Okay folks, I’m throwing myself at your mercy. I need some help here! My doctor “spanked” me the other day, and told me I must limit carbohydrates and lose a few pounds. I had already pretty much eliminated desserts, but damn it, carbs are my friend. Well, maybe not so much, but still, I LOVE CARBS!!! On my last day on earth, I want a steady stream of french fries, potato chips, pizza, cookies, and other extremely bad-for-me munchies delivered to my bedside.
It’s day two of my limited carb existence and I’m already at my wit’s end. I need food suggestions to stay full, (and not feel so deprived.) And thus far all the low carb breads I have tried taste like hay. Blech! Please give me the benefit of your experiences – your favorite recipes, best suggestions, and whatever else you can think of. I know how smart all you bloggers are!
And just to make things more challenging, I don’t like yogurt, tofu, beans, or veggie burgers.
I feel like I’m producing a telethon or something… “Free Lisa B. from evil carbs!”
OY.
Nope, can’t help ya there… In my life there is no room for carb-less, carb-free or carb-low existance… Impossible…
Well Lisa… the only thing I can think of is Chocolate Chip Cookies…. full strength not those crappy low carb ones!
Lisa, I’ve been on low fat , low carb diet forever. You really do get used to the zero fat dairy stuff. At least I did. The carb situation is much trickier because a lot of it is loaded with fat and you really don/t want to go that way even if you’re skinny. So Splenda is my friend, zero carb, zero fat sweetener that i actually like a lot. I make humus and spread it on the lowest carb cracker i can find(zero fat too) it’s a from Norway and comes in a red box and is called Kavli Crispy Thin. Don’t get the blue or green box because they have more carbs. I make the humus with less olive oil and Tanhini than is called for. The carbs in the chick peas are complex so that’s the kind you want. Let me know if you want the recipe. I make it by the bucketful. I depend on protein drinks which you can get in many different configurations. Find one that’s low carb and fat and Vanilla s you can mix other flavors and Splenda in there. I use a lot of Egg Beaters with no fat cheese. I use no fat cottage cheese. The important thing is I write down every item I have every day and total up the nutrients so i know what I’m doing. And I do Cardio about five times a week plus yoga every day. That’s what works for me. let me know if you need more info.
I’m sorry, I’m totally no help at all on this one.
For what it’s worth, Ive heard you can cook cauliflower up, mash ‘em and it’s the next best thing to real live mashed potoates.
In theory, anyway:)
OY is right!
I completely agree that low-carb bread options taste like “hay”… ie: FOUL. At least you don’t mind the artificial sweeteners!
I’d be a goner. LOL Best of luck and big hugs.
Oh, and we live in carb city, too! How can you go low carb when there’s the opportunity for a slice on every corner? One suggestion when you’re craving spaghetti: spaghetti squash. You cook it up, pull out the insides, and stick some sauce on it. Tastes a bit sweeter than regular spaghetti, but still very good.
Please tell me the doctor didn’t cut out wine…
Well, my darlin’, you know I’ve been on the Fat Flush Plan for some time. It eliminates carbs, period, end of story. Getting there was HARD. The only thing I found to quell the carb cravings was the stupid cran-water the Plan calls for: 1 part raw cranberry juice (no “cocktail” no “juice blend”) to 3 parts water. Once you get used to it, you feel full and don’t crave carbs. Added benefit of UTI prevention and cellulite burn.
I do roasted cauliflower (in a 350 degree oven, thirty-five minutes) and mash it with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, for my mother, who is diabetic. It doesn’t taste like mashed potatoes but it is very satisfying.
If you don’t do beans or soy, I have nothing else for you. Durum semolina pasta is lower carb than regular pasta; you could try that.
I’m a guy who lives alone. What do I know about carbs?;)
Sorry I can’t help you, I’m an Italian so carbs are ectching into my DNA. HOWEVER, I did manage to lose about 15 pounds a while back just by getting more protien and veggies in the diet. Cereal for breakfast, bagel for snack, some sort of leftovers like chicken, stir fry, pork, whatever with a healthy side (rice, veggie, etc) for lunch. Good dinner, and maybe fruit for snack.
Despite what everyone says about carbs these days, I think the key to losing weight is portion control. Just eat well, and not have too many of the tasty junk food we all love.
I did low carb and it sucked. Those advantage no carb bars really helped. The cinnamon roll and peanut butter ones were good. They are very filling.
Oooh, girl, I dont know what to tell ya…I could never give up my loveable carbs. They’re too precious to me. It’s like losing one of my kids, you know? But still, dont forget to let us know how it all goes!
Punkin, why don’t you just get a second opinion? No carbs?! Your doctor can just fly his/her ass out to my neck of the woods and I’ll kick his/her ass for even suggesting such blasphemy. Geesh. What’s a life without pasta? Yeah. YOU tell ME. Always other ways to lose a pound or two iffen YOU find it necessary… Sex works if you’re especially diligent.
Thanks everyone for your fabulous suggestions – VERY appreciated!!!
DutchBitch – Yes, well I thought so too
Denny – Phooey on you!!!
Bud – Thanks for sharing – you were incredibly helpful! And the hummus sounds good. I’ll be emailing you…
Janet – I’ll try it!
Serra – No worries!
Oob – Thanks! And glad you agree on my hay assessment
Julie – I will be emailing you too! And you are so right that the slice on every corner is not making it easy.
As for wine, lets just say I should limit drinking to excess
Miss Trubs – I will try the cranberry juice mixture. These first few days have been a bear, I’m so hungry I’m ready to chew my arm off! Glad to hear it works though.
Golfwidow – That actually sounds quite tasty! I will try it. Thanks so much!
Bruce – Awww, poor you
Leave – I agree it sucks. But I’m going to try those no carb bars – thanks dear!
David – I’m sure you all will hear way more than you ever wanted to know lol.
Cootera – Darlin, she didn’t say NO carbs, just limit them. Which is hard enough damn it!
But I’ll be happy to send my doc your way for an ass kicking. I’ll even pay the plane fare
Thanks for the laugh!
Did the doc suggest you cut out all carbs, or just the refined no good for anyone carbs? A healthy diet including good protein, healthy fats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables etc., without sugar, white refined anything, processed foods etc. with surely help. There truly are lots to choose from and lots to do with it. Creativity is key. I find if I don’t keep temptation in the house I can’t grab for it, and believe me there’s nothing I’d rather do than grab for it…tee hee…good luck.
I don’t like those carb-less bars and such either. I do like Quaker oat meal. It’s pretty filling and comes in different flavors. Not sure about the carb count there, but it helps keep cholesterol in check. I’m a pasta & potato freak so carbs are a problem for me too. I actually did the Atkins Diet a few years ago and lost some pounds, but alas, with a new house payment, steaks are not on my daily fare. Good luck!
Your doctor is a quack. Find another doctor. A life without carbs. What is he thinking?
Just kidding, I have no idea what to tell you. I live for my carbs. My doctor said to stay away from “white” food and any food that’s “shiny” and you’ll be alright in the health department. White and shiny? Those are the best kinds! I got a new doctor.
I repeat – I need to LIMIT carbs, not eliminate them completely
I’ve chosen fat over thin, satisfaction over hunger, joy over sadness. Of course, I’m lucky in that my work doesn’t require that I be thin and I adamantly refuse to have any kind of romantic relationships, having been cured by one very bad marriage. I’m sorry, Lisa. I hope the diet is working. Increase fiber. Cereal fills you up. Add dairy. Good luck. When you’re old like me, it won’t matter any more. Isn’t it nice to look forward to?
Ha! I could barely get past your statement, “My doctor spanked me the other day…” Shows you where MY mind is
Will send you some recipes and meal plans that my nutritionist did for me.
I know a lot more about 4 barrel carbs than the edible kind, I doubt if I could be much help there! Sorry!!! All I can say is I feel your pain sweetie!
I recall being restricted to a completely salt free diet a couple years back which was extremely limiting as to what I could and could not eat, I’m glad that’s over with!!
i think you need to see a new doctor. no carbs? pffft! what a damn nazi!
I’d say you’re pretty much screwed. Doctors are highly overrated, by the way
Tisha sent me!
i don’t know what carbs is. i’m illiterate where diet is concerned, really. this costs me may relationships already.
actually, i’m cooking this thursday, menu’s pasta with things, but i have huge cake for desert. wanna come along?
I get fat just looking at carbs. So I feel your pain. Stop ignoring them all together. Just the bad ones.
The ‘nothing white’ rule works well for me. No sugar, bread, pasta etc.
Also, try munching down on grilled tuna steaks smothered in salsa. Or stir fry some fresh prawns/shrimp with lime juice and chillies…..then dump on a baked SWEET spud.
Oh, boxing helps too….makes you too tired to eat.
But try the tuna first.
I’m no help – I don’t eat many carbs anyway. I think Buffy’s got the right idea with the tuna steaks etc.
Trying to cut down on carbs, I took lunch meat and cheese and rolled it up and ate it, eliminating the bread. Of course, I got hungry, so I made omelets, which is just substituting protein for carbs. A lot of fat there too, but I lost weight. But you get so HUNGRY without carbs that I gave it up! Now I prefer to focus on exercise instead of diet. I avoid second helpings and candy, but otherwise just eat what I want. And lots of exercise!
The only sure way to lose lots of weight in my experience is to go through a severe heatrbreak, and I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone.
Fiber, fiber, fiber!!! And I’m glad that you’re limiting carbs and not eliminating them – that’s sooo not healthy. Forget about the low-carb bread – I eat “lite” whole grain bread (1/2 the calories, so two slices would equal one bread serving for the day).
Good luck (I feel your pain… believe me)
are you adamant on the tofu thing? ’cause I have several recipes that make it super yummy and it is a fabulous source of protein. Quinoa, too —- I’ll get some recipes to you soon
I have to say…I’d just get a new doctor! It’s impossible to live without carbs!
A) Cut out all colas and drinks with calories. That means drown yourself in water.
B) Have your thyroid checked – we can discuss that privately.
C) Cardio.
D) Free weights.
E) Have one cheat day every 13 days. the other 12, you will suffer.
BUT
I have lost 39 pounds, four sizes, and still losing. It will get easier. Just do it. Nike and all that. Hypnosis tapes might help, or those subliminal but I am alway afraid they will also tell me to grope old men in nursing homes….oh, wait. Never mind.
Dr. Atkins is dead. I’m not sure if that’s helpful. I suppose it isn’t for Mrs. Atkins. Have I made a point? If I have, stop me before I do it again.
I’m loving the recipes and helpful hints folks, many thanks!
White carbs baaaad. Brown carbs goooood.
Evil carbs are my downfall, too. But, oh, what a DOWNFALL! I tried the low carb thing for awhile and lost some, but I craved chewing on some crusty bread, and gave into the craving. I gained back almost all of the weight. This is why I’m doing WW now. I can have carbs, if I do so in moderation. Pass me the bread, please!!! And TOFU? ICK!!!!! (well, it’s good in miso soup, but that’s IT!)
Late on the response I see – but you have a ton of great comments!!!
I’m with Janet & golfwidow on the mashed up califlower thing. I did that on Atkins once, and it was really good, and a great replacement for mashed potatoes. Yum!
Also, you can do what I try and do and make yourself go walking every day for an hour after work (or whenever you can fit it in). It was really hard the first week, and then the second week was better, and I’ve lost over 5 pounds so far. But I think cutting back on portions was the biggest thing. That, and totally not trying to eat what is bad for me – which it seems that all the skinny girls already know – how am I last to figure this one out!
I also have some good recipes if you’re interested! Email me!