August 8th, 2008 — Book Review, Meals, alternative ideas, carbohydrates, supplements
Out of all of the low carb diet books out there, this has to be the most confusing. Normally, we steer clear of diets that are strictly low carb, since few are balanced, but since this was a book from the Dummies line, we thought it might be worthwhile. What a surprise to find that this was one convoluted mess that mixed some really great advice with some really bad advice.
The book is not entirely about low carb diets and in fact, the author seems to be developing her own special diet throughout the text. There is nothing wrong with that in theory, but since her diet doesn't really mesh with the low carb theory it is a bit confusing at times. Our biggest issue was that she continually talked about how great a low carb diet can be and then brought up statistics that show it's not the smartest thing for your body.
Several myths are dispelled and enforced, again we have a contradiction. That seems to be the main theme of this book on several levels. The author says that carbs in fruits don't matter, when in fact, they contain some of the highest levels of bad carbs you can find. On the other hand, she recommends avoiding some of the best and most nutrition filled low carb foods out there, such as chicken wings. When she starts to contradict her own words though, it gets a little silly.
That said, this is still a good book. While the above wasn't exactly ringing praise for the author, the recipes contained are worth the cost of the book. You'll get plenty of good ideas for eating healthy, low card meals that are very well balanced. The key isn't so much cutting carbs out of your life completely as it is finding the right balance with good carbs and protein.
She also discusses how to find healthy replacements for fast food and again, this redeems what would have otherwise been a truly awful book. This section is very useful for those that like to eat out but don't know which kind of foods they need to be eating. This can make the menu selection a lot easier and you won't feel so guilty.
The book also covers making lifestyle changes, the importance of supplementing with vitamins while you're dieting as well as some great advice on how to avoid beating yourself up mentally if you do slip on your diet. For these sections, we recommend this book whole heartedly.
We recommend taking the advice on low carb eating with a grain of salt, but buy the book for the good advice on dieting as a whole and knowing what to avoid and what you can eat when you're eating out.
Overall, it's not the best book, but you can still get some good information out of it, especially if you go into it with the right mindset.
Related Articles
Related Stores
August 5th, 2008 — carbohydrates, fiber, healthy eating, nutrition
Out of every food on earth, in the past few years, there has been no other food as demonized as the ones that contain carbs. There are so many fad diets that focus on completely removing carbs from your life - but is this a smart solution? The simple answer is no - it's not smart. You do need some carbs in your life, it's just a matter of finding the right kind of carbs.
So, let's look at a few examples of bad carbs and good carbs and find ways to lose weight, eat healthy and not feel deprived. That is probably the worst part about a no carb diet, since many of those foods are so filling and low calorie. By replacing bad carbs with good carbs, you'll be able to feel full and you'll still lose weight.
Bad Carb -
White refined flour. This is a bad carb simply because the foods made with this are so high in sugar. Even if they are low in overall calories, those little sugar grams really add up. Americans especially eat so many foods that contain this flour that it is really hard to completely get rid of them. If you like sandwiches in particular, this can seem like a death sentence.
Good Carb -
Whole grain flour. The sugar content in whole grains is much lower and you'll get the benefit of having more fiber in your diet, which can help flush fat from your system. Instead of completely getting rid of bread, try replacing it with whole grain bread. It may take a little time to get used to, and the taste will be a little different. However, after a few weeks, you may find that you're actually starting to appreciate the taste and you'll be able to make more substitutions.
Bad Carb -
Breakfast cereals made with wheat and corn. Most of us don't think of cereal as fattening or bad for us, but it is highly processed and can be a big contributor in weight gain if you eat too much of it. In addition to the natural sugars present in the grains, you're dealing with the sugar added by the manufacturer. This is a bad combination.
Good Carb -
Oatmeal. This is by far one of the best foods you should be eating. Not only is it good for weight loss since oat fiber definitely does bind fat and flush it out of your body, you can also lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. Oats are really the ultimate food and they taste good too. Try eating at least one bowl of oatmeal every day, but skip the sugar toppings. Instead, use fresh fruit or a small amount of honey. You'll feel a lot more full and you'll be doing your body a big favor.
Some carbs are very good for you and it is important to find that balance. With this, you can get on the path towards healthy weight loss.
Photo Credits: 1
Related Articles
Related Stores
May 20th, 2008 — carbohydrates, fats, healthy eating, proteins
One of the best ways to ensure healthy weight loss is to find the right balance for your meals. Proteins, fats and carbs are all essential, but you need to have the right amount of each to make sure that your diet will work. It can be a little difficult at first, but once you get started it will become easier.
First, you'll need to discuss your options with your doctor or with a nutritionist. They can help you come up with a percentage of each type that will work for your own unique needs. Remember, we are not all the same when it comes to the type of fuel that we need for our bodies. Some people can get away with a diet consisting largely of protein, while others will not be able to do without carbs.
In order to avoid feeling deprived, you need to find this balance and the right percentage. Commonly, most dieters stick to the 40/30/30 percentage, but you may find that you need to tweak this a bit for your own needs. With the right balance you should not experience feelings of dissatisfaction or cravings.
One of the main reasons that we suffer from cravings and have a hard time handling a new diet is due to blood sugar. After years of indulging in sweets, our bodies become used to that influx of sugar. If you suddenly stop eating these foods, your blood sugar can get out of whack very quickly. The sudden lows can lead to dizziness or feeling light headed.
To avoid this, make sure that you are getting the right amount of good carbs in your diet to replace the bad ones. For example, instead of eating white bread, switch to whole wheat. Instead of a can of soda, have a piece of fruit. You'll be giving your body the sugar it needs with much less calories.
Protein is a very important part of building lean muscle mass which in turn serves to ramp up your metabolism. Once again, the key to finding the right balance is substituting high risk protein with foods that are good for you. Instead of having a fatty piece of red meat, eat a chicken breast or a serving of tuna. Your body won't feel deprived, because it is getting the right amount of protein, just in a lower calorie form.
Although you wouldn't think it made sense, our bodies actually do need fat to function properly. If you try to aggressively cut all fat out of your diet, your body is definitely going to suffer. However, you need to make sure that you are eating the right kind of fat. Stay away from saturated fats, like butter, and use the "healthy" fats such as olive oil.
It may not be as tasty at first, but you'll be providing your body with the fuel that it needs to survive and retraining your cravings with much healthier foods.
Photo Credits: 1
Related Articles
Related Stores
April 23rd, 2008 — Meals, healthy eating
I went out to lunch yesterday at my favorite Mexican restaurant with a friend: Sancho's Taqueria. This place has the most amazing fish tacos on the planet and many many people swear by the carnitas super burrito... They really are inspirational...
This day however, I ordered the Sancho's Cobb with the dressing on the side... Good thing I did because with my diet I am not supposed to eat fat or sugar... the dressing appeared to be a honey mustard... Instead, I used their excellent hot salsa with a touch of their green mild salsa. The salad was large and I did not finish it, but I am proud of myself for sticking to the diet in the face of the fish tacos... I added pollo asada to the salad and it made the perfect meal... Estimate 3 protein and 3 good carbs.
Why salsa? Well it might just be the perfect food (Lazy Man even made salsa his food of the week.) It is usually no fat, low calorie and packed with great vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro. And it tastes great! Better yet, since it is nothing more than vegetables (no fat / low calories) you can use as much as you need in order to make the dry salad edible. (I know many of you can eat a salad without dressing or with very little... I am not one of those people.)
So, the next time you are staring face to face with that diet busting burrito order a salad and use the salsa as the dressing. You get the Mexican food without the Mexican hips.
As for Sancho's Taqueria should you wish to find it (it was named top 20 taqerias in the Bay Area) here is a map... you will need it 
View Larger Map
Related Articles
Related Stores
