?'s about carb competitors and grains

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2004
?'s about carb competitors and grains
16
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 2:41pm
Hello everyone.
I am starting phase 2 tommorow and as usual I have a few questions.
Okay..The card competitors seems simple enough to understand ..I want to slow down the digestion of sugar in carbs right? And theres various things that do this. One being fiber. So if I have a piece of whole grain bread..which has fiber in it...I still need a carb competitor for this?(which it says in the outline..or are they referring to white bread??) And I am still trying to avoid sugars for the most part right? But if I were to eat fruit..this is something I would want to have some fiber with because of all the sugars in fruit? And is enriched wheat something that I DONT want? I will most likely be introducing just one serving of grains the first week then the 1 serving of fruits maybe two days later the same week. I will gradually work up to 2 of each the 2nd week and so on until I reach the the recommended allowances. This is ok right? And also..since I work out quite a bit..won't the right carbs help with energy for my workouts if eaten at the right time preferrably before my workouts? I have always thought that carbs..the right ones..which I am now learning better...are useful when working out.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 3:17pm

Hi Yoyo,


"since I work out quite a bit..won't the right carbs help with energy for my workouts if eaten at the right time preferrably before my workouts? I have always thought that carbs..the right ones..which I am now learning better...are useful when working out."


Yes, very important when working out, actually. Your body needs those complex carbs, really needs them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 3:24pm

I think Dr. A. explained the importance of carbs in our diet really well, here.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 7:14pm

I have a question about carb competitors too...are they strictly to help prevent the carb bringing on cravings or is it a factor in weight loss as well?
Am an NOT prone to "cravings". To be honest I don't think I ever had the type they talk about on SBD (I've got plenty of the emotional kind, but thats another story!), even before when I ate high refined carbs.
So - if I can eat just a grain/fruit with no carb competitor and not have any cravings, is that okay? I eat just oatmeal most days for breakfast and it keeps me full for like 4 hrs. no problem. I have also often ate an apple or banana plain (when rushing out the door and peanut butter or cheese wasn't an option in the car) and it didn't cause cravings or a "sugar high" feeling or anything.
But does this effect weight loss? Does slowing the digestion of the carb help with weight loss or is it ONLY to prevent cravings? Just curious - usually I DO eat something else with a carb (especially pb - pb makes EVERYTHING taste better LOL!)

MichaelAnn



spring06sig2
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2005
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 7:25pm

Anything you eat that slows the digestion of sugars in carbs is, by definition, good. Slowing down digestion of carbs results in your body producing less insulin. Less insulin means a less dramatic drop in blood sugar. A diminished rise and fall of sugar means less hunger later. Fiber, good fats and acidic foods will help in slowing down digestion. To answer your question, this is a factor in weight loss on the South Beach Diet - it is not to prevent cravings. You should have your fruit with a carb competitor to slow the digestion process - have a piece of cheese or some peanut butter with your apple or banana. The way we prevent cravings is to 'detox' from the bad carbs that stimulate our need for more 'bad' carbs.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 10:17pm

Hmmm, interesting, I guess I assumed it was all about preventing cravings. It just wouldn't be possible for me to ALWAYS have a carb competitor, unfortunately there aren't many fruit/carb competitor combos you can eat safetly while driving and that's usually when I have my snacks/fruit. Plus I'm just not hungry enough in the morning to eat anything WITH my oatmeal. It hasn't hurt my weight loss so far, so I will probably keeping "doing what works" (for me at least) But interesting to know.

ADded: after thinking about this more it just doesn't make sense, "Slowing down digestion of carbs results in your body producing less insulin. Less insulin means a less dramatic drop in blood sugar. A diminished rise and fall of sugar means less hunger later. Fiber, good fats and acidic foods will help in slowing down digestion. To answer your question, this is a factor in weight loss on the South Beach Diet - it is not to prevent cravings."

But if I am NOT getting cravings or a feeling of a sugar rush - then I don't think my insulin/blood sugar is rising and falling "dramatically"; even if I don't have a carb competitor. Isn't it possible that for *some people* eating a low-glycemic fruit alone isn't going to send their blood sugar out of whack? And if my blood sugar isn't going whacky, then it won't affect weight loss, right?

MichaelAnn
181/155/135




Edited 4/17/2005 10:31 pm ET ET by desert_mom


spring06sig2
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2005
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 7:52am
It is not a REQUIREMENT to have a carb competitor - it's just something that may contribute to the weight loss process.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 1:21pm

"I have a question about carb competitors too...are they strictly to help prevent the carb bringing on cravings or is it a factor in weight loss as well?"

This is a good question, MichaelAnn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 2:14pm

Thanks for all the info Maggie! I do have/read the book, but I admit I tucked it away since I generally find MORE info here on the board LOL! I probably should reread it occasionally to refresh my memory - actually I think a lot of it might make more sense now that I have actually been doing the diet, ya know?

"Also, digestion burns more calories! *churn churn churn* - work it, tummy! "

I LOVE that LOL!!

MichaelAnn



spring06sig2
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 2:27pm

"I probably should reread it occasionally to refresh my memory - actually I think a lot of it might make more sense now that I have actually been doing the diet, ya know?"


Yes, I totally relate to that!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2005
Wed, 02-08-2006 - 10:19am
This is really good info. that I had some how let slip from my eating. That explains why yesterday afternoon after I ate 2 very small clementines...1/2 and hour later I was hungry ! It is a "good thing" to once in awhile review any info. on SB that we can.

Judy


March 5th...let the cruise begin !

Judy

 

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