<p>Gluten free pastas won’t be significantly different in calories or macronutrient profile (except somewhat lower protein and fiber since typical gluten free pasta ingredients like rice and corn are lower protein and fiber than wheat) compared to regular pasta. Of course, they can serve as a base for high calorie sauces and toppings just as well as regular pasta.</p>
<p>While potentially useful for someone who needs to avoid wheat for food allergy reasons, they should not be thought of as “diet food” compared to regular pasta.</p>
<p>Gluten free isn’t a way of losing weight. That’s bad advice. The only benefit of gluten free pasta over regular pasta is for someone with celiac. I am convinced I gained weight through eating lots of " low fat" spaghetti dinners without protein. You’re better off upping your protein and reducing pasta intake in general.</p>
<p>Can you incorporate more non-sweaty, not-to-the-wall exercise in your day? I’m thinking commuting by bike, walking to lunch, buying groceries by bike, gardening, stuff like that. Lately in my area I’ve been seeing a lot more women in their 50s doing errands on nice upright bikes with front baskets, just tootling along. Such a nice change from the lycra-clad racer-wannabees on fancy race bikes.</p>
<p>I am one of those women, but my front basket only holds so much. A trip to the farmers’ market requires panniers, which I asked for (and received) for my birthday in June. I got my bike last year and I love it. Another thing DH and I have started doing is putting the bikes on the back of the car when we travel. In the past year we’ve taken them to Cape May, Quebec, and Acadia/Bar Harbour. It’s really been fun.</p>
<p>Coincidentally I just came from the Doctor’s office who has me on these medicines. Yes, I am gaining weight due to being over 50, my body artificially being put into menopause by these medicines and the medicine side affects themselves. They say it’s a catch-22. Need the medicine and also need to keep my weight at a healthy level. Yikes.</p>
<p>So, as I mentioned earlier, I need to be more aware of every meal and snack now.</p>
<p>I could really use some ideas for high protein, low carb breakfast foods…I’m okay with lunch and dinner (or I will be) but need some suggestions for breakfasts. I’ve been eating a half bagel w/cream cheese and some fruit. That won’t cut it anymore!</p>
<p>They are okay with my level of exercise at this moment in time, so I am going to concentrate on my food intake and making better choices each and every time something goes in my mouth. Doesn’t sound very fun But…losing a few pounds will be fun! :)</p>
<p>I am like Mathmom- I have found that by just adding any exercise to my routine I can have healthy strength building and slow weight loss.
I can not eat any white carbs. Once I start I have a difficult time getting them back under control. I am in a eating carb mode and I find I want them daily. It also seems to have the effect of making me not want to exercise. A double whammy. I think since my carb binge started a few months ago I have gained about 4 lbs. I have seen that for myself they will come off and so will the bulge if I cut out all bread, pasta and rice.
My husband needs the carbs because he is on the thin side. I sometimes give him a piece of naan bread from the freezer or make him a real baked potato or put his chicken or beef in a tortilla.</p>
<p>Breakfast ideas - while grains can be ok, try to think no grains to get yourself started and to lower your cravings for carbs (the bagel) in the morning:</p>
<p>Apple slices and peanut butter (reasonable amount)
Scrambled egg with any meat and veggies and a little cheese
Plain greek yogurt w/ fresh fruit and a little jam for sweetner
Cottage cheese and fruit
Celery and PB - with or without raisins ( )
Apple slices and cheddar cheese (reasonable amount)
Cottage cheese and fruit smoothie
Banana/PB smoothie with scrambled egg on the side</p>
<p>The other great standard, though it is carbs is steel cut oats (you can even buy instant steel cut oats now!) with add ins - fruit, nuts, pb, etc. Hardy and with just a little sweetener and or butter - yummy!</p>
<p>I am enjoying this thread because I too need to lose ten lbs and bring my cholesterol numbers down… so no meat, no cheese and only egg white. I cheated a bit for Rosh Hashonah holiday but I did not eat any of my beautiful brisket or the noodle kugel.</p>
<p>So for breakfast my recommendation is an egg white omelette with a tomato or some peppers or mushrooms. If you need to have a carb at all, try a slice of whole wheat toast and just use fruit spread on it or even a handful of the reduced sodium wheat thins. At the moment I am partial to a very nice raspberry fruit spread from Trader Joe’s that has nothing in it at all. </p>
<p>Now that the weather will be changing I am of the “apple a day” for snacking. I do also like pears in season…</p>
<p>Thanks for suggestions. yes, I do like/eat eggs, but cannot imagine having them everyday! As of now I usually eat an egg every Sunday morning on top of a half bagel and a slice of cheese. No more bagels, so making omlettes are great, but not every day!</p>
<p>I’m going to buy Salmon for dinner tonight and lots of veggies and leave the leftover pasta for my younger S.</p>
<p>I can do this, baby steps! ;)</p>
<p>PS: I do not like the taste of Greek yogurt but can have regular yogurts…and I eat lactose free cottage cheese on occasion…and I do make fruit smoothies with low fat yogurt, no fruit added, I add my own…not sure of the protein content though…</p>
<p>^^I ate my own Brisket for Rosh Hashana! It’s all protein, no?</p>
<p>Some ideas for calorie cutting while upping protein. </p>
<p>Fiber One English muffins are only 100 calories each (vs up to 150 in half a bagel), have a ton of fiber (duh!) and a generous amount of protein and do not taste like cardboard!</p>
<p>A shake made with Greek yogurt, protein powder, some frozen berries and a dash of honey is a delicious way to start the day. Kefir has a good amount of protein and much less lactose than milk. </p>
<p>Egg white omelet with tons of mushrooms, spinach and other veggies.</p>
<p>Canadian bacon for folks who eat pork - the pack I get from Costco states that 5 slices are under 100 calories. Otherwise, turkey bacon is OK.</p>
<p>Berries are lower in calories than fruit, and melons are great, too, since they have potassium and other good stuff.</p>
<p>Ps - nothing wrong with eating brisket, it is delicious and protein-rich. :)</p>
<p>Cardinal Fang, Handsome bag but with my vertigo/balance problems I am better off with the weight low. I have a pair of Ortleib bags that close like dry bags; I can’t believe how much they hold.</p>
<p>My husband dreams about a cross country bike trip and I think has resigned himself to the fact that we would need to do it on our tandem. (I did start a Tai Chi class this morning to help with my balance so maybe there’s hope.) Many years ago we watched the Race Across AMerican head off from the Huntington Beach pier. So amazing.</p>
<p>I don’t like to cook (or otherwise prep food) in the morning so my high protein breakfast options are–
A couple of hardboiled eggs (I always keep some in the fridge)
Cup of low fat cottage cheese
Trader Joe’s smoked sockeye salmon
Revival soy bar
All with some fruit, which I sometimes have later as a snack.</p>
<p>1moremom, Ortlieb bags are just dandy. That’s what I use, front and rear, for my long bike tours. And tandems are great. I used to ride a tandem with my son when he was little; he started when he was four. The only issue with touring tandems is carrying capacity, though if you don’t plan to camp you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I recommend the Northern Tier for a cross-country route. It’s cooler, and you ride along trees and water.</p>
<p>The studies are pretty conclusive. There is no correlation between eating cholesterol or fat and coronary artery disease. </p>
<p>The final straw was the massive billion dollar Women’s Health Initiative Study, designed to finally prove, after years of trying, that low fat diets had a health benefit. Complete failure. Last gasp for low fat/heart disease research. Here’s how the Harvard School of Public Health describes the design and massive scale of this study:</p>
<p>The two exceptions (bad fats) would be eating trans fat, which is linked to all kinds of health problems and eating much more omega 6 fat (vegetable oils) than omega 3 fat (fish oil, olive oil, etc.). An unfavorable ratio has been linked to markers of coronary artery disease and other types of inflammation. </p>
<p>Eggs are a great breakfast food (or any other meal, really). Good protein. Decent fats. No sugar. No refined grains.</p>
<p>If you use one of the online programs for tracking food you will see (it will tell you) how much protein is in that yogurt. I’m going to continue to be an advocate for tracking your food so you can see what exactly you are eating!!!</p>
<p>I need to make another point. To lose weight you do not need to starve. It can be “fun”. If you adapt a diet that is healthier and nutritionally sound, you WILL be satisfied and will not be hungry!! You can have 3 meals, snacks , etc and it does not have to be 50% carrot and celery sticks!!! Breakfast does not have to be an egg and a small piece of fruit. Make a 2 egg omelet or scramble with all the veggies you want, a decent portion of meat and a little cheese - because it is healthier, lower carb items it will keep you full till your lunch or morning snack.</p>
But…losing a few pounds will be fun! :)</p>
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