What's on the dinner plate

I have been posting mostly on raw shakes, and I have decided to talk about what I have been eating as well.

The goal of eating well, in my opinion, isn't cutting out anything, or depriving yourself. It is about eating in portions and adding healthy greens to each meal.

6 years ago, I was 210 pounds, at the age of 15. While I carried my weight well, I was overweight. I was in the drama program at my school, and I couldn't fit into any of the costumes they had. I knew something had to change.

I started walking for exercise. It was difficult for me to run, as I have a lactic acid problem (achy joints during hard activity) and at that time I had a DDD chest which made it hard as well. So I simply walked in my neighborhood for about an hour a day, five days a week. It was very nice, because unlike how most people feel about exercise, walking (with music of course) was very relaxing and helped improve my overall life.

Then I cut portions of what I ate. So, I didn't cut out soda, pizza, or junk food most teenagers love, I just limited how much I had. I had to recognize when I was full.

It took 3 years, but I lost 60 pounds. Now, most people want to lose 60 pounds in 4 months, and mine took 3 years, so it isn't worth it to some people. But, I kept the weight off. Even when I have times I pig out (for months), I gain at most 10 pounds. I also lost a ton of fat. I went from a size 16 to a size 9. I think most people who lose the 60 within a couple months only go down a 2 pant sizes.With my fat loss, it was a huge difference.

The past 5 months I have gained about 10 pounds. In November, I was running 5 days a week and getting really fit. My scooter was stolen, then Julius (my brother) had health problems, so it came to a stop. Then I started over eating as well.

So at this point, I am at 161.4 pounds. I was 150-155. I would like to get down to 145. So that is a roughly a 15 pound goal.  And I am doing it the same way I did it before.

Yesterday, I had my green shake for breakfast. For lunch, I did have a foot long veggie sub at subway, but it was all  veggies pretty much, with light chipotle sauce. Then for dinner I had white rice and steamed string beans.

I was able to incoperate veggies into all of my meals, which really does make a difference.

Tonight, I am making veggie burgers, sweet potato fries (Organic and baked, not fried or greasy!) and broccoli for dinner.

James, who is a meat eater, has been taking the lack of meat on the dinner plate well (although he on his own is still eating meat everyday) because the dishes are usually so filling. While rice and steamed beans doesn't sound filling it is. He added some teriyaki sauce to his as well.

I don't recommend eating substitute meat everyday either...I think it deters you to eat meat instead of preventing it. But we both were craving a bigger dinner.

Then I have been slipping whole wheat into his (and mine) diet. I bought whole wheat pasta, which I will make Sunday or Monday. Spaghetti is really easy to add vegetables too. I get the sauce, add chopped tomatoes, chopped mushrooms, fresh parsley and cilantro, and it creates a very thick sauce so you don't miss meatballs at all!

Then I bought whole wheat bagels (which was a $1 CHEAPER than regular ones!) I need to buy some vegan cream cheese for them ,which actually tastes just like light regular cream cheese.

I think the main dinner plate problem is adding variety...it is very easy to slip into rice and vegetables every night.

And for someone on a budget, some recipes I find online are not so practical for every week meals!

I really appreciate any feedback you might have-even a simple "I read your post today!" would be great. Also feel free to share your own weight loss, green eating, or vegetarian/vegan stories by posting a comment!