Probably OT: What do you hate about Low Carb eating?

SleepingUgly wrote:

JeffH wrote:Once you figure out that wheat and sugar are addictive, it gets easier. I can prove what I just stated. I say quit eating wheat products and sugar and you have a strong reaction to that.

This is true! I keep thinking about carbs! I could never feel that way about a vegetable. Maybe a bit about meat or chicken if I knew I was giving them for good. But even knowing that I probably haven't given up carbs for good, I am thinking about them, longing for them, fantasizing about them...

SU--I was only able to stop fantasizing about carbish foods when I truly went cold turkey: no sweeteners of any kind (real or fake), no grains of any kind, no legumes, etc. Then I did the Kruse leptin protocol: http://jackkruse.com/my-leptin-prescription/ (I modified it a bit--basically all I do is eat a huge breakfast and then just a lighter early dinner). Not hungry at all; don't think about food at all.

I've been off ALL grains for 8 weeks; doing the leptin regime for 4 weeks. The first two weeks were hard and it was a struggle to not head to the neighborhood bakery. However, I can honestly say that for the first time in forever I am NOT thinking about bread, cupcakes, candy, whatever. Not tempted at all--even at a fabulous restaurant watching my friend eat dessert.

Now I'm afraid to eat grains or sugar for fear that it will unleash the beast again--guess that's a good thing!

Weezy

It will.
One cookie could just as well be a whole box.
Just mugged a girl scout.--sorry.

[Once you figure out that wheat and sugar are addictive, it gets easier. I can prove what I just stated. I say quit eating wheat products and sugar and you have a strong reaction to that. I say you have to quit eating brussel sprouts and you could care less...about quitting them or eating them.

One more thing to add to Jeff's list is Omega 6 fatty acids. All those oils which we have been told are "healthy" like canola, vegetable oil, safflower, canola, etc are not. Especially in combination with sugar and starches they are bad news.

Switch to omega 3's--olive oil, coconut oil, real butter (!), cold water fatty fish, and animal fats. Not only do they taste great, but they are GOOD for you!

Great book, BTW--Deep Nutrition, by Dr. Catherine Shanahan. Chapters 7 & 8 are especially great.

Weezy, he recommends not working out in the am, and working out after 5pm, so that's obviously a recommendation most sleep professionals would disagree with.

I did cut down on carbs at one point and found over time that I craved candy less. I did start eating these things again, and then I'm back to craving them. I'm not sure I can/want to maintain the kind of eating that it seems I would require to be as thin as I would like (for example, as thin as I would need to be to say get definition in my arms without spending what I consider too much time lifting weights). But in less than a month, I'm going to be in a bathing suit, so I'll try to stay on this path for now!

SleepingUgly wrote:Weezy, he recommends not working out in the am, and working out after 5pm, so that's obviously a recommendation most sleep professionals would disagree with.

Forgot to mention that that is one of the things I am NOT following....exercise in the evening wakes me up too much.

I tend to be most physically active late morning/mid-day and it seems to work just fine.

Doc is right. Glad you added that. I only use bacon fat, lard, coconut oil, butter, and olive oil for my fats. I sometimes just eat a pat of butter or get a spoon full of coconut oil and eat it. Makes/keeps you full. Fats (the right kind) are healthy. I can't over emphasize this enough, carbs are what packs on the pounds, not fats. When we over eat carbs (which is really easy to do since our bodies are not used to the diet that is typically eaten today) our bodies think oh boy food is abundant right now so we better store fat for later when it isn't. Once you understand this a work with it, losing weight becomes pretty easy.

The cravings for straight-up sugar tend to disappear within about 10 days, so I no longer crave ice cream and sweets.

But I strongly miss being able to slap a sandwich together. It's so much more convenient and fast than soaking then cooking quinoa or staying on top of baking sweet potatoes (which I don't even particularly like).

napstress wrote: But I strongly miss being able to slap a sandwich together. It's so much more convenient and fast than soaking then cooking quinoa or staying on top of baking sweet potatoes (which I don't even particularly like).

Yes this has been the biggest pain in the butt so far. Quick and easy hand held meals to go. Everything is messy requiring cutlery. For someone used to eating and reading or surfing that is truly a pain.

napstress wrote: But I strongly miss being able to slap a sandwich together. It's so much more convenient and fast than soaking then cooking quinoa or staying on top of baking sweet potatoes (which I don't even particularly like).

For the times you "gotta have" a sandwich.... Dr. Michael Eades recommends high fiber/low carb tortilla shells, from LaTortilla Factory. The large size is only 6 g carbs each, the smaller sizes are even lower.
It's really convenient to put sandwich stuff in a tortilla shell.

Great post here. Yes carbs are the enemy. Not only physically but after being on a no or low carb diet I am less likely to suffer bouts of depression. I have a much better attitude when I am on a no/low carb diet.

I do my "sandwiches" using cheese slices....some ham or roast beast, a little homemade mayo & some mustard, in between a couple slices of nice full-fat swiss or cheddar cheese. Works great, not messy, fast and easy. Can be carried and eaten on the go.

DocWeezy wrote:I do my "sandwiches" using cheese slices....some ham or roast beast, a little homemade mayo & some mustard, in between a couple slices of nice full-fat swiss or cheddar cheese. Works great, not messy, fast and easy. Can be carried and eaten on the go.

That is brilliant - I am totally over the top re cheese - why didn't I think of that? I only see cheese as IN things I guess.

DocWeezy wrote:I do my "sandwiches" using cheese slices....some ham or roast beast, a little homemade mayo & some mustard, in between a couple slices of nice full-fat swiss or cheddar cheese. Works great, not messy, fast and easy. Can be carried and eaten on the go.

That's exactly what I do!

I LOVE turkey breast slices wrapped in swiss cheese, often times with no condiments at all.

Can anyone recommend an easy book or program to start a low or no carb diet. Sugar and Carbs are my diet choices, mostly because my father was a butcher back in the day so meat and poultry have always been hard for me, that said I am ready to bite the bullet (or the beef, chicken, pork, fish etc.) I feel so awful all the time and now that I've got the correct machine, mask, and last night the pillow, I'm ready to take the plunge. Any advice is most welcome.

portiemom wrote:Can anyone recommend an easy book or program to start a low or no carb diet. Sugar and Carbs are my diet choices, mostly because my father was a butcher back in the day so meat and poultry have always been hard for me, that said I am ready to bite the bullet (or the beef, chicken, pork, fish etc.) I feel so awful all the time and now that I've got the correct machine, mask, and last night the pillow, I'm ready to take the plunge. Any advice is most welcome.

There are lots of good books, but my preference for first starting out is "The 30 DAY lOW Carb Diet Solution" by Dr. Michael Eades and Dr. Mary Dan Eades. I bought my copy on Amazon