What do you all eat

[Whatwouldscullydo]

Just that really.

I'm trying really hard to eat better as well as attending the gym on a regular basis. Mixture of weights, cardio classes and trying to get 2 5k runs in on the treadmill/outside if I can a week.

As a result I am always bloody hungry 😩.

I.am finding it so hard to get enough protein and stay within a sensible calorie limit per day. Carbs are practically a no go now as there just isn't the spare calories fir them. I'm having to resort to shakes and those high protein puddings/wraps etc you can buy which seem quite high calorie in itself. But lower than the food otherwise required to match the protein intake. I'm.always boiling eggs to have with soup , I get through stupid amounts if chicken and eat tuna out the can like a bloody cat. But it still seems impossible to match all the macros ( thank u my fitness pal for this particular rabbit hole) and stay within calorie allowance.

A typical day will look something along the lines of

Breakfast- greek yogurt with granola and berries. Or ready brek with protein powder and almond milk.

Lunch- chicken or tuna salad wrap in a high protein wrap. A couple of jailed eggs. Piece of fruit. One of those protein puddings maybe .

Dinner. Soup with a couple of eggs or chicken added and a toasted protein bagel. Or salmon/chicken with salad.

Snacks will be along the.lines of fruit . Some medjool dates if I fancy something more sweet like.

I Try to keep around 1800 calories but sometimes it seems impossible. I don't like relying on the processed stuff like shakes but I'm not sure how to do it..

So,

What do u all eat..I need ideas really.

Aldi does 10% Greek yoghurt which is nice, I usually buy that one

My diet isn't great
One snack I do like is some ham/turkey slices, spread a little cream cheese and wrap around cucumber. Some protein and veg in there
I also have apple slices dipped in Greek yoghurt with peanut butter powder

Mornings are always porridge with protein powder plus frozen berries or a banana which really fills me up

Try splitting your meals into 4, I saw this on Instagram recently
So instead of it being 3pm and you're raiding the place for snacks, make it an actual small meal with protein

How about eggs in the morning, you could make a frittata and eat it over a couple of days. Or use slimming world’s baked eggs and veg recipe. Then you could have your yogurt as a snack during the day or with fruit after dinner.
A high protein yogurt is 20g, a tin of tuna 20g, a chicken breast is 45g ish, a portion of peas is 5g. It’s. It that hard to eat a lot of protein without using all your calories.

Indeed! When I was regularly running 5K, so for around 30 minutes, it was only 300-320 calories according to my running stats. It's very easy to eat/drink those back.

I cant eat those protein yogurts. They are far to thick and creamy. They make me feel sick eating them. I don't know why. They taste a little grainy too.

I'd forgotten about omelettes actually.. thats a good idea for days I don't have to rush off for a class or have an early shift at work. I'm one of them yogurt jar wankers as it's an easy portable breakfast I can spill down my work shirts 😂😳.

That's a good idea about having more sensible pre prepared snacks/mini meal options in the fridge. I made batches of banana muffins akd flap jacks and blue berry muffins for dd and didn't think to make anything for me...

You can do 5k in 30 mins??😩 fuck me I'm so shit at running...

It doesn't matter how long it takes you. You'd still be running for 30 minutes if you were running 5K. And there's no way I could do it in or under 30 minutes these days, even though I am pretty gym fit!

I've only been running a year really so should not be too hard on myself I guess.. I started from nothing. I'd like to get faster if only cos it's bloody boring 😂

@Whatwouldscullydo

Have you tried Lidl Milbona Greek Style Natural Yogurt? It's full fat, and so thick, and creamy, and honestly the best I've tried by far. I am really fussy with my yogurt, because I hate when it is runny. We get the 1kg tubs of it, as my kids have it mixed with honey, and we go through alot. You can get it in a pack of smaller tubs though.

Yeah I have tried that one. It tasted fine bit I didn't realise when I bought it ( clever packaging design) that it was greek style and not greek yogurt. The greek style is half the protein of greek yogurt. Which is a shame because my absolute favourite one so far has been Rachel's greek style with ginger!

I do have a supply of the pudding things though. Not a huge fan , find they taste very artificial /card boardy but they serve the purpose!

You burn appropriately 100 calories per mile run... doesn't matter the pace.
So sadly 5 km is not much...
I'm marathon training and am starving hungry all the time but gaining weight not losing it which was the goal, so I understand the OPs frustration.

It's so bloody relentless isn't it jelly

I do something 5 days a week. Work permitting. 2 classes on a Monday followed by weights with a pt and a run on the treadmill. I go to a class in my break at work the next day. 2 classes on a Wednesday. 2 sometimes three classes on a Friday followed by another run . I hit the equipment at the gym on a Sunday.

I try to keep to 1800 max . But one glass if wine or a slice if toast and u r fucked...

Weirdly despite fluctuating by 3/4 pounds over the week and the scales having crept up my clothes do seem looser in fact I've had to buy new bras and everything

I just cannot figure out why so little over the limit makes me gain weight. Despite all the exercise...makes no sense.

Although to be fair I only have to look at ice cream and my thighs double in size

@Whatwouldscullydo - I tend to make it up as I go along but this is quite a good approximation for relative quantities of veg to lentils. You can play around with the veg depending on what is in the veg drawer at the end of the week so I might add a sweet potato or a squash instead of swede etc etc. I tend to just blitz in the food processor rather than chopping up.

I rarely have the spices in the recipe so I might just use what I have - so a mix of fennel seeds, cumin, tumeric, garam masala

It freezes well

thedoctorskitchen.com/recipes/swede-and-yellow-lentil-dahl/

Omg OP don’t beat yourself up about running, running 5k is amazing no matter the time!! I started running properly 3 ish years ago and it took me a year & starting to run longer distances to improve my 5k time! Now I’ve had 9 months off for pregnancy and started again 3 weeks ago once I got signed off at my postnatal check there are slugs running past me but at least I’m out trying, that’s all any of us can do! X

Oh I didn't realise tnat either! Well I learn something new every day ! 😂I'll still buy it though, as we like it! Can you not just use protein powder?

Forgot to say Tesco, and Waitrose both do strained Greek yoghurt that doesn't appear to be the style type. It might be worth checking them out op, if you haven't already.

So what is the issue? And what are your goals?

Are you looking to lose weight?

Or to build muscle/fitness?

To be healthier?

Or to just be a slim as possible?

I do a lot of exercise(cardio and weight baering) and eat quite a lot of carbs (things like oat s, bread, potatoes) and over the years have decreased my fat percentage and increased my muscle mass and metabolism

I pretty much eat what I like, including carbs, and listen to my body . I am not skinny-skinny but a healthy weight and bmi of 23 which I am happy with

The way you eat sounds quite hard and not fun, and forcing down tonnes of protein , whilst currently fashionable, is not optimal for everyone

Can you try a more intuïtie way of eating and less restrictions? For me, eating carb+ protein+veg/fruit three times a day gives me great energy levels for my sport and keeps me in shape in my 50s

I don't count calories but follow a low saturated fat diet. I rarely have red meat or processed meat, avoid cheese except feta and low fat cream cheese and eat wholegrain. An example would be

Breakfast

Coffee

Smoothie- frozen fruit, natural yoghurt, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, almond or oat milk and fat free Greek yoghurt

Or

Porridge made with almond milk with blueberries/ frozen fruit/ nuts and seeds

Or

overnight oats with the same ingredients as porridge and a spoonful or two of fat free greek yoghurt

Lunch

Dhal
Soup
Beans on wholegrain toast
Poached egg and avocado on wholemeal seeded toast
Chicken salad wrap/ sandwich on wholemeal seeded bread or a seeded wraps

Dinners

Marinated Chicken breast with salad and brown rice

Chicken egg fried rice (with loads of veggies through it and using brown rice

Veggie curries

Chicken curries

Salmon and stir fried veg with brown rice or noodles

Veggie burgers, salad and homemade airfried wedges

Edited to add snacks

I rarely snack but if I do I will have sweet chilli rice crackers (Lidl)

Apple and peanut butter

Fat free greek yoghurt and fruit

A few squares of dark chocolate

It's working so far as my cholesterol has dropped by 1.5 and I w lost 4kg in less than 3 months

london thank you that looks delicious. I do like Dahl and I always have some stray veg that needs using up. Must label it though. Freezer roulette is fun and all but it will probably look exactly like my soup, and my sweet potato and chick pea curry I have in there. 😂 I will definitely make that!

mrsttc well done on getting back out there. I know how hard it is to be arsed to any thing after having a baby. The isolation and lack of adult company and conversation kinda zapps you of all you used to be. Those are very kind words. Thank you 🙂

ramona my goals are a bit of a mixed bag really. I'm at that age now where if I don't get it together a bit I'll suffer for it later on. I've never really cared enough about myself to worry too much about what I eat and when. So I guess now I've joined the gym, I dont want to really lose any more weight than I have, I do want to gain and maintain a bit more muscle, I'm realky enjoying doing the weights and improving my strength and don't want to fuck myself up diet wise and undo all the hard work. Guess I'm going for the " I look like I work out but I look like I don't say no to the odd cake either " look 😂 more maintenance really I suppose. I dont want to gain, weight but I di want to maintain and maybe improve the definition I've managed to get so far if that makes any sense.

dogs those are some good sounding suggestions thank you 🙂 awesome work In reducing weight and cholesterol!!

I can't function without carbs either. I know sugar is demonised, but we run on it ...

Pasta sized bowl of fruit salad for breakfast, a big green smoothie with chia seeds/flax seeds for lunch, and supper is big salad with alfalfa sprouts/sprouted beans/lentils, avocado dressing and either more fruit beforehand or potato (either white or sweet) with the salad. Sometimes fruit and potatoes.

So much more energy eating that way ... I'm not perfect, but it's simple, and filling too

Im no expert, Im learning as I go, and Im learning on a tight budget so cant be buying shakes and protein puddings so my go to for filling me up and pumping in the protein - BEANS . Full of protein , fibre and Vit B - cheap as chips and so very filling

I make a salad based on Mexican Caviar ( loads of recipes online ) - black beans, black eyed beans, sweetcorn, peppers and use a good serving of that with every meal till its gone ( Im the only one eats it ) Ill add more protein by adding tinned fish ( very cheap protein source ) Its also good to snack on with toasted tortillas

I also make my own yoghurt, strained over night and its that thick its slice-able. The strained whey I use to make bread and pancakes

My daily meals would be usually a big bowl of berries and HM yoghurt with 40grms of oats or oatmeal ( I prefer oatmeal ) . Lunch would be an open sandwich, wholemeal bread, cheese spread instead of butter, piles of leaves, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pickles then top that with the protein, turkey, ham, chicken, cheese, bacon, tinned fish, eggs, - whatever. Then dinner, again a lean protein like chicken or turkey, more grains and veg. Evening meals I cook for a family so it has to be adaptable , so say I make a chicken curry, then in goes the veg - loads of spinach, onions, garlic, chickpeas and now its brown rice instead of basmati. Spag bol is made with turkey mince, has lentils added to bulk it and served on wholewheat spaghetti

Any mince dish I add the lentils, they cook down and become invisible really, even the grandkids eat not knowing its not all meat.

I dont exercise as much as you, I dont do weights ( shoulder injury ) but I can walk 5k in 42 mins :) I average 10 miles a day walking , some just strolls - ie dog walking but at least 4 miles at least 4 times a week at 14 - 15 mins a mile

I did a 26 mile hike 2 weeks back, cross county, and was really pissed to find out 62k steps burned me the grand total of 3000 calories !!! I still scoffed the chocolate bar DH had for me at the finish line :)

Yes dont get me started on cost. I used to just go to morrisons and get everything. But now, some things I've had ti start spending more on.

Stuff that's gonna be blended up into soup well it doesn't matter where it comes from really. But cheap fruit is now not an option because I'm.not gonna eat it if its tasteless crap. I can only get golden kiwiws round here in m&s or on an ocado order. Same with the blueberries and strawberries which having eaten around so to speak and nicest from ynetr too at the moment.

I'm really a fan if aldis or lidl as I don't like the taste ir quality but the emergency protein puddings are edible I guess so I can get those from there at least.

Chicken us proving probably the most expensive. Eat too much of it to buy the gristly, shrinks down to nothing floating in water crap. I spend far more time than I'd like now food shopping. I am feeling so much better though so know everything is worth it. But it's still hard work.

I so desperately want those beans mentioned up thread. Took alot of restraint to not click on the " buy now" button. They look lovely. But the price....wow....

I too am a " add lentils to everything " girl " 🤣

I tried a diet plan that had a fairly high daily protein goal (125g from memory) and 1700 calories a day with a step target of at least 10k a day and 3 weights sessions a week (people might recognise it!). I lost the will to live as I can't tolerate much dairy including protein shakes and puddings etc unless they're the vegan ones and then they don't have as much protein. I also don't think they're particularly healthy and it's not a long term solution. Like you, i found that the only way to hit the macros was to eat chicken and tuna to excess or I went over my calories allowance, and I was always bloody hungry!! I run longer than 5k a few times a week and it just wasn't sustainable.

I'm not great with dairy either tbh. Although I try to include it, in the form of a skinny latte and the yogurt 🤣. I worried about the protein powder pushing my stomach over the edge so I went for a vegan one and actually it sits ok. Just wish I could mix it into the yogurt without that horrible powdery taste. That's the only reason I eat the ready brek, cos it hides it well.

Had quite a good couple if days actually. Nice omelette with veg and tuna today for lunch. Now wondering how on earth I'm gonna manage dinner as I'm still really full!

Probably helps that today's a rest day minus a home abs work out but not sure that really counts. Its just one of those short timed rounds style things.

I'm out of tuna now though and berries... Good job i took some over time 🤣

But no shakes for a couple of days or those pudding things so that's probably better. And adding a massive pile of stir fried veg to meals has helped alot too. Took into account the advice above and realised I needed to add more veg.

Today I've had..

Coffee and a high 5 energy bar for breakfast.
Carrot sticks, houmous, bbq chicken breast, light babybel and 2 pieces of fruit toast with light butter
Dinner will be rice with petit poit, plain chicken breast and sweet chilli sauce
Large glass of wine

My exercise today was a 15 minute slow run to get to the park run location. 5K park run then a 15 minute slow run back home. Covered around 11K but some of that was wandering around waiting to start the park run.

Tomorrow it will be almost the same apart from I might not have the toast and I'm at the gym lifting weights instead of running.

Carbs are high, protein 120g, fibre is terrible at 9g. The only time I hit my fibre is when I have raspberries. Calorie total 1624, goal is 1600 for weight loss and I've done well this week, lost 2lbs so I can afford to up my calories because my current weight is low so I don't want to lose muscle.

Wrong thread