Carb watching - anyone doing it?

[busymama77]

About 4 years ago, I went on the low carb diet and limited myself to only 50 per day. I dropped a pant size within a month and several people noticed a difference including my DH.

I'm back in my pre-preg size but would like to lose a bit more and maybe go down one more size. I haven't weighed myself since my 6week PP visit so I'm not sure what I weigh right now, but guessing in how my pants fit and how I feel, I'm guessing 145-150. I would like to be closer to 135, if possible. I work out at least 5 times a week - home DVD - 30day Shred - but would like to start running again and incorporate some of the strength excersies that I've learned from that DVD to a new routine.

So, I'm wondering if I should do a drastic hit of only 50 cars per day again or work my way in to by only doing 100 carbs and then 75 carbs, etc.,

For those of you who watch your carbs, how did you start and what do you eat mainly - breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
I'm already a healthy eater, but peanut m&m's are def my weakness.

[nola79]

Well, I attemt to, but I don't count them. I eat either oatmeal w/ blueberries or fried eggs with bacon and fruit for breakfast, for lunch I have a grilled shrimp salad, and for dinner I usually have a meat with 2 steamed veggies. For snacks, I try to eat apple, cheese, almonds, hard boiled eggs. I don't always succeed, and I have no idea how many carbs I eat daily, but I do limit bread to almost none, and I try to not have many potatoes/pastas.

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm not counting them, but I am on my 3rd week of eating very low amounts of carbs. Basically, only what occurs in some fruits/veggies - and even then, I am avoiding starchy ones like potatoes, carrots, etc.

I am eating fruits, vegetables, and lean meats with a little bit of greek yogurt and cottage cheese. It's not much variety, but not having any gluten has made me feel way better. Also, I am sugar-free, which I know combined with carbs is how I gain the most weight.

I cut them out cold-turkey, and did feel crummy for the first couple days - but I feel a ton better now. I plan to introduce them slowly back in in a few weeks (probably not gluten - so my carbs will still be limited), and see how my weight maintains.

[Purple Sage]

I don't count them, but I know I'm not eating very many. No sugar, no grains, no beans, very little fruit, some potatoes here and there, and some other veggies.

I do eat a LOT of fat, though, from meat, eggs, coconut oil/milk, butter, and cream. I'd say my protein intake is moderate. The bulk of my calories are definitely from fat.

I didn't start off this strict, though. I started by cutting out sugar and refined/processed stuff, and then gradually cut back the grains, beans, and fruit, then cut back on the potatoes and then cut out the grains and beans.

As far as weight loss goes, I've lost 30 pounds since January when I started the process. The weight is still coming off at a good pace, and I only have 10 more pounds to go. Hope to be there by the end of the summer.

The best thing that's happened, though, is I have so much more energy now. I finally started to feel like exercising again in the last month. (So that means I lost most of the weight without exercise. ) I truly believe that our bodies are meant to get fuel primarily from fat, and too many carbs will wreak havoc with our hormones which then causes all sorts of problems. Feed the body the good fat it needs and stop feeding it all those empty carbs, and the results are nothing short of amazing.

[nola79]

I eat a lot of fat, too. Lots of butter on just about everything. Bacon, avacados, olive oil, cream. I need to look into cococut oil, but the grocery stores here don't have it.

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by nola79

I eat a lot of fat, too. Lots of butter on just about everything. Bacon, avacados, olive oil, cream. I need to look into cococut oil, but the grocery stores here don't have it.

I buy the Nutiva brand from Amazon.

[Drummer's Wife]

oh, yeah - good fats are good I'm definitely convinced fats don't make us fat.

Do any of you use almond flour? I'm thinking of buying some to make muffins or something (b/c I honestly do miss my daily breakfast bagel) but it's expensive, and I'm not sure how it tastes. I guess I could grind almonds myself to see...

[Purple Sage]

Almond flour is yummy, but I can't seem to use it and lose weight. Nuts in general just don't work for me.

[nola79]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

I buy the Nutiva brand from Amazon.

I'll have to check into that, thanks! What exactly do you do with it? Is it for cooking, salad dressing, like I'd use olive oil? I've heard some people eat it straight, but how would that work?

[Purple Sage]

I cook with it mostly. It's very stable at high temps, so it's one of the best fats to cook with. I don't think you can make salad dressing with it because it's solid when it's cold. It's good in smoothies...like little bits of coconutty goodness. Some people don't like that, though. I do eat it straight off a spoon if I don't feel like I've gotten enough fat in a meal or feel a little hungry between meals. It's not that bad, but it really isn't my favorite way to eat it.

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

oh, yeah - good fats are good I'm definitely convinced fats don't make us fat.

Do any of you use almond flour? I'm thinking of buying some to make muffins or something (b/c I honestly do miss my daily breakfast bagel) but it's expensive, and I'm not sure how it tastes. I guess I could grind almonds myself to see...

I just throw my own soaked/dried almonds (or whatever nuts) in the blender and grind until quite fine. Just be careful to not over blend though or you'll end up with nutbutter.

Have you seen this recipe? Easy, simple ingredients and quite tasty! I usually use a combo of almonds and pecans to make the "flour."

[Violet2]

Breakfast: Low carb chocolate muffin with almond flax flour, or eggs, or cottage cheese, or regular cheese

Lunch: salad with protein, sometimes quesadillas or blts with low carb tortillas

Dinner: meat and veggie

Lots of water too.

Learn to use marinades and herbs for flavor.

V

[chiromamma]

My basic rule of thumb is nothing white....rice, spuds, pasta and of course the biggie, sugar. The only exception is wine and vodka and those only in VERY limited amounts.
I used to count carbs but I no longer have to with the "no white rule."
I DO count calories with FitDay. Keeping my calories under control with the guidelines for my food being it had to have had a mother or come from the ground keeps my carb intake rather low most days...about 20-30% of my calories.
I work out every day and have dropped a size in the last 3.5 weeks.

[busymama77]

Very encouraging posts, mamas! I'm going to start back up on this again Monday. I figured with this and me working out again regularly, I should shed some more of this PP baby weight in NO TIME.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by kaleidoscopeeyes

I just throw my own soaked/dried almonds (or whatever nuts) in the blender and grind until quite fine. Just be careful to not over blend though or you'll end up with nutbutter.

Have you seen this recipe? Easy, simple ingredients and quite tasty! I usually use a combo of almonds and pecans to make the "flour."

Thanks for the tips and the recipe. Those muffins look good - I will definitely be making them.

[LCBMAX]

Also not counting, but restricting, especially refined food carbs. I do find it hard to avoid too much fruit in this season, and with a toddler in the house, but in the old days, before being mama, I would at most eat an apple a day.

I'd love to hear about some more high fat protein rich quick snacks that anyone has. I will often just turn to a tin of sardines, but after a few... yick, and seriously, a little variety would be nice. Nuts, ok, but my tummy can't handle too many.

What do you do when you're needing a quick snack or meal and trying to avoid yet more (even natural, whole fruit) carbs?

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by LCBMAX

What do you do when you're needing a quick snack or meal and trying to avoid yet more (even natural, whole fruit) carbs?

I try to have some cooked meat in the fridge at all times. Then when I get hungry, I just eat some of the leftover meat and/or a spoonful of coconut oil. It's not the tastiest snack, but it works!

[Anna06]

This is all very interesting.

I have been on WW about 10 times, and for some reason I just can't stay on it. Does anyone here go by a certain "plan" or recommend a book or a link or anything helpful.

I've been a veg for 6 years and I just keep gaining weight. Plus I'm 6 years older also.......

Thanks for any suggestions.

subbing

[chiromamma]

Originally Posted by Anna06

This is all very interesting.

I have been on WW about 10 times, and for some reason I just can't stay on it. Does anyone here go by a certain "plan" or recommend a book or a link or anything helpful.

I've been a veg for 6 years and I just keep gaining weight. Plus I'm 6 years older also.......

Thanks for any suggestions.

subbing

I started out with South Beach. I have followed Fat Flush and Primal. After having that structure, I just do my own plan while counting calories and macro nutrients.(protein, fat, carbs)
I quite veggie too because I was always hungry and putting on pounds.

[Anna06]

Thanks for the reply chiromamma. I'm looking at all my options.

I hope I didn't kill the thread!!