Living the Lifestyle: Wednesday, September 16, 2020

misterhub
misterhub Posts: 6,663 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
We meet here to explore, share, celebrate and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.


This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday - 88olds (George)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)p
Wednesday - misterhub (Greg)
Thursday - Wild Card!!!
Friday - imastar2 (Derrick)

Today's Topic: Pasta & Rice & Bread

Pasta, Rice, Potatoes, and Bread. They get a lot of blame for weight gain and weight loss inhibition. Some of that blame is fair; some of it is not. For some folks there are health issues associated with starches - but not for most of us. So, how do starches affect your weight. Do they make you gain weight? Do they slow your losses? Or, have you found a balance that allows you to enjoy them while still maintaining effective weight control?

Replies

  • Al_Howard
    Al_Howard Posts: 8,874 Member
    TOL and I both eat rice, potatoes, pasta and bread. The only "diet" one is a lower calorie Whole Wheat bread, which is very close to "regular size" and, when toasted, delicious. We are careful on portions, weighing pasta, rice and potatoes. I know that if we skimp, or skip the starches, we are ravenous, even with a boost in protein. Just work it in, and TRACK it.
  • MASSRUNNER_FRANK
    MASSRUNNER_FRANK Posts: 192 Member
    What Al said. Nearly verbatim.
    Except for the TOL part. 😆😆
  • whathapnd
    whathapnd Posts: 1,322 Member
    Years ago when we did Atkins, I got away from cooking starches regularly. That said, I don't think they're inherently evil just simply have to be accounted for. (And know whether they're a trigger for you or a good you have trouble eating in moderation.) I have gluten allergy, so we don't eat a lot of pasta even though there are perfectly good gf varieties. I really like rice (especially basmati) and quinoa. In fact, I've been meaning to look for recipes for rice or quinoa salads I can make on Sunday and eat for the week. I also LOVE potatoes, I just don't cook them often. The bag woukd go bad before I'd use them all, so now I just grab a few loose every now and then. There's always a load of gf bread in the fridge or freezer. Those have really come a long way in the past 10 years.
  • linmueller
    linmueller Posts: 1,354 Member
    I don't really know how they affect my weight loss. I do know that some are high in SPs and they don't keep me satisfied for long. Over the years, I've gotten away from eating them much. Instead, when I do eat them, I have whole wheat pasta, brown rice, and 1 SP bread. What we do eat a fair amount of is potatoes, mostly highly seasoned and roasted, an occasional open face sandwich. It's funny because I didn't make a conscious decision to reduce carbs, but I seem to have gone in that direction, esp since I went on purple
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,540 Member
    Last night DW made pasta and I had some. A rarity. Most of the pasta we have it protein pasta. Most days I have a sandwich for lunch, currently on a whole grain English muffin. Usually with baked chips. Before the English muffin I was into Dave’s killer bread. I have oatmeal every morning. Does that count?

    Arnold Schwarzenegger calls sugar and white flour the white death. I find that useful to keep in mind. If I understand it correctly a problem with white flour is the body digests it and turns it into sugar in a flash. So I think it helps to go the whole grain or protein substitute route. Everything in moderation but some things are more work than others.
  • imastar2
    imastar2 Posts: 6,309 Member
    I have watched my carb intake for quite some time. When I started WW in 2010 I was coming off the Atkins diet where I literally had lost 100 lbs 4 times previously. By age 50 this diet did not seem to work for me any longer. One reason I was abusing the proteins I was eating and really it never made that much since to me anyway but I was successful losing weight with it but couldn't keep it off.

    So currently I do my best to balance the carbs, proteins and fats (good ones) based on a sensible portion and balance of all three of these making up fruits, veggies, protein, dairy. I won't deny however that it does present a challenge to get all of these in everyday.
  • cakeman21k
    cakeman21k Posts: 6,553 Member
    So I am considered to be pre-diabetic, and as a result I have to limit my carb's in order to keep my morning blood sugar reading's in check (I do take metformin in the morning) When I am properly limiting my carb intake my blood sugar readings will be in the 96 - 99 range which is considered normal, If I have pasta bread potatoes etc. in large volumes my blood sugar will be in the 115 - 120 range. That's a big motivator for me to limit the carb intake. As far as weight loss, I definitly see that its easier for me to lose on a low carb plan, I just have trouble actually doing it with religous fervor
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