[bamachicky]

Ok y'all, here's the thing. I'm an "all or nothing" kind of person. I just cant do anything half way. So when I committed to lose weight, I committed to go all the way. I was very successful doing the weight watchers because it worked for me for so many reasons. After losing 80 on WW, I went to my regular doctor about 6 or 7 weeks ago for a check-up. My cholesterol was high and because of a family history of heart disease and diabetes, my doctor (not a weight loss dr) put me on phen so I could get the weight off fast. (He also prescribed crestor for my cholesterol.) He instructed me to eat NO fruit whatsoever and to limit my carbs/sugars to 40 per day. He said that once I lost the weight, then I could slowly incorporate fruits back into my diet. Well, here lies the problem: At first I tried to continue to count points as I had previously done with weight watchers, and also tried to count carbs. Well, that doesnt work. I was starving because there was very little I could eat. I was getting dizzy, no energy, etc. Well, I finally realized that I have to do one or the other, but I cant do both - count WW points AND carbs. So, I decided to follow my doctor's advice and watch my carbs & sugars. This is SO stressful for me because the foods that are low in carbs are higher in fat & calories. (Yes, I know they are also higher in protein.) But it still freaks me out to eat more meat because my brain is conditioned to think that meat equals more fat/calories. I try to limit it to mostly chicken and lean peices of beef and I dont want to eat anything fried. I have had to swap my morning oatmeal with a scrambled egg w/ fat free cheese. This concept is so hard for me to grasp. I feel like I am going to GAIN weight instead of losing and I'm freaking out - afraid to eat anything. I've battled my weight all my life so I feel I'm fairly educated on what foods are healthy and what foods arent, and their preparation, as well as what foods are higher in fat and calories. But I am not that educated on the low carb diet. I have researched the internet and read the threads here, but I'm just so afraid that if I eat more meat, cheese, etc, that I will gain. Also, I have snacked on pork rinds the last few days because we were traveling and only stopped once all day to eat a meal. I dont usually snack very much, I just try to eat breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and light snack afterwards if its not too late. I have discovered that I love sugar-free jello with a little whipped cream on top. The number of meals/snacks per day has obviously worked for me up to this point. I just dont know what to have for my snacks now.

Anyway, I said all of that to say this - I am so afraid of this change - afraid that I will gain and I have worked too hard for that. (Yes, I think I'm obsessed, but I want to live long enough to have grandchildren and enjoy them!) Can anyone offer advice about the meats, cheeses, (I will still eat the fat-free cheese) pork rinds, and low carb foods in general? I have bought some EAS Advantage protein drinks to try for breakfast, but I just need to know what I can eat and what I cant.

Thanks for any and all help you all can give! Y'all are truly great!

[imabijou]

Hi neighbor,
I certainly am no expert on dieting but this web site helped me out tremenously on my low carb eating...Hope it helps you too...be sure and click on everything..and check out the low carb pyramid...
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/low...ingstarted.htm

[Cini]

Hello,
When your doctor wants you to count carbs, does he only want to to count starchy carbs and sugars or the carbs in vegetables as well?
I've done low starch, low sugar fairly high protein for years and when I truly stick to it, I look and feel best.
I do not eat meat . I do eat seafood and occasionally poultry.
Good sources of protein are Morning Star "burgers". My favorite are the Asian veggie patties. Very delish. I prefer Morning Star over Boca, but that is obviously a matter of taste.
Seafood is for the most part low fat (exeption is salmon and other oily fish, but that fat is very healthy unlike the saturated fat that is in beef, pork and other meats)
Skinless chicken or turkey breast in low calorie and low fat.
When I'm sticking to eating clean, a typical day would look like this:
Breakfast - either a whey protein shake or a 2 eggs omelet with tomato or bell peppers
Snack - an apple cut in slices with a tablespoon almond butter spread on it, or if I didn't have egg for breakfast an egg or two
Lunch - a serving of grilled, or baked or poached seafood or chicken-breast with a big mixed salad dressed with two tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Snack - another piece of (northern fruit) or a cup of blueberries, or some yogurt or cottage cheese
Dinner - a serving of grilled, or baked or poached seafood or chicken-breast with unlimited amounts of vegetables except sweet corn, peas cooked carrots.
NO legumes, potatoes, sweet potatoes or large amounts of dairy while trying to lose fast.
Later 1-2 servings per day of healthy starchy carbs like legumes or whole grain products can be added and still lose weight, just a bit slower.

I'd stay away from the pork rinds. I''m pretty sure they are very high sodium and fat and probably preservatives

Frankly I don't see much sense in cutting out fruit completely and substituting porkrinds or other foods that are high in saturated fat. Especially with health history like yours?
Fruit are not very low GI, but they are packed with vitamins, minerals and enzymes. tropical fruit are much higher in sugar than northern fruit like apples, pears, berries etc.

Good Luck

[sleventis]

First of all...CONGRATULATIONS SO FAR...you should be so proud you have done so well...alot of us are doing the low carb, low sugar thing...and you will feel so great once you get started...I have never done the whole "clean eating" until now and although I have my moments I really like it...
These are things I eat that really help:

*The EAS low cab protien shakes...the chocolate are GREAT...25 grams of protein, 150 calories, 1 gram sugar, 3 carbs...
*17 pieces of turkey pepperoni with 1 baby belle ligth cheese wheel (great snack)
*Lots of grilled chicken...I grill a bunch at a time, and I cut then into 2-3 oz portions...then I can just grab one on the fly and eat it...
*Once to twice a week I have broiled salmon with a salad...lots of veggies...tomoates, onion, peppers, mushrooms
*I love steamed asparagus, greenbeans, cauliflower, broccoli (I put them in those steam bags, add some no salt ms dash when they are steaming...YUMMY!!!)
*Egg white scramble with chopped veggies and 2 pieces of Jimmy Dean turkey sausage patties(they are WONDERFUL!!!)
*I also have a few servings of peanut butter a week...(week...not day...tehe)...
*Strawberries...peaches...grapes...(low carb fruits)...I have a serving a few times a week...with LF cottage cheese (not ff...ew)
*Canned chicken mixed with some light mayo...choppped veggies and then I stuff it into a half of a pepper (this is really great)
*You can take zuccinni (omg my spelling is terrible here...sorry) cut into slices...lighly cover with some extra virgin olive oil and broil or bake them...then eat with either salsa or some brushetta...thats really good too


I know there is more...but my brain is dying on me...tehehehe...hope this helps a little...the webiste that was provided by imabijou will be helpful too...

GOOD LUCK!!!

[MaggieinATL]

You have obviously done something right to lose as much as you have. My thought? Do what works for you. I'm sure the doc thinks telling you no fruit and limit carb/sugar to 40 grams a day. I try to limit mine to 30 grams a day but, I do not limit my fruits. I just don't eat much and if I eat fruit, I do it in the early morning and I usually put it in a smoothie. Or I'll eat fat free sugar free yogurt with fruit in it. It's not much but it's got the flavor I need to kick it in the morning.

Good luck to you. You're doing great!!

[bamachicky]

Originally Posted by Cini

Hello,
When your doctor wants you to count carbs, does he only want to to count starchy carbs and sugars or the carbs in vegetables as well?

My doctor said that I could have all the veggies I wanted, and that I could even have corn and carrots, but to stay away from breads, pastas, pototoes, etc. When I told him that I usually eat blueberries or splenda peaches in my oatmeal, he said NO FRUIT whatsoever. I begged him to make an exception for the blueberries but he wouldnt. He is also had I had a metabolic syndrome because I carry most of my weight around my stomach. This is an increased risk with the family history and just wants me to lose fast.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I know its time consuming to type that much and I really appreciate your advice and help.

God Bless!

[bamachicky]

I also prefer the morning star to Boca. I bought more of them this past weekend so I could take them for my lunch. I also love Salmon but I'm not too good at preparing it! LOL

Thank you guys SO very much for your help and advice. I saved the link that ima posted to my favorites so I can read it when all is quiet so I can concentrate.

Thanks again. You all are so supportive. If I can ever help any of you, please let me know!