Meal plan ideas / tips - protein packed?

[Lubrana061302]

I've been following quite a few of the weight loss threads on here with interest for a while but never posted. In January I started going to the gym and trying to eat healthy to lose a bit of weight and get more toned after having my 3 kids. Currently on holiday but just before I came away I could see subtle differences but not majorly or as much as I would have expected for having going to the gym and lifting weights 3 times a week, one of these being a PT session, for 6 months. I know the exercise (or at least I think I know) isn't the problem - it's the eating. I don't eat terribly but I could be better. I struggle to get my protein goal every day and I suck at meal planning. It takes me forever to do. Does anyone have any tips on this please? Go to meal plans or just tips in general on how to do it and get a tonne of protein in there? I'm losing the will to live putting in all the effort at the gym and seeming to get nowhere!

Anyone? :-(

What are you eating ? What types of things do you like to eat?

Protein deficiency in western diets is rather rare - although I know a lot of diets these days are variants of the old Atkins diet

Rather than focus on protein it might make more sense to look at your overall diet

Have you tried using Nutracheck or MFP to track your intake & see how much protein you're eating? I've started using Nutracheck & I've needed to up my protein intake. I've done this by using those yogurts higher in protein for breakfast, together with extra beef, ham or chicken in a salad wrap. I'm finding the extra protein is stopping me from feeling so hungry & reaching for the carbs.

I am on high protein diet - couple of things that work for me - biotiful yoghurts with Kefir - each pot has 30g protein and is low fat - I find them really filling - mix them up with nuts and seeds to add more protein

I also love myProtein Whey powder - a scoop is 25g protein - I add it to normal yogurt - choc flavour turns into a choc mousse (almost!) - I make a drink for mid afternoon with fruit and avocado and .. so both these can get me to about 60g of protein without making me feel overly full so still got appetite for chicken etc

Protein powders are the only way I can hit my protein macros.
I don't eat meat so that makes it a bit harder too. I do eat tuna, salmon, chickpeas, oats, eggs which add up but it is hard. Good luck

@midgetastic My diet is really varied and I like most foods and make most meals from scratch. I don't was badly but could just make more of an effort to get more protein for building muscle and muscle repair after the gym.

@Whatliesbeneath707 I used to use MFP but have switched to Nutracheck after seeing it talked about on here and I much prefer it. I'm good at logging but it the planning I fall down on. Do you plan all your protein for each day in advance? I plan breakfast lunch and dinner then try and wing it for the rest of the protein and it just doesn't work. I end up hungry and eating the wrong things. That's a good tip about the yoghurts, I will try them. Thanks!

@Queenonfleek I've seen a few people mention Kefir on here so I will definitely look into that aswell. I currently have protein water from my protein which is good for 20g but it's just not enough. The powder is a good shout and I can add it to other things like you say and hopefully it helps. Thanks @minidancer

Advice I've seen generally says plan your meals/ snacks around protein, then veggies then the carb. Slightly increase portion sizes.
Supplements should be just that- a supplement if you are perfect with everything else.
I have yet to find a protein powder that I like so I just have to do what I can.