I decided I was eating too much garbage after and between meals. I am not a cook and so in doing Weight Watchers, I started to rely on the processed foods like their brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Not a hardship! But I knew it wasn’t good. So I signed up for 4 days of delivered meals from a place called Five Squares. The food is good and no sugar, no carbs. I figured it’d cleanse my system and I would figure out a better way to eat after that. Today I’m starting day 3. I am in FULL sugar withdrawal and I am miserable. Light headed and tired and cranky. So yes, I forgot to blog until late this morning. Then I fell asleep because I had no energy. And here I am now, explaining why I’m late. It’s all I can come up with as a blog.
So I guess what I need to know from you all is – any snack ideas in between meals that aren’t so bad for you? Any EASY to make meal ideas or places and I do mean VERY few ingredients easy? So I can figure out my life after tomorrow’s last 5 square meals are delivered? Assuming I survive till then? 
Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
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For snacking you might try QUAKER rice cakes. I like the little mini ones and they have lots of variety in flavors. Carmel corn, Cream Brulee…which were good but I thought a little tooo sweet, apple cinnamon, and my new favorite Sweet Chili. They also have a chocolate one, ranch, chedder cheese. i think there are about 12 flavores in all. they satisfy the crunch you crave with a snack plus come in sweet and salty varieties.
As for meals you are on your own. I don’t cook much either and rely on WW or Lean Cuisine frozen meals. Not bad tasting overall but have too much sodium. other option is take out and calorie wise that is a bad thing. I use canned chicken to get my protein and have canned soup or maybe vegetables and rice and call that dinner.
Good luck finding a solution.
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My husband has been on full diet mode since August (losing over 40 pounds) and he eats protein and fiber bars. They have many really low in sugar, which is the ones we get. Try Fiber Plus by Kellogg, it is like a granola bar and they make a different flavors. Also our favorite protein bar is Pure Protein. It only has 2grams of sugar and I swear some taste like Candy Bars! It is an easy way to think you are eating bad, when you are not! Good Luck!
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A lot of fruits and veggies are “free” on the new WW diet. I buy green, hard pears and let them ripen for a few days in either paper or plastic bags. They’re sweet as candy once they ripen. And peaches are just coming into season. Can’t wait!
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I know what you mean about relying on processed foods while doing Weight Watchers.
Having just gone back on Atkins (only in part to lose weight before my first Nationals), I have some great low-carb snack ideas.
– Cucumber and zucchini spears with blue cheese (or low-carb ranch) dressing
– Jicama sticks (crunchy and sweet)
– Coffee with sugar-free syrup. (Mix with ice and heavy cream for a Frappuccino-like treat!)
– Cottage cheese mixed with Splenda and cinnamon (Sounds weird but tastes good. Whir it in the food processor if you want something really creamy)
And if you’re really craving sweets, grab some low-carb snack bars. Still processed, but just like dessert. (Atkins makes some delicious ones.)
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I usually eat fresh fruit or veggies when I want a snack between meals. My favorite easy meal when I don’t feel like cooking is to toss some cut up fresh veggies such as onion, mushrooms, and zucchini in spaghetti sauce and serve over whole wheat pasta. If I want some protein in it I’ll add a few shrimp or some diced chicken breast.
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I was just talking to a friend about this a couple of days ago. I had a ‘click’ moment when I was catching up on ‘Oprah”, I am a sugar addict. I rely on WW packaged meals, too. It’s hard. My best suggestion would be fruits….it’s easy to buy precut up ones in the grocery store (not ones that are canned). I am so lazy when it comes to fruits and veggies…I don’t like to work for them. LOL.
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I worked hard to get off sugar & carbohydrates this last summer. I could not have more than an apple & orange for fruit because of the natural sugar.
I went to having cherry tomatoes or celery & low sugar peanut butter.
I cooked some chicken breasts ahead of time so I could eat them with cold veggies or make a salad.
Cold shrimp and cocktail sauce is good also.
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Low-fat Greek Yogurt with celery sticks or baby carrots (you can buy the celery already cut if buying a bunch and cleaning/stripping is too much work.) Also, Greek Yogurt with cinnamon and Splenda. I’m not a yogurt fan, but this is good like a pudding for dessert or a snack when I want something creamy and sweet.
I try to stay away from carbs though pasta, bread and potatoes are my addictions. I limit them to dinner. Easy-peasy family dinner is pot roast in a crockpot. Season any cut of roast (I use Tony Chacheroe’s Creole Seasoning), put it in the pot with new potatoes (the little red ones), onions, mushrooms, carrots, and celery (though I don’t usually add carrots and celery until later so they aren’t mushy), and a cup of water. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10.
Another easy meal: boneless chicken breasts, PAM butter spray, seasoning and either lemon or lime juice. PAM the baking dish, place breasts in dish, season and add approximately 1/4 cup of juice. Cover and bake at 350 for an hour. Serve with a salad (I buy the premade Dole in a bag), no fat bleu cheese dressing or oil/vinegar/spices that I whip up, and Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice quick cook version.
Hang in there. I don’t eat much sugar any more. The occasional square of dark chocolate is my “reward” when I really crave it.
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I am on day 12 of no sugar and I seem to be tried all of the time. Today is especially bad. I just want to crawl back into bed and sleep for a week. I have been snacking on cheese, preztels and popcorn instead of the garbage and I seems to fill in to void. I find that I am chewing more gum which is driving my jaw crazy.
I wish that when you had a millstone birthday, you could magically have all your trouble spots removed and have the perfect body that you always dreamed of. And in 10 years do it all over again.
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Thanks for the great suggestions so far! Ardie, they say 3 days and you should feel great. I’m not buying it either LOLOL! 12 days is amazing!
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Caryl, I was just diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic (38 years old with Juvinelle diabetes , go figure) so no sugar and low to no carbs are my life now. I have to watch my carb intake and make sure I log my carbs into my insulin pump(or as i call it the Bionic Panceras) I love Jello’s sugar free Pudding (Creme Brule) with fat free whip cream! It’s wonderful. I also love Smart Pop Microwave popcorn for a snack. Almonds and nuts are a great snack too.
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Dreamfields pasta is made for low carb diets and diabetics. we use it all the time and no one can tell the difference. I like having my pasta, damn it!
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Ohhh Thanks for the suggestion Ev. I think they sell it at Publix(local grocery).
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I hear that amonds and walnuts make wonderful snacks. I had to give up pop corn so I switched to nuts. Full of protein and fiber which is good for you. I also do the fiber bars.
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It is so hard to cut sugar and carbs from your diet. It takes me about 10-14 days to get back to normal when I do this. Just remember that dairy, even the low fat greek yogurts have carbs, which can turn to sugar. I helped a friend who wrote a fitness book with her diet/exercise plan(she needed real live people to be test subjects). I did lose weight and I felt great, but it took 10 days to feel normal. In the first 10 days we didn’t have any carbs that didn’t come from salad dressing or veggies. After that we could add in some dairy and whole wheat bagels/sandwich thins. Still very little sugar. I still have the list she gave us on what to eat and I can email it to you if you would like.
I’ll be starting back on it after the CMA fest weekend. Know there is no way I can eat low carb while being on vacation for 4 days.
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Here are some of my quick go to snacks. Hope they help!
celery or carrots and hummus or peanut butter (natural kind, no salt, no sugar)
green apples and peanut butter (natural kind)
homemade black bean salsa and natural corn tortilla chips (get the no salt, gluten free kind from trader joe’s) – black beans, red bell pepper, mango, and lime (use this only if you can have natural sugars, ie fruit)
this is more of an appetizer but can be used in-between meals:
slice of mozzarella on top of a slice of ripe tomato with balsamic vinegar drizzled on top
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Emeralds makes cocoa roast almonds in 100 calorie snack packs (and canisters, too) that I really like – my doctor suggested them. Melba Snack rounds are good and come in a variety of flavors like a roasted garlic, 3 spicy pepper and white cheddar. And I like the atkin protein bars. You might also look at Walden Farms’ website – their products are sugar, calorie, carb, fat, gluten, and cholesterol free. Some people like and some don’t. They have a chocolate dip I really like and use with sliced apples – I don’t feel quite so deprived when I eat that! I do feel your pain; I think it’s harder to stay healthy as we get older.
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You can make sugar free pudding with low fat or fat free ricotta cheese. Use 1/4 cup per serving and 1 small box of sugar free pudding flavor of you choice. You can add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 splenda if you think it needs it. More protein and less carbs. Plus really more filling than the pre-packaged sugar free puddings.
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Don’t forget nectarines! They are delicious. Thankful that I live in the “peach” state!
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I’ve tried rice cakes and they’re not too bad; I know Weight Watchers has some bite size candy bars that taste pretty good. I try to always have a salad ready in my fridge to munch on.
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My favorite things to snack on are raw veggies…unfortunately they interfer with my blood thinners, go figure.
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Rice cakes, to me, are like trying to eat cardboard! No taste except a very artificial one. Sorry everyone, if you can handle them more power to you.
Earlier this year my doctor told me to get my cholesterol level down! I did it! My suggestion, fresh fruit & vegtables, roasted vegetables with some olive oil & garlic, salt & pepper are yummy! You need real food, not snacks. If you prepare your food you will be more satisfied that eating processed food & junk. Is it easy? Only if you care about yourself. I ate more salad, had oatmeal for breakfast more often which I flavored with some vanilla, cinnamon & a little sugar. Almonds are a great snack, no sugar, but fiber that you need & filling. I also eat a banana everyday. You can do it. I learned to really pay more attention to labels when I was buying anything! Greek yogurt is yummy but not the plain, I get either the vanilla or one of the ones with fruit. Our Farmer’s Market started last Saturday so I will now have more access to really superior vegetables & fruit.
Keep us posted.
I hope all the suggestions here help you in some way. Good luck.
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Girl, if I share my snack ideas you might as well get off weight watchers. I have the worst diet known to man. I mean seriously…snicker bars, Cheetos Crunch, peanut M&Ms and Golden Oreos (double stuffed of course) are staples in my diet…lol!!!
What my well-meaning friends have told me to do would be better for you. Have a piece of fruit to snack on or yogurt or even a breakfast bar when you feel the need to munch. Nuts are great to have around too. I’ve also been told that eating 5 or 6 smaller meals help to abate the hunger pangs. I hope you had a fantabulous day. I’m with you on the sugar withdrawal. If I have to ever quit “my diet” cold turkey, I think my head would explode. I did it for a week, and by the end of the first day, I was the most irascible person around with a headache the size of Texas. Take care.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Dr Oz, Dr Roizen and Dr Weil say raw nuts are one of the best snacks because they’re protein and good for you. The ones I like to buy are even in little 100 calorie packets for u! Theyre called Emerald Natural Walnuts & Almonds 100 Calorie Packs and are pretty satisfying snack
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If you’re staying strict with the no-sugar thing, do a web search for South Beach Phase 1 Snacks — they’re all no sugar and low carb, and since SB has an emphasis on low-fat and veggies as well as the low sugar thing, they’re all pretty healthy.
My personal favorites are turkey pepperoni microwaved within an inch of their life (read: until crispy). Blot off any grease and voila! Spicy chip that’s not a potato lol I also like raw veggies in ranch — just make sure you measure the dressing — it’s easy to overdo it.
Egg salad is a favorite, as is chicken salad that I eat on celery sticks.
Back when I could eat peanuts, I also liked grilled/baked chicken breasts (I cooked up a lot then reheated as desired) with peanut sauce — natural (no sugar added) peanut butter, a tiny bit of lemon juice, a bit of low sodium soy sauce, and a pinch of splenda, microwaved for like 15 seconds until the PB is kinda melted then mix well… Dip the chicken in the sauce as desired. Very high in protein, which gives it staying power.
And as for the sugar withdrawl? You should be feeling a bit better by tomorrow and pretty much all better by day 6 if you stick to it :)
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I can’t be bothered. Life is too short, eat dessert first, just do it in moderation. I keep a big jar of small candy bars around, but limit myself to no more than 3 per day and my will power has stood that test for a couple of years now. It’s by my feet as I type and I’m not even craving it. And I think that is part of the secret- don’t deprive yourself, but do it in moderation and stick to a limit. I can go for days now without even thinking about it. I had a piece last night- and I think that was more because of frustration over who got kicked off of Idol than anything else!
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If you need something crunchie-try cereal,no milk