To say that the keto (or low carb) diet is the most boring diet ever?

[Liveonyournerves]

I'm post menopausal and trying to shed the last 7lbs against bitter odds.

It's been suggested to me that I need to cut my already low carb diet to a Keto to see results.

Good god, it's dull. Dull, dull, dull.

Am I alone in thinking this?

I've not even lost any weight on it!

I am really interested in starting keto. I've read about it but everytjme I Google recipes or plans it comes up with payment sites. Do I need to follow a specific plan tailored for me or can I just follow the recipes?

@Inextremis

Prawn cocktail Prawns with avocado Steak with mushrooms in garlic butter, salad Eggs and bacon Pan-fried smoked cod, fried duck egg Sheek kebabs (minced lamb, fresh coriander, chillies, spices, made into sausage shapes, baked), yoghurt and mint dip Cajun-spiced chicken breast with peppers and mushrooms Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs Smoked mackerel paté (smoked mackerel mixed with cream cheese, lemon juice, horseradish, salt and pepper) in lettuce wraps Moussaka, using cream, eggs and grated cheese for the topping - no flour necessary Chicken tikka kebabs Pan fried halibut on a bed of creamed celeriac, with crispy oven-baked kale Field mushrooms stuffed with chopped pepperoni and olives, topped with mozzarella Calves' liver and bacon, with mushrooms Crustless quiche - so many different things to add it's not worth me listing them, but smoked salmon and asparagus is one option Eggs Benedict on a field mushroom instead of a muffin Spiced baked salmon, salad Lamb chops marinated in olive oil garlic and rosemary, with broccoli Pork belly slices with Chinese 5 spice, served with stir-fried beansprouts (soy sauce, chilli flakes)

I'm off out now (else I'd continue) - but just wanted to make the point that low carb doesn't have to mean boring!

I feel constipated just reading that list.

[quote berryhead2013]@Liveonyournerves arla lacto free semiskilled milk is half the carbs per 100ml and it tastes exactly like milk I can't do almond or soy milk🤮 I have been keto for three years [/quote]
That's because it is milk. Just with the lactose digested out of it.

@ballsdeep

I am really interested in starting keto. I've read about it but everytjme I Google recipes or plans it comes up with payment sites. Do I need to follow a specific plan tailored for me or can I just follow the recipes?

There is an excellent free Facebook group for UK ketoers. The owners are all long term keto dieters and there is a huge community for sharing recipes, ideas, successes etc.

There is a section on the facebook group to get you started, telling you all you need to know about the stages, the science and what to avoid.

Happy to share the group but don't want to spam Facebook groups.

There is also a bootcamp on here every now and again but I struggled to stay engaged with it past a week or so. I prefer the FB.

@Seainasive

Boring in what way? How is it a hardship to leave the boiled potatoes, rice and pasta off your plate and replace them with veggies?

It's a bloody big hardship for me.

My favourite food is potatoes and bread. I bloody love carbs.

I lost 5 stone once and I did go low carb for a while and the weight did melt off. Unfortunately I have a crap diet and there aren't many healthy foods I like. I envy people who enjoy low carb eating. It would certainly make this two stone I need to lose again much easier.

@ballsdeep

I am really interested in starting keto. I've read about it but everytjme I Google recipes or plans it comes up with payment sites. Do I need to follow a specific plan tailored for me or can I just follow the recipes?

Check out the dietdoctor dot com site. It is free to use and there is also an option to pay a subscription for extra content. However, it is not necessary to do this at all as there is a lot of free content, particularly research related (so valuable). This site has no advertisements, its refreshing.

Check out here Dr David Unwin's sugar/glucose equivalent infographics. He originally devised these to be used by his T2D patients (he is a GP in a Southport practice) when he discovered how limiting carbs to his T2D patients led to them recovering their health.

Revolutionary because T2D had always been assumed to be progressive rather than potentially reservable. The infographics are really useful to show clearly how many teaspoons of sugar are in many different foods so patients can make choices about what to eat. Google "Dr Unwin" on youtube too (and his wife Jen is a clinical psychologist who specialises in addictions).

I have always chosen my own path with regard to low carbing and never followed a specific 'diet' (I am scarred for life after forty years of dieting hell). Good luck, @ballsdeep.

@Inextremis, great recipe list here .

@Inextremis

Prawn cocktail Prawns with avocado Steak with mushrooms in garlic butter, salad Eggs and bacon Pan-fried smoked cod, fried duck egg Sheek kebabs (minced lamb, fresh coriander, chillies, spices, made into sausage shapes, baked), yoghurt and mint dip Cajun-spiced chicken breast with peppers and mushrooms Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs Smoked mackerel paté (smoked mackerel mixed with cream cheese, lemon juice, horseradish, salt and pepper) in lettuce wraps Moussaka, using cream, eggs and grated cheese for the topping - no flour necessary Chicken tikka kebabs Pan fried halibut on a bed of creamed celeriac, with crispy oven-baked kale Field mushrooms stuffed with chopped pepperoni and olives, topped with mozzarella Calves' liver and bacon, with mushrooms Crustless quiche - so many different things to add it's not worth me listing them, but smoked salmon and asparagus is one option Eggs Benedict on a field mushroom instead of a muffin Spiced baked salmon, salad Lamb chops marinated in olive oil garlic and rosemary, with broccoli Pork belly slices with Chinese 5 spice, served with stir-fried beansprouts (soy sauce, chilli flakes)

I'm off out now (else I'd continue) - but just wanted to make the point that low carb doesn't have to mean boring!

Great list

Sorry to hijack your thread op, with a low carb high protein, do you eat till you're satisfied? Or do you still need to weigh quantities?

I second the DietDoctor website. Also ruled.me (weird name for a keto site but it is excellent for recipes)

@wizzywig

Sorry to hijack your thread op, with a low carb high protein, do you eat till you're satisfied? Or do you still need to weigh quantities?

Depends entirely what plan you follow. If you're doing Atkins, for example, you'd have to weigh your carbs as the initial phase (induction) only allows 20g carbs per day.

If you were to do the low carb Bootcamp on Mumsnet, you don't weigh or count anything. You eat till you're satisfied (being sensible, obviously!), and by following the rules you'll be eating well but still low enough carb to lose weight.

@ballsdeep

If you're interested, the next Low Carb Bootcamp starts next Monday

It's not keto, just more general low carb.

Thanks @BIWI I wanted a plan that I didn't need to think about, if that makes sense.

That's exactly the thinking behind Bootcamp, because I am a lazy arse!

[quote BIWI]@ballsdeep

If you're interested, the next Low Carb Bootcamp starts next Monday

It's not keto, just more general low carb.[/quote]
Thanks, @BIWI, I've joined for the company and hopefully will lose that final stone that has been stuck to me like glue.

I agree OP and actually I worry about eating endless fish and the detrimental impact that is having on the environment. A focus on protein can't be great for the environment?

@Goldenbear. Agree 100%

It works great but I can’t do it now because it upsets my stomach

Sorry, no advice from me but I did keto for a while and had all the same thoughts as you, so much fatty food?! I may have lost weight but my skin and hair were an absolute mess, I broke out in almost boil-like acne and had greasy hair like you can’t imagine. I went veggie/low carb instead and they both cleared up almost instantly. Hated keto.

Oh yes, I agree with above, I have fine hair but lots of it so it is fairly thick but on this diet my hair looked very thin, looked like I had a receding hair line! I gave it up and my hair returned.

There are lots of great dishes that are low carb or keto

But mostly tend to be full in flavour

Sometimes you just crave some bread/toast and butter the most simple of food. Not rich in flavour but so simple and comforting. This is what I miss when doing low carb the simple foods that have little flavour that are delicious

I can’t think of anything that is equivalent when doing a very strict low carb diet

I am on keto and found it difficult to start with as I didn’t like the feeling of fat overdose. However I like cooking and simply plan my meals now, ordered flour substitutes, sugar subs etc and I eat nice keto friendly salads too with homemade dressings. Made a lasagne but used aubergine instead of pasta sheets. I made a curry last night with naked rice. Made my own tortilla. I get my fat intake mainly from oils and have a tsp coconut oil and cream with my coffee. It’s been no issue for me and have lost a lot of weight already as well as cutting down alcohol consumption and drinking more water than I ever did before.

You need to find the right keto recipes!

Try whole30. It’s only meant for 30 days and the weight comes right off. And then add brown rice back in diet.

It’s quite strict, but healthy whole foods and you can find many good recipes.

It can feel sssooo boring as well. But I’m much happier being allowed to eat fruit and as much veggies. Plus you can have potato and sweet potato.