I appreciate everyone's help and comments. I see that I have missed some complex carbs with some meals. I am still easing in to this as I am still a bit carb phobic (except when binging of course Eating them at dinner has been a big psychological challenge. Kathleen is right, I am really pressed (scared) to increase my food intake. I feel full quite easily and I still think it might be better to eat 4-5 times a day to get in the required protein and complex carbs. Right now however, I am trying to stick to 3 meals expect the days I work out when I have a snack. I must admit however, that I get hungry between meals. So I am not sure what direction to go here.

Kathleen is also right that that I am concerned about how I look. Since stating step 3 I am up 5 lbs., mostly around the gut. I can only attribute that to the extra complex carbs. I am willing to put up with a few extra lbs. if it means my brain is healing and blood sugar stabilizing, but there is a limit. Yesterday I deliberately cut the carb portion to 1/2 at lunch because I was feeling my pants tightening up.

Portions are easy for me after 30 years in 12 step programs. I have the butcher cut me meat or fish fillets of 6 ounces. Carbs come in around 1 cup, salad about 2 cups, nuts about 8-10 and a piece of fruit is a piece of fruit. I think the tuna or sardines are about 6 oz as well. A potato is 1 medium and so on. My protein powder is a heaping tbs. (measured with a scooper) and the directions say that is 12 grams of protein. I just eye everything and really dread getting out scales and measuring spoons

I have to be careful with dairy as I can only do a little goat or sheep cheese from time to time and gluten will send my stomach into hell.

Does this help to dig deeper?

Jeffrey

: Ok, I will add my comments below

: I know you won't like to hear this,
: but based on the fact that you are
: male and that you
: are doing a fair amount of exercise
: 30 grams would be low.

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: No amount on the oatmeal, and 2 TBS
: PP is probably about12-15 grmas of
: protein

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Ok, need amounts

: Jeff, it is important to notice how
: vague you are about amounts... I
: have a hunch that eating more is
: probably really scary for you. I
: suspect that how you look is
: important, really important to
: you...and the eating more concept
: spooks you.
: Are you ready to look more deeply?

: kathleen