A few (hopefully) helpful hints...

I know that not everything works for everyone, but I thought I'd pass along a few things that I've found helpful. I've lost the 35 lbs. that I gained due to my thyroid disorder (and the lack of working out/eating right that came with it), and kept it off, and here are just a couple of things that helped. (Oh, and I still don't work out much, but should). I've gone from a size 12 to a size 2/4.

I found that not eating a lot of processed carbs (and no I am not an atkins or other fad diet person) at lunch kept me from getting the 3pm sleepies. I eat salad, soy meat (I'm vegetarian)-but regular low-fat meat would work too, not turkey of course that makes you tired, hummus, olives, raisins, fruit, peanut butter or other things-little breads or processed sugars.------ So, find your 'tired time' and cut carbs out right before that time/during that time and see if it makes a difference for you.

I eat dinner on the smaller plates we have, rather than the full size plates. It's a more realistic serving size, and it makes me break up my salad, side, and main dish so that I see how much of each I'm eating.

Water down my juices w/sparkling water and avoid high cal. drinks. This alone helped me lose the first five pounds. Drinking calories is not good.

Eat a ton of FIBER. I'm a fiber freak. It fills you up and is so good for you. Also prevents cancer!

Eat organic whenever possible, it provides better levels of nutrients so that your body has less cravings.

Eat dark chocolate every day (organic preferably, a few squares or small pieces over the course of the day). Dark chocolate is actually good for you, it has some fiber lots of antioxidants, and is strong enough that you really don't need much to satisfy a craving.

Oh, and I do eat other stuff when I want to, I'm just mindful. I don't eat the carbs in the middle of the day though, that's my tired time.

I hope that some or even one of these helps you. I know that they help me and I don't feel deprived. I don't diet at all. I am not SKINNY...I'm right in the middle of my weight range (I'm only 5'1' so a 2 or 4 in clothes esp. at gap/jcrew/banana really isn't that tiny) and have 20% body fat, which is in the healthy range.

Also, I am very knowledgeable about nutrition and working out (although I don't do that as often as I should). I'd be happy to help anyone (for free), with a REALISTIC set of suggestions based on your lifestyle (for free of course) and food preferences. Just FM me.

Which foods are high in fiber, besides oatmeal, fiber enhanced cereal and broccoli/spinach/etc.

What hot foods can be prepared to maximize fiber and not have so many carbs!!!

How can I cure my addiction to potatoes (not pasta, luckily)... Not so much fries, but I like all other kinds too, boiled, baked, etc.?

Can high fiber recipes be realistically prepared in a short amount of time (i.e. for someone who want to cook it fast and simply)?

Hi Alina,

Good questions! There are many sources of fiber that people don't think about.

As for high fuber but cutting carbs, I only mean processed carbs, and this is only during my tired time that I worry about it. Here are some hi fiber foods that are good for you, although I'd avoid the wheat during your sleepy time. I don't 'cut carbs' in the atkins sense though, I could care less how many carbs a carrot, an apple or a bean has, they don't make me tired-:)

Sweet potatoes and yams! If you love potatoes, switch to other tubers once in a while. They are higher in nutrients, high fiber (don't peel), and are very good for you. They are also sweet so you won't crave sugars as often.

Cut potatoes out of the one meal a day you are tired after. That will help. There's also a good mashed cauliflower recipe on the recipe thread.

Beans! So, bean soup, chili, three bean salad, beans in indian food or on your salad, black beans in a burrito (just make sure the burrito doesn't have both the tortilla AND the rice, that's not a good balance-and look for tortillas with a few grams of fiber in them).

Other hot foods with fiber: homeade soups w/veggies, stir fry made w/ lots of veggies and some brown rice, stuffed eggplant or peppers (stuff with a brown rice pilaf or rice and beans), whole wheat pastas, whole wheat waffles (I actually buy hemp or flax seed waffles), veggie burgers and other veggie meats, stone ground tortillas.

Use whole wheat pastas and flour (you can find whole wheat items that don't taste as wheaty, but beware the ones with 1g or 0g fiber per serving-the wheat has been so stripped and processed you might as well not be eating wheat). Also, make sure that breads have at least 3g of fiber per slice.

Keep in mind, a few people have allergies to wheat. An initial bloating/gas is common when switching to high fiber diets - that's ok it's just your intestines getting used to processing the bulk, but if the problem persists for more than a three or four of weeks see an allergist.

Fresh or dried fruits and veggies have fiber! Prunes, raisins, apples, berries (esp. raspberries), peaches...they all have fiber. Just don't peel the apples or other fruits with edible skins.

Dark Chocolate-replace the sweets you eat with real dark chocolate (preferably very dark and organic) and you will be adding some fiber to your diet, not to mention less fat. I eat a LITTLE of this a few times a day.

Eggs-Not high fiber, but you can add high fiber things to them if they are an omelette or scrambled. I eat a couple of eggs with some spinach thrown once or twice a week for breakfast, usually with some veggie sausage. I wouldn't do this every day, but it's good! I just cut the cheese out.

Nuts! A handful of nuts, maybe mixed with other dried fruits for sweetness, is a great snack. A handful though, not a whole jar-he he. Peanut butter (try Smuckers all natural (it tastes like regular pb to me), or even better organic all natural.

Most importantly - READ LABELS. Always. I'm a natural at it b/c I'm vegetarian and have to look for lard, broth, etc. BUT, it will make the biggest difference in your diet. You will learn that just because something states it's healthy, or because it seems to have healthy ingredients, it may not be.

For example, some sorbets actually have FIBER! they are a great alternative to ice cream. But, some sorbets (like Haagan Daz) are mostly sugar. If you read labels you can distinguish between the ones made of mostly fruit or chocolate, that have fiber, and those that don't.

And, remember that some tastes are acquired. But, after a few weeks or months you will find you actually prefer these foods to others, honest.

Bride to be-I haven't removed carbs from my dinner because that's not the meal that makes me sleepy after. I just hated wanting to fall asleep after lunch.

If you'd like to make your carbes healthier, maybe switch to high fiber rices (brown) or sweet potatoes to mix it up a bit. But, small bits of anything are fine, as long as you're getting all the nutrients you need. If you feel this is the only way to add fiber to your diet, do as I mentioned, switch to high fiber alternatives.

this is incredible information!
i love it because a lot of diets focus on cutting one or more things out of your diet....but you're ofering alternatives! you should write a book!!!
and the title should be 'You can eat chocolate and lose weight!!'
i would love to be able to eat chocolate everyday!!
thanks

Thanks pale bride, I'm thinking of switching careers into nutrition....