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2dogsbarkingRanch
New Member
| Joined: | 24 January 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: 24 January 2006 01:38 pm |
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Good Morning everyone! I am new here. Today is DAY ONE! (again-but that doesn't matter!) I'm on the "high Plains" in the USA. Mom, w/2 teenagers (God help me! lol), a wonderful hubby, 2 dogs, 1 cat. I am a Paramedic. I need to loose about 80 pounds so here goes!
I guess my 1st questions is Oatmeal...some people swear by it for breakfast...any thoughts.
well it's nice to be here.
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 24 January 2006 02:36 pm |
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Oatmeal is one of the best natural foods available. It is also the slimmer's friend, since it is filling, low fat, easily mixes with lots of other things.... I could go on.
Take a look at the easy recipe I put in the Vegetarian Recipe forum, for a healthy tasty chocolate oatmeal snack bar.
If you don't like oatmeal as a cereal, you could choose a lot worse than to try those bars for breakfast.
Best of luck (and do read up the informative food FAQs on this wonderful website).
NevD 
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collegestudent
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 24 January 2006 03:15 pm |
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| Oatmeal is really great for you. The best way to eat it (for your body) is to get rolled oats (not instant oats), which take about 5 minutes to cook in boiling water. Then toss in some sweet fruit and eat. Rolled oats have more protein and fiber then quick oats (and less fat too!). I'll typically have .5 c rolled oats (cooked in 1 c boiling water) w/ half - one cup of blueberries or 1 chopped apple (with cinammon). I don't add any sugar to my foods, and attempt to eat anything with added sugar because I find that I am much less hungry if I don't eat added sugar. Oatmeal is really filling. It is also a good source of protein, iron, b vitamins, calcium, and other minerals.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 24 January 2006 03:56 pm |
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My breakfast:
1/2 cup oat meal
1 tbls ground flaxseed
1 tbls raisins
1 cup water
Microwave.
The flaxseed adds fiber which help with weight loss, and healthy fats which we need. The raisins make it enjoyable.
Couldn't be healthier or better for weight loss!
Peter
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2dogsbarkingRanch
New Member
| Joined: | 24 January 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: 25 January 2006 03:26 am |
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Thank you so much for the help. I'm going to just have to do the packaged oatmeal for awhile. I'm NOT a fan--had some apple/cinn this morning before I went in for my shift and I really was not hungry. At my job there is always snacky stuff around and I managed to pass on it. :D
Again-thanks for the help.
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 25 January 2006 02:41 pm |
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My breakfast:
1/2 cup oat meal
1 tbls ground flaxseed
1 tbls raisins
1 cup water
Microwave.
Do you have any dressing on the microwave, Peter? Or is that just al dente?
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VYV8
Senior Member
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Posted: 31 January 2006 06:26 am |
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Hi All,
This is my first post - I am a 30 year old lad from Australia using the info on this site to slim down a bit. I thought I might put up an idea that a few of us Aussies use to lose weight:
For breakfast, mix some rolled oats, puffed corn and oat bran, add milk and eat. The trick is to not cook it. It seems to take a lot longer to digest, and swells a bit in the stomach, so keeps you feeling full all morning.
I generally eat breakfast at about 7am, then don't feel the need to eat anything for 4 or 5 hours (although I sometimes eat a small can of tuna fish to keep my metabolism running).
If you want, you can just try eating the rolled oats on their own with milk, and maybe half a teaspoon of brown sugar. You might be surprised how good you feel!
Cheers!;)
Last edited on 31 January 2006 06:27 am by VYV8
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wm
Senior Member
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Posted: 31 January 2006 07:25 am |
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Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber and calcium. It also helps lower cholesterol, which is why it is deemed "heart healthy" in the US.  Best to avoid the milk and sugar, though!
(according to The Survivor's Handbook: http: //www.cancerproject.org/resources/handbook.php)Last edited on 19 March 2006 10:58 pm by wm
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Dobes
New Member
| Joined: | 8 February 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 8 February 2006 01:29 pm |
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| Heres a quick and easy way too eat oats from another Australian, I put the raw oats in a blender with low fat milk and a dash of coffee and it takes one minuite to do and it tastes great. PS. A little grainy at the bottom, but a quick and easy alternative.
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MsHighSchool
New Member
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Posted: 14 February 2006 08:33 pm |
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| Oatmeal is amazing for blood sugar! It's also delicious, definetely the best breakfast choice. However, the packaged (instant) oatmeal is really not the best choice because your blood sugar levels will not remain stable.
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personsmom
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 15 February 2006 03:42 pm |
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Oatmeal is amazing for blood sugar! It's also delicious, definetely the best breakfast choice. However, the packaged (instant) oatmeal is really not the best choice because your blood sugar levels will not remain stable.
Oatmeal is great! I eat the instant type. Buy the "original" version and add your own flavorings. It has less carbs, no added sugar. I have mine with cinnamon and sweetener, with a side of egg beaters.
Because of this post I checked my blood sugar 2 hours after and it was "normal" 103
Being diabetic you tend to wonder when someone makes a statement that could affect you. Everyone is different, so if this is a concern to you, check. I've also heard that cinnamon helps lower blood sugars so maybe the combination neutralizes each other?
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ron517
New Member
| Joined: | 16 February 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 16 February 2007 09:37 pm |
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I was recently diaganosed with a chronic heart condition. I have been reading on this website about some problems with "instant oatmeal" being less healthy for you than rolled oats. If that were the case then the American Heart Association would not lend its seal to the instant type of oatmeal which I consume on a daily basis, usually the first thing I have in the morning. I find the instant brand filling, delicious and because of my lifestyle easier to maintian and keep track of the calories. My serum cholestorol level seems to be coming around after I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. So, in short, the instant type of oatmeal works for me and I intend to keep on using it.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 18 February 2007 07:52 am |
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Eat the oatmeal that works for you! Any oatmeal is head-over-heels better for you than most breakfast cereals.
Peter
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 18 February 2007 08:14 am |
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At a bit of a tangent:
Yesterday I was crunching some numbers. What is the cheapest (healthy!) foodstuff? Low-cost peanuts were my starting point (200g for £.021 or 1kg for £0.97 - pretty cheap but if you delve a bit deaper, they're roasted and salted and only 95-96% of the product is peanuts, the rest is vegetable oil and salt).
I then figured that budget rolled oats, currently £0.48 for a kilo, would work out even cheaper per calorie. Sure, one cannot leave on oats alone (one needs a source of protein and plenty of fruits and vegetables) but for extra 'padding', 1000 calories is less than 14p (16p with the ASDA/Walmart peanuts).
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clarinetgurl
Moderator
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Posted: 18 February 2007 07:55 pm |
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I eat Quaker Oats Instant oatmeal...maple and brown sugar...and I make it with about 2/3 cup of milk. I've weaned myself off adding sugar and margarine.
So...is eating it this way still good for you? I mean, milk is good for you in reasonable portions, right?
I know it keeps me feeling full much longer than pop tarts or cereal....or waffles...
  
clar
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 19 February 2007 09:07 am |
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Healthy food is a continuom.
Skimmed milk is better than whole milk, but getting our calcium and vitamin D from non-dairy sources (e.g. calcium from green vegetables) may be healthier still. [Peter makes his oatmeal with water.]
Instant oatmeal is healthier than a poptart or a waffle, but arguably rolled oats are less refined and so healthier still.
So the answer is: your version is healthier than it was when you were adding margarine and sugar, and it might be healthier still when you adjust it further, but there's no rush.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 19 February 2007 09:23 am |
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Nir,
Well said!
Late last night I tried to write something similar. Maybe I was just too tired. I gave up and went to sleep.
I think it's a big problem when (compulsive people) dealing with weight loss try to be perfectionists. (And most of us are compulsive!) We end up failing at our attempt at perfection, then give up altogether.
Baby steps!
Your words are great and I'm going to work them into the Tutorial.
Peter
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MamaBear
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 31 March 2007 03:05 am |
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As a Master Herbalist, I can add one more benefit. Oatmeal is used to help nervous people calm down. I suspect that it affects the seratonin levels in the brain, allowing the person eating it to relax.
We use it also for bathing, to treat certain rashes, allergies and skin conditions ; .
Mary
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justinbowness15
New Member
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Posted: 3 October 2007 05:15 pm |
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By oatmeal, do you mean porridge oats? as i am a diabetic and they raise my bloodsugar alot! with semi skimmed milk,
i buy a bag of plain porridge oats from morrisons in the UK for like $3!! thats a massive bag 1kg?
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 3 October 2007 05:59 pm |
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You've been had. 1kg is about 50p at ASDA, TESCO and NETTO 
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justinbowness15
New Member
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Posted: 3 October 2007 06:55 pm |
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lol, i knew it was something like that !! it might be a 3kg bag, its a big bag anyhow!!  
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 6 October 2007 01:45 am |
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I'm with Peter on this one............I use whole or "old-fashioned" oats, as they are called here in the US. I haven't made the instant ones for quite a few years. Are they that much quicker to cook?
I do the whole oats and water in the microwave, (with some walnuts, or raisins or craisins or dried blueberries thrown in) and they only take about 3 minutes to cook in my microwave.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 6 October 2007 09:50 pm |
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I'm just getting back to this for breakfast as a hot breakfast seems more appealing in the winter. But my microwave broke months ago so I'll have to boil them.
Are the instant one faster? Does it matter if they are faster then 3 minutes?
I just assume that the more processed something is the less nutritious it is. Not sure in this case, but I think it's a pretty good rule of thumb.
Peter
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 8 October 2007 03:22 pm |
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But my microwave broke months ago...
Really? And you haven't starved to death? I would.
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justinbowness15
New Member
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Posted: 8 October 2007 04:54 pm |
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i think im getting addicted to porridge oats now, i often have them as snacks and meals but the problem is the amount of milk i am having isnt helping, i guess that isnt helping my weight loss?? i have probly 2 pints of semi skimmed milk a day, the freen labeled. For you guys not in the uk i think its 2% fat? but im consuming alot of calories through milk! and fat
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Ohm
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 October 2007 05:04 pm |
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| TGry switching to skimmed milk. It is virtually fat free, much higher in calcium than semi skimmed or full cream and has only 80 calories in a 250ml serving (compared to 115 calories in the same sized serving for semi skimmed milk). It does taste more watery than semi skimmed - you might not want to drink a glass full, but I am sure that you would not notice the difference in porridge oats.
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CodeMonkey
Senior Member
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Posted: 8 October 2007 06:25 pm |
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I had compared the difference between the regular oatmeal and the instant one minute oatmeal. Both have the equal number of calories, proteins, fat, carbs, fiber and sodium. I chose to buy the one minute oatmeal just because it's easier for me to do at work. I don't use a microwave, we have a hot water dispenser here.
Anyway, to the original message. I certainly hope oatmeal is good for you; I've been eating it every morning since I started this diet. I have never heard that it's bad for you from anybody, so I think no matter what type of diet you're on oatmeal is still on the list.
If I remember reading in the news a couple years ago there was a claim by nutritionists, or something like that, that oatmeal is the most perfect food. There isn't anything in it that's bad for you. I wish I could find that article again.
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1seekspie
Senior Member
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Posted: 29 October 2007 07:06 pm |
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Ha! I'll take your guys' skim milk and raise soy milk---soy milk LIGHT!!! Anyway, I know oatmeal is a great source of fiber and all but I don't eat it because it seems to contain a lot of calories...
Of course I'm looking at Quaker oats but still...where do you get whole oats anyway? I don't think those of you who posted live anywhere close to me (not even on the same continent!) so I guess you don't know my local grocery store.
I typically stick to my honey bunches of oats with soy milk for breakfast but would it make a huge difference to switch to whole oats instead? I'm sort of skeptical...I mean sure honey bunches of oats is processed but the nutritional information (unless it's lying) states that it has a lot of various vitamins, minerals, ect...plus I really like the taste of it.
So... big difference or no?
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 29 October 2007 07:26 pm |
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Colorado's a big state. Put your city in your profile and you'll get some direction to local oats!
You'll also get a raise in your membership status!
Peter
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newstart
New Member
| Joined: | 26 July 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 359 |
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Posted: 29 October 2007 09:03 pm |
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You can get steel cut or rolled oats at most food co-ops.
I confess that I usually buy Quaker Oatmeal in the cardboard drum, not the little single packs because they are too expensive.
I follow the package directions, except I substitute skim milk for water and sometimes add a little maple sugar for flavor... real maple sugar...we boil it down ourselves...and then wash the ceilings really well to get rid of the stickiness that rose with the evaporation... We used to set up a plastic tarp over the cooking area to protect the ceiling, but it was way more trouble than just washing the ceiling afterward.
Oh yeah, you can add more cold skim milk afterward to cool it down and it tastes great.
Last edited on 29 October 2007 09:05 pm by newstart
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1seekspie
Senior Member
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Posted: 30 October 2007 03:07 am |
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| Oh...ok. I suppose I could do all that...but can't I get basically the same thing from honey bunches of oats? I know they're processed but they're so good and they are actually made with good ingredients including whole grain and rolled oats. Anyone see this as bad?
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newstart
New Member
| Joined: | 26 July 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 359 |
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Posted: 30 October 2007 07:16 pm |
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Hey!
If it's working for you, then stay with the Honey Bunches of Oats. It's better to stay with a food you like than to spend too much time worrying about the one that might be better for you. I eat what I like, but watch my Calories, and I like a lot of things, so I don't think I'm deficient in anything.
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1seekspie
Senior Member
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Posted: 31 October 2007 12:06 am |
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| Thanks! I'm always the type to over think things so I needed that!
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FidoDidoOfArc
New Member
| Joined: | 21 December 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 21 December 2007 03:09 pm |
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I consider OatMeal as a "Magic Food". It helped me loose like 15 Pounds in like 4 months
It is also excellent for Blood Sugar, Cholestrol, Hunger Satisfaction
My Dad with diabetes is doing great after taking OatMeal for the past two years. Before 3 to 4 years the diabetes was giving him lot of trouble His health improved a lot
I did the following for Four months
Ate four meals per day
No oil except Olive oil
Two tablets of FlaxSeed oil each day
Walnut or Almond when ever I want to have a snack
Green Tea once or twice a day
10 AM - Oat Meal, Size: 3/4 of a cup of Oat meal + Hot Water, No Sugar or anything to add
12.30 PM - Regular food (Whatever you take regularly) just one bowl
3.30 PM - Oat Meal, Size: 3/4 of a cup of Oat meal + Hot Water, No Sugar or anything to add
6.30 PM - Regular food (Whatever you take regularly) just one bowl
I don't feel hungry or tired, but lost 15 pounds
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 25 December 2007 05:54 pm |
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Try ground flaxseed on your oatmeal (a tablespoon) instead of the tablets. I believe it's much healthier. In fact, generally the less processed all foods are the more healthy they are.
Peter
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CodeMonkey
Senior Member
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Posted: 26 December 2007 01:16 pm |
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Alright, I'm going to risk sounding stupid (heh, too late)...
I eat Quaker oats every morning. Now I'm reading I can get whole oats and it would be lower in calories? How much lower? I couldn't find the calories for whole oats in the Food Calories & Nutrition Calculator. Does it taste different than Quaker? I always thought the Quaker oats were about as natural as you could get. How I prepare mine is I put the Quaker oats in my coffee cup with Splenda, cinnamon and Splenda brown sugar and fill it with hot water, then let it sit until thickened. Would this work for cooking whole oats? Or would I have to actually cook them?
Would I have to go to a health food store to get whole oats? Someone educate me please. I can stick with what I am doing now, but if I could consume lower calories on days I know I will be "cheating" (like company lunches, ect), I'd rather go with the lowest calories in the morning.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 31 December 2007 02:25 pm |
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Okay, I'm no expert but I'll tell you what I do know.
I could be wrong, but it sounds like you have what is called "instant" oatmeal. Quaker makes both "instant" (usually in packets) and old-fashioned rolled oats (usually in a canister). The instant kind you can just add hot water. The rolled oats you have to either cook on the stovetop OR in the microwave. Instant oatmeal is more processed than the rolled oats, so in my opinion less good-for-you.
Best of all is the Bob's Red Mill brand of various kinds of whole grain cereals. They make a 10-grain blend, a 7-grain blend, and various kinds of whole oats. If you can find it in your store I recommend you check it out. You can still cook them in the microwave if you want something relatively quick.
All this being said, I often take the instant kind to work. If you get the plain variety there is not any sugar or flavorings added. And if you are really pressed for time, it is better than grabbing a cinnamon roll!
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 21 February 2008 11:40 pm |
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Peter wrote: My breakfast:
1/2 cup oat meal
1 tbls ground flaxseed
1 tbls raisins
1 cup water
Microwave.
The flaxseed adds fiber which help with weight loss, and healthy fats which we need. The raisins make it enjoyable.
Couldn't be healthier or better for weight loss!
Peter
Can we quote ourselves? 
I'm back to my regular breakfast, but with one change... my microwave broke, which is part of the reason I've been "off it."
Now I just heat the water in a small sauce pan, and add the oatmeal and flaxseed after it starts boiling. And the raisins -- now more than 1 tablespoon -- when it's about a minute from being ready.
I don't bother to time it. I just stay near and stir it once in awhile, and pour it into my bowl when it's still a little runny as it dries up a bit while it's cooling. Also I realized that when I was cooking all the water out of it, it ended up too dry.
Actually the reason I'm posting is to share what I learned about the difference between Old Fashioned Quaker Oats and the One Minute version.
If you call the 800 number, they tell you that -- as the nutrition labels indicate -- the nutrition for both is the same. The only difference is that for the One Minute version they cut the oats smaller and roll them smaller.
The result is a creamier cereal after cooking, and they said some people like that, while others like the more grainy texture.
The reason I called is because I have always felt that, in the most basic terms, the less processed a food was the healthier it would be for you.
When I asked if your body processed the two differently enough to be significant, they only repeated that the nutrition for both is the same. I suspect and difference in the level of nutrition your body receives, or how it processes the different size pieces, is negligible.
After all, the ingredients do remain the same. It's not like comparing brown rice to white rice, the latter having been stripped of much of its nutritional value.
Enjoy your oatmeal!
Peter
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DaniMae1
Senior Member
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Posted: 28 February 2008 11:49 am |
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| Quaker makes a weight control instant oatmeal. It is good. 160 cals and has more in the pack than regular instant. I eat it sometimes. After reading some of these posts I might eat it more often!
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 28 February 2008 05:59 pm |
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DaniMae1,
Eating ANY form of oatmeal is likely better than eating most other cereals, so that's great.
However, it amazes me what many people consider oatmeal. My roommate ate the little packets of assorted flavors he got in a big box at Costco. After he moved, I tried one... apples and cinnamon.
It was so sweet, I couldn't eat it!
I'll stick with my 100% oatmeal, with some raisins for flavor and sweetness. I must admit that without them it would be a little bland.
So I'm wondering what the point of "weight control" oatmeal is at 160 calories while my plain oatmeal is only 150. I guess it's that it comes with artificial sweeteners, otherwise most people would add enough sugar to greatly increase the calorie count.
Peter
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DaniMae1
Senior Member
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Posted: 28 February 2008 06:30 pm |
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| Peter.....It is actually really good. Not too sweet, 1 g of sugar, 7 g of protein, 6 g of fiber, and 3 g of fat. I like it. Easy to make for rushed mornings....So as opposed to regular instant oatmeal, it is much better.
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Kosmik Elf
New Member
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Posted: 28 February 2008 07:01 pm |
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Just to add my 2 cents...
My Dad ate rolled oats every morning, for as long as I can remember.
I once asked him why. He said ..'Oh it is just a habit and it's suppose to good
for you'
He was slim, and very healthy. He passed away at age 88.
(I think he would have lived longer. But, my mom died a couple weeks before him &
I think he just missed her)
Anyway, I can not see any harm in making it a habit!
Kosmik Elf
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 28 February 2008 07:29 pm |
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My main incentive is to lower my cholesterol. It was part of my diet that helped me drop over 100 points in 9 weeks a few years ago. Now I'm working on making that diet permanent, and just lost 14 pounds in the current challenge.
I could lose another 10 pounds or so, but mostly at 61 I'm worried about cholesterol.
Peter
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DaniMae1
Senior Member
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Posted: 29 February 2008 03:27 pm |
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Wow! Did you really drop 100 points in 9 weeks??? How did you do it? My hubby has high cholesterol and is terrified to take the meds for it. I don't blame him though...I keep telling him to get up early enough to eat breakfast...but noooo...he sleeps till it is time to jump in his truck and go. Then he goes to 7-11 and gets soda and candy bars...
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 29 February 2008 05:51 pm |
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Yes! I pretty much followed the Eat to Live program. Well, not the diet plan but I basically ate the healthy foods with no junk and meat only three or four times a week.
I was pretty ignorant about cholesterol before I read that book. I associated with fat, and so assumed it was found in nuts. There's virtually no cholesterol in plants... it all comes from animals.
My current diet is highly influenced by ETL. It's my ideal, but not what I live... to the letter.
Peter
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kalypso
Member
| Joined: | 3 March 2008 |
| Location: | Eh?, Canada |
| Posts: | 165 |
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Posted: 5 March 2008 03:42 pm |
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So many oatmeal fans here; I love it! I'm actually at the point where I can eat my oatmeal plain and still enjoy it - though I usually love adding a wee bit of honey for a more flavourful effect. Oatmeal rocks! 
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CodeMonkey
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 March 2008 04:32 pm |
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I made some changes to mine. I bought some dried fruits and had been using them in my oatmeal. Either I put dried apples, cinnamon and splenda or just raisins and splenda.
I thought about seeing if I can find some dried bananas and dried strawberries. Mix it together and see how it tastes. I tried dried cherries but it just didn't taste right. Plus the cherries were still pretty big and was a pain to cut up.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 12 March 2008 06:07 pm |
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MudMan,
See if you can slowly cut out the Splenda. I think in time you'll find the raisins are sweet enough!
Peter
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CodeMonkey
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 March 2008 09:23 pm |
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I dunno, I can't live without my Splenda.
Then again, I said the same thing about sugar.
I'll give it a shot. I made some oatmeal for my 21 year old son to try (exactly how I described earlier). He took one bite and went back to the kitchen saying "Ugh, not enough sugar".
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1seekspie
Senior Member
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Posted: 12 March 2008 11:22 pm |
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Yeah, what's wrong with splenda ? Perhaps it's not the most amazingly organic and healthy thing you can consume, but why cut it out? It's a little taste of sweetness without all the calories. Anything overdone is of course not good, but why try to rid yourself of it? Unless of course I'm missing some dark truth about it.....
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