| I just started this one, by suggestion of my sister. I have only been
on it for a week, but the expense has been very reasonable. I went
out to crown books and spent $5.95 and bought "The Complete Book of
Food Counts", which contains over 8,000 listings of: Calories, Carbs,
Protein, Cholesterol, Sodium, Fat, and Fiber.
My original goal was to find just a Fat Gram Counter, but since this
had a lot more information..why not!
So now I am counting Fat Grams. Not Calories, or Carbs, or Sodium...
nothing but FAT. I allow myself between 20-30 grams a day. I have
also found that in choosing foods with low fat content, that in most
cases these very same foods are low in cholesterol and even sodium.
It began to cement very early in my memory what foods I could eat and
which ones to stay away from. My meals most days consist of fruit or
cream of wheat (apples & cinnamon) for morning munching. In the
afternoon I find my way to an Italian Restaurant and my lunch consists
of Pasta, with tomato sauce (no meat - no cream sauces!), a salad, and
one or even two pieces of bread. It sticks with me all day. If it
doesn't, well then back to snacking on fruits and veggies.
Dinner is a meal I choose to keep the least important in my life. I
have found that by keeping my self busy after work (and this does not
necessarily mean by exercising), by running errands and such; that if
I get home past the time that my clock says I should be eating...well,
I'm just not really hungry...and why just EAT to EAT! I know that some
people will not be able to do this because of family and schedules, but
for those who do have a problem of coming home and adhering their
bottom to the couch and there lips to the kitchen, IT WORKS!
This week when I chose to eat dinner, my choice was bread with butter
buds (low fat) and a 8 ounce glass of fruit juice. I found that the
bread and drink was much more filling then having a salad. I love
salads, but sometimes they just make me more hungry...like a prelude
to the main meal.
In one week I lost five and a half pounds. I weigh 150 and wish to
obtain my goal of 115. The weight loss will be greater in the first
two weeks due to water. I figure that my loss will continue at a rate
of 1 - 2 pounds a week, which is perfect for adjusting life habits
(behavorial eating) and learning to maintain your loss successfully.
I highlighted every low fat item in the book. So when I flip the pages
my eyes are always focused on the food I CAN EAT. Soon you will find
you know exactly which ones they are.
The bad ones seem to be mostly red meat, cheeses, dairy products,
chocolate; DON'T WORRY, there are lots of delicious alternatives to all
of these...JUST READ THE BOOK.
I hope this helps. Take whatcha like and delete the rest. I wish you
the best of luck in your weight loss goals!
Lori (a.k.a. Fatbuster!)
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| Hi Liz,
If you read the 3rd reply, Dale speaks the truth! Trying to find a
replacement for Chocolate doesn't exist. But finding sweet
alternatives does! It's just a matter of rearranging your taste buds
and your brain!
The first week, I pretty much stayed away from sweets...this being a
trigger food for me. Since most of my worst cravings for a treat come
right after lunch, I tried to get prepared for the oncoming attack.
You are probably going to think this strange, and it is not the answer
to replacing Chocolate; but it is in satisfying my cravings. I went
to the store and bought a box of Red Hots. Now I don't really LIKE
Red Hots, but I learned something important from them last week. That
when I got back from lunch and the next hour passed easily, I was still
full from lunch. Then the brain took over and said FEED ME SOMEHTING
SWEET! Well I took out my jar of Red Hots and starting eating one and
a time (a great principal...ONE AT A TIME, it's all I can do somedays
to just get thru...take it one Heartbeat, Second, Hour, Day); to work
past my cravings.
Before I knew it, well the craving had passed. Feelings come and go,
and so do Cravings for food. Most of the time we are turning to things
like alcohol, drugs, food, shopping sprees, etc.; just to turn away
from something we don't want to deal with at the time. Most of the
time I turn to food, is because I don't want to deal with who I am and
what I am feeling. It is easier not to like me if the picture fits:
Fat, Ugly, Clothes Don't Fit, Face is Bloated, on and on......
So my suggestion is to THINK IT THROUGH, and don't act on impulse.
Weight Watcher has a Mocha Pie with Hot Fudge Sauce (5 grams fat),
which is pretty delicous and does not taste like a FAKE to me, but
then Chocolate is not my main problem, EATING EXTRA and BAD FOOD
CHOICES and HATING EXERCISE is where my weight gain grows from.
Good luck in your quest, but my advice is to 1)Work on learning to
love yourself and just maybe your learn to love chocolate less; 2)Take
It One Day At A Time; 3)and maybe don't go COLD TURKEY, but eat it...
low fat and great taste!
This network is a perfect example of learning to reach out for support
and give to ourselves. It sets the forum for honesty and truth and
real lived experience.
Write if you just need and ear & friend. I'll be here!
Bye,
Lori
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