Mother May I? Challenge, EFGT, 5/2-6/1

[sjl330]

Carolyn, A question. Do you eat breakfast everyday? And are you hungry for it? I'm not hungry for breakfast and if I don't eat breakfast sometimes I'm not hungry for lunch but I'm not real sure that's a good thing. Comments anybody?

And I thought Barry said if you wanted bread, etc., to have it but count it. I'll have to go back and look in my book to see if I read that right.

[lil miss]

Sandy, I am in the same boat as you. Before DS was born, I did LC for 3 years and I was always on plan. NOW, I cannot seem to stay on plan for any length of time at all and I dont know why, although I do take full responsibility.

I eat breakfast every day [I know you didnt ask me but...] and I eat lunch, I dont know about breaky, I eat that for my metabolism, but if I skip lunch then I get ravenous for dinner and overeat.

[JacquieUK]

Hiya
I'm sure he says something about having chocolate and not buying it too early, so I assumed anything would be ok?
Now I'm really confused!
Think I will go and re-read the book!

[sjl330]

I hope this helps.

Following is a direct quote from Barry's EFGT book. He also lists meal samples that include bread such as Poached Eggs on Toast, and another one using breadcrumbs.

7-DAYS’ MENUS
In the recipes and menus that follow, the total carbohydrate content for
the days is less than the recommended 60 grams. This will allow you to
add other foods you like to make the totals up to the required amount. We
suggest that you aim for a total for equal amounts at each meal.
Most of the recipes below do not include bread or toast. They are also
a bit less than 60 grams for the day. This allows you to add whatever you
like to make that up. If you include bread, reckon its carbohydrate content
at twelve grams per slice.
The figure given for carbohydrate content is reckoned per person

[JacquieUK]

So, you think that bread/crackers/anything is ok, as long as it comes out of your carb allowance?

Hope this is right!

[TuscanGirl]

Carolyn - It's called The Informant.
It's about the ADM price fixing scam.

I have a lot of friends who are going to be in the movie - but not me.
As with everything else - it's all who you know!

[CarolynF]

Hi kiddos..

I always eat breakfast everyday, Sandy.

On the grains issue...it is a very individual thing. Some people cannot lose while eating grains. In fact, it is the last thing that Dr. A. adds on his ladder. I stay away from grains for the most part, cuz I know I will gain if I eat them. I guess I have a touch of "Atkins" in me cuz I know how blood sugar reacts to grains and sweets. But, everyone is totally different. The killer combination for weight gain is fats and sweets/grains..But..everyone is so different. Jacquie..I would start out without the bread..crackers..and see how it goes. If you can lose eating those things, then go for it. However, many Atkinites cannot do that very well.

Sandy...skipping 2 meals is not good. If you are not hungry in the a.m., then you have eaten too much at night. That's been my personal observation.
I don't have a big breakie..maybe a couple of eggs or a bit of sausage and an egg with coffee..

HTH..

And, I'm like Lil..If I skip a meal and get ravenous, it is not a pretty sight..

[sjl330]

Originally Posted by JacquieUK

So, you think that bread/crackers/anything is ok, as long as it comes out of your carb allowance?

Hope this is right!

That's the way I did it and it worked fine for me. Everybody has not had the same results and lots of people can't eat grains. As long as I keep my carbs at about 60 per day and kept my ratios in line I'm fine. And that's exactly what I need to get back to doing. I think alot depends on your metabolism and how easy you can lose weight. I'm very lucky to be able to lose pretty easily if I follow the plan.

[JacquieUK]

Thanks both of you!

I've done today allowing crackers so I'll carry on like this for the full week as I thought this was correct, and then after weigh in see how I've done and change if necessary!

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by sjl330

Carolyn, A question. Do you eat breakfast everyday?

Not Carolyn either - but I eat breakfast every day.
Usually 2 eggs, but sometimes I'll eat leftovers.

[CarolynF]

Sandy has a great metabolism..we are jealous..

But another "thought" on the grains/crackers..Some peeps can't eat just one or two or three and it will cause them to "binge" on carbs. I'm a carboholic..(popcorn, taco chips), so to stay on target, I have to avoid them.

[sjl330]

Sounds good Jacquie, just be sure to keep your fat intake up there. That's the key to this plan. If you eat plenty of fat I think you'll find you really won't even want starchy carbs as much as you think you might. I just like the idea that I can have them IF I want them. Good luck to you.

[CarolynF]

Sandy has a great metabolism..we are jealous..

But another "thought" on the grains/crackers..Some peeps can't eat just one or two or three and it will cause them to "binge" on carbs. I'm a carboholic..(popcorn, taco chips), so to stay on target, I have to avoid them.

[pooticus]

all! all around!

Sandy don't skip!

MK you should pull a Kramer and go be in the movie!

[TuscanGirl]

I wish!!

I had 3 sugar cookies today.
They were delicious!

Now I'm done for the next 6 months!

[CarolynF]

Well, MKay..it will be fun to see your friends.. Yup..you have reached your sugar cookie limit for the next few months..

[wifezilla]

Some peeps can't eat just one or two or three and it will cause them to "binge" on carbs. I'm a carboholic..(popcorn, taco chips), so to stay on target, I have to avoid them.
_____________

Same here. Barry Groves described "reactive hypoglycemia" in his book and it describes me to a T!

Grains spike my blood sugar really high, then my body releases WAY too much insulin, and I have a blood sugar crash which leaves me shaking, dizzy and breaking out in a cold sweat. Then I have to have more food NOW even though I just ate. So, yeah...no grains for this peep!!

[TuscanGirl]

Now I need a nap!

[sjl330]

I've had a great OP day. And it feels great! I didn't even care about missing Cinco de Mayo at our fav Mexican restaurant. I did have a homemade taco salad for lunch sans chips of course. And I had a salad and pulled pork for dinner. Leftovers from my kids' first BBQ comp of the season. If I have a snack it'll be CO Bark but I'm going to try not to have a snack at all tonight. And I've had plenty of water and got my workout and 2 walks in as well. Now if I can just rinse and repeat daily, lololo.

[CarolynF]

Yeah, Sandy..

Zilla: I totally understand..I don't crash, but I want more and more..of the corn, etc.

Mary Kay: Sweet Sugar Cookie Dreams!!

Cya in the am..

[JacquieUK]

I had my crackers with stilton and butter so plenty of fat!!

The only carbs that really cause me trouble is
a) white bread - I fall asleep 2 hours after eating it, and
b) chocolate - one bar is never enough and it def can start a binge.
Other carbs seem to be ok.

I'll just see how it goes!

[lil miss]

Mornin'

Damage from DS' bday party was not so bad. Registering slight ketones this am, and was immediately back on plan so...am hopeful

[TuscanGirl]

Morning!

The guy is coming to fix the ice maker and dryer today - at least I hope he fixes them.
I have to take my mom to get her clothes altered, get to the grocery store - make a pie for a dinner for a friend who just had surgery for breast cancer, and DS19 is coming home today - so I have to clean up in his room - DH has been taking naps in there . . .

[lene]

Still here. Nothing exciting going on, I'm happy to report. <g>

I'm also glad to be able to tell you that I seem to have gotten my morning blood glucose levels back down below 100, finally. I began to suspect the blood pressure medicine (lisinopril) I was on might be causing the trouble, so I stopped taking it. Voila! Back down below 100... I've always had low-to-normal blood pressure anyway, and the doc only put me on the BP med because she said it helps protect against kidney/liver damage (which many diabetics are prone to) but darn it, I didn't test as having *any* signs of kidney or liver problems, and I figure if I eat properly and control my blood sugar well, the chances are slim that I'll ever develop those problems. So it seems really silly to take a medicine I don't seem to need, especially if it has an adverse effect on my blood sugar, since having poor blood sugar levels will only be more likely to cause the kidney and liver problems she's trying to avoid. KWIM? Heh, she's already frustrated by me because I have so many "wacky" ideas, I wonder if she'll have kittens when I tell her I've stopped the lisinopril? Oh well...

Our local HyVee often has some wonderful leftovers from catered events, cheap in the deli case. Last night on the way home from work, Jeff checked and found some terrific chicken kebabs (with chunks of onion, bell pepper, yellow squash, and mushrooms) in two flavours -- mesquite, and tomato-basil. Yum! He bought four containers, two of each kind. Each container held 1.5 pounds of food (I'd say easily one pound of chicken and half a pound of veggies) and only cost $2.50, which seems like a very good deal for cooked-weight. I heated them in the skillet with a little olive oil, and we ate the mesquite ones last night. Tonight we'll do the tomato-basil. I like lazy "cooking" like this! LOL

I think it was this forum where I saw a mention of KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce. I had him pick up a bottle last night, making sure to check that it was the kind with only 2 grams carb per serving. I don't know how I'd never known about this stuff before! I opened it and tasted it right away -- loved it. It's smoky and spicy. I'd happened to pick up a couple racks of beef ribs at the local meat market the other day, so later this week I want to thaw them out and slow bake them, covered, brushed liberally with the BBQ sauce. I've got a recipe I love for a lowcarb coleslaw made with ginger and sesame oil and cayenne and peanuts, a sweet and spicy vinaigrette type, and that sounds like a good match for the BBQ ribs.

Hmmm. I'm making myself hungry writing this. Maybe it's time to go make something for breakfast. (I do eat breakfast almost every day, unless I feel dreadful or sleep crazy late for some reason.) I just usually find I have to wait to eat it until after I've woken up properly, so I have a mug of coffee with lots of cream right off, and breakfast an hour or two later.

Jacquie, I really hope you'll be able to manage with the crackers. Having crackers (especially some nice wholegrain ones) with butter and cheese sounds so lovely... I can't do grains, I'm afraid. Messes up my blood glucose something fierce, and causes me to gain or retain weight like crazy. But boy, buttery crackers with cheese sounds *wonderful* right now. I really should try making some lowcarb flax crackers one of these days -- I've seen recipes for them, but haven't ever gotten off my bum and made any. I suspect if I do, Danny will snarf the whole lot down in one go!

[wifezilla]

You're making me hungry too!!!!

Glad you are off the "extra" med. You are 100% correct that uncontrolled blood sugar will do more damage in the long run. If your doc has kittens, I might be able to adopt one...LOL

[JacquieUK]

Can I ask how many people use the 60g carb allowance?
In my first two days I've only used about 40 per day. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
I assume that if I stay at 40 and then decide to go to 60 I'll probably gain weight! So should I start at 60?????

Confused again, all suggestions and opinions appreciated.

Jacquie

[CarolynF]

Hi gang..

Jacquie: Start at 40 and see what happens. It is much easier to go UP than to go down.
If you are losing weight too fast on 40 (like more than 2 pounds a week for a couple of weeks), then go up. Otherwise, stay at 40...I believe there is a CCL (critical carb level)
that each of us has..Some levels are 30, others are up to 60 and beyond. It all depends on your activity level as well as your body metabolism and how it digests carbs..Everyone is different..

Yeah, Lene: Good going on the blood sugar..controlling that is very very important..Yipee for you..

Lil: Good for you on the ketone sticks..and that Elmo icing didn't get to you too badly..

Our 30th anniversary is today..I told Gary to surprise me tonight for dinner. And, I told myself that I would be "pleased" wherever he took me.. So, I have not been eating alot today.

MaryKay: Hmmm..I'm thinking I should sort of organize Brett's room before he comes home next Friday. He is a "book collector"..I would like him to do it, but it probably won't happen..

Hi to Sandy, Poot, Free, Confession..Zilla: Yes, you do need another kitten..LOLOL