 Ossie-Sharon 9 years ago | Hi, Ed. No problem! The “or” just means that you have the option of, say, butter or jam for your toast. Yes, I did take your food examples into account. |
 edwardkavinsky 9 years ago | Hi Ossie,
Thank you, thank you and thank you again! That’s what I’m talking about,Info and more info! You gave me quite a bit of info (good info) that I like. I have lots of questions now to ask you to start understanding the TDC’s program & Menu Planner.
I don’t have time to post questions right now, though I just wanted to touch base with you to let you know that your post will allow me to now ask the right questions to start understanding and learning how to use TDC’s system.
Well maybe just one quick one (LOL); On the example you gave me below, under breakfast you listed “or” under “Fat” and “Sweet”. What does “or” mean in this regard? P.S. you are using my example of Breakfast below. correct? [Breakfast: Buy X-brand breakfast sandwiches or breakfast bar from wal-mart or Trader Joe’s have one for breakfast] Since you don’t have a menu through which to see your pattern, I will post it here:
Meal Carb Protein Fat Fruit Sweet Vegetable
Breakfast 2 2 or 1 or 0
AM Snack 1 1 1 1 0 0
Lunch 2 3 1 0 0 1
Afternoon Snack 1 1 0 0 0 2
Dinner 2 3 1 0 0 1
Eve Snack or 1 0 or or 0 Thanks again. Ed….more questions to come. |
| Ossie-Sharon 9 years ago | Hi, Edward. Sorry we weren’t clear before, and your frustration is a really (really!) natural part of adjusting to a new lifestyle – no worries. I’m happy to clarify the points.
With regard to the combinations of foods, I think the disconnect is that we keep it very simple so that it can be sustainable, unlike many programs that demand wizardry. In our main Program Guide, we promote the combination of proteins with carbohydrates, in addition to selection of the best types of sources of these nutrients IF you like them, and encourage the addition of fruits/vegetables to each meal/snack. We definitely don’t want Clubmembers to jump through mathematical hoops or find themselves in awkward situations wherein the proverbial tightrope must be walked. When the dust of newness settles, this needs to be comfortable and second-nature enough to be sustainable long-term.
Since you don’t have a menu through which to see your pattern, I will post it here:
Meal Carb Protein Fat Fruit Sweet Vegetable
Breakfast: 2 carbs, 2 proteins, 1 fruit, and either 1 fat or morning “sweet” (e.g. jam)
AM Snack: 1 carb, 1 protein, 1 fat, 1 fruit
Lunch: 2 carbs, 3 proteins, 1 fat, 1 vegetable
Afternoon Snack: 1 carb, 1 protein, 2 vegetables
Dinner: 2 carbs, 3 proteins, 1 fat, 1 vegetable
Eve Snack: 1 protein and your choice of a carb, fat, fruit, or sweet
The exchanges largely consistent with the American Diabetes Association system – see ours here https://www.trimdownclub.com/exchanges-lists. Note that not only are carbs and proteins combined, but we also encourage you to have “square” meals even at snacktime, i.e. with a fruit or vegetable in addition to the above two food groups.
In general, we encourage the use of “superfoods” and seasonings, for which there are articles (just type “superfood” in the search box of the articles section, and you will see them). Note that many of these are simple but underappreciated.
With regard to foods you don’t like, which foods would you prefer that you are not seeing? Keep in mind that many foods listed are in a generic form to allow flexibility – it doesn’t need to be a specific type to be selected. For example, you can select “Black Rice Vegetable Combo” in the Menu Planner as a place-saver for your chow mein vegetable bowl, and make the swap at mealtime. Note also that many foods in the program do not require cooking. I would be happy to work with you here, based on information about your preferences. All of the whole foods you listed as examples of what you would put in a menu are in the lists, but some of them are processed and move away from the general idea of the program – to eat clean (breakfast sandwiches and bars, pre-made meal bowls) – though reading food ingredients labels can help you make the right choices, and the Nutrition Facts can help you find their “twins” in the Menu Planner so that you can fit them into your generated menus (if you would like help here, please do repost).
Below a list of popular simple and quick meal and snack-type whole foods that can support your efforts here.
Quick and No-Cook Ideas
• Fresh and dried fruit
• Cut raw vegetables
• Oven-baked vegetable chips
• Nuts and seeds
• Trail mix combinations of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
• Sandwiches – good breads with nut butters, hummus and similar spreads, tahini, canned or smoked fish, cheese, homemade “cold cuts” from fresh meats, egg salad, etc.
• Whole grain or Paleo crackers plus any of the above
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Sliced or string cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt
• Milk (dairy or vegetal), plain or flavored with cocoa powder and a recommended sweetener
• Hearty soup in a thermos (2-3 food groups, i.e. meat or legume, vegetable, whole grain)
• Hearty smoothie/shake in a thermos (2-3 food groups, i.e. fruit/vegetable, dairy/vegan, seeds)
• Edamame or other legume/pulse snacks
• Whole grain or Paleo cereal or granola (cold in small sealable bag, cooked in thermos)
• Canned beans
• Prepared healthy foods in containers – from leftovers or prepared the night or weekend before.
• Homemade whole-food muffins or bars
• Popped grains, i.e. organic popcorn, sorghum, quinoa
As for the videos, you don’t need to deal with them.
Finally, the advantage of you posting your queries in the forum (rather than private e-mail) is that everyone can read this exchange can benefit from the excellent points you brought up – there are plenty of folks here with similar challenges, and you’ve helped (and will help) them a great deal. |
| Ossie-Sharon 9 years ago | Hi, jbgio, and congratulations! Regarding your recipes, homemade (with the right ingredients, of course) is often a green light. To add them to your menu, just select something similar in the Menu Planner lists, and make the swap at mealtime. For example corn bread is in the “Carbohydrate” list (as “Bread, Corn”) and banana bread in the “Sweets” list as “Banana Brown Butter Bread”. Even if the recipes aren’t identical, it will be fine. |
| edwardkavinsky 9 years ago | I’m very sorry but I have 1 more concern I need to know! Concern #7; I do not cook., No time to cook eating every three hours. Your program says that I don’t have to cook. Once I finish the MP and then change things with the Exchange View, can the MP create a MP that shows me simple things to buy to eat? Allow me to explain; can the MP produce a plan that says something like: Breakfast: Buy X-brand breakfast sandwiches or breakfast bar from wal-mart or Trader Joe’s have one for breakfast
Snack: one apple and one banana with 1/2 cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt
Lunch: buy X-brand Healthy lunches or snack at so & so store and have one for lunch
Snack: one pear and two oranges or cup full of red & green grapes for snack 2- 1/4 cup of yogurt optional
Dinner: Buy X-brand chow mein vegetables bowls have one for dinner or 1/2 cup of Quinoa (I have a rice cooker) with one cup of mix vegetables (microwavable or steamed) of your choice
Snack: Have 3 to 4 oatmeal cookies from Brand-X at Trader Joe’s Can the plan produce something like this? I can throw a sandwich together or boil pasta and add sauce. But as far as cooking say a meatloaf or a entire chicken dinner with all the fixings, no I don’t do that no time. Now please tell me the truth and be specific when doing so! This is all I have time for. I live alone. Work 12 hour days, 1 or 2 days off to do everything; catch-up on sleep, run errands, grocery shop, banking, clean house, do laundry and find time to do all my yard work outside. As you can see I have no time to prepare large meals.. I’m constantly on the go. I need to be able to buy already cooked items just to microwave and eat quickly, well slowly like you suggest. Is this doable and reasonable with your program? Thanks, Ed |
| edwardkavinsky 9 years ago | Hi Support,
Is there anyway for me to get SPECIFIC answer from you guys? I hope I don’t upset or offend anyone with this post, I need and am begging for your help to lose weight but I feel I’m getting the run-around here, can’t seem to get a straight answer. I have been on the program for almost two weeks and still can’t figure-out how to make your Menu Planner work for me.
Example and concern #1;
;Hi Edward, Thanks for getting in touch with us. While our job is to answer your technical questions, there is a better way to get answers to questions on diet and nutrition at the Trim Down Club. Our free online community is a great place to meet other members, and get advice from our diet or exercise specialists who frequently participate in discussions. If you’re signed in, click here to get started. We’re always here for you, Tracy Dean
The Trim Down Club Support Team I asked a specific question and I get either a general answer or passed-on to someone else.
“While our job is to answer your technical questions, there is a better way to get answers to questions”
Why wasn’t my question answered instead of “look here for it.” It should have been, “here is a link for it.” I thought I paid to have you answer my questions immediately. I don’t really have the time to search your vast info. There is a information overload on your site.
Example and concern #2;
My first post I asked several questions and only get one answered. One question that was answered with a general answer; Also where and/or when can I find out how to balance my proteins & carbs the right way to be in fat-burning mode 24 hrs a day! Ossie posted back; Hi, Edward. There are reading materials in “My Downloads” (the main program guide, for example), as well as in the “Articles” section.
Well I looked at the Downloads. The “Trim Down Main Program Guide”, I’m only half way through the 98 pages of reading. I also looked over the Articles, there are 162 Articles (information overload) though I found no Articles relative to teaching me how balance my proteins & carbs.
My point is why didn’t Ossie or someone tell me specifically witch Download or Article to read and then post a link to go directly to that info? I looked at all the Articles titles and nothing is relative to teaching me how to balance foods. I guess your MP does that so you really never learn on your own on how to do this! That IS what I thought I would be learning how to do in this program, but I guess maybe not.
Concern #3; So now the last post from Support is telling me that I must choose foods that I do not like to get the MP working for me. Remember the old saying; “Garbage in, garbage out”. If I have to choose foods that I don’t like to eat, the Mp will give me meals that I won’t eat, though I understand that I can click-on that meal and change it. But what if it KEEPS giving me another meal that I can’t eat? “Garbage in garbage out”. It can become as a vicious cycle with this program.
My #4 point and concern is that I don’t have a lot of time in my day to sit and read let alone search for information when your site has soooo much info!!! Please can’t you direct me to the info immediately?
My #5 concern is you’re sending me videos that I WANT to watch and MUST watch to help me with my goals but the videos don’t have a pause or fast forward & reverse on them. As I said my day has too many distractions. The video from Joel Marion about “carb fighting tricks” I tried watching 4 times now and each and every time something came-up and I had to restart the video only to stop it after a few minutes. I still can’t seem to get through it! Again I hope I don’t offend anyone but it is ridiculous now a days to have a video that you can not pause, reverse or fast forward. To me, with my busy day, a video like that is USLESS!
Concern # 6; Ossie tells me; You are welcome to take a look at your pattern through the “Exchange view” link (see the toolbar above your finished menu) and just put in what foods you like according to our exchange lists here. Since I don’t have a “finished menu” or “finished MP” I don’t have that link as of yet for the “Exchange view”. Am I correct in understanding that I must choose foods I don’t eat to complete the MP and THEN and only then, will the link for the “Exchange View” be available to use? If so why was that not explained fully to me before? I just feel that I have to “pull teeth” here to get answers that I understand. (Hence this long post) I’m not a mind reader. Please can’t you give answers in a elaborate or complete way so that I don’t have to GUESS at its meaning. Please remember to completely answer all six concerns and not only one to two incompletely. P.S. I apologize if I was harsh or rude in my wording, I am only trying to find out, before my 60-day warranty is up, if this program works for me or not so I can apply the money to another program that may work for me in the future! I’m sure at this time money is tight for everyone, I can’t take my time with finding-out if this program works for me! I need to know soon. The way you are informing me, feels like it will take much, much longer than the 60 days that you give to customers to find out if this works for us!
P.S.S. Thank you very much for listening to my concerns, Ed |
 jbgio 9 years ago | Hello,
I am new to this program and wondered if there is a place to ask about certain foods and how to add them to my list. Example, can I have my homemade banana bread or corn bread? and if so how much and when and with what other foods?? On a good note I have lost 6 pounds! |
| Ossie-Sharon 9 years ago | Hi, cdeadder. What foods are you missing from the Menu Planner lists? |
 cdeadder 9 years ago | I am having the same problem as Edward above. I don’t care for most of your choices. I thought we could eat the foods we like. |
 Support 9 years ago | Hi Edward,
Thanks for posting.
I recommend selecting the minimum required amount of foods from the selection process, adding some healthier options that you might not eat every day. Then, once all boxes are blue, create a menu. Remember, you will have the ability to make changes and switch meals in your final menu plan. Another option, is to use our exchange lists (as Ossie suggested below) to create your own menu from scratch. We do appreciate your feedback, and I will be sure to bring it to the attention of our development team!
To your health and success 🙂 |
| edwardkavinsky 9 years ago | Hi Ossie,
Maybe you are not understanding what I’m saying. Please let me try again; The TDC program’s Menu Planner (MP) says it can not produce a menu plan for me until I get solid blue bars in the categories that I mentioned in my previous post. Are you aware of that part or flaw in the the MP program? |
| edwardkavinsky 9 years ago | Hi Ossie, You wrote; “While you are reading up, the Menu Planner can automatically generate the appropriate menus for you based on your food selections.”……..It (the MenuPlanner) said it couldn’t do that until I get solid blue bars in the food sub-categories,…breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!! The MP without solid blue bars gave me a generic MP! It gave me foods in the MP that I NEVER CHOOSE and I DON’T EAT and won’t ever eat (don’t like them)! So I’m still ignorant of what you mean until I read those articles that you suggested. Unless you have a better explanation for trying to use the MP. I hope the articles show me how to input the food I eat into the MP. |
| Ossie-Sharon 9 years ago | Hi, Edward. There are reading materials in “My Downloads” (the main program guide, for example), as well as in the “Articles” section. While you are reading up, the Menu Planner can automatically generate the appropriate menus for you based on your food selections. |
| edwardkavinsky 9 years ago | Where can I learn how to balance my proteins & carbs the right way to be in fat-burning mode 24 hrs a day! |
| Ossie-Sharon 9 years ago | Hi, Edward, and welcome! I’m happy to help.
The limitations in the meals have to do with your particular menu pattern, but you don’t have to be stuck with it. You are welcome to take a look at your pattern through the “Exchange view” link (see the toolbar above your finished menu) and just put in what foods you like according to our exchange lists here – https://www.trimdownclub.com/exchange-lists. This way you can create your own menu to balance your protein and carbs. |
