I have been a low carber since summer so I have the basics of that. What is different about the Sommersizing program?

1. It is based on food combining with her food groups.

She classifies foods as Carbos, Pro/Fats, Veggies, Fruits, and Funky foods.

You don't eat Funky Foods (Sugars, starches, and combination foods.)

Fruits are eaten alone, on an empty stomach. You may not eat a carbo meal for 20 min. or a protein one for 1 hr.

Proteins/Fats may be eaten with Veggies.
Carbos may be eaten with Veggies, but no fat.
Proteins/Fats may not be eaten with Carbos

Wait 3 hours between meals if switching types (Carbo to Protein or vice versa.)

2. You don't count carbs.

They are restricted in the following ways:

a. High starch and high sugar foods are eliminated.

No beets, carrots, bananas, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, popcorn, white flour, white rice, winter squash, or non-whole wheat pasta.
(And of course no sugar, honey, etc.)

b. You don't eat them with proteins and fats. Only with veggies or plain.

3. (Really part of number one)

No avocados, buttermilk, coconuts, liver, low-fat or whole milk (non-fat is allowed!), nuts, olives, or tofu

These foods contain both fat and carbos. So they break the combing rules all by themselves.

4. Technically, you are allowed all the carbos you want. You could eat a whole loaf of whole wheat bread if you wanted. (No jam or margerine though!) I don't know if you would lose weight though.

Perhaps part of the secret is that it makes you want to eat fewer carbos.

Definitely it forces you to chose carbos with a lower GI. Foods with a GI greater than 50 are forbidden.

Thanks. I saw her hawking some chocolate squares on HSN the other day. They looked good but man were they expensive.

Yes, and according to her book all artificial sugars are bad. You should buy her Somersweet, a natural sweetener which is so powerful you only use a little. It's expensive too.

I don't buy her products. I use Twin. But we (my husband and I)are following her diet plan. It's working for us.

The book says "Eat, cheat, and lose weight." So we cheat a little. We use Twin, and I put a dab a little non-fat milk in my coffee. (Mind you I don't even drink coffee every day.)

However we are strict with those high GI carbo foods. We just don't eat them.

By the way,

I forgot to mention that caffeine amd alcohol are forbidden on Level One (the weight loss portion) of the diet. They are allowed in moderaion on Level Two - the maintenance portion.

I probably forgot to mention it, because I do allow myself to have coffee from time to time. However, cocoa, beer, wine, hard liquor, and all caffeinated coffees, teas, and sodas are on the forbidden list.

Hi Glad,

I've been on Atkins since the 6/5/02 and I am rather disappointed with the minimal amount of weight I have lost so far. I seem to have a problem with high sodium foods.

I'm thinking changing over because I am losing patience. I just read your description of the somersize program. It was excellent!

I don't really get it totally though. Can you give me a simple day's menu for someone who works long hours and have little time? Also how much weight did you lose in the firsr 2 weeks or so? And if you eat high sodium meats (like tuna with mayo) will it slow you down much in my weight loss journey?

Thanks a bunch.

Rita....

Hi Rita,

It looks to me like you are doing great! Almost 10 pounds in not even a month! Of course if you lost most of it the first week, I can understand your discouragement.

My first week I lost 7 pounds! I was shocked! I even started worrying that I might loose weight too fast and get sick.

However, the second week I lost "only" three and a half pounds. That was a good healthy loss which didn't worry me a bit.

I'm loosing a bit slower now. I liked losing 2 or 3 pounds in a week in the beginning, but now I think it's more like 1 or 2. Still it's a pretty steady loss, with no hunger. I'm happy.

What would a busy person eat?

Well, eggs don't take long to cook. How about a nice cheese omellette for breakfast? Or I'll often have a bowl of oatmeal.

Both those take too long? Non-fat yogurt is fine. Or all the fruit you can eat.

Lunch? You like tuna. A nice tuna salad. Have cucumbers, celery, mushrooms, or any other healthy low carb veggies you like.

Tomato salad and cheese.

A tossed green salad with some tuna or chicken tossed in it.

Or a bean spread sandwhich made with whole wheat bread.

Supper?
Steak and salad?
Hamburger, mushrooms, onions, and salad?
BBQ chicken, string beans, and tomato salad?

There are lot's of choices.

(I like a lot of salads, especially in the summer.)

Is there too much sodium in tuna? I haven't had a problem with it, but I don't know. I suppose some people may have to watch their salt.

The thing we avoid our some of the luncheom meats, not because of the salt, but because of the carbohydrate fillers. (No bologna or hot dogs.)

Oh I'm so confused When I was on Atkins I was taught that veggies (most of them) are carbohydrate foods and I remember having to limit the amount of onions or tomatoes because of the carb count.

Hmmmm, this is so confusing. Can someone enlighten me please?

There is a new advertisement on the train from the doctors who created Protien Power who says that you can do low carb, lose weight and still eat pizza.

Has anyone done Protien Power, been successful and can explain the plan to me.

I'm supposed to be starting some type of low carb tomorrow.

Thanks.

Rita~~