How is 50 grams of carb doable?

AliceanRN2B · Jan 15, 2004

I can relate to your dilema. As a nursing student, I eat fast and cheap more than I should, leaving quality and all the rest out in the cold.

If you want more information on low carb stuff, try the Atkins website. Just type in Atkins diet and I am sure it will come up in most search engines. Another source is http://www.ivillage.com and go to their diet and fitness sections. They detail a lot of information about weightloss and so forth.

One good thing I have found to keep me from hunger, and low in carbs, is eat boiled eggs, without the yolks, in the afternoons or something like that. There are plenty of creative options... tuna, salad, etc.

Hope those websites help and good luck, again.

kate930 · Jan 15, 2004

The problem with a lot of low-fat or fat-free foods is that they substitute the fat with sugar to make the food taste better. This in turn creates a higher carb content than foods whose fat grams are left intact (just look at Mayonaise).They've replaced the fat with sugar.

Look for better alternatives than WW frozen foods. Even a small chef's salad would be a better alternative to those if you take into consideration the sugars, carbs, and lower dietary fiber.

Look for foods that have higher dietary fiber (Wonder low-fat bread is a great example of a low-fat BUT much higher in dietary fat, and lower carbs than regular bread), low in sugars and higher in protein.

I don't advocate a low-carb way of eating, however, a lower-carb and lower-sugar way of life we have adapted to works really well. If the sugar doesn't come from it's natural package (bananas, apples, oranges, etc), we try to completely avoid it. Same with processed foods. Try whole foods instead. Avoid pastas, however, a baked potato is a MUCH better option. (pour on some broccoli and a teaspoon of cheddar cheese .......yum!!!)

PM me if you'd like so more suggestions on how we've successfully used thismethod and never feel like there's something "missing" from our meals, since there's not much that we've made totally off-limits.

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 15, 2004

It's almost impossible to do WW and Atkins simultaneously. The best mix of low fat and low carb is, IMO, South Beach Diet. But even then, you're not counting carbs or fat, you're just making sure you're eating good fats and good carbs.

n8isgr8 · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks for all your help and info!!!!!!!This site and the people in it are AWESOME!!!!!!!Thanks again

nurse6686 · Jan 15, 2004

50 grams of carbs is doable...but difficult! Been there, done all of this..believe me. First, you have to get into the habit of reading labels,labels,labels. Do higher protein in the am to stave off hunger. Eggs work well if you can have them. Tuna, chic salad salads with balsamic vinegar with added protein at lunch. THe low carb breads (Arnold makes a good one) are fair...better toasted. THe Lean Cuisines and sorbets are hgh in carbs...sorbet is full of sugar and the LC's usually have a bread or pasta filler side dish.

SUgar free jello is a good snack (no carbs). Cheese (lower fat option...adds protein). THe first 2 weeks are the worst and you will find the hunger becomes less.

You can go online and find lower carb food lists....berries are the best fruits....as are melon.

good luck.

nurse6686 · Jan 15, 2004

Also...you seem to be restricting calories way too much. LC is 300-400/piece. you seem to be at only 1000 cal.....very low. metabolism will revolt pretty quick.

southern rn · Jan 16, 2004

Originally posted by n8isgr8
I thought that for my diet I would just eat a Lean Cusine for lunch and dinner, and then a snack in the evenings( I need these!), like a 1/2 cup sorbet, or a tootsie pop. I know you should really eat in the AM, even better if you eat every couple of hours. But I can't do that. If I eat in AM I am hungry all day, however if I don't eat in Am I am not hungry and lunch fills me. I was looking at the WW points for Lean Cusine, and they are very low approx 4-6 points each, but I just looked at the carbs and they were approx 35-40 g each. How do I eat with low points and low carbs. What do you guys eat that are on low carb.? Could you give me an idea about meals that are both low point and low carb? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I am approx 190 lbs. and only 5'3" . I need to get the weight off and quick my goal is 150, a great weight for me.

from my ww program, this is supposed to be a "two week fast track " to boost your weight loss. i am sure you could follow it for more than two weeks at a time but it probably wouldn't be a good idea as this works out to roughly 1000 calories a day, one ww point is approx. 50 cal. more or less, high fiber content lowers the point value. maybe try this for 2 weeks, take a week or so off and still try to eat moderatley, then try again?

breakfast

choose one:

an egg or 6 egg whites

a 1"cube(1oz) of low fat cheese or soy cheese

a slice of cheese

1/4 cup part-skim milk ricotta cheese

a chicken drumstick w/skin or 2w/o

a slice of lean ham(2oz)

2 slices canadian style bacon

tbsp. peanut butter

plus choose one:

1 1/2 cup serving of oatmeal, fruit salad, whole-grain cereal, light yogurt or ff milk

cup of grits

3 cups of melon, blueberries, mixed berries or pineapple

medium cantaloupe

granola bar

an oz. of whole-grain crackers

3 slices 100%whole-wheat bread

grand latte made with ff milk

lunch choose one:

small (2 oz)lean beef or turkey patty

1 1/2 cups steamed crab, lobster, scallops, or shrimp

3 slices of lean luncheon meat (3 oz)

cup of low-fat or ff cottage cheese

1/2 cup water packed tuna

slice of lean roast beef (3oz)

chicken breast or thigh w/o skin

1 oz of cheese

and choose one:

at least one serving (could be a little more)

cucumber slices

yellow squash

mushrooms

lettuce

spinach

broccoli

cauliflower

green beans

celery sticks

bell pepper sticks

baby carrots

sliced tomato

asparagus spears

salsa

salad greens w 2 tbsp ff italian dsg

and choose one:

1 cup serving of fruit salad, light yogurt, or ff milk

2 slices of 100%whole wheat bread or a whole grain roll

3/4 oz whole grain crackers

large corn or ff whole wheat flour tortilla

large apple or 2 oranges

cup of green peas or corn

dinner

choose one:

extra lean beef or turkey patty 4 oz

1/2 lb. steamed crab, lobster, scallops, or shrimp

1/2 cup canned salmon

2 slices lean am or turkey breast (4 oz)

2/3 cup firm tofu

2 oz low fat or soy cheese

cup of reduced fat cottage cheese

2 eggs

and choose one:

one serving of the vegetables listed on the lunch choices

plus choose one:

2 tbsp. reduced calorie or 1 tbsp. regular creamy salad dressing

2 tsp. of oil, butter, margarine, or mayo

12 large olives

1/4 an avacodo

1/4 cup guacamole

can or bottle of light beer

small glass of wine

20 peanuts, 7 cashews, or 11 almonds

2 tbsp. sunflower seeds

and choose TWO:

one cup serving of fruit salad, light yogurt, or ff milk

2/3 cup wholewheat pasta

1/2 cup brown rice

2 slices of 100%whole wheat bread or whole grain roll

a large corn or ff whole wheat flour tortilla

2 cups of blueberries or mixed berries

a large corn on cob or cup of kernels

1/2 large baked sweet potato or 2 small white potatos

whew! i'm not sure how the carbs in this figures as compared to the atkins plan, but it is supposed to be high protein and looks relatively low carb. they also gave us a two week plan that is higher carb in content.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2004

I agree with the poster who hinted to beware of processed foods. Just because it say "lean cuisine" or weight watchers on it doesn't mean it's healthy. What's so healthy about ww cake? Sure it's better than real cake I suppose, but you're devoiding yourself of nutrition still. Empty calories is empty calories.

(I'm a fine one to talk, my diet sux this week. Been stress eating and it shows the resulting bad feelings I'm having, like being fatigued.)

Good luck!!

kate930 · Jan 16, 2004

I should have mentioned this earlier...

We try what's called perimeter shopping. Basically, we shop along the outer isles of the grocery store.

Why?

Everything in the inner isles is processed, full of fat, and loaded with sugars.

Outer isles are usually your fresh fruits and veggies, meats, and dairy. Primarily "whole" foods.

Inner isles are usually chips, cookies, pastas, sodas, and other foods that have been prepackaged.

I've also found that perimeter shopping is much cheaper than buying ready-made stuff or prepackaged items from the middle.

Godswill · Jan 16, 2004

Its do able if u eat real food, like veggies, fruit and lean protien, and healthy grains.Please do rember that by subtracting fiber, u can get in more carbs