Originally Posted by dahlek

with interest. Thing is, what to do? Well, there are a whole slew of approaches, as you have gathered. I too deal with the weight, but its my meds that are the ultimate culprit, and I know it! The fact that I just had a WHOLE molar extracted and had to live on 'liquids' for the past five days is proof of that....Finding nutritious, FILLING and tolerable food-like substance has been a challenge to say the least. Hey, eating less and gaining more?
My own spouse is a type 2 diabetic, managed thru pills, exercise and diet. He recently received some diabetic counseling which was interesting in that it clearly pointed out the types and sizes of 'exchange portions' of the real life application kind. I have tried and tried to grasp this stuff, in a way I can relate to and all I can get out of it all is: Keep the bad stuff out of the house as much as possible, Keep simply fresh or frozen vegies to chomp on available. Plain cereals and breads and ideally, fresh or frozen meats, chicken and fish.
I can't tolerate fish well [long and boring stories], I also have one huge chest freezer in which I keep frozen veggies and fruits that I get from the farmer's markets and chill ASAp and bag for future use. Same with meats and poultry. I call these 'gems' my bags of sunshine during the winter months. Every bag I open, thaw and use is something that brings a bit of happiness as it is simple, good stuff and not at all 'processed' other than by me.
Anyone who lives in any type of 'urban' situation cannot avoid some or many 'processed' foods. Key is to eat sensibly and simply. I am finding that when I am out for lunch [rarely] I tend to order a soup and salad rather than the stuff I really want? I prefer salad bars so I won't have to 'get' stuff I do not want with my 'roughage'. [With tooth hole-rite now I would/could really use some of that roughage, but....] Due to this tooth aspect I am learning whole new dimensions to the concept of FASTING!
The whole thing to me is summed up into two words? PORTION CONTROL...we need lots less than we think we do. That and the 'convenience drive-thru foods' are and should be just that...Convenience. Make it a 'treat' say, once a month? I don't know about all of you, but such places were a 'treat' when I was a kid. I am trying not to make that treat a norm. Keeping things simple, using herbs or spices for flavor and steaming,stir frying, lite sauteing or roasting is really the best way to go.
Everyone is right about all they have learned...the trick to me is tweaking things to the degree that works right for you!
Small feedings at regular intervals? - j