Does anyone else really struggle with a low carb diet?

[CoffeandPancakes]

Hi,

Just wanted to clarify, that I'm not really trying to lose weight (although a few lbs loss wouldn't be a bad thing!) but I recently became aware just how much I "need" carbs in my diet to feel, well..normal and not ill and given carbs are basically sugar, I did want to try and cut down a bit. Not out ! Life's way too short for zero carbs! So was just trying to strike a balance.

If I have a bowl of soup for example, with no bread, I'm hungry half an hour later. It can be a big bowl too, but there's no way it would get me through to dinner!

Same in the evening. I feel sick and shakey if I skip the carbs and I don't sleep as well.

Is this just how everyone feels initially or are some people just more carb hungry?

I should add that I'm naturally just a really hungry person. I couldn't skip a meal. I feel very sick and have zero energy if I've go 2 or 3 hours without eating something.

Anyone relate?

I'm lactose intolerant and vegetarian so a low-carb diet is not for me.

Sounds like you need more protein and fat. I've done low carb successfully in the past and with no hunger pangs but you need to make sure you are getting adequate protein and fat as they will keep you full. Omelettes, tuna/egg/cheese/chicken salad with oil dressing, leftover dinner portion, are all good filling lunch options.

I probably would if I didn't have some extra protein to replace it. But I know low carb and low sugar is the only way I can ever lose weight/maintain so I have to push through it! I had a bowl of soup for lunch but am feeling a bit hungry again now. So I will have a protein snack soon and that will be fine for me til tea. Last night I had a stir fry for my tea and as a treat added some rice, but instantly just felt bloated and over full and regretted it. Need to remind myself I don't actually 'need' the carbs, it's just my sugar addiction!

I felt like you initially, soup with no bread? Impossible! Skip breakfast? I'll be fainting by 11!

But then I did low carb high fat boot camp on here and I was amazed that it was actually possible to do these things and not get those feelings because your blood sugar levels are stabilised because you have taken sugar out of the equation.

It takes a couple of weeks to settle but I really was surprised by not getting those reactions any more and I lost getting on for 3 stone.

But it's no miracle it takes commitment and you can't get away with cheating. In my case the sugar cravings never really go so I struggle so I always fall off the wagon sooner or later.

So remember LCHF and no cheating is what makes it work.

try Harcombe diet - you can have some carbs and also protein just not in the same meal once you reach phase 2

I tweak it a bit as I struggle with low carb but they key for me is enough protein - ie more than usual for a meal so 1.5 bits of salmon or even 2 rather than 1 etc. I snack on mostly cheese and meats but also certain fruit prob a bit too much but I try and minimise that - so just ripe banana small with tea at 3 to 4pm tides me over better than a babybel for e.g.. 6lb down in last 10 days so even with tweaks its working

But if you aren’t trying to lose weight and you miss carbs then I don’t understand why you are trying to do it?

I like smallish cubes of cheese in soup. Gives you something to 'chew'!

I was like you. Loved all the bread, pasta and potatoes. But I don't miss them, and when I had a blowout pizza takeaway with all the sides at the weekend it's taken me til today to stop feeling lethargic and frankly quite ill.

I will admit to an Achilles heel of crumpets now and then though

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the more protein, actually eggs seem to be the only thing besides carbs, which keep me full/not hungry, but obviously I can't have those for every meal.

@Rainbows89, good point 😂 I think I'm just trying to be a bit more healthy tbh. As I said though, I'd be happy to lose a little bit of weight. I have a healthy BMI, but I'm in that zone where I could get away with half a stone on or half a stone off. I'd prefer the latter.

Any kind of ‘diet’ is pretty pointless as most of them aren’t sustainable long term. Especially the low carb diet!

The best way to eat healthily in a way that works for you is to calculate your TDEE and find out how many calories you should be eating each day. It only takes a week or two of tracking calories to get a good idea of how many cals are in your favourite meals/snacks.

And definitely up your protein intake - make sure every meal has a decent amount of protein. Around 1g of protein per kilo of body weight is a good initial target.

You don’t mention protein, fat or fibre in your opening post. And only mentioned protein after someone else queried it. That could be the issue?

@ToryStelling, I agree. I don't want to cut them out altogether, but I just wonder why my body seems to crumble without them and if it's common.

@AnExcellentWalker, I'm not sure what you mean...

If I have a big bowl of soup that doesn’t contain any carbs, but doesn’t contain sufficient protein, fat & plenty of vegetables for fibre, I find it pretty unsatisfying as well.

OTOH when I eat low carb, high natural unrefined fats, lots of vegetables & a decent amount of protein, I feel full & have been able to lose weight.

If you just cut carbs and are eating a basic vegetable soup with no protein (lentils/beans or chicken etc) you will be starving.

For low carb to work and you not to be hungry you need to up your full fat foods and protein.

So if you have sugar free yogurts and diet drinks and skimmed milk etc plus low carb you will be starving and low on energy.

If you have a small amount of cream, cheese, nuts, healthy oil, avocado etc it will be a different story.

I really wouldn’t low carb if you are a healthy BMI with no health problems like Type 2 Diabetes, Hypothyroidism etc.

I do lowish carb. I used to feel like you about bread but I found that it actually makes me feel more hungry. If I had toast for breakfast I’d be feeling hungry by 11am and if I had a sandwich for lunch I’d be craving a snack by 4pm. Those snacks were usually sugary. My blood sugar must have been up and down like a yo-yo. Once I cut bread out of my diet I lost those feelings. It might not be the case for everyone but my body seems to treat it like biscuits and cake. I was never that fond of sliced bread but I love a thick slice of fresh baked granary bread with butter. If we ever get back to normal again I know a really lovely garden centre cafe that makes their own soup and bread and I’ll be heading there every fortnight or so.

No. I am absolutely loving my new low carb diet! I'm newly diagnosed as diabetic so I have to follow this for the sake of my health. I have Max 25g of carbs per meal but usually a lot less. Always under 80g carbs per day unless it's an occasional treat. I have loads more energy and don't fall asleep at random times anymore as my blood sugar is so much lower. I eat plenty of vegetables and lean protein which fills me up.

I know exactly what you mean, OP. I'm the same.

We follow the Joe Wickes low carb recipes through the week, it feels like you’re having a proper meal as there’s plenty of fat and protein. DH has lost quite a bit of weight doing it.
I don’t need to lose weight but have shaved off some lockdown pounds anyway. I mainly did it because I defo have some sort of intolerance and my pumps are dreadful after carbs (TMI?) anyway I smell like roses now so that’s a bonus 😂
We indulge at the weekend and I definitely notice the different re bloating and energy.

I’ve been low carbing for a couple of years as I’m Diabetic and I find it just fine tbh. Rarely get ridiculously hungry. In fact recently my appetite has dropped and I’m not hungry in the morning so I don’t eat until lunchtime.

I don’t sleep well if I cut down carbs either, it’s awful. Broken sleep every night until I give in and have a big bowl of pasta or something and then I’m dead to the world 😂

Low carbing is very polarised IMO.

People either LOVE it or are very vocally against it.

There is evidence to support that we do need carbs in our diet.

Maybe just opt for whole grain carbs if you are trying to be healthier?

I think there are definitely some people who need carbs and some who don’t! The more carbs I eat the hungrier I get. It sends my blood sugar wild and I want to eat and eat. My husband is the opposite. Could easily eat a few chocolate biscuits for breakfast and be ok until lunch.

I love a low carb diet but it doesn't love me back. Get constipated even with loads of veg and water. Can't be healthy really.

Low carb is the only way I can lose weight. Because it’s also high fat you’re never hungry if you do it right. A three egg omelette with bacon and cheese for breakfast easily keeps me going all day.