OH!! Those Carbs...

You know, I've put on 25 pounds since I was married 5+ years ago and had my son... husband has put on about 40. We've successfully done the South Beach diet a couple of times but after months or a year the weight started sneaking back. Anyway, last week we both joined Weight Watchers online and I'll say that it's really manageable. The first couple of days sucked b/c I was tired of running to the computer every time I ate something to "log my points", but now it's becoming sort of a game. And I'm remembering now that each time I put something starchy in my mouth it counts against today's points. I have to remind myself that I really *DO* like steamed broccoli w/ a little bit of smart balance spread and garlic salt, even though it's so much easier/quicker to grab a handful of pretzels or goldfish crackers.

I DO hear the Sweet Chili Rice Chips screaming at me from the garage... but I *won't* open them. And my pants are just a hair looser today than they were last week. :)

Well, I refill 32. oz bottles of water, add some MiO, and drink at least two of them every day besides my decaf coffee and my one can of decaf regular Coke or decaf regular Mountain Dew. I always have a drink beside me, wherever I am at, so I remember to drink.

Carbs have recently become easy for me because I am on a gluten free diet due to my Celiac toddler who I'm still nursing. So, as much as I LOVE bread, doughnuts, muffins, cookies, etc...I don't eat them anymore. I've replaced all that with peanut butter, essentially...I eat too much peanut butter, I'm sure. Oh, and a LOT of yogurt.

At night, make your snacks for the next day. You know, cut up a slice of cheddar, put some grapes in a baggie, etc...and when you want to snack, grab one of your premade dos. When they're gone, you're done snacking for the day.

And this is like the pot calling the kettle black. When I want a snack I load a 1/4 jar of peanut butter into a bowl and slather it with chocolate syrup and eat it. Yuck. But you know what? I miss all the foods I used to eat and now can't, I am glad my baby never got to know a good garlic bread for her own sake...

I get so sick of all the different diets and food options and people who think this one way is the best way to eat and others think another way is the best way to eat...bla bla bla.

So, what I've done is thought about how the earth was created. Whether you believe in God or believe solely in Mother Nature - I believe the way we are supposed to eat was once very obvious...only the change in how food is prepared and such has changed and has confused us!

My solution was to pretend I was out in the wild, living off the land, wearing a loin cloth. What food would there be to eat? Fruits, veggies would probably be the main source of nutrition. Protein from nuts would be another one. Animal protein would be more rare since it would require hunting. So, based off of that - that's what I eat. Okay, so maybe not exactly, but a lot of what I eat is food like that. I believe in eating lots of fruit (no need for coffee if you have fruit!), lots of veggies, and protein.

I'm not into eating nutrition bars or shakes or stuff like that because I'm just not.

My day goes something like this:

BREAKFAST:
Grapefruit with a sprinkle of salt for breakfast.
Followed with a banana and peanut butter (for protein).

MORNING SNACK:
Celery with peanut butter (about 4-5 stick of celery)

LUNCH:
Ham sandwich or something that is heavier on the protein.

AFTERNOON SNACK:
Fruit - grapefruit or apple or celery or mango or pineapple, etc...whatever.

DINNER:
A more protein focused dinner.

EVENING SNACK:
I tend to always do an avocado. I put chopped up onions, tomatoes, cilantro, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt in it.

I've just recently started eating like this - maybe a month or two ago. I'm pregnant and was retaining water, and this has seemed to help with that A LOT. It has also tremendously helped my energy level.

I definitely notice if I eat carbs, it saps all my energy. Fruit/veggies gives me energy and protein gives me endurance.

Anywho, I am a good weight (37 weeks prego and weigh 159 lbs as of today...usually I weigh closer to 115-120 lbs when not prego, but I had started off this pregnancy at 130 lbs...). And I really feel like how I eat has a lot to do with maintaining my weight. I don't eat sugar, except rarely. I only drink water...and try to drink lots of it. We rarely have desserts, etc.

Good luck!

i had a light bulb go off for me one day... i'm from a farming community and i realized that everything farmers feed cattle and pigs to make them fat... are carbs! corn and wheat and oats! when i looked at it like that... i realized that they might not be the best thing to be eating all the time. and i love carbs!!!

so my husband i decided to try and quit grain-based carbs. we are in the middle of doing "the 17 day diet" ... it's a book... you can look for it on amazon. doc in california came up with this plan. the book has recipes, and plans for what to eat. that's what made us decide to try this... it's kinda laid out for you.

for just 17 days... you eat only simply prepared chicken and fish... and veggies. as much as you want. you are allowed to cook with a bit of olive oil, salsa, etc. you have warm lemon water in the a.m. and every meal is followed by a cup of green tea. you can have eggs and greek yogurt. fruit until 2 p.m. lots of waters. you can even drink coffee and diet soda... but those don't count towards your water intake. no wine or booze. (boo!) you eliminate all grains and carbs. i usually have a egg or two for breakfast... or yogurt... or melon with a bit of cottage cheese. lunch is a huge salad. dinner... we usually have grilled chicken/fish and a green veggie/salad. you are supposed to exercise for 17 minutes each day... fast walking, or running... something to get your heart going. after the first 17... my hubby lost 12 pounds and i lost 7. the second 17 days ... a few more items are added to your list... lean red meat, rice, rough cut oatmeal for breakie, etc.

for snacks... i grab a greek yogurt with honey or a bag of baby carrots.

we're into the third set of 17 days and i'm only at 10 pounds loss but he's at 20. those darn men!!! they lose weight so much easier.

good luck! you can do it!!!!!!!!

follow the diabetes diet....it's easy & really helps count those carbs!

carbs is ok with every meal, fruit is technically carbs.

Just find the good carbs

I stay in line by buying stuff i like to eat that is also good for me and for my kids. I spare no expense and we are all happy and healthy.

Oatmeal is carbs, FYI The more carbs you consume the faster and the hungrier you will get during the day :(

I trained myself first to eliminate all unnecessary sugars from my diet, that was my step #1: I stopped drinking all beverages that contain any sugar or even have sweetener (so the taste buds retrain), I started drinking tea and coffee black, no milk, soy milk only unsweetened variety. I love green tea by the way, hot and cold. Yes, I do mean no juice of any kind, no soda, no alcoholic beverages except dry vines, no shakes, cappuccino and things alike.

Next step was to research about different foods and what they made of (carbs, fats, proteins, vitamins, fiber, trace minerals) and I became aware of what I ate.

Then, I started planning my diet. I do not plan it every day but I know what I can and cannot eat and I follow that based on what I crave. If I am out in the restaurant, I order accordingly. If I am at the buffet party - I eat only what I can and do not go anywhere near dessert table. I do not eat the foods I cook for my kids. They can eat mine but I do not eat theirs. If I am in the situation where I cannot chose I just push my food around the plate and eat before the event or later after.

If I crave carbs I look at at my fattest picture ever and then I look in the mirror and ask myself "Do you want to ruin this?" The answer is obvious, so I just drink some unsweetened tea and go on with my day.

To tell you the truth, I do not crave sweets that much after I retrained my taste buds. When my younger child wants to share ice cream or candy with me - I literally cannot bring myself to put it in my mouth. You gotta have a will power in the beginning, them you just change your habits and keep them in check.

Good luck.

There is a book called the Carbohydrate Addict diet. This couple has written many books on this. They have shown that those of us who are addicted to eating carbs all day need some additional help, a plan that will help us shed the weight.
You answer some questions and determine if you are addicted to carbs (I am). By avoiding carbs for breakfast and lunch and only eating them at dinner you will be able to lose the weight. The key is your dinner has to start and end within one hour. If you follow the plan you will shed the weight and not crave carbs. I would recommend reading the book, my mom has done this and lost over 50 pounds. Anyways just read labels in the meantime and look for stuff that is lower in the carbs.

http://www.amazon.com/Carbohydrate-Addicts-Diet-Lifelong-...