Paisley
I'll Lock Up
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For super-cheap produce, I gather mustard greens, catmint, dandelions and lamb's quarters from my yard.
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Weight loss options
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velvetongue
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I think of this more as a lifestyle choice, rather than a way to fit into a perceived number of what the perfect size may be.
This is what works for me: It helps to cook your own food, and to focus on dishes that baked, sauteed, or boiled and are vegetable-based. For protein sources, I stopped eating red meat and eat mostly fish and tofu. The most important thing I think is regular exercise. I took up martial arts about two years ago for help with depression, and go 3x a week for either an hour to three hours a session. I gave up coffee and drink only green tea and water. I also pay attention to portion sizes and eat five small meals a day rather than three big ones. I don't believe in banning entire food groups, but definitely stay away from processed food.
The important thing is consistency and persistence. This might sound like a bland acetic lifestyle, but it's helped tremendously with staying healthy.
This is what works for me: It helps to cook your own food, and to focus on dishes that baked, sauteed, or boiled and are vegetable-based. For protein sources, I stopped eating red meat and eat mostly fish and tofu. The most important thing I think is regular exercise. I took up martial arts about two years ago for help with depression, and go 3x a week for either an hour to three hours a session. I gave up coffee and drink only green tea and water. I also pay attention to portion sizes and eat five small meals a day rather than three big ones. I don't believe in banning entire food groups, but definitely stay away from processed food.
The important thing is consistency and persistence. This might sound like a bland acetic lifestyle, but it's helped tremendously with staying healthy.
Drappa
One Too Many
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Not sure if you are still trying this, since it's a slightly older post, but the best vegan cookbooks I ever got (and I have many) are by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer. http://www.amazon.com/How-All-Vegan-Irresistible-Animal-Free/dp/1551520672/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282172239&sr=1-1 Their recipes are really easy and don't require tons of ingredients most people don't have at home.Viola said:
I was vegetarian for 12-13 years and even though I wasn't that curvy my weight yo-yo'ed a lot. When I turned vegan I felt like I was eating a lot more but dropped all the extra weight and felt a lot better. When I met my husband I started to go veggie again and piled on the pounds, but am going back to cutting out dairy and eggs. Whatever diet you decide on, make sure you don't go hungry a lot of the time, because that is what inevitably makes me fail. Especially when you first cut things out that you used to eat regularly, and just substitute veggies for it, you may feel really hungry.
The trick is to add protein to your veggies and fruit, ie. peanut butter on apples (or I love peanut butter and nectarines, sometimes both on bagels), beans with rice, etc.. As others have suggested, make sure you get enough healty fats as well.
palespider
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another option is going raw- vegan. i don't like the taste of cooked veggies all the much and found in the first month i dropped 20lbs. Takes some getting used too but if you can do it i highly recommend it. I feel off the plan after 9 months of it but plan on going back real soon.
Paisley said:
Just wanted to throw in my support of the low carb life style! I lost 35lbs last year using Atkins. I loooove low carb! I usually turn my meals into some sort of big salad lol If I make my guys burgers I have a cheese burger (no bun) with all of my salad fixings. My rule at this point is to stay away from high fructose corn syrup and white flour. I eat all fruits, veggies, and even eat bread but I make sure it's whole wheat high fiber.
Paisley
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^Hello, fellow traveler! I'm happy with low-carb too--I'm back to what I weighed in high school, my heartburn is gone, and I feel great!
I have Dana Carpender's 500 Low-Carb Recipes, but I usually fix simple fare. Wish I could have a regular chocolate chip cookie now and then, but I feel so lousy for so long when I eat wheat that it isn't worth it.
Right now, I have The Primal Blueprint Cookbook checked out from the library. I've tried the recipes for fried oysters, coconut ice cream, cucumber moons with seaweed salad, creamed kale, and salmon patties. All tasty!
I have Dana Carpender's 500 Low-Carb Recipes, but I usually fix simple fare. Wish I could have a regular chocolate chip cookie now and then, but I feel so lousy for so long when I eat wheat that it isn't worth it.
Right now, I have The Primal Blueprint Cookbook checked out from the library. I've tried the recipes for fried oysters, coconut ice cream, cucumber moons with seaweed salad, creamed kale, and salmon patties. All tasty!
Puzzicato
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Drappa said:
Peanut butter on nectarines sounds like such a delicious snack!
I follow the French model; restraint, no 'bad' foods and balance. If I have a 'fat' day then I balance it out the next. lol
I also say to myself 'do I need to eat this much?' when I get a meal and try to only eat half, then if I'm still hungry I'll half the rest and stop. I hardly eat bread thesedays either and drink around 4-6 pints of still or sparkling water a day.
I've been doing this for the last couple of months and it really helps, especially the water at filling you up. Remembering to have veg at every meal, I was surprised to read someone say above that salads are expensive, is that a US thing? Salads and Veg are cheap in the UK!!
I also say to myself 'do I need to eat this much?' when I get a meal and try to only eat half, then if I'm still hungry I'll half the rest and stop. I hardly eat bread thesedays either and drink around 4-6 pints of still or sparkling water a day.
I've been doing this for the last couple of months and it really helps, especially the water at filling you up. Remembering to have veg at every meal, I was surprised to read someone say above that salads are expensive, is that a US thing? Salads and Veg are cheap in the UK!!
Puzzicato
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Ada Vice said:
Fresh veg are, but if you are eating out in pubs or something then salads are usually pretty pricey. I remember when I first got here going to a Wetherspoons or something, and an all-day breakfast was £4 and a mixed salad was £6.
ZombieGirl
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I think part of the reason fresh veggies are so expensive here is the transport. If you want to eat out of season veggies you've got to pay more for them. And when you live in frigid Minnesota winters everything is seasonal. But I think a lot of people forget that frozen veggies are usually just as good for you as fresh.
Drappa
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It is! My roomates used to laugh at me, but I can't eat peanut butter and jam for the life of me, it just feels like cement in my mouth and seems to be expanding. But I looove peanut butter with fresh fruit, preferably slightly crunchy. Oh, now I'm hungry...Puzzicato said:
Paisley said:
Thanks for those cookbook names, I will have to check them out! I find that I can eat sweets if they are homemade. I make chocolate chip cookies, but use the raw sugar or agave nectar to sweeten them since I don't eat artificial sweetners either. I don't eat a lot of those, they are mostly for the boys.
I have made homemade vanilla ice cream and sweetened it with the raw sugar/agave and it is pretty darn good, and pretty low carb since I use heavy cream. I love that you mention kale! That is one of my favorites, I am the only one in my house who eats it though lol. I make mine with sauteed onions, garlic, and bacon.
Paisley
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Seaweed!
I eat kelp, too. I pan-fry it in ghee and it makes a good substitute for potato chips. I put dulse on salads. Like kale, seaweed is loaded with vitamins and minerals (and tastes better than it sounds). Who says low-carbers don't eat leafy vegetables?
As for sweeteners, I find I don't need much. My tastes have changed, maybe because I eat fewer sweets and no fruit. Cream in my coffee, a spoonful of honey in a batch of ice cream, and no sweeteners in homemade salad dressing or nutty dishes, and I'm good.
I eat kelp, too. I pan-fry it in ghee and it makes a good substitute for potato chips. I put dulse on salads. Like kale, seaweed is loaded with vitamins and minerals (and tastes better than it sounds). Who says low-carbers don't eat leafy vegetables?
As for sweeteners, I find I don't need much. My tastes have changed, maybe because I eat fewer sweets and no fruit. Cream in my coffee, a spoonful of honey in a batch of ice cream, and no sweeteners in homemade salad dressing or nutty dishes, and I'm good.
Jennifer Lynn
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Drappa said:It is! My roomates used to laugh at me, but I can't eat peanut butter and jam for the life of me, it just feels like cement in my mouth and seems to be expanding. But I looove peanut butter with fresh fruit, preferably slightly crunchy. Oh, now I'm hungry...
Crunchy peanut butter on golden delicious apples. Yum!
Mav
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First, my apologies, ladies. I know it's inappropriate for the males here to weigh in on Powder Room and Beauty threads, but despite my bad habits (or maybe " because of"), I'm a nutrition freak, and just have to comment.
I've watched Paisley's posts with some interest, because I also buy into the low (controlled, actually) carb lifestyle, and have for about the last 12 years.
Lean animal proteins (including eggs- keep the yolk, it's good for you), cheese, green leafys, and the occasional indulgence in whole grains, and you're good. No more heartburn, allergies, etc., and along with some moderate exercise, you'll slim down and gain a bunch of lean muscle (which passively burn fat).
Also:
-8 oz. of water mixed with a couple of teaspoons of cider vinegar and enough stevia to make it palatable 3 times a day (acetic acid burns fat- it's like an energy drink utilizing your own body fat as a source).
- Eat spicy foods, use a lot of chiles, esp. jalapenos. High in vitamin C and spiciness triggers the brain center that causes saiety, and it helps with portion control.
- Don't villanize potatoes. In small quantities, they're a great source of potassium, which is lacking in the standard Atkin's. Potassium is an absolute neccesity for a well- regulated nervous system, as are "good" fats. Emphasis on small portions. Half a 'tater or a small amount of colcannon with your breakfast eggs will do it.
- Drink red wine. Great stuff.
- Dump the fruit- you may as well eat a candy bar. Too much simple carb sugar- force your body to convert complex carbs (via green vegetables) into glucose. And don't touch orange juice- it's not only sugar- laden, it's the biggest source of restaurant food poisoning in the U.S.. Trust me- as a traveling salesman, been there.
And, as was mentioned, cook your own food. You have complete control over what's in it, and a lot of stuff for the week can be pre- cooked on Sunday.
Again, apologies for my intrusion. Carry on, and good eating.
I've watched Paisley's posts with some interest, because I also buy into the low (controlled, actually) carb lifestyle, and have for about the last 12 years.
Lean animal proteins (including eggs- keep the yolk, it's good for you), cheese, green leafys, and the occasional indulgence in whole grains, and you're good. No more heartburn, allergies, etc., and along with some moderate exercise, you'll slim down and gain a bunch of lean muscle (which passively burn fat).
Also:
-8 oz. of water mixed with a couple of teaspoons of cider vinegar and enough stevia to make it palatable 3 times a day (acetic acid burns fat- it's like an energy drink utilizing your own body fat as a source).
- Eat spicy foods, use a lot of chiles, esp. jalapenos. High in vitamin C and spiciness triggers the brain center that causes saiety, and it helps with portion control.
- Don't villanize potatoes. In small quantities, they're a great source of potassium, which is lacking in the standard Atkin's. Potassium is an absolute neccesity for a well- regulated nervous system, as are "good" fats. Emphasis on small portions. Half a 'tater or a small amount of colcannon with your breakfast eggs will do it.
- Drink red wine. Great stuff.
- Dump the fruit- you may as well eat a candy bar. Too much simple carb sugar- force your body to convert complex carbs (via green vegetables) into glucose. And don't touch orange juice- it's not only sugar- laden, it's the biggest source of restaurant food poisoning in the U.S.. Trust me- as a traveling salesman, been there.
And, as was mentioned, cook your own food. You have complete control over what's in it, and a lot of stuff for the week can be pre- cooked on Sunday.
Again, apologies for my intrusion. Carry on, and good eating.
Paisley
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Mav, I'm pleased you've found my posts interesting. I agree with you about the allergies and heartburn going away, along with several other niggling health problems in my case. In fact, I originally started a low-carb diet to get off of acid blockers.
I agree that fruit is overrated. Yes, it has some vitamins, but it's mostly sugar, and juice is pretty much all sugar. I had no idea about orange juice being such a big source of food poisoning.
Cooking your own food, or at least checking labels, is good. A lot of energy drinks, protein bars, yogurt, ketchup, barbecue sauces, etc. are sugar bombs.
I have mixed feelings about things like potatoes. On one hand, if you're of European ancestry, they've only been in your ancestral diet for a few hundred years, so they may not be necessary for people of that background. (Same story with squash--both of these foods are native to North America.) Europe went through a 100,000-year ice age where little plant material was eaten, so a lot of vegetables might not be necessary for some of us. On the other hand, ice age people ate a lot of things we don't anymore: organ meat, marrow, animals that died out at the end of the ice age, and a few other things that people might not want to hear about. So they were getting some nutrients from sources we can't or don't use anymore. I just take vitamins.
Even though humans technically don't need any carbohydrates, I feel better if I eat fibrous vegetables, like a big salad, every day. I eat a lot of fat, too. It's good to experiment and figure out what the best diet is for yourself.
Mav, you might enjoy my blog, where I have several posts about low-carb living and have links to other blogs on the same subject.
I agree that fruit is overrated. Yes, it has some vitamins, but it's mostly sugar, and juice is pretty much all sugar. I had no idea about orange juice being such a big source of food poisoning.
Cooking your own food, or at least checking labels, is good. A lot of energy drinks, protein bars, yogurt, ketchup, barbecue sauces, etc. are sugar bombs.
I have mixed feelings about things like potatoes. On one hand, if you're of European ancestry, they've only been in your ancestral diet for a few hundred years, so they may not be necessary for people of that background. (Same story with squash--both of these foods are native to North America.) Europe went through a 100,000-year ice age where little plant material was eaten, so a lot of vegetables might not be necessary for some of us. On the other hand, ice age people ate a lot of things we don't anymore: organ meat, marrow, animals that died out at the end of the ice age, and a few other things that people might not want to hear about. So they were getting some nutrients from sources we can't or don't use anymore. I just take vitamins.
Even though humans technically don't need any carbohydrates, I feel better if I eat fibrous vegetables, like a big salad, every day. I eat a lot of fat, too. It's good to experiment and figure out what the best diet is for yourself.
Mav, you might enjoy my blog, where I have several posts about low-carb living and have links to other blogs on the same subject.
bettydarling
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Mav & Paisley, on the back of both your posts I would also agree. Low sugar is without a doubt the way to go, there is sugar in virtually all packaged food, not to mention the awful additives and preservatives, trans fats etc etc.
I went on a sugar free diet when I was diagnosed with M.E a number of years ago, did it for 8 weeks and it helped enormously and was back to my old self within months. I should be more careful nowadays, but it really does help, just removing sugar from the diet means you get rid of highly processed foods which can only be a good thing. I lost about 20lbs back then, since put most of it back on, but I'm on the straight and narrow again with the hope of restoring my former glory! I follow Weight watchers from time to time when I want to shift a few lbs, its very manageable/adaptable and you can do it online now also, just avoid the nasty diet/low-fat foods which are full of aspartame etc. Wonderful vintage weight watching inspiration here
Quinoa, oats and millet are good replacements for high glycemic carbs, they are low GI and incredibly nutritious particularly quinoa which is full of protein. This is a fantastic blog with lots of yummy recipes for sugar/dairy/wheat/yeast free and veggie foods - divine!
I went on a sugar free diet when I was diagnosed with M.E a number of years ago, did it for 8 weeks and it helped enormously and was back to my old self within months. I should be more careful nowadays, but it really does help, just removing sugar from the diet means you get rid of highly processed foods which can only be a good thing. I lost about 20lbs back then, since put most of it back on, but I'm on the straight and narrow again with the hope of restoring my former glory! I follow Weight watchers from time to time when I want to shift a few lbs, its very manageable/adaptable and you can do it online now also, just avoid the nasty diet/low-fat foods which are full of aspartame etc. Wonderful vintage weight watching inspiration here
Quinoa, oats and millet are good replacements for high glycemic carbs, they are low GI and incredibly nutritious particularly quinoa which is full of protein. This is a fantastic blog with lots of yummy recipes for sugar/dairy/wheat/yeast free and veggie foods - divine!
Paisley
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Betty (that's my mom's name, BTW), glad to hear you have a plan that works for you, and I'm happy to hear that fighting the sugar monster helped you with ME (chronic fatigue syndrome, correct?). That must have been like getting your life back.
I mostly eat minimally processed foods, too, but I like diet soda. We're fortunate around here to have stores that sell non-factory-farm meat and even some raw cheese. My mother, the former farm girl, loves the food I pick up for her.
Can't say I'm a big fan of oatmeal, though. Some people say it raises their blood sugar quite a bit; it really does that to my mom.
Ms. Bitchcakes looks very fit. She's really dedicated!
I mostly eat minimally processed foods, too, but I like diet soda. We're fortunate around here to have stores that sell non-factory-farm meat and even some raw cheese. My mother, the former farm girl, loves the food I pick up for her.
Can't say I'm a big fan of oatmeal, though. Some people say it raises their blood sugar quite a bit; it really does that to my mom.
Ms. Bitchcakes looks very fit. She's really dedicated!
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