I need some Elfin bread!

[Longhorn]

If you are familiar with Lord of the Rings, you know that just a bite of Elfin bread would satisfy hunger for an entire day. Seriously, is there any kind of food that makes you feel full and curbs hunger for awhile that is also healthy?

I suspect such a food would be calorie-dense but the net result could still be less than eating lots of low-calorie food that doesn't satisfy.

I lost 60 pounds two years ago and in the last six months, I've gained back nearly 30, even though I am exercising and trying to watch what I eat. I may be fighting nature here (I'll be 50 later this year) but I'm just not willing to give up!

I really do not want to "diet" any more -- I want to eat real food that is good for me, that tastes good, and that helps me stay trim. Thanks for your suggestions!

[NMDemDist2]

1. water water water

water fills you up and keeps those calories in circulation

when i'm trying to take off a few pounds and feel hungry I drink a glass of water and won't (will NOT) eat a bite for at least 15 minutes

it usually works :)

[Longhorn]

5. Thanks so much for the reminder!

I don't know why I can't remember how important it is to drink water. I have managed to get in the habit before and slowly get out of it by drinking diet soda more and more. But I did have a bottle of water after reading your reply and am determined to get back in the habit. Thanks!

[wildeyed]

2. Eat an apple and drink a glass of water before I eat a meal.

Takes the edge off and I am less likely to bolt the higher calorie stuff.

I drink green tea in the afternoon. Supposedly that is a "skinny" food. I don't know if it is just the extra liquid or something in the tea. It is "heart healthy" too, whatever that means.

[Longhorn]

6. Fruit!

I have a hard time eating enough vegetables but I can certainly add more fruit to my diet as most types are very convenient. Your post reminded me about the smoothie thread that has been running. I'll bet a smoothie would make a healthy, filling snack, too.

And I have some green tea so I should try having a cup in the evenings, since it has no caffeine. These are the kinds of simple adjustments I think I can make and maybe see some results.

Thanks!

[wildeyed]

15. Green tea has some caffeine, but not much.

It is easy to decaffeinate it yourself. Buy the loose tea, not bags. Use one teaspoon per 8 oz. slightly less than boiling water. Steep for 2 minutes 30 secs. Throw tea water out, retain tea leaves. Make second batch with same tea leaves, steep for 3 min. You can re-brew it several more times, adding an additional 30 secs of brewing time each go 'round. But all the caffeine went away with the first brewing.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

3. this probably isn't much of a suggestion.

At least not what you're looking for, but it's helped me.

Months ago there was an article written by a guy who had gone to France for something like 6 or 8 months for his firm. He, his wife & his mother all went. I wish I could remember what he had his degree in, but I remember thinking he didn't go to college & take basket weaving 101 (not that there's anything wrong with that). Anyhoo, he & his wife had always tried to watch what they ate & were always careful but still could loose a few pounds. While in France all three lost quite a bit of weight. I think he lost like 15 lbs, his wife 20, & his mom went from a size 12 or 14 to a 6. When he came back to the US he tried to figure out why since they ate very, very well while there. One thing he concluded is that a lot of what we eat here in the US is full of fake ingredients. As an example, he pointed out that Burger King uses something like 46 chemicals to make their 'strawberry' flavoring. That wouldn't include all the chemicals used in their 'ice cream', or 'strawberry turnover', or whatever they use this 'strawberry' flavoring in. I've come to agree that he's right. Fake food does not fill me up. Real food does.

This probably was not the answer you were looking for, but it's something I'm starting to feel pretty passionate about.

best.

[Longhorn]

7. I think this is an EXCELLENT suggestion and exactly the direction

I'd like to take. By the way, I have the book, "French Women Don't Get Fat" but I haven't had time to finish it. In fact, I've bought tons of diet books and I learn something each time but it's so hard for me to put it all together into one sensible plan. But thanks for the reminder to focus on whole, unadulterated foods as much as possible!

[politicat]

9. Another reason for the lack of obesity in Europe is the transportation

solutions that are most common there.

People walk, use public transportation (which includes walking from house to stop, stop to work, etc) bike, motor-bike, etc. Cars are far less common, and far less used.

Daily shopping patterns rather than the buy for the week or month model that we use also tend to inhibit overconsumption. If you buy just enought for dinner, breakfast and lunch each day, you're less likely to over-eat, and you're getting the exercise of "hunting your food" daily.

When we lived 2 miles from work (the company moved, not us) we were far healthier because we walked to work. When we relied on public transit for getting around, we did better, too. Now we're going to re-create that by moving 2 miles from work again, even if it's more expensive to live there.

Pcat

[Longhorn]

10. I had a friend who lived in Germany for a year

and her life was exactly as you describe. She said they had a tiny refrigerator and that was the norm because you didn't need a big frig to store food since you bought it every day. She lost about 25 pounds without even trying!

I live ten miles from work and the nearest grocery store and frankly, I hate grocery shopping. However, maybe that's because it's such an ordeal. The small, neighborhood stores are gone, replaced by these huge "super centers." By the time you negotiate the parking lot and the store, it is terribly inconvenient to buy just a few things for dinner. :shrug:

[politicat]

13. I know the feeling, I really do....

We're down to very few neighborhood stores, too, and I'm lucky that I CAN move to a neighborhood that has not one, but two. I know it's nearly impossible.

I know it's much easier for Mr. Pcat and I to be flexible, to move houses or shift our lives than for most because we don't have children. I can't even imagine how much more difficult this upcoming move would be if we had kids who had to change schools, make new friends, and find new activities. (well, actually, I can imagine it, since I did it every year growing up, but never to a cool place where I could walk around and go places, military bases being inherently uncool in fundamentally unpleasant places...)

I'm not a fan of shopping, either, but I'm also really not a fan of these extra 20 pounds I'm carrying around either!! For me, it's a matter of what will make me happier in the long run, and being in a body I like definitely outweighs (pun intended!) 20 minutes of daily hassle, even when Whole Foods is an absolute nightmare.

Pcat

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

11. More exercise is definitely

a reason for lack of obesity. However, in the article I read he never mentioned that. I found that somewhat surprising but he wasn't in Paris & maybe he didn't feel he got anymore exercise than he normally would. His whole contention was that it was a lack of 'fake' food that caused his family to lose weight. I remember he said he had a croissant & yogurt for breakfast, some fish (usually in a rich sauce) with vegetables plus bread (baguette) & some chocolaty thing for dessert. He then had rabbit or chicken, bread, vegetables & another chocolaty thing for dinner.

I also remember he wrote that if the baguette was more than a few hours old he got pretty cranky. It sounded to me as if his taste buds had become much more discriminating. Instead of filling up on something that didn't satisfy him, he waited until he got what he wanted. Maybe waiting until you get exactly what you want is a good way to go. If I'm really craving pizza maybe I should make a really good pizza instead of eating one of those frozen messes that are full of chemicals sold in the market.

If you're craving a dessert w/ whipped cream is Cool Whip really gonna do it? Not for me. I'll eat the Cool Whip & still really want whipped cream. (I'm just using these as examples, not to be taken literally.)

[politicat]

14. I haven't read the article; I was thinking more universally.

Having lived in large, car-unfriendly cities and in the burbs, here as well as in Europe, I tend to look at the whole environment, rather than just a little bit of it. The whole foods approach is definitely important, but if the author never even considered what his daily routine was like, (because he's always walked a lot or because it never occurred to him that suburban Americans spend far more time in a car than any European does, save lorry drivers) that's a whole aspect of the living routine that really needs to be considered.

I know when I lived in Kiev, and didn't have electricity, (the lines to the building got stolen during a copper shortage) I really had to reexamine how I ate and what I did with my time. And yes, I did not eat a lot of processed food at the time.

That waiting for what you really want is also a good idea, and one I've heard often. When I really want a fresh, warm madeline, even the ones I keep stashed in the freezer won't do. I've got to pull out the pans, make the batter, and make them fresh. Thus, I don't make them often.

Pcat

[housewolf]

4. "Volumetrics" - energy density of foods

Here's an article that you might find interesting, it sounds like their research could be useful for you.


Eat More, Weigh Less
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/050307/health/7weight.htm

<snip>

What has become clear from her Volumetrics studies is that the key to weight management lies in "food choices that help you feel full with fewer calories." The absence of satiety is one reason most "diets" don't work very well or for very long. "Satiety is the missing ingredient in weight management," Rolls writes, and she's impatient with those who say the nation's obesity epidemic can be reversed by "telling people to eat less. People need to eat more low-energy-dense food, such as fruits and vegetables, so they get a satisfying amount of food and enough calories."

[Longhorn]

8. I completely forgot that I have this book!

At least, I had it at one point. I need to look around and find it and read it again. I can't believe that I forgot all about this concept and that's exactly what I was looking for! The article says she has a new book coming out. I think I'll find what I have and read it and then check out her new book.

Thanks so much! I think I am a victim of diet overload and I need to finally pare down the information into one sensible plan that I can maintain.

[Longhorn]

12. I found it and have started making a list of foods to get at the store.

I think I have a good idea of things I can have that will both satisfy me and be healthy. Thanks again for reminding me about this! I'll let you know how it goes.

:yourock:

[housewolf]

16. You're welcome!

I came across that article a couple of weeks ago and sent to to all of my family who have weight/diet issues. I was impressed with the information, I think there's something to her theory. I've been fortunate - I lost a whole bunch of weight about 10 yrs ago and have been lucky enough to keep most of it off but I tried diet after diet in my younger days and never found one I could stay on for very long, nor could I ever keep the weight off once I lost it.

The energy-density "volumetrics" plan, the little that I know about it, seems like it might be a workable lifestlye eating plan that could work. Hope it works for you! There's NOTING worse than craving stuff that you "can't eat" cause it's not on your "diet."

Best of luck,

[Longhorn]

17. I think I'm off to a good start!

I read through the book, Volumetrics, and got an idea of what I can eat to help me feel full on fewer calories. It's not that the food plan is anything revolutionary -- it all boils down to low fat, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, like any other healthy diet. It's just a different focus -- eating foods that are more filling, like soups and smoothies and grapes. The hard part for me will be believing that I'm not overeating when I feel so full! For example, I just had an English muffin and fruit smoothie for breakfast and it's not that many calories but I feel like I ate a lot!