Is it possible to do low carb/high protein without bankrupting myself?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I've developed a tendency for stopping eating when I'm pudgy. I was referred to a diet specialist who has advised me to follow a very low carb/high protein diet as this should get rid of the fat I carry on my stomach.

Problem is, the diet plan that they've given me costs £171 per week, and that's more like my monthly budget for food.

Would I have any chance of following this for myself? My nutritional knowledge is lacking... I tend to have fish/a chicken breast for tea, with mashed swede, if I'm being "good". Sometimes I have spag bol etc but I understand the spaghetti in that would be out now. Lunch is usually soup, breakfast biscuits or biscotti for breakfast. I have a bad tic-tac habit that I'll need to kick...

The plan has lots of elaborate recipes like mince and lots of veg, protein powder before work-outs, beef jerky/nuts/berries as twice a day snacks...

Any tips? I'd be so grateful.

[Not2bObvious]

I'm following a low carb/high protein plan, the bsd plan but it's low cal for between 4-8 weeks. As little sugar as possible so no bikkies/cakes/crisps. I don't find it anywhere near that kind of money but there's no protein powders or anything fancy. All my shopping a from Aldi or lidl. Typical day full fat Greek yoghurt with frozen berries, 2 egg omelette with cheese maybe with bacon, dinner is griddled chicken or steak in spices with veg (roasted peppers/mushrooms/cauliflower etc) Fish or lean pork. I don't eat pasta, potato, rice, bread. I make cauli rice. Not too much fruit, almonds, unsalted nuts, 2-3 litres of water. I lost 10 pound in 4 weeks but I'm sure I'd be down a stone if I hadn't drank wine or bumped up the Cals a bit much. 10,000 steps a day
Phew..mega post, sorry. I think there's no need for anything like that cost, best of luck!

[lorelei9]

£171 per week?! What on earth is on it?!

I have tried high-protein, didn't like it, but immediately from your list..
beef jerky is pricey
mince, not so much

protein powder - I buy PhD from Amazon when it's on offer which is pretty often. Are you planning to really bulk up? I have a protein shake nearly daily and lift moderate weights and I don't have a huge bill for protein shakes.

Aldi do good packs of nuts and berries for a good price.

all the suggestions made by Not2bObvious are very good.

I really am shocked at £171 per week!! for how many people?

[Jaimx86]

Surely eggs are a staple in high protein and they are not expensive at all!

[FenellaFieldmouse]

Breakfast-eggs or Greek full fat yoghurt.
Lunch-smoked mackerel and salad, tinned sardines, eggs, veg soup, cheese.
Dinner- meat or fish and lots of veg with butter.

Snack-olives, almonds, dark chocolate.

I agree it's hard to eat this way on a tight budget but it doesn't need to be horrendously expensive.

[Obs2016]

Hi Not2. Good recommendations. I have found it more expensive, doing low carb, but nowhere that that kind of price!

[willfuckformichilenstarfood]

My DP did less than 50g carbs a day.

After a couple of weeks

He shit himself.......daily

As soon as he stopped so did his arse

[lorelei9]

Will don't people normally have the opposite problem?

[BIWI]

It needn't be more expensive at all. Low carb is a high fat diet, and the fattier cuts of meat are usually the cheaper ones - chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts, breast of lamb rather than lamb chops, stewing steak rather than braising steak, etc.

[oldlaundbooth]

I don't see why it's so expensive.

Fenella has outlined a great day's worth of food: I'd say this is fairly typical if you are low carbing.

Ditch the protein powder, have a boiled egg instead. Nuts are good in small doses.

Swede etc are usually very cheap, especially if you shop around I. E. Lidl, Aldi etc.

For the price of a pack of breakfast biscuits I'd bet you get a good low carb snack, dozen eggs, cheese etc.

[lasttimeround]

I've discovered frozen cooked chicken. In shops like farm foods. Cheap. They also do large cans of tuna and salmon much cheaper than even lidl. The cooked chicken turned me off but now I find it very convenient.

[QuiteLikely5]

Ditch her diet!

Plan your own low carb menu three days in advance to begin with and go purchase the stuff

Ask Biwi for help - she's good

It's more expensive than a usual shop but only by about a tenner