If you’re new to the series, I’m putting my mom on a diet (because she asked me to, and I’ve lost 135 pounds myself (naturally). So here’s what you need to know: Part 1, here is the plan I designed for her, and here are her weekly updates: week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 1 month eating on her own, 1 year later.
Monday
Breakfast: 1 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s cereal (165) + 1 banana (100) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 375
Lunch: Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
vegetable base (3 large handfuls mixed greens, ½ cup chopped bell pepper, ½ cup chopped cucumber, ½ cup shredded carrot, 6-8 cherry tomatoes=50 calories) + 1 ounce crumbled feta cheese (1/4 cup = 70 calories) + 3 ounces marinated and grilled chicken (90 for chicken alone + 30 for marinade = 120) + 2 tablespoons Ken’s Light Honey Mustard Dressing (80) + 2 tablespoons sliced almonds (1/2 ounce = 80) = 400
Snack: 1 apple (100) + 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (100) = 200
Dinner: 6 ounces haddock (~150) dipped in 1 beaten egg (~10 calories since all of the egg is not used) and coated in 5 crushed Ritz crackers (salt, pepper, and smoked paprika added to the crushed crackers before pressing onto the fillet, 80) + 1 1/2 cups mixed salad (20) + 1 tablespoon Ken’s Light Options Balsamic Dressing (30) + 1 cup steamed broccoli (50) + 1/2 cup store-bought coleslaw (150) = 490
Dessert: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)
Total: 1645
….
Tuesday
same B, L, S as Monday (975)
Dinner: 4 ounces grilled chicken breast (120 for chicken alone + 30 for marinade = 150) + 3/4 cup mashed potatoes (made with butter and 1% milk, 250) (mashed potatoes were drizzled with the drippings from the just-cooked chicken) + 1 1/2 cups steamed broccoli (75) = 475
Dessert: same as Monday (150)
Total: 1600
….
Wednesday
Breakfast: 1/2 cup dry old fashioned Quaker oats (150) made with 1 cup water, topped with 2 tablespoons sliced almonds (14 grams = 80) + 2 tablespoons dried cranberries (70) = 300
Lunch: 4 ounces leftover grilled chicken breast from Tuesday’s dinner (150) + 1 package Green Giant Simply Steam Green Beans & Almonds (120) = 270
Snack: same as Monday (200)
Dinner: Slow cooked pulled pork (this recipe without the slaw = 280) + 1 small baked potato (6 ounces cooked = 150) + 1 1/2 cups mixed green salad (20) + 1 tablespoon Ken’s Light Options Balsamic Dressing (30) = 480
Dessert: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)
Total: 1400
….
Thursday
Breakfast: 1 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s cereal (165) + 1 banana (100) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 375
Lunch: 1 Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat Lavash Bread (100) + 3 ounces Dietz & Watson maple-glazed ham (90) + 1 ounce Hoffman’s sliced cheddar cheese (110) + 2 teaspoons yellow mustard (10) + lettuce and tomato (15) = 325
+ 1 cup red grapes (60) = 385
Snack: 1 apple (100) + 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (100) = 200
Dinner: Take-out pizza
2 slices from a large (16-inch) thin-crust pepperoni pie (300 each = 600)
Total: 1560
….
Friday
Breakfast: Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin (160) + 2 teaspoons butter (60) = 220
Out to lunch: Cobb Salad with 2 tablespoons light creamy Italian dressing at a local sub shop (500)
Dinner: 4 ounces grilled bunless cheeseburger (240 for beef alone + 100 for 1 ounce of American cheese = 340) + 2 cups grilled zucchini and asparagus (drizzled in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, 150) = 490
Dessert: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (150)
Total: 1360
….
Saturday
Breakfast: 1 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm Honey Nut O’s cereal (165) + 1 banana (100) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 375
Lunch: PB & J Wrap
1 Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat Wrap (100) + 2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter (200) + 2 tablespoons Bonne Maman strawberry preserves (100) = 400
Dinner Party (hosted at home): 1 small crostini with mozzarella and prosciutto (150) + 3 ounces balsamic glazed beef tenderloin (200) + 1/2 cup lemon-basil potatoes (150) + 1/2 cup pasta (buttered, 150) + 2 meatballs (150) = 800
Dessert: 1 slice chocolate cake (350)
Total: 1925
….
Sunday
Breakfast: 1 cup Uncle Sam Original cereal (~250) + 1 cup 1% milk (110) = 360
Out to lunch: Grilled chicken salad with honey mustard dressing on the side (Mom used about 2 tablespoons, 500)
Out to dinner: Bunless cheeseburger (assuming 8 ounces which would be 480 for beef alone + ~100 for 1 ounce of cheese = 580) + small side of steamed vegetables (50) = 630
Total: 1490
….
Week 17 Weigh-In:
Starting Weight: 210
Week 1 Weight: 201.4 (down 8.6)
Week 2 Weight: 199.4 (down 2.0)
Week 3 Weight: 199 (down 0.4)
Week 4 Weight: 196 (down 3)
Week 5 Weight: 194.4 (down 1.6)
Week 6 Weight: 193 (down 1.4)
Week 7 Weight: 192 (down 1)
Week 8 Weight: 188.8 (down 3.2)
Week 9 Weight: 187.6 (down 1.2)
Week 10 Weight: 186.4 (down 1.2)
Week 11 Weight: 186.4 (same)
Week 12 Weight: 186 (down .4)
Week 13 Weight: 183.6 (down 2.4)
Week 14 Weight: 183.2 (down .4)
Week 15 Weight: 182 (down 1.2)
Week 16 Weight: 179.8 (down 2.2)
Week 17 Weight: 179.6 (down .2)
Total Pounds Lost: 30.4 pounds
Sad to say there’s no Mom note this week! This coming Monday you can expect a full update, including the test results from Mom’s recent doctor’s visit. She has lots to share about the changes in her cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. I’m looking forward to seeing the difference between her starting numbers — taken just before we started this journey — and now.
Hope you’re having a good week!
Andie
CLICK HERE for a printable version of this week’s meal plan!
Oh yay! The medical nerd in me is looking forward to the changes too! The pounds on the scale don’t always reflect the internal changes, so this will be illuminating to see how 17 weeks of improved eating will affect her health. Good luck!
i really cannot get enough of these updates! you + your mama are inspiring. i was just reading one of your “journey” posts last night while making myself log the excess of food i ate yesterday. but i did it. and it wasn’t so bad. :)
your mom’s journey is amazing to read. and i loooove reading the feedback at the end. makes me remember i’m not alone in this (like the back and forth with food guilt). can’t wait to read about the health updates!
Andie–
As much as I enjoy reading about your Mom’s successes–and 30 pounds in 17 weeks is an awesome accomplishment–I miss your more personal posts. How are you doing? How’s the packing going for NY? What is going on in your life these days?
As for me, I’m 25 weeks pregnant, trying to remember that there are other food groups than chocolate, while trying to juggle the various responsibilities of parenting a 9-month old, being a wife and working full time. Sometimes, I have things under control but often I feel like I’m grasping at straws, trying to get from one day to the next. I keep waiting for life to pause so I can catch up, haha. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is I like reading about the “deeper things” and hope that you can share them soon.
Katie
I love seeing the pictures of what your mother is eating. I’d really like to see a week of what Andie eats and comments about her eating. Any chance of that in the future?
The food always looks so good! I wish they sold skinny cow desserts in Mexico. Can you offer any substitutions that also involve iceream of some sort?
Great job sticking with it. I start feeling bored with healthy eating but then I always get a new idea from your posts. Made the chicken w/ balsamic tomatoes last night & it was great. Thanks!
Someone just told me about your blog and also “Cooking With Mr. C.” on Facebook. I will check your blog out. Denise
Wow that is an impressive meal plan. Mind if I steal a couple ideas? :)
Your mom has lost quite a bit on your diet. Good on her and well done, too!
Andie, What you are doing for your Mom is so absolutely wonderful! The fact that she is willing to have you help her in this way shows a lot about her love for and trust in you. I love reading your blog and seeing the progress your mom is making. It is so encouraging!
Looking forward to seeing the results from the docs, excited to see the changes from the beginning to now :)
hats off to you for that great meal plan you prepared for your mom. Her complete trust in you is just a way of telling that you are a pro where fitness is concerned. thanks for sharing this post!
Oh!! These meals looks so yummy! I’m glad that you have taken such a balanced approach with your mom, and your own diet… it’s very inspiring!!
So glad I found this; it’s so inspirational to read. I’ve found that having a conscience awareness of what I eat has a profound impact on my diet.
Maryellen,
I just wanted to share that I checked some of The Biggest Loser books out of the library and they have been really good. They use calorie counting and are quite similar to Andie’s take on things-journaling, having treats now and then, and flavorful food. I think you’d enjoy them. I’ve read the one on motivation and it had some good ideas, now the one I’m on is healthy swaps and have gotten some great ideas there too. I thought you might enjoy since I know you’ll be learning much of this on your own once Andie moves. They are very educational and practical.
Update: I just finished my week nine and am down 6.8 lbs. I can wear these cute Ann Taylor wintery pants that I got on clearance but NEVER could wear because they were always just a smidge too tight. Now I can. Hooray! Thanks for your inspiration. :)
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Oh!! These meals looks so yummy! I’m glad that you have taken such a balanced approach with your mom, and your own diet… it’s very inspiring!!
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