Weightloss Overseas - Weight Loss Message Board

k@t · 02-05-2006, 04:47 AM

Hello,

I'm new to the board, but it looks like a great place to get help and support. Ok so here is my problem. I am an American but I live in Portugal. Portuguese are very sensitive about their food and make almost everything from scratch. It's very difficult to find any thing that’s pre packaged or that’s targeted for weight loss. There are no salad dressings (I make my own vinaigrettes) there are no light or low fat products, low carb, no lean cuisines, no canned soups or foods, no boxed foods etc.

What I would like to know, is if any one has some yummy quick recipes from scratch. Cooking from scratch can take a long time to prepare and I'm so tired at night that I just end up eating out or ordering pizza or something as equally unhealthy. If I could find a few good quick recipes it would be really helpful.

I'm not on any particular diet at the moment (although I have pretty much done them all) I'm just hoping that with some sensible eating and some exercise I can take off some weight (I need to loose about 50lbs.)

Thanks in advance for any help!

Natalie00 · 02-05-2006, 12:23 PM

Hey

there are some great recipes in the south beach diet books. I believe there are two cookbooks out and they are healthy recipes. Also, the sonoma diet book has some good recipes. What kind of recipes are you looking for? There are a lot of websites where you can find healty ones.

chevyman · 02-05-2006, 01:39 PM

hi,
this is in no way to help you lose weight but its not to bad either if you don't eat to much of it.

Try this if you like stuff made eazy, cut pack of winneis in bout 1/4 size pieses add chopped onions,celery, carrots in a skillet (oilive oil) simmer til golden brown,then add about 2 or 3 12 oz cans of campbell's pork-n- beans..... add as much as you like of> whinchtershires sauce, ketchup little bit of louisiana hot sauce, season to taste, let simmer about 5 minutes low heat,.... then mix a pack of mexican /and regular yellow corn meal mix,"instant'' mixes, pour mix of the corn bread in a deep baking pan,then pour the other ingredents in to middle of the corn meal mix right direct in the center of the mix, bake bout 20 -25 minutes or until the corn bread is done...its simple to fix and most kids love it.

I'm
still a pretty big kid and I love....just spoon out how much you want...if you like it just don't eat to much of it.

sammyboy22 · 02-05-2006, 03:03 PM

Well, I would just watch my portions and make sure I get plenty of water and exercise. At least if you are eating all those foods in Portugal and they are made from scratch, you know they are fresh and not full of preservatives or processed. I heard about the way french people eat all of those delicious rich foods and stay so thin is portion control and exercise, they walk almost everywhere. I think there is even a diet book about it, I saw the creator on Oprah, lol.

StenoLady1 · 02-06-2006, 12:38 PM

I agree with Sammy. Watch your portions, walk, walk, walk. Be thankful you don't have processed foods!

The only thing I would add to what Sammy said is learn from the Portuguese WOE. You are really extremely lucky to have this opportunity to see how other cultures live without all the different dieting BS. You said there's no diet foods there, no Lean Cuisines, no low-carb, no low-fat...out of curiosity, how many obese Portuguese do you see there compared to here in the States?

Not only is there the French Diet, but there's the Omega Plan and many new "Mediterranean diets" in the bookstores now.

No offense, but rather than coming to a message board with mostly overweight Americans/English and Austrailians asking for recipes, why aren't you down at that pizzeria or the cafe you maybe enjoy asking them for recipes? Take this opportunity to really learn how to make and enjoy meals from scratch (whether they take a long time or not) from the locals who have thrived on this WOL for so long.

You are very lucky. I'd trade with you in a minute to REALLY learn how it's done in Europe, see it, smell it, talk with the chef about the differences in ingredients. If anything, I want your recipes when you come back thin!