Hi everyone. I apologise in advance for the long post. I really hope I can still get a few responses because I have so many questions!
So I have been on a very low carb diet (under 20g a day) since October and my result..well they suck. I've barely lost any weight and my clothes fit a tiny bit looser but I haven't gone down a dress size For me the benefits of low carb are how it really does keep hunger at bay. I eat my eggs for breakfast and don't even think about food for at least 3 hours. But that's the only real good thing. A lot of people love LC because of all the cream/cheese that is allowed but I don't do well with dairy. Also lots of people love the freedom of being able to eat fattier meats. I've never really liked bacon, pork, lamb. I do like beef but I tend to prefer lean meats anyway. So being able to eat lots of fat just isn't enough for me to love this way of eating as I have to get my fats just from butter, oils, dressings etc anyway which is kind of dull.
I also find the inconvenience of it so stressful. Sometimes I just don't have the time to prep my meals but it's impossible to find anything low-carb friendly out and about. I find the only snack I can have is pork scratchings and they're getting dull! Even the salad bar at work usually has lots of legumes or something. I'd love to be able to just walk into the canteen and actually eat a jacket potato and beans or a small portion of cottage pie! Or go into a shop and grab some ricecakes or a cereal bar.
I should say that even before starting low-carb I didn't eat many carbs. The carbs I ate every day were porridge (I don't really want to go back to porridge, like I said I do find eggs very filling!) but I also ate 2/3 pieces of fruit a day and lots and lots of vegetables and some legumes. Occasionally I would have a piece of wholewheat toast, a baked sweet potato, a small portion of brown rice/quinoa. But most of my carbs came from fruits/vegetables and I rarely went over 140g carbs a day. I would allow myself some cake/biscuits/icecream once every 2-3 weeks as a "cheat" but since my diet was very low in fat I would often end up binging as I was starving all the time (never allowed myself more than 1300 cals..yikes)
Soo lowcarb as I say is definitely good for the "full" feeling. But I'm just not a total carbaphobe like so many low-carbers are. I would LOOVE a jacket potato with beans or a big lentil and bean salad or even a sandwich just once or twice a week. Not even everyday! I'd be happy to still have some very low carb days a week but what I'm desperately seeking is the flexibility to eat something carby/sugary and not fear weight gain. My DD loves baking and just once or twice a week I would love to be able to have just one cookie or a brownie.
I guess in an ideal world I would have 2-3 very low carb days (under20g) 2-3 moderate (50-100g) and then 1 where I sort of eat what I want (within reason, I don't mean pizza and icecream all day). Just the thought of even being able to eat a big bowl of vegetable soup makes my mouth water! eating a salad with more than just "leafy greens." Like I said I would keep my mostly carbs "clean" (so vegetables, fruits, legumes, maybe a sandwich once a week or a baked potato) but I just need the variety!! LC is driving me INSANE!!
I was even considering using my FD's as sort of "treat days". So saving all my calories for dinner time and having a carb-ier meal like a spag-bol or a curry. I was looking at the weight watchers ready meals (I know they're probably not great for you...) but a lot of them are under 300 cals. So was thinking 2x a week I could have one of them followed my a small chocolate bar or something keeping me at under 500cals. So I would keep my NFD pretty low carb but actually look at my FD as something to look forward to. Even though it would be a carby meal, the highest carb count I saw was 42g per meal. So really if that's all I'm eating all day, 42g is hardly high-carb for a whole day.
But after all that my question is, has anyone transitioned from very low-carb to ADF/5:2/4:3? I really am scared of gaining weight. It's been so ingrained in my brain that low-carb is the ONLY way to lose weight. I should say that I am down to my last 10-15lbs and they sort of are vanity pounds. I wear a size 10/12 (usually 12 bottom, 10/12 top) and would so love to get back to the 8 I was a few years ago. I exercise 3-4 times a week. I do HIIT (long periods of cardio are out of the question due to a knee injury) and also about 45minutes of weights.
I think that's the end of my post...I guess, in short, I'm saying, can I still successfully lose weight eating low carb (20-50g per day) some days, higher carb (up to 100g) other days, and one day of what I fancy? Will this way of eating allow me to actually order a dessert or eat a cereal bar or order a coffee from Starbucks with milk or even have a simple little sandwich. I really hope so...because I am so sick of lowcarb. I would also like to start off with 4:3 rather than 5:2. Ok..the end!!
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Fasting / 5:2 diet
Is this my escape?
HeyJules · 21/05/2014 11:20
5:2 rescued me after crashing out of longterm low carb. I definitely recommend it.
I low carbed for about 10 years. The last few years, I found it terrible and craved more veg, fruit, complex carbs. So, sounds like you ?
I was then age mid-50s, so meno weight gain meant I had to go lower and lower carb until I was alternating days between 20 g carb and Atkins fat fast (1000 cals zero carbs, 90% fat) My BMI still rose to over 24.
Anyway, I finally decided low carb was unbearable, so I stopped and tried to just eat healthily.
Unfortunately, the long carb deprivation boomeranged me into 6000-cal wekend Choc Frenzies, so I couldn't lose weight.
Thank goodness, while Googling HIIT, I stumbled onto 5:2, which rescued me.
It stopped my Choc Frenzies, reduced my waist and BMI
I feel healthier, more energetic and I have increased muscle due to improved training performance - I needed more carbs as fuel.
I keep my 2 FDs low carb, but on the 5 NFDs I have decent portions of potato, wholegrain bread, quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat etc plus 8+ portions veg, fruit.
One day per week, I allow sweet treats like ice cream, rice pud, pie.
So, a massive improvement in my enjoyment of food.
And I can eat normally instead of checking every item for sugar content. I have a social life again !
I didn't add carbs gradually. I just switched.
My weight was very slowly rising on low carb and after switching, continued to rise slowly until I started 5:2
From my earlier mistakes and what I've now learned, I suggest:
. mfp calories until you are used to your new WOE (Way Of Eating)
Starches are calorie dense, especially with sauces - increased calories is why people may put on weight after dropping low carb
. Reduce your fat cals to compensate for the carb cals, so don't change protein
. AVOID junk carbs totally for the 1st month. Your body is not prepared for them, neither is your brain. I started Choc Frenzies, bugger.
. Go for complex carbs, not simple white ones, e.g. wholegrain bread, not white, for sandwiches
. Restrict fruit to 1 portion a day at first and avoid banana.
. Don't limit non-starchy veg. They are so nutritious for so few cals and should remain a bigger volume than starches (but watch sauce cals)
. Add a portion (e.g. 2 slices bread or 1 closed handful of cooked couscous) of ONE complex carb at 2 meals a day.
Don't go to 3 higher carb meals until you are ok with 2.
. Plan different carbs for a day's meals. E.g. oat bran at breakfast, 2 slices wholegrain bread sandwich for lunch, quinoa at supper.
. I avoid starchy carbs, especially bread, after 5pm, but others don't
. I can eat lots of potato, but only 2 slices wholemeal bread 2-3 days weekly
What really helped me was 5:2
. Read the OP on the 52MainThread44 and start 5:2ing with low carb FDs and normal carb NFDs.
. Calculate your TDEE for your goal weight and sedentary.
You can increase this number later, but it gives a margin while you are adjusting to normal carbs.
It's a lovely friendly thread and if you post you'll have great support.
Hope to see you there
Hi
I'm another former low carber who turned to 5:2.
I found 5:2 so much more effective in terms of weightless and sustainability..
For the record I've tried lots of "diets"/woe. 5:2 is the simplest and most sustainable. Low carb did teach me to live without sugar and reset the sweet tooth so well worth having tried it.
I'm on holiday at the mo (stuck inside because DC are napping and DH is snorkelling) but I will post more fully next week when back.
Post any questions you have and I will answer (if Bigchocfrenzy doesn't get there first 
-waves to Bigchocfrenzy )
Bigchocfrenzy and mrsflorrick thank you both so so much. You're both amazing! This is exactly the sort of help I've been looking for. Things are a little hectic at the moment but will respond properly later on but thank you so much
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