Back To Basics - What does it mean to you?

Hello....  first I may look like a visitor to many of you because I post over on the TN forum...  I do visit and lurk here from time to time with an occasional post.  So I hope you don't mind if I just jump right on in like I belong here, LOL.  I want to start hanging out if you don't mind!? 

I had a thought today about how many of us who want to lose a few pounds due to a regain are told:  "Go back to basics."  So I thought it would be a good idea to discuss exactly what that term means.  *Basics was a long time ago for me! LOL.  While I do have a healthy lifestyle of eating, I surely could use the reminder and maybe it will help someone else too.

To me, that means:

Eat protein foods first (such as chicken, turkey, tuna, protein shakes if needed)

Then moderate carb vegetables

Stay away from simple carbs such as breads, pasta, rice, crackers

Limit calories from fluids - drink low calorie/zero calorie drinks like water, crystal light, etc

Leave sugar free treats alone

What are your thoughts? 

Good post!

To me it means pretty much protein only, not even veggies or fruits. It also means to make sure you're not drinking the 30 mins before or after, drinking caffiene, anything carbonated, or with calories. Also by what we were taught it should be 3 meals a day and nothing else, not even a snack. Although I have to admit that one I could never follow, I always did the 6 meals a day because it was easier on the little pouch and SUPPOSEDLY kept metabolism going better. I am thinking of going back to 3 meals only to break any 'grazing' type habits. 6 scheduled meals isn't technically grazing I know! but...... if it could be even close or part of an issue I guess it's worth a try (for me anyway!)

Hugs!

You missed:

No snacks

For those that need to "get back to basics" limiting yourself to eating at meal times and never snacking creates a pretty definite line in the sand.  I mean, suppose you come across cookies and REALLY want one.  I would say, by all means, take it and save it until meal time.  With the cookie you'd have to eat less of the other foods due to space issues even if you don't strictly count calories.  By snacking between meals, you can eat more.

JLMartin

You stirred up a question that I have pondered in my mind...  when you mentiioned taking the cookie for mealtime.  Do you think that if a person eats a meal first, and then has a few bites of a dessert (3 bite rule), they have less of a chance of dumping, than if they just ate the 3 bites of the dessert?

Kinda like how a person who has not eaten can get drunk faster than a person who has eaten cause he has something on the stomach...  that the food may somehow help prevent dumping?  Not that I am trying to break rules, I promise I'm not! I have just always had this question in my mind about sugars.  I limit my sugar intake because I don't want to get addicted to them again. 

I would say that mixing the sugar with the non sugar would reduce dumping (and it also lowers the Glycemic Load of the cookie) BUT that's not the reason to combine cookies with meals!

Suppose your stomach holds a cup (8oz) and with a "snack" you eat the cookie, (say 1oz) and then 2 hours later (after the cookie has passed) have 8oz of meal.  That's 9oz of food total.

If you combine the cookie WITH the meal, you get 1oz of cookie and 7oz of food in the space remaining.  That's 8oz of food total.  It might even come to pass that you get full before getting to the cookie which could be considered a bonus of sorts.

In the final calculus, you ate less food when you don't snack even if you eat a cookie.  The idea is not to deprive yourself of something you want but to work it into a meal and have it be part of your plan.

"BUT that's not the reason to combine cookies with meals!"

 

JLMartin, LOL. That one made me laugh.

HI! Its nice to see you!!!



When I'm back to basics I push protein first, eat the good carbs (whole grains, fruits, veggies) and avoid the bad ones, no drinking w/meals or 30/30 before an after, drink at least 64oz of fluids (usually get more like 100oz), stay away from sugar, exercise daily. I do allow myself sugar free treats like s/f jello, s/f pudding, etc and might incorporate a protein bar or shake if needed.

When I decided to switch from maintaining to losing, the first thing I did was re-evaluate what I was drinking and how much. Too much diet soda, not enough water. I cut out the diet soda and began logging at least 2 liters of water per day.

I focus my eating on lean protein sources, fibrous vegetables, and foods very rich in iron (I am horribly anemic and cannot supplement). I've found that making my own protein bars, cookies, muffins, and ice creams is much healthier than what I can buy.

I've cut white flour almost completely out of my diet (I have a cracker now and then), along with white potatoes, white rice, and pasta.

I do eat very small things several times a day. I've found that this keeps me from stalling and keeps my blood sugar from plummeting or spiking. I eat 5-6 meals a day with a goal of at least 70g of protein and a caloric intake between 900-1200.

Neena

I would love to have one of your protein bar recipes... 

You can find them on my blog (address in my sig). I try to post new ones as often as I can. I don't have a ton of work to do this weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to play in the kitchen some more. Of all of the ones I've made so far, the apple cake bars are my very favorite.