If you asked me what carbohydrates were, less than a year ago, I would tell you that there were very high levels in bread, pasta, potatoes and rice, but I couldn't tell you how they affected me and my health. I didn't know they could be all that bad. So what are carbohydrates? I've taken the following excerpt from the website: www.shape.com
"Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients in food, and you need them for energy and fuel. The others are protein (for muscle, hair, skin, organ, and tissue repair, as well as immunity) and fat (for organ cushioning, vitamin absorption, and growth).
What happens when you eat a carb?When you eat carbohydrates, they get broken down into sugars (glucose, fructose and galactose) and are either quickly used for energy or are stored as glycogen in your liver and muscles for use later.
How fast they get broken down depends on the type of carb you eat. Simple carbohydrates quickly get broken down into your bloodstream and give you a supercharge of energy, but leave you at a low later on. Classic examples: Fruit juice, white bread, white rice, cereals with little fiber, bagels and candy.
Complex carbohydrates contain less sugar and also have fiber, so they're broken down at a slower rate. These carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These are the ones that also help keep your cholesterol levels and weight under control. "
There is so much to learn about carbohydrates. I cannot explain it all here. What I have learned is that carbohydrates are consumed as sugar by your body. You have to do your own investigating. Due to my own poking around, reading, and research, I have chosen to reduce my intake of carbohydrates. I've mostly elimintated bread, white rice, potatoes, and pasta from my day-to-day eating habits. Every morning, I used to eat bread in some form (either toast, english muffin or bagel). At lunch, many times I would have a sandwich, equaling more bread and tons more carbs. And my dinner would include at least one side of rice, pasta, or potatoes (if not two). Can you see how many carbs I was consuming? And these carbs were turning into sugar in my body!
I am not saying I will never eat bread, potatoes, rice, pasta or sweets again. That would be totally untrue and I wouldn't want to deprive myself of a treat once in a while. I've just replaced those high carb foods with healthier options including more vegetables (which I love anyhow) more chicken, beef, pork, eggs, and fish. I feel so much healthier and I am very proud of choosing this healthier lifestyle for myself and my family!
There are many advantages to this new change in diet. For one, dinners are so much simpler and less time-consuming. But there is one distinct disadvantage to this new low-carb lifestyle - the fact that I won't be baking as much. If you know me, you know I love to bake...the sight and smell of baked goods just makes me happy. So although, baking and high carb dinners are on the backburner these days, I promise to still treat myself, once in a while!
Let me share some of what's been cooking around here these days...
Shrimp Stir-Fry
Chicken Tika Masala
Chinese Fried Rice - not rice at all ; it's really made with grated cauliflower & scrambled egg!
Thank you to Sandy for sharing this trick with me. And it's delicious!
My yummy lunch - roasted asparagus with chopped garlic
Roast turkey breast, with roast beets and snowpeas
Italian Sausage Stir Fry
This one is NOT low carb. I made this hot milk cake on Saturday, because after all, if I don't bake, I am not ME. You can find the recipe on Susan Branch's blog. The link is on the right hand side of my page.
Thank you for stopping by! I always love to hear from you and I appreciate all of your comments. Happy Monday! I hope you have a wonderful week! xo
Hello Rosinda....
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that Sandy has inspired many...it's nothing NEW, but people always want a 'quick fix' on a diet--be it pills, surgery, or new fad tricks that are always dangerous and unhealthy. I cannot tell you how many people I know who have tried HCH diet with shots and hormones and are now heavier than ever before.
Cutting carbs in baking is difficult; however, there are unique ways of baking which result in lower carbs and I'm with you---I wouldn't be ME if I didn't bake. Your dishes you've chosen to make over the last week or so are attractive, healthy and I'm positive delicious as well.
Bravo----so, have you lost weight with this? And, how are you feeling better?
I'm so excited to hear your progress!!
Love from Colorado,
Joann xoxo
Thank you for your nice compliments Rosinda. I am happy you found a way of eating that makes you feel good and healthy. That is what has encouraged me to continue with my low carb diet. I had a lot of weight to take off and still have a way to go but I plan on eating this way for the rest of my life. People would and have told me that eating all this fat, moderate protein and low carbs is going to harm me. It has helped me lose 40 lbs and I'm feeling better and better. People are so afraid of fat but eating healthy fat like coconut oil, butter, olive oil and saturated fat in meat is what helps me burn me stored calories. Anyway, there I go again, lol! Bravo for finding a plan that makes you healthy. Since you don't need to lose weight you can see how many "healthy carbs" your body can tolerate. My husband can eat more of them than I can, darn him. What appears to be dangeous is the combo of refined carbs and fat. It's amazing how your desire for sweets subsides after not eating them for awhile. Now when I eat stawberries they taste so sweet, before I always added sugar to them. We have an uphill battle but in the long run we must do what is good for us and not worry about what others think. The more I read the more I realize that the body is extremly complex and what works for some doesn't work for all.
ReplyDeleteWell Rosinda!! Good for you! Sandy has definitely been a source of inspiration for us all and learning all that info has been very helpful. I'm sure you have much more energy now tho I guess being thinner isn't your goal as you're not fat. It makes a huge difference for kids when they're raised with healthy choices because as adults they tend to continue those choices. Very impressed with you and Sandy. ♥
ReplyDeleteI used to low carb too, and the kids along with me. It does work if you stick to it, but we found it more expensive. I now just cut way back on the carbs... they aren't out, but have been lessened. (when I can and the kids let me lol) It's kinda just another way of eating, is all. Instead of 2 slices of bread, i'd have one... etc.
ReplyDeleteYou can still bake too, Rosinda... still lots of yummy treats you can make that are low carb :)
one thing that's super yummy is Suzanne Somer's chocolate bars... YUMMM! lol and her hot fudge sauce! I've made low carb hot fudge sauce before and it works, but it's hard to get that yummy taste with it like she can, even though I have her sugar.
Love,
Denise
So interesting Rosinda ...I'm very interested in this way of eating too & it makes absolute sense. We were all brought up to think of fat as the enemy ..it's very hard to change opinions. But your recent meals look so yummy, how could anyone not agree that they're not the way to go?? Healthy & gorgeous xxx
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the healthy choices you're making! Type 2 diabetes is becoming an epidemic and even young children are being diagnosed with it now. We've been on a collision course with our way of eating for several decades and we're seeing the results. It's starting to change though. More and more people are making the healthy changes that you're making. And I really think that if you're healthy and eat a healthy diet you can have the occasional treat. The good thing is when you only bake for special occasions, it makes the occasion all the more special :) Good work, Rosinda! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAll these recipes looks delicious and it sounds like you're making really healthy decisions for your family! I'm inspired!
ReplyDeleteSandy is such an inspiration to me with her deication and it is great that her lifestyle has inspired you too.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to following you on your journey in your low-carb life.
Lots of love
Morwenna xoxo