Getting fat! Need to stop :(

[strugglingstepdad]

I'm putting too much weight on and it's bothering me. I'm currently 6'3" and just shy of 20st :(

I put a lot of blame on my partner as she's an enabler and feeder but I know that it actually lies with me and a lack of self control.

I really don't know where to begin, I didn't think I was doing too badly in what I ate:

Bowl of muesli for breakfast
Cold pasta with either tuna mayo or prawn and seafood sauce, activia yoghurt, 2 cereal bars for lunch
Bowl of muesli for dinner/evening

I do a semi physical job, I'm an Hgv driver doing multi drop deliveries pushing 200-300kg cages of laundry stuff at 7 drops.

But my weight is creeping up, i keep snacking on my days off which isn't helping I know!

I think I could just do with joining the group and joining others rather than trying to do it on my own!

Going to start MFP again today and see where I get to!

You can add me dannybhardy if you like.

Thanks :)

Does your meusli have dried fruit in it? I would stop reaching for the sugary "healthy" foods. A bowl of muesli is fine but then an extra two cereal bars and a second bowl of muesli is too much sugar and not enough fuel and substance.

Maybe wholemeal toast with peanut butter and sliced banana. Porridge cooked with egg for protein although I add a tsp maple syrup so it doesn't taste eggy! Bacon, avocado, eggs and a slice of toast...

Can you take flasks of homemade soup out with you? That would be an ideal lunch!

Good lean pieces of protein for dinner with veggies. Some exclude carbs. I don't but opt for more wholesome varieties. So sweet potato or baked potato and keep the skin on. Brown rice. Stews with chickpeas or butterbeans added. Bolgonese using lentils.

There is so much you can do. Start buying natural foods. Look up some recipes and get cooking!

I know it's tough but you can do it!

Also with regards to MFP I know it may be easier to choose options where you already have calorie information on the package but it really is worth measuring food and looking up the nutritional information on google if it means you're eating better food.

Good luck!

Thanks! Some really great advice there!!

I struggle with proper meal times as well. I am up at 7.30am with the kids, have breakfast just after 9 after the school run. I go to work for 12 and then get home around 10pm. I have my packed lunch around 3.30 - 7pm depending on when I get my break, then the second bowl of muesli around 10.30pm and bed around 11.30pm.

So I don't often have a cooked meal often :(

Also watch the sauces. You say seafood sauce. A lot of that could easily add up the calories without you noticing. My weakness is mayonnaise and I could not believe how many calories I was consuming when I weighted out what I ate and put it in mfp. Shocking. Another thing that I have now mainly avoid is butter. PP is also right re misconception of 'healthy' I found things like weetabix helped me because I could enter exact portions into mfp and lower my calories with minimal effort.
Good luck and remember, it's good you've noticed and aren't just denying there's an issue.

Weetabix is a winner with a banana and you should bulk cook. Last few weeks I have been using Maggi bags add the chicken and cook veg keep in tubs in fridge for 3 days. I have. Lost 12lb. Are you getting your water intake? 2 to 3 liters a day.

Try to cut the stodgy carbs, cut out anything that comes in a packet, and cut out the snacks unless you're actually hungry. Eat more protein, more fat and more fibre than you currently do. Try to cut out empty calories and very refined foods. With your current weight you will probably get a few weeks good weightlosses without even really 'dieting' just by making those small tweeks.