, I will sautee whatever vegetables I have on hand (mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, zucchini) and add that to sauteed tomatoes and then egg whites (love Egg Beaters in the carton, so easy)!

The other days I will have a bowl of Kashi cereal with non fat milk and some kind of berries. At the end I will take one mini Babybell (light) and chop it up and sprinkle it in. If you really want to indulge you can add one of the 40 calorie slices of multi grain bread or a wrap and make a breakfast sandwich. Coffee…always and lots of water!

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Egg whites with yellow tomatoes, mushrooms and bellpepper (water with Crystal Light lemonade) which now I have found to be too sweet so stick with water and lemon (and of course my coffee)!

 

Lunch-

Normally almost always a salad or if I am at a restaurant, a chicken or fish dish with lots of vegetables. Most salads I opt for one with lots of vegetables and protein which will fill/sustain me. I also eat the 80  calorie wraps with either tuna or fresh roasted turkey piled with vegetables, and a side of hummus and veges…it is quite filling!

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I love alfalfa sprouts and they are a great addition the any kind of sandwich. A local market sells really good low fat vege tuna which I buy weekly, I get an 80 calorie wrap, fill it generously with  tuna and load it up with alfalfa sprouts.

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Add carrots and a mini hummus and it makes a great meal!

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 This salad below is my newest most favorite salad…recipe at bottom. It is super healthy, very filling, low calorie and can be made ahead of time. This is the dressing (yogurt based) above for one of my favorite salads below, click here for full recipe

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This salad below is green leaf with kale, almonds, cabbage, avocado with lemon dressing and I had fresh roasted turkey on the side

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I often will marinate chicken breasts (several) and grill them for 10 min and then keep them for a few days to make quick salads or sandwiches-

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You can get virtually any dressing and marinate chicken in it, for 30 minutes to an hour-

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This salad was where I threw in whatever I had, grilled corn, grilled peppers, radishes, 2 types of lettuce grilled chicken, yum! It’s fun to experiment

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Snacks-

LOTS of water throughout the day. I carry a bottle at all times and love both flat Poland Spring for me and carbonated, Pellegrino and grapefruit or lime Perrier…I drink water literally all day long.

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I carry around a little bag of dry unsalted almonds, mini carrots, sometimes one of the 80 calorie brownies to make me feel like I am not missing out:) Those mini portions of humus are great snacks and my favorite brand of multigrain crackers is Crunchmaster…they are soo good! I would eat them even if I was not on a diet.

Dinner-

Once or twice a week I treat myself to a glass of Rose, typically on weekends. But I order a big bottle of Pellegrino too and pour half wine and half water. Its a Rose spritzer, very light and you feel like you are getting two glasses:)

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Dinner mostly consists of either a big salad, some kind of grilled chicken, fish, and always lots of vegetables (grilled with  maybe a bit of olive oil and salt) and when home, once or once or twice a week a bowl of Kashi cereal with fruit (its surprisingly very filling and satisfying).

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I buy fresh vegetables every week and try to hit local farmstands when in season so that I always have a lot of hand

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Vegetables are a huge part of my diet, they are almost nothing in calories and if you have enough they can fill you up more than you might realize

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I grill corn and then shave it off the cob and add to salads

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Nothing like a summer tomato off the vine with basil

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Here is a salad of simple mixed greens, avocado and tomato with the trusty little Mason jar with the lemon and olive oil dressing-

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A BBQ we made for the family, I had 2 of the chicken burgers (no bread) and a yummy vege kebob..didn’t feel like I was missing out at all

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A healthy serving of fresh fruit is always a good idea, satisfies the sweet tooth. I took one of my 100 calorie brownies warmed it up and put blueberries and raspberries on top….felt like I was having a decadent treat!

A few takeaways that have worked well for me-

  • Drink lots and lots of water, I add fresh lemon and lime almost always for that extra little something and I am convinced that all the recent compliments on my skin have a lot to do with my water drinking ( I love soda but have gone from being a habitual soda drinker to one a day) ditto coffee, one/two cups max.
  • Always have a little snack or two on hand, almonds, low fat/low salt crackers, carrots, cut up fruit or veges, a bag of Skinny Pop…it will sustain you between meals if you get hungry
  • If you are like me and generally do not eat or do not like breakfast, try to change that. It really makes a difference in how you approach lunch…trust me on that!
  • Be wary of salad dressings, the calories found in some are shockingly high and sometimes defeat the purpose of having a salad!
  • When you do have a salad always opt for some kind of protein, fish, chicken, it will really sustain you
  • I have really cut back on the olive oil usage for example if I am sauteing vegetables, I will add a drop then add a little water, you would never know the difference…I promise!
  • Every few weeks try on something that has not fit you in a while…TRUST ME that is one “trick” that will surely keep you on track. Nothing tastes as good as fitting in those small sizes again!
  • When you crave something sweet and feel like being bad….have a small stash of the low fat brownies (Glennys and Special K both make great ones) or a small Skinny Cow treat (all around 100 calories) It really allows you to feel like you indulging while staying true to your diet
  • One difficult challenge for me was getting over my equating seeing a movie in the theater with indulging in a big bucket of yummy theater popcorn….so last time I went, I brought two bags of Skinny Pop and a Skinny Cow treat. I am being totally honest in telling you I didn’t’ for a minute feel like I was missing out, I was eating the good stuff but better for you stuff:)
  • And once in a while when I want to retreat to my old habits, I do thinks like have a brownie for breakfast (only the 100 calorie ones) of course:) It allows me to feel like I am decadent and naughty it also changes things up just a bit:)
  • I make my own dressing for most of my salads which is so easy- I get a small Mason jar, add the juice of 1-2 lemons, about 1/4 cup extra light virgin olive oil and about 1/4 white wine vinegar, you can add a dash of salt and pepper, shake it up and store until needed, very fresh and tasty.
  • In the summer there is such a plethora of fresh fruit and vegetables, when we grill, I normally always a piece or two of chicken (or a few thin chicken breasts marinated) but really load up on the vegetables with fruit for dessert.
  • And finally I believe when something looks pretty, it will taste just a wee bit better. I like to put things on pretty plates/serving dishes, garnish it in a pretty way….even the simplest foods are elevated to a new level of pretty:)

 

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So friends those are my thoughts on that dreadful “D” word though now it doesn’t seem like such a bad word. Really! It is always hardest to begin and in that first week of no longer eating with abandon but once you start feeling that extra inch in your clothing….well that is all the motivation you really need.

I am not going to say there are not days I don’t crave  a slice of pizza or a bowl of pasta, there are. But they happen less and less and once I achieve my goal I will allow myself an occasional “treat” because frankly life is too short to not enjoy the good stuff. I just want to be healthy first:)

Thanks for stopping in…now it’s your turn to talk! Share your ideas, what has worked what hasn’t….anything related to diet. Until  next time….

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Tina,
Thanks so much for those great tips! I especially like the salad dressings.I never know what to put on a salad that doesn’t add up to alot of calories.
I too was a skinny girl but quit smoking almost a year ago and packed on better than 10 stubborn lbs.
I’m drinking more water and hoping to comfortably get back into my size 6 jeans very soon.
Love to Teddy,
Debbie

Thanks so much for the extra choices. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in March. I went to a diabetes clinic for 3 sessions & was amazed at all the things I had been doing wrong. Thus the reason for a 20 lb. weight gain over the past 4 years. I got myself on a walking schedule & changed my eating to low carb, non starchy veggies, & a lot of protein. I have lost 30 lbs. since April 1 & dropped blood sugar levels. We have to remember how great being healthy feels when we are tempted to over indulge our selves. Thanks again for the encouraging post!

You are an inspiration to get on board and do the healthy thing while the summer produce is abundant and gorgeous. Your platters look like works of art and I agree, if it looks pretty it’s far more attractive to the palate. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. Size six is looming !

Very beneficial and thorough post. Thanks for all the healthy, beautiful food ideas. You do a super job of motivation with all the ideas and pics. AFN

You are really something else. Like a gift from God. Thank you for this posting.
R.

Perfect timing! Last night, after a weekend of over indulging, husband and I set today as the day to get back on track. I did LOL over the listing of a “cup of lemon vodka-95cal”! Who needs dinner! ?

Tina, as you know from reading my blog I love sugar. Thankfully I have lots of friends and my Fedex and UPS man as well to give all of my treats too. Typically in anything I make I only have one bite of the piece cut for the photo and it is true what they say, you only need a bite.

I love all of the salads and grilled vegetables. I eat a diet very similar to thing, eggs for breakfast, high protein shake for lunch and chicken and veggies for dinner.

Have a great week Tina and keep up the grey work! I am sure that you look fabulous.

P.s. If you like flavored sparkling water try La Croix, they have a lot of grey flavors, my favorite is passionfruit.

Last year my husband and I both needed a kick start to getting motivated to lose some weight. With both of my kids out on their own, we decided to try Nutri System. We did it for a couple of months and it was just the kick we needed to get going. It was great for resetting your portion control and eating better. A year later he has kept off 25 pounds and I have kept off 20 pounds. Back into size 4 for me and it feels great. Once you lose that weight that has slowly crept on over the years, you realize just how much better it feels to eat healthy. Thanks for your great ideas that have worked for you.

Thanks for all the great advice and motivation. It is so inspiring to hear that your methods have paid off, as often when we reach a “certain” age, weight loss becomes so difficult. I know it has for me. I have a group of 5 friends that get together once a month for what we call our “Healthy Cooking Club”. We meet each month at a different home and the hostess picks a healthy theme, then everyone brings a dish to share and discuss. We have all learned a great deal and truly motivate each other to eat healthy. As you have proven, you can peel off the pounds by simply making healthy choices. Congratulations!

Chilled sliced sugar snap peas fresh from the garden, added to my salad of lettuce and avocado, give me a flavor change.

Scrabbled eggs folded over a wee bit of low fat cheese and salsa on top.

Lemon Love salad dressing or make your own.

Green tea or chai tea with a splash of milk.

These are my helpers……….

This is a great post Tina and one I’m taking lots of notes from. I lost about 20 pounds last year but some weight has started creeping back up (bad eating habits, etc again) so my husband and I have started to eat better again. We both love salads and have access to great fresh vegetables….in fact just yesterday my in laws gave us some of their home grown tomatoes…love tomatoes!

My daughter and SIL own a bottled water company here in town so that makes it easy to drop by the office and pick up some 16 oz water bottles or have them deliver water to the house.

Thanks again for this great post….have a great week!

Thank you, Tina…..Yay! What away to start off my week.. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times, if it’s good enough for Tina, it’s good enough for me:) I’m getting back on track and following your “D” suggestions… I recall your new lower level ( basement?) blog post from a few months ago..You had friends over for a movie and were just starting your diet in earnest.. You gave us good tips then. I should have followed along:(.. I congratulate you for sticking to your diet and accomplishing your goal.

I feel like I gain more weight over the summer months than I do during the winter months.. With the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer come a glass of wine here a glass of wine there. Too many temptations – apres beach/pool… Those Rose calories can really add up ( why are those pink wines so gosh darned pretty).. Of course with the cocktails come the little munchies that translate into inches around my waist!

I do weight train, but think you are right to walk. Good cardio is key to shedding lbs. Here’s to glowing skin and a happy, healthy liver! LOL

Thank you so much for this very timely post. I needed it badly. I need to lose about 15 lbs..
20 might be better. A few pounds to play with so to speak.
Could you make this a more regular post. I think we all appreciate what others are doing to get rid of those pesky pounds.
I have a torn lateral meniscus in my right knee so I can’t do too much cardio right now but I do what I can and weights of course.

Thanks again for this post. I am printing it out for reference.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have motivated me to start fresh and love your ideas and tips. Please keep up the post on the “D” word – very appreciated.

Glad what you are doing is working for you. Like you I was always thin until I hit the 60’s. I tried counting calories, eating low-fat — all the wrong things for me. I ran across the “Dietdoctor.com” and he promotes high fat, low carb. It made so much sense to me that by eating low fat we are just adding tons of sugar to our diet and don’t even know it. Dr. Mark Hyman has also come to the same conclusion and has a book “Eat Fat to Get Thin.” They both say that eating good fats, avacado, nuts, butter, cream burn more fat through digestion and keep you from getting hungry in between meals. They also recommend eggs — especially the yolks, very little fruit since it converts to sugar, no vegetables that grow below ground, no oatmeal, cereal, bread, rice, potatoes because they become tons of sugar. They also suggest intermittent fasting which is much easier than you might think. I’ve lost almost 40 pounds since New Years and feel so much better. My blood pressure is great,my cholesterol has improved significantly and I have the energy I had in my 30’s and 40’s. I realize that not everyone will accept this, but you might want to check them out.

If, like me, you crave something sweet/chewy after a meal or as a snack, try freezing green grapes. Just pull them out and rinse them before eating, and that craving is satisfied. And thanks for the encouragement. My B/P and blood sugar were inching up and my doc said what I already knew: you can lost weight or you can take meds. Have lost 13 lbs. very slowly. Good to get a shot in the arm booster to keep me at it!

Tina, you know that I have been following you since day 1. I have a question for you. How come even diet food looks better at your house? 🙂 Have a good week!

Your diet is very like my meal plans on Weight Watchers, veggies & fruit, high protein & low carb. I’ve lost 25 lbs over 6 months, slow and steady. One thing that has made all the difference for me is my food journal, but you have to be brutally honest in the beginning. no cheating! Our motto is “start small and do what you can do everyday”. Otherwise, you set yourself up to fail. Thanks for the great tips and recipes. Congratulations!

All great suggestions Tina – thank you! I have a friend who dresses her nightly dinner table with a large, beautiful platter of berries mixed with chopped mint. It helps avoid wanting dessert when dinner is over…

Wow…..you have obviously hit a cord with all of us Tina!
Like you, I was a size 6 for years….then starting at age 50 the “weight creep” started and now 12 years later, I am desperate to loose a good 25 lbs! Feeling very “dumpy” and depressed about my image. Thank you for your suggestions and tips on how you handle the daily struggle. I’m ready for a change!

Thanks for this post! I lose and gain the same 15 pounds every few years! I too like to limit my intake to your meal ideas as well as I only allow my serving size that will fit on a salad plate. Especially useful when eating out to visualize this size. For breakfast I am just doing protein smoothie which is less than 150 cals and has enough protein to hold me well until lunch. Afternoon snacking is my big temptation. So I have pre measured snacks on hand and keep no “trigger foods” in the house i.e. Cookies! Love your wine mix idea! Julie

What a beautiful post I love all the pictures, what great food inspiration. When I was left with a plethora of baby weight a few years ago I had to get serious too. I started subbing out my “healthy” wraps and lavash bread with butter lettuce and mini rocket leaves filled with some sort of protein. Pureed fruit with some juice and coconut milk frozen into freezer pops for a treat. I got rid of my aspartame laden beverages due to new data showing adverse changes to gut flora that cause weight retention..no thanks. I also got rid of my pre packaged sweets and treats. That part was very difficult because even though I was eating them with great moderation, I felt it in the bloat and drag after. I found some great non-processed organic treats that are made by a local bakery and I take those freeze them and indulge in moderation and felt much better. I started adding Greek yogurt/labneh and heavy herbs to my dressings to add the creaminess I sometimes missed. Soup. I made, froze, ate a ton of different types of soup, Fillng and nutritious, I experimented with all types of soups. Fruit soups cold vegetable soups hot soups hearty soups you name it I had it. I also relied on a very good protein drink. I needed it to sustain my energy and some blends have great fiber that keep you full. Now I add a great green probiotic to it with low glycemic fruits (peaches were a definite suprise) and some of the greens that I can never get enough of in my diet and I use it for a morning mid-morning snack not really as a meal replacement. Its been near miraculous for me. I lost a great deal of weight, most importantly it has stayed off. I loved this post, and I agree prettier the food better it tastes.

thanks for these recipes, tina! did you read my ‘i’m suddenly fat’ post? the D word for me these days is Diet Coke, and it has been banished from my life which is why i have put on pounds quickly. i don’t intend to replace it with your D word, but following weight watchers and eating as many plants as possible is what i turn to…high fiber, low fat. keep up the discipline and shedding those pounds! peace.

Just started a new chapter in my life with healthy eating so this post is GREAT timing for me! Went thru menopause and could not keep the weight off. Lived 50 years without worrying much about what I ate, but since menopause – just LOOKING at a piece of cake put the pounds on!! I love that you shared your tips with us. I appreciate this post so much Tina. Congrats on the weight loss – I hope it happens for me too!

Isn’t it always a battle, Tina. Good for you for losing 15 pounds – what a huge accomplishment and making healthy eating a lifestyle is a bonus! I’m loving all of the summer fruits and vegetables – so much easier to eat what’s good for you – now if I could just curb my sweet tooth! Happy Wednesday!

Funny that you should write about the D word as yesterday I stepped on the scale to see I have lost another 2 lbs. A large amount of gardening and hosting the family for the long weekend has kept me active. I have found that morning smoothies go a long way. I am about 1/2 way to achieving my goal of losing 20 lbs. Your post is very motivating. I have not tried Skinny Cow but will put it on my shopping list. Your salads look great too. Enjoy the new you?

Hi TIna,

I’ve been catching up on all your posts! Montauk looks amazing – we’ll be in Bridgehampton for a wedding in August (leaving the boys at home) so really looking forward to being in the Hamptons!

Congratlations on the weight loss!!!!! So exciting! I’m sure you feel fantastic, as well as look it. I have to say ever since I hit my mid 40s, it’s gotten so much harder for me. So, it’s inspiring to see what is working for you. A lot of this I do, but I’m afraid I cheat a llittle too much and probably don’t realize it. I’m inspired to make your salad tonight for dinner and try the rose/pelligrino combo. Two of my favorites…a great way to feel like I’m still at the party! 🙂

So sorry to hear about the recent losses in your family/friend circles. Reminder to savor each and every day. And, you show us how to do it with style!

Hugs!
Elizabeth

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