At work, two of the women are starting diets. One is doing the flat belly diet and the other one is doing the south beach diet. I am going to make an effort to really watch what I eat. I’ve increased my fruit to make sure I get at least two in per day and I’m definitely drinking more water. However, I have been making/eating a lot of macaroni salads for lunch. ugh They’re easy to make, cheap and filling, but I can’t keep eating this 3 times a week for lunch. 
Once school is out, I should be able to focus more on me. I’ll probably go back to being vegan. For me, it’s the easiest thing in the world to incorporate into my life because there’s no weighing, counting, guesswork.
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I need to do something too, I am trying more water less soda, I need more veggies, I am supposed to count the carbs but I do not want to do a diet and feel restricted, I thought about weight watchers. maybe together we can get there.
How are the 21 day fix folks doing? I really love the idea of the containers. My biggest problem with a vegan diet has always been I can’t consume ENOUGH of what I need to because it requires so much more food than I’m used to eating.
It’s basically:
Fuhrman Way Eat to Live First 6 weeks Plan
http://www.chewfo.com/diets/eat-to-live-by-joel-fuhrman-2003-2011-what-to-eat-and-foods-to-avoid-food-list/#six
UNLIMITED (eat as much as you want):
all raw vegetables, including raw carrots (at least 1 lb. daily)
cooked green vegetables (at least 1 lb. daily)
beans, legumes, bean sprouts, or tofu (roughly 1 cup daily)
fresh fruit (at least 4 daily).
eggplant, mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomato and other non-starchy vegetables, cooked and raw (unlimited)
*Beans should be eaten daily; tofu should be eaten less frequently.
LIMITED (not more than one serving):
cooked starchy vegetables OR whole grains–Maximum 1 cup per day (butternut or acorn squash, corn, sweet potato, brown rice, cooked carrots, whole grain breads*, whole grain cereals*)
raw nuts and seeds (1 oz. or 28.5 grams a day) or 2 ounces avocado
ground flaxseed (1 tablespoon a day)
soymilk, low-sugar preferred–Maximum 1 cup a day
I have been eating vegan for the past 2.5 months and love it. I have always had a hearty appetite and now can eat as much as I want. I have cheated with cheese and sweets, my downfall but hope to clean up my eating now that all the summer fruits will be in season.
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I love it too. I figure with my co-workers both trying to diet, it would be a good time for me to eat more healthy around them. If I can get through this last bit of the end of school madness, I should be able to focus on myself more. It really wouldn’t cost terribly much more time or money for me to make the switch. Much of what everyone eats here, I could just eat the vegan portion and add an extra veggie or salad and be good. I do that often anyway. I think it’s a great season to start, too. I’d like to be solid in my food routine by fall.
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I’m not very familiar with vegan diets. Is there any oil incorporated? Such as coconut or vegetable oil or olive oil?
There can be, but it depends on if you’re vegan for weight loss or are a purist and aiming for the healthiest of choices. Or if you’re simply doing the best you can and want some oils. (no butter, obviously)
Here’s McDougall’s take on oils:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/aug/oils.htm
The majority of the pro-vegan doctors remind people that there aren’t really “healthy” oils (just healthier oils) and they promote no added oils and the use of nuts instead. However, Dr Fuhrman does have a supplement for oil.
https://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/products/52/dhaepa-purity
His take on olive oil:
https://www.drfuhrman.com/learn/library/articles/51/olive-oil-is-not-a-health-food
So it’s a personal choice, really. It’s advocated that each person look how these oils are extracted when making personal choices. Many vegans do use oils for baking but many vegans are anti-oil.
I see absolutely no harm in having some oil, but in the back of my mind, I consider no oils would be my own personal ideal.
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I tried the flat belly diet years ago and lost a lot of weight. It actually worked very well.
As soon as I started to reintroduce carbs, though, weight came back.
High protein, low carb is what always works for me.
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Hubs and I are doing a low carb diet. Just finishing two weeks. Hubs lost 7 lbs or about 1/2 pound a day. I’m slower: 5 pounds down for me.
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A woman I work with is doing clean eating and in 7 weeks has lost 20 pounds.
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What exactly is clean eating? I hear the phrase used, but never have really heard a definition.
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The Eat-Clean Diet recommends avoiding all saturated fat, trans fats, overprocessed, refined foods – especially white flour, sugar, sugar-loaded colas, juices, and alcohol. The plan’s guiding principles: Each meal should be between 200-300 calories. Eat a complex carbohydrate with protein (20-21 grams) at every meal.
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Uh…yes…I have major diet plans now I just need to stick with it! I seem to be over my stress eating so am planning to strictly follow the 21 day fix plan. Was going to start Monday, then today but am now aiming for tomorrow!! See @Heaven your not the only one that puts it off until tomorrow! I am right there with you:)
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