Low-carb diets support thread

bossymoo

I am just in it for the weight loss tbh. I don't have any medical conditions (apart from being overweight!).

Calorie counting doesn't work for me, I tried WW pro points when I was getting married, and although I was told 26 points, I only ever lost weight if I went down to about 16 or 17 which was just impossible.

I tried Atkins years and years ago but I don't remember much about it, or whether I took it seriously.

I have tried various other bits and bobs but cravings made them last barely a week, so am the traditional yoyo dieter.

Then last year I stumbled across Dukan. I lost 2.5stone. Really pleased. Really understand what suits me now.

Kind of lost the plot a little towards the end of the year, don't know if I've mentioned on this thread, but I lost my husband to cancer in November. He was only 35 so very untimely and quite a shock to us all. Consequently the diet went by the wayside, although I didn't eat much for a while.

Christmas came with wine and chocolate, so I gained about half a stone of what I'd lost during the summer. I tried Dukan again in jan, lost my 7lb but then got stuck, so have come over "to the dark side" lol.

I understand and now that carbs lead to bloating and heaviness for me. My slip ups have shown me that. I'm now at 40lb down, and I know that I can't be trusted with carbs. So my mainstays will be salads, hold the bread and pasta, and only allow myself them once or twice a week. And I will closely monitor my weight and not let it get so out of control. I'd like to lose another 3st.

gill

focus888

Edwardia I lc because I actually feel full on this way of eating and i am not constantly craving for something else to eat straight after a meal. I used to do low carb afew years ago and managed to lose 11sts but even then i was still overweight with an additional 5/6st to lose on top to get to my correct bmi. I wasnt taking any vitamins at the time and wasnt following any plan. My hair was falling out rapidly which seriously scared me so i started to eat more carbs. As soon as i started back on the carbs the cravings and additions came back and i lose control. Within a year i had regained a couple of stones an then my motivation was completely out the window and as time went on the stones kept creeping back up I am not proud of it but i know i have to learn to eat the best way for my body. I have always been a all or nothing person and that is so wrong!! Even though i have slipped up i wont stop because i know this is the best eating plan for me. Only thing i am struggling with at present is lack of funds to keep the fridge and cupboards stocked with the right foods to eat. x

Edwardia

At some point, making the connection between insulin and carbs, I started Googling and came across low carb diets. At first I wasn't convinced but then I watched Gary Taubes' lectures on YouTube.

It's very easy for people to say oh people get diabetes because they overeat but his slideshow showed obese mothers of starving children. The mothers weren't overeating, they never had, but they had been eating a lot of grains and vegetables such as cassava that are carby because they couldn't afford meat.

I've had healthcare professionals say to me that I didn't look fat enough to have diabetes and I didn't take that well as it is a pretty prejudiced comment.

People are surprised when they learn I have diabetes now but it is soo annoying when they leap in there anyway as daska says and start mouthing off. People are so brainwashed with Low Fat is Good that it feels a bit Orwellian at times.

I don't buy any product that will be more than 10g/serving. 99.9% of the time we cook from scratch. Because I'm on this for life I won't say I'll just have one cake it doesn't matter but equally I will have two fish fingers at 12g with fried eggs or 1 dessertspoon of Heinz sandwich spread at 2.3g on salad. I can't eat sweet tasting supposedly low carb pasta sauces in mince eww.

It's really interesting to read other peoples' stories. Thanks for sharing. I will lob in a few recipe links and so forth if that helps ?

sweaty_betty

Edwardia wrote: »

I've some questions for all those low carbing purely to lose weight out of curiosity. If you don't mind answering that would be great. This is entirely unofficial, I'm not doing any research. If you don't want to answer, that's fine too.

So.. compared to other diets you've tried, is low carbing more difficult or easier ie is it easier to count calories or stick to rigid menu plan or is going without bread and pasta the thing that gets you ?

When you've lost the weight you want to lose, will you go back to eating as you did, will you mostly low carb, low carb or just eat what you want until you put a lot of weight on ?

The reason I ask is because I have to do it, to be healthier without taking more drugs and I'm lucky I guess because I have no craving for iced buns or cheesecake or Mars bars. So I want to understand more where you're all coming from to low carbing and see it more from your points of view

Sheila54 I would check on the USDA website for US nutritional guidelines as maybe American guidelines re potassium differ to UK/EU ones ?? Websites which are aimed at people with diabetes may also go for lower levels of potassium because some people with diabetes cannot process potassium properly. People with diabetes are advised not to take LoSalt according to the packaging.

Hello Edwardia - I'm similar to you in that I have diabetes - I am low-carbing to improve BG readings and also to lose weight (I have about 20kg to go...).

I've been doing the low carb diet for 6-7 months now and I find it's easier to not have ANY cakes/breads etc (in my mind "I don't eat that" not "I don't want that" if that makes sense) rather than have one from time to time as that way I'll never lose the taste for them...

I'm thinking that when I get to my ideal weight I might start eating some fruit, milk and the occasional bit of chocolate - but saying that, if it causes problems with my BG readings I'll find it hard to justify.

mazzers

Bossymoo, what a terrible shock for you, It's early days and you must still feel very raw, i feel so sad for you, must be hard on his parents too. Sorry, i'm still not used to all the new posters, do you have children?

mazzers

It's a bit late.. or is it early ?? :rotfl:

I fell asleep on the sofa and just couldn't rouse from a fitful sleep, i have just showered and am now wide awake!!

Edwardia, i have been lc-ing on and off for a few years, i was very enthusiastic initially as the weight comes off fast at first, and as i have struggled to lose weight on lots of other diets it was great, unfortunately though, lots of water weight gain at the first slip up (on holiday) has made me rethink.

I have been a bread lover all my life, like my dad, who developed diabetes and died of heart disease but i still struggle not to eat it as i dont get any immediate bad effects, although i know in the long run i will.

I would probably like to be lc for life as it does cure my heartburn (and wind ) but after a few months i feel really worn out and start craving sweet things then really struggle, i also feel a healthy diet should include fruit and really miss some fruits.
I've also read recent reports that once a few stone are lost weight loss stops so am not completely convinced about lc.

I found IF to be a better option, break times in work posed a problem but maybe our new manager will address this and i'd like to get back to IF.

Atm though, i've been a bit stressed, am going with the flow foodwise and finding it hard to get back to thinking about 'dieting'.

SHEILA54

bossymoo - sending big hugs xx. You are doing so well and it must be difficult after what has happened.

Morning mazzers - glad that someone else is up. Hope that the stress gets better.

Mercy - glad that you are feeling better

Edwardia - thanks for asking for others experiences as they make very interesting reading and have encouraged people to post

Does anyone have the snow that they have promised?

Have a good day everyone

Sunnyday

Morning Peeps :wave:

nice to see that most of you are still here
:hello: to all the new posters

Sheila - we got the snow :eek: The bad news is that i had the winter tyres taken off the bloomin car at the weekend :eek:

Mercy - Nice to hear that you are feeling better

Day off today and i need to clean around as i have a free loft insulation survey fella coming out today. Probably won`t get a free top up but you never know until you try. I've never been in the loft as we`ve never had any ladders so i hope that the fella brings some

I`ve been reasonably lc apart from the last three days so i daren`t get on the scales :eek: I seem to be addicted to nuts and chocolate atm and i know that its not doing me any good.

I`m looking forward to getting back on track properly.

Edwardia - I am very happy eating lc and plan on doing this most of the time with varying strictness. The only time that i crave sweet things and carby foods is around that TOTM and i more than not give in for a couple of days then.

Bossymoo - (((HUGS))) thinking of you!

Brekkie today has just been some very old bacon that i found stuffed at the back of the fridge with scramblies and mushrooms.

Dinner will probably be cooked meat, mayo & gherkins

Tea will either be fish pie which i made yesterday with broccolli or fried beef strips with onion, peppers and cauli/broccolli cheese, i`ll see what i fancy later.

Hubs was fine for a couple of weeks with the RA whilst he was low carbing, now he is back to eating everything that he was before including almost a full small hm loaf per day and is now suffering - nuff said but he won`t listen so i`m not going to nag. Common sense doesn't seem to be his thing atm. He had a steroid injection a couple of days ago but is still suffering and has lost his splint - left it somewhere when he took it off. He has an ex-ray later today and the hospital appt is next month so fingers crossed that i can bite my tongue until then *sighs*

Anyhoo! i need to start clearing the house up or the insulation fella won`t be able to get in :rotfl:

Have good days Peeps :wave:

SD

Edwardia

I think we need a group hug here and an extra one for bossymoo. :beer:
It was a good thing that I asked the questions because actually it seems to me that you're being too hard on yourselves ! If you feel miserable on a diet or because you've suddenly had to change your whole lifestyle, then you're less likely to stick with it, no matter how much you know you should.

For those of you just starting low carbing to lose weight, most likely the first phase will be pretty strict and you may not be able to eat fruit, drink fruit juice or drink soft drinks for a couple of weeks (depends on the diet). In that instance, it's just a matter of gritting teeth, reminding yourself it's temporary and getting through it. I'd suggest that having the book eg Dukan, Charles Clark, Atkins etc and putting the stages on your calendar, in your diary, on phone etc might help count down. Also being clear about what you can/can't eat on that phase and taking it with you when you shop might help.

sistercas, try some 85% cocoa chocolate. Lindt Excellence 85% is mmmmmm.. and only 14g carbs for the whole 100g bar so a few squares here and there won't hurt. Once you've gotten used to the luxuriousness of it, you won't want to go back to muddy tasting milk chocolate Lidl does it's own 85% too The bad news is that those cupcakes will spike your blood sugar.

sorry just been trying to sort out my birthday lunch, which includes one low carber, a non drinker, an alcoholic steak lover and a vegetarian.. nightmare..

Edwardia

mazzers after an initial diet phase, you should be able to eat fruit.

10g of carbs = any of these - 200g strawberries, 200g watermelon, half a grapefruit, third of a banana, third of a mango, half an apple, 1 plum, 1 kiwi, 1 peach, 1 guava, 150g canteloupe melon, 12 grapes, 12 cherries.

For those of us with diabetes you may find some fruits spike sugar others don't. I can eat grapes but not blueberries, for example. Blueberries spike me so much I feel dizzy.

sunnyday you must feel so frustrated at OH. My MIL has diabetes and OH is evidently at risk but he still stuffs bread I'm afraid I nag so he eats less

Lactofree is proper milk just filtered to get the lactose (milk sugar) out. It's a lot less carby than normal milk can comes in fresh and UHT, whole or semi-skimmed and also in those triangular little tetrapaks.

Any low carb bakers on here ? If so please post because with low carb flours and sweeteners its possible to do low carb baked goods. I haven't tried cos I don't miss muffins but for people who do it might help them hugely xxxx

sweaty betty that's a good attitude, I can't rather than I mustn't. That could help other people.

mercy my mother tries the just one cake won't hurt thing on me, it's taken a lot of explaining but in the end people aren't doing you a kindness. Some people don't take allergies and intolerances seriously, some people think if your leg isn't hanging off there's nothing wrong !

bossymoo you've been through a lot, suggest you do it gradually and not be too tough on yourself. xx

focus888 WOW you've lost a huge amount of weight, well done you !!