Thursday, September 25, 2008

Reading a New Book and Modifying My Eating Plan

I am a book lover. Reading is probably my favorite way to learn about something new. In my quest to become educated about eating a low-carb diet, I'm now reading Life Without Bread: how a low-carbohydrate diet can save your life. It's the fourth low-carb book I've read, and my favorite so far.

Unlike S. Beach and Atkins, this book is about more than eating low-carb to lose weight. The author gives all kinds of statistics, studies and research findings that show how consuming a low carbohydrate diet if beneficial to the body for all kinds of reasons. It's not wordy and complicated. Doesn't have you go through phases as a means to lose weight -- it's just about good, clean low-carbohydrate living.

I'm thinking of having my brother in med. school read it. Unlike the other books I've read, it has a lot more technical information on the whys of carb-controlled eating.

In fact, since I started reading it, I'm realizing that I probably would benefit from doing a better job of tracking my carbohydrate consumption. So, I've come up with a modified plan:

Foods and food groups that don't require carb tracking

meats

cheeses (including cottage cheese)

fats / oils

non-starchy vegetables

olives

avacado

2 servings of dairy (per day -- more than that needs to be tracked)

10 almonds

30 pistacios

Track the net carbs (total carbs - fiber) of all other foods and keep the carb total under 50 grams.

Right now my plan is to keep a food journal and track carbs until I've reached my weight loss goal (20 lbs). Once I'm at my goal, I'll continue to eat a low-carb diet but see how it goes without tracking carbs and writing down everything I eat.

4 comments:

Kimberly said...

Christie,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog. Your blog looks great and very informative:) I am planning on reading 'Life Without Bread' soon, just haven't had time yet.

Christie said...

Kimberly, I think you'll find it fascinating. It has helped keep me committed to this lifestyle and made me feel guilty that I don't have the rest of my family eating fewer carbs too.

Suko said...

Books are a great source of information and inspiration!
Your new plan sounds sensible and scientific.

Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer said...

I love your low carb list it really simplifies the process and makes it real easy to follow. I need simple in my diet world too much regiment does not work for me. Thanks for this list and your wonderful tips.