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Tips for Eating Out Low Carb

September 24, 2010 by Ramona Denton

Do you have trouble staying on your low-carb diet when you eat out?

Are you just starting out in your Low Carb Life?

Here are some basic tips for staying on track when eating out Low Carb.

Tips for Eating Out Low Carb

These tips are localized for a Southern California audience, but they are universal! With the exception of a few special ingredients, like avocado or salsa, you could use any of these tips in any city.

 

Tip #1. Choose restaurants that specialize in low-carb foods

Steakhouses. Seafood Restaurants. Breakfast-all-day coffee shops. Places that serve your favorite low-carb food. These are the places where it is easiest to get good low-carb food, without getting a plateful of carbs with it. (see full article)

 

Tip #2. Choose restaurants that have low carb menus

Many restaurants have low carb menus available by request. Ask your host if he has a low-carb menu or specials. If you know where you’re going ahead of time, check the internet. A lot of restaurants have low-carb and gluten free menus online, that don’t have them in print. (see full article)

 

Tip #3. Pick restaurants that have nutritional information available

Many restaurants have nutritional information printed up for you, but it is not always at the table. Ask your waiter if he has nutritional information. If you know where you’re going ahead of time, check the internet. A lot of restaurants have nutrition information online. (see full article)

 

Tip #4. Choose what you’ll have ahead of time

If you know where you’re going ahead of time, phone the restaurant or check the internet. Most restaurants that have websites, have online menus, to help you select the best food choices for your meal. (see full article)

 

Tip #5. Ask the waiter for help with your selections

So, you waltz into restaurant without any preparation… and they don’t have a low-carb menu! Ask the waiter for some help. A good waiter should know his food, and be able to recommend something that meets your dietary needs. (see full article)

 

Tip #6. Order “off menu”

There are always exceptions, but most restaurants are willing to plate food combinations that are not on the menu. “Off menu” ordering is just telling the waiter what you want, and asking if he can get it for you. (see full article)

 

Stay tuned, more tips are on the way!!

 

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

Posted in Eating Out | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Fasting Day 3

September 23, 2010 by Ramona Denton

This post is part of a series on the physical aspects of extended fasting.

On September 21, I started a 48-day fast, which I an writing about on my Christian devotional blog. The primary purpose of this fast is spiritual growth, rather than any physical benefits. However, I do think many physical benefits are obtainable through fasting.

Today is my third day of fasting.

I’m taking electrolytes and water, and that’s mostly it.

I do sometimes make use of sparkling mineral water and herbal tea when fasting, but I haven’t had any of those yet this time. At this point, I’m mostly focused on getting enough water.

After three days, the hunger only comes in short bursts now, maybe every hour or so. But only for a few minutes at a time. My headache is gone. The first physical battle is almost won.

By the end of tomorrow, I will have gotten past the first 72 hours of detox. My body will have made its first major adjustment to burning stored body fat for its fuel, and the physical hunger will mostly disappear.

When fasting, the physical battle is the easiest, yet it seems to be the one that is most feared. Eating is not the only thing that happens at mealtime. It is sometimes those other things that are harder to give up for a long period of time.

I have pretty cool friends who are OK with me eating with them without eating, but sometimes that is harder. It depends on my mood. Sometimes I want the company, and I don’t mind watching other people eat when I don’t get to. Other times, seeing food is too difficult, and I just avoid it.

When I get really lonely for food during a fast, I sometimes read cookbooks. I know it sounds like torture, but it helps me. Especially those full-color artisan cookbooks with foods I’d never really cook for myself.

Reading a cookbook when I haven’t eaten in, say, 12 days can be almost as intense as eating. I read with my whole being, not just with my eyes or my mind. It has to be experienced to be believed.

 

It is only day 3, so I am still detoxing.

That is the unpleasant part of fasting. Detox. Headaches, fever, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), bad breath, pimples, a runny nose.

Today a few pimples popped up. And I have some occasional tinnitus. My nose is less runny today, and my breath is becoming less foul.

On the first day, I had a bad headache, extreme hunger pangs, and dragon breath. But today is totally smooth sailing.

The liver is the main detoxification organ. Toxins are primarily released through the kidneys in urine.

After several days of fasting, the urine clears, and the fun begins.

The body can also release toxins through the skin, mucous membranes and the digestive tract. I know that’s icky to think about, but if you look at if from the other side for a minute, it is really sort of beautiful, too.

If you get something bad inside you, your body knows how to get it out, if you just give it a chance.

I think that’s cool!

So, during the first two weeks of fasting, it is pretty common to experience occasional pimples, itchy skin, a runny nose, and that sort of thing. Then, there’s the digestive tract.

The digestive tract is a special challenge during long fasts. Since you are not eating food, it shuts down.

Many fasters take fiber and other supplements to keep their colon moving, but I’m not an advocate of that. I’m very paleo in this regard.

Your colon knows how to rinse itself out if it wants to. Anyone who’s had diarrhea can testify to that. When fasting for extended periods of time, it is my experience that the colon likes to cleanse itself every 3-7 days.

Your colon can give you some pain during it’s first cleanse after the cessation of food. In my experience, it usually happens around day 7. Give or take.

 

So, that’s the first three days of my fast.

Oh, I almost forgot. I have lost 3.8 pounds so far. I know. Probably all water. So what. It still feels great to get it off. The fat will start falling off in a few days.

 

Health and Peace!

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

 

Go to: previous

in this series

Check out my Worship by Numbers Christian devotional blog for a different perspective on fasting.

Posted in Intermittent Fasting | Tagged | 6 Comments »

Fasting

September 21, 2010 by Ramona Denton

Fasting is controversial.

Over the past year, I discovered a form of fasting called Intermittant Fasting (IFing). I have read quite a bit about it, and written a few blog posts.

Intermittant Fasting is nothing mysterious. It is just what it sounds like. It just means that you occasionally abstain from food that you would have eaten if you weren’t abstaining. Like when you skip a meal.

Or even when you decide to eat only once each day.

More diet programs are starting to use Intermittant Fasting as a means to attain a variety of different health benefits. And more longevity researchers are finding amazing health benefits that can be gained by fasting intermittantly.

Nonetheless, Intermittant Fasting is still quite controversial. Most experts, even low carb experts, continue to advocate Frequent Meals, rather than IFing.

I believe in the benefits of fasting, and not just intermittantly.

 

Extended fasting

I have long been a believer in fasting for spiritual purposes, and have regularly practiced the discipline of fasting. And I have experienced many health benefits from doing so.

However, since I went public with low-carbing, via this blog, I have kept pretty quiet about fasting.

I guess that ends today.

 

Today I started an extended fast, which I am hoping to continue for 48 days. I have many years experience fasting for up to 40 days, so I’m pushing the envelope a little.

My first purpose for this fast is spiritual.

If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of undertaking an extended season of fasting and prayer, you can check out my other blog: Worship by Numbers.

There seem to be a lot of Paleos and Primals who are atheists or objectivists, and who believe that Primal living is incompatible with belief in God. God with a capital G, I mean. I disagree, but do not want to argue about it, or flaunt my religion in anybody’s face. So, I’m keeping the religious talk to a minimum on this blog.

 

Even though my primary reason for fasting is not related to physical health or nutrition, I’m also a low-carb lifestyle blogger who advocates fasting for health reasons!

It seems only natural to write about the physical aspects of my fast for my low-carb friends on this blog, even while I’m writing about my spiritual journey on my other blog.

So, mount up!

It should be a good ride…

 

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

 

Go to: next

in this series

Check out my Worship by Numbers Christian devotional blog for a different perspective on fasting.

Posted in Intermittent Fasting | Tagged | 1 Comment »

My Sister’s First Blog

September 19, 2010 by Ramona Denton

Many of you know my sister Christina. This is us in front of Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

And even those of you who don’t know her, you have probably heard me talk about her on this blog.

She’s the one who goes on cruise vacations with me.

… who bought me a Kindle for Christmas last year.

… who gave me a propane grill a few weeks ago.

And, she’s the one who let me move in with her when I found out I was going to lose my job. I have been living in her home since April 2008, almost two and half years ago.

 

 

I’m posting this to let you know that she has started a blog of her own… and self published a couple of Kindle eBooks at Amazon.

So, first off, here is a link to her blog

Christina Writes!
Share my journey of learning to be a writer and getting published

 

Christina’s journey as a writer started the week of Labor Day 2008. I was visiting friends in the Lake Tahoe area that week. And when I got home, Christina informed me she had written a novel in my absence.

It was more of a novella, or even a short story, really.

Actually, it’s her story to tell…

Read her version.

 

Christina has a profound vision for a character named Jamie, who is a magical person. Or maybe is becoming a magical person. She is only a teenager, after all.

The main story that is woven throughout Christina’s writing (so far) is the personal transformation of Jimmy, an adolescent male, into Jamie, a young woman whose wisdom surpasses her age, who can overcome any obstacle with love.

The earliest versions of Jamie’s story received such great enthusiam from friends, that Christina decided to make them available as Kindle eBooks on Amazon for only $5.00 each.

    She’s an Angel
    This is the story of how a thirteen-year-old boy becomes a fourteen-year-old girl, and learns that with love she can do anything.

    Note: something in the Amazon publishing tool has caused this book to be listed with no price, so it cannot be purchased at this time. If you are interested in buying this book, please check back early next week.

    How Can I Love Her?
    Devon is a freshman in high school, and he really wants to go to prom, but he doesn’t know how to ask out a girl. He experiments and learns how, and one day meets his dream girl, and every time he is with her, she amazes him.

If you are going to purchase one of these books, please consider using my affiliate links (above) to make your purchase. Christina gets the same commission whether you use her links or mine, and it costs you nothing but an extra click. I truly appreciate your support!

 

Don’t Have a Kindle?

You could always BUY a Kindle from Amazon.

Or, you could download Free Kindle reader software for your computer, iPhone or Droid. It is free from Amazon.

Check out my review of the Amazon Kindle, and my List of Kindle Books that are related to the Low Carb Lifestyle, or other nutrition and fitness topics.

 

 

Health and peace to you…

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

disclosure

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Weight-loss drug under fire from FDA

September 17, 2010 by Ramona Denton

 

Meridia not worth the risk!

Meridia (sibutramine), was first approved in the U.S. in 1997, for use in patients that have no existing issues with heart disease, stroke, blood pressure or eating disorders.

You are not supposed to take it if you are over 65, or if you are taking MAO inhibitors or other weight loss medication. It is also contraindicated for patients who have liver or kidney disease and women who are breastfeeding, pregnant or are planning/likely to become pregnant.

The results of the SCOUT trial, appeared in this month’s New England Journal of Medicine.

Designed to assess the cardiovascular consequences of weight management with and without Meridia in subjects at high risk for cardiovascular events, the SCOUT trial concludes that patients taking the drug had an 11.4% risk of cardiovascular events, while those who took a placebo had a slightly lower 10.0% risk.

In exchange for this 10% increase in the risk of having a stroke or heart attack, “The average patient who responds to the drug loses 4% more body weight below what they might lose with a placebo, an amount considered a modest benefit.” (quote from WebMD)

So, if a patient loses 100 pounds, taking Meridia might help them to lose an additional 4 pounds? No thank you!

The results of the SCOUT trial were first released last November, which resulted in its removal from the European market.

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times reported that an FDA advisory panel is now making recommendations to remove Meridia from the U.S market as well.

Eight of the sixteen FDA advisory panel members recommend removing Meridia from the U.S. market. Six panelists would rather not see it banned completely, but favor placing more severe limitations on who can prescribe the drug. The other two propose adding a black box warning to help physicians understand who should be taking it.

None of the panelists on the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee said the drug should remain on the market in its current form, with labeling that says the drug is not intended for patients with a history of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues. So even if the FDA decides to keep it on the market, doctors will be encouraged to prescribe it in limited circumstances. (LA Times)

So, let’s have some fun with this…

The six panelists who favor greater restrictions in prescribing the drug, have been talking about limiting prescription privileges to “specially trained physicians.” What would that be like.

Apart from weaseling more tax dollars out of my wallet, I suspect that “special training” would have to be certificated somehow. Can you imagine if your doctor’s office was littered with certifications like a beauty parlor or cafeteria?

Your Doctor is certified to:

  • wipe noses
  • kiss boo boos
  • examine ear canals
  • treat toenail fungus
  • remove warts
  • set broken bones
  • prescribe Meridia

I think doctors could use SOME special training, though. Like how to treat customers.

Yes, I mean customers.

If they have reduced doctoring to selling procedures and prescriptions, then I’m a customer, not a patient.

And why don’t doctors thank us for our business? “I know that you have many healthcare choices. Thank you for choosing me.”

I’m just saying…

 

Abbott responds to the FDA

Abbott Laboratories issued a Statement on the FDA Advisory Committee Recommendation on Sibutramine this week.

Sibutramine [Meridia] is approved for weight loss in patients who are either obese or overweight, and have no previous history of cardiovascular disease. The approximately 10,000-patient, six-year SCOUT study was requested by European regulatory authorities as a post-marketing commitment. More than 90 percent of the patients studied in SCOUT had underlying cardiovascular disease or were otherwise ineligible to receive sibutramine under the current labeling and prescribing information.

 

Drugs aren’t the best way to lose weight anyway, are they?

The low-carb lifestyle is the best available course of action for people who need to lose excess body fat.

It’s never too late to start low-carbing your way to a healthier life!

 

 

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

Posted in Weight Loss | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

New Gary Taubes Book to be Released in December

September 14, 2010 by Ramona Denton

Gary Taubes’ highly anticipated book will be released on December 28, 2010!!

 

Why We Get Fat:
And What to Do About It

 

by Gary Taubes

Author of Good Calories, Bad Calories

 

 

If you couldn’t make it through the science in Good Calories, Bad Calories, your wait for an easier read is almost over!

 

 

 

An eye-opening, paradigm-shattering examination of what makes us fat.

In the New York Times best seller Good Calories, Bad Calories, acclaimed science writer Gary Taubes argues that certain kinds of carbohydrates—not fats and not simply excess calories—have led to our current obesity epidemic. Now he brings that message to a wider, nonscientific audience in this exciting new book. Persuasively argued, straightforward, practical, and with fresh evidence for Taubes’s claim, Why We Get Fat makes his critical argument newly accessible.

Taubes reveals the bad nutritional science of the last century—none more damaging than the “calories-in, calories-out” model of why we get fat—and the good science that has been ignored, especially regarding insulin’s regulation of our fat tissue. He also answers key questions: Why are some people thin and others fat? What roles do exercise and genetics play in our weight? What foods should we eat or avoid?

Concluding with an easy-to-follow diet, Why We Get Fat is an invaluable key to understanding an international epidemic and a guide to improving our own health. Clipped from Amazon.com.

 

You also may be interested in:

Jimmy Moore’s podcast interview with Gary Taubes about his new book.

 

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

 

Available at Amazon:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure.

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Dinner on the Grill

September 11, 2010 by Ramona Denton

I got a grill!

This is a Ducane Affinity 3100 Propane Grill by Weber.

This was an unexpected gift from my sister, who got it as a 30-years-of-service award from her employer. (She had a choice of several things…) So, after I cooked a few things on it, I wanted to cook a nice dinner for my sister as a “thank you”!!

 

Beef Ribs for Dinner

Christina’s favorite feast is BEEF RIBS, so I wanted to give them a try on my new grill.

Beef ribs are something you cook to tenderness, not just to doneness. So, this means using a “low and slow” indirect cooking technique. Previously, I would have braised them, since braising is generally my favorite cooking technique.

I started with a couple packages of beef back ribs and a package of some very meaty short ribs, which I seasoned with a mix of several commercial spice mixes:

I rubbed the meat with olive oil, and then sprinkled on a little each of all of these spices (except the Montreal Chicken), and then rubbed them in a little. Here’s what they looked like when they were ready for the grill:

I seared the meat on the grill on high heat:

 

Then I turned the heat down low enough to keep the closed grill at 250-300F, and cooked the ribs over indirect heat for 3 hours, mopping them with barbecue sauce every 30 minutes.

This sauce is Smokin Joe Jones no sugar added, mixed with some bourbon and some extra splenda. I also added some white and black pepper, and just a pinch of cayenne pepper.

 

Here is what they looked like when they were done:

 

These ribs look all black and burnt, but they were delicious. They were not at all dried out, but they also were not cooked to tenderness. I didn’t get them on the grill in time to let them cook for the full 3 hours I had intended. Judging by the outcome, I suspect even three hours would not have been enough to get them as tender as I would have liked.

I think next time, I’ll start by preparing my ribs just like I would for a braise, (spice-rubbed, foil-wrapped), and start them in low heat in the grill or even in the oven. After a few hours, when they have started to become tender, I’ll finish them on the grill, and add the sauce only at the very end.

I also like to make my own rubs and sauces!

I need to get my cookbooks out of storage, especially, Dana Carpender’s Low-Carb Barbecue Book . Now that I have a grill, I need this book more than ever!!

 

Lovin’ It Low Carb
Ramona Denton

Disclosure

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