Finding it hard to low carb

Nicki

Gosh no way would I take my own food to a wedding!

I think from a lifestyle perspective it may not work for me as there doesn't seem to be a way to recover quickly if you have something higher carb as a one off.

I'm not bad at choosing suitable things off a restaurant menu but if I am having a working lunch with a client provided by them it will be at best a choice of the meat or vegetarian option and I really can't be seen in all politeness and professionalism to be starting to pull a meal apart on front of them. Or to bring a Tupperware of my own food! On other occasions a meeting will run over by several hours and sandwiches will be brought in. Again no way round this other than not to eat at all. If I could balance things out by eating even less carbs the next day to compensate that would make the diet doable but that doesn't seem to work very well

terra_ferma

notanewuser wrote: »

(PS - stopping low carbing while pregnant/breastfeeding has left me with some liver damage. Having done more research low carb is something you need to commit to for life. You can't dip in and out without risking your health.)

I have to say that what you say sounds rather extreme and I'm very sceptical of such claims, unless they are backed by independent, peer reviewed research rather than quack science.
Some people say meat kills you, other people that saturated fats kill you, or dairy food etc etc the list is endless.
I'm sure that some people find that reducing/removing any one food group works well for them, and I'm not gonna dispute that. What I dispute is the extreme claims like the ones above.

terra_ferma

Nicki wrote: »

Gosh no way would I take my own food to a wedding!

I think from a lifestyle perspective it may not work for me as there doesn't seem to be a way to recover quickly if you have something higher carb as a one off.

I'm not bad at choosing suitable things off a restaurant menu but if I am having a working lunch with a client provided by them it will be at best a choice of the meat or vegetarian option and I really can't be seen in all politeness and professionalism to be starting to pull a meal apart on front of them. Or to bring a Tupperware of my own food! On other occasions a meeting will run over by several hours and sandwiches will be brought in. Again no way round this other than not to eat at all. If I could balance things out by eating even less carbs the next day to compensate that would make the diet doable but that doesn't seem to work very well

My advice would be that it's not an all or nothing approach, if you start reducing refined sugar and eat wholemeal instead of white flour based products, it's already an improvement.
Reducing carbs and eating more veggies can only be a good thing, as most people nowadays eat too much refined carbs anyway. But don't give yourself too much stress about it, unless you have clear intolerances (e.g. diary/wheat etc make you feel ill, like bloated and in pain) a varied diet with lots of veggies/pulses etc is a good starting point. I have to say for me the crucial part of changing my diet has been switching to fresh and home made food as much as possible, and reduce processed food, and it's made a huge difference.
Regarding weight loss, that's a different matter, but the above will also help with that once you substitute more fresh produce, pulses etc for refined carbs

notanewuser

terra_ferma wrote: »

I have to say that what you say sounds rather extreme and I'm very sceptical of such claims, unless they are backed by independent, peer reviewed research rather than quack science.
Some people say meat kills you, other people that saturated fats kill you, or dairy food etc etc the list is endless.
I'm sure that some people find that reducing/removing any one food group works well for them, and I'm not gonna dispute that. What I dispute is the extreme claims like the ones above.

I did find some "proper" research somewhere.

In my case I low-carbed completely for 3 years and felt brilliant. When I fell pregnant I couldn't face anything eggy or cheesy and could only stomach toast, jacket spuds and crackers for about 12 weeks. That pushed me well off the low-carb track. While protein played a large part of my diet after that, it was easier to have carbs too, especially when my daughter was a baby.

I recently had some tests due to an unusual set of symptoms appearing. A scan showed a problem with my liver. I don't drink. My doctor believes that my body was so well adjusted to the low carbing that 3 years of sustained carb intake has made it overwork. I researched this and found some research to confirm this could happen, but the science of low carbing is relatively new. Basically it ses its a great lifestyle choice, but one that for (some?) people has to be a choice for life.

notanewuser

Nicki wrote: »

Gosh no way would I take my own food to a wedding!

In my defence, I was asked to!!! I went to 3 weddings that year. The first, I are what I was given - and felt awful for about 4 days afterwards. The second I was asked to take my own (the caterer could only do pasta as a veggie option) and the third the caterer was able to accommodate me. I didn't just turn up with a Tupperware!!

terra_ferma

notanewuser wrote: »

I did find some "proper" research somewhere.

In my case I low-carbed completely for 3 years and felt brilliant. When I fell pregnant I couldn't face anything eggy or cheesy and could only stomach toast, jacket spuds and crackers for about 12 weeks. That pushed me well off the low-carb track. While protein played a large part of my diet after that, it was easier to have carbs too, especially when my daughter was a baby.

I recently had some tests due to an unusual set of symptoms appearing. A scan showed a problem with my liver. I don't drink. My doctor believes that my body was so well adjusted to the low carbing that 3 years of sustained carb intake has made it overwork. I researched this and found some research to confirm this could happen, but the science of low carbing is relatively new. Basically it ses its a great lifestyle choice, but one that for (some?) people has to be a choice for life.

Now that you explained it more in detail what happened to you it makes sense, although I have to say if that was a general problem, it just doesn't sound right as a long-term choice.

notanewuser

terra_ferma wrote: »

Now that you explained it more in detail what happened to you it makes sense, although I have to say if that was a general problem, it just doesn't sound right as a long-term choice.

Indeed. It may be just that certain people will respond this way if they stop. As I say, research into paleo/low carb eating is relatively young.

JimmyTheWig

terra_ferma wrote: »

a varied diet with lots of veggies/pulses etc is a good starting point.

I agree with this.
Rather than starting out by looking at what you can't eat, start by thinking about what you want to eat more of.
If you are eating more of what is good for you (the definition of which will vary for different people) then you will eat less of what is bad for you.

Edwardia

I had raised liver enzymes before going organic but they went from not good to brilliant in first two weeks.

Eating organic takes pressure off your liver so does not drinking. Eating yogurt is really good to get rid of bloating, told to me by email by a doctor researching diabetes in Canada.

usignuolo

Have you thought about the 5:2 diet when you have only very limited calories two days a week but each what you like the rest of the time. You might find that easier to manage and fit around your business lunches etc