Nichola: Way to go!!!!!!

I think it's so cool that we get to eat all this scrumptious food while "dieting." I've been eating better, not just healthwise, but palatewise since I've been GIing. Another indicator that this is something I can do long term!

I still measure and weigh my portions and keep a food diary because I find my portions tend to creep and even if it's healthy, low gi food if I don't watch my portions I won't see the pounds come off.

I'm really looking forward to trying all these recipes. I have to take it easy or I'll be skinny and broke LOL!

Good luck getting started Sunflower!

I thought this was great (and it validates my exercise philosophy! LOL)

In the bottle before you is a pill, a marvel of modern medicine that will regulate gene transcription throughout your body, help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and 12 kinds of cancer—plus gallstones and diverticulitis (inflammation of the intestines). Expect the pill to improve your strength and balance as well as your blood lipid profile. Your bones will become stronger. You'll grow new capillaries in your heart, your skeletal muscles and your brain, improving blood flow and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Your attention span will increase. If you have arthritis, your symptoms will improve. The pill will help you regulate your appetite and you'll probably find you prefer healthier foods. You'll feel better, younger even, and you will test younger according to a variety of physiological measures. Your blood volume will increase and you will burn fats better. Even your immune system will be stimulated. There is just one catch.

There's no such pill. The prescription is exercise.

Jonathan Shaw, Harvard Magazine (March-April2004)

(From "The Low GI Diet Revolution")

Leticia, that says it all doesn't it ... exercise it is then!!

I couldn't agree more about the scrumptious food ... I'm really enjoying trying out the new recipes ... so much so, that I ordered two more recipe books from Amazon yesterday ... 'The High-Energy Cook Book', and another Gi recipe book by British chef, Anthony Worral Thompson ... they both get good ratings/reviews so hopefully, when I try them out, I'll be sending lots of new recipes your way!LOL There was a third book that I wanted and it was difficult to choose which two to have ... I couldn't justify buying all three at the same time!! Who mentioned being broke and skinny?!!LOL

With regard to portion control, I do have to be careful, but I've not been able to weigh anything because my kitchen scales have broken and I haven't got around to replacing them!! I have been very good though so far, my problem areas are with food such as pasta, rice, etc ... but I have only been having probably a third of the amount that I would normally allow myself and I've still been satisfied ... just goes to show how greedy I was in the past I guess!! In the past I used to leave the dinner table feeling bloated and uncomfortable ... now I feel satisfied.

Nichola

It's been interesting to re-learn what 'full' feels like without feeling, as you said "bloated and uncomfortable." And I've been enjoying my food more as well!

I've been amazed to see how I'm getting used to the smaller portion sizes. It used to be a 1/2 cup of rice looked like a joke. Now it is looking normal. And I'm not going hungry.

It seems to me though, that I have a harder time estimating portions on familiar foods than on the new stuff I'm preparing. When it's a new recipe, or one I seldom make it doesn't seem to be meager but when it's a staple food I've been eating all my life (like rice and beans!) it seems like a meager portion compared to what I'm used to. Even then, I am getting used to the new portions but it has been more difficult with the more familiar foods. Anyone else have this situation?

I'm looking forward to your 'review' of the books and to seeing your new recipes!

Yes, I know what you mean ... it is difficult to adjust to having smaller portions when you normally have your plate piled high! I used to force myself to eat it all too ... even if I wasn't really hungry! I've been so used to having a mountain of rice or pasta on my plate that when I started having smaller portions I was convinced that I'd be starving ... but of course I'm not. Also, whenever I cooked a recipe from a book, I'd look at the amount of rice or pasta that it allowed for the whole recipe and I used to laugh, thinking they can't possibly mean that much for four people, it must mean per person!! Of course, I knew I was kidding myself ... but still increased the amount to humungous portions!! ... Now I stick to what the recipes suggests!!

Managed to get some exercise in yesterday ... went swimming and managed 20 lengths of the pool ... not all in one go though, I had to have a little rest between lengths after about 3rd!! Today my muscles are sore ... it's good to know that I have some hiding underneath all the blubber!!

Nichola

You are just kicking butt Nichola! Good job on the exercise!

I'm still on track with my exercise goals which, I must admit is somewhat surprising! I haven't whined my way out of exercising!

The one thing I'm finding, portion wise to not be satisfying is Pasta. I know the research shows it's low gi so it should be satisfying and all that, but I find that when I eat pasta I get full on an appropriate portion but then I am hungry sooner than with other meals. I am adding big salads when I eat pasta and have just started adding protein which might help I guess. Just kindof odd.

I'm making the spicy noodle recipe tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it!

I agree with you about the pasta ... you definitely need protein to go with it rather than just say, a sauce with veggies in it ... the protein should stop us from getting hungry soon afterwards. And I too have also started having a large side salad when I have pasta dishes ... it makes the amount of food on my plate look more pleasing to my stomach!

Nichola

Hello all

I have been keeping upto date on this with the emails as I don't get a chance to come to the site alot. I;m so glad everyone is doing great I officially started GI today, have been playing around with it for the past 2 weeks and think I can do this. Sharing recipes is a great idea and I was wondering if perhaps we could share menu's for a bit to make sure (me) we are on the right track I know I tend to do better when I have a menu. I try to do up one for the week and shop accordingly but ya know that thing called life get's in the way I'm also having a problem with high sugars and low iron recently and trying to get a handle on that as well. And exercise at the moment I do walking as much as possible but it's been so hot out I almost passed out the other day. But I do have a back up tape by Denise Austin I'm going to try it's called Trim Walk only need 6ft of space lol.

Looking forward to getting to know folks

Happy GI'ing


Wendy

Hi Wendy,

Glad you've decided to join us!

I'm on a bit of a roll at the moment trying out new recipes ... I'm sure the novelty will wear off sooner or later, but until then I'll keep posting the ones which are well worth trying. I've also started going through my normal recipe books and picking out some recipes to try with a few modifications to make them low/lower Gi. This might be a bit difficult due to the fact that I know some foods, when combined, or cooked in a certain way, may no longer be low Gi, but I figure that as all the ingredients are healthy/low fat/low cal, that the overall recipe is going to be good for us anyway. Sometimes things can become a little too technical and I believe that as long as our diet mainly consists of low Gi foods, we're going to do well.

I'd be more than happy to post my daily menu plans if it helps. I too would find it helpful to know what other people are eating. It's good to get a few suggestions as sometimes I seem to be stuck for ideas for what to do for dinner and end up doing the same things.

Here's yesterdays menu:

Breakfast:
Allbran cereal with low Gi fruit yogurt

Lunch:
Fruit
Whoops! Was out all afternoon shopping, and missed it!!

Snack:
2 sticks celery with hummus

Dinner:
Skinless/boneless chicken breast rubbed with mexican seasoning
Basmati rice (my own Spanish style version)
Big side salad
Fruit

Snack:
10 Almonds

As far as exercise is concerned, walking is out for me at the moment ... it's so hot and humid here right now that's it's really not very pleasant at all. I've started swimming instead and doing a few sit-ups ... I guess there's always something we can find to do, so no excuses.

Good luck with the Gi plan and hope to see you around here again soon.

Nichola

Hi Nichola
Txs for the welcome...Ya been really hot here for walking I went out yesterday and walked in the mall and today was nicer so out at 8am and walked for about 1hr. Then did some gardening Txs for the menu...this was my day B=decaf and toasted bagel wholewheat (after walk) S=1 peach 1 nectarine. L=chilli and whole wheat bun green tea D=soup(homemade)sandwich with chicken(deli)2 sl cheese mustard and lettuce S=yogurt with fruit.

I had too much bread today as it was quick and I was out for lunch as well with a friend. Guess I should have stuck to just soup and a few slices of cheese for dinner.

Oops I forgot about ice cream bar on way home from afternoon walk...was a stress thing (kids you know).

Anyway txs for the recipes too. If I have a good one will post too. nice to try different things.

Happy GIin
Wendy

Hi Wendy,

Glad you decided to join us!

I've been good all week but have had a bit of a bad day diet-wise today. Not due to cravings, or hunger, or anything like that ... I was out shopping in the area where my hubby works when he called me on my mobile phone, and as it was lunchtime he asked if I would like to meet him for lunch. Now, this is a rare occurance so I jumped at the chance!! He took me to a Chinese restaurant for Dim Sum ... not the best choice for a low Gi dieter!! Then this evening, the kids decided they wanted pasta for dinner ... tried to be good with a tomato based sauce ... but I KNOW I overdid it on the pasta serving!! I can tell by the way my stomach feels ... all bloated and uncomfortable ... I'll remember this feeling the next time we decide to have pasta for dinner!! It's about time I purchased some new kitchen scales ... FAST!!!

Tomorrow is another day and I will be very, very good to make up for today.

Nichola

I started the GI diet on 6/25/05 and to date (7/20/05) i have lost 11lbs. I am following it very easy but i have hit a plateau. I have been 198-199 for a few days now and i unfortunately did not measure myself before i started so i am not sure if it is inches i am losing now or i am screwing something up. I noticed that when i speed walk the next day the scale shows up not down!
I hope you are all doing well on this. I REALLY need to get down to 145 but if i hit this plateau for to much longer i fear i am going to fall off the wagon.
any ideas??

I NEED to get further away from 200 before i feel better about myself.

Hi Mrszebs,

Well done on the 11lbs lost so far, that's fantastic!

Sorry to hear that you've hit a bit of a plateau, but don't get disheartened ... there could be lots of simple reasons for this ... water retention, are you drinking enough? I notice that it's been a month since you started GIing ... could it be anything to do with your monthy cycle? Or maybe after a month you're not being quite so careful about the serving sizes of certain foods such as pasta/rice/bread?

Women's bodies are strange ... our weight fluctuates up and down all the time, so don't get carried away with weighing yourself too often. Everyone has times when they stay the same or even have the odd gain ... even if we are sure that we're doing everything right. If I were you I'd check your weight today, then don't get on the scales again until the same time next week ... keep doing what you're doing and I bet you'll see a loss by this time next week. You are averaging 2.5lbs per week which is great ... look at the overall picture and not just the daily/weekly loss. Get your tape measure out now and check your statistics ... then check them again next month.

Keep up with the walking and make sure you drink plenty of water during/after your walk ... we all know how important exercise is ... I wouldn't imagine for a moment that it's the effect of the walking that's making your weight seem to go up the next day ... try not to get on the scales after each time you walk, just weigh-in once a week to get the overall picture.

Above all, you are doing really well and you should be proud of what you've achieved so far, so don't let this little blip make you fall off the wagon!!

Stick around and let us know how you're getting on.

Good luck!!

Nichola

Welcome Wendy and MrsZebs!

Congrats on your success so far MrsZebs. As far as your plateau goes, I agree with Nichola, sounds like you are on the right track.

One thing you could try is sticking to the very low gi foods for a bit and see if that kickstarts the scale. You may also want to try cycling your calories. In other words, you eat low cal one day, medium the next, high another, etc. It's supposed to work for busting out plateaus and loss in general because it keeps your metabolism guessing rather than adjusting to your calorie level. I haven't tried this personally though (I have a rough enough time getting organized with menus and shopping, adding one more thing would just be too crazy right now LOL!)

Don't give up! It's only a matter of persistence before you see the numbers moving!

I've been doing really good! I already surpassed my exercise goal for this month (it was 400 minutes and I'm at about 470 already) and I've managed to stick with low gi eating with no difficulty at all. I'm only 2lbs away from my mini goal! I'm looking forward to getting there!

Leticia, well done on achieving (or should I say exceeding!) your exercise goal for this month ... you put me to shame! I really must make more of an effort in this department!! Won't be long now until you reach that mini goal ... you must be so excited!

Well, I've had a better day so far today than I did yesterday ... Breakfast was a yogurt and strawberry smoothie ... Snack was strawberries ... Lunch was a sandwich made with wholemeal bread/salad/egg(omega3) ... Not too sure about dinner at the moment, but probably chicken with salad or roast veg.

Wish my new recipe books would hurry up and arrive ... I'm getting a bit stuck for ideas!

Nichola