I am getting frustrated. Everyone is losing weight and buying new bikes. I cannot seem to do either.:mad:

Seriously though,
I am in a weird situation at work. I am in a classroom setting for the next year. It is a high stress class by design. It is at least 8 hrs/day. Test every friday and expected to make at least a 90. I have never been that good of a student. Here is the problem. Class and study 8 hrs a day can be extreemly boring. This with the stress makes one want to eat constantly. I have been riding more but also eating more. I haven't actually gained but I am not going down any at all.

What are some good snacks that won't pack on the weight. I have been bringing in carrots and celery but it is getting old.

Thanks

Beef jerky and tons of water.

100 calorie packs of popcorn, half a pb&j, bananas, a handful of peanuts or almonds, dried apricots...

I eat alot of Kashi granola bars.

Variety, consistency (time wise), and portion size are the thing that have really helped me with cutting down on extraneous calories from snacks. I run more or less two diets depending on weather or not I'm riding heavily. If I'm doing lots of riding I eat 200-300 calories every 2 hours, so basically all my meals are snacks. If I'm not doing lots of riding I work to eat three main meals about five hours apart with a very small (10o-200 calories) snack half way in between.

Your Mileage will (no maybe here) vary, but the biggest thing for me diet wise was eating small amounts with great regularity. But the reason I have lost the weight I have is the hours and hours in the saddle over the last twelve months (regularity helps there as well)

Yes - those 100 calorie snack packs are surprisingly good!



100 calorie packs of popcorn, half a pb&j, bananas, a handful of peanuts or almonds, dried apricots...

I eat alot of Kashi granola bars.

Variety, consistency (time wise), and portion size are the thing that have really helped me with cutting down on extraneous calories from snacks. I run more or less two diets depending on weather or not I'm riding heavily. If I'm doing lots of riding I eat 200-300 calories every 2 hours, so basically all my meals are snacks. If I'm not doing lots of riding I work to eat three main meals about five hours apart with a very small (10o-200 calories) snack half way in between.

Your Mileage will (no maybe here) vary, but the biggest thing for me diet wise was eating small amounts with great regularity. But the reason I have lost the weight I have is the hours and hours in the saddle over the last twelve months (regularity helps there as well)

And how did you end up in this hell? It sounds almost as bad as graduate school.

Don't forget exercise to work off the stress! It's a great way to deal with it, produces natural anti-stress and antidepressent chemicals AND makes you smarter as well as stronger.

Pretzel rods...3 of those babies are only about 100cal, that along with the aforementioned popcorn (94% fat free kettle korn rules!), jerky, 90 cal granola bars...fight through it. Keep track of your calories. Chew sugar free gum instead of snacking.

Drink more water!!!! You are probably thirsty and more people (I am one) eat because they are thirsty and mistake it as hunger. Water will help you more than you think. If you like snacks, but don't like the healthy snacks and want something bad. Plain M&M's are my bad thing. I make it so that I can only have one plain M&M every 5 minutes at the most when I am sitting still. It makes me really think about what I really need. It helped me to quit snacking on really bad things. I now eat 90 calorie quaker oats snack bars, but I take one bite and then put it back down for a few minutes before I take another bite. I always try and drink some water between bites also.

And how did you end up in this hell? It sounds almost as bad as graduate school.

Its worse, its nuclear power license class.

I try to commute at least 2 days a week and ride about 30-50 on the weekends to relieve stress.

Ya'll (Arky term) are giving some good ideas, please keep them coming.

Thanks

My daily snacks include

Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt 40 cals
Pickles, one big pickle only contains 15 cals
Fruit- apples, banana mostly but will add in oranges, pears and grapes
Vaggies- carrots and cucumbers mostly but I will add others to salads. I'll also add cooked squash or zucinni when I feel like cooking.

Naval Nuc school ???????

My brother-in-law had to do naval nuc school as an engineer, and said it was a great thing, but long hours and very intense. He had me ship him his bike while he was in Florida. He started riding it everyday, just to have some "brain off" time.

lots and lots of water, keep a water bottle with you all the time. Turkey pepperoni- 17 slices is about 100 calories, microwave them for about 45 seconds so they are like pepperoni chips, they're great. They are salty so drink tons of water with them.
vickie

Its worse, its nuclear power license class.

I know a dude in Arky land that does the Nuc thing. His name is Cowper Chadborn. Stick with it. Great career.

Good Luck,
Jay

Drink more water!!!! You are probably thirsty and more people (I am one) eat because they are thirsty and mistake it as hunger. Water will help you more than you think.

I always keep a 1.5 liter bottle within arm reach, if I want something to eat or drink it's the first thing I reach for. I refill it about 4-5 times a day (much more if I'm biking).

I'll agree with everyone on the water. Every snack should include a big glass of water.

Naval Nuc school ???????

My brother-in-law had to do naval nuc school as an engineer, and said it was a great thing, but long hours and very intense. He had me ship him his bike while he was in Florida. He started riding it everyday, just to have some "brain off" time.


No. Industrial, but I am in class with a lot of ex-navy guys. I just had the normal sex life though.:D

I lost 80 lbs, kept if off, this may help.

SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!

We all have stress, 3 kids, own my own business, mortgage etc.

As suggested portion size is key
Forget 100 calorie snacks, eat 100 calorie HEALTHY portions.
Forget Yogurt and carrot sticks,. Why, you ask.
Carrots are high Glucecemic (spel?) and yogurt will fill your right pinky nail.

You need to do a few things:
a) Deal with the Stress, gum, water, face out of your kitchen and want to do well in school. Peole hit the food bin as food is a comfort device. Don't be so comfy.
b) Eat 6 smaller Meals a day, eat between meals, but good healthy foods, pick up the South Beach diet for ideas or deal with portion control. Cut out bad fats, No Fried food, No booze (wasted calories) that includes beer. Salad dressing can be Low-Cal and Low fat and taste good. Don't starve your body, it will go into lock down and not burn the calories.
c) Up your workout. Hit the weights, that will burn calories faster. Swimming is the best.
d) Hit the tread mill, Running burns calories fatsre as you also involve the upper body. try 15-20 a first. Walk if you need to, try 20-30 of that. Vary the intensity.

Cycling is not as efficient way to burn calories as you think. If you do not ride hard and do intervals you will not get the same workout as running. Many times you will coast. Lance Armstrong burns a zillion calories because of the intensity of how he rides, speed, hills etc.

I lost most of my weight by eating better, walking-then running. Elliptical machine and weights.

You have a Pool? That is the best and will not harm your joints. Besides water is very therapeudic.

Your biggest problem is Stress.
Do one thing at a time and you will get through it.

The new bike will be there when you are ready.

Rob

Its worse, its nuclear power license class.

I try to commute at least 2 days a week and ride about 30-50 on the weekends to relieve stress.

Ya'll (Arky term) are giving some good ideas, please keep them coming.

Thanks

Ah, one of my friends suffered through this. Take heart, if he can pass, so can you.

I lost 80 lbs, kept if off, this may help.

SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!

Thanks, Luv it.
This wasn't a good week so most of this is rant. But I am struggling to find something to help. I quit dipping 8yrs ago. That would have helped. I may try the gum, but I hate smacking so I normally don't like being around people with gum and don't want to turn into one. I don't think its so much comfort food as it is being board.


As suggested portion size is key
Forget 100 calorie snacks, eat 100 calorie HEALTHY portions.
Forget Yogurt and carrot sticks,



What kind of healthy snacks?

I go to the store looking for that and end up with a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. Or cans of soup, carrots, grapes... What are the light healthy snacks.

I try to mimic the smallest guy in the class but he eats a lot. One guy says his exercise is armchair football with a six pack. He is about 170 and brings all kinds of junk food in for everyone. I do not drink so that is not a problem.

I did up the water intake today which seems to be a plus.

One of the best things to eat when dieting is cauliflower. 1 cup only has 28 calories and it makes you feel full.

Okay okay, lets do this the right way.
a) you are motivated so thats great
b) you want to excersise, they even greater
c) you lack facts on how, okay so thats the issue to tackle.

Go to http://www.menshealth.com . there is tons of stuff that will explain
weightloss, diet, nutrition and sex (never hurts).

What you need is an understanding of what to eat or not eat and why.

For example Peanut Butter is not a low cal food and has some good nutrients to it, but
how much of it you eat and with what is the larger issue. If you use a small wholewheat pita with a table spoon that could work as a mid meal snack.

You asked what are healthier foods?
Try a hearty soup with LOTS of veggies. Some veggies are better than others.
Cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, carrots in a simple soup mix will stuff ya to no end.
They are mostly water based veggies, yes carrots are higher glycemic, but don't worry.

Grilled breast of chicken, or fish such as salmon vs fried anything
Egg beaters vs bacon with eggs
Turkey burger or broiled burger vs pan fried burgers or pastrami
hearty chef salad with turkey with lo cal dressing. You put the dressing, a dab goes a long way. Otherwise skip the salad and drink the dressing, at least you'll lose weight when you puke.

Seriously, try that site.
Try the South Beach Diet, it works for some and it will get you started.

I found mens Health great and they have a chatboard like here.
They even have a Testosterone Plan (book) and online that will get you losing weight and getting buff.

Bored is your issue and that is everyones. We hit the food bin to keep us busy for 15 seconds.
If you would be full you would not want to eat as often.

You WILL do it, if you will it.

Good Luck

Rob

What part of Arkansas? Where are your classes?

Thanks Rob.


What part of Arkansas? Where are your classes?

Russellville. Midway between FT. Smith and Little Rock. Classes are at work. ANO

Russellville. Midway between FT. Smith and Little Rock. Classes are at work. ANO

RO or SRO?

Is this your first time?

Glad to see another Nuclear Clyde!!

You'll survive BUT it is not unusual to gain some weight through the process Especially if you were an Auxiliary Operator before. (your getting a pretty good workout just doing your rounds)

I was lucky -- I found it easier to control my diet in class then when I was working.

Carrots - celery - bananas

Control the stress -- Systems was the worst for me (I've been licensed 2x) once you get into the simulator listen to what the instructors are saying -- don't pay attention to how they say it (They can be a bit drill seargant-ish at times) Don't become the lightning rod in your simulator group. (They will naturally find the most argumentative person in the group and he will recieve the brunt of the 'coaching'):D

This is my first time through RO.

I try to keep out of the spotlight as much as possible. Can't always do it though. It's week 7 of systems and I am getting the burned out feeling which is were the weight problem can start kicking in. I hope I can survive it because I doubt if I will go through this torture again.

Thanks for the advice

Week 7? Sounds like you're at least getting close to the downhill side of this...

Hang in there, manage the stress, and you'll be fine. If you were losing weight before, you will again.

Each person finds what works best for them, but in general a lot of the information above will get you on the right path.

Another general rule I didn't see mentioned was that some methods teach that a meal will tend to keep you full if it includes fiber, protein, some good carbs and a small amount of fat. I have found this to work well for me.

Under eating can lead to binge eating, so don't try to eat too little, try to eat the right amount of the right foods.

And drink water, before, during and after your meals...

FInd ways besides food to:

1) comfort yourself

2) relieve stress

3) reward yourself

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I think I at least have a game plan for now.

BeckyW,
7 weeks down, and 11 months to go.:rolleyes::eek::o:(

Happy to hear that the training is good at least ;) Nothing worse than poorly trained nuke personel :eek: (The Russians found that out, along with the results of crappy design!)

Yeah, get out and do some hammerfests to deal with the stress and give yourself some mental disconnect. I do this before and after difficult exams, and while planning out papers. I often get my best creative thinking done on the subconscious level as well.
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I think I at least have a game plan for now.

BeckyW,
7 weeks down, and 11 months to go.:rolleyes::eek::o:(