Stumped

[LauCo77]

I did read them... and although a couple (the ncbi ones) were pretty difficult reading, it all makes a lot of sense. I recently went through the 8 week online course called Transforming your Relationship with Food through the Institute for the Psychology of Eating: http://psychologyofeating.com/transform-...ship-food/
and a lot of what those articles were saying is exactly the same message I got from that program. The idea that eating in a stress response state automatically lowers metabolism and slows digestion. It also goes into a lot of stuff regarding body image and emotional feelings surrounding food.

As for my own stress... it is a constant battle. Last year was the worst ever, and I have made huge strides towards improving my stress level, but it something I work on every day. So is the whole "negative self-talk" thing, which also causes additional stress. There is so much to all of this besides simple calories in/ calories out.

[AnitraSoto]

Knowledge is power...............

[Alioop]

My story is very similar to yours. I've tried everything. Forever. How can it be that the numbers are making me gain?? I had given up. Then I started measuring my food. What a lightbulb moment. What I thought was a cup of spaghetti was 2 1/2 cups!! Are you kidding me?! I had been dieting since I was 15 and thought I could eyeball it all and log it accurately. I was WAY off. I've lost 10 pounds in 8 weeks. Eating at a 10-15% deficit. I work in my favorites and ask myself if what I want is really worth it. So I thought I would throw in my two cents in hopes that maybe you aren't measuring and are overestimating your calories. That some of your pain and frustration, that I've felt too, can be over. And if it's not that, know you're with the right people at the right supportive place.

[LauCo77]

I agree, alioop, that not measuring can be a problem for sure! I actually do usually measure, because I have never been good at eyeballing it. Usually once I measure it is more than I thought it would be. 1c of rice is a HUGE pile! lol

I don't always weigh meat though, but I am doing it now that I am making a super conscious effort to be at my TDEE-15% level and have my macros fairly close.

One thing I haven't usually measured that I was overestimating though was sauces and dips. 2T is really not very much! I am trying to cut back on all the dips and sauces, since they usually just add extra calories without much nutrient value. I made a dip of greek yogurt and spices today, and although it didn't hold a candle to sriracha mayo, it did the trick on my turkey burger.

[AnitraSoto]

I have seen this recipe and wondered if it could be adapted using Greek Yogurt instead of the sour cream (same taste, more protein) and less mayo. I was going to try it with 1/2 mayo and 1/2 Greek yogurt. There is enough other stuff in there you may even be able to go heavier on the yogurt and even less mayo...

Guy Fieri's Sriracha-Mayo Burger Mix"" 1 cup mayo + 1/2 cup sour cream + 4 finely chopped green onions + 1 1/2 tablespoons sriracha + 1 teaspoon each honey and lemon juice + 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

[LauCo77]

That's very similar to what I often make... without the honey or lemon juice though, I never thought of that. I will try it with yogurt and just a bit of mayo for flavour.

[AnitraSoto]

Yeah. I bet with the addition of the honey and lemon it might make the absence of the mayo less noticeable... Let me know if you try it.

[LauCo77]

I made the above dip today, I will try it tonight as a pizza dip. It tastes good so far!

[AnitraSoto]

You will let me know how it turned out and what your final ingredients were...

[LauCo77]

It was really good! I used:

1/3 c greek yogurt 4%mf
1Tbsp mayo
1tsp honey
2tsp sriracha
a squeeze of lemon juice

The honey gave it a nice sweetness, but I couldn't taste the mayo at all. I think I wouldn't even bother with the mayo next time. For the whole batch it was 118 cals, 7 carbs, 5 protein, 8 fat. I used lots and only ate half the recipe. It would be good for veggies or chips too!