Hi all!

I would be grateful if some of you LC wizards could review my version of an LC diet and let me know if I'm setting myself up for any future problems.

I've come back to LC after falling off Atkins many times. One of two things has always happened: 1) after making it through induction and slowly adding back carbs, something triggers my carb addiction and I fall off the wagon, or 2) I get bored during induction and I fall off the wagon. Either way, I have done a lot of falling...

So, after much reading and introspection I have crafted my own LC plan that so far has helped me drop 6 lbs. (of the 10 I gained during vacation!!) I feel great, and the carb-addiction monster has not come out of its cage, so I'm hoping this is something I can (and should) keep up:

breakfast: usually a protein shake with LC protein powder, 1 T. flax seed meal, 1 T. unsweetened cocoa, 2 packets Splenda, a little guar gum, 1/4 C n.f. powdered milk, vanilla, ice and water (as per LC writer Dana Carpender). This has about 15 carbs, I believe. I also drink 1 pot of green tea with 2 pkts. Splenda added.

lunch: a chef salad with about 2 cups mixed greens, a hardboiled egg, ~1 oz. cheese, some sliced meat if handy, LC dressing and bacon bits. I can vary this greatly with different meats, veggies and cheeses. Sometimes I'll eat tuna salad instead: 1 can tuna, couple Tbs. mayo, dill pickle, celery.

dinner: sometimes 2-3 fried eggs, or meat with veggies, or nothing if I'm not hungry.

I drink a lot of water and take vitamins, herbs, etc. I'm feeling better than I have in ages!

Thanks for any feedback! I hope I'm on the right track.

Staci

Looks as if you've found an approach that works for you, Staci.

Myself, I'd add a bit more veggies, but if this is working for you, I'd say go with it. You're going to crave more variety at some point, and the answer might well be .... more veggies ... and of course some fruit and nuts when you get to that point.

Congratulations on finding a basic menu that feels right for you!

__________________

If it works for you stick with it. For me 15 is my absolute net carb limit per meal. I usually try to stay nearer 10-12. But higher carb ingestion is best done at breakfast, so you're doing okay with that shake. Just make sure that the protein powder has a full range of Amino acids.

NEVER skip meals!!

__________________

my blog

I disagree Rob... I believe lunch is a better time for higher carbs. The reason is, your blood sugar is usually lower in the morning, and if you start off with a substantial amount of carbs, you raise it dramatically. In many people, the amount of insulin released is not only a factor of how much carbohydrate is ingested, but how quickly it all comes in and is metablolized. Most breakfast foods are not complex fiber-rich carbyhydrate, and it will cause a spike. I believe it is better to limit breakfast to protein and fat, with 2 to 5 grams of carbohydrate, and ease the blood sugar up through the day, peaking at lunch time, where a larger percentage of the daily carb intake is done. Then, the evening meal should focus more on protien and fat with minimal carbohydrate, and then only from veggies/salad. Nothing but protein in the 2-3 hours before bed, if needed. This will ease the blood sugar back down before bed. Gentle rise, peak at midday, ease back down at the end of the day. Just MHO and experience.

__________________
Mikeyrat

Started Atkins 5/30/2003
337/237/220 - 6'2" 43 YO
Wife: 224/194/165 - 5'11"

I see your point Mikey.

__________________

my blog

Staci - looks like you have found something that will work for you. The whole point here is sustainability. I agree with Maggie though, I would add some more veggies.

__________________
Jen



179/179/120

Stacy, I am troubled by one thing--the statement that you don't have any dinner if you aren't hungry. If that means you are not eating anything from lunch time until the next morning at breakfast, it's my opinion that this is not healthy. Your body needs something to sustain it--to keep insulin levels from dropping too low, to provide necessary nutrients for growth, repair, and energy needs.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Thanks all, for the feedback.

I've been trying to add more veggies, and usually have them with lunch and dinner.

Even though the protein shake is relatively high carb, it gives me my chocolate fix (without triggering my carb addiction) and keeps me going until lunch - and besides, I usually just can't stomach eggs for breakfast.

I will make sure that I eat at least something little in the evening. I do usually have dinner - it is only occassionally that I'm just not hungry (this may have something do do with living in southern Arizona in the summertime...).

I sure appreciate the great advice I get around here!

Staci

Absolutely no skipping of meals, if its only a serving of something. Not eating every few hours will only hinder metabolism and definetly not a healthy thing to do.

__________________
Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

If you like the way you're doing things, keep doing it. The powdered milk would be off-limits with most low-carb regimens, but if it works for you, that's good. Personally, I would substitute some kind of protein powder for the milk.

You might want to add some more potassium-rich foods, like broccoli.

__________________
**************
"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours."

Ditto all the above. Sounds like you're doing fine!

__________________
It is always necessary to leave some part
of cooking to improvisation. - Paul Bocuse
Member since 2001