Shopping Day

[Cheryl11]

Ok I am off to the grocery store to get my shopping done for protein power life style. Wish me luck> :)

[Ammy]

Good luck! Let us know how it went!

[Cheryl11]

Thank you for asking Amy, my shopping went well, I bought cream of wheat cereal, bacon, sausage, whole milk, cajon salmon dip, rye crackers, low carb bread, avocados, olives, cheddar chees, low carb yogurt (weight watchers), crystal light. Then I ate well all day could not sleep tonight and ate a cup of trail mix (yogurt covered raisins) my favorite part and I love granola. I am a total carb addict. Help! Help!:crybaby::crybaby::crybaby: How do I get rid of the carb cravings. With my Mothers help 9 years ago I went from 5'3 149lbs down to 119lbs using Protein Power. How can I do this again?

[maxlharris]

First, there's hope. You want to change, so that's really the first step, right?

Second, you set your self up for failure. There is no way to dance around that.
If you are new to this program, if you are restarting this program, or if you are struggling with this program, there are some habits you will be well served to form.

First, read labels compulsively. I read the label on anything I buy that doesn't come from the butcher or the fish guy. Every label. I'm a nut. But I don't buy cream of wheat. Or Weight Watchers yogurt. or Weight Watchers anything*. Typically, WW yogurts feature 17g of carbs per serving. Not compatible with a 7-10g of carbs/ meal limitation.

Second, Have a plan before you go to the store. Plan it at home, execute it at the store, and read the hell out of any label for anything that isn't on your list.

You can do this if you really want to.

*Weight Watchers is NOT Low Carb. This is the Winning Points formula
http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/images/weight-watchers-points-form.gif
P is points.
C is calories.
F is fat grams.
R is fiber grams.

I know math isn't for everybody, but try to hang in there for this, because it is important.
Grams of fat have 9 calories a piece. So, 12 grams of fat have 108 calories. This formula double counts for fat calories. Your 12 grams of fat are not 1 point, but actually 3.

The takeaway is this: If you are cutting carbs back to 40g per day (160 kcals), and you are eating 100g of protein (400 kcals), you need to fill our your caloric minimums (not tracked in protein power) with something, and it's essentially fat, additional protein, or alcohol. WW penalizes fat, which is the very cornerstone of a ketogenic diet. As a result, WW products are generally incompatible with PP. There are some exceptions, in protein heavy lean foods, but, since they consider protein and carbs equal necessary evils in what is essentially a nihilist's diet, there are not prone to use the expensive stuff (protein) over the cheap stuff (carbs) in many products.

[Ammy]

Some of the things you purchased are kinda high in carbs aren't they?
Cream of wheat?
WW yogurt?

Cheryl, I too am a carb-addict...TOTAL carb-addict.

I used the Eades recommended meals and ate NOTHING that wasn't listed on that 7day plan for MONTHS. Seriously...I just stuck those same foods over and over again until the cravings were gone, then I ventured out and ate other things.

Every time you sucumb to carb cravings, you delay getting over them.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend PLANNING your meals in advance, then go shopping and ONLY buy the foods you have planned.
Do you live alone or with others?

[Ammy]

Wow...Max and I think alike...

Not sure if I'm flattered, or scared!!! :jawDrop::paranoid:


:razz:

[amdawson]

yeah, echo all the other comments.

"shop around the perimeter of the grocery store, stay out of the aisles" - is a good rule of thumb. go get some cheese, some meat, some produce.

plan ahead.

and, the carb cravings WILL subside, if you stick with the plan for a while. it may not seem like they will, but they will. it doesn't mean you won't still LIKE carbs, but you won't crave them like you do now. i find that my cravings are still adjusting, even after a year. the more sweet/carby stuff, and even sweet-tasting stuff i cut out, the less i crave.

weight watchers and other low-fat food is sabotage.

[Karole]

My craving for the sweet stuff is gone too. It is the most free feeling I have ever had,--- not to be a slave to wanting, craving (and sometimes caving) those things.

I was very strict during the weight loss period and lost weight fairly regularly--but slower than the first go round on low carb. Also I am a senior citizen so I was just elated that I would be losing anything at all.

Go by the book, in the end it will shorten and ehance your journey while you are losing.

Cream of Wheat is off my menu tho I did love the stuff--I just don't want to spend my carbs on it---I would rather have fruit and veggies in my day. As for the ww yogurt---you can replace it with home made yogurt or Kroger has a low carb yogurt if you happen to have a Kroger store in your vicinity.

Best of luck (but it's not really about luck !) Work the plan just as Drs. Eades laid it out and keep on showing up here for support--we're pulling for you.

[Cheryl11]

Thank you all so much. As for the cream of wheat I looked at the box this morning and did not eat it. The WW yogurt was actually blue bunny at 11 carbs a serving, I got the two mixed up. You all are so right though I must count count count, no more lazy about that. This morning I am having breakfast sausage 3 links are 2g carbs 10g protein. And I must say I have never been impressed with WW either, I have tried it. I did loose weight on PP but that was 9 years ago. The desire for the bakery really is my addiction whenever stress sets in. I will do this though I have to. And as for living alone I am the Mother of eight children four still at home, my husband is supportive of the PP plan, and does believe that it works when used. Thank you all so much. Cheryl

[MichelleAkers]

...they consider protein and carbs equal necessary evils in what is essentially a nihilist's diet...

"Nihilist's diet" -- I love that! Is that a Max Original, or did you "borrow" it?

(As I plan to do at the next opportune moment -- probably when my vegetarian friends start ragging on me about how a calorie is a calorie and all the meat I eat is bad for me.)

-- Michelle :tongue:

[cshelia]

Good luck! You can do this. I've been back on this woe for 3 weeks now and my cravings are pretty much gone. Now I won't lie, I still think about eating carbs, just not so much. I have actually turned down the temptation a few times.

[maxlharris]

"Nihilist's diet" -- I love that! Is that a Max Original, or did you "borrow" it?

(As I plan to do at the next opportune moment -- probably when my vegetarian friends start ragging on me about how a calorie is a calorie and all the meat I eat is bad for me.)

-- Michelle :tongue:

Max Original.

Feel free to use it as far and wide as you like.