I know I should eat breakfast....but

[lilylavendar]

I'm trying to lose weight right now, on top of some other changes in my life. I've been skipping breakfast for a long while, and I know that is why I eat more later in the day. But I'm having a hard time eating in the morning. Nothing seems appetizing to me. I never used to be that way. But now I don't know what to do. Just now, 11pm, I ate a bowl of cereal. It's backwards I guess. I think if I tried something new, maybe I can start to see some results soon.

[Mes T]

Eating late at night is a surefire way to gain weight. That is, assuming you go to bed not too long after 11pm?

I'm kind of in the same boat right now, I have recently lost all my appetite in the morning. What helps me is to get up earlier (which I don't enjoy but hey), wait around a little while, get ready for the day, whatever, and then as I wake up more, I get hungry.

Alternatively just have some fruits or green leafy veggies around, to eat raw, if you have no appetite.

[LanaBear]

Do something very light for breakfast. I'm the same way, the thought of breakfast makes me nauseous, but I go very very light. A banana or any piece of fruit, yogurt, piece of toast, just anything real light. My breakfast 99% of the time is just a banana, sometimes I add in a bowl of Special K. I may have a granola bar a couple of hours later, but really, I need about 5 hours or so of being awake before anything ever sounds good. If I keep it light, at least I've ate something first thing in the morning.

[lilylavendar]

I think I can try that. I get up M-F 5:55 a.m. But I don't always go to bed at the same time. If I'm not feeling well, maybe around 10 p.m., but lately it's been after midnight. I just can't seem to fall asleep. Anyway, I think I'm going to try making a smoothie in the morning. That way, it's not something I'm really eating, but drinking. I have some frozen fruit and yogurt, with some fat free milk. And maybe add some honey and cinnamon to it. It sounds okay to me right now, but we'll see what happens in the morning.
It was terrible going to the doctor last week. I've gained 20 pounds the last year, and a total of 50 pounds over the last three years. I couldn't believe it. I've been to the doctor on and off, but really wasn't paying attention to it until now. I feel terrible, this is the biggest I've ever been, even being pregnant with my kids.
I started walking, but I haven't been exactly consistent in that area. I have a gazelle exerciser, but I just don't seem very motivated right now. I know I want to be healthier. I'm on blood pressure medicine now, and I want to be able to get off of that. It feels terrible to be this way. When I was younger I use to be very active and athletic. Now I'm just so-so. I want to find someone to walk with. Since I moved recently, my friends that I had are further away. I know it will get better. I have nice neighbors, but most of them are pretty elderly. And my kids, after school have so much homework, band practice, supper time, shower, we just don't have time to go together during the week. But I know I'm going to have to do something soon. Before I become diabetic. I don't want that to happen. I had some relatives that struggled with that.

[Mes T]

Smoothies are a great idea. Add some spinach into that combination you mentioned, about a handful, and I promise you you won't taste it. But it'll be a great benefit to your body.

[lilylavendar]

I was just thinking, maybe I should try adding some kind of protein mix to my smoothie in the morning. Something to make me feel a little bit fuller, with some added vitamins. Does anyone else do that? I guess it couldn't hurt to try that. I've never been one to go to the health store browsing, but maybe I should start

[lilylavendar]

I never thought of spinach. And that's something I like.

[Mes T]

Yeah spinach is great, and really any green leafy veggies added in will be very beneficial.

[LanaBear]

This is straight from Mes_T's own fingers. Hehe

Their main purpose (for me, anyway) is to give you energy. You can have a green smoothie instead of other food, OR you can have it combined with your regular diet, I find that it really doesn't matter. It still does the trick!

They're also wonderful for losing weight, if you want that. Green smoothies are great because they are surprisingly filling, so they curb your appetite.

Many people find that once they start making green smoothies a regular part of their diet, their appetite for junk food essentially disappears. We crave junk food (especially artificial sweets) because our bodies are actually missing certain nutrients, and the right green smoothie combo can really turn that around.

My favorite combination at the moment is:
- A frozen banana (frozen fruits are great because they give it that smoothie consistency that you might expect from an ice cream shake or something)
- A handful of frozen strawberries
- Couple of spoonfuls of flax seeds (which are very beneficial)
- A handful of spinach leaves (this gives it that green color without actually making it taste like vegetables)
- Half a cup or more of water

Actually that makes more than one cup of smoothie, but whatever, it's nice to go for seconds.

If you want it to be more filling, add some soy or regular milk instead of water.

And play with the combinations. Try carrots, apples, lettuce... When you pass that section in the grocery store, just think about the creative ways you can combine certain things.

In the past I've also added some maple syrup to make it extra sweet, but I find that it's usually not necessary.

[Mes T]

Haha thanks Lana! I was wondering if that was still around, I think I accidentally deleted it from my PM box long ago.