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[annieover]

I am coping with the diet by drinking glass after glass of sugar-free lemonade. I'm probably not supposed to do that because this diet is supposed "recalibrate my metabolism", but right now I miss bread so much that I can't even focus on doing any thing I'm supposed to do.  This morning I promised myself that if the scale didn't confirm there had

Comments

[mmmgood]

How long have you been doing this diet? I only ask because I'm guessing it's like a lot of the fasts and flushes and stuff that are meant to clear out the system and then re-boot metabolism, in that after a certain period of time, most people find themselves not craving the simple carbs and sweets anymore, or at least not as much. So if you've just started, maybe you haven't had time to adjust yet? [Or, maybe you're just not ready for it yet. I've had times where I'm not ready to make the change yet, and denying myself the food only makes me eat more of it. When that happens, I try to just focusing on adding in more good things, and eating the good things first, so at least I'm getting good nutrition.]

[annieover]

I'm doing the South Beach Diet, so it's just two weeks of avoiding carbs and then I can start "reintroducing good carbs". I've done it before, so I know the first week is the worst and I just started on Monday. The truth is that it's easy for me to follow when I'm occupied and not so easy to follow when I'm working at home. The cravings will die down, but I'm not a pleasant person right now.

[mmmgood]

You can do it! Definitely you're not that far in for the cravings to still be plaguing you (I agree, when I've done similar things, the second week is usually so much easier, and the time that it wasn't I had to realize I just couldn't do it at the time).

I thought I remembered you mentioning SB before.

[annieover]

I've tried to pick a time with relatively few social obligations. Going to dinner parties and refusing to eat just doesn't work. Nor does traveling long distances. Sure, technically you could stop at grocery stores instead of restaurants or pack all your food, but honestly, I am not my mother. That doesn't work for me at all.

[mmmgood]

Also, we have a friend here who thinks it's in some ways cheaper just to buy regular eggs and toss the yolks rather than do the eggs whites in a carton. Maybe that would make the eggs taste better? With some yummy herbs or spices? You know, the warming spices are supposed to be great for metabolism.

[annieover]

I did mix some thyme, tomatoes and peppers in them, but just the thought of them revolts me at this point. I can eat whole eggs(it's allowed but not recommended). The real forbidden food is carbs.

[mmmgood]

Sorry. I eat eggs with fresh salsa every morning, so I am definitely not revolted by eating a lot of eggs. But I do remember just not being able to eat things anymore when I've done similar things to what you're doing now, and my colleague who did it this summer had the same problem (she just could not eat another cucumber to save her life). I suppose it's all just part of the process. The good news is, it's already Friday, and you've made it this far.

[annieover]

I love eggs. I just hate the eggbeaters. The yolk is what makes it worthwhile to me. Celery is starting to have that effect on me too.

[dimfuture]

I'm so familiar with those unholy cravings that it's kind of giving me flashbacks. I agree with mmmgood, you can do it, even though it's probably pretty rough right now.

[annieover]

What's sad is that the cravings aren't really connected to hunger. My stomach isn't empty. I just like eating. In some ways, my whole life revolves around food.

[luminousx]

Good luck. Though I have to say, I love low fat cottage cheese with a little salt pepper and dill.

I don't know how I'd even begin to avoid carbs since my diet is almost all carbs with some protein tossed in.

[annieover]

Low fat is fine. This is no fat, and apparently that 2% fat content makes a huge, huge difference in taste. I actually can have low fat, but I accidentally bought fat free and now I won't let myself buy more until the no fat is gone. Luckily it's a small container.

[gryphonwing]

A cottage cheese idea: try pressing it into blocks using cheesecloth; it should resemble paneer, at least vaguely, after a few hours. If you're not afraid of letting food get warm, you can leave it for a day or so and maybe get some good flavor, or stir in a spoonful of yogurt first, then press it. Fermentation bacteria are our friends. Once it's bar-shaped, you can fry it in oil for something like paneer pakora... or use it like tofu.

Just trying to think of things you can try that will make it slightly more interesting, if not necessarily more satisfying, to keep eating the same few foods. :)

[annieover]

I've never tried making paneer. This sounds like an interesting project, and it also lets me experiment with cooking, which is another thing I miss when I have to follow a strict diet.