Posted on 09/01/2003 5:41:39 PM PDT by carlo3b
I have totally eliminated processed foods, junk foods, fast foods and supermarket frozen food from my diet. I eat fresh meat, fish, produce, nuts, yogurt, cheese and eggs daily. I will eat canned or packaged foods but only if they are essentially "whole" foods. For example, sardines packed in olive oil. Or packaged salad mix. If they are loaded with preservatives or corn syrup or any kind of hydrogenated vegetable oils, I don't eat them.
I drink at least four 24-oz bottles of spring water daily along with two cups of English breakfast tea in the morning (with Splenda for sweetener). I also drink beer or wine at dinner. No fruit juice whatsoever. No soda pop. I will have Gatorade or Propel fitness water (made by Gatorade) after a strenous workout.
I walk at least 7 miles daily and more on weekends when time permits. I do 4 miles in the morning, 3 miles at lunchtime and more when I can fit it in. Last Saturday, I walked 18 miles in 4 1/2 hours and then did another 5 miles that afternoon. I won't have many opportunities like that so I took advantage. I also do pushups and situps at night.
To me, exercise is a crucial component of my overall plan to lose weight and keep it off. But the diet is just as important.
I allow myself one container of sweetened yogurt (with the fruit on the bottom) every morning at breakfast. I get the all-natural kind (Stonyfield Farms) with no preservatives or additives. Either blueberry, raspberry, or strawberry. They use real sugar. This contains 23g of carbs (after the fiber is factored out).
Because I eat it in the morning and I walk close to 10 miles every day, I have no issue burning it off. I know it is not turning to fat because I have been losing 3-4 pounds a week since April.
I eat blueberries separate from the yogurt. I go through about 3 pints of blueberries a week. I usually have them at lunch or as a snack. I sometimes eat raspberries, strawberries and blackberries, but they are very expensive and I don't have them as often.
As you've probably read, I do a lot of aerobic exercise, 7-10 miles a day of power walking. So I can handle more carbs than the average low-carber. Still, my daily carbs rarely exceed 70g a day and are always under 100g. For comparison, I reckon I used to eat over 500g of carbs every day in the "bad old days" when I was fat! (The average American eats 425g a day.)
I must say that my daily beer drinking motivates me to go out there every day and exercise. I'm "earning" those beers!
BTW, there are "low-carb" beers out there like Michelob Ultra that contains only 2.6g of carbs a bottle. I've tried that beer and to my palate, at least, it is truly awful. If I had to drink that every night, I'd be a teetotaler in no time at all!
A lot of water. I drink 96oz of spring water a day, minimum. I buy it in the 24oz bottles and take a bottle to work with me to drink along the way. I then fill it up twice during the workday from the office water cooler. That brings me up to 72oz. Before heading home, I fill up the bottle again and drink it on the way home giving me the full 96oz.
That seems to be adequate for me. Any more water, and I'm running to the bathroom all the time!
The key factor for carbs, no doubt. But let's not forget quality as well :) I usually drink one or two fine beers a day. It's a hot one up here in WA state today, so I'll probably pour myself a nice Pils a little later, either Paulaner or Pilsner Urquell. When the weather cools off I prefer bock beers.
Only 10-15 carbs per brew? Not too bad. How many carbs are in a big plate of pasta?
I love any thread that has to do with low carbs or recipes.
My dad tried Atkins a few months ago and his cholesterol levels shot through the roof ...outrageously high. So he stopped, started on a balanced diet (still watching his carbs), and the levels went back down to normal within three weeks. Plus he said is was a very difficult diet to stay on.
Thanks Sink, tell the Mrs that I am as close as the keyboard, should you start to get crabby due to hunger...LOL
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