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Help Jason get not-fat
So, as some of you know, I caved to Lisa's nagging early last month and for the first time in a decade went to a doctor for a physical.
He told me exactly what I expected: That I am healthy, but fat. I need to diet. In his words, exercise will do almost nothing for me; I just need to cut calories, especially from carbs. I am not supposed to eat anything white. Unfortunately, I'm not supposed to eat saturated fat, either. Or, as it turns out, nor am I to indulge in much sugar.
So in the past month, I've made the switch to diet soda, cut way down on bread, cut out most desserts (except for Weight Watchers popsicles, which are surprisingly low in everything, dried berries, and nuts).
Here is the problem: I am a remarkably smart guy. So it didn't take long for me to start finding clever ways to sidestep my healthy eating guidelines. This has gotten worse as I've gotten hungrier.
I need your help. I need suggestions for snack-type food that I can munch on that (in order of preference) is low-carb, easy-to-make, warm, and filling. Filling is the most important part.
Give me your tips. Help me get not-fat!
Also, this is relevant:
He told me exactly what I expected: That I am healthy, but fat. I need to diet. In his words, exercise will do almost nothing for me; I just need to cut calories, especially from carbs. I am not supposed to eat anything white. Unfortunately, I'm not supposed to eat saturated fat, either. Or, as it turns out, nor am I to indulge in much sugar.
So in the past month, I've made the switch to diet soda, cut way down on bread, cut out most desserts (except for Weight Watchers popsicles, which are surprisingly low in everything, dried berries, and nuts).
Here is the problem: I am a remarkably smart guy. So it didn't take long for me to start finding clever ways to sidestep my healthy eating guidelines. This has gotten worse as I've gotten hungrier.
I need your help. I need suggestions for snack-type food that I can munch on that (in order of preference) is low-carb, easy-to-make, warm, and filling. Filling is the most important part.
Give me your tips. Help me get not-fat!
Also, this is relevant:
Comments
-Diet Soda is still bad. See if you can shift to home-brewed tea or flavored water.
-Attach yourself to a snack that you really love, that is low in fat. Popcorn or Almonds or Fruit are pretty good choices.
-Look up recipes that are either low in fat or ways to add great amounts of flavor to food. Spices and Herbs are your friends 100% of the way.
I've been attaching myself to these three principles and have been slowly losing weight over time. About 20 pounds so far.
I don't have the greatest of sources, but About.com says:
From what we know, you have certain sweet receptors that trigger a metabolic response in your body. Basically, when they detect a sweet food, they kickstart certain processes requiring glucose. However, these triggers can also be triggered by other things that are sweet. Usually this isn't an issue; pectin, fructose, sucrose, and lactose can all be broken down into usable sugars. However, artificial sweeteners trigger this response as well, but there are no calories to be had there. The body's response is to trigger a glucose craving, because you need something to feed into the processes you've already started. The result is usually either a bad decision (something high in sugar, like a candy bar) or an outright binge.
If you absolutely need a sweet drink, get a soda with sucrose (HFCS is tied to diabetes and obesity, as it overrides a response to too much sweet food, though we don't know why) or a decent fruit juice. I recommend Boylan and Jones Sodas, Mexicokes, and Simply Juices. Otherwise, drink water and maybe skim milk.
For snack foods, eat carrots, broccoli, peppers, and celery with ranch. It will make you very full, trust me.
ALSO: Sauté some spinach in a pan with olive oil, garlic and shallots, and serve it topped with a poached egg and drizzle it with that vinagrette. Low cal, low salt, fast, delicious.
When I got to college, I started eating pretty much only whole (in the sense of not being pre-made, but rather taking some prep time) food at meals because I didn't want to burn money on junk, and I lost 75lbs lightning fast without changing my exercise habits.
I eat a normal breakfast (toast or muesli), yogurt for lunch (its summer over here) and just a normal dinner BUT.. cut the meat portion down of your dinner by just a little bit. Eat slightly more veges instead.
Yogurt is refreshing, delicious and really just sits in your stomach. Don't bother with those little ones, get a big one and for lunch, dig in.
I eat about 400 - 500 G for lunch. Maybe around 400 cal.
I lost 1kg a week doing just that, replacing lunch with yogurt!
Not sure why, but it also eases all my cravings. Its like its sweet and heavy.
Works for me
Edit: If its winter, replace yogurt for soup. So easy.
Not to mention aspartame, the most common substitute, shuts down your metabolism so you burn less calories.
I know most of this thread is food tips but you're kidding yourself if you don't think you need to incorporate exercise, I couldn't recommend anything specific unless I knew your particulars though.