https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:38:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653381 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:41:29 +0000 autumn865 2653381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Doing a whole 30 month really changed the way I eat and cook. Would be hard for the holidays but maybe to start in January? Working out got easier when the kids started sleeping better and I started waking up an hour before everyone else to work out or run. It became my alone time to start the day and I felt motivated to exercise regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653323 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:59:12 +0000 KayKay 2653323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For fitness, I recommend just starting with trying to do *something* everyday. Even if it's just a 10min powerwalk at lunch or after the kids go to bed. Bonus points if it's something longer/more intense. But just getting in that habit helps so much.</p> <p>For eating, I recommend figuring out whether you are a "moderate" (you do better if you don't deprive yourself and allow treats/unhealthy foods in small portions or at specific times) or an "abstainer" (you do better if you don't allow yourself to have something at all). It can really make a difference, knowing which approach works better for you.<br /> (h/t Gretchen Rubin's book for this categorization!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653295 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:42:33 +0000 Mrs D 2653295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I liked it a lot, very eye opening. Do you have a kindle? If so I think I can "loan" it to you for 2 weeks for free.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653248 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:52:30 +0000 JLC53 2653248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: HOw did you like the book "It starts with food"? I have been thinking about getting it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653233 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:40:38 +0000 lamariniere 2653233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: what do you do with silken tofu for breakfast? I've been looking for more protein-rich breakfast options and hadn't thought of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653214 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:23:54 +0000 pregnantbee 2653214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just started tackling this 4 days ago, so I'm by no means an expert, but I decided to start by using MFP to track everything going in. That has really opened my eyes as to the sheer amounts I've been eating, as well as what it all really adds up to on a given day. I'd much rather spend my calories on something filling and nitritious, so that has curbed my reaching for unhealthy carbs. I also go to an exercise class per week and walk when I can. I already feel so much better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653207 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:09:32 +0000 Adira 2653207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely agree with meal planning on the weekend. I'll write out our meals for the week and then I know what to buy when I go grocery shopping. Then I can just look at each day, make whatever I'm supposed to, pack my lunch for the next day, and determine if I need to take out anything from the freezer to thaw for a future meal. Having a meal plan definitely helps with the whole "What are we having for dinner tonight? Let's order pizza!" issue I was having.</p> <p>I've also been doing Atkins for the last month. I've found that having a very strict restrictions on what I'm allowed to eat has really helped. Not having to count calories and just knowing "I'm allowed to eat this" or "I'm not allowed to eat this" has made the diet really easy for me. I hated counting calories and constantly having to look up how bad things are. Now I'm eating a lot more vegetables and expanding my cooking skills. And after 4 weeks, I've lost 10 lbs and at least 3 inches from my waist, which really helps keep me motivated. I've also noticed that I don't get hungry as often as I did before when I was eating carbs, and I'm not constantly craving sugar. And I'm a lot less likely to overeat when I'm eating mostly meat and veggies!</p> <p>Good luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653203 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:06:20 +0000 psw27 2653203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, it is all about portion control. I eat a balanced but not obsessively healthy diet and just eat smaller portions if I am eating something not as healthy. As others have said, my Monday-Friday breakfast and lunches day to day are pretty boring - oatmeal, yogurt, salads, etc. but it works for me. I tend to eat the same things over and over again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653198 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:01:16 +0000 jhd 2653198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>in addition to all the great ideas from PPs, I would highly recommend a kitchen scale for measuring portions. We registered for one at target before we got married 6.5 years ago and it's still going strong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653175 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:26:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2653175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now I'm trying to find protein rich meals that work for me on the go. I am trying out new ideas and then starting a "diet". I'm trying muffins (oatmeal pumpkin right now) and burritos for breakfast. Chicken salad for lunch. Ham and pesto roll up. </p> <p>I'm not so worried about calories or carbs. Just focusing on high protein and cutting unnecessary sugars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2653172 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:21:58 +0000 SweetCaroline 2653172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping for the afternoon crowd :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652966 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:36:14 +0000 looch 2652966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: The only vegetables that I portion out are corn and peas. Everything else is fair game. I agree with you about fruit..eating too much stalls my weight loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652961 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:31:50 +0000 Mrs D 2652961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To second what @looch: said...I eat some of the same things over and over again. I have just accepted that work days...my breakfasts and lunches are boring and usually repetitive!</p> <p>Also - portions...if its a starch - I portion control it out. Veggies I do not. Fruit I do. I limit fruit to breakfast and lunch - and low sugar varieties. The exception to this is if after dinner I am craving a sweet finish I will have a few berries - better than caving with junk food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652957 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:27:31 +0000 808love 2652957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, fill up on lots of vegetables!! Make that the centerpiece! So when you go grocery shopping look at your cart to see the proportions of produce etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652954 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:24:45 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: I've thought about buying these! I think I will! Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652953 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:24:19 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: thank you for sharing. I was tempted to focus on getting first and later layer in fitness. After your comment, I think I will do just that </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652952 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:24:00 +0000 looch 2652952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am eating the same things all the time. I try to be all creative, but it never works in terms of prep.</p> <p>I've learned that I can lean on hard boiled eggs, silken tofu, steel cut oats, almond butter and whole wheat english muffins for breakfast. </p> <p>I also limit my fruit, when I eat a lot of it, I have trouble losing weight. I also have to portion out what I am eating. Rather than an entire bowl of pasta, I can have 1 cup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652951 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:23:47 +0000 Banana330 2652951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been using myfitnesspal daily for the last 6 weeks. I also got a fitbit and aim for 10-12,000 steps a day. I've also just started to try the intermittent fasting approach. It's essentially skipping breakfast. I'm trying to eat healthy for lunch and dinner but not beating my self up for occasional treats. I start my day with one decaf coffee with milk. It's the only thing that's really started to shift the lbs post baby. I've lost 8lbs in the last two months. So slow and steady but I think it's more maintainable for me since it isn't crazy restrictive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652936 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:58:31 +0000 Mamaof2 2652936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: eating is my biggest issue so meal planning is a must! Use the 21DF containers and then make up all your meals for the week using these - makes it sooo easy to just grab one and have a complete meal ready to go!</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/California-Home-Goods-Compartment-Containers/dp/B00WLCDT9O/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1479304592&#038;sr=1-1&#038;keywords=food+containers" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/California-Home-Goods-Compartment-Containers/dp/B00WLCDT9O/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1479304592&#038;sr=1-1&#038;keywords=food+containers</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652935 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:56:38 +0000 Mrs D 2652935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in this right now. I am 8 mos PP with my last baby so I am trying to really take my body back. I am currently 10 lbs over pre baby #2 weight, 20lbs over pre baby #1 weight and 30 lbs over my ideal weight. I feel like I made excuses while pregnant and while in between babies. So now I am trying to really reset my eating habits. Here is what I personally am/have done.</p> <p>I read "It starts with food". I did a 5 day cleanse (Purium) because I have done it in the past and it does a good job of breaking me of my vices (caffeine, carbs and sugar) and really resetting my food habits. I finished my cleanse last Friday and vowed to eat strictly clean/whole (along with dairy and gluten free) until Thanksgiving without weighing myself. (I will allow my self some splurges on Thanksgiving)</p> <p>After Thanksgiving I plan to start working on my fitness...but first I need to nail down eating.</p> <p>Like @erinbaderin: said, some weekend prep has been huge for me. This past weekend I chopped onions to have on hand for sauteing veggies. I also roasted broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and butternut squash. I made a batch of quinoa. This makes throwing together easy meals for lunches/breakfasts - and making easy dinners. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652927 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:33:41 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: thank you! Great advice. Think I'll hit up the grocery store on Saturday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652925 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:33:11 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: yes! This is how I do best as well. Thanks for the affirmation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652921 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:29:20 +0000 erinbaderin 2652921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Set aside some time on weekends to do some prep work - getting things chopped, packaging up some snacks, etc. It will be a lot easier during the week to make a healthy choice when you're tired and in a hurry if you have a quick easy option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652917 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:27:03 +0000 Anagram 2652917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: For me, for some reason, it always helps me to jumpstart my eating with a really rigid diet plan at first, and then slowly transition to just good old healthy eating. About a month ago, I did 4 weeks of a no sugars/no processed carbs thing. And while it was restrictive and not something I would do long term, seeing 8 lbs drop off in those 4 weeks sure gave me motivation to continue working on my health. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652913 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:17:27 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: thank you!!! This is EXACTLY what I needed. Sounds like we are on the same page diet-wise, I have just let the busy-ness of life take over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652912 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:10:01 +0000 808love 2652912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: The last one I read was How Not to Die<br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115</a><br /> <a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/book/" rel="nofollow">http://nutritionfacts.org/book/</a><br /> I recommend going to the library, ebooks or even finding a website to read if you don't want to spend the money. Yes, the unhealthy carbs are junk food. Hidden sugar in many carbs should be identified as a treat and eaten as such. When I learned about sugar's impact on my health, I realized where I could make additional changes.<br /> I've always like Nutrition Data to check out food content and there are some interesting articles on the home page.... I searched hamburger with bun <a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/9924/2" rel="nofollow">http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/9924/2</a><br /> Notice the 'sugar' line is mysteriously blank. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652908 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:57:18 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: great tips! Thank you! I've been fooling myself, as I never buy typical junk food, but I do buy unhealthy carbs!</p> <p>Do you recommend any particular books? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652906 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:53:19 +0000 808love 2652906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Get only 'approved' groceries, no junk. Don't eat out unless it is a salad or primarily vegetarian. Workout at 7am or 7pm, do or die. Read a book on health and fitness. Plan/prepare the day's meals at least one day in advance. Use My Fitness Pal (free app) to track meals if you like.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/jump-starting-healthy-eatingfitness#post-2652901 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:47:27 +0000 SweetCaroline 2652901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are your best tips/strategies to pull yourself out of an unhealthy funk? I need to straighten out my eating habits and start working out.</p> <p>The reason I fail at eating healthy is lack of planning. I'd like to do the 21 day fix right after Thanksgiving. I might borrow the videos too.</p> <p>I'm open to other suggestions too! </p>