re: Your favorite products/recipes/tricks for your diet?

Gotcha. I'm not here to preach, but I think there's a good scientific argument for the exact converse of this:

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But I've removed oil from my diet entirely. I can't afford the calories in it.

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I, like you, am trying to lose a few pounds by eating at a calorie deficit. I am taller (5'8") though and carry my weight well. I started out a couple of weeks ago wanting to loose about 10 lbs for a beach trip. Don't have time to workout much but I lead a pretty active life chasing around 3 boys. I am trying to keep my calories around 1200 a day. Lunch was always difficult for me because I needed something low in calories since I don't want to have to cook two meals for dinner. One for the family and one for me. My hubby doesn't want to eat low calorie and my boys don't need to either.

I really enjoy some of the low calorie Lean Cuisine type meals. There is a marinara pasta one that is around 180 calories that has zucchini in it instead of meat that is just savory enough to satisfy, but is low in calorie enough that I can have a few snacks throughout the day and have enough calories left over to eat a typical dinner. I find if I eat get some of those that are in the 200 calorie range, it really helps me stay on track. 4 days left before we leave and I am about 2 lbs off of where I want to be. Good luck!

hmm.

1. good tasting protein bars are essential to me:
Optimum Nutrition Cake Bites
MusclePharm Combat Crunch
Gernade Protein Bars


All of these taste really good and are actually good for you.

2. Also as I said in another one, the LaCroix drinks cancel my need for sodas so thats good.

3. I use coconut oil instead of butter.

4. Whenever I want a snack I eat a handful of Blue Diamond Habanero BBQ almonds (make sure to portion them out tho, they are crack)

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What most LCHF find is that the oils and fats are so rich and satisfying, that they simply eat less. They aren't hungry an hour later, etc

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Absolutely. And I 100% agree with this. This is why I can eat a turkey/avocado/cheese sandwich for dinner and need zero sides and zero snacks later.

BUT - you're referring clearly to yourself or others who are more knowledgeable. The average overweight housewife hears this and insists eating an entire bag of pistachios or 2 avocados smeared on 8" long, 1" thick foccaccia bread is "healthy". And sure, depending on your definition. But these items are regarded as holy grail items because a small amount will tide you over once it settles in your stomach. The issue is that all these people hear is "high fat, good!" and they pack it in. Not you, but plenty of people.

On another weight loss forum I read, we have people every single day, "I eat healthy, why am I not losing!?" and it turns out they're cooking with tons of oil, snacking on entire containers of nuts, etc.

You and I are saying the same thing. You're saying these foods are good because you can eat less and feel full - therefore they cut down your calories. That is true. If you truly eat less of them.

I'm 4'8". My TDEE is 1200-1300, depending on the TDEE calculator used. So yes, sadly, it does exclude me from the "eat 1200 calories to lose weight!" rule that many use.. as well as excluding me from the idea of just going low carb with complete disregard for calories. On top of all that, I dislike most meats on their own. A pork chop? A chicken breast? Blegh. I liked meat mixed into things. So for me personally, a low carb high fat diet limits me to very few foods. Whereas currently, all I do is track the calories (and loosely the macros) in my regular diet and make sure to not go over.

It isn't one size fits all :)

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Big Scrub TX

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I'm not a woman with 1200 calorie allowance. If a food tastes good and contains 20g of protein i care less if it has 20g of carbs. And if we are being real, muscle pharm has a net 13g carbs to 20g of protein which isn't terrible. guess i should just stick to chicken breast all my life

Here is a post from today on another forum. I see these daily. This person went from 250 to 172 (so far). An important thing he points out is this:

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2. I started paying proper attention to calories. CICO is simple. Calorie counting may not always be 100% perfect because our bodies are complex machines, but it's good enough, and good enough is all you need.

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These LCHF folks aren't wrong. But you can't decide someone's goals for them. Not every person is concerned with being the perfect picture of health. Not every person is interested in being "ripped". They just want to no longer be obese/overweight. And for many obese/overweight people, simple weight loss eliminates 80% of their health issues/risks. Having relatively normal bloodwork and the ability to get around without wanting to pass out is a pretty big deal to a previously obese person.

Let's be real, if we tell someone who is 300lb+ to run 5 miles, pump weights 4x a week, eat only lean protein and veg, buy avocado oil and "cage free organic eggs".. what are the chances he does it? Diving in like that rarely works out in the long term for someone truly struggling.

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unsustainable diet of CICO

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That's just like, your opinion man.

There's a community I follow with literally thousands praising the CICO gods because for them, it was the only sustainable method. I'm a year strong. I'll never give it up.

There's nothing incredibly unhealthy about having a balanced diet with "bad" foods being consumed in moderation. I mean, you're acting like we're all in our deathbeds or something. People live to 80, 90, 100 without health issues every day.

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I have a hard time believing that most rational people don't ultimately care about their long-term health

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The average person cares about "good enough". And I'm sorry, but consuming a variety of foods in moderation is good enough.

I just think you're advocating something that the average person cannot and will never commit to. You're saying never eat a "bad" food ever again in your life. That's just not happening with most people.

It's like you committed yourself to doing something remarkable and blindly assume anyone and everyone can and should do it. I'm not saying your view is wrong. Obviously, being healthy is far from wrong. But it isn't realistic, and to a certain extent, it is insensitive and close-minded. It's like telling someone they'll be a happier person if they never get angry ever again in their life. I mean, sure, that's true - but is it possible?

The beauty of low carb is that a lot of people are volume eaters, so they see LCHF diets as a saving grace. Lots of people will sing praises about that route. BUT. It simply isn't a one size fits all. And I think any (reasonable) method for an obese or overweight person to drop their weight is a positive thing. The link I posted is one of hundreds of stories of folks who dropped a significant amount of weight via CICO and seen unbelievable results at the doctor because of it.

Like 777 said, I'm not advocating eating like shite all the time. But I'm sorry - you won't convince me that having a potato once a week or splitting a slice of cake at a wedding is going to send you straight into a diabetic coma. A large % of Americans are unhealthy. But it ain't from a reasonable balanced diet. It's from shoving shitty food down their hole constantly.

EDIT: I saw this. We agree here.

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And I don't want it to come across that Scrub is saying NEVER indulge.

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FWIW, I honestly don't think you're wrong at all. I just don't think it is a reality for all people.

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Your favorite products/recipes/tricks for your diet?

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Eggs and the variety of ways to use them

Different cooking techniques and seasonings on veggies as to not become tired of eating them

Using homemade red sauce and integrating different things in it sans pasta (veggies, proteins, etc)

Bunless burgers - using huge portobellos or bib lettuce instead