Anonymous wrote:Get a food scale, measure and weigh portions and do an honest count of calories to see honestly how much you are actually consuming in a day. Some of this is simple math. If you are eating 2500 calories a day and you are burning, say 1800, that’s a good part of your problem right there. It is very common to underestimate how much you eat, and the only way to get your arms around it is to measure, weigh, and log all of it for a week or so. With kids it’s easy to nibble here and there off their plates - the last few chicken nuggets, a handful of grapes, a cookie or two — mindlessly, all day, on top of what you yourself are already eating. Log it. You need some data. It can be mind-boggling to look back at a food diary for a day or a week and see where the extra pounds are actually coming from.
The calorie cops will come here and say that counting calories doesn’t work, and that it’s *what* you eat that matters. It’s both, actually. You have to start somewhere and that means getting a handle on how much you are actually eating.
Lose the bread and pasta. Seriously. If you cannot completely lose them, then at least be honest with how much you are eating. Are you eating one serving, or are you honestly putting away three? Look at the box to know how much a serving is. It’s not a giant bowl, it’s like a cup.
Lean into protein, veg, fruit. Cooked with seasonings but not drowned in sauces, especially commercial ones that are just tons of sugar, more empty calories.
OP incredibly helpful thank you for the tips and I’ll get more serious I’ve tried it my way and it’s just not working but that nibbling off plates (now with two boys so extra nibbling!) hits home. I do overdo past portions but I’m committed so will buy a scale and log and be honest.