Low Carbing -can someone explain in simple terms?

[AngryFeet]

I want to do low Carbing but I am a busy bee and haven't the time to read the Atkins book. I am confused by working out the carbs in stuff and how many I can eat per day. I also don't have loads of time to cook fancy dishes from scratch. Is there a quick simple way to do this diet? Examples of meals would be helpful too :) Thanks!

[AngryFeet]

Noone?

[brighthair]

I did the India and Neris idiot proof diet, I found it easier because it's just a list of what you can and can't eat, and some simple recipes

[topsi]

I am interested too. Spoke to someone today who does 3 days low carb 2 days normal health eating. She says she cuts out cereal, bread, pasta, rice and potatoes and just bulks up on more fruit and veg on her low carb days. On her normal days she just tries to eat healthy as in low fat etc.
She has gone from size 16 to a 10.
Sounds like a great compromise as I don't think I could lo carb 100%.
Maybe someone will be along to suggest some good books or recipes.

[AngryFeet]

That sounds very good Topsi :) How long did it take her?

I'm sure loads of people have done low carb - can anyone else give some hints. I really just want to get on with it and don't have much money for books :( I do have the Atkins book here but it is like a bloody novel and seems complicated. I mean If it were the case that meat, cheese and eggs had no carbs that would be fine but it seems they do have some? I hate having to spend ages adding crap up.

[foreverondiet]

Its important to distinguish between low carb like atkins / pig to twig whereby you eat so little carbs that your body goes into ketosis - on these diets you can't "cheat" because any significant level of carbs will bring the body out of ketosis. On these diets you need to get calories from somewhere so they are generally higher fat diets.

As food substances go - meat, hard cheese and eggs have hardly any carbs.

Alternatively you can do a lower carb diet - where you cut down on carbs but don't go for a ketosis diet. This means that you do have some carbs eg those contained in whole fruit, dairy, pulses and perhaps occasional whole grains (eg brown bread, oats, brown rice) but the carb level is much lower than normal eating. I combine this with low fat....

I do cook from scratch but def not any fancy dishes! This is NOT a ketosis diet though.

some examples:
breakfast - 2 egg omelette and activia fat free yoghurt or natural low fat yoghurt, with oatbran, berries and small serving (25g) sugar free muesli.
Around 250 cals.

lunch:
salad with protein - generally cottage cheese, tuna, makeral, sardines
Around 250 cals

dinner:
chopped tomatoes plus lean beef mince (or quorn or chicken mince) and lots of veggies all chucked into wokl
or stir fry with veggies, chicken (or quorn) and brown rice
or steamed fish and veggies.
Around 500 cals

snacks (200-300 cals)
2 pieces of fruit (not banana or exotic fruit - generally apples best)
activia yoghurt
cottage cheese on a ryvita
smoked salmon and quark on an oatbcake
25g nuts or 25g hard cheese

[topsi]

Thanks forever. I don't want to do the ketosis thing as I am into healthy diet and lifestyle and feel that this sort of diet is in no way healthy or sustainable!
It looks like your diet is low on refined carbs am I right but you have a small amount of complex or unrefined carbs?
Would I ruin it all by having a banana each day last thing as it helps me sleep?
Wouldn't a fat free yoghurt have sugar added to it? I often eat natural yoghurt with a squirt of honey so I guess this is out? But I guess we are talking low carb no no carb?
Also do you find that your energy levels suffer. I try and exercise three days a week and don't want my stamina lowered.
I thought I might low carb on the days I dont exercise.
Well bought a shed load of eggs and salad etc at Tesco today so will try a low carb day tomorrow starting off with eggs for breakfast.
How you doing angryfeet given it a go yet??

[AngryFeet]

No not yet. Am still bloody confused! I think I want to do the ketosis thing. Arrrggghhh I don't know. Is there not one website with all the information on all low carb diets and what you can eat so I can make a decision? Getting annoyed with trawling the bloody web and just finding partial info.

[MrsDePoint]

AngryFeet (intriguing name!) - a really easy way to do it is to look at any food and if you can't pick it and eat it raw or kill it and cook it, don't eat it. This knocks out wheat, rice, sugar and potatoes (among other things) and these are the main culprits for weight gain. Keep dairy fairly low. If you do that and keep your portions under control, you don't need to count anything and don't worry about a banana. Even though it's one of the higher carb fruits, it's nothing compared with bread or pasta. When I started this way of eating, I had a huge pot of soup on the go all the time and had a bowl whenever I was hungry. Don't make fat-free soup though or it won't fill you up. Not cream-based but use some fat to cook the veggies first. I have never been able to weigh or count things but this is really easy when you get into the swing of it.

[foreverondiet]

Firstly I am at target weight so I follow 80:20 whereby I generally cheat at the weekend now as I am looking for weight maintenance.

Yoghurts - I generally go for natural yoghurts but do also sometimes have the activia fat free ones which contain sweetners (and some sugar but seems to be lower than others - although only ever one a day of fruit yoghurt). I also sometimes buy a bit pot of onken fat free strawberry and maybe add small amounts to the natural yoghurt (ie 25g strawberry to 100g natural).

Banana - you wouldn't "ruin" it... but I'd try and see if something else would help you sleep! Every time you eat sugars it affects your insulin levels which can result in insulin being released and possibly fat stored. Maybe have it with some greek yoghurt or some other protein.

Exercise - exercise every day, including recent triathlon and and training for it. This diet is fine for me even with heavy exercise - if you need carbs add some pulses.

Yes I do have some complex carbs - pulses are my preferred choice. Apples and berries are my preferred fruit.

[topsi]

eating my eggs !!

[Tortington]

//www.carbfree.wordpress.com

i have a blog, the regular thread seems to hve died a death so just marking my place on this one!

[AngryFeet]

Well was going to start a new Atkins thread but might not bother then

Day one here as I took ages sorting myself out! Had a bratwurst (0.5carb) and fried egg for breakfast, chicken and bacon salad for lunch and am about to have a sirloin steak with creamed cabbage. Yummy! Have also had 2 boiled eggs to stave off the hunger in the late afternoon.

Does this sound ok? Will read you blog asap custardo - how much did you lose low carbing?

[topsi]

sounds like u r going for it angry!
I am not doing badly, eggs berries and yogurt for breakfast, fetta cheese salad for lunch, then had cheese and a jacobs cracker as a snack which I suppose wasn't so great then chicken and veg for dinner with cherries and cashew nuts after. then had my banana and yogurt but with out the usual honey.
Felt very hungry before my cheese and buscuit but I think thats cos I was out at the sports center swimming with DS and there was NOTHING that I could eat except a nasty apple that was 50p.Crap hey a sports center with no healthy food except over priced fruit!

[Tortington]

sounds great! i lost 4 stone low carbing - before and after pictures are on my blog

today i have eaten 2 prototoast from lcmegastore with primula, 3 black farmer sausage, bacon and small amount of tinned toms, celeriac chips and salad with baby toms and a v.v. small amount of sour cream dressing

[LieInsAreRarerThanTigers]

Hi, I'm low-carbing for two weeks as I have reached my self-imposed weight ceiling! I did it for ten days before, getting less strict as the days went on, and lost 4 pounds. This time I am tightening up a bit and want to lose 8 lbs, sticking to 30g carbs a day.
I don't eat pork and like to have veggie days so have to be more creative - have found some nuts (most except peanuts and cashews - even they are not too bad) and tofu a good substitute for all the inevitable dairy and eggs some days.
Most salad veg is ok in moderation - steer clear of sweetcorn altogether and very little carrot.
Last time I found I missed crunchy things, so really fresh celery with blue cheese was great, as well as the handful of nuts for a snack.
Love avocadoes, aubergine, courgettes, mushrooms, and there is lots you can make with them.
Also bought some soya and almond flour last time and had success with pancakes on pancake day!

[LieInsAreRarerThanTigers]

www.lowcarbyummies.com/carbohydrate-counter-chart.htm
I found this useful if you are trying to stick to a limit.

[LieInsAreRarerThanTigers]

Apples are not very good topsi. Cherries and berries are better.

[AngryFeet]

Day three here and 5lbs down - that's some serious water weight! I have been doing everything by the book but I have had two vodkas per evening which I know is not allowed but life is stressful! Will this stop me going into ketosis?

[topsi]

I have not been megga strict but feel my tum is definately flatter! I am going to continue. Having fish and chips tonight though as a treat. Also havent excercised this week as have not slept great all week due to stress at work. Next week should be better though, looking forward to it!
Angry that is great going!! How do you feel? Do you think the ketosis has kicked in yet?

[AngryFeet]

I peed on a ketosis stick thing earlier and it was pink so in ketosis by the look of it. Feeling ok. Food is not inspiring me at the moment though. I miss gravy! Will be having a whole rainbow trout with some veg tonight. I had a chicken leg with mushrooms for lunch. Out in London tomorrow night - must not get pissed or I will end up at KFC or something

[Tortington]

well done re the weightloss

and the vodka sero carbs but depends what you mix it with. im TAKING tonight off - back on the wagon ...soon

[topsi]

what is a ketosis stick? where do you get them?

[AngryFeet]

6 and a quarter pounds as of this morning - woohoo!

I have diet coke with my vodka custardo so no carbs but I believe some people can have the same reaction to sweetener as to sugar so will try to cut back after tonight.

Topsi I got mine here. They are not necessary just wanted to check I was actually in ketosis.

[LieInsAreRarerThanTigers]

I have lost 4lbs in 4 days. Really pleased. Big challenge today as it is the school summer fair and I am highly likely to relapse at the cake stall...probably have no lunch then go back to low carb later.
I found Food Doctor savoury roasted soya beans are 1/3 off are Sainsburys at the moment - great crunchy snack only 2g carbs per 25g which is a good 20 minutes crunchiness if you nibble them one at a time!
Tomorow the challenge is friends over for lunch - she is coeliac which fits in well with the low-carb thing as will be doing no wheat-based dishes. Going to do roast lamb and i will just have to hold back on the potatoes. Don't think I will find it too hard.
Have also bought a pack of Xylitol sweetener which I will use to make the dessert, with apples and soya flour. (Friend is also allergic to nuts so can't use almond/soya mix as I did for pancakes)
Will report on Monday morning to see if the weekend has been a disaster carbs-wise!

[Tortington]

wow well done.

i put on 10lbs when i quit smoking

dh and i are going to a posh hotel for a shag this weekend and i shall be using the pool, sooooooo i really need to shift some this week and will be reporting in.

today i was at a multiccultural fun day with some curry stalls and the biggest samosas i have ever seen in my life.

i resisted and ate a salad!

todays carb count approx 28 - much too high for me.

aiming for under 20 tomoz