This morning, I received an email from a new-ish reader who asked me an interesting question. As I was typing out a response, I thought... this is something I've been asked before in comments and private messages; why not answer it on the blog? So Joann, even though you've read this already, I'm sharing my answer here. Thank you for asking!
First, the email:
Lyn,
I am so inspired and excited by what I have read on your blog! At first I was confused because your "100 pounds lighter" photos don't look like you need to be losing any more weight. I surfed around your site though and quickly realized that you had gained much of the weight back and are losing a second time around. Kudos to you for this, because losing it a second time is, in my own opinion and experience, ten times harder than losing it the first time. I know this because I myself lost over 100 pounds when I was in my 40's, but as I have aged, the pounds have slowly (and almost totally) found me again. Now in my 50's it is discouraging as I attempt to get my figure back. I am intrigued by your methods of not restricting. I eat reduced carbohydrates but I am getting irritable at having to turn down so many foods I enjoy.
Which brings me to my point. You don't seem to be fighting to keep away from your favorites. But you aren't bored, either? Do you truly not feel deprived? I see your weight number reports going down, down, down yet it doesn't seem to be a fight or a battle. How is that?? Even with an appetite suppressant drug I can't fathom being satiated by 600 calories! LOL! So are there foods you never, ever consume? What are you eating each day to keep you happy and content and not in abject misery like I am on a low carb diet? What IS your secret? Will you share?? Give me hope I can do this too without crying every night over the ice cream I can't have!
In admiration and respect,
Joann
Well Joann, there *is* hope! I truly believe though, that we each have to find what will work for our bodies. Maybe my diet will not suit you at all. Just like Atkins didn't suit me, and being vegan is something I would never dream of, each of us has to try things until something clicks. So I don't really have *the answer* for you, but I *can* say I am not bored with my food, I do not feel at all deprived, and I am quite satisfied with what I am eating now. I'm sure I get by with a lot less calories due to the phentermine, but beyond that, I learned long ago that my body likes a reduced carb (but not TOO reduced) way of eating. Medifast taught me that eating under 100g carbs/day is critical for me. Calorie counting (in the beginning) taught me to eat plenty of vegetables and drink lots of water. Phentermine is teaching me to eat the smallest portions possible to get by. All of this will, I believe, combine to give me a maintenance plan of eating small amounts, including vegetables (and fruit) and enough protein, and keeping my carbs low *enough* but also including enough carbs to be truly satisfied.
My advice, since you asked, is to start with the important nutrients and make sure you get plenty of protein and non-starchy veggies every day. (I eat less veggies now because of appetite suppression, but when I am off phentermine and hungrier I will fill that gap with vegetables).
Then think of the foods that *bother* you when you're on a diet and find a way to include them if you really want them. You mentioned ice cream. I eat Halo Top. It is high protein and low carb and if I want ice cream I have a few bites and that's enough. If you crave chips and crunchy stuff try pork rinds. No carbs, plenty of flavors, and you can even dip them in sour cream or salsa. Or you can microwave some shredded cheese in little piles on parchment paper until it is crispy, like crackers. If I want potatoes or bread or whatever other carby item, I limit it to 1/4 cup or less. Sometimes one bite is all I want. Since nothing is off limits, I find myself no longer obsessing or craving. So no, there is nothing I will say I can never eat again. But I *was* in a See's candy store today, declined a sample, bought some mints for one of my kids, looked at my old favorite chocolates, and decided I didn't really want them anyway. If I wanted them I would have bought a few pieces and spaced them out over days or weeks so as to not go over my carb budget. Knowing I can have them anytime gives them less power. (If you have ever had any kind of eating disorder, you know what I mean).
My daily intake has become fairly repetitive. Foods I eat most of the time:
eggs or Eggbeaters
bacon, sausage, ham
chicken, steak, beef roasts, pulled pork, tenderloin, fish, tuna
sugar free Greek yogurt, lite ricotta, low fat string cheese, light cottage cheese with fruit
regular cheese of all types including cream cheese, cheddar, shaved Parmesan, Gorgonzola
green beans, salad, carrots, squash, mushrooms, avocado
Clementines, apples, bananas, berries, grapefruit
canned soups, pickles, olives, deli meats
BBQ pork rinds, smoked almonds, cashews, beef jerky, 100 calorie packs of various nuts
coffee plain or with half and half or sugar free creamer
sugar free pudding cups, tea with a teaspoon of honey, a bit of peanut butter here and there
squares of dark chocolate
Occasionally I have a sweet, like a sugar free cookie or a few bites of Halo Top. Once in awhile I have 2 or 3 potato chips or pretzels or crackers if I feel like it. But I always keep in mind not to get my carbs for the day too high.
That's pretty much it, no secret, just eating things that are good for me and things I enjoy, in small amounts, nothing off limits.
And Joann, you *can* lose the weight again! You will do it, if you keep trying, find your way, and never, ever give up.
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