peeperjj's Journal, 23 May 2019

While I don’t agree with cutting out whole food groups and totally believe in cico, I do understand that we all are different with different needs. I’ve been toying with the idea that I need a low fat diet. I’ve tried this off and on just by trying to look for high carb low fat snacks or say eating half the butter I normally would. I can’t cut much more of that stuff out unless I just avoid things like butter. Rather than test my theory which would cause upheaval in my household and probably cause more stress for me, I just looked back to when I started here. I was eating 1/3-1/2 of my food in snacks because I’m a snicker. Basically no meals and I had 7-8 snacks per day lol. This worked but sucked because I drastically cut my food and changed what I ate. Went from 3-6 cans of coke a day to now having a flavored Coke Zero every few days or weeks. That was a hard one as I still miss my coke but it’s not worth the 140 kcal when I could have a snickers instead. *gasp* yes a snickers lol. 

I went from white bread with a tbsp or butter each to 45 kcal multi grain or wheat bread (I change it up) and a tbsp of butter between both. I even cut out bread and potatoes at first but it’s not realistic for me as those are the foods that keep me full. Don’t even mention not adding butter -gag- lol. I cut out cheese but have added it back in as it’s a favorite food. I cut out dips and now have them for special occasions mostly from November to January. I’ll not restrict myself much in those months as eating is a BIG part of our holidays and it’s just not the same without those meals and foods. I’m big on traditions 😉. 

Basically most of the foods I had cut out were the fatty foods. I had more of a loss then. Was it those foods or because I was heavier then than now? If carbs are needed for building muscle then I’ll have to make a cut somewhere I think. Fats may have to be re-evaluated. Rice crispy treats are carb loaded and low fat!! I just saw the 90 kcal and that was good enough but now they may become a fat free snack. *sigh* so much info still to go over and decisions to make. Do what works for you! It’ll be a headache figuring it out but it’s worth it in the long run. If you are having trouble with low carb then try low fat for awhile and see how that works. If you have trouble with low fat then try low carb. If nothing else just focus on getting the calories and protein right and to hell with the rest while you start making progress and building your new better foundation 😁. For someone who hates change I sure seem to want to change my diet constantly lol. 

Are you on drugs? 

Carbs are not your enemies! i lost 69 pounds by eating carbs, not a food group makes you loose weight but, Calories in vs calories out results in fat lose. 

Carbs are not the enemy, the refrigerator is!! Haha!! 

IMO, refined flour that has to be fortified with added vitamins is garbage. I use nut flour or cassava flour when I bake. But that’s just me. And I agree with Srossca. Having healthy foods in the fridge to choose from is vital for me. I try to leave the junk food at the grocery store. I’m not always successful though, but that’s life! 🤗❤️🤣 Honor a vet this weekend 🇺🇸 and those who gave their life to keep us free!  

So from what I just read I need to double my calories and add in carbs to do so. 3k kcal here I come! Oh wait... that wasn’t what I was supposed to take away form that is it?? 😖😭 I get what your saying. For me so far the numbers point to a lower fat belt being good for me. I’ll do my best but if I can’t keep at it or see results then I’m good going back to higher fat :). Take today, I’ve guessed at my dinner log so it’s not accurate yet but so far I’m right about where I wanted to be for my daily total. I’ll be around 50g and I wanted to stay 20-60g. 🤷‍♀️ I’ll just play around.  

I tend to grab the junk food. Carbs are my little buddies. Not going to restrict them but I see why some need to. My enemy is my sweet tooth and stubbornness. After awhile I want that treat and by golly I’ll have it! Then I sometimes go overboard. Never what I consider a binge. I’ve had 2200-2800 days but that’s usually vacations, holidays and special events. Things that only happen a few times a year. For me I’d say 2200-2500+ on a normal day at home, not working out, would be a binge and I’ve not done that yet that I can recall. But I do have higher days where I know I could do better. My end goals are 1) be a weight/shape that my clothes fit well and I’m proud of the number on the scale and how I look and 2) gain enough muscle that I can eat more food. More food as in breads, pastas and junk foods. I want to not worry about this stuff anymore. It’s good for me though so I have to balance the need to calculate, plan and log with the desire to just eat like I did as a young adult and not gain fat lol.  

@jon, yes!! How did you know?!? Someone slipped something into my snickers last night darn it! I’d better go have all the rest to make sure they aren’t spiked 😉.  

I'm pondering cico only starting in june for 30 days to see if it shakes things up - and still maintain my blood sugar levels. 

@Bella that would be hard. Do you know some foods that raise the blood sugar for you already? It would be a constant eat then see how the body reacts I’d think. Maybe adding one different food isn’t he time it takes to see if is spikes? I think you could do it though :). You are low carb right?  

@chris, oh my dear Chris. Did you notice the scale went from 117 to 120/122ish?? That was my bulk lmao. Highly doubt I gained 3-5# of muscle. A girl can dream but it’s not logical to assume it’s even 4# muscle and 1# fat. I keep thinking that because it keeps my overactive brain from overthinking 24/7 though. I can go over easily and stay under easily. It’s that middle ground of 1600-1800 that I seem to struggle with and have to plan out just right. I’ve decided on a ‘cutting’ diet during the day while aiming for 4-20g P for snacks and 15-40g P for meals. Then I try for a protein bar or shake before the gym and my dinner an hour or two later. I fill in from 10pm to midnight. That’s the best balance I’ve found. Cut for daytime and bulk at night lol. My problem is I didn’t get enough fat off to begin with. Guessing 25% bf but not positive as the scale still shows 30-33% and muscle 25-27%. I find it hard to believe that I lost fat and muscle equally during that year. 🤷‍♀️I’m truly considering a summer bulk and winter diet. However that’s probably opposite of how I normally would eat with the holidays being winter and me being more active in summer but eating less in summer because of the heat.  

Yeah- I'm LC because of the T2D - but I've added strawberries and blueberries this week and nothing crazy has happened.  

Haha Chris I see what’s on your mind. Beer is high carb right?? Bring it on! Tonight’s gym night hehe. I’m a late eater so morning eating isn’t gonna happen unless it’s a protein bar or a quick yogurt. The more I eat of a morning the more I eat through the day (hungrier). I can do a bigger lunch I guess. Keep in mind I get up 6-7ish, lunch 12-2, dinner 7-8, snack 10-12, bed 11-3ish. Nap between lunch and dinner when able as I sleep better mid day. Eye dr said it’s eye fatigue combined with restless night sleep. 🤷‍♀️ So dinner is like my breakfast I think 🤪. Workout days I can for sure add carbs around workouts. Excellent reason to grab a pizza occasionally or stuff myself with rice crispy treats on the way there. Ohhh it make some homemade bread again! Nothing like a hot buttered roll or fresh from the oven bread.  

@bella that’s great! Strawberries are hard to resist. Pretty sure I could make those an every day snack but I’d for sure go over calories as I can eat them like candy. Mindless and mindful eating both. Add in a banana and I’m a goner lol.  

Yeah the first night I had 10. But only two the next night and today.  

Great post peeperjj 

Haha I read this online as well. In general my belief is if you can limit sugar (even artificial sugar) intake and processed food.. You can go a long way. The problem we all face is genetics, food preferences, sugar addiction, cravings and habits. It's literally a mental everyday. Being healthy isn't the norm, and how everyone view healthy is different.  

Oh yes the myth of genetics...that was my excuse as well