Struggling a bit

[hiddenhome]

I've been low carbing for about two weeks now and last night I felt terrible. My blood sugar seemed to be low and I was craving carbs like crazy and eventually gave in because I felt faint.

I've been okay so far today, but have just had my dinner and I'm starving again

What can I eat when I feel like this?

I don't feel that I'm taking in enough calories tbh.

when you say you were craving 'carbs',which kind of carbs/food was it?

how is your water intake?

Water intake is good because of the hot weather.

I was craving any carb I just grabbed a few things and gobbled them down Nothing sweet particularly.

I normally have:

Breakfast: Natural Yoghurt with some nuts, berries and seeds added.
Drink of milk

Lunch: Something protein - fish, cheese, ham. Salad

Evening meal: Protein and vegetables. If the others are having potatoes, I don't have them.

Suppertime: Some fresh cherries (I'm addicted to them) and another drink of milk.

Drinks: Milk, redbush tea, water, high juice if I get sick of water.

Snack: Apple or Pear.

I feel like I'm running out of energy and grinding to a halt. I've lost about 4lbs so far.

Otherwise, feel healthy and a lot better than when I was eating carbs.

Hmm, I think there is too much fruit and milk there, and not enough fat. Are you having oily dressings on your salads? Melty butter on your veg? You shouldn't be eating fruit apart from berries. Milk is also a no- no and high juice is definitely not allowed! Even if sugar- free, it's stuffed full of artificial rubbish.

Up your fat intake and the hunger should go.

No, I'm too scared to eat fats I eat flaxseed oil and oily fish, but that's it - no butter or salad dressings because I don't like them.

What happens to your bad cholesterol levels if you eat high fat foods? I'm even worried about eating full fat natural yoghurt.

Why is milk bad?

You need to eat fat on this way of eating. It's essential for satiety. Dietary fat doesn't make you fat. There have also been studies that show that bad cholesterol levels in fact go down on high-fat low-carb diets, and good cholesterol levels go up - I don't have any links handy but I'm sure there's some info with the Spreadsheet.

I'd really recommend Gary Taubes' "Why we get fat" and Dr John Briffa's "Escape the Diet Trap". Both are excellent on how fat has unfairly become the baddy.

But low carbing doesn't work properly unless you're eating fats. BIWI is the expert but I think it's the "messed about with" fats such as those in margarine and processed foods that are bad, rather than natural fats such as olive oil etc. Also, blood cholesterol levels are not linked to dietary cholesterol - again, I'm not an expert, but if you Google Dr John Briffa, you'll find a proper explanation. if you don't like butter or salad dressing, what about cheese? Or cream?

Milk is not allowed because it contains lactose, which is sugar, which you want to avoid. Cream is ok because lactose isn't present.

Hopefully someone better able to explain will be along soon but trust me, fat is good!

I do like cheese and cream.

Can I drink lactose free milk?

I know what you mean about the programming though - it's all around us, eg fat grams on the front of food packets but carbs buried at the back. It's not easy to ignore that, especially at the start, but have faith!

It is hard to get out of the "fat is bad" mindset isn't it!

Have a creamy sauce with your fish or chicken, and grate some cheese over your salad, and enjoy!

Yes, you can drink lactose free milk!

Alpro make nice almond milk too.

You could add feta or goat's cheese or mozzarella to your salads.

A high intake of milk is actually meant to make you crave carbs. Especially if you drink a whole glass quite quickly.

Only know that due to my sister being anorexic as a teenager and was put on a special diet where she had to drink a full pint of milk before eating a high carb dinner it was meant to help her deal/make her want to eat it.
Must say her special diet worked and she has grown into a stunning healthy young women now

The fat will fill you up so you must eat it!

Cut out the juice, milk and fruit and do a bootcamp.

Find a butter you like and eat it with veggies or ham and salad.

Cauliflower cheese made with dbl cream and cheese is great!

No more cherries?

So, more cheese, lactose free milk, no juice, full fat yoghurt.

For the first couple of weeks at least, I'd avoid all fruits.

Re the fat, avocadoes also have plenty of good fat. Also olive oil.

I've done low carbing and lost 10lbs. I found that I often needed a 'good' breakfast. Most days yogurt and fruit just wasn't sufficient.

If I had a poached egg or bacon with mushrooms I found the rest of the day much easier.

Thanks for all the replies, I really do appreciate the input because I struggle with the concept of eating fat. I grew up in the low fat era (80s), so I feel a bit panicky about it.

I will try eating more eggs too and having a better breakfast.

Ditch the natural yogurt for full fat greek instead
Add lots of butter/mayo/ olive oil to salads and veg
Eat plenty of fatty meat/chicken skin
Swap milk for coconut milk or ditch completely
Ditch the high juice (a squeeze of lemon or lime can help with water
Fruit should be berries first and kept to a minimum
Eat a handful of nuts as a snack

I eat paleo/primal rather than low carb which allows a little more fruit than low carb but they are very similar. I have lost nearly 3 stone in the last 15 weeks doing this.
If you are eating plenty of fat you wont crave carbs or feel faint, it does take a lot to get your head around eating fat but it really is the key to this woe working.
Jump back on the wagon and enjoy xx

I found the idea of eating fats hard to get used to.

I found cheese a good way to 'enjoy' fat. A small cube of cheese as a snack is really satisfying, as is a cheese and ham salad for lunch.

Okay, thanks

I'm back on the wagon.

Good work hiddenhome.

I second what excusetypos says about a good breakfast. I usually have cheesey scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and / or avocado and by lunchtime I only ever need something very small, if indeed i'm hungry at all.

Lots of good advice here, hiddenhome, and glad you're back on the wagon

Just to reiterate, there is definitely not a problem eating fat, and if you try to do low carb and low fat, it really won't work - and as you're finding out, you'll just be hungry all the time!

Come and join us on the Bootcamp thread and we'll keep you on track.