"Smart Ones" frozen meals........

2old2quit · Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:59 am

There is someone I know who believes she is better than anyone else. You know the kind I mean. Well, she has been eating the Smart Ones frozen meals for weeks - I believe maybe 2-3 months now. Well, everyone is remarking how skinny she is and how wonderful she looks. She claims she lost 30 pounds in those few months by just eating these meals.

Seems to me that is all well and good, however.......What will happen when or if she returns to eating the real food we are meant to eat? How can eating such processed foods every day be healthy for you? Plus, how can you afford to eat that way?

I am dedicated to this WOE since 4/13 (9 weeks) and have lost 15 pounds. That is much better than gaining but it goes so slowly. Mentally I know this is the right and healthy way to live my life and that helps me with the "stalling periods". Our neighbor brought us over a huge dense chocolate cake with thick white iciing. I get tempted when I open that fridge believe me, but I just cut off a huge chunk for my husband to take to work and put it back. The more he eats, the quicker it will be gone. :)

I just would like to know how these frozen meals constantly being eaten on a regular basis can possibly be good for you.

nygirl22 · Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:38 pm

2old2quit wrote: I just would like to know how these frozen meals constantly being eaten on a regular basis can possibly be good for you.

It's not. And as you noted, once she goes back to eating "normally" [and likely, she *will* eventually]... how will she maintain that loss? Losing is only part of it... we've got to maintain it too... and how how much better to learn to do that in the process of losing (as you are doing with south beach).

A relative of mine did this with weightwatchers a while back [she ate the frozen meals or w/e] and this was early on in my south beach journey, so I had lost a good amount of weight [and it was noticeable] but not as much as to this point today. But at that point, since she had started that, she told me I should switch [which was odd b/c south beach was working]. I just said with a smile, "I don't think so." Well, anyways, a couple of months later, she [in a round-about way] admitted that she should try south beach. The frozen food thing didn't last long.

I would assume this person you know is losing weight due to portion control and perhaps these meals are "better" than what she was eating before [in terms of calories]. Just b/c she's losing weight doesn't mean she's healthy though. There are plenty of ways to lose w/out being healthy.

Even those who don't like to cook and would rather just buy meals [I've felt that way before]... eventually will get sick of it. I don't think your friend is doing herself a favor at all. Be proud of your accomplishments ... not only the weight loss and the health aspect... but LEARNING to be healthy is wonderful as well and it will always stick w/ you.

ETA: by the way, my relative has moved on to diet pills. :roll:

2old2quit · Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:01 pm

Thank you girl for your comment. I am just weary of her and others bragging that they lost so much weight by eating these frozen meals. I look at my meals today - ham & egg omelet for breakfast, yogurt & pecans for snack, spinach salad w/ veggies & chicken breast for lunch, cheese stick for later snack then we are having t-bones for supper. I know this is a healthy and satisfying woe.

I am steadily on the losing/stalling/losing stalling cycle and that is fine with me. As long as I don't gain. It seems that all this TIME drags by & I don't lose as fast as others. I have got to stop comparing myself to people who go the "fast" route. She says that spending the money for those meals is worth it because she is dropping the pounds fast.

Meanwhile........................I need to stop feeling jealous of those that lose weight faster and lose more pounds than I do.

Thank you again. I have got to keep a positive attitude and not worry about what others are doing. I need to focus on me, myself & I. Chin up and all that.

A-Rod · Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:05 pm

2old, you're averaging a loss of almost 2 lbs. per week - that's EXCELLENT. 1-2 lbs. per week is healthy, and it's not always steady. keep on truckin - you're doing great!

2old2quit · Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:36 pm

A-Rod - thanks for the boost. This woe is not always easy but I am never hungry or not for long anyway. Thank goodness for this plan to live and eat healthier for a long, long time. A lifetime.

Now, if I can just get my DH to finish off that chocolate cake. :lol:

City Girl · Sat Jun 16, 2007 1:15 am

Just remind yourself that it's not just about weight loss--it's about health, and that's only achieved by eating real food.

That said, I like SmartOnes and similar meals. I keep them on hand for work--there are times I need to go in with no time to pack a lunch, or I work a series of 12 hour shifts and am so tired that preparing food is the last thing I'm thinking of. Frozen meals certainly have their place, but they're no substitute for whole food.

maltby_gardner · Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:42 am

2old2quit wrote: Meanwhile........................I need to stop feeling jealous of those that lose weight faster and lose more pounds than I do.
I'll say you need to stop feeling jealous! Jealous of what? That she's replacing lean body mass with new fat? That her skin will be all saggy-baggy because of the rapid weight loss? Not to mention the new wrinkles that will appear on her face. You need to develop - and truly, I'm not kidding here - a little holier than thou attitude of your own.

You are the one who knows something she doesn't know. You are the one who is losing weight the sensible, sustainable way. You are the one who is improving your body composition. You are the one who is eating healthful, satisfying meals. SB is so far superior to what your friend is doing that it's almost like trying to compare apples to oranges.

The next time she tries bragging about how much weight she is losing just smile and nod...you can practice in the mirror...the way you would if a five year old were trying to explain something that he clearly did not understand.

RedRox · Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:48 am

FWIW, there's a difference between thin and being healthy, and a difference between losing weight and losing weight in a healthy and sustainable manner. You're doing it "right"! ;) You can't worry about other people and what they do really. Just learn to be the best "you" you can be! ;)

2old2quit · Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:12 am

Thanks to all of you - you are all right on the money I know. I just need to flip my mind and be positive about this. It just gets me low sometimes when I hear them talk about themselves and then I come here and all of you put me in my place! That's a good place to be, by the way.

You are all terrific and very supportive.

Thanks again..............

langdon · Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:56 am

2old2quit, Let her go, Let her find out for herself. I am not bashing her, if that is what works for her, fine. But you and I both know, she can't take a whole lotta frozen dinners on vacation with her, she can't take 'em to the beach, she can't take 'em to her cousin's wedding. Sooner or later she will be back in reality where she has to eat REAL food, without someone to package it up and prepare it for her. She will have to decide weather to fix carrots and broccoli or fries and mac and cheese. With the "mad microwave skills" she is gaining on this diet I am laying odds on her microwaving her way right back into an unhealthy diet.

Don't let 'em even slow you down. You have had a healthy weight-loss and sometimes you will have these "stalling" periods, we all do. But as long as you have been on this diet you are learning some great life-eating skills. Skills about the choices of foods you eat, when to eat, how much to eat, that should last you the rest of your life and help you keep the weight off. Let 'em go and eat their frozen meals, they are learning nothing.


Page 1 of 1