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In reply to the discussion: Starting a diet today. Any advice would be welcome. I'm going to try to eat well - veggies and [View all]GoCubsGo
(32,079 posts)There are lots of healthy protein options out there, such as chicken, fish, eggs, low-fat cheeses, beans, nuts, yogurt... Go easy on the nuts and cheese. Make sure you also have some good fat with your veggies, such as olive oil, low-fat dressing, or a low-fat dressing on your salad. You need the fat to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as Vit. A. Both fat and protein will help keep you full, on top of it all.
Make sure you drink a big glass of water before every meal. Drink lots of water all day.
Have a small snack between meals, such as a piece of fruit and a few nuts or a stick of string cheese.
Get a calorie book, and write down everything you eat all day, along with the calories you consume. Don't go under 1200 cal/day, or you'll risk sending your body into starvation mode, which will make it even more difficult to lose weight in the future. I speak of that from experience. You'll screw up your metabolism. Writing down stuff also helps you make sure get in all your veggies and adequate protein. SparkPeople.com has a good online calorie tracker, as well as an exercise tracker. They also are a good source of support, as they have all sort of online groups.
Soup is really filling. Now that it's getting hot outside, you might enjoy cold soups, like gazpacho.
Lastly, don't call it a "diet". Call it a lifestyle change. Diets are temporary, and if you go back to your old ways, any weight you lose will come right back.
Good luck. It's hard work, but once you start seeing results, it gets easier.