Please help with LA nutritional info...
 

Hi all,

I am doing the purple plan on LAWL, but I am goin' it alone, cause I quit for almost a year and now I can't go back without "dealing" with the COD...:devil: HeHe...So I am trying to use up what bars I have, then sub them for something else. I have seen you all talk about Luna bars.
So what I need if anyone can help me:^: Is the nutritional facts on a package of the LA Lites and the shake, as that was what I had used before. I so appreciate it. I'm commited to getting the rest of the weight off and I know the plan works, as I lost well and I have managed to maintain that loss over several months. I also wondered what is after the purple plan, where do you go from there?
Thanks to all in advance!!:) :) :) :) :) :)

Organic
 

Hiya... read your post. although I am not familiar with the LAWL plan, I would think that any diet's natural progression would lead you to organic meals as they certainly digest better than the bioengineered food available on the plan. I will check back to see if you need more info;) ;)

although I am not familiar with the LAWL plan........

organic meals as they certainly digest better than the bioengineered food available on the plan
Ummm, just a thought, if you arent familiar with the plan why would you think that LA uses bioengineered food? 99% of the food I consume on plan is engineered by Mother Nature herself.

Luna Bars are a good substitute for the LA Lites, they're pretty close to the same nutritional values. The shakes, Slim Fast High Protein or Slim Fast Optima, and add a string cheese to up the protein. You can do a search on the forum to find suggestions that other people have made. Good luck restarting!!!

Thank you,
I appreciate the tips, I will ck into those. :)

The newbie thread lists these substitutes:

Common alternative/cheaper versions of LAWL products-

LA lites-Lunas, Pria Completes, Kashi Go Lean bars

Takeoff Juice--Knudsen's Morning Blend juice available in many health food sections of the grocery store-6oz or 8oz juice/4Xday (decide for yourself, different people do different things). Some of us use oranges or cantalope

Slimdowns--slimfast high protein shakes (closest in carbs/protein)


KIM - I love your response to sunspell...........if someone wanted to be totally "organic" and do this program, they could...that is the glory of LAWL...flexible and real. Sunspell needs to do her research before chiming in.

Joni- I saw something on the Today show one morning where they did some research into whether organic products were worth the money, in some cases it was yes, like fruits and veggies that we dont peel, because the chemicals could still be on the skin. But for some other things they said it was a waste of money.

Kim - I've seen those articles as well.

My $.02 on the organic thing... if you seem to have allergies or sensitivities, organic can help. DS went through about 4 months last year when he would have 3-5 days of waking up around 1 am and would projective vomit for 4 hours. He would sleep an hour or two and then from 7-11 a.m. he would projectile out the other end. He would be fine for 3 days and just when you thought it was over, it all started again. We had all types of tests for all types of diseases, parasites, food poisoning, etc. and they couldn't figure it out. Anyhoo, I switched him to organic bananas, yogurt, even crackers and it seemed to help him out.

As far as organic produce, I don't know if it's because of where I live, but a lot of times the organic is priced very well. Like when apples were in season, you could get a bag of organic apples for the same price, or at most $1 more. But I will say this... organic apples and bananas have a much better taste to me. They taste sweeter, maybe because they can't put chemicals on them to extend the life so they get to the store faster? And if you've ever had Stonyfield Farm ff plain yogurt, you won't have any other. Sometimes it's worth the extra $$$. Other times, not so much. But if you have the chance to do a taste comparison, I would try it.

I looked into Organic produce as well, and I don't remember which magazine I read it in (Readers Digest or Prevention, maybe?) but they made a good point:

If the organic produce you're looking at had to have been shipped all the way across the country to get to you, it may be less fresh than the "regular" stuff because it's sat in a truck for 3-4 days. If you've got the option to buy locally-grown produce instead, that may end up being the better option in those cases. Sure, there may be some pesticides on it, but it's possible there might not be as well (smaller farms may be more judicial in their applications) and the produce may be fresher and therefore taste better as well.

It sounds like a lot of the debate needs to take into account your actual location and what's grown near you, I guess.

Megan - I read an articles called something like, "The Whole Foods Lie", or something like that, and it said the same thing. It said the produce you could get from 50 miles away was better than the organic grapes grown in Chile and shipped to Whole Foods distribution center and then sent to the stores.

I drink organic milk and it's SO much better than regular. Once I started and had regular again, it had a funny after taste. Who knows? I am a sucker for advertising... this could all be in my head!

Okay, chiming in on organic..

Recently I read that if you are going to start going organic, you'll get the best bang for your buck in Dairy and Meat. Many fuits and veggies have protective 'covers' (ie peels, skins, shells) and can be cleaned up with a wash, while dairy and meat is all about hormones which can't be washed/cooked away.

I like the organic milk better too. I buy the organic eggs, and I've heard they taste better than regular, even my mom and sister seem to notice, but to be honest, I can't taste a difference in the eggs. I can't taste a difference in the meat either. I don't buy organic sour cream, but there is a taste and ingredient huge difference in the store brand compared to Friendship. But if I can avoid DS (and DD, but she's not as sensitive) getting any hormones, pesticides, chemicals, etc. in his food, I do it. No high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated stuff (you'd be surprised how many crackers have that), etc. I'm not a fanatic about this stuff, it just kind of evolved from trying to get real food. And even though the produce may have a protective coating, a lot of it just tastes better. And to me that's worth a few more $$$.

(Speaking of bio-engineered, have you checked out the WW and even the SB products?)

I did South Beach and it's pretty much ALL checmicals! If you're not allowed to eat anything but protein, cheese, and greens, (NO BREAD in the first 2 stages pretty much), how is it possible to make pizzas, chocolates, etc??? Hmmm, sounds like bioengineering to me!

I buy the organic milk and eggs also. I started buying the milk because my 10yo stepdaughter was told by her doctor to stop drinking regular milk because the hormones were causing her to develop too fast...she was told this a few years ago. So after my DD was born, I figured I would just do the organic - just in case.

My aunt (vegetarian for 20+ years) was reading a book by these two women who are vegan and she said they were pretty radical even for her. But they said that mother's milk is to help a newborn double its weight in the first year. And cow's milk is meant to help a newborn calf double its weight in the first year to over a ton. So why would you think that any diet advocating drinking cow;s milk 3 x/day would help you lose weight? Funny thought when you put it together.

Did you see the news article about the vegan couple who ended up starving their baby to death as they only fed the newborn soy milk and apple juice? The poor baby only weighed 3 and a half pounds. :( *sad*

For the OP: the slim-fast meal replacement bars have roughly the same carbs and protein as a Lite.


Now as the eco-friendly mother-earth womyn-studies degree holding feminist, my opinion on the whole organic thing. :carrot:

I try to follow the basic principals of a whole foods diet. I only shop the outside isles of the supermarket. I buy produce that's as local as possible, meaning it's local grapes over organic chilean grapes. I spend the summer eating freshly picked tomatos (literally I pick them, I wash them, I eat them) and am so enamored by them I'm ready to turn a windowsill into a hydroponic garden so I can have fresh tomatos all year round. :p

I only buy fresh ground organic peanut butter, I'm a food snob when it comes to peanut butter from the jar. Plus, when I grind it at Whole Foods myself, I know it's nothing but peanuts. My Ricotta cheese--hello I'm in New York, I don't buy the part-skim from the supermarket. I go to the Itilain Deli and buy the fresh made stuff, yes the fat is higher, but the chemicals are less.

I try to eat as fresh as possible. Eating fresh means I get the best nutrients for my body. It's as simple as that.

Salt is a part of nature, thus I'll eat it when I'm craving it.

Thanks to all and thanks Joni for the newbie info, I will read thru that again, since I am new to this board. You all have so much info! I hope I can do this w/o the COD:?: I feel like I can, but when I hit the "slump" I won't have the COD to give me suggestions, figure out what to do...I figured ALL that money I spent$$$$$ Yikes!! I better at least try to get this done on my own! I will definatlely appreciate reading all your tips everyone! I spent waaaay to much, as you all have, to not finish the weight loss OP.
;)

I also have to say, although this thread did not start as an organic topic...that is one of the things that I love about this plan, you are not eating boxed "crap". I buy about 90% of my food, dairy, meat, etc organic. This plan fits into a "real" life w/o needing to break away from all the packaged stuff after you've met goal. I know those plans work for some and they are convenient, but I just "feel" better when I eat real food...:smug: And I think it's better to "train" yourself to eat better, so the weight stays off!!

I too think that's the biggest plus to this plan. While others are trying to figure out how to eat when they get off the packaged food we already know. You are trained from day one how to make the lifestyle change.

Megan in MO - that is so sad about the baby...I just can't even imagine...

Megan in NY - I totally agree with you, grocery shop the outside of the supermarket, buy local fruits and veggies over anything else - I'm in a very rural area surrounded by lots of farms which means fruit and veggies stands...yummmmm!!! We don't have a place to ground your own peanuts at our supermarket...I usually buy organic almond butter.

Lysa and Shannon.. Truer words are seldom spoken!!!

As for organic... Meh... I feel that a lot of the stuff at Whole Foods and Wild Oats is overpriced crap that is no better for you than the stuff you can get at Wally World.. A co-worker here used to work at Wild Oats and has some real horror stories about the processed foods they serve in their deli.. As for produce... If I'm wanting something organic, I'll seek it out locally.. I won't pay more for organic stuff that's been on a truck longer than the stuff I get at Wally World... \

As for grinding my own peanut butter... That sounds like a cool idea.. Guess I've never seen that at the local Whole Foods when I've been there for a trip to the salad bar at lunchtime.. I'll have to check that out... Thanks for the tip...

AMEN!!;)

I agree with you Dan...

I Love the "Whole Foods" eye candy appeal, it is a lovely place, but very overpriced!! Truthfully, I shop almost entirely at Trader Joe's, as they really offer great products and their prices I think are very good. I can get almost everything organic that I care to have and they have a good quallity product. And for peanut butter...oh my, try their creamy, or crunchy (valencia peanuts), organic...it is to die for! I really have to measure out those portions carefully!:D

Oh and Wild Oats, truly ridiculous, waaaay to much $$$$ for the same stuff elsewhere...

OK I know nothing about organic so lets sum up here:

DO buy organic Dairy and Meat

Produce - buy local if possible - I only know of the farmers markets for this and I've always wondered about them since there is no policing. Is this really safe?

There was mention in another thread somewhere about different fruits. I can't remember the rule though.

Strawberries - do buy organic?

Anything with a shell or protective covering no need for organic just wash really well?

Peanut Butter - organic is the one I want. I worried that I'd bought the wrong kind as I got organic instead of reduced fat.

Only shopping "outside isles" confused me - what's the reasoning ?

Shannon - The farmer's markets are policed, the road side stands, sometimes, but these are the same farmers who sell the stuff to your grocery store where it goes to a central distribution center before being sent to your store so you're just cutting out the middle man and getting it before they do. Just like you would the produce you get from the store, wash it very well. As for the outside of the store, that's because the perimeter of the store is where you will find the dairy, produce, meat, fresh breads, etc. In the middle is where you will find the processed foods, canned foods, cookies, chips, sodas, chemicals, etc.

I'm all about the Valencia peanuts... The biggest producer of that variety is right here in New Mexico, in and around a small town called Portales.. I go there once a year for an agriculture expo and alway come home loaded with nuts... wait.. Let me rephrase that..

The only thing I worry about grinding my own peanut butter is the potential taste... I LOVE JIF... I've had "natural" peanut butter before and have not really liked it...

Outside Aisle Theory
 

In most supermarkets 90% of the healthy stuff is on the outside aisles of the supermarket.

Typically you walk in and start at produce/bakery, you then walk that to the back where the meat, chicken, and fish are. As you walk around--typically the dairy and bread are on the aisle on the opposite side of the store. By the time you reach the end of that hour you're back at the front of the supermarket. I now only go down the inside aisles for oil, vinegar, seltzer water, and in the rare case I want something odd frozen veggies and Whole Grain frozen waffles. :faint:

As for the natural thing vs the processed thing. Favorite counselor at COD is a nutrionist, she actually advocates eating whole fat and fresh. Typically they up the sugar when they remove the fat. So if I have the option of 2 oz of the low salt fresh mozerella over the 2 % polly-o, I'd go for the fresh which doesn't have the sugare or the salt of the processed cheese.

We do organic milk, too. It DOES taste better. When I shop at TJ's, I will also buy their non-o milk because it's clearly labeled that it does not contain hormones. I also do most of our produce shopping at local farmer's markets. Those are great if you have access to them! The prices are usually less than what I pay in the supermarket. They sell conventional, organic and non-o produce that's spray-free (they just don't have an organic cert because o-certs cost money and overhead to maintain). I buy conventional citrus and melons, but organic or spray-free berries, apples, spinach, stone fruit (cherries, peaches, etc) - anything we're going to eat the skin on.

Here's a good article about which organics give you the most bang for your buck: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/gu...od-worth-money

Duh... I didn't read the second page before responding. If you are looking for a local farmer's market, there is a directory of them here: http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm