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Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Please, can anyone help me?

32 replies

OddSockBag · 16/04/2015 20:47

Ok, I need to lose weight and get healthy however, I am also on a tight budget.
Is it possible to low carb cheaply?

Secondly, can anyone write me a simple menu plan? I'm good at sticking to a set plan but day to day I'm terrible if I am left to my own devices. So I need a 'breakfast lunch dinner' style plan. Happy to repeat the same every day as I do better with routine and less choice.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 16/04/2015 22:55

Take a look at the Low Carb Bootcamp recipe thread here for ideas.

Also have a look at the In Between Bootcamp Thread here as well. Lot more ideas, and if you post on there I'm sure one of the lovely low carb experts will help you out.

I've started low carbing recently & am finding it's not too expensive as I'm avoiding expensive convenience foods and am eating much less as it fills me up so much.

Boardingblues · 16/04/2015 22:58

Hi,

I don't think that low carb has to mean more expensive. One of the advantages of low carb is that you will eat very, very little processed food - and that is expensive! So here I my ideas…

Brekkie - scrambled egg made with butter and I use almond milk cos I cannot stand cream in scrambles

Lunch - Chicken beast (skin on if you can) or ham, some leafy veg and some cheese

Dinner - A steak, a chop or some other meat that you like. Salmon is also good! Avocado mayo… ;) or I love roasted asparagus (rub some oil on an wham in the oven at 180 for about 15 mins… the crispy ends are delicious.

My general rule that I follow is don't eat anything that grows below ground - and eat more of anything leafy that grows above ground.

Treats - I by Atkins bars and the cheapest that I have found them is at ASDA - £1. I never eat more than a third in a day and I cut it up into slices so that I don't scoff the lot in one go! the Peanut one is far, as is the mint one and the orange chocolate one is good too. Another handy treat is pork scratchlings. I also make parmesan chips for a crunchy snack and also great with creamy dips.

Original poster
OddSockBag · 17/04/2015 07:04

Thank you both so much! Great ideas. Think I need to write down a set plan for the week don't i?

OP posts:
Hobbes8 · 17/04/2015 07:12

Low carb diets tend to recommend fattier cuts of meat, which are often cheaper. Things like pork belly are cheap and tasty. Also, a lot of the recipes will use cauliflower as a substitute for potatoes, which isn't expensive.

It's also much harder to eat mindlessly when out and about, so you can save money that way. Good luck!

miffy49 · 17/04/2015 17:27

I've been LCHF for 4yrs now and I spend far less on my meals than on stuff for DH and DS who do Slimming World! They get through industrial quantities of Muller light yoghurts for a start and eat like a pair of caterpillars! I have seldom felt really hungry in all the time I've eaten this way.

You need to eat a lot of fat and that's pretty cheap. It also fills you up and you stay full for ages. Try the links that were posted for the Boot Camp. Lots of people on there posting meal ideas. From there you can find links to meal suggestions and recipes.

2fat4that · 19/04/2015 11:35

Odd, I need to do this too and don't have a lot to spend on meat etc. I have lost weight this way in the past and felt much better. Over the past year I've gained a stone and now need to lose 2 stone plus my joints ache. I always lose the plot when I'm hormonal and craving something sweet, I also don't know how to stop then. I struggle with breakfast, hot drinks, snacks.

Maybe we can share tips?

Original poster
OddSockBag · 19/04/2015 17:15

2fat I'm going to try a keto kick start tomorrow Blushwish me luck! Seems reasonably cheap and simple. Rules to follow which I like. Let me know if you want the link.

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 19/04/2015 17:19

As Drama said, I find my appetite is much smaller and I'm eating much smaller portions of meat. Aldi and Lidl are great for reasonably priced meat. I also buy eggs 30 at a time from a local egg farm which works out really cheap.

uk.atkins.com/ has a meal planner under 'support tools' (you need to register but it's free) though I've not actually used it.

2fat4that · 19/04/2015 18:18

"Odd" yes please, I'd love the link. I've been sorting through my fridge and cupboards to get rid of the c**p!

2fat4that · 19/04/2015 18:18

Arghhhhh, bold fail! Blush

Original poster
OddSockBag · 19/04/2015 19:36

2fat (sorry but I feel awful calling you that!) this is the link hope that's works I'm crap with clicks links.

OP posts:
2fat4that · 19/04/2015 20:33

Thanks, that's really useful. I like the sound of cream cheese pancakes Smile

I find drinking enough water Takt difficult, but I do drink a lot of Black coffee (usually decaff).

2fat4that · 19/04/2015 20:34

I should change my name .. I'll try and think of something.

Original poster
OddSockBag · 19/04/2015 21:24

The pancakes are ace but I've had no luck with the truffles. They were fucking awful
Yes! Get that name changed, motivate yourself with it! I need to lose 3 stone asap fancy keeping each other motivated?

OP posts:
2fat4that · 19/04/2015 23:30

Yes, definitely! I have 2 stone at least to lose, possibly 2.5.

I'll weigh in tomorrow morning and post what I've eaten later in the day.

Do you exercise too? I walk the dog every day, but also have an exercise dvd, Salsacise, which is fun, but I haven't done it for a while.

Original poster
OddSockBag · 20/04/2015 07:07

Excellent I'm hoping for something to keep me motivated! I'll weigh this morning too.
I don't really do any exercise Confused but am stopping using the car so I'll see if that makes a difference after I've used it today

OP posts:
2fat4that · 20/04/2015 07:40

I don't normally do exercise either, but think I may need to Shock

I weighed myself this morning, 12 stone 6.5 lbs. I'd like to get down to 10.5 stone.

Hope you have a good day.

Original poster
OddSockBag · 20/04/2015 08:18

12.1 and a half. Ok so we're not far off each other's starting weights which could be good for motivation? I've got a shit load of moving boxes and crap today so hoping that's today's exercise!
Have a good day.

OP posts:
2fat4that · 20/04/2015 08:51

That sounds like good exercise!
I'm feeling rather achy and creaky today, so not sure how much exercise I'll manage.

First I'm going to make myself something lovely and fatty for breakfast!

thecatsm0ther · 20/04/2015 08:57

Just changed my name!

Original poster
OddSockBag · 20/04/2015 09:31

Excellent! Good name change!
I'm tired so hoping the cravings stay at bay.

OP posts:
thecatsm0ther · 20/04/2015 09:49

Same here, too late to bed last night, very tired.

Boardingblues · 20/04/2015 11:36

Hi

I am 6 weeks in and dropping weight. I am generally crap at dieting and am not noted for willpower. BUT, I really want to lose weight. I have gone into this to lose weight and have completely revamped my life. I am not having any cravings… Because I have chosen to believe that I will not! I am not hungry, I don't feel that I am missing out on anything. I do repeat the mantra that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I have started exercising after years of doing nothing other than walking the dog! Don't talk yourself into failure by anticipating cravings. Get some treats - I cut up Atkins bars into sweetie size chunks and let my self have up to half a bar a day. I have a wondrous array of sugar free chewing gum in almost every flavour under the sun (great for facial muscle exercise too!). I have a 10cal jelly for pudding - even better with double cream on for an extra reward on exercise class days. My advice, tell yourself you can do it! Celebrate every pound lost, look forward to the next. Set yourself short term goals and be positive, because you can do it, it is worth it and so are you!

thecatsm0ther · 20/04/2015 14:25

Hi Boarding, sounds like you are doing well.

I was a bit stuck at lunch time today, as I hadn't been shopping, so had to make do with what I had in. I ended up with pate and full fat Philadelphia! Probably not great, but my take on ham and Philadelphia rolls! It was very nice though.

thecatsm0ther · 20/04/2015 18:36

How are you doing Odd?

I had bacon and fried egg for breakfast, for lunch I had pate and cream cheese, this afternoon I had a snack of 2 scrambled eggs with a little fried pancetta as I was hungry. For dinner we're having chilli con carne without beans, served with buttered swede mash.

I've placed an online order with Asda for tomorrow, so I'll have more suitable food then.

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