Help with a fortnight's worth of low-fat recipes please - and some insight into helping DH lose weight

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I need to lose about a stone and a half of baby weight (DS is 3 months old ) but DH needs to lose about 5 stone, maybe more. I'm really worried about him and want to try to find ways to support his weight loss, while sorting my own out too!

So essentially I am asking for ideas for a fortnight's menu of low-fat dinners - that way we can agree on the meals beforehand and not fall into the end-of-the-day malaise which leads to comfort cooking.

So all suggestions appreciated!

Also, I am interested in ideas about the best way to encourage him in healthy eating and exercise (I know ultimately it is his decision and out of my control, of course). He is a real emotional eater and very defensive about his weight. I think he eats secretly too, although I'm not sure. So if anyone can give me some insight into how their partners helped and supported them through their weight loss, that would be great.

TIA

Why are you looking for low fat recipes? The easiest way to cut calories from a meal without feeling deprived is to cut out the carbs. Most people would eat more than 100g dry weight of pasta or rice in a sitting and that alone has almost 400 calories. You could have a steak with sauce and veggies for the same number of calories.

Ah ok. Well, for low fat read any meal ideas that will aid weight loss

I agree about cutting carbs... much better than going low fat

Here are some ideas:

breakfast - 2 egg omelette plus yoghurt
lunch - salad with either meat or tinned fish or smoked salmon or soup
dinner - meat and veggies

Snacks - couple of apples a day, 25g nuts once a day, 25g hard cheese once a day.

Dinner ideas -
chicken stir fry
bolognaise sauce with loads of veggies poured over cauliflower
poached salmon and steam veggies
griddled steak and ratatouille

I strongly recommend a book called The Hungry Years by William Leith. He is a journalist and a food/carbs/drugs/alcohol addict and the book is extremely eye-opening about men and their weight issues. In the end he lost weight via the Atkins method (extreme low carbs) but what he has to say, in easily understood day-to-day terms, re. carbs being addictive like any other drug is really enlightening.

Why don't you read it and leave it lying around for dh to pick up?

Thanks forever, I like all those suggestions, particularly the bolognase poured over cauliflower idea - genius! It kind of looks like pasta....

baubley, that book sounds as if it could be very relevant to DH. When I met DH he was thin but had a wild lifestyle with lots of booze and drugs, which he happily and immediately dropped when we got together (much to my surprise!). He wasn't an addict I don't think, but was definitely managing his emotions that way. And now he is a carb monster. He'd eat a massive bowl of pasta every night if he could.

If I left the book around though he'd see through the casual ruse a mile off!

Get Anna Richardson's Body Blitz!

There is no need to go low carb if he doesn't want to.
I have lost over 3 stones in 7 months. I still eat wholemeal bread, potatoes, oatmeal etc. I just eat less of them. I don't eat pasta because I don't like it, if I did I would weigh it out [and eat less than 400 calories of it ].
I have reduced my fat by eating less cheese, less butter/spread, I use less oil for cooking and cut out salad dressings and mayonaise.

Wow fatlazymummy, well done! Intelligent moderation sounds like a good option

Anyone have any other meal ideas?

Am still really interested to hear stories of what helped and what hindered when a partner tried to offer support in losing weight...

Reguarly treat your DH to non food treats as he loses weight. I brought myself magazines, bubble bath and candles as I lost weight but I think it would have been great to have received these from my DH. If he does get into the diet then lots of compliments but at the end of the day he may need a light bulb moment to start eating healthy. Possibly if you losing the stone you mentioned you wanted to lose could spurr him on. Good luck to both of you.

look here - a 28 day full menu plan with three different calorie levels - bloke would need higher level.

Could you try asking him for advice- dh, I want to lose a stone, do you think low carb or low fat is best? Could you mind the baby while I go for a run- ill do the same for you? Do y

I forgot to say I was in your DH position until Easter. And i found the whole weight thing super sensitive to talk about . It was a horrible comment from my DH that spurred me into action. I am sure you are but please be really mindful of your husbands feelings when you mention weight , diets etc because it hurts so much. I used to weigh 13 and a half stone now weigh 9 stone 6.

rosemery connelly hip a thigh diet is full low fat recipes she had gall stones and needed low fat diet th eoriginal one has load recipes

Forever on a diet posted some good suggestions.

Forget about low fat food, fat is not the problem, it is likely to be too many calories from too many carbs.

You might want ot think about using virgin organic coconut oil as it helps boost your metabolism and is broken down in the liver and nit readily stored in the body as fat. Matt Lovell the sports nutritionist raves about it, he has a fat loss program as well www.fourweekfatloss.com

Re your husband get rid of all the snacky type foods in the house.

Pen

The 30day-shred is an exercise dvd that starts to give you results v fast so its very motivating. Takes 20 mins a day and gives a good mental energy boost. Lots of threads on it here.

Thanks everyone. All your posts are really helping me formulate an approach for the new year.

fluffy123 thanks for your insight. I do really try to tread softly with regards to DH's weight; I would hate to hurt his feelings. Also I have suggested the 'treats' idea a few times. But maybe I will offer to get the treats when he hits a milestone, think of some nice little surprises, rather than leaving it to him.

It's hard keeping to a plan and having a clear head when you've got a little baby who wakes at least three times a night, though.....but I guess that's another thread