Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - catznflwrz

Pages: [1]
1
General Discussion / Reading past posts helps a lot!
« on: May 23, 2012, 01:25:27 PM »
Hello FTS family, I'm writing this because I just experienced a "Eureka" moment when I read something that I already know, but it had been put another way. Also, I found this info by just  perusing the web site and reading over many, many posts, new and old, in the "general discussion", "ask a question" and "posting meal plans". As any one who reads the web site often knows, I,  have had a major struggle getting the FTS plan to work for me. BUT through the help of the FTS family I keep tweaking and keep finding more and more things that I either have to start doing, stop doing, add (like more water) or change in some way from what I originally understood about FTS. In reading old posts what I finally understood was that our bodies will burn sugar alcohol's before they will burn any fat. That is the same info as  "eliminate all sugar alcohols from your diet". THE BIG DEAL though is that hearing the info the second way hit me in a much more effective way, as it will empower me to deal with sugar cravings better than just the simple direction of "eliminating sugar alcohols". For me to "get it" to know that if I eat the sugar substitute "treats" is giving my body fuel to feed on, instead of my body fat is HUGE. Because, I am inclined, in a weak moment, to have the treat, but hearing it differently as to the "why" of it makes such a difference for me. So, in the search to get your FTS plan to "work" for you, I highly recommend taking time, especially if your feeling down about your weight loss results, and read new and old posts, because you might find a "gem" that will help you in 1 or more ways. I'm waiting to announce that first weight loss breakthrough, but I am convinced it will come. catznflwz

2
Meal Plans / catznflwrz meal post
« on: May 21, 2012, 05:54:56 PM »
Hi All, thanks for the responses to my previous posts. Here is the last 24 hrs. and I am getting in  the 64 oz of water, so, that said, I won't be writing it in throughout the menu.
    Monday 5/21
Breakfast: 4 bacon slices, tea w/1 tbs cream, 2 drops zero

Lunch: hamburger pattie, 1 slice American cheese, 2 dill pickle "stackers" (thin slices of pickle)
afternoon snack: 6 raw almonds
Dinner: 4 oz chix breast, 3/4 cup yellow squash w/ butter, salt & pepper,  4 oz mixed salad greens ( package says 2 net carbs ) EVOO and red vinegar, decaf iced coffee 1 tbs cream and 3 drops zero  If I have a snack tonight I'll start tomorrows post with it. Thanks

3
Meal Plans / catznflwrz confused by numbers
« on: May 20, 2012, 05:14:35 PM »
Hi FTS Friends, Sorry I haven't been able to continue to post my meals after just posting one but, I began a 5 day, overnight stint, pinchhitting as petsitter, with no computer access. I just checked in today (Sun) on the responses to my Tues. meal post and boy was I surprised! I've been eating strawberries based on the carb count from Doug's sugar and carb count E book, which says strawberries are 2gs per 1/2 cup, which equaled 4 gs from my calculations, not 10, which is the number given in my meal critique...so what gives? I want the feed back and believe me I'm not being defensive here because I desperately want to loose weight. Also, I only used 1/3 can (28 oz can) crushed tomatoes, so that would be about 9 oz and a 8 oz can of Rotelli diced tomatoes with green chilies, mixed with 1 lb of hamburger. I don't believe that eating 1 cup of the total combination would have yielded a 10 g  carb count for the amount of tomatoes I ingested. Although, I see here that I need to pre measure all the "carby" things going into the recipe before combining them so I can get a more accurate count for the amount I end up eating, once everything is mixed together. I realize that you all figured the carb count when I didn't divulge the amounts (particularly of the tomatoes) that I used in my chili recipe. I didn't count the Worcestershire or the spices though, so I have to count the carbs for those. Also I was talking about the veggies in terms of "cooked amount" not raw, so I was off there also. I guess that means that I actually ate more than I thought. I really need a clarification on the berries as  they've been in our diet daily. As I'm typing I rechecked the E carb book, and sure enough it says 2g per 1/2 cup??? Normally, we eat simple meats ie: chix, beef etc with out combining them in a recipe like the chili. I'm glad this was what I first posted with though, because it brought out some important measuring details I needed to be made aware of. I'll continue to post meals when I return home this coming Tues. and hopefully I'll be drinking the min. of 64 oz of water as instructed. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PASSION AND THE GUIDENCE! I'm looking forward to the strawberry question. I'll be remeasuring the almonds too, catznflwrz

4
Meal Plans / catznflwrz tues. meals
« on: May 16, 2012, 12:38:44 PM »
Hi FTS Friends, I hope this is the right place to post my meals. I'll start with yesterday Tues. 5/15/12
Breakfast: 8oz water, 3 bacon strips, 2 hot eng. breakfast tea w/2 drops zero and 1 tbsp heavy cream
I don't usually have a mid-AM snack because I try to start getting going on my water for the day
Lunch: grilled bone and skinless chix breast 2cups fresh spinach sauteed in EVOO with garlic powder and water
Snack: 1 oz almonds
Dinner:  1 cup beef only chili made w/ crushed tomatoes,cumin,garlic powder,yellow mustard, Worcestershire,and cilantro. Mixed greens salad w/ EVOO and red vinegar Italian spices. 1 cup sliced steamed yellow squash w/ butter, salt and pepper.
Snack: frozen "pop" make from 2 tbsp heavy cream, water 2 drops zero and later 1 cup sliced strawberries
   Note: I'm aiming for 64 oz of water a day sometimes I only get in 48 oz I have to stop drinking liquids by 6-7 PM as urinary retention is a side effect of narcotics that I take ie: you end up getting up countless (5-7) times per night having to pee because every time you go you only pee a little, go back to bed feeling relieved then wake up feeling you have to go again, only to pee a tiny bit again and so on. So, to avoid that from making my sleep worse than it is I don't drink past 6-7 PM.

5
General Discussion / Medical Dr supports FTS
« on: May 11, 2012, 04:05:13 PM »
Hi FTS friends, I was watching the 700 Club a few days ago and they had a Dr. Hyman on the show. His book, The Sugar Solution, 100% supports FTS! I gave it a quick read at the book store and was happy to find he agrees with the LC lifestyle. His version is much stricter only suggesting lean proteins, LC veggies and water. He also stresses the use of NO SUGAR or SUGAR SUBSTITUTES ever! This book might be very handy when you need to show others that the FTS lifestyle is medically correct AND it might help to persuade other Dr's if they want a medical person to agree with Doug. I find it funny that this book is being talked about as "new" since Doug has been doing this for a while now! Thank you all for your advice and support in response to my last post. I must find a way to get through the long nights of not getting to sleep until 2 or 3 AM. So many hrs go by way past dinner that I am really hungry. By that time of day, I can't face any more meat, cheese or eggs. I used to eat berries at this time of day... but then I can't loose weight. I think I can give up sugar substitutes but I must find some way to ease through the long nights. At this point this is the, ( I think) the final battle for me to figure out before I can finally begin to loose some weight.  I haven't had time to post my meals yet as my hubby needed me to redo his resume just as I was saying I'd start posting so you all could help me. I will soon, but know that no matter what I'm still following FTS.Any thoughts for late nite snax besides celery? Catznflwrz

6
General Discussion / Help! 2 months 0 lbs lost
« on: May 07, 2012, 10:16:10 AM »
Please help FTS Friends! My tears are going to ruin my computer. It's been 2 long months since starting FTS and 0 weight loss! My clothes, measurement EVERYTHING still the same! I don't mean to be so dramatic but I am truly tearful and very sad and confused. I've faced not using sugar subs only FTS zero and gotten up to 64oz of water daily and I journal all. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME? I have to take 60 mgs of MS Contin 3xdaily and 2 or 4 Percocet 10/650 daily. I've been on this kind of pain meds for 10 yrs. while going through menopause etc. I haven't posted my menus because they've been consistant with all that I've read on the board. I'll start today and hope you can figure out what I am doing wrong. My husband has lo st 12-15 lbs with the food that I prepare for us! I was annoyed by his success but now I'm just devastated by my failure regardless. I've stayed off of the scale, measured and used ketone strips. How can they show "moderate" for 4 days and yet I am the same in every way? I started 2 months ago at 190 and that is where I am today. My clothes fit the same and every measurement is the same...how can this be. I feel so stupid and sad. I don't like eggs much and have been eating and almond flavored OMM flax every AM with 2 strips of bacon, lunch is either salad greens with salami or ham with olive oil/vinegar dressing or some meat (4 oz or so )  cole slaw (mayo,3 drops zero,vinegar,celery seed) I don't use whip cream or jello but sometimes eat the egg custard, OMM choc, or some cream cheese flavored by coconut oil and 2 drops zero. Under 20 carbs daily. Some days I'm so hungry I eat a second OMM flax. Dinner is always beef, chix or pork and spinach or collard green sauteed in OO or yellow squash in butter. I miss fruit terribly but have even cut out the straw/raspberries. Today so far: 2 hot teas with 1tbsp cream and 2 drop zero ech. 1/2 Josephs pita with mayo on 1 side, 2 strips bacon, .6oz lettuce and 1.6 oz tomato) 8oz water and 1 more 8oz now. Should I post my menu's here or where it says on the other part of the board? I am at the lowest I have ever been. I keep telling my self it's proven science so what is wrong? Thank you, I'll check the board later today and will post any more food. Thank you, I'm believing in all of you, Catznflwrz

7
General Discussion / ketones? & KY Derby day!
« on: May 05, 2012, 03:03:08 PM »
Greetings FTS Friends, in my frustration of still seeing inconsistent weight loss results, mostly up and down, I started using ketone test strips to see in more detail, what is going on. I've found that with use of no sweeteners at all I'm staying in the strongly "moderate" zone. Without use of any sweeteners I drop back to "small" or less than moderate but more than 0. I'm playing with less and less carbs now. Any way, what does having ketones show up in your urine tell us exactly? Also, my husband is loosing weight consistently and I am not yet and when he tested he showed no ketones at all. We thought he'd be off the charts with ketones! Enjoying reading FTS posts today while digging on the Pre Derby racing on NBCSP and looking forward to The Kentucky Derby later today. Any other horsey folks in the FTS family? I don't usually follow racing but The Triple Crown and the coverage they give it, with all the back stories etc I really enjoy! Catznflwrz

8
General Discussion / Cauliflower Pizza Crust is FANTASTIC!
« on: May 01, 2012, 04:01:57 PM »
My husband and I tried the Califlower Pizza Crust recipe this week. We were actually ready for disappointment, particularly having owned a real NY pizza pizzeria  and my husband is a NY Italian...It was SUPER! I'd recommend it to anyone...another example of how using the FTS recipes help us make this venture a lifestyle and not a diet. Thanx again Doug and Umpa, Catznflwrz

9
General Discussion / Carbs < 20 = lbs off for me!
« on: April 27, 2012, 01:47:29 PM »
Greetings FTS friends, I haven't posted for a week or so, spent time checking carb counts, switching to FTS Zero, drinking more water and staying off the scale. I only got on the scale so I could share, finally lost the first 3 lbs. that seem to be  staying off ;as I can tell by my clothes! Yea! If I hadn't been able to get support and advice from all of you, (and the recipes) I would have quit. Ah, the husband report...of course, he has lost a good 12-15 lbs. enjoying his Russel Stover Sweets and strawberries and whipped cream. I have had to drop even the berries (for now) because it seems that not only can I not use replacement sweeteners but I also seem to need to live at a lower carb level than 20. It just took me a few weeks of disappointment and shock to face facts and decide that it is, what it is and be happy finally finding out why I haven't been able to loose weight like some other people. I'm ready to create a ticker and stick around for the long haul...Life that is! My husband is not the the type to join our discussion BUT he is already an FTS success story, because he would not be able to stay low carb with out the wonderful recipes that keep FTS low carb eating from being boring and unsustainable! Later All, Catznflwrz

10
General Discussion / Help me hold on! Scale was down in up again!
« on: April 14, 2012, 03:55:34 PM »
Help me my FTS friends...please! A few days ago you all advised me that I may not be able to lose and still use sugar alcohols. I replied that I'd give them up but still keep them in my AM tea. I thought I lost 1.4 lbs...today the weight is back. I am dreading (actually fighting tears) to have to enjoy 0 tea or coffee. I hate either without sweetener. Having given up other sweetened foods like the One Minute Chocolate Cake and SF whip topping I thought I was doing OK...BUT it doesn't appear to be so. I started out 2 weeks ago at 190 and bounced up and down a lb or so for 2 weeks, dropped the sugar substitutes in all but my tea and thought I was gonna be OK when the scale read 188. Today it is back up to 189.6. I am miserable!!! I know that you all told me that often we have to let go of all sugar substitutes before the scale will move. I don't think I'm really losing weight at all. I think the same 1 or 2 lbs moving up and down is more than likely water and bowel changes. Giving up sugar and than SF sweeteners is one thing but giving up AM tea or coffee is another. I find that I am grieving just thinking about mornings with no tea. I am crying fowl and not fair. I know the world is not fair anyhow but I didn't anticipate having to give up on this food plan. I know,I know, you told me this could be true but why is it this way? Why can some of us not be able to lose any weight at all with just a little SF use? I need some suggestions and help again. I'm probably wearing everyone out with my complaining but I was really looking forward to the FTS way and now I feel like it's the same as my other weight loss efforts IE that it's supposed to work a certain way but then it turns out that it doesn't work that way for me. Of course, my husband continues to lose and enjoy sweet treats of all kinds. I'm not stupid. I did hear the comments about not losing when eating the SF sweeteners I'm Just Mad As All Get Out that it has to be this way for me! Any thoughts and will I be able to use the FTS zero sweetener that I ordered or will that be off limits too? Also,  I've been eating the One Minute Flax Bread with bannan flavor and 1 tsp of Xylitol, can the flax make me gain weight? Sorry for the constant complaining followed by moments of happiness but I keep thinking I'm doing OK and then I feel like I get blind sided again. Thanks guys, Catznflwrz

11
General Discussion / dropping sugar alcohols =1.4 lb loss in 36 hrs!
« on: April 11, 2012, 01:02:05 PM »
Hi Everyone, I adjusted my eating for the last 2 days by cutting out the sugar alcohols and drank more water as you all suggested, although I still had Xylitol in my hot tea (I've ordered the FTS zero sweetener) and the scale finally moved 1.4 lbs lighter! My weight had not changed much my first week of FTS and the wisdom from the FTS community was that perhaps I was one of the people whose body holds on to the fat when using sugar alcohols and to make sure and drink lots of water. Drinking more water is easier when remembering that it will assist in "fat flushing". I made the one minute chocolate cake for my husband and he pronounced it "very good" and he doesn't say that about most any other "replacement" treats we've tried before FTS recipes. I had a taste, and I love it! Who ever said that one of the big differences with FTS and Atkins is the recipes, was on the money... as you can only eat so much meat and cheese (Atkins) till you get sick of it. The variety created by FTS recipes is incredible! Getting advice and encouragement from those who have experienced similar difficulties (especially when you do hear of others who lose weight very fast) keeps me hopeful and determined. Oh yea, I downloaded Doug's e-book of Carb values... WHAT A SHOCKER...to find that there are still carbs/sugar to be found in deli meat and green veggies! I am learning that knowledge is power... and I want power to lose weight! Hope everyone is having a good week. Catznflwrz

12
General Discussion / FTS community is getting me through!
« on: April 10, 2012, 12:51:39 PM »
Thanks all (Andrea, SarahC, mouseissue, Doug and Umpa) for your wise, empathetic and quick advice. It helped me to double down and keep trying. I spent yesterday finding the Joseph's bakery products locally. My husband and I were needing some bread after a week of lettuce leaves...as soon as I got home I made a little BLT with 1/2 of a pita and it was great! I took Doug's advice and gave up all sweet treats except for the most important, which is in AM tea or coffee. I made it through last night with zero sweets and extra appreciated my AM tea. It is only a small victory yet it feels great! I'll work to drink water all day and I'll order the FTS zero sweetener today. Thank you all again for your kind responses. The knowledge and encouragement is irreplaceable. I really think that I would already be giving in or up if it wasn't for this forum! Catznflwrz

13
General Discussion / Help! Already Stuck
« on: April 09, 2012, 01:44:11 PM »
Hello New Friends, You've already advised me on the rules but I just must not be hearing correctly... the scale hasn't moved much in my first week. I started at 190, then 187.6,next day 189 and since for the past 5 days variations of 198 and 188. I dropped the Stevia but am still using Xylitol in my hot tea (3-4 cups per day). I am cooking and eating 100% FTS recipes and counting carbs. I crave and miss fruit and have only eaten raspberries or strawberries and not much as 1 cup is too many carbs to give up for just 1 serving. I use the Land O' Lakes SF whip cream a lot on the jello and to be honest sometimes eat mouthfuls of it straight out of the can. When everyone said to get rid of the sugar alcohol's first if the scale doesn't move I thought that I was doing that but I'm guessing not. I am a pain patient and have trouble sleeping, the cravings at night are horrible. I've tried using a few of the Russel Stover candies to not go crazy. I 've kept the carb count under 20 though. When the whipped cream can says O per serving, is there a point where more than a serving produces a carb count? Do I have to give up my tea? It's the main "food pleasure" for me also the caffeine is important. I've cold turkeyed the Starbucks Chai Tea which is loaded with carbs,sugar,honey and HFCS. My husband is losing and even though he is much more physically active he too is using the same sweets I've mentioned. I've tried to give myself "replacement" treats like the "no bake cheese cake and the egg custard" but I'm guessing that the calories and/or fat count is getting me too. I know that you can't just eat a lot of low carb food and still lose weight but I'm feeling like I still must be not getting it, when it comes to portions of the foods I've mentioned. The rest of my diet has been a couple of eggs and 2 bacon or even no breakfast as I've found I'm not hungry till noonish. Then lunch meats in romaine or left over dinner and dinner is meat/fish/chix and a low carb veg. I haven't been this open to anyone about food, ever but I am convinced FTS community is going to get me through this. I need your help, because clearly I am not "getting it" like I thought, on my own. Sniff- sniff, Catznflwrz. PS no inches have changed either   

14
General Discussion / FTS Fry Coating and support is great!
« on: April 05, 2012, 04:33:05 PM »
Gee, I'm overwhelmed by the support and quick response from FTS members...thanks so much. It makes me even more convinced that I have finally found the right answer and the right people to help me lose weight! By the way, THE FRY COATING IS BETTER THAN REGULAR FLOUR FRY COATING! I made chicken fingers last night using the FTS Fry Coating and my husband and I loved it! I have tried other "replacement" recipes for fry coating over the years, things like Panko bread crumbs and sesame seeds crushed up. Nothing ever tasted remotely as good as the original fried chicken recipes...until now! I think we like FTS Fry Coating better than anything else! I also made the No Bake Cheese Cake. I added a drop of lime juice to a bite and it seems like this would make an excellent Key Lime Pie recipe too. And yes, my husband has already been able to move down to a pair of shorts that were uncomfortable previously. I must say though, that he is working 10-15 hr days, so he should be losing faster than me, since I am much more sedentary. I am looking forward to success even if it takes a while. I was willing to lose 1/2 lb. a week with Weight Watchers and I had to be hungry to do that. I could only lose that if I didn't use all of the points in the Points Plus program that had been assigned to me. It was crazy to pay money to be hungry...I can do that with out spending money and going to meetings. I was so disappointed! I found Doug's book when, in a desperate moment, I went to the book store to see if I could find anything that I had missed over the years...and there was that bright red and yellow book! The color and the picture of Doug on the cover really got my attention. I never read info about sugar, the glycemic index and how our bodies process sugar in such a simple and understandable way before. THANK YOU SO MUCH for caring enough to write your books and to have this web site. Feeling hopeful for the first time in years, Catznflwrz

15
General Discussion / confused by info
« on: April 04, 2012, 01:26:47 PM »
Hi everyone, I am new to FTS. I have been trying to lose weight for 5 years. I have read all the books and tried Weight Watchers for 3 months. I believe the low glycemic science and have started following FTS BUT, after reading a variety of posts, I am confused. The book said to keep carb count below 20 per day and that we can use Splenda, Stevia etc. Some of the answers to posts mentioned that Splenda can slow or keep you from losing and I noticed a "detox" period being mentioned. I don't remember a detox period mentioned in the book? What are we supposed to be doing during the detox period? FTS has to work for me and I believe you all. I want to do this right but I think that I'm starting out with some misperceptions that are stalling results. I've been drinking my hot tea with Splenda and heavy whipping cream. Please also tell me about portions, how do I know that I am not over eating the protein portions etc. Thanks ahead of time for your answers, I really need your help. I can't exercise much do to 5 back surgeries and the weight I've gained isn't doing by back any favors! Happy to find the community, Catznflwrz

Pages: [1]