Low carb is changing my life.

[cheeseisthebest]

Posting this in chat as hoping it will be helpful.

Bit of backstory- I was diagnosed with high blood sugar and pre-diabetes several years ago. The advice then was just to cut down on sugar which I did and saw an improvement.

Couple of years later I went back to Doctors as I felt hungry all the time, high blood sugar and pre-diabetic again. The advice now was to cut out sugar and carbs.
I've tried and tried over the past couple of years but finally something has clicked.
Since 1st Jan I've had no carbs or anything sweet. This is a massive deal for me, I'm working at home, stressful job and homeschooling and food has always been my comfort and I just love sweet stuff.

However I feel full, so I'm eating less, I've lost almost 4lb, my mood is more stable, I dont think about food constantly. I'm enjoying treats like cheese and cream (in moderation!) I'm really hopeful that I've finally cracked this.

I'm not sure why its different after so many attempts but I really dont want to end up with a serious health condition (type 2 diabetes) that is one of the few health conditions that you can have control over.

Just wanted to share in case this is helpful to anyone.

[temproasted]

This thread is inspiring me! Can anyone tell me whether it's worth reading Jason Fungs book? What are the 5 principles? (I realise it probably doesn't matter and I just need to cut carbs it's simple enough!)

[cheeseisthebest]

Elizalala what's BG?

[donewithitalltodayandxmas]

Do you never have any treats like a bit of chocolate or cake ??

[ElizaLaLa]

Blood glucose.

[Mylittlepea]

@cheeseisthebest you could try a splash of double cream in your coffee to replace sweetener, I ditched sugar for cream and often have a dash of sugar free syrup. The Jordan’s ones are good.

@mumofone2019 your ideas are good, I eat an avocado every day. But we try to limit net carbs to max of 25g a day so don’t have rice cakes, porridge oats or cous cous.

We eat a lot of cauliflower rice, or carrot & swede mash or celeriac dauphinois as potato/rice/pasta subs. All recipes on diet doctor website I shared above.

Also love headbangers kitchen - his butter chicken and chocolate mousse are amazing....

[Wallywobbles]

@temproasted yes it's an absolutely amazing book. I actually have it is an audiobook. People rave about it for a reason.

I actually just came on to say read the Obesity Code.

I've done low carb several times in my life. I do end up coming off periodically because I love all the things I shouldn't but in terms of not needing to nap it's the best. And unlike most diets it is actually good for the long term. Enough carbs in veg and fruit.

[thatscurvydogbeard]

@Tarquinthecat

You say "I've had no carbs" and then "I'm enjoying treats like cheese and cream".

Cheese and cream have carbs.

What else are you eating that you think has "no carbs"?

For God's sake, op didn't mean no carbs literally (which would be impossible). There are virtually no carbs in cream or cheese

[Bythemillpond]

I have done low carbing since the beginning of December. Initially I was losing 2lb per week then I stopped and have been the same weight since Christmas.
I can stick to the food with little difficulty as I don’t have a sweet tooth. My downfall has always been bread.
The problem I am having is I have developed the shakes. My stomach feels like it is being scrambled and my hands are shaking.
I thought it was stress at first as I am going through a very stressful time. But I had a glass of apple juice and I immediately calmed down a lot.

Has anyone else had something like this happen or is having the apple juice just a coincidence and I am just super stressed

[Mylittlepea]

@Bythemillpond sorry to hear this.

Are you taking any electrolytes as part of your low carb? When I first started I felt shaky, dizzy and had a raging thirst. After a quick read, I realised my body was missing essential salts/minerals and it sorted me out.

Could be worth a try - I buy a powder. From Amazon

[Eckhart]

@GeorgeMichaelsEspadrille

Carving not carving!! Clearly doesn't help spelling...

Had a good laugh at this!

[Mylittlepea]

@Bythemillpond

This will last ages & ages, comes with a tiny scoop

www.amazon.co.uk/BULK-POWDERS-Electrolyte-Powder-Pouch/dp/B00SP31TFE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=electrolytes%20powder%20500g&qid=1610728135&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21#immersive-view_1610728172202

[Eckhart]

@Bythemillpond

I have done low carbing since the beginning of December. Initially I was losing 2lb per week then I stopped and have been the same weight since Christmas.
I can stick to the food with little difficulty as I don’t have a sweet tooth. My downfall has always been bread.
The problem I am having is I have developed the shakes. My stomach feels like it is being scrambled and my hands are shaking.
I thought it was stress at first as I am going through a very stressful time. But I had a glass of apple juice and I immediately calmed down a lot.

Has anyone else had something like this happen or is having the apple juice just a coincidence and I am just super stressed

Sounds like withdrawal from addiction to me. Just a little hit is enough to solve it quick, but if you keep having a low dose whenever you get the shakes, you stay addicted.

Have you been going lower and lower carb as time goes on?

[sunshinesupermum]

Porridge for breakfast keeps me going until lunchtime when I find veggie soups sometimes adding panacetta and lentils (which I really don't like) is sufficient for me or even just some fruit with yoghurt. But by teatime I do need something to take the edge off my hunger as supper isn't usually before 8.00 pm. Lost weight like this last autumn so back on track now I hope to lose a few more lbs.

[PMcGintysGoat]

I'm low or very low carb now. I started gradually by reducing how much sugar I put in things and eating less bread but still having some carbs with a main meal. Then after a few months when i was happy without bread, biscuits, sugary foods i started to reduce the carbs with main meals too. I find i don't miss them but I make sure my meals are fatty, so lots of butter with veg, etc.

To begin with I went for some carb-replacements and they did help me reduce carbs without noticing so much. You can make lovely mash with cauliflower, butter beans and cheese - goes beautifully with casseroles and roasts.

Some of my favourites are casseroles, made with fatty cheap cuts of meat slow cooked for 5-6 hours with red wine, onions etc. Then eaten more like a soup (I.e. in a bowl) rather than on a plate with mash needed to soak up the gravy. The fatty sauce is really healthy, filling and tasty.

Chilli con carne type dishes made with mince, some kidney beans (it's low carb rather than carb free) and eaten without rice are also great. Add soured cream and chopped or mashed avacado for more indulgence (and nutrition).

Or for lunch try baked crispy slices of edam or gouda slathered in full fat cream cheese.

Carbs are horribly addictive but it's a great feeling being free of the compulsion to eat things that make you feel bloated and unhealthy, so well worth persevering with.

[BumbleBiscuit]

Every cell in the human body, particularly the brain runs on glucose as its main fuel source. Low carb may have initial benefits and make people feel better to begin with but you’ll come undone eventually. High carb, low fat plant-based focusing around whole foods is much healthier and will be healthier long term. It’s the only diet proven to reverse heart disease for example.

Heart arrhythmias, cardiac contractile function impairment, sudden death, osteoporosis, kidney damage, increased cancer risk, impairment of physical activity and lipid abnormalities can all be linked to long-term restriction of carbohydrates.

[PMcGintysGoat]

bumble if a low carb diet was that bad for us we'd have died out as a species a very long time ago, we didnt evolve to eat a modern grain-based diet. The last 50 years where we seem have increasingly started to ramp up our carb consumption, and reduce our fat consumption, has also seen T2 diabetes and obesity rocket.

[Eckhart]

@BumbleBiscuit

Every cell in the human body, particularly the brain runs on glucose as its main fuel source. Low carb may have initial benefits and make people feel better to begin with but you’ll come undone eventually. High carb, low fat plant-based focusing around whole foods is much healthier and will be healthier long term. It’s the only diet proven to reverse heart disease for example.

Heart arrhythmias, cardiac contractile function impairment, sudden death, osteoporosis, kidney damage, increased cancer risk, impairment of physical activity and lipid abnormalities can all be linked to long-term restriction of carbohydrates.

You're right that our cells run on glucose, but we don't need to eat carbs. We make glucose out of fat. It's called gluconeogenesis. What would be the point of us storing fat otherwise? What do you think body fat is for?
Have a look at the quote at 3:30 here (and I'd recommend watching the whole thing, you'll learn a few things from the PhD who studies the studies of the studies)



Are you really going to argue with the Panel on Macronutrients?

www.nap.edu/initiative/panel-on-macronutrients

[Eckhart]

It’s the only diet proven to reverse heart disease for example

It doesn't. It makes it worse.

www.diabetes.co.uk/in-depth/carbs-higher-risk-heart-disease-states-leading-cardiologist-dr-salim-yusuf/

[BumbleBiscuit]

All the research is out there for the taking it’s up to you guys if you choose not to read it.

Also be careful of the source, many biased sources out there as a few of you have already presented.

Good luck with low carb, you’ll need it!

[Eckhart]

@BumbleBiscuit

All the research is out there for the taking it’s up to you guys if you choose not to read it.

Also be careful of the source, many biased sources out there as a few of you have already presented.

Good luck with low carb, you’ll need it!

Sorry, do you mean that you're right, and the Panel on Macronutrients, appointed by the Institute of Medicine, is wrong? What are your qualifications to make such an assertion, Bumble?

[thatscurvydogbeard]

Bumble, what you've asserted goes against pretty much everything I've read on the subject. Even my dh's gp recommended he cut down on carbs for health reasons (he's not diabetic).

Having said that, I couldn't do keto level carb restrictions. I'd just find that too hard. I aim for 80g max of carbs a day. I have porridge for breakfast and eat loads of veg regardless of carb content (except potatoes obv). And I'll eat sugaru stuff in special occasions- If it's someone's birthday, I'll eat the cake or if I'm on holidays and someone hands me a croissant, I'll eat that too . But we never buy biscuits or anything like that. We also get this flour substitute called Fibre Flour, which we use occasionally to make a pizza or flat bread, a bit of a game changer for us though expensive so we try to ration it.

So it's a lower carb diet rather than low carb. Since the summer, I've lost 5kg. Not loads but it's slow and steady and still going down. And it's not hard. Someone upthread said they've been getting shaky on a keto diet. I am no expert but tbh Is take that as a sign that they need more carbs - not a lot but some. Keto is not for everyone.

[DeeCeeCherry]

Well done OP.

Potatoes are my downfall...need to get over that hurdle

[Durtyblurty]

@Bythemillpond

I have done low carbing since the beginning of December. Initially I was losing 2lb per week then I stopped and have been the same weight since Christmas.
I can stick to the food with little difficulty as I don’t have a sweet tooth. My downfall has always been bread.
The problem I am having is I have developed the shakes. My stomach feels like it is being scrambled and my hands are shaking.
I thought it was stress at first as I am going through a very stressful time. But I had a glass of apple juice and I immediately calmed down a lot.

Has anyone else had something like this happen or is having the apple juice just a coincidence and I am just super stressed

low blood sugar?