Low Carb Newbie

[NemoIsLost]

I'm totally sick of slimming world, have followed it on and off for a few years, lost 5 stone and put 4 stone back on.
Anyway, I need to lose weight again and low carb high fat appeals.
I can live without pasta and potato, bread is my downfall tho but I'm determined.
My plan is steaks, chicken and rice with lots of veg. Full fat yogurt and berries. Eggs, cheese, butter.
Does this sound ok? Any tips very welcome.
I also have a sweet tooth so any tips to curb that are welcome.
Thankyou, I can do this!!🍳🧀

[sitlux]

Rice is high carb. Consider cauliflower rice instead?

www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods#foodtoavoid
www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods#foodlist

[peachypetite]

Hi there, check out the 500 cal dinners on BBC good food. Most of them revolve around protein and veg and lots of seasoning and spices so it's enjoyable too hopefully.

[NemoIsLost]

sitlux I meant to type Fish not rice!
Thanks for the links

Thanks peachy that sounds useful

[RubySlippers77]

Hi Nemo, on the low carb diet I was following you could have yogurt with berries or some dark chocolate (high cocoa content) as snacks if you crave something sweet..... either of those appeal?

I feel much better when I low carb, more energy, more enthusiasm etc. BUT I do find it takes a lot of planning as it's harder to find meals/ snacks when out and about (although my DC are small so a lot of the places we go to offer chips/ jacket potatoes as the meal option!). And when I'm at home and hungry, it's very easy to turn to toast/ biscuits etc.... but then this is why I need to lose 3 stone

Have you started low carbing already, or just considering/ planning it?

[NemoIsLost]

Hi Ruby thanks for replying, I started today!!
I've had Breakfast; full fat Greek yogurt and bluberries
Lunch; ham, tomatoes, cheese and some watermelon
Dinner; pork chops, mushrooms, tenderstem broccoli and tomatoes.
snack; pork.scratchings

Does that sound ok? ...and yes I've bought some dark chocolate

[RubySlippers77]

I think that sounds ok @NemoIsLost but you may want to ask on the Bootcamp thread as I'm not an expert! Currently following OurPath which also limits carbs but isn't as strict.

How did you find it though, doable? Didn't leave you hungry?

I've managed day 1 back on it today despite taking the DC to the park for hours and them whinging for ice cream - I'm not a great cook so my diet doesn't tend to vary enormously, although some of the new recipes I've tried are yummy - frankly at the moment I don't have the time/ energy to try loads of new things unfortunately, maybe once school FINALLY starts again!

[RubySlippers77]

PS I did have a look for the next boot camp date but it looks like there won't be one starting till October! A shame as I'm hoping to make a big effort from September onwards, when I'll have time to fit in more exercise, but I'm sure it will be useful from then. Plus there are some great recipes to try

[NemoIsLost]

Thanks, I was surprised that I didn't feel hungry, usually after dinner I'm stuffing biscuits and sweets as I watch TV! but it's day 1 so I won't get complacent.
I'm not an avid chef, I think I will be sticking to meat and veg but I've bought a couple of books so may try some recipes.
My DC are adult, still got one at home so no worries on that front time wise, we've got a bouncy puppy that takes up lot of my time tho!
I've got a beach holiday in 2 months so I want to lose some weight for that.
will have a look at the boot camp thread.

[RubySlippers77]

Oh how lovely, a little puppy! We're looking after a dog at the moment which gets my step count up. Plus the dog is much, much easier than the DC

Beach holiday will be fab I'm sure and gives you something to aim for. I have two weddings to go to next year, first one is May, hence trying to get my fat arse into gear!

[NemoIsLost]

I find I do better if I have a goal, day 2 I'm at work and it's been fine. Yogurt and strawberries(i love full fat Greek yogurt!) for breakfast and mackeral salad lunch time. tonight will be omelette, I've had plums and an orange too.
The puppy certainly keeps me busy! 2 walks a day so that should help. I feel focused so hope it continues!

[RubySlippers77]

I find it easier if I have meals planned/ prepped too Nemo, some people are great off-the-cuff cooks, I am not!! I have a butternut squash soup in the fridge and have just made a minestrone one too. Tomorrow will probably be stuffed peppers - I freeze anything I don't shovel in eat up, makes it easier when the DC play up and I can't cook.

Our dog takes quite a lot of walking - we're not supposed to let her off the lead so it's all walking (or running if I'm feeling energetic!) and means we have to go a long way to tire her out

[NemoIsLost]

I was starving when I got home from work last night at 9pm, I'd had mackeral salad at 4pm and usually I would have a pile of toast or biscuits.
So last night I fried a steak with an egg on top, took about 10 mins and was delicious.
Today I feel very achey, had bad leg cramp overnight. I have just been reading about electrolytes so may have to get some of them.
Soup sounds a good idea tho, might look into that

[RubySlippers77]

Do you have bananas and/ or a good multivitamin to hand Nemo? Might help with the cramping!

Good idea about the late night snack - I've been looking for ideas myself (but am vegetarian) - often take hard boiled eggs or something with me in case I'm peckish.

I am so very tired and have no patience with the squabbling DC. One might be ok to cope with on such a horrid rainy day but two... the dog is a joy in comparison!

[Fishcakey]

Bananas are about 23g each carbs so a big no no, also plums and oranges are definitely not allowed in a low carb diet. Make sure you are adding your carbs up every day, you will be shocked how they mount up.

[NemoIsLost]

I don't like bananas so that's ok, I've eaten some plums tho. Have got some electrolyte tablets today so hopefully that will help.
I'm enjoying it so far, but it's early days.

Went for a dog walk in the rain, getting some steps in every day. ruby I'm glad my DC are grown up on days like today

[RubySlippers77]

Remember to drink plenty of water too @NemoIsLost - I think I could improve my intake - on 2l per day at the moment but apparently should be having more for my weight loss plans!!

Oh today was just horrid, the DC moaned when outside and squabbled when indoors. They are off to MIL & FIL tomorrow for a few hours, yippee! I'll try to add on some steps by blitzing the house

Trying to make cloud bread (no carbs) this evening, I'll let you know how it goes.....

[NemoIsLost]

oh yes please let me know, I saw it in a book, sounds weird but worth a try.
Hope you enjoy the peace tomorrow!
I definately need to up my water intake, I drink more at work as it's so flippin hot but at home not so much.

[RubySlippers77]

They were quite pleasant although a lot flatter than the picture - may have been my baking skills - I used this recipe:

thebigapplemama.com/2016/01/no-carb-cloud-bread.html

Going through the Pinch of Nom cookbook now for anything which might be suitable, I do like their stuff. Have another couple of low carb cookbooks lined up too, hopefully I'll get some cooking done tomorrow with the little horrors darlings with DGPs.

How has your day gone?

[NemoIsLost]

I will try cloud bread I think. I've had a good day, had yogurt and berries, boiled eggs,pork steaks with greens and mushrooms. oh and some strawberries and jelly.
I'm.amazed that I'm not feeling hungry, do feel tired and achey tho but have started the supplements now so hopefully that will help.
I was pondering about what happens if I suddenly after a week or so had some carbs, like bread. will I feel ill? does it work like that?

[RubySlippers77]

When I ate carbs again Nemo it felt amazing for a few minutes and then I felt (unpleasantly) stuffed! I wasn't ill or anything but I didn't feel as 'well' as I do eating low carb. But, I was on holiday with small DC so sometimes there wasn't much choice.

Bought loads of fruit & veg today and will do a bit of cooking before I have to collect the DC later. It's been a whole couple of hours now with no whinging, moaning, squabbling or tantrumming - the dog and I are enjoying the peace!!

[RubySlippers77]

No low carbing for me today as we went to a kiddies birthday party - the food on offer was sandwiches/ cake/ sausage rolls etc - all very yummy but not great for these purposes!!

If I'd thought ahead I'd have had a bigger lunch instead, but DTS2 has been such a complete little horror challenging child today, I just haven't had the opportunity...

Oh and thanks to the rain the DC have moaned most of the day. Then DP came home and moaned that dinner wasn't ready. I've come out to get a takeaway and left them all to moan together

[NemoIsLost]

sounds like a fun day!
I got soaked walking the dog, .meanwhile he was rolling around in the mud with his mate the spaniel, my kitchen was horrendous!
I've kept on plan today, had lots of greens. I'm due for weigh in on monday so fingers crossed.

[RubySlippers77]

Ah @NemoIsLost, I'll take your dog, his spaniel friend and a whole field full of mud over the household of moaning males I had today any day.....

Forecast isn't great for tomorrow either, which puts paid to my holiday plans of keeping the DC outdoors as much as I can

Absolutely shattered this evening and struggling to find my weight loss motivation again. Just want to dive into a big pit of Maltesers and never resurface!

[NemoIsLost]

Hope your day was better than expected Ruby we had sun here! I was off work so went to watch my DS play cricket, took the dog and the mother. Usually we get macdonalds on the way home but today I pre made a big salmon salad . #pleased with myself.
So so tired tho, not sure if it's my body getting used to low carbing.

[RubySlippers77]

To be honest Nemo I'm just exhausted! The house is a tip as I never get chance to clean & tidy it properly with the DC around, I can't get ahead of myself with cooking/ freezing meals, and really I don't have the energy to do very much. Roll on school again!!

Well done on the salad - I succumbed to some fries yesterday as we were on the same retail park as McDonalds doing some shopping and the DC used pester power to get their lunch there - it was only fries though and not a super size meal, which I suppose is better