Low Carb Support - Week of 8/24

[tbb113]

Well...after a few days of not watching my carbs well (out to dinner two nights in a row) I have gained 1.5 pounds :( I know from experience that it is just water weight and I will take it right off...but I'm so close to my goal and I need to re-evaluate if I really want to lose the next 5-10 vanity pounds or be satisfied with the 30 pounds I have lost. I'm still 5 pounds over the top of the weight recommendation for 5'3" but I lost 5 more than I thought I would. All in all, I'm happy so I guess I'll keep trying and live with my current weight if I don't lose more :cool:

So, I guess my next steps are to figure out how many carbs I can really have on a daily basis and start adding back in the 'good' grains. I have had grains probably less than 10 times in the last 6 months. Can't say I really miss them, but I do think I should be able to have them occasionally.

Any suggestions on the weight or the grains?

Tyra

[kwormann]

Tyra, I am sooo proud of you! I have been skimming along for the past 8 weeks with maintaining. I decided to buckle down this weekend and get back to it and I lost 2 lbs. (ive been going up and down the same 2 lbs). Now I just need to continue DOWN:)

FOr your weight, that has to be a personal decision. Part of me wants to lose 25 more lbs, part says just lose 15 more and be happy. Decisions decisions:D

as for grains, I would decide what you really miss most ~ whole grain bread, wheat pasta etc. then try that first. If that works, maybe try something else. Personally, Im a sandwich freak and really miss whole grained and hearty sourdough breads. I could be happy never having pasta again. Since Ive been maintaining recently, I know once I get to my weight, I can add back some breads and keep my current weight. I cant WAIT for that day:D Whole wheat couscous will be the 2nd thing I will try.

What is your favorite??

[Molli526]

Tyra,

I think Kim has a good point. I would add in what carb you do miss, in a whole form first. I think it was Cangoss who said earlier, in terms of fruit, that she only eats fruit that don't have to be peeled i.e berries, apples, pears, grapes, etc. vs. bananas, melons etc.


I ended up having some carbs on Saturday night. DH talked me into it. I had them at one meal, and am back on the plan. I think I may try this as a plan for a while. South Beach phase 1 all week, and one meal "off" a week if I need it. The pizza was so good, so it was worth it.

[lakelady1]

:D :D :D I have finished my 2 weeks induction and LOST 11 POUNDS!!! And, I swear, it is all off my midsection. I am wearing an outfit that, not only could I not wear two week's ago, I couldn't even wear a week ago.

Guess I'm a convert. Never would have believed it possible.

I'm within my weight range now, but plan to continue my daily routine for breakfast and lunch, then be sensible for dinner, even if I go out (which I haven't done in 14 days!). It was so much easier than I though; it simply required setting aside two weeks to get it started. I'm also relying on the Atkins Advantage "shakes" for one meal each day. It makes lunch a no-brainer for me and seems to do the trick.

Thank you all for the inspiration.

[tbb113]

Congratulations on the 11 pounds. That is fantastic. :)

Well, like I said, I knew it was water weight since I lost a pound of it last night. Now I just need to get that 1/2 pound back off that I keep playing with. I REFUSE to think of this as a plateau. I know its that I've let the carbs creep up and that put on the weight..

I really need to think about what I want to add back in. I'm leaning toward rice so I can eat sushi and chinese food more easily :D But a piece of pizza sounds SO GOOD to me. I think I will try and only have the grains once or twice a week and see how that works.

Tyra

[tbb113]

Okay, I have a question. Is it just me or are there very few recipes in CL that appeal to you anymore now that you are low carbing?

I know that part of it is that my children limit what I cook. I don't make fish/seafood or pork at home since it wouldn't get eaten. But lately the last few issues have been so sparse in what I would eat, that I'm thinking of not renewing my subscription. Even the recipes that I think might be low carb have a grain added (and IMHO its to lower the fat content of the dish). Anybody else feel this way? Or is it just the summer issues???

Tyra

[d_ferrero]

Originally posted by tbb113
Okay, I have a question. Is it just me or are there very few recipes in CL that appeal to you anymore now that you are low carbing?

I know that part of it is that my children limit what I cook. I don't make fish/seafood or pork at home since it wouldn't get eaten. But lately the last few issues have been so sparse in what I would eat, that I'm thinking of not renewing my subscription. Even the recipes that I think might be low carb have a grain added (and IMHO its to lower the fat content of the dish). Anybody else feel this way? Or is it just the summer issues???

Tyra

While I wasn't crazy about June & July, I've found recipes in August & September to keep me busy. I do cook predominently chicken and fish dishes, so that probably helps. And for those recipes that are served with a starch, I just eliminate that starch and adjust the nutritional value accordingly. I suspect that because the majority of the world (still) doesn't equate grains with evil, CL adds them to many recipes both to lower the overall fat content and to 'round out' the dish. As long as they're removable (or substitutable for a higher fiber alternative), I don't mind them.

I *do* find I'm cooking less from the "superfast" and "dinner tonight" columns... probably as a function of the amount of processed foods they include.

I'm concerned that the fall/winter issues will be even "more" starchy as the emphasis turns to holiday cooking/baking and fall fruits/veggies.

I'm curious what others think about this...

[kwormann]

I dont cook from CL much anymore. HOWEVER, I will be buying the Oct-Dec issues and I will HAVE to make a winter squash recipe or two!!!!

[cangoss]

Yes, I am following the guideline of eating fruits that have skins/peels - because they have more fiber. I am doing more of a "good carb" plan than a "low carb" plan and this is working well for me. I've lost 12 pounds so far and it seems to be the kind of diet that I can keep going on and not get sick of quickly.
Tyra- my nutritionist told me that sushi is good - the amount of rice isn't enough to trigger a sugar reaction. I was very happy to hear that :D

[krhm]

I've been reading about SBD (haven't tried it yet...I'm in the middle of some major life changes like buying a new house and starting a new job and don't want to add to the changes right now!). I'm so curious about the weight that you lose in your midsection. Is it harder to lose weight from there? I carry all of my extra weight in my hips and thighs, not in my stomach.

And another question is in regards to how you all feel. Do you really feel better on less/no carbs, or is it that you are eating healthier/losing extra weight? I'm just wondering if you feel differently on this diet than you have on other diets in the past. If I do decide to try this out, it would really be so I could feel better in general...no mid-afternoon slumps, no dragging myself out of bed after 9 hours of sleep, etc.

I'm so curious to hear your responses!

[kwormann]

I feel much better. Ive had a "bad" 2 weeks with school starting, eating a lot of pizza. when I have had it, I wake up with a "brick" feeling in my stomach. I used to have lots of indigestion and when Im eating on plan, I dont have ANY!!!!

[tbb113]

Originally posted by krhm
I'm so curious about the weight that you lose in your midsection. Is it harder to lose weight from there? I carry all of my extra weight in my hips and thighs, not in my stomach.

And another question is in regards to how you all feel. Do you really feel better on less/no carbs, or is it that you are eating healthier/losing extra weight? I'm just wondering if you feel differently on this diet than you have on other diets in the past. If I do decide to try this out, it would really be so I could feel better in general...no mid-afternoon slumps, no dragging myself out of bed after 9 hours of sleep, etc.

I'm so curious to hear your responses!

I feel much better. I have stopped craving sweets as much which helps the mid-afternoon slump. I also am slepping better. I have lost weight all over, not just my midsection. After the first month I lost 2 inches from my thighs, 1 from my hips, 1 1/2 from my waist, 1 from my bust. After 24 weeks I lost 5 inches from my thighs, 3 1/2 from my hips, 3 from my waist and 3 from my bust and 30 pounds over all. And this without ANY exercise (not proud of that fact :o but at least I'm truthful).

Tyra