Newbies

Just returned from a family get-together, 1 week staying with family in a cabin near Pigeon Forge, TN. It was wonderful! Loved seeing all my grandkids enjoy each other — as well as my two sons together. Its been three years since we’ve all been together. I ate very carefully. I didn’t lose any weight, but I didn’t gain any either! Now its time to get down to business and start losing. Back to the menu planner!

Good luck, Nansealee!!! You’ll have lots of support here and the program allows you to make adjustments to fit your lifestyle.

Hi, Tstands. Low-sodium V-8 definitely counts as a vegetable – 1 cup (8 fluid ounces or 240 ml) is equal to a cup of most other non-starchy vegetables. The brown rices are indeed interchangable. The avocado is great, just remember that it is a source of fat (1/4 cup or 37 grams is equal to a teaspoon or oil or butter). As for the popcorn, the butter flavoring in microwaveable products is not recommended. I would suggest to get plain microwaveable popcorn and add your own natural flavorings – you can use a mister (like Misto or a good knock-off) and fill it with a mix of melted butter (clarified works best) and a good liquid oil like macadamia nut (slightly buttery itself), olive, or organic canola (keep the mix in the refrigeratory afterwards, of course). 3 cups of popcorn is one carb exchange (like a slice of bread or 1/2 cup of pasta), and each teaspoon of butter/oil is one fat (about 4 seconds of spraying action with the mister).
a good oil

Hi Gina, and welcome! 🙂

Thank you Ossie. It’s such a relief to know that I can sometimes substitute the v-8 for a vegetable serving. Sometimes I’m just not hungry and don’t feel like having any free vegetables (salad). After your post, I went back to read t/ the program guide, but couldn’t find the info I needed to clarify. Im confused abt fat servings. does the menu planner include it, because I don’t see it unless I have a recipe that includes olive oil? Am I supposed to add a certain number of fat servings? If I have avocado with my eggs or something, how do I know where to cut the fat? Did I miss reading a section or something where it talks about some these things? Thank you.

Hi there, I’m new – just joined yesterday.

I’m still trying to find my feet with this programme. My main issues are energy and yes, weight too. I’m fairly certain one has to do with the other having ruled out any other medical reasons for lack of energy. I like the whole idea behind the diet, but I think my main issue will be finding the time to actually eat all the snacks. I have a really active job that keeps me on my feet all day, and it’s not the most hygienic of jobs to be snacking while on the go. I hope that the extra energy that I’ll be able to fit small breaks in. Some of the snacks however, are a little too “sit down and have a break” type snacks rather than “rinse a piece of fruit and quickly snarf it” which is what I tend to do just now.

Any tips for a newbie regarding the above?

Thanks
Danger

Hi, Rosie, and welcome. You do not have to use raw dairy – grass-fed/free-range is just fine, and if you can’t find that, then organic. If you are still interested in raw products, see this link to find them in your area http://www.realmilk.com/real-milk-finder/.

Hi everyone, i’ve just signed up to this healthy eating plan and when i look at the meal planner it scares me. How on earth can i lose weight by eating so much food in a day.I have a lot of wieght to lose and i am worried that i am just going to be wasting my time. i am 54 and getting married next year i just want to look good for my new life. I’ve had both knees replaced and also want to lose weight to protect them. After having 7 knees surgeries i want to put the next one off for as long as possible. Am i doing the right thing?