My friend paid like $600 for a meal plan from a weight loss company and she let me borrow it. I’m finding the foods to be really bland and boring. (Chicken breast and salad pretty much). It’s a high protein low carb diet with approx 1300-1500 calories per day. I’m told that low carb is OK for dieting but you’ll gain some weight back once you start to eat normally so I’m just looking for help trying to figure out what’s best for me.

I’m not a big vegetable person. There are some veggies I won’t eat (peppers, onions, tomatoes) because I don’t like them and foods I don’t eat (avocado, asparagus) because I don’t know how to cook them. Lunch and supper is almost always a chicken caesar salad or chicken salad with lettuce, spinach, cucumber, carrots and ranch dressing. (If you can just direct me to some yummy vegetable recipes you’ll get a gold star)

I think my body is the one that likes to hold onto my fat as well. I’m told that if I eat 1600 calories a day I’ll lose a pound a week with no exercise but I’m eating about 1500 now and exercising 5 days a week and I can barely shed a pound a week.

My exercise involves 3 days of 30 minutes of elliptical training with varying intensities and 1 day of 1 hour yoga/pilates and 1 day of 1 hour of a mix of cardio, strength, balance and flexibility.

I would also like to note I do eat breakfast everyday. It’s usually a protein shake with water, whey protein, frozen fruit, flaxseed oil and then an hour later I may have an apple.

Yeah, eating clean can be bland but nutrition is the number one factor in accomplishing your goals. Your training looks good, just stay disciplined and positive. Whey protein contains bioactive components that help stimulate the release of two appetite-suppressing hormones: cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In support of this, a new study found that whey protein had a greater impact on satiety than casein, the other protein in milk. Adding whey protein to a mid-day snack or beverage provides healthy energy and may help control food intake at the next meal.Protein helps to stabilize blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. I refer a chemical free whey protein minus the fillers and additives from http://www.bulkprotein.com it’s inexpensive as well!! This in turn reduces hunger by lowering insulin levels and making it easier for the body to burn fat.Whey protein isolate is pure protein with little to no fat or carbohydrates. It is a perfect complement to any low carbohydrate or low glycemic index diet plan.

I’m looking for some tasty low fat boneless skinless chicken dinners that I can make, anybody got any?

I make this a lot, and we love it!

LOW FAT HONEY GLAZED CHICKEN STRIPS
3 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts cut in strips
1/2 c. light soy sauce
1/2 c. honey
2 tbsp. Olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated
1-2 tbsp. sesame seeds (opt.), for garnish
Combine soy sauce, honey, oil, garlic and ginger. Place marinade with chicken in a food storage bag placed in a low bowl. Close bag and refrigerate for several hours or overnight, turning the bag occasionally so all the pieces are covered by the marinade.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan or shallow baking pan with foil. Remove chicken pieces from marinade and place on foil. Discard marinade. Bake for 25 minutes.
Turn chicken pieces over and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. Continue to bake for 20 to 25 minutes until chicken is done. Remove to a plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired.

When I fix this chicken I also make potato wedges in the oven as well as some garlic bread.

BAKED POTATO WEDGES
2 teaspoons olive oil
5 large potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
Directions…(I cook these the exact same times and temps as the chicken and it turns out perfect!)
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with the olive oil.
2.Brush potato wedges with butter, and roll in bread crumbs. Place wedges on prepared baking sheet.
3.Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and turn wedges; cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender.

Add a green salad and enjoy!