Thread: I'm not into fad diets, is this a good self-made diet?

I need to lose about 50-60 pounds. I am 6'0" and weigh 240 and 35. I just went to the doctor and he said I have slightly elevated BP and cholesterol of 230.

So I picked out my favorite healthy foods and I have decided to make my own. Please let me know if you think this will work. I will try to do some variation of this schedule every day.

8am- tea, granola bar or fresh fruit
10:30am- handful of almonds, water
1pm- 5-10 olives, fresh fruit, lowfat cheese stick, hummus or maybe a natural peanut butter sandwich, tea
3pm-another handful of olives (I love olives), water
5:30- 2 different types of fresh vegetables, small amount of meat, chicken or fish, small amount of rice or pasta or wheat bread, tea, water
8pm- fresh fruit again, maybe dried fruit or nuts

Again, there will be more variety as I figure out other things that I like that are healthy. But is this a good start? Any other heathy ideas, especially for snack times? Thanks!
I am lucky because I live next door to a grocery store and a fresh fruit stand that has healthy, cheap items. So the expense shouldn't be a problem.

Granola bars are usually not very healthy, in spite of the hype. Try something like oatmeal for breakfast-it will stick with you and is healthier (as long as you don't load it with stuff) than a granola bar. For instance, low-sugar Quaker maple & brown sugar oatmeal is only 1 or 2 points on the Weight Watchers diet.

Eat larger meals earlier in the day, and restrict your evening meal to 3 oz of chicken or fish, a vegie, and maybe a little bit of rice or pasta. If your BP is elevated, you should rethink the olives in your diet-they're very salty.

If you decide you want to join a group to help you lose, check out a local WW meeting--they usually run free registration several times a year and it's a great way to rethink dieting.

Don't forget to add some protein in their like maybe some ham roll-ups without the bread and no mayo or anything, or just meat rollups. I you are trying to lower cholesterol, stay away from egg yolks, they are loaded with the stuff! This sounds pretty good to me!

Sounds like you have it figured out. Lots of times I will have a piece of lite string cheese and 1oz of almonds I love it as a snack in between breakfast & lunch. Be sure & use whole grain brown rice instead of the white stuff. also a small apple sliced up is great if you dip it in some peanut butter,good protein too. Sometimes I feel like something sweet in the morning instead of oatmeal,lol..so try this it's good! get a whole wheat bagel spread a little fat free cream cheese on it them some fresh sliced strawberries & banana on it..yummy it's good and low calorie. I started changing my eating habits about 8 months ago & started excercising 4-5 days a week and have lost 35 pounds,it takes a while but to keep it off it's best to do it slowly & healthy. Oh yeah make sure you get the healthy granola bars not the sugary ones. The south beach brand makes some good 100 calorie snack bars that have some good protein in them,you could try those. Good luck!
Oh yeah don't forget to drink lots of water! And if you are a pretty busy person that sometimes don't have times to eat,just keep some snack bars in your purse or your car that way you don't get too hungry & stop for a quick burger,this was a life saver for me when I started doing it,now I always keep something in my car!