Food Plan

If I am going to reach my goal, I need to lower my calories.  Period.  I'm doing OKAY with food choices, but in order to meet the aggressive goals that I have set, I need to make GOOD to GREAT food choices.  Currently, I average 2,500 calories burned per day and 2,000 consumed per day.  That should be a good average for 1 pound loss per week. 

It is definitely sustainable, but I would like to do a 2 week push to get to Onederland.  So, I have come up with a few ideas.

1. Breakfast - I typically have a Smoothie King Chocolate Shredder (311 calories) w/ blueberries (40 calories) and coffee with hazelnut cream (50 calories) for a total of 400 calories for breakfast.  The Shredder gives me 39g of protein but I've determined that I get PLENTY of protein throughout the day, so there is no real need for a big time protein drink in the morning.  However, a shake works well because I'm sometimes tight AND I go to lunch quite early.  So, I ordered the low carb slim fast shakes (190 calories, 20g protein).  Hopefully I will like them as is, but I can always add some PB2 for 45 calories.  With my coffee I will be at 240-285 calories which will save over 100 calories in that one meal.
2. AM Snack - Since I eat lunch early, I don't have a need for a morning snack and that should continue.
3. Lunch - when I stay in for lunch, I have no problem staying in the 400-500 calorie range for lunch.  However, I go out at least a couple of times a week.  Since that is some of my only social contact, I don't want to give it up.  So, I will commit to working to find 400-500 calorie meals for lunch.  My friends are very good about going places where I can make good choices, I just have to ask.  *** Interesting note:  today, my lunch plans cancelled on me.  I was planning to go to Chili's and get the Guiltless Grill salmon with black beans which is under 400 calories for the whole thing (of which I typically eat 2/3.)  Deep breath...I am flexible.  My new plans took me to Olive Garden.  They have a healthy fare menu and I got Minestrone (100 cal) and Chicken Speidini (460 c) depending what looks best when I get there.  I ate about 1/2 of both and brought the other half back for dinner.  My goal will be to limit my lunch to 500 calories.
4. PM Snack - not cookies.  Since Girl Scout cookie time, this has been an issue.  My snack for the next two weeks will be a granola bar or greek yogurt (or any other filling item I can find for less than 200 calories.  And I will only have this snack on days that I work out.  Total for the day thus far:  1000 calories.
5. Dinner - I would like to limit my dinner calories to 500.  Any ideas?  I'm sad to say that dinner is often a bowl of popcorn (475 c).  Not horrible, but not really the best choice.  I also often get 2 tacos from Taco Bell.  I think this meal is where I need to focus most.  If anybody has some good options, let me know.  I need easy and convenient!  Oh, and tasty!  :)
6. Dessert - if I try to have NO treats after dinner, I usually end up doing something stupid, so I will limit myself to 2 ghirardelli chocolate squares (140 c)  Total for the day under this scenario:  approx. 1635 calories. 

Seeing that I'm averaging 2500 calories burned a day, that is over an 850 calorie deficit each day which amounts to a 1.7 pound loss per week.  That is the range I was losing for the first 9 months, I just need to get back there.  :)

Food has always been my weakness.  But I am committing to two weeks of healthy goodness!  Achieving little goals will help get me to where I want to be.

Hugs!