Low Carb Support 8/16/03

[kwormann]

Can I get a YEA!!!! This week is OVER! Going back to work and getting a classroom ready is soooo hard! I ate sooo bad this week! I wasnt prepared for how tired and stressed I would be. Of course, in a good light, I NEVER want to see pizza again...!!!

This week will also be tiring (kids come back tomorrow), but DH and I are going to prep food for the week today, so I will be ready, eating wise.

Say a small prayer for me tomorrow....30 6 year olds on my class list...If they all show up Im in trouble!!!

[kwormann]

Was at Whole Foods yesterday and bought one of their Artisan breads....unbleached whole wheat flour and lots of nuts and seeds (including flax)....VERY whole grain.

Eating outside on the porch looking at a cardinal (a bit hot for my taste, but DH loves it), a slice of toast with fresh ground peanut butter, sugar free raspberry preserves and fresh made coffee. If it were 20 degrees cooler, Id say the PERFECT start to a day

[helios7]

30 6 year olds are a handful! Especially in those first few days of school!

I'm enjoying my 2 weeks of vacation before school starts. After working all summer - I don't feel like I've had a vacation yet. And some people are already back-to-schooL!

Re: low carb - things are going pretty well I guess. We went out for cuban food and I did not eat my rice (just my beans), but I did have some yucca (one of my favorite things ). I'm guessing that was a splurge but ... it was yummy!

Beginning to get a little bored ... but plugging along!

[tbb113]

Kim - 30 kids, not fun. I think one of the better things California EVER did was when they gave incentives to schools to limit class size for K-3 and 9th grade to 20 kids instead of 30! The difference for the kids and the teacher is awesome.

Helios7 - make sure you vary your protein sources. It helps with the boredom factor. I started menu planning and LOOKING for new main course recipes while doing this diet and it has helped me keep the food interesting.


Well, I went on a few days of R&R last week, watched what I ate (its becoming second nature) and maintained my weight. I suppose if I had done some physical activity other than lying on the beach reading, I could have actually lost an ounce or two

I still think I want to lose 5 - 10 lbs more, so I guess I'm entering what Atkins calls 'pre-maintenance' when you add back even more carbs and slow your weight loss down even more. I don't know if I want to lose any slower (I'm averaging a pound a week) but more carbs sounds good. I keep thinking about a piece of pizza or corn on the cob (which I'm having tonight!)

Have a good week
Tyra

[kwormann]

Tyra, corn on the cob sounds soooo good! CONGRATS on almost reaching your goal

Helios, is your pre-school a "school year" pre-k??

[Molli526]

I'm re-starting South Beach today. SO far so good. My biggest challenge will be Saturday. My brother and SIL are coming over to go to Greek Town and get pizza (their famous deep dish) at Pizzapapalis. I am going to get a salad and go from there. It will take all the will power I can muster to not have one bite!

[sage]

Well, have finished the first week of Phase I. In addition to watching what I eat, I've started getting myself to the gym each day. Have been amazed at how little it takes to make me feel "full" on this eating plan. I very rarely get the munchies or that "low" feeling where you feel like you'll just fall over on your face if you don't get someting to eat.

Meal planning has been the hardest just because I have a weird schedule so hard to plan grocery shopping time/cooking time---have eaten some weird combinations. Can't say the lack of variety has been too difficult---before, when I didn't have time to cook, it was sandwich, sandwich, sandwich day after day after day.

Question---Are lentils OK in Phase I? I bought some red lentils and cooked them to bring in lunches next week.

Another Question---My name is Shannon. I am a carbo-addict. In a perfect world I would be able to eat potatoes, bread, and rice in unlimited quantities and not ever gain pound. Any other carbo-addicts out there---how scard were you about adding carbs back in during Phase II. I keep picturing myself going on a feeding frenzy. I think I may add in carbs I'm not overly in love with---some fruit (like apples and canteloupe) and dairy. I think I am still too "weak" to look a piece of bread square in the eye yet.

I don't own a scale so I can't be sure how much I've lost, but between the eating plan and the gym, I can tell that clothes fit better. I know the changes in the eating are helping as I just don't feel hungry which greatly decreases my chances of going after all that "quickie" processed stuff.

Good luck to everyone this week.

s.

[tbb113]

Originally posted by sage

Another Question---My name is Shannon. I am a carbo-addict. In a perfect world I would be able to eat potatoes, bread, and rice in unlimited quantities and not ever gain pound. Any other carbo-addicts out there---how scard were you about adding carbs back in during Phase II. I keep picturing myself going on a feeding frenzy. I think I may add in carbs I'm not overly in love with---some fruit (like apples and canteloupe) and dairy. I think I am still too "weak" to look a piece of bread square in the eye yet.

Shannon:

I know the feeling about being scared of adding carbs back in. I should preface this to say I'm not a carbo-addict. I never craved the bread, pasta, rice. Candy, cake, cookies, SWEETS...thats my downfall I did find that I had to do a MAJOR mind shift for me to stay on this diet and not eat the sweets (since I don't want to eat 'fake food' that much.) I am following Atkins and I have now reached the point where I am capable of limiting my starchy carbs and fruits. The longer you stay away from what you crave the less you will crave them, because you will have broken the addiction.

I think that is the part of SBD I don't like. His guidelines for adding things back in are REAL loose. Atkins suggests adding 5 carbs a week, adding one new food at a time. That way you can determine how many carbs a day to eat and still loose and what carbs (if any) trigger cravings and weight gains.



Molli
You can eat the toppings from the pizza and leave the crust (messy, takes will power, but it can be done)

Tyra

[fci5767]

Originally posted by kwormann
Say a small prayer for me tomorrow....30 6 year olds on my class list...If they all show up Im in trouble!!!

My second year that I was teaching I had 43 actual first graders until October when they leveled the classes!!! It was crazy.

Beth

[helios7]

Yes, my preschool is a school-year preschool. So we begin in September and will run til June with the equivalent of private school vacations in between. I feel very lucky to have found it.....


Re: protein sources. I'm trying to vary as much as possible, but being vegetarian I'm more limited. That is one thing I don't like about SBD. While the website claims its easy to adapt the diet to vegetarian choices, it means branching out from the proscribed meal ideas. Since my BF is not veggie and tries things by the letter, all I've ended up doing is subbing veggie meats for the reg meat. Which isn't the way I normally eat - I miss exciting ethnic foods and whole grains etc. I've found it frustrating because I feel if I'm "too liberal" with my interpretation then it won't work, but if I'm too restrictive I'll get bored and quit.

I'm starting to think that an entirely reduced carb/low GI whatever lifestyle might not be for me, but a largely reduced carb/low GI might work better. IE not all the time but MOST of the time. But we'll see....

[lakelady1]

I have been lurking here for a while and must admit that you have given me a lot to think about, a lot of good practical information, and have been a GREAT INSPIRATION!!! Last Monday I started my two weeks of "induction" or "Phase 1." And today I am 6 pounds lighter!!! And it all seems to have come from my waist/belly. I couldn't believe when I put on a pair of shorts Saturday that I COULD NOT BUTTON the previous Saturday, and they fit.

What amazes me is that I have not been hungry, nor did I experience any of the low energy dips or headaches that I have typically had during the first few weeks of a new diet.

I was delighted when the trends went to very high carbs . . . I'm a bread, pasta person . . . but I can see where I have paid the price. Fortunately, this put me back on a track with which I can live (assuming I get through the next week -- told everyone I was NOT eating out during these two weeks!). And just in time to go visit my daughter in England with a side trip to Florence!!!

((((((((((((THANK YOU ALL))))))))))

[JennieL]

I hit my goal weight this week, but the most amazing thing is that the weight came off those hard to lose places, hips and tummy without working out. I'm not allowed to work out for six weeks, due to surgery, which is hard for me.

Are any of you eating "sugar free" chocolate? I find it's hard to stop after one or two sugar free mini Reeces PB cups! Yikes.

[amcleod]

Hi there, I have a question ~ especially for those following SBD. I have begun contemplation of following SBD (but not while summer fruits are still around!). I am wondering whether the weight loss of 8-13 pounds in Phase I is realistic for me, especially since I am currently doing WW and am not far from my goal weight. I'm really considering it to lose those last pesky 10 pounds; but more to challenge myself. I have a feeling that I eat more sugar than I think I do (but I am not a carb addict - I eat pasta maybe once a month and eat only whole grain breads).

Based on your experience, would you recommend doing it? thanks!

[Melman]

I'm somewhere around week #5 with SBD. I haven't lost anywhere close to 10 pounds yet. I did WW at the beginning of the year and maxed out at a total of just barely 7 pounds weight loss. I gained a few pounds back after we stopped having the program at work. I'm officially SLIGHTLY below my lowest WW weight...but only barely. I'm trying to stick with it.

[tbb113]

I know that most of you are following SBD and I commend you all for that. However, it also seems that many of you are not seeing the weight loss you were hoping for. I know that I was anywhere from 35-50 pounds over the "ideal" weight for a 5'3" person when starting Atkins. I have consistently lost at least a pound a week with very few exceptions (and more like 2 pounds in the beginning) I am not suggesting that you change to Atkins...but I am suggesting that you very slowly add back carbs to your diet. It might be that without realizing it you are adding more than your body can handle and still loose weight. I can lose when I average 30 carbs a day...have a few days of 30+ and I gain 1/2 pound overnight...it comes off, but its frustrating.

I would also only add one new carb every few days and see what happens to your weight loss.

Everybody is different and everybody will respond differently to different foods...

Tyra

[TamiKnight]

I ended week 4 yesterday, down 11 1/2 pounds. I've added in one piece of low-carb bread in the morning (4 grams carb) and 1/2 cup plain yogurt sweetened with Splenda, and tossed with a few chopped almonds and 1/4 cup raspberries and/or blueberries. I guess I'm just looking at the long haul, and know that I'm eating less, so the weight eventually HAS to come off. I haven't been to the gym since last Thursday. I had been so fatigued and sore, I just felt like I needed to shore up my body a little bit with these tiny bits of carbs and heal. I have lupus and fibromyalgia, and really have to listen to what my body tells me to avoid a major relapse. So, I'm not seeing great weight loss, but I am seeing some. If I get a month down the road and don't see any changes in weight OR tape measure, I'll have to reevaluate what I'm doing.

I think you're right, Tyra, that we really need to be slow about adding carbs back in. It was sort of a shock when I realized that moving to this phase really wasn't going to change what I eat all that much. I also have had to be careful to be sure that the carbs I'm eating replace something, instead of being added onto the top of everything else!

I'm back at work this week--expecting 150+ 7th and 8th graders on Thursday. I'm being gentle with myself with exercise, as I'm already fatigued, but have stayed true to the eating plan. I really wish that more people would provide carb-friendly alternatives at continental breakfasts (a bowl of pre-frozen fruit doesn't cut it), and maybe a snack other than 20 dozen gourmet cookies sitting around in the afternoon. Yikes! However, I'm responsible for what goes in my mouth, and I've been able to walk away. I go back to the cheating on my husband analogy--I won't even allow myself a little kiss or a quick grope with the wrong foods!

[d_ferrero]

I've also discovered that careful attention to which carbs I add back in -- and how and when -- have a direct impact on my weight loss. I've added almost exclusively fruits back to my diet. After zero loss in week 3, I changed my approach a little, adding one fruit serving a day (varying what this fruit was - berries, plums, peaches, etc.) with either my lunch or dinner. This has been far more effective for me than the fruit-as-snack approach I'd used previously.

Last night I baked some Atkins-mix blueberry muffins and had one of those today. They're okay, but far heavier/denser/drier than I would've expected for the amount of fat they contain.

I'm in the middle of week 6 and have lost a net 12 pounds -- which is certainly a better average than I was attaining on Weight Watchers. And I truly believe this is a lifestyle I can maintain in the long term. Can I give up bread/pasta/rice/potatoes? No... but I'm discovering I certainly don't need to subsist on them, either.

[linsleyd]

You all have come up with some really interesting ideas to help you along on this journey. I really like the thought of replacing the carb with something and not adding it on top.
I've been a little off this week due to no money until the end of the week, which meant dinner at my mom's last night when I was starving wasn't a good thing! But I tried to counteract it all day by not eating carbs so I could have one peice of corn on the cob!
And I really think that adding things like V8 with bacon and eggs in the morning and an apple with my open face sandwich at lunch makes a difference. It really is about where you add the foods and how they react with the foods you are already eating.

It really is all trial and error but I think we're all going in the right direction!

[kwormann]

...have any of you tried other forms of protein?? Helios, I know you are veggie...how does your body handle beans and lentils??

I am wondering if they act like proteins or starches in your body. As a recovering "aquatarian", Id like to move back toward my former way of eating while still losing/maintaining...just eating the beans w/o the rice etc.

Anyway, was wondering what you all thought about this or what experience you have had...

[d_ferrero]

...for fear that somehow I'll "jinx" it, but steady weight loss seems to have kicked in again for me. I started back at the gym on Sunday, and it was not nearly as traumatic as I expected. I've certainly lost some conditioning during my hiatus (mostly in the form of endurance) but nothing I can't build back up slowly. And I was pleasantly surprised that my (significantly) less-carbs than before lifestyle had no discernible impact on my energy level.

How's everyone else doing out there?

[linsleyd]

I've fallen a bit off the wagon the past two days (no meal planning and just hunger for french fries!)

Oh well, I think next week I'll do another week one to rid myself of the carbs I ate the past two days and I think that'll help me remember how good this really is for my body!

[greysangel]

Just popping in to say that I'm pretty sure most beans act and are processed as carbs by your body. I think wallycat maybe posted the science somewhere else, but beans do not contain complete proteins.

JeAnne

[greysangel]

http://community.cookinglight.com/sh...e+protein+info

[CindyF]

I have not posted much recently because I am stuck! I lost 8 pounds during phase one and nothing since. On the plus side (no pun intended) I have been eating like a hog last week and I have maintained my weight. Some days I am up a pound depending on the amount of salt and carbs I eat. Having a box of no sugar added fudge pops in the house when I am having those PMS cravings is not a good idea! I am finding that when I am not horomally challanged I make much better food choices now, and can walk buy the candy bowl at work and not want any at all. I'm not gonna give up all my hard work for a Jolly Rancher or a carmel! Chocolate is another story! LOL

The idea about replacing food items instead of adding to is something I need to pay more attention to. I have been trying to combine my carbs with a protein, but total calorie intake at the end of the day is what matters. I am going to track my intake for a couple of days on Fitday.com and see how many calories I am actually comsuming.

I'm getting a new Sheltie puppy in a few days so maybe chasing her around will get me going.

[helios7]

As a veggie, I eat a lot of beans and lentils etc for protein. I personally don't find my body reacts to them as a starch/carb, or if it does, then its "good carb" like. But then, my body is used to it as I am vegetarian and so these are major sources of protein for me. If you're not as used to them, perhaps your body will react differently at first?

I'm not sure...I'm not a dietician. This is just my experience.

[alicerh]

I'm in my 5th week and I am really sick of meat ( although today for lunch I had to have a 93% lean burger on a sour dough Eng muffin with a big slab of sweet onion, my first in 5 weeks). In the next couple of days I plan to make the roasted tomato basil soup and herb goat cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread that were on Barefoot Contessa last Sat. Also the eggplant parmesan on the Italian cooking show that followed Bare. Cont. Lastly I want to make some black bean soup. All will be made with allowed ingred. so I guess I will be OK. This is the first time I have made a major deviation from the plan. I'm wondering how many of you follow the plan as written and how many "do your own thing:
Alice

[TamiKnight]

I just thought I'd share that I was right--my weight loss has picked up again with the addition of limited carbs. I was down 2 more pounds today, and I was REALLY worried because I had a bean burrito on a whole wheat tortilla yesterday. I was afraid I'd blow up like a balloon, but I didn't. Of course, I still wouldn't eat that every day, but I think we all just have to really listen to our bodies. I'm pretty sure I just needed a little more nutrition for my body to keep giving up the fat cells. Anyway, my theory could be blown all to heck when I wake up 10 pounds heavier tomorrow but I think that, for me, the careful addition of "good carbs" will be the ticket to success.

[CindyF]

Posting about being stuck must have done the trick! I am down a pound today yippeee! This is my first weight loss since entering phase two several weeks ago.

[kwormann]

YEA Cindy

Well, I think Im going to start my cooking-everything-I-am-interested-in-in-The-Good-Carb-Cookbook-before-I-cook-any-other-recipes project next week. I will have lots of good (hopefully) reviews