Blood sugar diet thread 9

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Shiny new thread for the blood sugar dieters!

Very, that's the main reason I stick to the recipes in the book. I don't log food or calculate anything much. I just pick a breakfast, lunch and dinner that I like the look of and eat them.

Well, after a hard week, when I put on 3lbs, I now weigh half a pound less than I did this time last week. Taking that as a big win and moving forward. Week 4 starts tomorrow!

augh spamming thread w/ 3 posts in a row, but for me it's also a big nope on the cauli rice.

Would rather have stuff without rice, and have the cauliflower roasted or steamed or whatever as its own thing.

Congrats bridget and welcome to Wk 4!

I'm hoping the additional recipes will inspire me and allow me to let go of MFP a little more.

Very can you create recipes on your tracker? I only ask because on mine I’ve had to do it all manually, but it really helps because I can now just enter my own ‘homemade shake’ or ‘lentil soup’ for example, without having to add each ingredient. It helps for those things I have every day. I also sit and enter things for upcoming days when I’ve got a few spare minutes. I do know what you mean about the constant tracking though. It feels a touch obsessive doesn’t it?

Welcome all newbies and returning BSDers! I’m definitely up for a strict week at 800, at least Monday-Friday this week. We are at a christening today but it will be vair vair posh so I’d imagine the food will be minuscule and no sausage rolls in sight, which is good. Just done a 3.5k run to keep me focussed today (anyone else find they eat less after exercising?)

Re sweetener- I really should ditch them but I love my coffee. I really have tried without the sweetener but it is just horrible. I used to drink tea but for some reason since having hyperemesis in my pregnancies I cannot stomach it once you’ve tasted it on the way back up it’s not the same ever again - so for now it’s coffee and sweetener.

yes bear exactly it's the obsessiveness of it. But I suppose it's better to binge on tracking than to binge on food.

You can add your own foods or recipes to MFP, which helps. It's just sitting and doing the numbers (looking up carbs and cals etc for each ingredient) the first time I do something from scratch, or alter an established recipe. Getting the hang of it though, and I'm sure once I have a fuller array of recipes built up it will be super simple.

The good thing about the recipes in the BSD recipe book is that they list all the components - carbs, fats, proteins - as well as calories per serving, which makes it much easier to keep on track w/ carbs. (I never seem to have a problem staying around rec fats and proteins.)

The other problem with My Fitness Pal is that it gives you a message if you log a day w/ below US calorie recommendations: "You may not be eating enough. Blah blah." I know why that's there (to try and dissuade people with eating disorders from going super low cal and to keep the MFP from being accused to enouraging anorectics), but it's annoying none the less.

Am sitting down with the recipe books and pieces of paper, menu planning for next week. Dday is tomorrow.

Those of you who have found recipes which are family favourites, would you mind sharing what they are? I'm a lone parent so already struggling to keep on life/admin, being able to only cook one evening meal would really help!

The spaghetti bol and the chicken cashew curry. Also the roast chicken is great.

Mona, I would just do the BSD food for everyone, but cook some potato/pasta/rice/whatever for the rest of the family. Like, you could do the courgetti prawns, and cook a separate pan of spaghetti to serve with it for everyone. Or do a stirfry and add rice for the others.

The chicken and red pepper curry from the BSD website is one of my favourites.
bear enjoy the baptism!

Agree with bridget, make the BSD food for all, but give them pasta, potatoes etc, and put it on a bed of salad leaves for yourself.

Very yes, I have to add each item in the recipe using a blank day, then transfer those totals to a ‘create new food’- but if it’s things I do all the time it is much easier. For example i made several jars of pasta sauce this weekend, which I’ve now calorie counted and fat/carb/protein etc counted so now I can just throw that in with mince for a really quick dinner.

Favourites in our house are- chicken or cod wrapped in Parma ham/bacon; spicy chicken using spices and Greek yogurt as a marinade; easy roasts such as chicken (the dc have aunt Bessie’s trimmings, I have cauliflower cheese or just veg), and pizza topped chicken/steak/turkey. For easy to throw into the the oven I get those cod parcels in cheese sauce, and also some of the birds eye inspirations fish things are very tasty and some are ok on plan. We buy packs of uncle bens rice, or the dc will have corn on the cob as their carb.

Christening was very nice, I’ve not been to one before so it was a whole new experience. Food was calamari (at a buffet???) and sandwiches, so I did have a couple of those, but I did decline what looked to be a delicious Peter rabbit themed cake.

It’s my mid point weigh in tomorrow, so tonight I’m going to crunch all my stats for the four weeks. My weight loss isn’t phenomenal, but I bet I’ve run a few miles, and I know I’ve lost inches because several items of clothing I’ve worn this week have been loose. I hope I have restrained myself enough this weekend to have not gained too much..... I am also going to plan out my menu and my 800 calorie week.

This may sound weird, but as I always go over, I am tempted to plan to 700 giving me a whole 100 calories of extras but won’t end up going over. Or is that a step too far????

I don't think that's weird at all bear. It's kind of like those people on Grand Designs who always end up having to find more money than they budgeted for. Go for the low end of the budget then pull out the extra when you really have to. (What's the BSD equivalent of the handturned stair rail, or the better kitchen, these people always seem to need?)

Better today than yesterday: 890 cals and 38 gr carbs. Getting back into the groove.

Just found this and thought it may be helpful- a 7 day Keto meal plan using Aldi products. We’re not technically Ketogenic here, so the carbs might be a bit too low and the protein too high, but it could be a good basis for a week’s meals

yummyinspirations.net/2017/11/7-day-keto-aldi-meal-plan/

Also this is a handy little reminder when meal planning

Well Monday is starting great! I’m 5.5 kilos down in 2 weeks! As a reward I’ve just order a shiny pretty band for my fit bit.

Last night we had the Thai fish cakes from the recipe book. They are a mess to make but so tasty and very low in calories. DS 6 Hated them but DS 3 liked them.

I also tried the chickpea flatbread. Complete and utter disaster. They didn’t flip at all and then just tasted weird.

Today’s plan is:
Shake
Fish cakes and green salad
Roast chicken

Onwards and downwards

Bear thanks so much for yours and everyone's ideas and resources.

I've read the whole book this weekend and just sitting here with a piece of paper doing a meal planner.

On days when I got to work I'm going to take a blended (with ice) protein shake, and a salad.
On days when I'm home, I'll probably try to hold out and then have eggs for brunch or something.

Question - what's the deal with coffee shop coffees, like a Pret latte? Are they now out?

Secondly what's the point in the day when most people struggle? I want to have something with me. I'm thinking if I carry a jar of Whole Earth Peanut Butter with me and a teaspoon. Or is that weird? What's a good low carb but satisfying snack to carry round with you?!

When you're assessing ready made food, eg soups, am I looking at just overalls cals per portion or am I looking at carb and sugar content as well? (Assuming I stay away from obviously carby ones like leek and potato etc)

Finally I love cashew butter and PB. Are they now out? The plan only refers to almond butter.

Any thoughts gratefully received!

ICJump - that's AMAZING and just the inspiration I need!

How have you found it? I'm assuming the first week is going to be deeply unpleasant!

I’m in for a strict week too. I had a slip with a workplace temptation of cake which led to a carb craving and more hunger so I’ve gone over 800 in the last couple of days. New week tomorrow and 5 weeks to go so I am recommitting. No workplace treats next week!!

Well done Petals!
I'm so addicted to sugar, I'm a bit unsure how I'm going to cope.
But I have to try... I'm not quite last chance saloon but I must be prediabetic. I'm 46 and a classic apple shape.

ICJump that’s amazing, well done!

Londonista I’ll answer your points from absolute halo-wearing point of view, as you’re just starting! So; with the ready made anything - check the ingredients list for sugar or any of the -ose words (like maltose...), plus honey etc, and ideally avoid it. If you can’t avoid it, then look at the nutrition info where it will tell you the total carbs. Some of the total sugars included in that list will be ok (such as lactose)
Coffee shops are fine, if it’s just milk and coffee. Check the cup size though, because a large latte can have a lot of full cream milk in and totally blow your calorie counts. I usually have a skimmed milk latte if I’m out.,
Peanut butter and spoon- in theory, yes, but a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter is nearly 100 calories so please proceed with caution!!

It will be hard, but you are actually best to avoid Snacking altogether. The reason being that every time you eat, you pump out insulin. Your body then has to either use it, or reabsorb it- but all the time that insulin is in your blood you are storing fat not burning^^ fat. Lots of little snacks will mean that you are in storage mode for longer.

Obviously, this above is the real hardcore advice- we all have snacks occasionally, for example. Try not to snack on fruit between meals, you are better to have slices of ham, olives, crab sticks, hard boiled eggs if you really need something. I will say honestly that this plan works better the better you work it- as in, it’s actually easier if you follow it exactly. Your body will very quickly calm your hunger and cravings.

Bear thank you!

I especially appreciated the advice of if you follow it to the letter it actually makes it easier. I'm going to try very hard not to cheat. I have a big weekend away mid Feb but apart from that it's a good time for me.

I've got tomorrow planned out at least so if I can walk past Pret on the way in, I'm golden. My workplace is not too snacky which is good.

Congrats IC that's terrific!

londonista I've occasionally had a Pret cappuccino as a treat, as it's just coffee and (whole) milk. 92 cals, 8.8 gr carbs. On a long day out (shopping or such) it's a nice break, and keeps me from gobbling something else as it's kind of filling. Pret's actually pretty good at supplying their nutritional info on their website.

I find about 4-5pm the worst time. I take a mini pot of toasted flaked almonds with me and have a pinch or two of those. But also, I'm eating dinner earlier than I normally would. I don't find I get hungry before bed, so that seems to work for me.

DEFINITELY look at carb content (sugar and non-sugar carbs all count). I'd say that's more important than calories. You can still lose the weight and reverse the pre-diabetes with a slightly higher calorie count, but you won't do it if you're eating too many carbs.

Thanks Brigid and Very.
Have just put some almonds in a small pot and put them in handbag!