Talk to me about low-carb diets

notanewuser

heartbreak_star wrote: »

OP, why aren't you willing to eat fruit?

HBS x

They say they aren't prepared NOT to eat fruit.

murphydog999

Gloomendoom wrote: »

However, I found it unsustainable. Socially, it was a killer as all meals have to strictly adhere to the low carb ethos.

Not often I disagree with G and D, but I also don't have any problems with eating out. I accept it might be difficult if you are on Atkins Phase 1, or something, but for just LCing it's probably easier to eat out than when on other forms of dieting/eating.

margaretclare

Look at it from the opposite perspective. High-carb foods are transformed directly into sugar for energy. This gets laid down as body fat, and it is what 'furs up' the arteries, not fat which is eaten.

Eating high-carb is fine if you have a physically-energetic lifestyle e.g. army recruits. The lifestyle of most of us, however, means that this energy never gets used up and it has to go somewhere.

Particularly bad are the foods that are highly-refined and easy to digest. Some say 'anything white'. That means: any foods with white sugar, white flour, and there's a long list of those. Cakes, biscuits, white bread, pies, sweets, potatoes (especially potatoes processed and cooked - the only valuable part of a potato is just below its skin).

Some people try to go back - as far as possible - to what our species evolved to eat when we were hunter-gatherers: that's called the 'paleo' diet.

Whenever we eat out I don't have potatoes. Most places they take this in their stride, although some waiters/waitresses have stared a bit and occasionally they feel the need to point out that the potatoes, whether chips, jacket or mashed, are included in the price. 'Harvester' are good - the potatoes come separately so it's easy to say 'no thanks'. Nor would I ever eat a burger bun.

I grew up eating home-made bread, teacakes, cakes, pies, Yorkshire puddings on Sunday, I don't eat any of them now.

Daska, I agree with your Dad. I wouldn't take statins. Too many side-effects and not enough evidence that they do any good. And I wouldn't be forbidden to eat cheese, either, although I don't eat a lot of it. Butter is far better than any of those factory-made products.

heartbreak_star

notanewuser wrote: »

They say they aren't prepared NOT to eat fruit.

Ha ha, that proves I'm not firing on all four cylinders! *chuckle* Sorry!!

HBS x

LE3

Thanks for all the input - whilst I still think I would like to try some aspects of a low carb diet, I don't think a full lowcarb diet is for me ...

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Socially, it was a killer as all meals have to strictly adhere to the low carb ethos. Any deviation or slip ups would stop the weight loss for a couple of weeks.

If one slip up can ruin everything, it's def not the right way for me to eat! I do need the ability to grab and run occasionally - even the best planning doesn't prevent me being 3 hrs late leaving work due to an emergency & having to grab dinner on the go instead of cooking my planned meal!

Fire Fox - your input is much appreciated ...

Does your current diet meet or exceed our official recommendations for healthy eating? Do you eat AT LEAST five servings of fruit and veg in the full rainbow of colours every single day, fish especially oily AT LEAST a couple of times a week, AT LEAST half your starches as wholegrains/ whole carbs, no more than 10% of daily calories as snacky/ junky/ processed rubbish?

With a few exceptions, usually when I'm travelling or things have gone wrong & I have had to grab food on the run rather than being home to prepare it, I think I eat pretty well but I know there is room for improvement - I must do better on my fish, this is probably the area I find hardest as I struggle to buy/keep fresh fish on a regular basis. I do love mackerel salad in summer though
(Does tinned tuna count as oily fish?)

I'm not quite sure about the rainbow of fruit/veg - for instance yesterday I ate plums (reddish-purple), an apple (reddish-green), carrots (orange), raisins (brown), broccoli (green) and erm ... I'm sure there was something else ... but probably nothing yellow ...

I am a HUGE potato eater, and seriously could live off potatoes! As a student I would eat jacket spud with mash on!

If you wish to adjust your diet to be more heart healthy - something your family doctor will approve of - cut back on all processed foods, anything containing sugar or white/ refined carbs especially reducing wheat (almost all processed, who eats whole wheat berries?)

Are oats ok? or are they classed as processed? what about pearl barley & buckwheat type stuff?

Eat way more low sugar fruits

what are low sugar fruits? I love the soft fruits like peaches, plums etc in summer, and in winter tend to eat pears, apples & bananas.

non starchy vegetables, switch from grains to beans and lentils, more healthy fats like oily fish, avocado, olives, nuts, seeds and cocoa powder (not bottled oils but wholefoods). You will probably end up lowER carb, feeling fuller on fewer calories, eating more fibre, more vitamins and more minerals without eliminating any food group.

I am certainly going to try this - thanks for your help

notanewuser

No, oats are a starchy grain.

katiemacc

Whilst I've always found extreme low carb diets like the infamous 'Atkins' diet extremely effective for short term weight loss (like a holiday or party etc) I don't think it's sustainable, certainly not for me anyway! It's a great quick fix solution but I've always found that the weight goes back on as soon as it comes off!
I've had much better, long-term success following a low GI plan, basically I eat 'healthy' carbs, lots of veg, fruit and protein and very little (apart from one 'cheat' day) processed food and sugar. It's sustainable as well, I just make smarter choices and where my husband for instance LOVES roast potatoes and mash, I make that for him and our daughter but I would choose sweet potato instead. It's great because I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything!

Gloomendoom

murphydog999 wrote: »

Not often I disagree with G and D, but I also don't have any problems with eating out. I accept it might be difficult if you are on Atkins Phase 1, or something, but for just LCing it's probably easier to eat out than when on other forms of dieting/eating.

It wasn't actually eating out that was the problem because we were usually in control. It was friends and family who just couldn't get to grips with fact we didn't want to eat carbs or even why we wanted to lose weight in the first place. For example, my sister is a vegetarian and if we stayed with her, it was basically carbs, more carbs, or nothing to eat. We quickly realised that it was easier just to decline invitations.

I would definitely recommend LCing for weight loss. It certainly isn't only for quick fixes.

notanewuser

I was a veggie low carber for 2+ years and loved it. Didn't really struggle with eating out or with family. Only stopped because I got pregnant and for the first 12 weeks couldn't eat anything but jacket spuds and toast. I've had enough of feeling bloated and foggy, so am preparing to get back to it in the next couple of weeks.

There's no reason at all it can't be a long term option.

Mojisola

katiemacc wrote: »

Whilst I've always found extreme low carb diets like the infamous 'Atkins' diet extremely effective for short term weight loss (like a holiday or party etc) I don't think it's sustainable, certainly not for me anyway! It's a great quick fix solution but I've always found that the weight goes back on as soon as it comes off!
I've had much better, long-term success following a low GI plan, basically I eat 'healthy' carbs, lots of veg, fruit and protein and very little (apart from one 'cheat' day) processed food and sugar.

It's only the initial phase of Atkins that recommends extremely low carbs.

Once you've got through that, you find the amount of carbs you can eat and still lose weight and, when you've achieved the weight you want to stay at, you gradually increase your carbs until you find your particular balance point where you're not gaining weight on the amount of carbs you're eating.

I can't see much difference between what you're eating and what Atkins recommends.