Low carb diet woes

Sarcasm101 said:
I notice that I seem to be using a lot of calories on dressings and mayonnaise.
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Yep, these and gravies and sauces even ketchup and icings often have more, sometimes a lot more, calories than the thing you are putting them on.

Ketchup has about 20 calories per tablespoon, mayo almost 100, but mustard almost none.
 

Sarcasm101 said:
In addition, the 647 products have been amazing, and I am using the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray instead of butter or oil, etc. I notice that I seem to be using a lot of calories on dressings and mayonnaise. Anyone have any revelations regarding low-cal condiments that actually taste good? I feel like I've tried everything!
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I love the 647 breads... I couldn't believe that they taste like real bread and not paper-thin "diet" bread. Although I've been buying the bread for a long time, I haven't tried the buns yet... are they the same high quality? I've used light mayo for years... still calories, but a lot less. Got myself used to the Great Value light when Hellmann's light went up so much in price. Dressings.... the Skinny Girl Poppyseed dressing isn't too bad for the extremely low calories. @Sarcasm101
 
For myself, what works is: 1) eat only when you are hungry 2) Stop eating before you get full - in other words, you definitely feel satisfied, but not getting full 3) Eat whatever you want 4) Walk every day.
 

I get all the fiber I need from low carb vegetables. I have two basic lunches. One is a salad of lettuce and lots of vegetables with grilled chicken. The other is an assortment of frozen vegetables with an Asian style sauce and sardines in EVOO. I do eat a few carbs, usually a whole grain, for dinner, but have just about cut out all bread and pasta. Works for me.
 
hearlady said:
I have pretty much decided there is no clear answer.
My last bloodwork showed my A1C as 6.4. Prediabetic.
I was shocked as I eat a pretty healthful diet. My BMI is normal so I suppose I've gotten insulin resistant.
I believe that came from eating too many times a day. Now I eat three good meals, nothing in between. I'm not eating breakfast before at least a twelve hour fast. Lower good carbs.
Thats my plan.
The A1C test was done the day after we got back from vacation eating vacation food. I use that as an excuse. 😜
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This Is wrong. I said my A1C was 6.4. It was 6.0. Still considered pre diabetic so I'm taking it seriously.
 
I tell you what I find easiest, it's intermittent fasting. I find I can eat lunch and dinner but miss breakfast. If I eat dinner by 7pm I find it not too difficult to eat no more until 1pm next day. This gives an 18 hour rest to my body when it must use fat reserves. Over the years I have done this diet and lost weight well when I've really put my mind to it.
It does mean no snacking. I do need to keep my two meals a day basically healthy and wise. But it means no need to count calories or buy special foods. It means I have two nice meals to look forward to and I allow myself one drink with dinner, usually a small glass of wine.
I do find I feel better because sleep on an empty stomach is better. I drink lots of water and decaff tea or coffee and after a few days, I really don't feel much hunger during the fasted hours.
 
oldlongwalker said:
I get all the fiber I need from low carb vegetables. I have two basic lunches. One is a salad of lettuce and lots of vegetables with grilled chicken. The other is an assortment of frozen vegetables with an Asian style sauce and sardines in EVOO. I do eat a few carbs, usually a whole grain, for dinner, but have just about cut out all bread and pasta. Works for me.
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That's really good because bread and pasta are just so fattening. Just like potato and rice. All the foods that taste so good!
 
I saw a Dr suggest daily serving of Bran buds to her patients for fiber. I got some then realized they have 12 grams sugar!
Diabetics beware.
Aldis had some keto coconut clusters that are have fiber and good fat, sweetened with Stevia but 150 calories in about a 1/4 cup.
The bran buds are about 55 calories in a 1/4 cup.
Maybe I'll mix them together. The coconut clusters definitely taste better!
 
Low carb diets only ever worked short-term for me and everyone else I personally know. When moving to a plant-based diet, I easily lost the sticky 20 lbs I'd gained while taking anti-depressants for severe menopause symptoms (panic attacks), and was back to my HS weight.

Stayed at that weight for about 6 years, then quite surprising lost another 8 lbs after adding a lot of potatoes (sweet and regular), quinoa and some brown rice to my diet - the result of reading "Starch Solutions" (recommended by a Senior Forum member).

I avoid flour-based starches for a bit after inching up a couple of pounds, but continue with potatoes and quinoa and my weight bounces back down pretty quickly.

For a long time I bought the prevailing "wisdom" that carbs were my enemy. No more. My energy level, weight, BP, blood numbers and general health have been much better since I ditched low carb eating plans.
 
caroln said:
Well, I have tried upping my fiber and it started wreaking havoc on my digestive system. I just can't handle it for some reason. I read an article that says not everyone is a good candidate for a high fiber diet. It appears I'm one of them. My body just doesn't like to have that much fiber.

Anyway, I'm done playing around with diets, etc. I'll just eat sensibly and leave the cookies, cake, pizza and the like as an occasional treat. At least something good came out this.

Thanks to all for your support and suggestions!
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Weight loss might not be what you need. Not gaining or losing but staying at a relative same weight isn't bad. Diets that require restricting normal balanced food intake usually end up defeating maintaining a weight that your body is comfortable with.

Like JustDave my weight has settled out at what my heart rate & blood pressure stats are good with. Movement is acceptable walking & other exercise help maintain that. You are doing that.

Try reviewing how you felt before doing the low carb diet thing. Were you happier ?
 
StarSong said:
For a long time I bought the prevailing "wisdom" that carbs were my enemy. No more. My energy level, weight, BP, blood numbers and general health have been much better since I ditched low carb eating plans.
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Exactly! 🤗

A nurse at work once told me: portion control, and years later when I got serious about losing weight, that worked better than anything, just having smaller portions of virtually anything I wanted. Of course, limiting sugar and saturated fat/trans fat being the main focus.

Someone also told me that even though physical exercise is essential for health, it only accounts for maybe 10% for weight loss effort. True story.
 
Knight said:
Weight loss might not be what you need. Not gaining or losing but staying at a relative same weight isn't bad. Diets that require restricting normal balanced food intake usually end up defeating maintaining a weight that your body is comfortable with.

Like JustDave my weight has settled out at what my heart rate & blood pressure stats are good with. Movement is acceptable walking & other exercise help maintain that. You are doing that.

Try reviewing how you felt before doing the low carb diet thing. Were you happier ?
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Before carb dieting I felt fine and had no health issues. I just wanted to drop some weight. I was unable to stay on that diet long enough to see any results because I tried upping my fiber and messed up my "innards". So I quit what I was doing and went back to eating normally, minus a lot of sweets and high calorie foods like fast food. It took awhile but I feel pretty much back to normal. That fiber supplement really did a number on me.

And although I continue to work out at the gym 3 times a week, I agree that exercise has done nothing for weight loss. But I'm a lot stronger and in better shape than most people I know that are my age. So exercise is definitely worth it.
 
StarSong said:
Stayed at that weight for about 6 years, then quite surprising lost another 8 lbs after adding a lot of potatoes (sweet and regular), quinoa and some brown rice to my diet - the result of reading "Starch Solutions" (recommended by a Senior Forum member).
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This is interesting. I haven't had a potato in months. I going to buy some tomorrow and add them to my diet. But I will replace something else with them. Calories are still what I watch. I've been thinking about this in the back of my mind, even before I read your post, and I'm looking forward to this experiment.
 

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