<p>Yes, I noticed that, although one of the 12-oz steak eaters was a man, one was a woman (Izzie). I know that the Coke has to go, and I have thought about reducing it by pouring some away. (I couldn’t find those 6-oz cans that I swear I saw somewhere.) But I haven’t managed to do it yet.</p>
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<p>…(formerly) big men. :)</p>
<p>I do agree that the portions of meat I eat are large, much larger than most women eat, although my overall protein consumption is not that high because I eat a lot of filling salads, veggies, soups, and stews. For instance, I had a ton of grilled chicken last night, but I had it with a grilled yellow squash and some fresh salsa (tomatoes, vidalia onions, cilantro, seranno peppers, and habeneros peppers).</p>
<p>idad, how did you grill your squash? I’ve been wanting to do that…what kinds of spices did you use? I also like it cooked on the grill in a foil packet with some butter & salt…yum.</p>
<p>12 ounces is a huge portion of meat and even the Atkins book says you should have 4-6 ounces for a portion. I do not eat like that very often. I had had 45 grams of carbs for lunch which is a lot for me and eating carbs stimulates hunger. After that giant meal at the Texas Roadhouse, I did not eat again until 2:00 the next day because I wasn’t hungry.</p>
<p>I do veggies with a little olive oil and Italian seasoning/seasonings. We’re doing those today. YUM!</p>
<p>Abit od a TMI question: Did the change in diet cause a change in GI functioning?</p>
<p>I truly believe that soda is addictive. I went through a phase for about a year when I was addicted to diet rootbeer. I loved it! I couldn’t tell the difference between diet and regular. The thing was, once i started drinking it, I just craved more and more of it. It never really quenched my thirst. I finally got myself down to drinking it only on weekends but soon that had to end too, as I found myself going through a liter in no time at all. I saw a report on TV that the dark colors in some soda can contribute to kidney disease or something like that and that was the last straw. I gave it up. </p>
<p>Now I go to Rootbeer Anonymous meetings and tell my story to others. :)</p>
<p>Ah yes, the RA meetings. There is also RAnon.</p>
<p>Totally agree about the addictive nature of sodas (including diet sodas). Every time I start drinking any thing diet (it can be diet snapple) I find myself drinking more and more. For the last couple of years I’ve only drank water, hot tea, coffee, red wine and the occasional martini. I don’t miss any of the other drinks. When you think about it most sodas (especially diet sodas) are nothing but a mixture of chemicals designed to taste good.</p>
<p>One of the things they’re starting to discover is diet drinks have the same effect on insulin as does sugared sodas. Anything that tastes sweet impacts insulin, whether it’s real or not. Your body can’t tell the difference. I personally think sodas or processed beverages are one of the worst things you can eat or drink.</p>
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<p>I just slice them in half lengthwise, maybe slice off a sliver of the skin off the other side of each half. Drizzle or spritz with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and throw them on the grill like a hamburger. I get nice grill marks and a little char and then put them off to the side to finish cooking. </p>
<p>I find that thicker slices tend to do better than thinner slices.</p>
<p>NYmomof2:</p>
<p>As somebody who used to buy 2-liter bottles of Coke and drink it like water, I can say that this is just something you will have to go cold turkey with. Pull a Nancy Reagan and Just Say No! There is no way to wean yourself off sugar drinks and there is no way to get control of your weight as long as you are drinking sugar drinks.</p>
<p>If you need resolve, invest 90 minutes in watching Dr. Lustig’s talk on sugar drinks. The problem is that sweet drinks hit with such a massive dose of sugar in such a short time frame that is digested so quickly:</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Sugar: The Bitter Truth](<a href=“Sugar: THE BITTER TRUTH - YouTube”>Sugar: THE BITTER TRUTH - YouTube)</p>
<p>You won’t be able to drink soda after watching this.</p>
<p>I agree with the cold turkey approach to the soda. Having a little is just going to make you want more…it is evil that way!</p>
<p>I finally went cold turkey with the rootbeer and I did crave it for a couple of days but now don’t really think about it. Until now! OMG!</p>
<p>Idad,
I do my grilled veggies that way, too. Delicious!</p>
<p>We have free soda, juices, spritzer, coffee, hot chocolate and tea in the office. The most popular drink is sprizer water (we also have filtered water but I can’t measure that). They put the most in and they are usually gone or almost gone by the end of the day. Diet sodas are popular and regular sodas are the lease popular. Juice isn’t that popular either so it appears that our employees have been getting the message on sugar in drinks.</p>
<p>I agree on sugar drinks - it’s easier to just quite them cold turkey. What helps at the office is the easy availability of coffee, tea and water. At home keeping cold, filtered water readily available really helps.</p>
<p>Has anyone tried to make “rice” out of cauliflower? I found this low carb idea and am tempted to try it. [Low</a> Carb Cauliflower Rice Recipe - Low Carb Rice Video](<a href=“http://video.about.com/lowcarbdiets/Low-Carb-Cauliflower-Rice.htm]Low”>http://video.about.com/lowcarbdiets/Low-Carb-Cauliflower-Rice.htm)
<a href=“http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsidedishes/r/caulirice.htm[/url]”>http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsidedishes/r/caulirice.htm</a></p>
<p>I’ve tried quinoa and red wheat berries as a substitute for rice. They may not be low carbs but they are high in fiber and very nutritious. The red wheat berries are chewy and hard to eat so I don’t eat a lot of them. The problem with the red wheat berries is that they are high in iron. I also used them with dry seaweed to make hand rolled salmon sushi. I often added avocadoes, salmon, and red wheat berries. My kids seem to like them.
[Salmon</a> Temakis (hand rolled sushi):: Kikkoman Europe](<a href=“http://www.kikkoman.eu/en/consumers/recipes/recipe-selection-by-kikkoman-sauce/recipes-with-teriyaki-marinade/r/salmon-temakis-hand-rolled-sushi/]Salmon”>http://www.kikkoman.eu/en/consumers/recipes/recipe-selection-by-kikkoman-sauce/recipes-with-teriyaki-marinade/r/salmon-temakis-hand-rolled-sushi/)</p>
<p>blackeyedsusan – I haven’t tried the “rice,” but the pureed cauliflower I make gets absolute raves from guests – people choose it over mashed potatoes at our Thanskgiving Dinner. Give it a shot. (The pureed version doesn’t have a real “cauliflower” taste – I like cauliflower but don’t love it, but there are NEVER leftovers of the pureed variety.)</p>
<p>Arabrab - I throw some horseradish into my pureed cauliflower - It is so good.</p>
<p>The shredded cauliflower rice is good – I have used it for stir fries, fried rice and soup. The only thing I don’t like about it is if you refrigerate it after cooking, it has a strong smell and no one will eat it so just cook what you are going to eat the first time.</p>
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<p>In that case try rice as a substitute for rice. Try brown rice that is. Not low in carbs but high in fiber and very nutritious is a pretty good description of brown rice.</p>
<p>Quinoa is also high in protein, and it is high-quality protein. I learned to use it because S2 decided to be a vegetarian. I did not like the kind I bought from Trader Joe’s, but this kind is wonderful, and doesn’t need rinsing:</p>
<p>[Bob's</a> Red Mill Organic Grain Quinoa, 26-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4): Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-26-Ounce-Packages/dp/B000EDG3UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308529871&sr=8-1]Bob’s”>http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-26-Ounce-Packages/dp/B000EDG3UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308529871&sr=8-1)</p>
<p>I’ve kicked the Coke habit several times in the past, and I have always done it by gradually reducing the amount. Cold turkey leads to splitting headaches.</p>
<p>My son is trying the Paleo diet and I’ve decided to do it with him. No grains, no rice (including brown), no quinoa. 
Basically just lean protein and vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruit (but in moderation). This is going to be a long month.</p>