Watching the diet...advice sought

I am on a diet, where I kinda need to watch the carbs - ergo, buns have become a glorious treat, not a mandate with dogs. Also, the calories from fat are a factor, so I am going to resort to buying low-fat or turkey franks.

What national brands offer the best flavor? I will not eat soy dogs, such things are a Hell-worthy trespass in my book. So low-fat/fat-free, or turkey/chicken franks are what I am looking for.

Thanks!

oh boy---is THIS the wrong place for that question!!! Im NO help!

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Originally posted by tiki

oh boy---is THIS the wrong place for that question!!! Im NO help!

HAHAHA!!!! I thought it was a bad idea...but I figured I'd try anyway.

I tell you this though, this site is bad news for someone on a diet - I've been craving hot dogs for days now. Butm with a baby learning to be mobile, I will lose the weight whether or not I want to.

Forget the dogs. When I did the low carb/low fat thing I lived on shrimp and tuna fish. Boiled shrimp--yum. And I allowed myself the luxury of lots of dipping sauce (ketchup + horseradish + a dash of Worcestershire and a dash of Tabasco). This may sound bizarre to some, but I like the tuna straight from the can with chopped raw onion and vinegar.

When it comes to dogs, I like the real thing made from PORK. I'll pass on 'em entirely if I can't have the real ones.

I love hot dogs and am also on a diet. I lost 13 lbs in the last few weeks without giving up my 2 favorite things; hot dogs and beer. The key is moderation. I eat fruit for breakfast, a salad or light sandwich for lunch, and a regular dinner, which often includes hot dogs. No diet will be successful if you deprive yourself completely of the things you love.

I haver tried Hillshire farms turkey kielbasa and it wasn't too terrible. I also have tried turkey bacon which I really like. Boars Head also makes a turkey pastrami that is very good.

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Originally posted by fdoosey

I am on a diet, where I kinda need to watch the carbs - ergo, buns have become a glorious treat, not a mandate with dogs. Also, the calories from fat are a factor, so I am going to resort to buying low-fat or turkey franks.

What national brands offer the best flavor? I will not eat soy dogs, such things are a Hell-worthy trespass in my book. So low-fat/fat-free, or turkey/chicken franks are what I am looking for.

Thanks!

The Ballpark White Meat Turkey dogs are not too bad...but keep in mind good and bad values when discussing low fat foods are measured on a different scale than real food. In other words, they are good for a low fat dog...not so good in the grand scale of dogs.

If you're watching carbs and want to stay with something low fat, try the Hebrew National 97% Fat Free hot dogs. They're kosher beef, low fat, and tasty. You'll still be eating a real hot dog and enjoying the benefits. Moderation is still the key to successful weight loss. www.hebrewnational.com Check under product information, Franks & Sausage, 97% Fat Free.

CSD

Weight loss is not rocket science. Here is the equation:

Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss

If I am trying to lose weight I still eat whatever I want but in smaller quantities.

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.

Weight loss is not rocket science. Here is the equation:

Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss

If I am trying to lose weight I still eat whatever I want but in smaller quantities.

Bravo Stephen.

And stay far & away from hot dogs. They're poison.

I cut out sugar, potatoes, rice, flour (flour to a certain extent) and it worked wonders. I think getting rid of the sugar was a key. I've not been overweight, but as I got to my mid thirties it became harder to stay in the shape I want to be in. I am not so strict now and have the occasional treat (i.e. Pad Thai, a burger and onion rings) but I've also stepped up my exercise regime. If you're on low carb, I wouldn't worry about the dogs so much as the buns. I know everyone has different diets, but the low carb (not NO carbs) worked and works for me. Happy dieting

Andrea

I don't know about the low-carb aspect of it, but I found that substituting Healthy Choice low-fat sausage was an OK replacement for the sausage I usually ate and loved, particularly in one of my favorite box dinners, Zatarain's jambalaya. When I eat it straight or even in a sandwich, I can taste the preservatives and such and it's not such a good experience, but mixed into something else, it's not bad at all-- and the calorie and fat gram savings are huge.

Good advice all around.

Exercising more is easy, my son is starting to be mobile, and he is an active terror, so I will get plenty of exercise chasing him down and keeping him entertained.

Moderation is also what I've done. I portion out breakfast carefully, and dinner usually consists of a salad and a modest sammich. I could easily put down 4 dogs, but I've limited myself to 2 at a time for now.

Thanks to him, I'm at my lightest in 8 years. a few more pounds and I can finally put on that Mets jersey I got as a gift a couple years back (and not strain the buttons!)

The white meat Ball Park franks were obscenely expensive, so I bought Kunzler brand, I've had other Kunzler products and liked them. Also compared labels on rolls and saved about 1 carb exchange (12-15g is an exchange) by reading the differences - the wife loves Martin's Potato Rolls, as do I, but another plain brand was 8 grams less in the carbs department. 2 dogs = 16 fewer grams = I stay on track.

You also might try the dogs in low-carb tortillas. Trader Joe's has some excellent ones. Add some turkey chili and lean pastrami and you have a low-carb Oki-Dog!

quote:

The white meat Ball Park franks were obscenely expensive, so I bought Kunzler brand, I've had other Kunzler products and liked them. Also compared labels on rolls and saved about 1 carb exchange (12-15g is an exchange) by reading the differences - the wife loves Martin's Potato Rolls, as do I, but another plain brand was 8 grams less in the carbs department. 2 dogs = 16 fewer grams = I stay on track.

They are expensive, but you need to make sure to read the labels. Some of the other turkey franks have as much fat as beef or pork dogs. Someone else mentioned the Hebrew National low fat beef franks. They are real good (for low fat)...I forgot about them because availability in my local stores is hit or miss.

When I tell people I’ve lost weight using Atkins some of them just freak. They immediately have visions of fried sausage patties, bacon and oodles of eggs. This is the way the media has always portrayed it. I make taco salads with almonds for the crunch instead of shells or Doritos. I grill chicken with a piece of swiss cheese on top and serve with a salsa/green pepper sauce. I put broccoli in some foil with butter, salt, pepper and throw it on the grill when I do steaks. I serve stir fry on shred up cabbage instead of those little fried noodles. For fruit I go with peaches or strawberries. I just got back to this way of eating after going through a pizza and pasta filled winter…I’m sorry I just can’t eat half a cup of pasta and a steak the size of the deck of cards. I’m at 217, down from 250 a few years ago, shooting for 190.

Oh yeah, hot dogs. I'll take a couple full fat ones with a side of kraut and some mustard. Hold the bun! We actually had brats on the grill the other day and I was kidding with my brothers that those nasty buns just cover up the flavor of the meat. I than got after one brother for all of the sugar in the grapes he was eating! I called em' sugar blasters or something. All tongue and cheek of course.

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Originally posted by Kristi S.

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.

Weight loss is not rocket science. Here is the equation:

Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss

If I am trying to lose weight I still eat whatever I want but in smaller quantities.

Bravo Stephen.

And stay far & away from hot dogs. They're poison.

Be Nice Kristy! I'll give up the cheescake for a decent chili dog anyday!

Tried the Kunzler turkey franks - not bad, but I only got to boil them. I think I will take the remnant (7 of them) and throw them on the Foreman grill once I get it uncovered. They had a good flavor to them, not rubbery or fake like some non-cow or pig-based dogs, and I jacked em up really nice with kraut, onions in sauce, dill relish, Gulden's and ketchup.

On the topic of relish - I can taste the difference between dill and sweet relish, and I find dill has a wonderful taste, but what exactly is in India relish and emerald relish to make them distinct variants? I love the color of emerald relish, but apart from extra dye to make it bright green, what's the difference?

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.

Weight loss is not rocket science. Here is the equation:

Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss

A few years ago I tried to lose weight using that equation. After starving myself and getting tons of exercise for a few weeks I started getting ridiculous mood swings; I wanted to either eat, f**k, or kill everything in my field of vision. It worked for a while, but it wasn't maintainable. Generally that equation only works *if you don't start eating less frequently*. When you go a long time without eating, your body begins to enter starvation mode and lowers your metabolism; hence eating less can actually have the *opposite* of the desired effect. This is not theoretical. I was morbidly obese from early childhood through age seventeen and I've struggled with my weight all my life, so I know what I'm talking about.

Fdoosey, congratulations on the progress you've made already. I root for anyone in your situation because I know exactly what you're going through. As you get older and your metabolism slows down, even tricks that worked in the past may not do anything for you. What works for me, in both the physical and psychological senses, may not work for you either. With that said, here's how I lost sixty pounds - and have kept it off so far - during the last year:

1. Eat a small meal every 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
2. Stay away from the simple carbs
3. Pay attention to the ratio of complex carbs to fats to proteins
4. Stay away from the obviously bad stuff like ice cream and plutonium.
5. Allow yourself one "eat whatever you want" day per week.
6. Plenty of exercise

This is, in a vague nutshell, the Fit For Life diet. I don't follow it religiously, i.e. my ratios are far from perfect. The important thing is to *eat small meals at least every three hours*. That way your body never enters starvation mode, so the metabolism stays relatively high. Since I changed to this pattern of eating I never feel hungy and I never feel bloated. My body constantly asks me "Man, why didn't you do this *years* ago?" Between the diet and getting more exercise than ever before, I'm in the best shape of my life.

Anyway, my recommendation would be to forget half-measures; just eat the dogs you like. Binge if you want to. But only do it *one day per week*. If you're following a sensible diet and exercise routine your body can handle a one-day binge. It's when you binge for two solid days or more that your body really starts to enter torpor mode. Don't let it get there! But do allow yourself that weekly release. If you're anything like me you can't do without it, so any diet that doesn't include it is simply not maintainable.

I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to e-mail me for further blathering. :)

-Hugh

I've said this before and I'll say it again: If you really, really want to lose weight, it's not about "dieting", it's not about starvation, it's not about punishing yourself in any way. The only thing that I have attempted, and the only thing that works -- PERIOD -- is Weight Watchers, along with exercise. I don't mean exercising like a maniac, either. Yes, I know I preached about how much I lost, but you have to want to work at it. And that's why I preached about it on here because I wanted to do it, I didn't "feel thinner by thinking about it", I did it. Please do not do the silly carb thing or the silly, dangerous (as is Atkins) starving or fad thing. Just less calories and less fat and more dietary fiber and it's quite simple.

Hebrew National 97% fat-free hot dogs along with a light (or is it lite) hot dog roll. That's how you lose weight and eat hot dogs. And no it doesn't taste horrible and yes I lost 41 lbs. and my daughter lost 61 lbs. so hah, I say, HAH!

Weight Watchers. If you stop, it doesn't work. If you follow it, it does. Plain and simple and nobody paid me to say it (or type it).

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.


Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss

Now, what kind of radical, commie advice is that

Eat lots of wild salmon (limit the tuna due to mercury concerns, but enjoy it once a week). If you can find grass-fed beef, eat all of that you want.

Eat all of the fresh veggies you want, and don't be afraid to eat fresh fruits. Maybe limit bananas, but if you like them, they're certainly better for you than a hot dog.

(Follow Mr. Rushmore's basic advice, though, and you'll be a success.)