Best low-sugar peanut butter, whole grain bread, etc. - need advice!

[Anonymous]

So, after a physical with my doctor telling me to drop 30 lbs I am finally getting serious about losing that baby weight. I know the bad stuff to cut out but would love some ideas for things I should/could eat...my goal is to cut out refined sugar, substantially reduce my carbs (I love bread and pasta...sigh) and forego fried yumminess.

Besides stuff like eating lots of fruits (well some of them) and veggies and lean meat and seafood, I would love some suggestions for specific products that health and weight conscience DCUMs buy. I would love to find a great low-sugar peanut butter, some suggestions for bread (whole grain?) that I could feel ok about eating in moderation, is whole grain pasta ok for someone trying to lose weight or should I just get that out of my head now, etc. Other suggestions? All are welcome. Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

Sure - you should look for "natural" peanut butter. Just check the ingredient list and make sure the only ingredient is peanuts. Smuckers makes a nice version. Other heathy snack foods: hummus, avocado, almonds, whole wheat pitas, low-fat cottage cheese, Fage plain yogurt (add fruit & honey if you like it sweeter), sugar snap peas, etc. The more whole foods you stick to the better.

But if you are serious about losing weight you are going to need to count your calories and get some exercise. I've had good success using Sparkpeople.com. It's free and they have excellent tools and support groups to help you get organized.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

You might want to check out Weight Watchers - its basically going to give you what you are describing below but you just need to follow it instead of coming up with your own plan. Sometimes just following a diet is hard enough but trying to come up with your own plan is too much.

I wouldn't deprive yourself of carbs, especially at first. Eat open face sandwiches or use things like whole wheat bagel thins or pita. I have never been satisfied with whole wheat pasta personally but I know some love it. I'd go with quinoa or lentils. Hard boiled eggs are great for breakfast with some whole wheat toast (I eat Roman Meal - no corn syrup, etc). You can fill snack bags with almonds or baby carrots. Laughing Cow cheese is great if you are a cheese eater.

I love peanut butter so much that it is the one thing I can't moderate myself on so I don't eat it anymore. I eat almond butter instead - gives you the feeling of a peanut butter but its better for you.

I'd take it slow - a big aggressive change usually ends up with you cheating, feeling guilty and then falling 'off' the wagon. Just eat a bit better, move a bit more and you're on your way! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I recently read some interesting articles about carbs, refined ones (like sugar) in particular. They talked about how the addiction to them is very hard to beat, partially because the pleasure centers of the brain are instantly stimulated. It also talked about how the only way to do it really, is to go cold turkey. It sucks (for you and everyone around you!) for a few days, but then your desire to eat that goes away. I used to be a big bread/pasta eater, now I never eat it. Just no desire for it anymore.

If you really need to eat sandwhiches of sorts, there are some whole grain wraps that are very low in carbs/calories. Check the labels--I can't recall the brand name, but they're only about 80 calories for a large wrap, and fewer than 5g carbs.

Stay off of peanut butter for a while, or just get one that is nothing but ground peanuts (read the label, again.) Peanut butter habit is hard to kick, too, and it's really fattening.

There is no magic to losing weight, unfortunately. Just try to keep your mind of food, and cut the refined carb products out. No sugar, no pasta, no bread, no cereal. For the first bit, not even whole wheat, I'd suggest.

(I did it after gaining 60 lbs with DC#2.) I'm now back to 5'8", 140 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Dear wonderful PPs,

Thank you so much for the great ideas and supportive words. I gained 60 lbs with baby number 1, didn't lose much of it and then had baby number 2--prescription for disaster. I just don't want to be this woman...I want to be an active, energetic mom. I owe that to my kids. And I want to wear my awesome clothes again! So, I've gone downstairs to my office gym (it's free...and a sin that I haven't used it before) at noon every day this week and I'm already feeling better. So, I should have mentioned that, yes, exercise is a HUGE part of the plan. The cold turkey sugar/carb thing is interesting. And I think a "plan" might be something that I will need (weighwatchers, that free one the first PP mentioned). I'm going to carve out an hour this weekend to do some online research. I'm feeling hopeful and motivated...here's hoping I can keep it up.

Additional tips and "must have" food products are welcome.

[Anonymous]

I second Weight Watchers. Restrictive diets like the one you outline are not sustainable over the long term. Best to be guided towards healthier choices like the ones you outlined, but have the tools to allow yourself them in moderation while still losing weight.

I lost all my baby weight on weight watchers back in 2009 and I've been a size 6 ever since. Can't recommend it enough!

[Anonymous]

I really like the Whole Foods product 365 peanut butters -- you can get them w/o any sugar or salt added. Super delicious!

[Anonymous]

There is a PB made by bell plantation where you add water and it is very low in caloriesss. It really tastes good. It comes in regular and chocolate form. Go to www. bellplantation .com

Another option is skippy makes a wipped pb as well which is half the calories.

[Anonymous]

Smart Balance peanut butter is the best. And the frozen Ezekiel sprouted grain wrap/tortillas are delicious. They are high in protein and have no flour.

[Anonymous]

I have found doing a low-carb/healthy carb breakfast and lunch and normal dinner helps me lose weight. I have a Think Thin (I get them at Trader Joes) or Atkins bar for breakfast (I eat it in the car on the way to work) and then a lower carb soup (<20 g per serving) for lunch or someting else not high in carbs (for example today I had a snack-size lowfat cottage cheese, 3 brown rice cakes, and a hard boiled egg). I'll usually have a piece of fruit in the afternoon. And then dinner is whatever the family is eating, but I still try to limit the carbs a bit, and we try to use whole-grain pasta and rice. If I'm hungry in the evening, I'll have a piece of lowfat cheese or a handful of nuts. I honestly think Lean Cuisines and the like are the devil. I used to eat them for lunch and couldn't figure out why I couldn't lose weight. Both my husband and I stopped eating them and both lost weight right away. They are very high in carbs and sodium and I believe they wreak havoc on your blood sugar level.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Weight Watchers--it will basically teach you how to eat better within your alloted points. I'm still a member even though I rarely track my food because I find it's motivating to track exercise and weight.

I wouldn't cut out all carbs, but maybe try to cut out just the sweets. After way too much easter candy, I've quit desserts for this week and feel a lot better. For bread, I eat sandwich thins, bagel thins, or pita. Also, Flat Out wraps are good. For pasta, whole wheat is better but portions are the problem for me. When I'm in the mood for pasta, I like the Lean Cuisine pastas. I know they're not "whole" foods, but they definitely satisfy my cravings for pasta in a portion-controlled way. Last, for tips on good products, you may want to read Hungry Girl. Not a fan of a lot of the recipes, but some of the products are good finds.

Once you get into the groove of eating better, it will get much easier. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I'm the "cold-turkey carb" PP. I don't recommend that for the long-term (you can't avoid them completely forever), just long enough to get over your craving of it.

And like another poster, I'm too much of a PB fiend to eat in moderation. there are many other foods out there that give you more "bang for the buck"...or I guess more fulnes for fewer calories.

And also, i forgot: no alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the "cold-turkey carb" PP. I don't recommend that for the long-term (you can't avoid them completely forever), just long enough to get over your craving of it.

And like another poster, I'm too much of a PB fiend to eat in moderation. there are many other foods out there that give you more "bang for the buck"...or I guess more fulnes for fewer calories.

And also, i forgot: no alcohol.

OP, here. Yeah, I've laid off the sauce ever since having kids...not a terribly conscience thing...I just don't drink anymore...so that's good. Half jokingly, I told DH that my New Year's resolution this year was to start drinking more! But like, other resolutions of the past, I've failed!

[Anonymous]

I just read an article in the NY times about adding vegetable purees to dishes to reduce the calorie content.

I agree with those who say to cut out sugar and simple carbs cold turkey. Use celery or cherry tomatoes to kill the sweet tooth.

[Anonymous]

I just lost 20 lbs on Weight Watchers (hope to lose more!) and I eat peanut butter on an English muffin every day for breakfast. It's very satisfying and fills me up. The key is to measure it -- I use 1.5 TB and it's plenty. WW allows you to calculate the points for this and incorporate it into your daily allotment of points.

Good luck!