Finally have it figured out!

[ignoreit]

It's those 8-14 pounds that make all the difference...from frumpy to fabulous. Those are the hardest pounds to lose...and are the hardest to keep off. Start with whatever healthy plan takes you from fat to frumpy. Do that plan but...ALWAYS have packages of frozen vegetables in your freezer. Always. And ALWAYS have 2 large (28 oz) cans of diced tomatoes in tomato sauce in your pantry. When nothing you do is taking off those 8-14 pounds, it's time for this basically no-calorie veggie soup to be ADDED to your plan (not substituted.) Take a large pot (that can fit in your fridge) and fill it with about 4 inches of water. Bring to boil. Add the can of diced tomatoes with sauce. Bring to light boil. Add approx. 4-5 bags of frozen veggies (approx.12 oz each bag). Broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, & green beans work well. (Note that corn is too fattening.) Cook to your preference. Salt to taste. Keep that pot of soup always available in your fridge.

Then go back to your regular low-calorie eating plan. Still hungry? ADD as many bowls of this veggie soup AT EACH MEAL until you're pleasantly full. Remember, this soup is an addition, not a substitution. Works!

[Subtle_badger]

I am happy this worked for you, but I don't think a flavourless veggie soup would help me. I doubt I could choke it down.

Veggies with a tin of tomatoes (plus herbs and garlic and fat and salt), then yum, but add 4 "inches" of water, and I don't think I could eat it.

[ignoreit Visitor in reply to Subtle_badger]

Very interesting. Taste seems to be very important to you. I'm definitely not a foodie. Most important to me is being healthy and being slim. To me, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Portion control is my problem...not taste. Although I'm very active socially, I NEVER give dinner parties...for obvious reasons LOL.

[Hidden]

Good advice and glad this works for you. I definitely agree that for many this soup will be a useful addition to their daily diet and help with hunger pangs. (I would use a decent vegetable stock rather than water though for added flavour). Very healthy, high-fibre and great on cooler days as a snack/filler, although once a day would be enough for most; I just don't think many could sustain a daily diet of soup, soup and soup.

Corn isn't 'fattening' by the way (sorry, I detest that word - no food should be labelled 'fattening'; it's about the amount you eat/overeat. Corn contains a few more calories than less starchy veg but is great for filling you up (although don't smother corncobs with butter!) I also have issues with the statement "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels" - being 'thin' doesn't equal happiness and this phrase sounds like all overweight people should be 'punished' - I just think we need to be kinder to ourselves as feeling guilty and bad about yourself is not helpful to any diet.

[lucigret]

Good morning ignoreit,

I am wondering if you are here to join the forum because you need some support losing weight, or are you here as a visitor who has lost weight but would like to share your plan?

Either way is fine

I think soup can make a wonderful, filling meal, but I'm afraid I agree with the other respondents here, I would want something much more tasty and filling. Adding some fat, maybe roasting your vegetables in olive oil first, would make the soup much more satiating and tasteful and one big bowl would be enough to fill you up and you wouldn't need to keep going back. Broccoli and stilton would be my 'go to'.

We all have to find what works for us personally and I am happy for you that you have found a way to lose those niggly pounds.

[ignoreit Visitor in reply to lucigret]

Yes lucigret, I wasn't clear. I'm here to share my method that has finally worked for me. (For over 25 years now.) I tried the idea of BLAND veggie soup because of a very expensive plan that three friends experienced at a $7000 "lockup" at a famous American University. In their university room, they were given unsalted bland white rice for most meals. The idea was to think of food as fuel & health...and to stop thinking of it as delicious. I gave the CONCEPT a try and it worked for me. There are so many other pleasurable aspects in life...high calorie delicious meals are no longer of any importance to me.

[lucigret in reply to ignoreit]

$7000 to be taught to eat bland tasteless food - sorry but what a waste of money. We all have very different ideas and I suppose it's good that humans are not all the same. I intend to enjoy my food along with all the other great pleasures I get from life. Just because food is delicious and tasty doesn't mean it has to be calorific or bad for you.

I think we shall have to agree to differ on this one

I am sure there will be people here that will enjoy your CONCEPT.

[Subtle_badger in reply to ignoreit]

because of a very expensive plan that three friends experienced at a $7000 "lockup" at a famous American University. In their university room, they were given unsalted bland white rice for most meals. The idea was to think of food as fuel & health...and to stop thinking of it as delicious.

I can't let this go. I am really struggling to accept this is a real thing. I don't believe that people would pay thousands in an attempt to develop an eating disorder, nor do I believe it would work. Do you have a link or the name of this treatment? I am really curious to read about it.

It sounds like something from the Battle Creek Sanitarium.

[ignoreit Visitor in reply to Subtle_badger]

It's not from a sanitarium and it certainly doesn't "develop an eating disorder." It's from Duke University's highly respected diet camp. (Go ahead...google it.) I did not go to the diet camp...three very successful male friends went. It was over 20 years ago and I can't remember whether they stayed one or two weeks. But all three came back looking great! Each individual plan includes both fitness and diet. The ONE MAIN maintenance NEW (to me) concept I remember was to think of food as health & energy...not daily enjoyment. That was a HUGE change for me and I forwarded it to this site, because that change has allowed me to maintain my weight for over 25 years. As I tried to explain several times on my post...my soup is not a food substitution...it's an add-on for hunger pangs for any diet plan.

[Bee-bop Maintainer 2st 7lbs]

Hi Ignoreit,

That sounds a healthy way to get your 5 a day when added to your usual daily intake. If you see food as fuel then this is a very simple way to get that fuel that is filling and inexpensive.

Different plans work for different people. Well done for finding one that works for you and passing on your tip

[FleuryBird]

I have always used soup to help me loose weight. You do need a stock and seasoning though ...there's bland food and then there's bad tasting food and losing weight needs to be a positive experience in every way.

One of my favourites is butternut squash, onion and carrot. Sweet and tasty.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to FleuryBird]

Hello and Welcome to the Weight Loss Forum FleuryBird

I agree wholeheartedly about the importance of enjoying our food, few people stick to a plan if they’re not enjoying it 😊

If you haven’t already then please read the Pinned Posts here healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... Please read it carefully so you can find all the information you need to find your way around.

As a peer to peer support group we rely heavily upon mutual encouragement. Nothing beats joining in, reading posts and replying to others. Our Group Weigh-in and the Daily Diary are probably the best places to start

Best wishes in your weight loss journey

Indigo 😊