New Healthy Diet Idea's

[HotMommy]

Hi again all,
Well I'm not quite at my goal weight, however after a year and a half of attempting the magical weight below 130 I'm giving up with my current ways, I feel it's unhealthy after being "perfect" for 3 weeks (i.e. carb and sweetener free) to be contemplating eating a whole cake(only so much can go to weight, right?) gaining 5 pounds over night, I know it's just glycogen and water but it leaves me feeling so depressed and defeated, often leading me to continue the binge because the damage is already done after just a few bites..Healthy? No! A healthy person would grab an apple or plum or something else with vitamins and forget about the craving. I'm 21 years old and near the bottom of my BMI I feel like this intense focus over carbs is just leading me to hold on to more weight because I binge on refined carbs, not healthy complex carbs like a healthy person would. I do want to lose around 5-10lbs however I need suggestions on HOW to do this on a more forgiving diet, possibly one that does not deplete glycogen stores and tons of water. I want to start following a healthy diet, maybe one based on the glycemic index, which I don't know much about. I need to make a steady healthy life style, not binge-gain-lose-binge-gain-lose lifestyle that makes me feel depressed or deprived. If you have had problems with very low carb like Atkins and you switched diets or simply have a diet you favor please let me know the book title or basic weight loss/healthy lifestyle strategy you use and how satisfied you are with it, weight loss and feelings of well being.
Thanks!

[cleochatra]

The Low Glycemic Load Diet by Dr. Rob Thompson. TOTALLY worth the read, no phases and more freedom, high fat, no feeling like you're starving. While following it I never felt I was missing out. EVER. The losses were just too slow for me (I'm impatient).

[BikerAng]

You may give South Beach a read, it's more liberal with fruits and grains (but restricts fat). My mom is doing SB and she loves it.

[InspiredBlue]

Maybe it's a matter of tweaking you exercise rather than your eating? Amp it up, lift heavier and build more muscle - and you just might see your body transforming and looking better without necessarily losing any more weight.

[Ilpirata]

I'm just wondering why you want to lose ten pounds when you're near the bottom of your BMI?

[Leo41]

If you were following Atkins, aren't you now near the top of the carb ladder? If so, then you'd be enjoying more carbs and finding out what works for you.

You also might consider maintaining where you are right now. That is, try eating 'healthy' for a while [however you define healthy] and maintaining your current weight. If you find a WOE that's satisfying to you, then you can stay with it long term.

If low carb is frustrating you, you'll simply regain your lost weight once you get to your 'magic number' and re-introduce carbs.

[TigerlilyCA]

Medeterranean Diet. I would say the is similiar to Zone type eating - everything is balanced. Emphasis on good fats, good carbs and portion control. Oh, and wine is a given

[fireflyfaster]

Speaking as one tall person to another, I agree you need to rethink your goal weight; as you said you are already near the bottom of the "normal" BMI range. I used to diet to 130 and below, and in retrospect it was the wrong answer for me. By toning and building muscle you can still significantly change your body without much more additional weight loss, plus you'll be able to eat a bit more to support that muscle.

I applaud your honesty assessing your happiness with your WOE; the trick is finding a higher-glycemic plan that won't trigger hunger or binges. (Atkins is "based on the glycemic index" in that the beginning has lower and the later rungs higher GI foods.) My urge to binge on refined carbs is higher the more sugars and even complex carbs I have in my diet.

[DelhiBelli]

I thought the Body Ecology Diet was a great book. Are you the kind of person that has to follow just one diet? Do you know what works for you and what doesn't? There's nothing wrong with taking something beneficial from each diet and making something of your own. You'll have ownership of your diet because it's one you know your body (and mind) can follow. For me, I had to base my diet around my digestion because that was a huge problem for me. Just trying to fix a problem led to a 10 lb weight loss in a few months without much effort. By experimenting with different foods, I learned what was good for me and what wasn't. Turned out that I can digest grains, starches, or any complex carbs and taking these out to better my health led to a 5lb weight loss almost overnight.

BTW, healthy people have cravings too. Sometimes an apple or plum just won't do it. I did, however, realize that my cravings are either out of something emotional, boredom, social situation, and/or candida. Knowing all of that helps me come up with various solutions like using EFT, finding new hobbies, carrying stevia in my purse and putting it in tea when everyone around me is having dessert, etc.

[Dovelette]

If you are doing Atkins, I'd look at HOW you are doing Atkins. How many carbs are you eating? Did you/are you climbing the carb ladder, adding in new foods 5g at a time? Are you getting enough carbs via veggies? Have you thought about being a bit more lax with those 3 weeks? Like using sweetener and making LC desserts? Yes, I know that's up for debate, but if it works for YOU, it works for you.

Atkins, done right, IS a healthy diet. As you move on to Atkins for Life etc, you are encouraged to eat things like oatmeal regularly, you can enjoy higher carb foods once or twice a week. Atkins doesn't mean meat and eggs your whole life - enjoy the full range of foods that this lifestyle offers!