Need help with my diet!

[Nutty]

Ok, so i’ve finally decided to eat well, but i have a great number of questions in my mind.

For a while now, I’ve been trying to follow the Adam’s Diet. As far as lunch, afternoon snack and dinner are concerned, I stick to the plan about 80-90% of the time – which is in line with Dr. Berardi’s recommendation. Eat fish most of the time, salads, some fruit, chicken breasts, nuts… no major concerns here.

My problem comes with breakfast and supper (I eat breakfast very late – about 10am – and so I replaced brunch with a bedtime snack).

In Portugal, where I live, 4 out of 5 people take coffee and a cheese sandwich for breakfast and I am no exception. I know I’m not getting the nutrients I am supposed to but I have no ideas as for alternatives for this habit. I’ve read about oatmeal but I was told it tastes quite bad. I’ve also been told that some people use sugar or honey to make oat “eatable” but I think this is not the way to go, right?
Need some ideas for breakfast. Please feel free to post them.

As for the bedtime snack, I’ve spent over 10 years eating chocolate cereal with milk. Now I know this is a no-no. I’ve even tried Fitness & Fruits but I came to realize it was more of the same.
What should I eat at this time of day? Any ideas? Any healthy recipe?

I’ve read that one basic rule to eating well was: “if it wasn’t around 50 years ago, don’t eat it”. Which leads me to another question. How about potato? Is it healthy? Probably fries aren’t but how about boiled or cooked?
And how about rice and pasta? Are they any good? Or are the high carbs the main reason these foods should be avoided?
I’m very fond of chocolate, carrot or cocoanut cake, chocolate mousse and the odd pie. Worst case scenario, 3 times a week I give in to temptation. Is this ok? It’s not like it’s a habit…

I use Fitday, which as helped me a lot in figuring out my needs but it isn’t providing ideas. Anyone…

PS: My girlfriend is also trying to lose weight. Should she stick to my plan or does her body have different needs?

[Cynic]

For oatmeal: if you're not lactose intolerant, you could boil it up in milk to make it a bit smoother. Also, I tend to boil it in milk with pureed fruit or berries. it makes it tastier. Even if you are lactose intolerant, you can still boil in water with pureed fruit.

For bed time, I would go with something of complex carbs, protein and fat (good fats).

A good choice might be a shake of whey, natural peanut butter, milk. Or cheese, nuts and an apple or vegetable.

Potatoes I would have in moderation. That being once a week or so. Even though they are a naturally occuring vegetable, they are a starchy carb source.

I would limit your sweets intake to once a week. Make it a weekend indulgance, but still in moderation.

[Lost Dog]

I hate to be a nitpicker, but you have components of two diets here that aren't compatible.

Adam's Diet allows 1 carb meal per day. That one meal can have up to two servings of starchy carbs. Bread, cereal, and potatos would all be starchy carbs.

Berardi has a 90% rule, not 80-90%. That's a big difference. From about 4 uncompliant meals to 8! Most people take that as 10% free meals/cheats, but it's not. Berardi diet says no starchy carbs except just after a workout, so any meal that is starchy carb when it's not right after a workout is not compliant. Also, not enough protein, no veggies, no healthy fats, etc. All of these things mean you've used one of those 10%.

If you choose to follow Adam's Diet, then the breakfast bread and cheese sounds like a good choice for your carb meal. Go with whole wheat bread and eat enough cheese to get a decent amount of protein. Maybe have some raw veggies with it, too.

Just don't have the cereal at bedtime. Come on. It's a diet.

Three times a week is too many treats. Have a piece of fruit if you need something sweet. You don't think three times a week, giving in to tempation is a habit? However, it doesn't matter if it's a habit. You're trying to lose fat, right? Again, it's a diet.

Neither diet has scheduled "cheats." Obviously, a piece of pie would use up one of those 10% meals on Berardi's plan. Pie would be a carb meal on Adam's Diet, too. Other than that, if the diet's working for you, you're good. If it's not, dig deeper.

PS: My girlfriend is also trying to lose weight. Should she stick to my plan or does her body have different needs?

Your girlfriend should do just as well on either diet. I have a friend (a girl) who's doing fantastic on Adam's Diet.