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As a newbie starting the 8 week plan menus.
1. I regularly eat porridge for breakfast but I think I read something on your site that there is good oats and bad oats? As in some package cerials are bad or quick porridge is bad. Is this true? What do I need to look for in porridge oats?
2. I haven’t come across brown rice pasta either ? Is this very different to normal pasta from the supermarkets? Just wondering if it makes much difference using normal pasta?
3. If there is too much quantity of food during the day is it ok to skip the final snack of the day or leave bits here and there?Hi, Burra01. If you use the personal version of the Menu Planner application (the right-most option here: http://www.trimdownclub.com/menu-planner), you will see some of our recipes in the “Recipes” subcategory of each major food group. For newer recipes that have not yet been added into the system, you can use them to substitute for the main ingredient in your meal. You can also match up the exchanges visible at the end of each recipe and when you click on “Exchange Mode” in the toolbar above your menu.
Hi, Irene. The basic principle is to use the version of a food that is the least processed – so to use oats as an example, we would encourage you to use “steel-cut” or “rolled” oats instead of the “quick” or “instant” type, as you noted. Brown rice pasta is a similar example, and if you’re not gluten-intolerant, you can just use whole wheat pasta. If you need to avoid gluten, then note that you can order whole grain alternatives from the many healthy online shops that service the UK (see our guide http://www.trimdownclub.com/where-to-buy-UK).
As for your final question, absolutely :). Just try to get in at least 5 total fruit/vegetable and 3 calcium-rich food/beverage servings each day.This seems like a dump question but for pistachios is the 1/2 oz of measured before or after you take them out of the shell.
Hi, TScott. No question is dumb! The amount is without the shells, and is equivalent to about 2 tablespoons or 30 ml.
Thank you i finish first week and was happy to see results and I ate foods I like and it is easy to plan meals for my husband and I don’t have to eat something different. Here is to week two
Hi,
I just joined. Would you recommend not eating after a certain time at night?
Also I have a tendency to skip breakfast. Not a good idea, right?Hello Everyone! I just joined this morning and having trouble grasping the food plan. Is there a certain formula to follow? i.e.: Daily portions: 8oz. Protein, 3 Fruits, 3 breads, etc.? Did I just miss that somewhere?
Hi, Kathibell, and welcome. You can see your allottments per meal and totals per day by clicking on “Exchange mode” in the toolbar above any of your menus. The exchanges relate to the lists here: http://www.trimdownclub.com/exchanges-lists.
Hi – Ive just finished week 2. I have stuck to the menu planner exactly. Week 1 I lost 2 pounds but week 2 I put 1 pound back on which is disappointing. Not sure what went wrong as I had 90% health menu plans both weeks and stuck to it very well and was hoping to lose another pound or 2. The only thing I cut out was the final snack of the day which I felt I didn’t need and you said this was OK. Is this normal to put a pound back on even though I didn’t cheat?
Hi, Irene. Yes, it is normal when you’re starting out, especially if you have been on restrictive diets in the past. If the situation persists for another couple of weeks, please do repost here, and I would be happy to troubleshoot with you.
How much is a portion? The vegetables are sometimes one portion and sometimes two portions. I can’t find a measured amount anywhere. I don’t have friends on this plan and I’m not in a group, where does this happen. I a quite frustrated just trying to start the menu plan.
Hi, Liz. The answers to you questions show up in the same thread. 🙂
Portion sizes are different for different foods, and here are made up of units called “exchanges” (the same system used by diabetes organizations around the world). You can see our list here – http://www.trimdownclub.com/exchanges-lists – and the portions allotted to you by clicking on “Exchange mode” in the toolbar above any of your menus. Sometimes a menu will give you more than one exchange or portion, particularly vegetables, which we encourage. In general a portion of non-starchy vegetables is about 1 cup (240 ml), so a 2-cup serving would be a nice-sized salad, or a side salad plus a cooked vegetable.
To join a group, click on “Groups” at the upper right corner of any site page, and enter whichever suit you. The most active is “Successful Beginnings,” run by seasoned Clubmembers who are happy to share advice; you are also welcome to describe the challenges here, and I’m also happy to help. I would like to note that you don’t need to worry about arranging for portions – the system does this for you based on the information you provide in your profile.Hi Sharon, could you help troubleshoot a little for me please. After week 3 Im 2 lb down. 2 the first week, then 1 back on then 1 back off. My eating habits used to be breakfast, main meal at lunch and only fruit in the evening. So I am eating much more than previously. Normally when I want to lose weight I cut down on carbs. Should I cut down on the portion sizes of carbs, would this help? Thanks
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