Combining fasting with low carb 1

[StuntNun]

This thread is for people who want to combine fasting with a low carbohydrate way of eating such as Low Carb Bootcamp, keto, paleo or primal.

Disclaimer – I am not a health professional – I am relying on my own reading and experience. If you have a relevant health condition then consult your doctor before introducing fasting. For example, people with diabetes or high blood pressure often require medication adjustments if they cut carbs or start fasting. In many conditions, medications must be taken with food which may dictate one or more regular meals per day. If you have had an eating disorder, or tend to be obsessive or controlling about food, then fasting may not be appropriate for you. I’m happy to chat about any of these issues but this thread is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Why fast?

1. To lose weight
2. For the health benefits (e.g. reducing insulin resistance, triggering cellular repair, lowering inflammation, reducing blood pressure)
3. All of the above!

Types of fasting

1. Intermittent fasting (for example 16:8)
2. Fasting mimicking diet (such as 5:2)
3. Extended fasting (over 24 hours)

I will describe each of these over the next three posts. Most people start out with, or working towards, either 16:8 or 5:2. Before we get started, my top fasting tip is to make sure you have plenty of calorie-free drinks: water, black coffee or tea, green tea or herbal teas. You may need to drink more than usual because you aren’t getting any water from food during your fasting window.

[catwithflowers]

Just made the muffins which look and smell fabulous! I'll have to wait until 1pm to actually eat one though 😂. I used a little bun tin as my large silicon muffin moulds are in storage pending our house move so these are smaller than the originals that Purplebag showed us. The little tin made 8 muffins.

Can't wait to try one with cream of mushroom soup for lunch 😍

[ouchmyfeet]

All these muffins look amazing. I'm not eating almonds yet but may give them a try at the weekend.

In a similar vein, does anyone have a recommendation for a bootcamp friendly pancake recipe?

There are plenty of keto pancake recipes online which I can have a go at, but some of them sound awful and lots have obscure ingredients so just wondering if there's a tried and tested favourite out there. Happy with savoury or sweet.

[ouchmyfeet]

Sorry, wrong thread . I will repost on the bootcamp thread

[StuntNun]

ouchmyfeet I like these cream cheese pancakess* skip the sweetener and top with a little melted butter.

[hamstersarse]

LOVE this thread and so happy that people are seeing such great benefits.

I've been keto / low carb for coming up to 4 years now. I feel so incredibly healthy - and all my markers say I am too! I don't really eat 'substitutes' like keto pizza, I just eat what are probably quite traditional meals - meat and veg basically with creamy cheesy sauces, lots of eggs, and mainstreaming of cauliflower. Food takes a different place in your life with this WOE, it most definitely is about 'what serves me best?' rather than 'what gives me that hit?'

My teenage DSs have graduated onto eating more healthily in the last 4 years, just because they wanted to experiment. Both have completely cut out junk food and snacking - literally no chocolate, cake or sweets. I have never asked them to do this, just to be clear, but the benefits they have seen have been immense. They eat lots of potato and some bread, but not much pasta. They have transformed their productivity with it - they say it openly themselves - up earlier in the morning, better able to concentrate on school work, actively want to do exercise even when all the clubs are shut. They also are genuinely less moody and irritable - but that makes sense because one of the benefits is regulating hormones. I am really happy for them - it really has made such a difference to their lives.

I have been doing some 23 hour fasts this week (mon to wed) and I have really enjoyed the fasting high I get about 4pm in the afternoon - super sharp focus and high energy. I plan to do a 36 hour one at the back end of next week, but I mostly do 16:8 naturally because of the no hunger thing

It's like everything we have been told about healthy eating is upsidedown

[ouchmyfeet]

@StuntNun

ouchmyfeet I like these cream cheese pancakess* skip the sweetener and top with a little melted butter.

Thanks StuntNun

[MarmaladeTeepee]

Ooh those look nice StuntNun I might try those with some whipped double cream and a small handful of berries.

[catwithflowers]

It's official! The almond/cheese muffins are delicious 😋

[BIWI]

@catwithflowers

It's official! The almond/cheese muffins are delicious 😋

They are! And so light. I was expecting them to be a bit heavy/stodgy, but they're absolutely not.

I think next time I might make them with some Parmesan, to give a slightly stronger cheese 'bite' - possibly add a few dried herbs, and maybe even some crumbled crispy bacon.

[catwithflowers]

"and maybe even some crumbled crispy bacon."

Oh yes!!! 😂

As well as being light, they don't taste overly 'eggy' which puts me off some low carb baking. A definite triumph, Purple

[catwithflowers]

Purplebag, sorry!!

[Hopeislost]

@catwithflowers Your poached eggs suggestion has me hankering after eggs benedict. I wonder if the muffins without the cheese would work!

[BIWI]

They're a cakey texture, rather than a bready texture, so not like a bread-type muffin, @Hopeislost

[catwithflowers]

@Hopeislost BIWI is right. I thought I might be able to get away with toasting stale ones to have with eggs but the texture is too light and crumbly (and delicious 😋). Great as a bread substitute with soup though or with spoonfuls of full fat cream cheese!!!

[PeacheyPeach]

@StuntNun

Can I just insist that everyone makes the cheese muffins when you're not fasting of course!

Hi can I ask how many calories do you think the muffins work out as? I love soup with crusty bread which I've not been eating. That is the only thing I'm missing to be honest so thinking these could be a nice replacement xx

[BIWI]

@PeacheyPeach I've worked them out to be 268 calories, if you make 5 from the quantity, or 223 if you make 6.

Based on:

100g Sainsbury's ground almonds
3 x medium eggs
1 sachet of Sainsbury's baking powder
30g Lurpak butter
60g Davidstow Cornish Extra Mature cheddar

Carbs are less than 2g per muffin

[MarmaladeTeepee]

I'm aiming for a 36+ hour fast tomorrow if anyone fancies joining me? I'll probably finish eating about 7pm tonight and then aim is not to eat until at least 7am on Saturday morning. Ideally I'd like to go til 11am and then do 16:8 but not going to put too much pressure on myself.

[MarmaladeTeepee]

Oh and I already know what I want to break my fast with - those amazing looking muffins!

I'm also very inspired by how you figured out what spikes your blood sugar Purplebag that's definitely something I want to investigate for myself. Fingers crossed the muffins aren't a culprit!

[PeacheyPeach]

@biwi thank you xx
So It's 268 for all 5. And do you eat them all in the same sitting x

[BIWI]

No! (Well you could, I suppose)

I had one this lunchtime, cut in half and buttered, and had some cheese with it.

[catwithflowers]

@PeacheyPeach Sadly the cheese alone comes to around 250 calories 😉

[PoppityPop]

@BIWI @PeacheyPeach
Surely that’s 268 calories each? 100g ground almonds is about 600 calories before you start to add in the other ingredients so it mist be per muffin. They look good though!

[BIWI]

@PeacheyPeach and @PoppityPop

Yes - 268 each!

[PMcGintysGoat]

peachypeach don't worry about the calories, if they're low carb/ high fat your body will naturally regulate the quantity without you needing to count.

[PeacheyPeach]

😲 268 each 🤣 good job you told me before i made a batch and ate every one!!