Bragg's, anyone?

[channlluv]

Wow, thank you Groundhog and Knot for sharing so much of your own experiences. I've got a call into my doctor. I'm waiting for her to call me back to confirm an appointment for next week. It's time for a full blood panel checkup anyway, and a mammogram.

I'll post here as things progress.

Roxy

[lattae]

I thought gluten might be my problem, but was tested and I actually have no food allergies. But I feel the pain of any women who eats fresh/whole foods, exercises, yet cannot get the needle on the scale to budge. That has been my life for 10 years.

At the risk of thread drift, I will mention here that after many years of inability to lose weight, I asked my doctor if I could go low carb. She said "go for it"... It's been 5 weeks - I did pretty much straight Atkins with 20 grams of "net carbs" the first 2 weeks and adding 5 grams per week. I took 4 days off when we went to the beach, but other than that, I've been staying on track.

What I am finding out is that I am carb-sensitive. Reducing my carb intake has lifted my energy to new levels. No more sleepy afternoons at the office. I don't stand at the vending machine trying to choose between Snickers bar or chips. I have no carb cravings!! I am sleeping better, too and feel energized when I wake up in the morning!

I am riding my bike early in the morning on an empty stomach (not long distances- say under 25 mi.). I'm drinking zero calorie Powerade for electrolytes and I might eat a shot block or two while riding. Then, I have a low carb protein shake post-ride. I'm eating tons of green vegetables, salads with chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef and eggs. I just started eating apples this week... I had eliminated all fruit for the first 5 weeks. I'm drinking about 80 ozs per day of water, green tea and/or Powerade. Stevia in my tea.

Unbelievably I am losing a pound a week. I am the person that could eat 1200 calories per day and actually gain weight!! I'm the one that can ride or go to the gym every single day and not lose weight. I'm post-menopausal and have hypothyroidism and have battled weight issues for 10 years.

I don't know if my stupid body will adjust to the low carb and figure out how to hold on to the weight again, but I am changing forever how I eat. I had blood work done after 4 weeks and my glucose/insulin levels are "perfect".

I recommend talking to your doctor -- I think there are many women out there who are carb sensitive and could benefit immensely from this dietary change.

I too, think that I'm carb sensitive as I've had the same problems with weight loss, diagnosed with hypothroidism for 20 years, and now menopause has set in. Nothing has taken the weight off even though I bike 50 miles on some days and watch my food intake. Have you found the new atkins eating plan difficult to do? I need to investigate to see if there's any low carb breads at my local panera bread, as I love to eat sandwiches on occasions. Where do you find your lo carb shakes at? Did you find it difficult to start out with the 20 gms of carbs? Thanks

[channlluv]

I just got home from Trader Joe's where I purchased some of the ingredients for the recipes in the Gluten-free Almond Flour cookbook. I still need to get arrowroot powder, which they didn't have, but it's only in a few of the recipes.

If you can do your own baking, this may be an option for you. I'm really looking forward to trying every recipe in this book. There's not a one in here that has made me go, "Um...yeah, maybe for someone like Knot and Trek420." In other words, something I'd have to work up to on the healthy eating scale. (And I mean that as a compliment -- you two are now my role models for healthy living.)

Roxy

[tctrek]

I too, think that I'm carb sensitive as I've had the same problems with weight loss, diagnosed with hypothroidism for 20 years, and now menopause has set in. Nothing has taken the weight off even though I bike 50 miles on some days and watch my food intake. Have you found the new atkins eating plan difficult to do? I need to investigate to see if there's any low carb breads at my local panera bread, as I love to eat sandwiches on occasions. Where do you find your lo carb shakes at? Did you find it difficult to start out with the 20 gms of carbs? Thanks

I worried terribly about the 20 gms of carb the first 2 weeks and I felt so much energy that it did not bother me at all. I was astounded. I was eating 150 grams of carbs a day and then went to 20. It *should* have felt bad, but it didn't! I had more energy! Dr. says that's because I must be carb sensitive... so rather than giving me energy, carbs slow me down and make me lethargic.

I will admit I eat a hamburger with cheddar cheese on it... just no bun! Make sure to eat lots of green vegetables - you will need the fiber for you-know-what. I do not eat any bread, potatoes, pasta or rice.. NONE. In the 5th week, I allowed myself an apple in the afternoon, but that is the only fruit I am eating. I eat lots of salad, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, brussell sprouts. No corn or carrots. I have an EAS Advantage (3 gms net carb) after workout. I am not counting calories, just net carbs.

I really don't think I will ever go back to eating carbs the way I did. I just feel so much better. When I reach my goal weight, 20 lbs to go, I might allow myself one day a week to eat a few more carbs... maybe not, though if it makes me lethargic.

[Trek420]

I'm really looking forward to trying every recipe in this book. There's not a one in here that has made me go, "Um...yeah, maybe for someone like Knot and Trek420." In other words, something I'd have to work up to on the healthy eating scale. (And I mean that as a compliment -- you two are now my role models for healthy living.)

Roxy

Ok, uhm, thank you and yet I'm a little uncomfortable with being anyone's role model for healthy living because
1) I'm not that good at any of it and more important ...
2) what works for me might not work or even be healthy for someone else.

They way Knott eats has been carefully worked out by listening to and working closely with her doctors, nutritionist. And when we're cooking together it works for me too because frankly I like and eat anything except eggs with runny yolks, and liver.

And even those I'd eat with enough bacon, mushrooms and or sour cream on top

I'd recommend not making any change in your diet nor following a diet book until you've completely discussed options with your doctors. Meanwhile I don't think you can go wrong "painting with your food" but again I have no medical background.

They say we "feast with our eyes" first. It can be fun to add color to anything you make and usually that's in the produce section

Today I rode to the farm market where I picked up red potatoes, yellow squash, brussel sprouts, green and yellow peppers (not these ones), peaches, red grapes, cucumbers, red and yellow tomatoes .....

Now I'll just have some fun with it.

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, what she said...

My dinner tonight is Pommes de Terre avec Carcasse Mysterioso et Brewski

Pommes de Terre

Rinse a dozen red potatoes in a dulsatory fashion
Cut off the icky bits
Cube 'em
Boil until they can be stuck by a fork
Drain and mash
Add olive oil (1/2 cup or more)
Add plain yogurt (1 cup at least)
Add salt (a teaspoon-ish)
Add cracked pepper (a few twists of the grinder)
Mash again

Carcasse Mysterioso

Select a can of SPAM (low sodium, so it's healthful!)
Cut two thick slices, and set on the Pommes de Terre to warm
Cut another slice and eat with fingers

Brewski

Root around in fridge until you find the last bottle of Redbridge (gf, so it's good for everyone!)
Drink from bottle.

ETA: oh, and "feasting with the eyes" I note that SPAM is the exact shade of pink as the boiled red potato skins.

[Trek420]

Food sounds so much better in French

[channlluv]

Okay....well.

I'm making baked chicken, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. Not the almond flour kind. That starts tomorrow.

I did an experiment today. I've been laying off white foods for a long time and I've been going easy on the bread intake all week. Yesterday I stopped at this fru-fru bakery that some of the other faculty members rave over and bought a loaf of sourdough bread. I had a slice for breakfast and another for lunch with peanut butter on it, and another a little while ago for a snack, with some Earth Balance spread on it. It was tres yummy, but I feel like I've swallowed a watermelon, my belly is so big. Seriously. Call me Stay-Puft.

Is that what celiac does to you?

Roxy

[nscrbug]

Okay....well.

I'm making baked chicken, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. Not the almond flour kind. That starts tomorrow.

I did an experiment today. I've been laying off white foods for a long time and I've been going easy on the bread intake all week. Yesterday I stopped at this fru-fru bakery that some of the other faculty members rave over and bought a loaf of sourdough bread. I had a slice for breakfast and another for lunch with peanut butter on it, and another a little while ago for a snack, with some Earth Balance spread on it. It was tres yummy, but I feel like I've swallowed a watermelon, my belly is so big. Seriously. Call me Stay-Puft.

Is that what celiac does to you?

Roxy

Bloated, gassy, crampy...just a general gross feeling...yup, that's what gluten does to me. I had a celiac blood panel done a year ago...came back negative, but I never did follow-up with an endoscopy like I should have. While I don't think I am celiac, I do think I am gluten-sensitive. If I have a gluten-heavy meal, I feel like complete crap afterwards...tired, lethargic, and all bloated out with tons of gas...lovely! I swear it gets so bad, that sometimes I sleep on the couch to give my poor DH a break. I need to seriously just eliminate gluten completely...tough to do when you're a self-proclaimed "carb addict", like myself.

[malkin]

Food sounds so much better in French

If we're ever in France together, you two can order the potatoes, but I'll take care of the beer, ok?
and don't even think of asking for Spam.

[Trek420]

and don't even think of asking for Spam.

Why not? I love SPAM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

[KnottedYet]

No SPAM?

How about popcorn shrimp! YeeeeHahahah! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UmU...eature=related

Of course, after France we could go to Hawaii and have my favorite SPAM:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_musubi (although I prefer the full nori wrap, not like in this picture)

C'mon, feeeeeeel the looooooooove http://www.spam.com/

They have a SPAM cycling jersey at spam.com. You know you want one....

[schnitzle]

Of course, after France we could go to Hawaii and have my favorite SPAM:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_musubi (although I prefer the full nori wrap, not like in this picture)

Oh how I looooove spam musubi!! <3

[KnottedYet]

Oh how I looooove spam musubi!! <3

TE field trip to L+L!!!!
http://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/
Yeah!

[channlluv]

And you can bring your own Bragg's Liquid Aminos to use as a dipping sauce.

Roxy