low carb/low sugar: advice wanted

[Anonymous]

i've recently been advised by a medical professional to drastically reduce or eliminate carbs/sugar. has anyone BTDT? advice? is there a particularly good book or web site i can check out?

tia!

[Anonymous]

South Beach. Go to their website.

[Anonymous]

Atkins. Get snacks ahead of time so you don't end up starving and rush to the vending machine. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Agree with South Beach. It's a solid, nutritious way to eat.

[Anonymous]

this sounds like ominous advice. i can understand sugar but why carbs? are you pre-diabetic and you were advised to eliminate simple carbs?

[Anonymous]

I've done it for years (not now bc pregnant). It's really hard at first, especially the first 5 days. But you'll feel AMAZING. Your body feels so clean inside. The first few days you'll have headaches and you might feel sad and deprived--but that goes away.

Now....

Eat HEALTHY foods. Some people switch to "frankenfoods" eating things like sugar alcohols (in things like "sugar free" candies). You'll never feel good or be healthy that way. Eat a ton of dark green veggies (these are technically carbs, but I imagine your doctor means foods like bread, rice, pasta). In a few weeks you'll eat a red pepper and it will taste so sweet and yummy.

Eat enough fat. Don't be afraid of fat, it makes your brain work. Not salty fat (don't only eat bacon!!) but have some eggs with mayo, or add some butter to your broccoli. You'll feel full and satisfied.

There is a great message board: http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdisplay.php?s=c04219f8156505a501ce491ff2b3b063&f=2
look at the Induction-friendly recipes for the first few weeks.

Plan ahead, if you do super well for two days then you have a slice of cake you'll feel horrible and feel like you can't do it. Eventually you can have "cheat meals" but stay clean for the first few weeks.

If you want the science, read Good Calories Bad Calories.

[Anonymous]

No advice about which diets to follow (think that's really personal preference) but have a BTDT story. We went to a very remote part of the world last year and ended up eating this way while there (no sugar/few carbs). I lost 7lbs in a week. Saw my doc b/c that's a lot to lose in such a short time, but he said Americans eat way too much sugar/carbs and that that's what did it. I've more or less kept it up since we're home by making sure lean proteins and fresh veggies are the predominant part of our diet and am down 18 lbs in a year without really trying. You're going to be very pleased with the results OP.

[Anonymous]

Agree with South Beach w/ the caveats from 21:31. For the last 100 years or so Americans have been eating too many simple carbs and not enough vegetables. I found the South Beach book to explain the body's reaction to glucose to be very helpful. And the three phase approach of eliminating simple carbs and then gradually re-introducing whole grains worked well for me. I'd stay away from the recipes that use fake butter or fake cream, or use the real stuff in their place.

Eat real foods. As much as possible, stay away from processed foods and artificial sugars like Splenda. The fake sugars might help you eliminate calories at first, but they mess with your body's understanding of what it is eating (it tastes something sweet, but doesn't get an increase in glucose, and then wants more sweet things; it can lead to overeating and weight gain). And fake sugars and fake fats can cause stomach distress (gas, diarrhea), which is not something you want to do to yourself.

Replace the bread, rice, pasta and potatoes in your meals with a vegetable of some sort. Instead of shrimp and tomatoes on pasta, serve it over sauteed spinach. Really pretty yummy and way better for you.

Plan a morning and afternoon snack with protein in it. Nuts make a very portable, keep in your purse kind of snack. Cheese stick, low fat yogurt, fruit or vegetables with peanut butter or hummus. I sometimes will wrap a slice of lean ham or turkey and cheese around leftover steamed asparagus. Hard boiled eggs are great for breakfast or a snack.

Empty your fridge and cupboards of snack foods that would tempt you.

Personally, I think fats are good for you, but in moderation. I use butter, but only a little bit on steamed veggies. Roast veggies with olive oil. Drink 2%. The occasional (maybe once a month) real ice cream. But I don't drown things in cream sauces or deep fry. The real fats are more satisfying and flavorful, and you end up eating less of it.

[Anonymous]

21:49 again. And drink a LOT of water. When you eliminate carbs from your diet, you "deflate" and lose a lot of water, which is part of why you might get a headache. Drink twice as much water as usual. It will help keep you from overeating and help prevent a headache. And Americans don't drink enough water as it is.

[Anonymous]

Milk has got a lot of carbs in it - I would cut that out two.

There are quite a few different diets now that cut out sugar and simple carbs - in addition to South Beach and Atkins, there is Slow Carb, Paleo, etc.

[Anonymous]

The only lifestyle proven to be healthy and safe long-term can be found in Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live. Google his website for more information.

Eat unlimited vegetables and fruit, beans, nuts, and seeds to satiety. Do not eat anything else. (Most important: Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries)

The Atkins diet is dangerous long-term. Other effective diets rely on calorie restriction that is impossible for most people to maintain very long.

[Anonymous]

I just knew this thread was going to bring out the people who love to say yummy and veggies

[Anonymous]

The Ultra Simple Detox diet. (you can order the book.) Basically, veggetables, lean meats, brown rice, vegetable broth, nuts, berries, olive oil. You cut out what, sugar, gluten, lampshades etc. It is not low calorie, but you will feel amazing by the third day.

Also, you won't be eating anything with a "label." Only whole foods. And LOTS of water.

You notice how much better you fee by the third day of elimination. Trust me.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Ultra Simple Detox diet. (you can order the book.) Basically, veggetables, lean meats, brown rice, vegetable broth, nuts, berries, olive oil. You cut out what, sugar, gluten, lampshades etc. It is not low calorie, but you will feel amazing by the third day.

Also, you won't be eating anything with a "label." Only whole foods. And LOTS of water.

You notice how much better you fee by the third day of elimination. Trust me.

Good luck!

Same PP. Forgot legumes. You will eat a ton of beans.

[Anonymous]

I was told I am pre-diabetic by those Lifeline screening people, although my doctor said I'm not there yet but going in the wrong direction. He told me to get the book "Eat for Health" by Joel Fuhrman. I haven't got it yet so I have no idea what it suggests.

I already eat a lot of veggies and cut back on red meat and the usual food carbs, but I think beer is what kills me, I usually have 2 or 3 a night. I guess they have to go.