Can I ditch the Salad?

[thirteenlbs]

Hi, all--

I'm a longtime induction- er who's finally taking the plunge into OWL next week. As such, I have grown a bit sick of salad vegetables, which I've unwisely existed on for (see siggy) 4 YEARS. In OWL, can I eat from the 'other' vegetables list as long as I do not go above 25g?

My menu is 100% clean, and I am really enjoying new vegetables like brussels sprouts, pumpkin, etc.

Thanks!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

OMG I couldn't imagine eating only salad for veggies for 4 years. What did you do for fiber????

Enjoy! Cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, squash mmmmmmmm

[not2late]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

Hi, all--

I'm a longtime induction- er who's finally taking the plunge into OWL next week. As such, I have grown a bit sick of salad vegetables, which I've unwisely existed on for (see siggy) 4 YEARS. In OWL, can I eat from the 'other' vegetables list as long as I do not go above 25g?

My menu is 100% clean, and I am really enjoying new vegetables like brussels sprouts, pumpkin, etc.

Thanks!

Who told you that you couldn't eat the vegetables on the "other" list during Induction?????

[thirteenlbs]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

No, I understood that I could, Not2Late. I just didn't. It was a bad move, I know...but I was always fighting off "the last few" and thought that lower carbs was the best route for that. Please, please, no soapbox! I am trying to do it right this time around with weightloss as a bonus, not the focus...promise.
In fact, I just stumbled upon this board and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the stickies, tough love, limits on sweeteners, etc.

And Joy-- it was bad. Sometimes sf MoM and sometimes I'd just wait it out!

Soooo, could I nix the lettuce, cukes and celery in favor of other healthy veggies on this rung-- as long as I don't wander above 25g?

[ValidRouge]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

Once I got into OWL veggie rung, I use spinach as a 'base" for any "salad" I wanted to have. I also have really gotten into Jicama, which is considered a "salad" vegetable, but it is what I have used as a substitute for fruit in my diet.

What you want to do is add these veggies in 5 net carb increments to test them and make sure they don't cause you to have cravings or anything like that.

[attek]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

I hardly ever eat salads - but I do eat plenty of servings of the other veggies.

[julirama723]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

When I eat salads, I either use spinach, or mixed baby greens like arugula, endive, tango, etc. I love those bagged mixes! They're perfect. The plainest stuff I use is greenleaf lettuce, and I use that for wraps.

Have you checked out Linda's Low Carb Recipes? She has some GREAT veggie ideas listed!

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

[attek]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

By the way, do you mean you were eating 20g of carbs every day for 4 years to maintain your weight loss? Your maintenance level of carbs was the same as the Induction level?

[thirteenlbs]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

Thank you for your replies. I realized later that I should have clarified-- it's not that I needed ideas for what to eat-- I found salads cheap and filling, and truly enjoy eating them...which is why I chose the 3- cup option over 2- cups + 1 cup of other veggies for so long. Plus I have a thing for blue cheese salad dressing that trumps all, lol!

By the way, do you mean you were eating 20g of carbs every day for 4 years to maintain your weight loss? Your maintenance level of carbs was the same as the Induction level?

Sort of, which is why I never progressed up the ladder: I began Atkins after a 35- pound loss from a low- calorie SugarBusters-type WOE. This was in the height of the diet's popularity, and I'd initially bought Atkins Essentials for my guide, not knowing that convenience products would cause stalls. My Induction left me with a loss of about 7 additional pounds, but then-- nothing ever again. So I counted carbs, but never added them in any particular order. I also used any convenience food that hit the market, and in 2003 there were LOTS. At about 140 pounds, I was close to my goal weight and I just kind of stayed there. I briefly tried South Beach for more food choices but felt hungrier, and now understand that the true maintenance phases of the SB and Atkins can look very similar.

I've since realized that clean eating is essential, and, well-- my body seems to like where it is at 132 pounds, so I've finally begun checking my calories. Keeping them in the 1300-1600 range will help me lose, albeit slowly. Since I'm less concerned with losing, though, I finally decided to get as close to 20g as possible, and progress actively through the rungs for more variety that is less-- sporadic. And I haven't used frankenfoods in years.

Thanks!

[attek]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

Okay because it seems to me that if you can only eat 20g carbs to maintain your weight that you would have to do a modified OWL, or otherwise you would rather quickly go over your limit. So this might mean that you could have besides your 3 cups of veggies per day either cottage cheese or berries but not both when you reach Rung 4. Although I think it would be in your best interests to clearly find your CCLL and CCML.

[thirteenlbs]

Re: Can I ditch the Salad?

Yup, that's the plan. I seem to remember hitting the number somewhere around 40 net, but again, I was eating lc products then,so it may actually be higher.

Thanks!