i think i eating to many carbs ..

Ok so i changed my macros to around 40/30/30 and am wondering what are some ideas for cheap fast easy meals with low carbs and high protein... and are smoothies bad for me? I always add bunch fruit and some yogurt seems like gives me tons of calories and tons of carbs so is that good for me? And what are some other foods that people are eating for meals like breakfast, seems like cereal and milk might be bad too. I kinda getting confused lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Replies

  • The kind of carbs you eat makes more difference than the amount, although the amount of carbs matters too. I cut out all processed foods (frozen dinners, cereals, pastas, rice, french fries, etc). I also cut out fruits that are really high in carbs/sugar (i.e. bananas). Google the carb count of common fruits to get a better idea of what fruits you should add to your smoothie. I have a fresh fruit smoothie every morning before working out, however, I use nothing but berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries) and occaisionally add kiwi. These fruits have great health benefits and are easy on the carbs/sugar. Check out this list: http://www.ehow.com/list_6912609_list-_amp_-fruits-grams-carbs.html.

    The best low carb/high protein meal on the cheap that I've been doing is a salad with protein and fresh fruit...no dressing! The juices from the fruit and the chicken, steak, shrimp or fish sufficiently wet the salad and if it's not enough, just squeeze a fresh lemon or lime and that will do the trick. At least this way, you can cut out the fat or trace fat in fat free dressings. Plus, I found that eating salads for lunch and dinner for at least 1 week will train you stomach to be satisfied on less food. Raw spinach, chard, lettuce, cabbage, etc are all very filling because they are full of fiber.

    Sweet potatoes are the better option over regular potatoes and baked, never fried. It's very easy to bake sweet potatoe fries: 400 degrees for about 30-40 minutes. Just make sure to season them to your liking.

    Switch out sodas and juices (yes, even orange juice...look at the label) for water if you haven't done so already and cut out the alcohol; including the Skinny Girls. I believe the body is like 70% water, so drink plenty of it; it's what the body prefers.

    I cook a lot of fish, chicken breast and buffalo (much leaner and has more protein than beef) and pair them with veggies, salads, sweet potatoes or small red potatoes. I have tons of different marinades and spices to switch up the flavors. For breakfast I usually have fresh egg whites, uncured turkey bacon (6g protein per slice and only 40 calories) with either sweet potato home fries, a protein pancake or waffle or Ezekial 4:9 wrap.

    To make a protein pancake or waffle, just add vanilla whey protein to the pancake/waffle mix. This way, you can at least even out the carbs:protein ratio.

    Ezekial 4:9 breads and wraps are sprouted grains, so they have less carbs and more protein than ordinary grains. You can find it at Trader Joe's Whole Foods, or grocery stores like those.

    I also cheat on two meals out of the week so I don't "crave" anything.

    I've lost 2 dress sizes (from a 10 to a 6) and about 10lbs in 6 weeks eating this way. I can see the definition in my waist and hips too. I've also lost some inches on my tummy.

    Last thing, look up the Paleo diet and Paloe cookbooks. A really good Paleo cookbook is, Everyday Paleo. I found it at Barnes & Nobles. The Paleo diet is really heavy in protein and fairly low in carbs because it cuts out all potatoes, rice, grains and beans (some of it is extreme, but it's a good guide when you want to eat more protein than carbs). Just be careful though because some of the recipes can be a little heavy on the fat.

    Hope this helps!
  • kitigonkukoo
    kitigonkukoo Posts: 218 Member
    Aghhh had a good reply typed out, and then my computer spazzed and I lost it.

    Oh well.

    Basically, here's what I say for smoothies.

    Cut back yogurt in your smoothies, it's sneaky. A lot of sugar and carbs, and you are adding fruit anyway.

    here's what I typically do:

    less than 1/4 cup of V8-Fusion light (mango is my fave)
    1 single serving portion of unsweetened apple sauce

    then I add either:
    1/2 a banana and a handful of strawberries, plus ice
    a handful of strawberries, and a handful of blueberries, plus ice

    That's pretty much it. I'll add other berries as well if I have them ,or in place of one of the others. I'll also do a scoop of strawberry protein powder, or chocolate protein powder (love to do chocolate with fresh strawberries!) to up protein for the day.


    For breakfast- here's the more common things I eat, based on a few factors.

    All are simple and quick, because I just don' thave that much time, I also can't afford to go to whole food stores and specialty places, so I have to work with what I have.

    scrambled eggs with a little cheese, carmalized onions, and maybe bell pepper too if I have it. NO SALT. The cheese has enough, and with the onions alone you won't miss it ifyou typically add it. If it's a workout day, I'll do 2 whole med. eggs. Non workout day is 1egg and 1 egg white (or egg beaters equiv.), to keep the calories down.

    I'll do 100 cal bagel or sandwich round with cheese and 1 egg (or whites on a non workout day)

    I'll also do low sodium cottage cheese with bluebarries and a touch of honey, to kill the cottage cheese aftertaste that i don't like.

    You can get some great pancake recipes too, using protein powder.
  • shandajenkins70
    shandajenkins70 Posts: 26 Member
    this was helpful thank u
  • sugarfree123
    sugarfree123 Posts: 82 Member
    Steel cut oats or Quinoa are great choices for breakfast. Steel cut oats won't give you a sugar spike like regular oats . Quinoa is great for any meal including desert. It is a complete protein and a carb. Use it any way you would use rice. For breakfast add some cinnamon and walnuts and some banana for sweetness. Quinoa pudding is too delicious. I also cook firm tofu till it is browning and add cooked mushrooms, brown rice (or Quinoa) and chicken broth for a great protein lunch. smoothies are usually a big sugar hit even when protein is added. I blend a peach and add protein powder, ground flax seed and a green supplement that I have. I use a glucometer to check my blood sugar even though I'm not diabetic. Shows what foods cause a hit. For other meals I stick with plain grilled meats, and veges that have lots of color.