Newbies

Hi, I just joined the club a week ago, and have done my 1st weigh in, and I’ve only lost 1 pound. I’m so disappointed. I have stuck to the diet, but haven’t managed to eat all of every meal. Also, I have bad arthritis in most joints, but mainly in my spine & while in the bath last Wednesday I reached forward, felt and heard my lower back crack, & have partially slipped a disc, so I’m on complete bed rest for at least a week, or longer, depending on how long it takes to recover, so do I need to reduce my food intake until then? UKCatlady

Hi, Lizkaz1. The video discussed artificial or overprocessed versions of popular foods that should be healthy, but have been manipulated into being particularly harmful to your goals. Rather than giving up on them altogether, we encourage better versions in their original, natural forms. Note that the foods discussed in the video are only examples, and many other popular foods have been similarly affected—so it’s good to read labels, be aware of how a food is made, and choose whole foods as much as possible.
1. Regular “whole wheat” bread—this often also contains refined flours, so it is preferred to select “100% whole” grain products (wheat or other). Even with these products, be sure to read the label and avoid hydrogenated fats or similar ingredients such as mono- and diglycerides.
2. Regular margarine—this is often made from chemically altered fats that create health risks similar to those people are trying to avoid by eating a plant-based product. If you must use a hardened oil, t is better to choose those based on coconut oil, and otherwise to use healthy liquid oils, such as olive, as much as possible.
3. Artificial sweeteners—you can read more about this here: https://www.trimdownclub.com/the-best-way-to-sweeten-your-tea-2.
4. Regular orange juice—If it is in a store, it is likely to have been stripped of what makes it healthy. Even if vitamins etc. have been added back in, it really is not the same. Fresh-squeezed is the way to go.
5. Conventional and overly processed soy—organic is fine, and minimally processed items such as tofu, yogurt, and milk, as well as fermented items such as tempeh and natto are fine. However, most pre-packaged mock meats tend to be a problem.

Hi, Bookwyrm. That’s wonderful. We wish you continued success, and are happy to help however we can.

Have 1 day to go to end of the first week’s menu – lost a kilo already. The menu switch tool has been brilliant for me. The menu was bit alarming – so much food, till I realised it was 3 meals broken up over the day, not an added 3 meals.

I had a stroke am on insulin and my husband cooks I need healthy meals f0r him to cook

Hi everyone. Let me start by saying that I didn’t join the Trim Down Club to lose weight, although I wouldn’t mind losing my “middle-aged spread”. I hadn’t weighed myself in months (maybe years) before I joined. The reason I became a member is because I feel it’s important that I start eating healthier. One of the things that I tell people is that “I don’t cook. I microwave.” Which is humorous, but true.

The problem is that I am also a single-(grand)parent raising my two grandkids, ages 5 and 6. I’m healthy (knock on wood) but I’d like to be around to play with my great-grandbabies. I’d also like the kids to learn how to eat healthy so they can stay healthy.

So I join and go to my menu-planner. I notice right away that the meals are planned for me only. And snack time? For the kids during school that probably won’t happen. Not to mention I’m not the brightest when it comes to serving sizes. For example, one of the menu items was 1/4 cup cottage cheese. When I serve cottage cheese I usually just get a bowl and put a few tablespoons in it. Do you actually use a measuring cup? Or should I just google ‘how many tablespoons in 1/4 cup’? One of my favorites is pizza. Cheese pizza is a menu item (YAY!). But how many slices is 4 oz.? Or would it be partial slices?

I guess the point of this post would be “how do I plan a healthy meal for a FAMILY with the menu planner? Are there any remedial cooking instructions/lessons?

Cam you explain it to me like I’m 5 so I can explain it to the kids?

Thanks!

Hi, Anne Kaye. We absolutely encourage you to keep the 70% chocolate! There is a place for you it in your menu, called a “sweet” exchange. Enjoy 🙂