I feel like a blimp

It is time to be strong. Temptation has never been easy for me to resist. I love food. Not really a big eater, but have found that I am a grazer and need a fix immediately when I am feeling hungry. In the past 2 years I have went from 185 to 208. My legs are start to rub together and I feel a double chin coming on not to mention my expanding waist line. My starting goal is to eat 400 calorie meals allowing for a 300 calorie cushion for a total of 1500 calories per day. I drink water and decaffeinated ice tea so that will help me. Wish me luck. Anyone with pointers on avoiding temptation and impulse eating would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Like you...im a grazer. When I realized Like how much weight I've gained and the bad example in setting for my kids, I decided it was past time to do something about it. I tried calorie reduction with luck, do to my grazing. I was doing some research last night and ran across what seems to be the perfect "diet" for people like us. Its called the 6 word diet. I looked further into it, thinking that's an odd name. Turns out its basically a metabolism boosting diet. The best part, its all about eating constantly! Its simple...just eat 100 calories (of anything) every 90 minutes. I just started today...we'll see how it goes! If you decide to try it, let me know and we can see how its working together!

there is no such a thing as metabolism boosting diets or foods, the only thing that can boost metabolism is exercise and increased lean body mass

Diet is what controls appetite. The best foods for the regimen you describe are lean protiens like flat brisket, extra lean turkey, tilapia fish, and tripe, which all have a calorie value of 25 to 35 calories per oz. A slow cooker is invaluable, as is a microwave oven. Get some fat every day, and not just omega 3. Your diet will be higher in protien than in carbs or fat, but balance requires a reasonable amount from all 3 food groups.

Another part of this regimen is vegetables, particularly broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, romaine, celery, tomato, cabbage, beets, turnips, kale, mustard greens, and collard greens. Onion and garlic are wonderful, as are lemon and lime juice and all the herbs and spices you like. These veggies keep a long time and most can be eaten raw or cooked in different ways.

Things to avoid are veggies that are really starchy and cause fluid retention, like potatoes and dark yellow squash. Corn is starchy, but it is very versatile and rather low calorie. Cut back on white starch. Avoid sugar. It is an artificial chemical that upsets the body's metabolism and causes disease. Use stevia rather than sugar. Cut back on salt. Try to stay within 15g of sugar and 1500 mg of salt per day. Get at least 25 g of fiber daily. A snack that can stop hunger sometimes and add fiber is wheat bran, with a little water, stevia, and cinnamon. You can get wheat bran at the health food store. A quarter cup is 30 calories. Stevia has no calories. You can also get soy protein powder at the health food store--It's used by body builders, and provides 20 g of protien per serving, 8 oz of soymilk made with water. Ghiradelli unsweetened cocoa powder can be added to the soymilk. Cocoa powder is 15 calories per tablespoon. Get used to really simple foods and don't forget variety. You can get along for a long while on a diet like this. But if your activity level really requires it, don't hesitate to raise your RDI.

So I quit smoking..."yea me! Now I have the weight gain to deal with

Protien and vitamin B supplement might help after quitting smoking. And excercise too. Nicotine is related to niacin, but it seems best to take all the B vitamins rather than just niacin. So look for a supplement with a variety of B.

HI Gayle S....I am the same, I am a grazer, always have been, always will be to some extent. What I do these days: I pack my breakfast & lunch(nicely balanced/tasty & nutrious), make sure that I am within my calorie intake, and instead of eating it all in 1 go, I graze on it throughout the day. & over time I have managed to reduce my food intake, because the things I eat now seem to keep me fuller for longer. feel free to have a read of my 'diet' calendar.

San...what on earth is :flat brisket & tilapia fish? and do you really eat tripe? My dogs love it, but I wouldn't touch it! I think a lifestyle needs to be simple....what you suggest is all good & well but in my opinion way too complicated.