Bragg's, anyone?

[Trek420]

Lots of good books out there of course and others here will chime in with faves I'm sure. Mollie Katzen, world class chef and the author of the Moosewood books is one of the handful of foodies credited with changing the way America eats (towards food that's made from food).

She's just come out with a book geared towards new cooks. I can't wait to read it:

http://www.molliekatzen.com/get_cooking_promo.php

[tctrek]

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.

[Susan]

Over here, we use ACV and pumpkinseed oil for salads - just sprinkle some of the Vinegar over green salad or tomatoes, add a bit of salt and some p.s.oil and toss (just as described above). People that aren't used to this kind of salad dressing find the dark green oil strange in the beginning but most people like the taste in the end.

However I think it would be hard to drink ACV

[Trek420]

Over here, we use ACV and pumpkinseed oil for salads - just sprinkle some of the Vinegar over green salad or tomatoes, add a bit of salt and some p.s.oil and toss (just as described above). People that aren't used to this kind of salad dressing find the dark green oil strange in the beginning but most people like the taste in the end.

This sounds wonderful! Next time I'm low on oil I may look for pumpkin seed oil and experiment with combos in different dishes.

[schnitzle]

Hells yes to pumpkin seed oil!! I think it's delicious in salad dressing. I've also used flax seed oil mixed with olive oil.

Here's my go to salad dressing: In a jar I mix dijon mustard (Beaufor), oil (olive, pumpkin seed, flax or grapeseed), some type of vinegar, grate in a clove of garlic, salt, ground black pepper, maybe some fresh herbs if I have some and shake it like mad. Add it to any salad stuff around.

I could drink the stuff!

I'll be interested to see what your celiac test shows Roxy. I wonder since your doc said you are pre-diabetic if it is more of a carb sensitivity as tctrek posted. I think that is my problem, although I've never been tested for celiac. I'm over 100 lbs overweight myself.

[channlluv]

My family doctor has told me she believes I'm glucose intolerant based on my symptoms (I get really sleepy after I eat white bread, white rice, etc., so I stopped eating white food a long time ago, for the most part. I'll admit I'm not as diligent with my diet as I should be.

TCTrek, I think I may be in your boat, too. What I dread most is giving up fruit for five weeks. I eat a lot of fruit. Already today I've had a banana and a cup of grapes. I've got an orange for my afternoon snack. How long did it take for your carb cravings to go away? And what are "net carbs"?

I need some quick, easy veggie recipes, I guess. I'll go take a look at the new cook book you recommended, Trek. And Knot, thank you for telling me not to change my diet just yet. I was all ready to go out and buy a bunch of gluten-free stuff. Although just yesterday I realized that most of what I eat is gluten-free. Fruit, veggies, lean meats, eggs. I do drink milk occasionally with cereal, but other than that, I'm largely dairy-free, too. I have cheese every now and then. But I do eat bread. I guess too much of it.

If I'm just glucose-intolerant, does that mean I have to give up fruit? I often start the day with grape juice-frozen berry-spinach-whey protein smoothie.

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

These are really things you should be working out with your doctor and your nutritionist.

We are all full of ideas, but honestly you need to be diagnosed by a medical professional before you go eliminating anything (carbs, gluten, topic-of-the-day).

And while we are all full of ideas, with your medical history you really should be doing any dietary changes with the guidance of a medical professional every step of the way.

[tctrek]

TCTrek, I think I may be in your boat, too. What I dread most is giving up fruit for five weeks. I eat a lot of fruit. Already today I've had a banana and a cup of grapes. I've got an orange for my afternoon snack. How long did it take for your carb cravings to go away? And what are "net carbs"?
Roxy

Believe me, I thought it would bother me not to have my fruit, and I was a huge fruit eater, but it didn't. The fact is that i did not have carb cravings after the first day. But I made sure I had plenty of food to eat, so I was not hungry. You can eat any of the foods on this page: http://www.atkins.com/Program/Phase1...thisPhase.aspx

Net carbs is basically the Sugar carbs, not the fiber carbs. So, something might have 10 grams of carbs, but if 2g are Sugar and 8g are fiber, you only "count" the 2 carbs when figuring out your 20 grams per day. That's because fiber carbs don't spike your insulin, just the sugar does.

I don't really understand why it works, but it does. The trick is to add back carbs slowly... and stay away from white food and food with high glycemic index.

[Groundhog]

...And Knot, thank you for telling me not to change my diet just yet. I was all ready to go out and buy a bunch of gluten-free stuff. Although just yesterday I realized that most of what I eat is gluten-free. Fruit, veggies, lean meats, eggs. I do drink milk occasionally with cereal, but other than that, I'm largely dairy-free, too. I have cheese every now and then. But I do eat bread. I guess too much of it.
...
Roxy

The problem with the celiac blood test is that it is not exact enough...or in other words, there are a lot of false negatives and you have to be eating gluten at the time. I, too, was mostly GF prior to diagnosis -except binging on bread. My celiac was picked up via an endoscopy, because I was in so much pain that my doc thought I had an ulcer. No ulcer, but they found celiac with minimal damage (although I felt so bad I didn't think it was "minimal"). But the blood test done right after was negative for celiac- even though I still ate gluten. So I am an example of someone who has biopsy-proven celiac but negative blood work (plus I have the genes). What I'm saying, Roxy, is that your celiac test (or Person X's celiac blood test) may be negative but that person may still have the disease due to the inaccuracy of the blood test.

I agree with Knot to have your doc run the celiac blood panel first (make sure they run the "full" panel) but there is no harm in cutting out gluten entirely AFTER the blood test (unless your doc wants to run the endoscopy) to see what happens. If you cut out gluten entirely, strictly, and you feel better then you have your answer. Some docs say that a Gluten Free diet is "unhealthy" because you don't get enough vitamins, but with proper planning there is nothing inherently "unsafe" about a GF diet. What a GF diet has is less fiber and less vitamins added to grains (e.g. "fortified" cereals or "wonder bread with eight vitamins"). Fiber is easy to get with fruit, veggies and flax (and oatmeal for some) and vitamin supplements are as "natural" as fortified bread. If you or your doc are worried about diet, a nutritionist/dietician can help with that.

My doc sent me to a nutritionist/RD and she said that my body thought it was "starving" because it wasn't absorbing nutrients/vitamins/fat and thus it wanted me to gain weight. My metabolism slowed, my vitamin levels were low, and I developed osteopenia, the beginning form of osteoporosis. The body type that most often gets osteoporosis is a thin one, so my body was really not absorbing calcium and/or vitamin D. The 20 extra pounds I gained in the two years before diagnosis got my BMI up to 29 and so I was one of the 40% of celiacs who are overweight at diagnosis.

Losing weight (I have 20 to lose plus the 15 that I was overweight with before illness) has been frustrating. I am psychologically "addicted" to refined carbs and maybe physiologically too. Cutting out wheat, plus white rice, white potatoes, corn, and GF flours is about the only way that I can loose weight. I don't know if it is from celiac or from years of eating unhealthily, but I can't fight it. Eating simple carbs makes me hungry. In terms of diets, South Beach Diet Phase I or Atkins Diet or Paleo Diet all work for me losing weight...they all cut out the "white" foods.

Some folks think that gluten intolerance is a spectrum between low gluten intolerance at one end to celiac at the other. Others think it is all celiac, but our tests aren't exact enough.

I'm just a layperson with limited knowledge. But I know that gluten has done some pretty nasty things to me and my son, so I just try to get the word out to others and hope that they end up less damaged than I. Going GF has made a world of difference in my health and I'm very grateful.

Again, I wish you good health, Roxy, and good health to all.

[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

[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

[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.