I agree with eating more to lose at times. I try to start the day with some protein, a bread and some fruit. If I don't eat some protein I seem to get hungry sooner. A convenient breakfast for me would be a frozen pancake or waffle, lite sausage links or a piece of ham and a piece of fruit. Sometimes an egg, two strips of bacon and toast. Many times I eat lunch for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. Lunch is a tuna sandwich on a roll with a salad's worth of greens on top, Sometimes a roast beef or turkey sandwich or a small burger or a Lean Cuisine meal. I don't care for processed meats. Fruits and veggies as needed for hunger. Dinner is standard meat,veggie and starch but portion controlled. If I eat potatoes, pasta or rice I skip the bread. If I don't, I have bread. Snacks are usually chewy granola bars, fruit and grain bars, fig newtons or occasionally a "good" cookie like oatmeal. I eat ice cream almost every day, but measure out 1/2 cup. For crunch I measure out dry cereal or pretzels. I use sugarfree jello sometimes and clear veggie based soups to fill up when I'm on a "can't stop eating binge". I "trick" my sweet tooth by using healthy choices. For example I will slice a banana on a hot pancake or waffle, sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar and add a dollop of whipped cream...banana cream pie thats good for me. For apple crisp I nuke a sliced apple sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon and sugar and top it with crushed honey nut chex cereal. I don't get enough dairy since I'm not a milk or yogurt person, so I take calcium. I do eat cottage cheese and cheese though. The little Babybell cheeses are a good snack at 70 calories each. That's pretty much how I eat and as long as I don't get carried away with restaurant portions or eating too much fat at one meal it seems to work for me. Anyway thats what I eat. Hope it helps.

I won't even admit how many exercise DVDs I've tried. My very favorite is Karen Voigt and, in fact, I just bought her Ballet BodySculpt DVD http://www.amazon.com/Ballet-BodySculpt-Karen-Voight/dp/B00466G5XA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342028935&sr=8-1&keywords=ballet+sculpt+voight and I love it. I was worried it would be too easy, but it was a good workout. I have most of her other DVDs also. I also like The Method All in One http://www.amazon.com/Method-Pilates-All-One-Workout/dp/B000067J06/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1342029138&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Method+All+in+One, altho some people think it's too complicated. Sometimes, tho, I think that's better than multiple boring reps. I also recently bought Supreme 90 day http://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Day-System-Cal-Pozo/dp/B004S2YN5O/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1342029208&sr=1-1&keywords=supreme+90+day+10-dvd+set+workout for the Tabata workout, but you get 10 DVDs for $20. I also love Yoga DVDs. The reviews on Amazon really help me decide if a DVD is something I'd like.

The bad thing is that I'm hungrier, and it's hard to stick to the calorie level that seems to produce rapid weight loss for me. I've been missing my target fairly often, and it feels like my body wants more food. So I've started packing a bento-type lunch, as mentioned in another thread, in hopes that at least my calories will be healthy ones. This is a classic example of dieting vs. lifestyle changes. Dieting is a temporary way of eating with the goal of losing weight, while lifestyle changes are a permanent change in one's lifestyle with the ultimate goal of improving one's health in all areas including weight loss (if it's necessary). IMO when someone says they "can't lose weight", what they really mean is "I can't lose weight as fast as I want to", and so they give up. The "diet" industry has brainwashed us into thinking that if we don't lose at least 1-2 pounds per week, then something must be wrong, and that's a big lie. Choose fruit over chips -- not because they're a "diet" food or "low-cal" but because fruit is a much healthier choice than fried potato chips. Eat a salad full of veggies with lean chicken -- not because it's a "diet" meal but because it's full of healthy nutrients that are good for you! Include a piece of 100% whole grain bread if you want and even a little bit of butter -- yes, butter! Take smaller servings (and only one of each -- don't go back for seconds) and skip the gravy and creamy sauces --- they're not necessary if food is well-seasoned. Eat smaller amounts more frequently. Don't skip lunch if you're planning a nice dinner out -- just eat a smaller dinner (dinner out doesn't have to mean overeating). Have a dish of ice cream now and then, just not most days of the week. Don't eat "diet" foods (low-fat cookies, etc) --- just skip those snacks altogether and eat the real thing only on special occasions. That's how I slowly lost 50 pounds several years ago, about 1-2 pounds per month, eating ~1800 calories a day of healthy food choices and increasing my exercise, and have kept off every single ounce even during holidays and stressful times. During the holidays I don't eat as many cookies because "I don't do that anymore", simple as that. I dropped those bad habits and they're not a part of my life anymore. Prior to losing weight I had acid reflux and have a family history of diabetes. The acid reflux is completely gone (without taking a single purple pill) and probably so is my risk of diabetes. I don't have the metabolism of a race horse; I'm a typical middle-aged woman with a desk job. I made simple but important permanent lifestyle changes in eating and exercise, and I stuck with it and persevered no matter how slowly the scales budged, and some months they didn't budge at all!

Grilled chicken at McD? I am assuming it is like most cheapo "grilled chicken"; water logged and with black magic marker "grill marks". :::shudder::: If we are out and about and need to stop for fast food, we usually will go to a grocery store and grab some fruit and greek yogurt, nuts, a wrap, etc. If it's a Whole Foods, their restaurants are just as quick as fast food and can satisfy everyone. You can get protein and a ton of salad options, and you control how rich they are. One thing I am surprised noone mentioned about the CF. It's the one chain we do frequent (apart from the Diginn and Pret a Manger in NYC). Why CF? The Skinnylicious menu is excellent, extensive, and has calorie counts (meals under 490 and under 590 calories). I think 590 is a bit high for one meal for a female, but as an eating-out option, it's a good choice. You need to say no to the bread and keep your drink calorie free ( but I like their unsweetened Passion fruit iced tea). And I like a lot of their Skinnylicious menu. The salads are tasty and not just a pile of greens. Their lettuce wraps are great. I also like their turkey burger and some of the chicken entrees. They did take my favorite dish off the menu. It was warm asparagus salad with one fried egg, sundried tomatoes and pine nuts. Under 490 calories. Waitstaff told me no one understood a "warm salad".