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moonchick wrote:I know this has probably been asked hundreds or thousands of times on this forum over the years.
I keep worrying that I am doing something wrong.
I read the meals that people are eating.
I read the types of foods and the way they are prepared.
I am not gaining, but not losing weight.
I am not cheating or having a little of this or that occasionally.
I have turned this into a freaking science project at this point, with journaling and measuring and eating 80 to 90% starch with no fats, plus some green and orange veggies on the side or an occasional fruit serving.
No cheating with my fluids. Just water...1/2 gallon to 1 gallon per day, which I have been doing for years.
I have been mimicking other people's "what I eat in a day" posts...the people who are losing weight, btw.
I really don't know why it is not working for me, and I believe in Dr McDougall, the starch solution way of eating, and all of it.
I am definitely not bashing the program!
What am I doing wrong?
Am I eating too much, because I keep reading that if I am on plan, it will not matter (within reason and not bingeing).
A sample of my eating would be oatmeal for breakfast, no fat added. 1 to 2 cups of cooked whole oats, cooked. Some days I might add a banana or a few berries.
Then brown rice with some diced onion or green pepper or broccoli added in, or corn or broccoli on the side, but 80% of the meal is the rice and a little veg on the side. Or I might make a veggie soup with the brown rice added in, and starchy and green veggies in water with seasonings and herbs. No fats
Dinner might be beans cooked in the crockpot with water no oils, and eaten like soup. Or those beans on top of brown rice with salsa. Or those beans with a baked potato, sometimes 2 if they are not too big. No fats
I know I can eat other starchy foods, but I have stopped with any processed bread, pasta or noodles, just to see if oats, rice and potatoes would do the trick as my main foods. The program says we can eat these foods if they are oil free, but I have stopped, just to see if that was the issue.
I am not gaining but not losing after several weeks of trying. It's driving me nuts.
kirkj wrote:I agree with Lyndzie. I eat plenty of starches but also eat a whole lot of green and yellow vegetables. That significantly reduces the calorie density of my meals. I was on and off diets for 40+ years and never heard of calorie density until I came to these forums and watched Jeff's video about it. It's such a profound concept and I have never heard anyone talk it except Jeff.
BlueDianthus wrote:Can someone please give me some links or information about starchy or not starchy vegetables and how and why it makes a difference.
sirdle wrote:BlueDianthus wrote:Can someone please give me some links or information about starchy or not starchy vegetables and how and why it makes a difference.
Think of it this way. Let's suppose you need 1500 calories per day to maintain your weight. You could eat the following food:
0.7 lb of vegan junk food, or
0.9 lb of bread, or
1.5 lb of meat, or
2.5 lb of beans, or
3.0 lb of grains, or
5.0 lb of fruits, or
15.0 lb of veggies
If you just tried to eat nothing but veggies, you would starve. You can't eat 15 lbs of veggies in one day. If you tried, you would be hungry no matter how much you ate.
On the other hand, if you tried to eat just 0.7 lbs of bread, you would also be hungry all the time. The bread does not provide enough bulk.
Somewhere in the middle is the sweet spot (which is different for every body), where bulk balances pounds. This is calorie density. Most vegetables are around 100 calories per pound (these are referred to on the program as 'green and yellow vegetables), but some vegetables have a much higher calorie density and so provide satiety when eaten: potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, grains, beans, etc.
I highly recommend that you watch Jeff Novick's wonderful video Calorie Density: How To Eat More, Weigh Less & Live Longer! for more information.
Also, check out The Ultimate Guide To Free Calorie Density Resources
Cheers,
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