Post Weight Loss - Lessons Learned and Staying on Course

Hi @Gauri03 .
No fret. Let me join in supporting you.
Yes, with little children and full time job I can imagine your stress.

 

Thanks @Gauri03 . I just edited the question, as I just got an idea of what to post.
Got it.
Thanks for the compliment @Gauri03 . I do have advantage when it comes planning and organizing... grown up kids. So I will not post unreasonable plans, will try to.
Having little kids is a world of its own.

 

Let me start:
My mantra #1
No added white sugar.
If the food is too unpalatable without sugar, add little jaggery, or agave nectar.
If not possible to add, do not eat that food.
To calm my sweet tooth, have a date (fruit... not a night out with hubs), banana, orange, or apple.
Drink water.
Let me tell you how I fared, next Thursday.

 

I bought rotimatic , It's unreasonably expensive and not the best roties in the world, but still helps me with dinner. My son comes from school and makes the roties by himself with last night curry he eats it, which helps me not worry what he will eat after school
Instant pot is also being helpful. Making channa or sambar has become one pot deal.

Along with that, I buy cut veggies from Inidan store.

 

I do buy ready made soups from TJ. Only thing I do in Indian style seasoning. I get herb based pizza dough(cost around $1 + some sauce depending on the code + cheese + canned olives + lots of veggies ) in oven at 450F for 15 mins you have soup and fresh pizza ready for dinner

I use this from amazon Amazon.com: Apple Slicer - Corer - Divider - Cutter - Wedger Tool - 430 Grade Stainless Steel - 100% Rust Resistant - by Utopia Kitchen: Kitchen & Dining to cut my apples. I eat with peanut butter as a snack.

Air fry tofu during weekend different seasoning. I buy sauces from Asian store so mix and match .Air fry and store in fridge .Great protein supplement

Avacoda Amazon.com: OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer, Green: Kitchen & Dining I use this almost daily + lemon. You have tasty guacamole ready under a minute

KA is Kitchen Aid Mixer. I batch process chapathi dough and store them in fridge once in 3 days

I also have a griddle easier to make multi grain dosa. Non stick and can make 2 or more at a time without paying too much attention.

IP I have 2 of them one for beans and one for regular grains. We do eat white rice/quinoa . My little one doesn't like brown rice so I don't make it often unless I have time to make 2 grains.

Get bulk veggies including carrots/brussel sprouts/ corn/ asparagus and roast them over weekend with seasoning of your choice. Use them when needed.

I do use Indian cooker to make daal since I don't like IP due to too much frothing. I like the texture from Indian cooker. Seasoning is the key. Mix and match with veggies steamed.

I buy quick cooking steel cut oats from costco. Just cook them in 10 mins in stove top. Don't like using IP for oats also although several blogs swear by it. I have tried it is same case too much frothing and taste is not the same.

I have pretty much 3 things running at a time in kitchen. The only disadvantage of my method is dishes collected at the end. 2 IP pots and KA base can fill my sink .

I do make smoothies in vita mix. Mix with protein powder and chia seeds + almond milk. This can be done easily. You also get frozen fruit pouches from costco . You can make one under 5mins.

Edamame from costco .They sell with microwavable bags. Just put them in microwave for 3-5 mins. You have a protein snack ready.I get frozen corn bag from costco. I think it cost $5 and roast corn for 5-10 mins .You have a crunchy sweet snack ready.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi @Gauri03
You had mentioned you are too tired to cook for the week.
It is understandable after a bout of flu.

Can you start again from square one?
Plan and cook for just one meal? That way you can feel better about not eating out all five days.
And don't feel guilty. That makes you even more tired. You are human after all and have limitations.

Make I offer one suggestion for tonight's meal?

Do you have a can of garbanzo beans (channa)? I use GOYA sold in Costco. You can pick just one or two cans in the local grocery on your way home.

This evening, in IP - saute a chopped onion, two tomatoes (for now you can use canned tomatoes - better than eating out), ginger paste (store bought), Add the canned garbanzo beans, chilli powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder, salt to taste. Add chopped cilantro. (Ginger-garlic paste and garam masala powder also can be added)

Press rice mode (12 minutes). This only for the mixture to blend.

If you do not have garbanzo beans, use a couple of Potatoes instead.

Make rotis in you rotimatic. You have a meal.
****
The aim here is not healthy eating. The first step is to remove your guilt of not cooking at home.
Now that you do this you will feel better.

Take it one day at a time - so that mentally you are not overwhelmed. When you are already physically tired, thinking, "I should do this, I should do that" only increases tiredness.

Also thinking we should do all from scratch is another good formula for failure. Take shortcuts.
Later when you are fully recovered go for the works!

Tomorrow I will post another meal that I found is very quick to do.