"Rona Yuthasastrakosol" wrote in message ...
I'm just wondering how to deal with rice withdrawal. That probably sounds
odd to some, but I love rice and while I'm interested in a low-carb way of
eating, it's difficult for me to imagine not being able to eat rice whenever
I want (I often eat rice every meal, including breakfast). How do you deal
with rice withdrawal?

rona

Hi Rona,

I'm coming into this a bit late, but I thought I would just add my
thoughts here.

I'm in Singapore, have been low carbing since July 2002. I've lost 50
pounds, and am still losing. Before starting, I made a list of things
I would have to give up or substitute. For me, I never really
considered rice would be a problem because I felt that I really could
do without it quite easily. No problems with noodles as well. I
still don't eat either at all, except on the very rare occasion where
there *is* an occasion and the preparation is (IMO only) crucial to
the dish. E.g. Nasi Briyani (indian rice). My point of view (IMO
only) is that for me, rice is not required as a companion food, like
bread or pasta are not required if they accompany another dish in the
meal, but where rice is specially prepared and transformed and *is*
the main course - fried rice, certain North Indian rice dishes, Nasi
Briyani, etc, then it's worth splurging.

Once I started on low carb a couple of colleagues and friends started
as well. Unlike me, they did not cut out rice completely but either
drastically reduced rice portions on most occasions, or simply use
replacements (such as shirataki noodles listed below), or just cut out
more of the other starches. One colleague cut down on rice and at
some meals replaced white rice with brown rice. She lost 2kg (she's
50kg, she doesn't have any more to lose!) and her blood pressure went
down. It's important to do what you can and make the best of it.
After awhile, they got used to not eating rice at every meal - I don't
want to say that it's psychological to be unable to eat rice at every
meal (I get that a lot when I explain that I don't eat rice - "I
couldn't live without my rice" etc) but I think that eventually most
people can get used to it. Before low carbing, lunches were usually
rice with various dishes, when i started lowcarbing i just ordered the
dishes without rice. And because there wasn't any rice to sop things
up, I ordered less gravy dishes as well.

I've also read about using cauliflower as a replacement for rice in
this newsgroup although I've never wanted to try that. I think you
should be able to find the information if you search this group for
"cauliflower" and "rice".

Noodles : if you need a noodle replacement, have you heard of
shirataki noodles? Actually they are noodles, so not really considered
noodle replacements. I found out about them in this newsgroup. They
are supposed to be a high percentage (i think about 90% or more)
fiber and very low in carbs. They should be located in ASian
supermarkets and quite affordable. They do as fried and noodle soup
replacements quite well.

Good luck