blandwriter Member

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  • I loosely follow South Beach and do about 99 percent of my own cooking to screen out so-called bad carbs. For the two-week "induction" period, where you eat no grains or fruit at all, I ate a lot of vegetables--including vegetable soup (with chicken) for breakfast almost every day. A lot of lower-fat cheeses, tons of nuts…
    in No/ Low Carbs for 1 Week Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • String cheese, Laughing Cow's BabyBel minis, almond butter on celery, cashews and roasted, unsalted almonds (the 100-calorie packs are great too), Atkins daybreak bars. Some of my go-to snacks.
    in Easy Low-Calorie Snacks? Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • I have a kidney disorder, so watching sodium is very necessary for me. It's hard to accept, but processed food contains ridiculous amounts of sodium. Even something as low calorie as Laughing Cow cheese has a buttload of sodium compared with the calories. When I was first diagnosed, I started reading labels on everything.…
    in sodium intake, hypertension and weight loss Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • I tend to include terms like "generic" or "raw" when I'm searching for foods. For example, lean stew beef, raw. I also search by store brand a lot, that seems to weed out some of the recipe-type results.
    in USDA Foods & Database Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • If you substituted "chocolate" (or "bread") for the word "beer," would the challenge be any different? I think we all struggle with choices when we decide to make a significant change in lifestyle. That said, I would try to see this as a matter of balance, not as something you constantly struggle (from a discipline or will…
    in BIG beer guy here Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • I wouldn't take an over-the-counter product like that unless advised by your physician.
    in Umm... Diurex? Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • It's hard not to focus on the scale. I try to take a long view, which is that MFP helps me make healthy changes one day at a time. And you can see those healthy changes quantified in the food diary and in the way you feel. Or, at least I do. When I first started MFP, I found myself stepping on the scales way too many times…
    in Same weight in the 1st week? Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • Talk therapy is important, in my opinion. Beyond that, I would agree with posters who advise seeking medical advice. It looks like you have resources in your community if you cannot afford a doctor's visit: http://www.lcmhb.org/.
    in depression Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • One of my favorite breakfasts when I started doing South Beach was homemade vegetable soup. I make my own chicken stock and use low-sodium tomatoes, lots of vegetables and some chicken. I also made a variation of an Italian white bean and kale soup that I ate for breakfast a lot. Now I stick with Chobani non-fat yogurt…
    in Low Carb Breakfast Ideas Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • I'm borderline diabetic with a kidney disorder, so I need a lower carb approach that won't end up straining my kidneys with tons of excess protein and sodium. My doctor recommended South Beach, which is focused more on healthy carbohydrate balance but is definitely a low carb plan. I've lost 20.2 pounds since Jan. 28, so…
    in Starting Adkins soon Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • I've thought a lot about this since reading about "spike" days through the Spike84 group. Personally, I didn't get to be where I am because I can handle eating certain kinds of foods well. I also didn't get to be where I am because I was honest with myself about certain kinds of foods. Can I honestly say I can buy a bar of…
    in How do you feel about cheat days/meals? Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • Me too, also a WW! Welcome. My mom and I discovered Marlene Koch's "Eat What You Love" cookbook, so if you love to cook, this is a great guide. Tons of recipes that are "friendly" for anyone counting calories, carbs or points. Good luck! I love it here! Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools
    in New to Counting Calories, looking for support Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • I would do some research on carbohydrates generally so you can understand distinctions between refined sugars and healthy carbs. If you drink a glass of orange juice, the refined sugar content will be high vs. eating an orange. An English muffin is also pure carbohydrate. The peanut butter has some protein but also…
    in Sugar? Comment by blandwriter March 2012
  • One good authority on poop and weight loss is the English nutritionist Gillian McKeith, whose show, You Are What You Eat, used to be on BBC America. She actually obtained poop samples from her program participants and talked a lot about what poop should (and should not) look like, smell like, etc. I recall from her show…
    in Floating poop leads to weight loss Comment by blandwriter February 2012
  • I am definitely a WW refugee. I lost and gained the same weight at WW for years. Things began to change when I was diagnosed with a kidney disorder and began seriously monitoring my sodium intake. Weight Watchers would tell me that I could eat at McDonald's and still lose weight. So I need a more health-focused approach.…
    in Weight Watchers Drop Out Comment by blandwriter February 2012
  • I can only speak from my own personal experience. I, too, am considered borderline diabetic. In the last year my A1C results have fluctuated between 5.0 and 7.1 (with anything over 6 being of concern). It's good to know this number, especially if you are being tested every three months. My last doctor's visit, he…
    in sugar from fruit Comment by blandwriter February 2012
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