Newbies

Sorry for a second question. Looking at the recipes it states exchanges. Am I supposed to have a certain level of exchanges a day. Or what are they for.
Once I have found my way round the site and understand it I’ll stop posting on here.

Thank you for your helpful reply and, yes please, I would like guidance on activity to help me lose weight. I am 78 so don’t suggest jogging or similar. I have a wii U Fit, and when I walk to the shop it’s just 20 minutes there and back – I don’t count the minutes in the shop. The wii Fit I haven’t used recently as I’ve had to spend time in the garden. If I get back to 20 minutes minimum on the wii Fit and the walk to the shop about 3 times a week do you think that would be enough? I can’t go to exercise classes as I have multiple chemical sensitivities and react to the stuff they clean the floor with at the local Community Centre and elsewhere. I’ve tried wearing a mask but it isn’t effective enough and is uncomfortable (and embarrassing) to wear while exercising.

One last question on the food side. I am now weighing my rice cooked, and I have read that I weigh meat products before cooking – where do porridge oats come in on the scheme of things. I have been measuring them before cooking on the theory that measuring them in a cup after cooking the size would depend on how wet the mixture is. It would be helpful if you could tell me what weight of oats I should be cooking.

I am settling down into this pattern of eating now and looking forward to my week being up on Tuesday so that I can do my first weekly weigh-in. Fingers crossed for a loss, however small.

Oh dear! End of first week and have gained 1 lb but I think I read somewhere on here that it takes the body a couple of weeks to respond to the new way of eating. So, here goes on a second week which will, hopefully, show a move in the right direction.
My problem is that I can’t eat all that it is recommended that I eat. I keep to the menu balance for the meals I do eat. Yesterday, for example, I had breakfast, late lunch and 3 snacks. I had thawed out salmon ready for my dinner but just couldn’t face cooking and eating it so I settled for a third snack. I just can’t fit in 3 meals and 3 snacks. Is this why I am not losing weight? What meals/snacks would you approve of me leaving out? I would like to lose weight this week to encourage me to keep going. If I know what I’m doing is right and should result in a weight loss I’ll try and develop some patience.

I was going to order some trousers a couple of sizes larger than those in the wardrobe from last year (which won’t close over the tum now) but I am putting off the expense of that for a few weeks in the hope that I can, at last, lose weight instead of it gradually going up.

I will step up the activity side this week as suggested but just want to make sure I am OK in leaving out a snack, or a meal, on a regular basis.

Hi, payments233. If you can’t finish, don’t fight it – it’s great that you’re in tune with your satiety signals. If you had a big meal out, of course there’s no point in stuffing yourself with a snack (just be sure to get at least 5 fruit/vegetable servings in a day). In a normal day (without outside dinine), I suggest to cut back a little on starchy carbs, perhaps 50%, and keep the proteins and produce. If that won’t work for you, please let me know.

As I’m new to Trim Down, let me ask this … I normally eat a quaker instant, original, gluten free, 1 cup of oatmeal every morning, with milk … as this didn’t seem to be part of my meal plan, can I add, or substitute this .. I love oatmeal and I know its good for you. Also, on a frozen pancake or waffle, after thawed, can I eat with a pat of butter or a tbls of syrup ??

I am new to this website and having difficulty using the menus. I have to have gluten because of Celiac and have stayed away from Oatmeal altogether because even gluten-free can be produced in facilities that process wheat. Most whole grains including lentils are processed with equipment that also processes wheat. So I have been having such difficulty just stayed away from whole grains. I think my major weight problem is candida overgrowths and so have been taking probiotics. However, I’m having energy problems from stress at work and just end up ending epic bars to satisfy my need for more protein and trying to stay away from sugars. I really need to put more thought into preparing good nutritional meals ahead of time but am having trouble getting more protein into the diet. I am also confused because the introduction said to stay away from soy and tofu and yet I’m seeing those ingredients in some of the recipes such as the Healthy Vegetable Quiche. What brand of Oatmeal should I eat that has no gluten at all? Keep in mind that not all products that say non-gluten are totally non-gluten.

Hi, I’m brand new to this. I usually make a smoothie for breakfast. 1C Almond milk, 1C berries, 1 banana, 1 scoop.high quality Vanilla protien powder,a handful of spinach. Sometimes I alternate pineapple and coconut milk.. Is this something I can continue… How can I find out if I can make something and how I know if it fits in with the program?

Hi, Sicula. Most of your recipe looks great. With regard to the protein, we would encourage you to get it from a food source rather than a refined powder, though some brands are food-based. Which do you use?