for those of you on higher rungs...

[JaxMama]

Do you meet your carb level everyday?

I am suppose to be a limit of 40 net carbs but today I will be at 45.

Yesterday I was net 37 and the day before I was net 20.

Does this happen to anyone else, your carb levels are rollercoasters?

[ShannonK]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

YES. It is happening to me right now. I am trying to stay around 40 so that I can see how it affects my weight loss. Several days, though, I find it hard to get so many in. Sounds crazy, right? I guess it is all about our food choices and how hungry we are. I hate to eat strawberries just for the sake of the carb count, right? BUT how else to we get to our CCLL? I guess that is why it takes so long to find? Because we have to be patient...

[JaxMama]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

Shannon do you like strawberries to even eat them? Today I am eating from every level except alcohol which is why I have my count so high. I have not had yogurt since Friday so I am fitting that in today.

I think it is hard to keep the same level everyday because that means almost eating the same thing EVERYDAY. I need variety which is why my levels are all over the place.

Anyone else have advice on how to keep our levels the same?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

You can have variety ... you don't have to eat the exact same things everyday.

There's over 50 Induction vegetables ... there's ways to incorporate dairy, berries/melons, different nut choices.

If you don't eat from a particular rung, then you can add in more net carbs from the other rungs.

Having wild net carb swings isn't a good idea for your metabolism.

[Georgiana]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

I didn't have large carb swings in OWL.

In Pre-Maintenance, one of the way to do things is to have higher carb days... when you eat 20 or so "extra" net carbs and then go by the average (20 net carbs variations are not "bad" for your metabolism)... but in OWL, when one of your aims is to determine your CCLL, it's a good idea to keep your carbs relatively constant.

Are there any higher carb vegetables that you like? Something like peppers, Brussels sprouts, leeks, onion...

[JaxMama]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

Just to clarify, a constant to you all means what? If I am at 40, stay between 30-40 or 35-40 or at 40 always until I move up.

Also as Shannon asked, does she eat those extra berries just to add the carbs even if she does not want them?

Thank you.

[Georgiana]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

I allowed a max. 5 net carbs variation... but if I was eating 40 net carbs, the average for the week was something like 39.something.

For me, eating enough carbs has never been a big issue. I plan my menus and I usually also eat more carbs for breakfast/lunch... so I don't get at the end of the day and think, "man, I need to eat 10 net carbs of something".

For example, if I'm not hungry one day, then for lunch I have some pumpkin or peppers instead of lettuce... so that I don't have to eat strawberries just because.

[JaxMama]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

Yep I eat more carbs during the day too. Most of my dinners are less than 5 net carbs.

Ok, I will try to level the carbs. I was going to eat yogurt tonight after my burger (because my burger is all I have planned) but that was going to get my over the 40 gram limit. Maybe I will save it for the morning.

My calories will be a lot lower though today. I ate over 1800 calories the last two days but today with more carbs I am in the 1500 range. And my fat content today is 20% lower than the last two days.

Hmmm, let me play around with fitday.

[JaxMama]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

I played around and got it to just under 40. I took out the yogurt and added mayo and mushrooms to my burger. I didn't add any of the oils I saute with so my calorie count should be in the 1800 range after a tablespoon of butter and evoo.

That should be enough for me anyway. It's 1pm here and I haven't even finished the bulk of my lunch.

I have not started my menu for tomorrow yet, I will do that tonight. I am looking forward to a yummy taco salad.

[ShannonK]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

Georgiana, I love the way you plan in advance. I want to be you one day!

I do like strawberries and I love to eat one every now and then. It was just an example, though. I agree that it is important to keep the carb levels around the same during OWL to determine your CCLL. Sometimes, it can be hard, though, when you aren't so hungry. Hard is a strong word. It is a good question, though.

[Elizellen]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

Funny you are talking about strawberries and yogurt.

I am not really hungry these last weeks and noticed I am very low in calories, as well as carbs today so might just get out some greek yogurt and strawberries.

[Mfit4me]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

I'm finding it hard to add in more carbs myself. I seem to stick to the same things from induction. There are times when I am just not hungry and make myself eat. That could be my problem of feeling sluggish. I'm in Rung 6 but haven't had any foods from there yet this week. I love beans and use to eat so many in the past. I'm afraid that I will go over board. Maybe I should just skip this rung

[JaxMama]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

Well mfit you seem to be doing very well since you basically are at goal. What I would love to be at 119 except I would be emaciated at that weight.

Just try something small. I am eating a few black beans on my taco salad tonight.

[2big4mysize]

Re: for those of you on higher rungs...

the trick with any food rung is to not make the food the primary thing being eatten. have your beans in something else and you will not need too many of them nor feel the need to eat too many. You can toss a few in your salad, soup stew, omlette or any other thing you consume. I'm sure there are some folk who will even add them to their egg cream shakes.