Low carb question.......help!

[wiskband]

Hi all, well I am back on the wagon after a very long time. I let myself go about 18 pounds! anywho.....
I lost alot of weight doing LC in the past. I did not follow anything strictly just did my own version of low carb..............
after thinking back hindsight, I think I may have kept falling of the wagon because, my personality is an ALL or NOTHING kind of one. In other words, once I cheat I start thining ahhhhhhh! I blew it I may as well enjoy it then I go crazy eating ( binging I should say) I do enjoy carbs and would like eat some here and then. I am aware of induction and all that but would I be able to MOSTLY do LC?
For instance yesterday I ate:
9:00 am salami and cheddar snack
12:00 pm 2 sl;ices of LC bread and 2 eggs.
3:00 pm A mozzarella cheese stick
6:00 pm a burger no bread and a salad............... heres where my question comes in:

I made baked ziti for the family and I really wanted some so being that I ate high fat all day, would the high carb dinner really messed up my day?

Is the LC way all or nothing?

I am just trying to be more reasonable with myself....this way i dont consider eating carbs as "cheating" in turn falling off the wagon.

Sorry for my question taking so long lol but its kinda complicated.

thanks

renee

 

[goodeats]

Well, in my opinion it's best to keep all your meals balanced. This keeps your insulin and blood sugar stable through out the day. For instance at breakfast you could have egg whites, sauteed veggies, and oatmeal or fruit. For lunch salad, chicken, veggies, etc. Plus I don't see hardly any fruit and veggies in your diet!

So, yes have a small portion of ziti, but balance it with some lean protein and veggies.

 

[wiskband]

I know it is very unbalanced!
so eating high fat all day then eating one high carb meal.............
kinda makes no sense huh?

I am torn! I know some of you may suggest I try WW I did and it just wasnt for me. ahhhhhhh perhaps Ill try it again.


renee

 

[pumba]

You can have meals like this ......I had spaghetti the other night....I am allowed 45 carbs per meal......so I have my cup of spaghetti and slight bit of sauce and meatballs ......tossed salad......or brocolli or spinach......just dont eat a whole plate of it.....only carb I counted at that meal was spaghetti and a wee bit of the sauce.....so I was fine..

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

lc is definitely not all or nothing. Induction is pretty strict, then carbs are introduced back. Just make smart choices in picking the healthy carbs. Balanced meals is ultimately the goal so the nutrients your body needs will be there for you. Try making portions smaller and maybe splitting some of your meals in half and eating part the the rest a bit later so you are not consuming everything at one time.

Don't forget your exercise. That plays a huge role in everything.

 

[luvsgrumpy]

I too LOVE my carbs. I am allowed 120 carbs a day. This way, I know how many I can have and split them up as much as possible. I went really LC a few years ago and lost some weight then once I started eating again, gained them all back plus more. Same old story!! Don't worry about one meal here and there, just get right back on track the next day or meal. I do think eating 5-6 small meals a day has been helping me keep to my goals. Keep going!!

 

[Cruise04]

I haven't done low carb because I know I can't, I just know there is no way I could stick with it. I have now lost 51 pounds by just eating smart and balancing my meals. I make sure I have at least 3 fruits and veggies a day, I try for 5 if I can, I make sure I eat at least 2 dairy a day (a fat free yogurt in the morning and a cheese stick as well as a snack). I have gone to some very good low fat, low carb items but I don't totally focus on low carb. I let myself have at least 210 (I'm not diabetic or anything so I'm not having to stay at a number specific) carbs a day or less. I found this number in the calorieking book that I had gotten when I started and my daughter's nutritionist. This is for keeping my calorie intake at around 1500-1800 a day (I try to keep it at 1500). I eat bread, I eat pasta, I eat rice, I eat cookies, I eat fruit and veggies. It's all about portion control. Another piece of it is not eating high fat but I do eat fat because your body does need some. I try to keep my fat grams at 35-40 a day but sometimes I don't make it. I do find when I don't make the fat I come low with the carbs and vice versa.

But it's also about working out and drinking lots of water as well. And it's about what works best for YOU and satisfies you food wise.

Good luck!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I've done low carb, low fat, low cal, and I really have to agree that what works for me best is balanced eating.

Atkins was right- some carbs are very bad for you, but other medical wisdom was right, too- some fats are also very bad for you, and you still need to watch portions if you're going to lose weight.

I have been most successful with the Curves diet- it is very similar to South Beach- in that it concentrates on lean protein (steak, fish, shellfish, turkey, chicken, pork, cheese, etc.) and whole grain carbs (whole wheat breads, oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain or spelt pastas, etc. ) with tons and tons of fresh veggies and some fresh fruits and skim milk. You can also have occasional treats- a square of dark chocolate, a sugar free popsicle, etc. You cook with olive oil. I also use other healthy oils like walnut, sesame, coconut, macadamia on occasion. I also use 1/2 T light butter on my whole grain English muffin.

The differences are that basically South Beach allows certain foods, but unlimited amounts. Curves allows *all* foods, but clearly emphasizes the good ones much more and also requires that you count your calories and carbs (and protein, fiber, and fat, if you wish)

I find that *unlimited* anything isn't good for me because I am a marathon eater- I could eat ten mangoes or a pound of grilled chicken. I need to teach myself portion control.

I also find it more psychologically satisfying to tell myself I can have whatever I want as long as I stay within my limits. For example, I had 3 oz. grilled steak with mushrooms, onions and asparagus and a nice green salad. I measured out 1/8 cup of rice a roni, which really appealed to me and included it on my plate. I ate it over several bites, which I savored, and the overall impact was not bad since the portion was so small. For the same amount of cals and carbs, I could have had more let's say, brown rice, but it was more satisfying to me to have a couple bites of "the real thing".

However, I bring up these two diets as a way of showing you what I really believe and what I have come to include as a part of my life- you cannot succeed on a diet that you cannot live with . You have to find a diet that incorporates lifestyle changes that you can maintain, that you can live with for the rest of your life. It seems to me that you can't really live with this low carb plan and should switch to a moderate carb plan like Curves or South Beach. I, for example, eat 90-120 carbs a day right now- much more than a low carb diet, but also much less than the typical American diet, where one bowlful (2 servings) of breakfast cereal with 2 % milk can actually contain more than 100 carbs! It's old news, but moderation really is key.

Good luck!

 

[wiskband]

ahhhhh! you really do say all that so eliquintely! and so easy! I wish I had more patients and even more will power. I really do need to learn how to have portions in my life! I eat till I am so full I dont feel good. Its a terrible feeling. I think rather stick to any plan, I am just simply gonna try and eat sensible! I mean I havent had a fruit because I cant stop thinking all the carbs it has! lol........same goes fro yogurt. I miss those things! I am gonna try this out for 2 weeks and see what happens!

 

[dizneegirl]

You can have healthy carbs... especially if you're close to goal (which you are), or at it. Make smart choices... add in whole grains - steel cut oats, cracked wheat (nothing with "enriched" or just wheat in it), flax, etc... add low-glycemic fruits - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, granny smith apples... add in more veggies, especially those with lots of fiber - just skip the high sugar/starch veggies (corn, peas, white potatoes).

And yes, yogurt is a good addition, too. Just buy unflavored/unsweetened yogurt, and add your own flavors/sweetners (try fresh fruit, DaVinci syrup, Splenda or stevia...)

There's no reason you need to cook two meals. Your family should be eating healthy, too. Use whole wheat pasta, or something like Dreamfield's, for your ziti. No one in your family needs empty starches or sugars... they're just not healthy for anyone.

And you know the answer to your question "can I eat high fat during the day, and then add in carbs at night"... High fat and high carbs is the WORST thing you could do. The empty carbs make the high fat dangerous. You can however, add in those healthy carbs, and have the best of both worlds.