Is this too much lunch for a diet?

[Hatehooveringsomuch]

Trying to shift a couple of stone.
I eat v healthily, but probably too much, I don’t work out normally, but have started again.
I’m a person who has to cut back a lot and not eat much/work out daily to stay slim.
In the past when I was v slim, I went to the gym and had less carbs & smaller portions. I’m trying fasting also.
I’ve had no breakfast, just got in from school run, morning work and walking the dog.
Is this too much?
There’s two tins of tuna and two crackers, the rest is just salad? Assuming that’s okay?
Dinner is broccoli, cauliflower, carrots & chicken, piece of fruit afterwards.
I’m attempting to cut right back on carbs, my portions seem big though 😂but I’m hungry
Desperate to lose weight

Maybe you need some better salad ideas. Oily dressings travel further and so you need less, I find. Plus think about really interesting flavours, fresh herbs etc etc.

I quite like a bean salad (with very small bit of cheese and lots of salad veg) or something Thai ish with lime, chilli and coriander.

Ooo agree though that 1 tin of tuna and a boiled egg (or two) would be grand.

Two tins of tuna does seem a lot. Are they the mini tins?

I’d add other sources of protein like a boiled egg or some pulses. Also some raw veg, I always like raw broccoli. And yes keep the Mayo you need to actually enjoy it. If you’re too strict you’ll quit the diet.

If you’re trying to lose weight, two tins of tuna is too much. Replace some salad with veg which is more filling and ditch the mayo. Lemon juice and a bit of olive oil would be better for flavour and health.

no wonder your overweight, your basically eating for four!

This is hilarious. How dare you eat a salad and that ONE whole cracker to yourself OP?

I feel like your tuna tin must be those tiny ones 60-80g not the usual 145g ones?

On what planet would that salad serve 4 people!?

Don’t use the excuse that you’ve had no breakfast, so think that you have to eat double or triple for your next meal. You’ve really come to the wrong place to ask about diet as some of MN can certainly put it away & eat enough for a family of 4, & that’s their idea of a snack.

Am I the only person who finds this thread a bit disturbing and eating disorderish?

Two tins of tuna with loads of leaves is hardly in overeating territory. FFS

Why not reduce to one tin of tuna and replace with some tinned chickpeas or cannellini beans? Counts towards you 5 a day, provides protein and fibre.

Wow, Im glad people have not seen the meal Im about to have...

@greennotepad
It's the very first thing the op says - she is trying to shift a couple of stone.

no wonder your overweight, your basically eating for four! that is an unnecessarily mean comment

OP I know you did you dont calorie count but I really cant recommend it enough to lose weight. It doesnt have to be a pain in the arse as you can do little cheats like using one type of measuring jug/cup for things like dry pasta, rice etc to work out what a portion is by weighing it once and then you just fill to the line going forwards. If you use a TDEE calculator to work out what your body needs to maintain your weight then reduce it by 500 cals that is a good daily target to lose weight in a consistent and maintainable manner. Use an app to monitor your cals, you can even make your own recipes on the apps so that you can add a meal instead of each ingredient so its quick and easy (takes some initial work to get it set up but a piece of piss after that). Its the first time I've lost weight and kept it off because I understand what my body needs now and what a proper portion size should be.

One tin is plenty, it's very filling as it has a very high content of protein.

You also should keep the amount of tuna you eat to a minimum - you're only supposed to eat a can of tuna a week. More than that and you run the risk of mercury poisoning.

Also I would recommend nitracheck as an app for tracking calories rather than my fitness pal, there is a small monthly subscription but very much worth it

Two tins of tuna? I’ve no idea on whether or not you’re eating too large but unless your tins are tiny would one tin not be enough?

Have you read the book ‘Ultra Processed People’? In essence, the main reason for excess weight, societally, is the mass consumption of ultra processed food. Look at the chapters on weight abd why the problem isn’t too much carbs, or even not enough exercise. Very interesting reading….

One can per week? Where have you got that from? According to the NHS even pregnant woman can have 4 cans per week

Ps obviously that lunch isn’t ultra processed (apart from the cracker). But other food you’re eating might be, OP

I just want to say that it concerns me that you aren't eating breakfast. I get how easy it is to miss it when you're so busy but it's really important you try and have something. I think that looks like a really good and healthy lunch. I agree about skipping the mayonnaise or swapping for a fat free version. There's a page on instagram called 'Just Get Fit' run by a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer. She heavily promotes health and fitness as well as not cutting out certain food groups and enjoying food freedom and not restricting yourself. She's really helped me.

I've lost several inches round the middle by swapping to the smaller size of wholemeal bread. Slices are smaller and thinner.

I think a lot depends on what you’re eating for your other meals, but if I was actively dieting, I’d be sticking to one can of tuna for a meal, and looking for a lighter salad dressing.

Also, I know you said that you haven’t been calorie counting, but it is a very useful tool when you’re dieting. If you have a rough idea of how many calories are in a meal, then it’s easier to gauge whether you’re eating too much or not. There’s various apps you can use to track calories without it being too much work.

I'm currently losing weight: I'm doing a big salad for lunch and the basic structure is a selection from each of these categories:

• green leafy stuff + tomatoes for base
• something a bit starchy and ideally fibrous - mostly beans or lentils, sometimes boiled new potatoes
• something protein - a boiled egg, one of those mini tins of flavoured tuna, smoked mackerel, leftover meat (vary quantity according to oiliness), feta cheese
• other interesting veg - salad onions, pepper, beetroot, radish, cucumbers, fennel, grated carrot, grated apple
• other varied stuff for interest and range - sprouted seeds, micro greens, herbs, mixed seeds, a couple of anchovies, capers, cornichons, silver skin picked onions
• a little dressing - balsamic vinegar, other vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice + a very very small drizzle of oil if there's no oil in anything else in the salad

I'm really enjoying it; it's the right balance of different-every-day and don't-have-to-think, it takes a reasonable amount of time to eat, and it really fills me up.

You are not!

batshit

I think only one can of tuna and no mayo. Better lone lemon juice / vinegar instead.