i'm trying a new system in my house when it comes to dinner....i'm trying to plan a weeks worth of meals....and then making a complete list of everything i will need for the week and eliminate my numerous trips to the grocery store...i'm also trying to help DH shed some weight...so i'm trying low calorie...low carb meals...does anyone else have a system that they use??
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wow jenjen good for hubby...7lbs already?!!!
just wanted to say one of my fav healthy cook book authors is Anne Lindsay...she has a whole series of books...great recipes and the ingredients are easy to subsititute - very forgiving
The Canadian Diabetes Assoc. publish excellent cook books. They are a little expensive but well organized with recipes for soups, appetizers, meals and desserts. All recipes are low glycemic so you are eating only good carbs. I have bought one and prefer it to the Weight Watchers cook books.
Have a look at their web site as there is a wealth of GI information on there with a list of foods. The regional offices sell the cook books and I am sure they would mail one to you.
The best I have found by far is the CDA.
LOL...that's no problem :)
that's great then....sorry i had two posts, my system went down for a split second and i sent again
sorry!
thanks luv2...he's lost 7 lbs already...i think alot of it from just not eating anymore junk ;)
Jen, my dr. had told me that ground meat no matter how lean it is, it is always high in cholesterol. Just cooking with it once in a while is ok.
Since he loves bread, try buying pumpernickel bread which has a low G.I index and try the whole wheat pastas. I don't think that we should avoid eating carbohydrates at all, everything has to be done in moderation, no matter what it is :)
It is tough, because I am trying to lose some weight too, but have many other medical problems as well, so sometimes it's harder than one thinks or says :hairpull:
Good luck with the new diets! :)
Jen, my dr. had told me that ground meat no matter how lean it is, it is always high in cholesterol. Just cooking with it once in a while is ok.
Since he loves bread, try buying pumpernickel bread which has a low G.I index and try the whole wheat pastas. I don't think that we should avoid eating carbohydrates at all, everything has to be done in moderation, no matter what it is :)
It is tough, because I am trying to lose some weight too, but have many other medical problems as well, so sometimes it's harder that one thinks or says :hairpull:
Good luck with the new diets! :)
thanks homebody...i will print it out and give it a try...i love trying new recipes... :) ...and DH loves meatloaf
Debbie, my friend from work, went to a diet place (can't remember which one it was) and they gave her a meat loaf recipe that was so good she gave it to us and we love it. Basically you just combine lean meat (usually we combine beef with prok, so maybe ground turkey with ground veal), then add vegetables that you have ground up in the processor. We generally put in green pepper, onion, garlic, carrots, mushrooms and celery. Then a shot or two of soya sauce, lots of freshly ground pepper, and maybe some onion powder or a seasoning like Joe's Stuff for some extra zip. Then bake it just like you normally would at 350 degrees. We sometimes put tomato sauce over it. It is a little bit less firm than a regular meat loaf with the eggs and all that stuff to bind it, but it is absolutely delicious, and you are getting a ton of vegetables, not a lot of meat, and all of it healthy. We eat it with boiled potatoes, but you don't need a big serving of those.
Hope you like it...
Homebody
jan...he did...and the doctors response to him was...''don't open the fridge so much''...nice huh? :rolleyes: ...that's one of the reasons i went back to my old doctor...the one we have/had became chief of staff at the big hospital in Durham...and started to get an attitude and thought he was God... :mad: ...he also became very sarcastic when you would ask him things...turd!!!
Prior to starting a diet it's always recommended that you see a doctor first. Will DH do this?
Portion control is another thing, my best friends husband chows down on large Costco steaks that should feed his entire family and wonders why he can't loose weight.
I showed him that the palm of your hand or something the size of a deck of cards is all you need for protein and he thought I was kidding.
no caffine for him...he's a terrible truck driver...no smoking...no caffinee...no alcohol and he's still on his first wife...LOL...caffinee is my downfall...which i've switched to decaf...well most of the time anyways
With you mentioning heart attack and diabetes in his mom, most definitly go and get the Schwarzbein Principal. You (and hubby especially) need to understand what is going on and that book will help you out a lot with that. It will also help you to be able to explain to your kids before they end up with problems as adults since they also have a good chance of being insulin senstive if they follow the same path as their dad. The best thing that can happen with things like this in the family is to get the food worked out and then no one has to worry about this stuff again.
Oh one other thing I forgot to mention, caffeine. That stuff (as well as alcohol) triggers insulin all on it's own so if hubby is into cola or coffee, it's good to ween him off and onto decaf. That will help a lot when it comes to cravings and low blood sugar.
My DH is a driver too....and because he doesn't get a lunch break he needs to eat on the go so he would always resort to KFC, burger joint, fish and chips, somewhere he could run in grab a meal to go and eat in the truck between deliveries. Even though he knew his eating was unhealthy he had trouble finding alternatives....a low cal veggie sub just doesn't cut it when you're unloading freight from your truck all day.
I started just making a bit extra each night when I'd prepare dinner and DH could take it for lunch the next day or even a couple of days later. We bought a small soft side cooler and some icepacks and we load it with some fruit, whatever leftovers he wanted, and he also takes a small tupperware with some cereal and a tupperare with milk and he'll have a mid morn cereal break at one of his stops. Everyonce in a while regardless of what gets packed he might still be hungry and he'll grab a slice of pizza or a small burger but at least it's not a regular occurrence anymore and he burns so many calories at work it isn't sitting on his waistline.
Also disturbing as it is we watched Supersize Me. At first when we watched it I thought ...oh please it's a little over the top ...who eats like that? but then when I sat back and DH and I were talking about it I remember in High School the kids walking over to the mall to the fast food court or the McD's each day. That was 5 meals a week that were not really meals at all plus whatever they'd eat on the weekends which would probably be more of the same type of fast food.
thanks DBD for taking the time to write all of that....i have watched his reaction after having a heavy carb meal...he's italian and saying he loves his pasta and bread is an understatement...but whenever he eats a high carb meal...the first thing he says before he leaves the table is ''i've got a sore tummy!!''...and for example yesterday...i made...veal scallops with mushrooms and wine...broiled veggies...greek salad...and maple creme caramel...all low calorie food...and he ate...and didn't complain one bit about his tummy being sore...he didn't even get his craving last nite...so basically i hope i can help him...i get worried about him...his mom had a heart attack at 50 yrs old...and now has diabetes....and diabetes runs big time in his family...so i need to look out for him...hopefully i can do it...but like i told him...he has to help....and he wants to start eating better too...so i think that's gonna make a difference...but he told me last nite...that unless i help him...he doesn't think he can do it...
Yes, the withdrawal is actually exactly that and is identical to alcohol for some (actually most alcoholics do have insulin issues which is why it can run in families...My family has diabetis, hypoglycemia (me), weight issues, and heart desease which are all now known to be insulin at work which is actually the heredity rather than them being all separate problems as is commonly thought). I had no idea what it can do and what true poison sugars are for many people. It is why most people have such a hard time the first two weeks on low carb and it is easier to ween off a bit first or it can be a total pain because it is a very physical addiction.
I am definitly a carb addict. I am fine as long as I avoid them altogether, but give it one holiday, one slip, and it's like that first drink to an alcoholic, all bets are off and I have to start all over again going through withdrawal.
Jenjen, you husband sounds classic. The moods from starches or sugars are his insulin again. It's storing all the sugars he eats instantly and causing his blood sugar to drop. He may also need a nap, be moody, get confused, weak, sweaty, have achy joints and muscles, when his blood sugar has dropped. worst of all is being more hungry and craving more starches/sugars which of course keeps the cycle going. You can set your watch by people when you realize this is happening. My blood sugar drops very quickly and within 20 minutes of eating something that triggers my insulin I experience symptoms. Other people can take up to 3 hours.
Hubby might want to test himself. Have him eat an all carb meal (like pasta and tomato sauce with garlic bread) and then he can monitor how he feels for a few hours. If he needs a nap, more food, etc. note the time since eating and that is how fast his blood sugar drops. Then have him eat a meal of protein and above ground veggies (no corn), no grains, no sugars. That could be steak or salmon or chicken and veggies and salad (or bacon and eggs, no toast) and see how he feels after that. If he notices how much better he feels (more energy, clearer thinking etc.) that may be all the motivation he needs to avoid the foods that get him and then he won't feel deprived at all when he chooses nuts instead of chips for a snack.
BTW another sign of having low blood sugar is not being hungry at all. I can go a day or more without eating and it not bother me and it took me a while to realize that was because my blood sugar had crashed and basically was not the way a body was supposed to behave. Strange but true, the less I eat, the fatter I get and that is because of insulin being wonky.
I know for me, when I started to pay attention to what foods were doing what to me, it gave me much more incentive to eat right than doing it to lose weight ever did. So every bit helps when trying to stick to it.
If he is a fast food person, he can still do okay. He can order burgers without the buns, salad instead of fries or instance. He could have KFC if he takes the coating off first. I got really used to ordering triple burgers and tossing the buns. Restaurants are getting more used to doing things without the breads so even Subway will give you the fillings without the sandwich if you want, you can have pizza and just eat the topping.
Protein drinks and bars are also a good fast, easy to carry option if he's hitting the drive thru because he is just plain hungry. You can mix drinkgs at home with frozen fruit and take them along and it's like drinking a smoothie.
Meanwhile, do read labels. It's absolutely shocking how much sugar is in things. Even some salt has sugar in it. There are brands and varieties of salad dressing, canned foods, etc. with no sugars at all. Pastas can be had in whole grain whic is lower GI and tastes better anyway. All low fat products have sugar in them (they replace the fats with corn starch and such which is sugar as the body sees it) so that's why the middle isles get tricky.
Anyway, good luck sorting it all and know that the sugars are more of a problem with weight than the calories so if hubby is thinking he will go hungry, that isn't necessary. Better to have the extra veggies or protein than get hungry and aim for what's fast and easy.
I have used it and lost at least 30 lbs it is the only diet I have used that worked i did not feel hungry or I didn't get crabby ( at least I don't think I did)dI have to elave the carbs alone or I put it on fast. It is tough for you DH as he is a truck driver is he not and they sit all day maybe he needs to get out for a walk in the evening and that will help and it is something you can do together.
ewwww...thank god i don't like onions..LOL
McD == Massive Cholesterol Diet!!
Ever eaten a blooming onion at The Outback?? That thing has 3,000 calories, not to mention more fat than your body needs for a week!!
that's a good one...i will let him know...i think i completely turned DS off of McD's too...i found this website that you could show kids how many calories McD's has...so i showed him how much grams of fat was in his favorite meal...he was totally grossed out...for what it costs now for a family of 4 to eat a McD's i can make one hell of meal at home
KFC - Tell him the initials stand for "Keep the Fat Coming". Heard that in Jamaica. Maybe you can think of something like that as a reminder for McD's.
it sure does Smoodg...thank you...i have made it clear to him that i can only help him when he is home...when he's at work he needs to be a big boy and take responsibility for what he eats....i think he'll be ok...cuz he knows he really really needs to loose some weight...
From what I've been told, if you go to a Dr. B weigh-in and you haven't lost weight that week, you either get a warning not to let it happen again, or you get booted from the program right then and there. That's the positive reinforcement that you need!! :hairpull:
jenjen, I think your plan is great, but there's one important factor that's being overlooked. Your hubby needs to be the one to make sure that he's eating right. What he puts in his mouth is his responsibility, not yours. Sure, you can definitely help him by preparing good, healthy meals (I'm guessing he won't cook??) But he has to be in the right mind-set to lose the weight, and he can't rely on you to do everything for him.
One really good thing he can do is keep a food journal -- what time he eats, what he eats, and the quantity that he eats. That can be a real eye-opener, let me tell you!!!! It really isn't so much about counting calories, but more about being aware of what you're eating through the course of the day, making sure your you're making good food choices (for exmaple, whole grain bread instead of white bread), and trying to space out your meals and snacks so that you're eating every few hours. It's important to NOT feel hungry -- it's also important not to relieve your hunger with a bag of chips or cookies. Fruits, veggies, complex carbs, yoghurt, nuts..... and as DBD said, stay away from processed foods as much as possible.
Hope this helps :)
LOL...people kept asking DH how come he wasn't grumpy as most people are when they cut carbs...LOL...but as soon as he started eating carbs again...look out...man oh man was he miserable again...LOL
Yeah..I was thinking about what I wrote in my post...and I was DEFINITELY not as bad as a heroin addit!! OMG!!! But I was a crazy..b**chy woman for 2 weeks!! LOL
:D Mel
thank you DBD...i really appreciate all the info....i will take a look at that book....here is the deal with DH...he's 5'7'' and weighs 217lbs...not good...and it all goes to his belly...he has the beer belly...but doesn't drink alcohol...you pinned it exactly DBD....his beer belly is from starchy foods....he loves his bread pasta mashed potatoes...the last time he lost weight he cut out carbs completely...and believe it or not Mel...he had the total opposite reaction to cutting carbs than you did...he was actually more pleasant to be around...i'm trying to do what i did the last time...cook healthier...more veggies salads...like i said more complete meals so that maybe it'll curb his craving bug...his only concern with all of this is me...i don't need to loose weight...but he's worried that all of this will make me loose weight and he doesn't want that...i told him not to worry about it...my other concern with him is during the day...i made it very clear to him that i cannot and will not help him if he continues to eat KFC and McD's a couple times a week....there's no point if he's gonna eat that crap...and he needs to tell me everything he eats during the day so that i can keep track of his calories and make any adjustments i may need to for dinner....hopefully i can help him...the other nite i was watching him sleep and he looked really uncomfortable kept tossing and turning...all i could think of was holy jumpin' i need to help him...thanks everyone for all your advice...tips...and suggestions...please keep 'em coming...
oh i'm also concerned about DS...8 yrs 124lbs...but he's very active....hockey....etc...but i also bought another book called "Dr. Sears' LEAN Kids''....it talks alot about avoiding the middle isles in the stores like you said DBD...and you know until i read that in the book....i never realized that all the proccessed foods and stuff were in the middle isles...it never even dawned on me.....but he also says that parents that eat healthy have kids that eat healthy...so i'm hoping it will have some effect on DS too....i know everyone needs a treat every once in a while...but i'm hoping that if i make healthier treats and avoid store bought process ones....might make a difference
I know people who had success with both of these diets -- however, the one who did Bernstein had to have her galbladder removed, and she was hungry and miserable most of the time.
The best and cheapest way to lose weight -- everything in moderation!! Combine that with exercise, and the pounds will come off :) 1-2 pounds a week is a good rate for losing weight.
Sorry, a bit off-topic!!
no need to appologize Smoodgie...i've heard worse things about the Dr. B. diet than the Atkins...i've heard that the staff from Dr B belittlles you if you didn't loose enuff weight...
Well, I tried Atkins too..and had great results. I was on the "diet" for 2 weeks and the weight-loss was noticable..to everyone. The only problem is...I was like a Heroin addict going through withdrawl!! Seriously, I guess being addicted to carbs is pretty much the same as any other additiction-smoking..alcohol...and it was a huge mistake for me to try quitting cold turkey like that. I was moody..couldn't sleep...it got so bad that DH told me that he'd rather I stayed at my current weight than be on this diet. I am generally a pleasant person, but I found I was screaming and yelling all the time..especially at the poor kids. :o
Anyhew, the point is...Atkins wasn't a very good fit for me. I'm doing something new. Since Xmas..I've given up drinking Pepsi..well, pop of any kind. And trust me..this is a huge step towards a healthy lifestyle for me..I drank a LOT of pop.
I'm not seeing any results yet..but I'm sure it has to pay off eventually. All I drink now is water and skim milk and a daily cup of coffee (I also gave up coffee cream). I also bought a new Eliptical Trainer. I have to admit..I don't use it that often..but even if I get on it twice a week..its way more exercise than I was getting before.
:) Mel
Well here's a topic I unfortunately know a lot about. What I will say is I love Atkins and my doctor actually recommends it (he's the one who had to convince me because I thought he was crazy). I don't want to get into a debate, but done by the book (this is key), it works very well for many people and in particular men. After the initial induction period it doesn't vary all that much from WW or some other programs which have now adjusted their programs to be lower carb/gi. I can tell you you can't do Atkins half way. It is not possible nor is it advised.
Meanwhile, the big truth is a person has to find what works for them as an individual in lifestyle and body type. It has to suit the person as it is how they eat forever to work (or no matter what 'diet' the fat comes back).
What you could do is go low GI. That is a good sensible way to eat low carb that feels a lot less restrictive to most people. It is also medically sound and can easily adapt to individual bodies. For instance, any sugar in any form turns to fat in my body. That includes the sugars produced from eating grains and root veggies as well as fruits. So what works for me would raise eyebrows in others. If I follow the GI, I know for my body I can not eat anything rated over 30 to lose weight. Other people can go to 50 or 70 on the scale and do great so it's a little more flexible in that regard. YOu see the list, figure out where you fit, and eat those foods. So using the GI you can adjust foods as needed based on your body quite easily.
If you want to really understand it all, hit the library and get out a book called The Schwarzbein Principal as it explains how foods work in the body. They when you look at the GI (glycemic index... you can search that out on the web and there are books) you will understand it better. The first book is a very easy read and very well written compared to many of the other explainations out there.
One thing you will learn is to see where the body fat is located. If, for instance, hubby has a beer gut, he has insulin at work and that means he is eating too much high GI (it converts to sugar quickly, kicks the insulin into action, and insulin gets busy storing it as fat around the middle). Beer has more sugar in it than distilled, so typically big beer drinkers develop the stereotypical look. It's classic for what sugars will do to a body sensitive to sugars. Pasta, white flours, potato, and sugar in all forms in too large a quantity (compared to other foods) will cause the same reaction so once you see where the fat is, you can start to figure out what works for that body rather than using trial and error to find what works.
Meanwhile, many diet sites (like ediets.com or atkins.com or just about any major name group) offer menues, recipes, and shopping lists on them. That might help you make your lists. I think ediets will email you a weekly list based on whatever program you choose to use if you register with them. I think there is a charge for that, but if you visit the site you can find that out.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you find something that works for you and your husband. Sometimes all it takes is never shopping the middle isles. If you avoid prepared, packaged, processed foods, you can often cut the sugars, starches, extra calories out without a lot of effort (well other than actually more food prep time) or having anyone in the family feeling deprived. Best of all, everyone ends up eating better foods anyway and getting the nutrition they may not be getting in processed foods.