Carb counting

[Happy prose]

I remember reading that some of you were low carbers. Recently reading over my blood work from my physical, my number was just at prediabetes, although the doctor never called me. Just to be safe, I'd like to lower my carb intake. (I'm a carb junkie). I can't find anywhere how many grams per day I should eat. I'm 5'1", and weight 129lbs. I have a desk job, but walk 30 minutes 6x a week. Not so good with other exercises though. What's a good number of carbs to try for? I actually forget what my sugar # was, but it was the lowest number in the prediabetes range. 
Also, many years ago, I did low carb for weight loss, and I remember calculating net carbs. A diabetic friend said net doesn't count in diabetes; a carb is a carb. Any info will be helpful!

[giramomma]

Can you go see a nutritionist?

Here's the American Diabetes's Association web site
www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/

[whoisjohngalt]

I had a dr's appt today and she was telling me about low carbing.  I don't think I will be doing it, but she recommended this site

www.dietdoctor.com/

I don't know anything about, though.

[thyme4change]

I like the thought of seeing a nutritionist. I found some online that will meet with you via Skype, email and phone. Makes it a lot easier.

[Happy prose]

I think my insurance will cover a dietition. I'll check those sites. Thanks.

[movingforward]

My dad is diabetic.  He has gotten his sugar way down by just staying away from white foods.  He switched to whole wheat pasta and bread.  Eats a lot of lean meats and veggies.  He cut out all rice and potatoes. 

[gs11rmb]

I try to follow 'paleo light'.  I avoid bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. I'm not rigid so when I'm out I will have those things occasionally I just make sure they're not part of my regular eating habits.

[greeniis10]

Sept 27, 2016 4:23:11 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

I think my insurance will cover a dietition. I'll check those sites. Thanks.

Request to see a registered dietition rather than a nutritionist, if possible. From what I understand their training is much more in depth and they are more knowledgeable. Check their credentials. There are a lot of people out there giving "advice" when it's more like their opinion.

[Happy prose]

Any suggestions what's a good substitue for pasta, rice and potatoes? I like making soups, but love some kind of noodle in it. I can make beef stew, but I usually put it over egg noodles. I can't doo those zucchini noodles .

[Tiny]

Sept 27, 2016 16:10:07 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Any suggestions what's a good substitue for pasta, rice and potatoes? I like making soups, but love some kind of noodle in it. I can make beef stew, but I usually put it over egg noodles. I can't doo those zucchini noodles .

Well, there's 'rice' made from cauliflower.  Spaghetti squash is kinda noodle like and easy to cook.   What about lentils (which are very filling - so you don't need to eat the mountain of them you think you need to eat)?

 

How many "carby" things are putting into a single a meal (example of 3 things:  Beef Stew with potatoes  served over noodles with a side of crusty bread)     

I'd probably just start out working on having one 'high carb' thing with each meal - and then switching over to whole grain pasta and brown rice and then religiously sticking to a serving size for those things. 

what about looking into other kinds of grains - like barley, millet, or quinoa or different kinds of rice combo's like brown rice with wild rice (not a box mix).   Since I felt the appropriate 'portion' size of the noodles/rice I was use eating looked pathetically small - and that surely I'd starve to death - I found that an appropriate portion size of something I was unfamiliar with - was more acceptable.       I had to deal with preconceived notions and inaccurate perceptions.

Don't forget that juices, corn, and 'good for you granola' are all high in carbs.    Start reading labels... there's added sweetners  ie empty carbs in all sorts of things - like flavored yogurts, frozen dinners, any kind of frozen veggies with added sauce, canned veggies with 'seasonings' added, basically anything that comes in a box, bag, bottle, can should have it's nutrition label reviewed. 

You might be able to cut a lot of carbs out of your diet without sacrificing noodles with dinner.

[Happy prose]

Well I'm cutting out a lot of carbs by not eating my chips, cheese its, crackers, pretzels! I thought I read that barley and lentils were high in carbs. I could eat lentils everyday. If I'm wrong about barley, i could put my potato-less stew over that, and also add it to soups.

[Tiny]

Sept 27, 2016 17:18:12 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Well I'm cutting out a lot of carbs by not eating my chips, cheese its, crackers, pretzels! I thought I read that barley and lentils were high in carbs. I could eat lentils everyday. If I'm wrong about barley, i could put my potato-less stew over that, and also add it to soups.

Yeah, you probably want to stay away from all the grains (barley,etc) and all the legumes too... there's no 'low carb' way to go there...  

I know a low carb  guy who only eats meat and cheese(s) and  beer.

[Happy prose]

Tiny From what I'm reading, that sounds about right. Sounds terrible for your heart/cholesterol. Damned if you do and damned if you don't!

[Deleted]

Who needs a dietitian when you have the internet!?

[naughtybear]

Happy Prose, I'm doing this too let me know of any thing that ends up being yummy.

[thyme4change]

My father in law was a diabetic, and managed it with diet and exercise for several decades.  As his age advanced, he had to add in insulin - but he lived to be nearly 80 - probably 50 years as a diabetic.  He is considered a success story.  No internet 50 years ago, so they worked through trial and error.  By testing his blood sugar often he just figured out what foods made his sugar levels move around.  Luckily, you can skip over that now because we know.  He did not give up anything, really, but the proportions of his diet changed drastically.  

He rarely ate pasta.  He did occasionally (probably every time there was a Lutheran pot luck) but it wasn't a twice a week thing, like in my house.  Their 'go-to' side dish was beans of all types.  Potatoes were better than pasta.  

The upside to this is my mother in law is one of 6 kids.  4 of her siblings are (or were) just down-right obese. 1 was very strict with her eating and was not skinny, but normal sized.  My MIL was never more than just a little round.  I think the life and death feeling around the food she ate with my FIL saved her from being vastly overweight.  She told me she was always the heaviest of the kids, but now she is most definitely not.  

Good luck.  

[milee]

Sept 27, 2016 17:36:54 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Sept 27, 2016 17:18:12 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

W

I know a low carb  guy who only eats meat and cheese(s) and  beer.

Blech.  All I can think of is how much his breath must stink and his entire BO must stink.  And from my experience with all the boys in my house, just the thought of his farts is enough to make my eyes water.  But on the plus side, he probably saves a lot on his water bill because he's so constipated he'd be lucky to poop once a week, so conserves on flushing.  

[Sam_2.0]

Dreamfields Pasta is supposed to be low-carb. I was pretty strict on following the Trim Healthy Mama diet awhile ago and a lot of people on that used the Dreamfields.

[Happy prose]

Sept 28, 2016 7:38:20 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

Happy Prose, I'm doing this too let me know of any thing that ends up being yummy.

So far, nothing too yummy. I've only managed to keep my carbs under 100 grs a day. I might make pot roast this weekend and eat only the meat. That sounds yummy to me!

[Deleted]

there is an app for carb counting. 

[Happy prose]

There's many. I've been using Sparkpeople for a long time, so just stuck with it. 

[Artemis Windsong]

My friend is on a modified low carb diet.  She uses Almond flour in a mug muffin in the morning.  Reads the carb info on all foods.  Low carb wraps for sandwiches.

I need to do a low carb or modified low carb diet.

My bad time is after 8:00 p.m. for eating the wrong foods.  Controlling that would be a huge help.

ETA:  Myfitnesspal.com has calorie and carb counts on the foods you are eating.

A friend on a no carb diet had to stay under 20 carbs a day.

[Happy prose]

I don't think that's healthy! And for you, try eating nuts at night. That's what I replaced my chips with. I started Monday, and lost 2 lbs. nit doing this for weight loss though, but it's welcomed anyway.

[naughtybear]

I'm going for under 50 a day, I know that is not the Atkins way but I feel it is what I can deal with. I am fairly certain carbs are not my friend as well as binge eating. I tend to overeat when I am content.

[naughtybear]

I couldn't beat a sirloin and kale, yum yum.

[Happy prose]

50 a day would be crazy hard for me. I won't give up fruit.

[MJ2.0]

Unless you have a food allergy or sensitivity, any diet telling you to severely restrict or eliminate one of the 4 basic food groups is suspect to me.

[thyme4change]

Oct 1, 2016 11:02:08 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Unless you have a food allergy or sensitivity, any diet telling you to severely restrict or eliminate one of the 4 basic food groups is suspect to me.

Totally agree. I have a hard time believing an eating plan is unhealthy because it contains one apple per day. That is just insane.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 2, 2016 15:33:44 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Oct 1, 2016 11:02:08 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Unless you have a food allergy or sensitivity, any diet telling you to severely restrict or eliminate one of the 4 basic food groups is suspect to me.

Totally agree. I have a hard time believing an eating plan is unhealthy because it contains one apple per day. That is just insane.

One Apple is 12 carbs.  It can easily fit if you stay under 50/day, and with finagling, under 30/day.  The last 4 days, I've been between 28 and 35/day, and one of those days included a beer.

[bookkeeper]

Sept 27, 2016 16:10:07 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Any suggestions what's a good substitue for pasta, rice and potatoes? I like making soups, but love some kind of noodle in it. I can make beef stew, but I usually put it over egg noodles. I can't doo those zucchini noodles .

Barley or some other whole grain.