At the moment, I don't have anything to add. But, just wanted to say thanks for starting this. I miss the group we had before the board change.

I keep thinking that I'll put a series of meal plans together just so that I'll have something to hopefully inspire me. But, the reality is that I usually don't decide what I'm going to have for dinner until almost dinner time. Right now, my breakfast every day is the same - chicken bone broth with cream. Lunch is some kind of protein and added fat, and maybe a couple of cucumber slices and ranch dressing. I do keep the Atkins frozen meals in the freezer and if I have nothing for lunch, I'll take one of those to work with me. They're between 5 and 7 carbs each. Dinner is also protein and fat. Usually once or twice a week I'll have eggs and either bacon or sausage. I love to cook, so try a few new recipes a week, but I find that if I get too far away from just protein and fat, it's a problem. Two nights ago I made Vietnamese Carmelized Pork from Low-Carbing Among Friends that was quite good. My family really like it, but I needed more fat. I usually have nuts or cheese as a snack if I have a snack. I'm disappointed that our Costco doesn't have macadamia nuts right now (hasn't had them since August) as they are a great snack and help with the fat. I do have a small square or two of 90% cacao chocolate. I keep my carbs between 20-30 grams a day. No fruit, no grains, no "low-carb" wraps or breads, etc., very few veggies. I've been eating a lot of chicken wings lately (and then using the bones to make broth). That' probably what I'll be making for dinner tonight. I also love chicken thighs coated with ranch dressing and then "breaded" with a combo of parmesan and almond flour, and then baked. I need to branch out with other thigh recipes, but I love this one so much that I can't make myself make them any other way.

I just finished Divergent and Insurgent and am looking forward to the 3rd book in the series. Dd is recommending: Harmony Battle Royale Parable of the Sower or anything else by Octavia Butler Shades Children I don't know if The Passage would be considered dystopian or not, but it's a great book. I'm getting near the end and don't want it to end. It's the kind of book that just sucked me in and keeps me going exactly like Stephen King novels do. I'd like to stay up all night reading it, but know I can't.

It looks like I'm the dinosaur of the bunch. I write checks for everything. I want a paper trial and I want an accurate way of keeping track. I don't do online banking or bill paying. I have a cc for emergencies - only been used once. I have a debit card, but avoid using it most of the time, oh, except for gas. I do use my debit card for gas.

Here's what I found as a footnote: "* The South Beach Diet (2003) is another best-selling variation on this theme, but with the emphasis on lean meats and fats from vegetable sources (olive and canola oil, avocados and nuts, for instance) rather than animal. In the one clinical trial of the diet. weight loss, as expected rivaled the Atkins-like diets, but not the beneficial results for heart-disease and diabetes risk factors." Is that what you were looking for?

I've got it but SB isn't listed in the index. Any idea on which part of the book to look?

I should have mentioned that the blog list includes varying levels of LCHF. Just because they call themselves "LC" doesn't mean that it's aligned with what you consider LC. You will still have to weed through the recipes to find what's appropriate for your woe or also, revamp some recipes to meet your needs.

I know that you've gotten a lot of help, but I just wanted to mention that I have to be careful about vegetables, even salad veggies. And, no way can I eat carrots. Bread and rice are out of the question for me, too. What % is your dark chocolate? Protein and fat are my friends.

Some good informational resource books are: The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living by Volek and Phinney Good Calories, Bad Calories by Taubes Wheat Belly by Davis Diabetes Solution by Bernstein Cookbooks Low Carbing Among Friends vol. 1 Low Carbing Among Friends vol. 2 Low Carbing Among Friends vol. 3 Joy of Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Baking by Reinhart & Wallace Low-Carb Gourmet by Barnaby Any books by Maria Emmerich Websites/blogs http://www.lowcarbfriends.com http://yourlighterside.com/ http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/ http://ginnyslowcarbkitchen.blogspot.com/ http://247lowcarbdiner.blogspot.com/ http://healthylowcarbliving.com/category/blog/ http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/ http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/ http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/ http://www.atkinsdietgeek.com/ http://peaceloveandlowcarb.blogspot.com/ http://lowcarbfamily.com/ http://www.gourmetgirlcooks.com/ http://lowcarboneday.com/ http://www.lowcarbcrock.com/ http://www.lowcarblayla.blogspot.com/

Melissa, I just wanted to encourage you. Before I was diagnosed, I would never ever have considered going carb free. Since my early 20s, I tried quite a few times to become vegetarian as I was convinced from all my reading and research that that was the healthiest way to eat. But, I always ended up adding poultry back into my diet. I was convinced that complex carbs were healthy, that lots of fruit and veggies were very healthy, etc. Now, I'm not so sure. I know that they are definitely not for me. We've been led down this path, since what, the 60s or 70s, to believe a specific way of eating is "healthiest" and have a hard time believing that anything else could be healthier. But, for some of us, if not most of us, going LCHF works. I did it cold turkey and I'm convinced that that is the best way to go. If you give up carbs, you only go through a few days of cravings and then they are gone. If you continue to eat carbs, the cravings continue. It's just a different mind-set, and also since we live in a culture of carbs, realizing that you don't have to have bread or rice or potatoes or pasta or.... Anyway, it's really not as bad as you'd think going carb-free.

IMO, cream is your best option. Half and half has more carbs than cream, milk has more carbs than half and half. Full fat will be your better choice with most foods. Also, IMO, diabetic cookbooks are ridiculous. If you're diabetic (I was diagnosed last February) your body can't deal correctly with carbs. So, to keep your blood sugar under control, don't eat carbs. I think that the nutritionists and cookbook authors instruct you to eat carbs because they think that if someone goes from something like 300 grams a day to 200 by following their diet and recipes, it's an improvement. They don't think that most people are willing to give up carbs. My doctor even told me that she totally supports my diet, but she's never had anyone who would stick to it. Bottom line - if you're diabetic and want to stay off meds and keep your body parts - stay away from carbs. Diabetes is a progressive disease. I drink primarily water. Occasionally I drink stevia sweetened pop. Sometimes I will make myself hot cocoa using cream, water, cocoa, and stevia.

This is the one that I use: * Exported from MasterCook * "Healthified" Pizza Crust #2 Recipe By : Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Low Carb Pizzas Quick & Easy Thanksgiving Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 1/4 cup almond flour 1/4 cup Jay Robb protein powder (unflavored) 4 TBS Psyllium husk powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 TBS grated parmesan 1 TBS Italian spices 2 tsp baking powder 2 eggs 1 cup boiling water butter or coconut oil (for brushing) -- (Toppings of your choice) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients and mix until blended. Add eggs and mix until well combined. Add boiling water and mix until dough thickens and start to stick to beaters. Place ball on greased baking sheet. Spray a piece of parchment with oil and place on to of the dough to help spread without sticking. Use a rolling pin or your hands to spread the dough into a 16 inch round. Dough will raise 2-3 times its size so make the thickness one third of what you want the final pizza to be (I like a 1/4 inch thick crust so I start with about 1/8 inch or less thickness). Place in oven and Bake for 25 minutes. Remove crust from oven and brush with butter of coconut oil and return to oven. Broil for 5-10 minutes or until crust is crisp. Add topping and broil for another 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and starts to brown. Makes 6 servings. NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving) Traditional Pizza Crust = 262 calories, 7.6g fat, 6g protein, 43g carbs, 1.7g fiber (41.3g effective carbs) "Healthified" Pizza crust = 197 calories, 13.7g fat, 9.4g protein, 9.4g carbs, 5.5g fiber (3.9g effective carbs) FAST FAMILY TIP: I made 3 of these one night and froze them for fast and easy family dinners! I just bake the crust as directed, remove and add toppings and wrap in tin foil to freeze. Then you just pull it out of the freezer and finish baking as instructed below! Source: "http://mariahealth.blogspot.com" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTES : 2012 This is the BEST low carb pizzs crust. No fork needed - just pick it up in your hands. This is one I plan to try, but I like the other one so much, that I haven't done it yet: * Exported from MasterCook * Low Carb Pizza Recipe By : Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Low Carb Pizzas Quick & Easy Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 1/2 cups flax seed meal (I used organic golden flax which has a milder taste) 2 teaspoons baking powder (aluminum free) 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning) 1 teaspoon Kosher salt -- more or less to taste 1/2 teaspoon Truvia (optional) 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese -- finely grated 3 eggs (or 3/4 cup egg substitute such as Egg Beaters) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup water Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together; add wet ingredients and mix well. Let the dough sit for about 5 minutes to thicken. Spread dough on a lightly oiled large round pizza pan or on a cookie sheet with greased parchment paper (I used Reynolds non-stick foil, lightly brushed with olive oil). Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through (check it after 15 minutes and take out if it looks done). Add sauce, cheese, pre-cooked toppings and place back into the oven for 5-10 minutes to melt the cheese. ***Note: Pre-cook any veggie or raw meat toppings such as sausage, beef, etc. before topping the pizza, as you are simply heating and lightly browning the toppings when returning it to the oven for the last 10 minutes of cooking. You may want to place it under the broiler for a few minutes for additional browning before removing. Description: "It even cuts like regular pizza crust...this is the real deal...just healthier!" Source: "http://www.gourmetgirlcooks.com" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If he's diabetic, is there any chance it could be gastroparesis?

I am not following a specific LCHF diet (using Bernstein as a guide). I don't eat any grains, flours, bread, fruit, beans, potatoes, pasta, sugars, many veggies, etc. 20-30 grams of carbs per day is my limit.

Yes, heavy cream is what I use. So far, just chicken bone broth but it will work with any bone broth. Many LCHF people make "Bullet Proof Coffee" with cream and coconut oil. I don't drink coffee so am subbing the broth.

I was also pushed into LCHF with the option of this or meds. I don't think I would have made the switch otherwise, to tell you the truth. I was perfectly happy eating lots of carbs. I take the bone broth and cream with me to work every day as my breakfast. I'm loving it. I look forward to drinking it. I'm thinking that there must be something in it that my body is needing right now or else I'd be tired of it every day.

Also, doesn't paleo allow some fruit and sweeteners such as maple syrup and honey? I don't do any of those with LCHF. And, I think that they can do some high carb veggies, can't they?

Oh, I wanted to mention one more thing! I know this isn't for everyone, but I'm thrilled! Atkins has put out some really good frozen meals that are between 5 and 7 grams of carbs each. They are basically a protein (poultry, beef, sausage, etc.) with veggies (low carb veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower) and a sauce. I can't tell you how many times I've had a late shift at work and come home starving and totally pooped out and couldn't think of anything other than eggs and bacon that would be quick and easy to eat. I plan to have a few of these in the freezer for times like that.

I know that you requested books, but I wanted to mention this blog, http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/. She has great nutritional info and also great recipes. And, she has several books. I have a couple of them and really enjoy them.

I've only made bone broth (as opposed to just "broth") twice and both times I've used chicken bones. But, the nomnompaleo blog has info on making all kinds of bone broth. I don't do carrots or quite a few other veggies, so my broth is basically bones, water, vinegar, garlic and a sprinkle of onions. I do make sure it's well salted. I've also added fresh grated ginger to a few of the mugs of broth I've had and it was also quite good. I've only recently added beef back into my diet (after years of avoiding it) so am just not ready to deal with beef bones, yet.

I hadn't thought of lime juice! Thanks!

Congrats!! Great job! My dh is just like yours. I made the diet switch a year ago next month and dh was totally skeptical. I've since had lab tests every 3 months with excellent results. Dh is still skeptical. But, I think his real reason for being skeptical is that he isn't willing to acknowledge that it works because it would mean he would have to give up carbs. :banghead: . Oh, well, more fat for me!! I do need to lose another 15 or 20 pounds, but my weight is slowly going down without trying to lose. And, I'm really excited to have found a new breakfast treat. I don't like coffee, but I've found that I really like chicken broth with cream. I'm going to start adding coconut oil to it, too. It's even better if you use homemade bone broth. YUM! My daily meals are very similar to yours. I've also found a great portable meal - Inside Out Scotch Eggs - from ibreathekimhungry. And, if you want pizza, http://mariahealth.blogspot.com has the best low carb crust recipe. I made a sausage alfredo pizza for dinner tonight. :drool5:

When we did it, you bought the package. Everything came in a cute box - videos, workbook, art supplies, etc. It was just my daughter and I doing it. But, I would think it would work really well as a co-op. You'd just need to purchase additional art supplies.

We used it and loved it. It's been quite a few years now, though. Dd still talks about the fun (cooking and crafts) we had and remembers the songs. Later her language interest went to Japanese, though.

I just started The Passage by Justin Cronin and am really enjoying it. I just finished Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth. They are the first two books in a trilogy. I don't think she's finished the third book, though. It's ya dystopian.