<p>^^somemom, do you still get hungry if you eat protein and vegetables for breakfast? Supposedly if you start with carbs or fruit, that can make you hungry. Really, if I eat an omelet for breakfast, I’m barely even hungry for lunch.</p>
<p>I used to have two pieces of whole wheat toast with peanut butter every morning, along with a banana. I also have Greek yogurt mid morning, mixed with a little granola. I cut out the toast last year and lost five pounds over the duration of about ten months. It was the easiest change to make because I am not really starving for breakfast. I missed it at first, but now I don’t want it at all, and I found that I am hungry for the yogurt whether or not I have the toast anyway. </p>
<p>I was surprised that those extra few calories every day were the cause of those extra pounds. I thought that because I had a good breakfast, I would eat less throughout the day to compensate, but it just wasn’t the case. I’m more content now because I don’t feel like I have to watch every little bite. Even though it was only a few pounds, I really felt it when wearing certain clothes, especially jeans.</p>
<p>Gourmetmom - sincere question - do you still eat the PB? As a snack I sometime blend a very ripe banana with PB and two teaspoons of cocoa powder. Was it just eliminating the toast or was it the toast and PB?</p>
<p>I can keep my middle age (actually I am beyond middle age, unless I live to 120) bulge to a minimum by watching my intake of simple carbs. I also found that carbonated beverages including carbonated water are a problem for me. I still enjoy bread, but only occasionally, and I limit myself to a slice or two of really good bread and skip packaged, sliced bread. I found that whole grain bread was really a “bloater” for me.</p>
<p>Chocolate for first breakfast and then many other breakfasts, I jsut eat all the time, I have no idea how many calories at all. I do not eat only when I am very very busy. I am rarely hungry. I do not gain unless I eat amounts that make my stomach hurt to the point that I have hard time walking, which happens several times / day on all inclusive resorts with awesome food. But when I come home, these 7lbs usually come off. One time it did not happen when I went to resort in 3 months after the last visit. These 5 lbs are still on me, they are all on my belly - this is my bulgy bulge story.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP, I’ll admit to being skeptical about your diet - how much do you weigh and how tall are you?</p>
<p>^^^ God, Mathmom. Don’t ask! She’ll tell you it’s all because she exercises for at least an hour and a half every single day, even on vacation. She swims in the summer (really floats down the pool) and roller blades. She also walks. She pigs out at the all-inclusive resorts but when she is home she eats donuts and chocolate and won’t deprive herself of anything because life is too short and you should be happy, but since she does all this exercise she doesn’t gain, but who cares what you look like anyway? Who can be bothered?</p>
<p>Miami, you have mentioned that you crave chocolate and other sweets. You have also mentioned that you get cramps often.
Here’s what may be behind those cravings.</p>
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<p>Read more: [What</a> Your Cravings Mean | Care2 Healthy Living](<a href=“Care2 is the world's largest social network for good, a community of over 40 million people standing together, starting petitions and sharing stories that inspire action.”>Care2 is the world's largest social network for good, a community of over 40 million people standing together, starting petitions and sharing stories that inspire action.)</p>
<p>Gosh, I wish we had pictures attached to our profile names!</p>
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<p>We posted our progress pictures on the diet/exercise thread last year. I will vouch for Idad and MOWC being svelte/thin/fit.</p>
<p>^^and BCEagle!</p>
<p>emerald,
Thanks, it makes perfect sense. I love chocolate, I do not wait until I crave it, it is my every day firs breakfast and also add tons of unsweetened chocolate powder to my coffee (I says 15 cal per tablespoon, so this one is not so bad). I only love dark chocolate, it has to be 85-86%, 70% is way too sweet for me, 90% is way too bitter. I definitely consume much more than average person and still cramping my muscles really bad, I cannot point my toes at all, I am swimming with my feet at 90 degrees. If I point them, they will cramp.</p>
<p>…in regard to fruits, I cannot imagine that anybody in whole USA eats more than I do. Fruits are my primary source of calories, I add a bit of other food in between, but not that much, not when I am at home (vacation is a different story). Non-fruits have to be cooked/fixed, I am not a big fan of being in a kitchen at all.</p>
<p>A diet of fruit, chocolate and donuts is simply dreadful. No protein? No wonder muscles are starved. Probably breaking down muscle tissue to feed the body’s cells. Seriously bad plan. Sure the body will lose weight, but in a seriously unhealthy way.</p>
<p>85-86% doesn’t sound like unhealthy chocolate, there is barely any sugar in that. I put that in the category of health food.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I say the hardest way to control carb cravings is to watch everything you eat. I go the easy way. Alpha-lipoic acid supplements morning and night, and chromium supplements. Totally controls my chocolate and carb cravings, which I have had for years, balances out my blood sugar. I have been staring at 4 bags of chocolate here in my hotel mini bar for the last 5 days and haven’t even wanted them, it is a miracle. Though of course, I can find other unhealthy things to eat.</p>
<p>I think the problem with Miami’s eating is that while it may work for her that way of eating does not work for the majority of us. If we could eat donuts, chocolate and fruit and not gain weight we would not be on this thread or any of the other healthy weight loss threads.
busdriver11- can you give more details on what alpha-lipic acid and chromium supplements help with?</p>
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You eat to this point several times/day when you are on vacation? This doesn’t sound like a good vacation to me!</p>
<p>Sure, mom60, here is some information. I go to a well known clinic in my area that combines bioidentical hormone therapy with targeted supplements and vitamins, for each specific person, based on blood tests, family history and specific problems. The short version is that both alpha-lipoic acid and chromium suppress carb cravings by balancing out your blood sugar. I used to have plenty of up and down spikes, and now do not crave them at all. I definitely don’t believe in placebos, this really works, at least for me.</p>
<p>Here is what they say about alpha-lipoic acid: This well-researched,powerful antioxidant works in both the fat and water soluble portions of human cells. It is highly effective in supporting glucose metabolism as well as cardiovascular and neurological health. It also supporsts circulation, immune function, vision, healthy liver regeneration, and liver detoxification. In addition, lipoic acid helps produce energy in muscles and supports the effectiveness of vitamin C and E, two well-known antioxidants.</p>
<p>Chromium: Influences insulin action and glucose metabolism, helps with heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol. I can tell if I miss a daily pill, it directly affects cravings. I only take this under supervision of a doctor, though I don’t know if that is necessary.</p>
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<p>You probably can’t AFFORD to eat them! :)</p>
<p>I admit to being small and fit because I do exercise often. What works for me (and I won’t speak for anyone else) is to keep my daily net calorie count to about 1400 calories a day, and I genuinely enjoy lifting weights. I’ve found that serious weightlifting has been amazing for my body and my metabolism. But I refuse to deprive myself. I eat anything I want, but in moderation and as part of the calorie count for the entire day. I went out to dinner last night and had a half portion of asparagus risotto and ordered chocolate cream pie. I did eat only half of the pie, though. I find portions so huge a lot of the time. My son had a plate of roast turkey that could have fed an entire family. Being a 13-year old boy, he did eat it, but it seemed a lot of food for someone who might not still be growing.</p>
<p>I really like lifting weights too, only my left hand is so deformed with arthritis that I can lift very little.
I should have my thumb joint redone, but I worry about it being worse instead of better.
I’ve gotten very good typing w one hand on my iPad- but still hurts to play my guitar.
Almost forgot…
[Chromium</a> - Dr. Weil](<a href=“Integrative Medicine & Healthy Living | Andrew Weil, M.D.”>Integrative Medicine & Healthy Living | Andrew Weil, M.D.)</p>