Weight Loss Foods I Ate To Drop Those Pesky Pounds

I started trying to loose my baby weight less than 2 months after my 3rd kid. I started with intermittent fasting. I would only eat between 10 am and 6 pm. This allowed me to eat lunch and dinner with my family. I lost 35 pounds by April but then my husband and I went on a trip and I gained 5 lbs back because I stopped intermittent fasting. After we got back I hit a plateau and it became much harder to loose the 5 pounds I had gained. I decided to change when I was intermittent fasting so I could have breakfast foods I was missing. So I ate between 9 am and 3 pm- cutting my eating time frame down a bit. In May I decided I wanted to start running again. I hadn’t run since I was in high school (other than after my kids) but I got my treadmill out and got to it! I was still struggling to loose the weight so I started counting my calories while intermittent fasting and running. I set my calories at 1600 but I actually didn’t always make it there. This got me down another 25 lbs in just a few months by eating these weight loss foods.

Related: Low Carb Snacks

Weight loss foods

Knowing I have a limit of calories has helped me to make better choices. I decide that some foods aren’t worth it while others are. Sometimes I take a bite of one food and decide I don’t want any more. And I let that be okay. I’ve been trying to balance my macros also, but I’m not there yet.

Healthier swaps:

Chips Or Salty Foods-

Chips or salty foods aren’t a huge craving for me, but when I want something to munch on I try to choose one of the following as a low carb alternative.

  • Rice crisps (cheddar, Carmel, apple, ranch)
  • Pickles
  • Cucumbers
  • Carrots
  • Popcorn
  • Nuts
  • Cereal (fiber one honey clusters is my go to)

Sandwiches-

When I want carbs like bread, I have some, I eat Franz bread with lower calorie or healthier options on top.

  • Peanut butter & banana
  • Avocado toast
  • Tuna sandwich
  • Chicken sandwich
  • Cucumber wrap (tortilla, cucumber, cream cheese & ranch seasoning)
  • Big Mac bowl

Ice cream-

I LOVE ice cream, but it’s a lot of calories. I’ve discovered that I actually am picky on what ice cream is worth the calories for me. Here are some alternatives I have discovered that I love and are healthier options for me.

  • Two good yogurt (or other light Greek yogurt) – tons of protein and tastes delicious! I like to add in peanut butter powder or berries
  • Cool whip, sugar free jell-o, pumpkin pie spice, & pumpkin puree
  • Cool whip & berries
  • Cottage cheese & berries
  • Nice cream – frozen bananas blended up with optional add ins such as cocoa powder, berries, or pbfit
  • Some ice cream is just worth the calories

Worth the calories:

Some things are just worth the calories to me. I won’t use alternatives in this case, instead I just enjoy the item in moderation.

  • Peanut butter 1 tbsp 95 calories
  • Cookies (for homemade cookies 1 tbsp serving size is usually between 100-120 calories)
  • Mayonnaise- I don’t like mustard and avocado is just as many calories. Sour cream sometimes works

Related: Butternut Squash Curry

Other foods I enjoyed:

Chicken, rice, veggies

Roasted carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini

Canned beets

Baked beans

Fiber one brownies

Rice Krispie treats

Everything in moderation.

I’m a born and raised Alaskan and stay-at-home mom of two.  I love baking, scrapbooking, and working on money saving strategies.