Hello Lillian and Stephanie
I am Saavi and new here. Its comforting to see you guys here, knowing that we can all support each other... I am 13st 4lbs and suffering from ''Clinical Depression''.. I have just started on ''XENICAL'' and along with that I need to start eating healthy.
Can you advise me on how many Calories per day should I start with?
Thanks

Hello Lillian and Stephanie
I am Saavi and new here. Its comforting to see you guys here, knowing that we can all support each other... I am 13st 4lbs and suffering from ''Clinical Depression''.. I have just started on ''XENICAL'' and along with that I need to start eating healthy.
Can you advise me on how many Calories per day should I start with?
Thanks

Just a note to Admiral,
All of Ritz crackers have partially hydrogenated oil which is very bad for your heart health. It clogs the arteries badly.
I used to love Ritz until I found out how bad partially hydrogenated oil are.
It's good to read the ingredients labels.

@saavi calorie intake depends on your weight is what I have read. Try googling the best amount to start off with but I have lost over 100 lbs in 9 months by eating a whole food plan. Lean meats, whole grains, veggies, fruits, dairy all in small portions 5x a day and then working out 3-4 days a week. I give myself one cheat meal a week where I can have whatever I want as much as I want and one sweet treat a week whether it be a piece of cake or candy bar. Good luck to you.

Thanks Stephanie...
I have some added problems like ''Gluten Allergy'' ''Irritable Bowel Syndrome'' and couple of other things.. On top of that I am vegetarian since childhood. Also suffer from serotonin deficiency, which causes extreme lethargy and tiredness for no reason at all.
I know this looks like I am making excuses, but I find it very difficult to carry on with day today life.
Its really good to have your support. I have started on healthy eating from today on. Will keep you posted how am I getting on.
Thanks for your support
Saavi

I agree with Admiral... try to stay away from white bread etc. Once you make the switch to wheat and whole grains, you'll get used to it and not miss the white after awhile. You need to taper down slowly and things will work out for you.

I am lucky that I don't have a sweet tooth... cutting out sugary foods was easy for me. There are tons of healthy recipes out there for sweet treats that are sugar free, etc. Try those. Tell yourself no to the junk food. Try to convince your brain that they aren't good (that's what my mom did when she found out she was diabetic).

Drinking lots of water is a must. You have to trick your tummy into feeling like it is full. Over time, your stomach and your brain will catch up with each other.

Try substituting fatty meats with leaner choices. I eat bacon maybe once a month. Instead, I eat a lot of turkey or chicken and omega 3 fish like salmon.

I continue to take the carb blocker (white bean extract) pill when I eat carbs. This pill does wonders! I have also included a lot of white and kidney beans into my meals such as to veg. soup, salads, and salsas. Beans and fiber are important to losing weight. Replacing starchy or fatty foods for these choices are easy and will become part of your daily routine over time.

I rarely snack. I eat three meals a day and sometimes have one morning snack during the week consisting of yogurt or veggies. I don't eat anything after dinner and if I get a snacky urge, I'll do something to get my mind off of eating. I watch movies, go for walks, or clean the house. Replacing your snack time with a physical activity would help you greatly. The same goes with the craving for a cigarette.

Take your journey one day at a time. You are not alone and we are all here for you. Each of us needs the support of others... friends or strangers... to keep us going through life.

Don't give up but instead make the choice to do better for yourself because, in the end, you're the one that has to live your life... so make your life the one that you want!!

Take care and lots of prayers,
Tammy :)

Thank you all... Since my last post here, did major change up.I whipped out my Richard Simmons Foodmover gadget, a compact device to track calories and major food groups..I started this on Sunday and am doing so,so very good!!!! I finally understand about my 20 Lbs weight cycleing and am now on a losng mode!! I am getting my fiber from fruits/veggies and drinking 8-10 glasses of water...I love Richard Simmons, he had helped me before and am finally taking ACTION!!!

Not posting my foods on here, since am not keeping a food journal on a notebook anymore...I now close windows on my foodmover and Its less stress for me and mucho easier!

See ya around !!

Liliann :)

The Walker. Thanks for heads up.
Now I don't know what to use to make cracker crust (?)
With Ritz crackers, I mix diffrent types of apples n spices n crumble in rize crackers. The crackers auto makes bottom side n top crust,as pie bakes, sigh.
Any healthy recipes to make reg pie crust/shell ?
Most crust is made w lard, yakka, ya shell taste good but so unhealthy.

I do this once a wk.
Yesterday Mon,11/11/12, Morning protein w 1/2 banana toast into blended drink.
original fiber one cereal,2 prunes, 1/2 cup of coffee.

Bannans is sweet has potassuim n carb.

I had 2 cups of seasoned hot water. I use chicken flavor bullion cubes. 2 cubes for 2.5 cups. This is form of extry water intake.I do not drink it but I use table spoon.

Raw veg's n mixed fruit. (In winter I buy n use frozen fruit ).

home maded trail mix

2.5 cups of hot water flavoed w 2 bullion cubes n 1 cup of green beans ( cut up into small pcs )
2 wheat crackers. I often use white beans.

1 small tiny bit of pizza. yes I will make a pizza or order 1 n after I'v had up to max of 5 tiny bits, I toss out the rest.
However sometimes I give the rest of pizza to male neighbour. Like myself his budget is on budget so he is gratful for extry food. He's real active n burns up cal's.

Dry original fiber one cereal n 1/2 banana.

Throughout day I always drink gal of water.

If I want grab food, I have fiber one cereal w dried fruit in it n 1/2 cup of coffee n 20 oz of water. Do not use sugery nor suger coated dried fruit. However I have brought suger coated dried fruit n rinsed sugar coat off w hot water, n cool in refg.. I do not recommend sugar coated dried fruit.

This morning Tue.,11/12/12
so far I have had 20 oz of ice water, 2- half cups of coffee n protein drink w 3 walnuts.
I toss nuts n/or fruit n blender w protein n casin n water, to make 20 oz drink.

In couple of hrs, I will have dry original fiber one cereal

Latter today/remaining of day, I will have white beans n kale n streamed carrots n 1/2 corn ( on cob ) n tomatoe sandw..
I use 2 leafs of luttace liken to 2 pc of bread w/o use of bread. n 2.5 cups of bullion flavored water w 1/2 cup green beans ( 1/2 cup of non seasoned green beans,50 cal's)
I use Nu salt. it taste n looks like salt but it is not salt. Uncertain but I think that it's $7.00 at WMart. 1 will last for aprox 3 to 5 yrs..

I only eat 2 prunes at time 2 dys a wk.

I use to keep log of my daily intake w cal's of ea food n drink n date n time. to much work to keep a log.
sometimes I will have a bit of wheat cracker ( 10 cal's) n maybe 1 pc of "Nips" candy ( 60 cal's) Protein n casin drink 350 cal's,plus reg intake.

Will it's 3:30 AM here n I'v already had water n coffee, so I'm going to go get rest of my beauty sleep,lol