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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.

Hello! Day One Done - anyone want to join me?

721 replies

SharkSkinThing · 29/09/2015 20:43

Just wanted to say hello and see if any other new starters wanted to buddy up for support and advice?

I've got 3 - 4 stone to lose, all gained AFTER having my DS who is now - god help me - 5. All down to long-term sleep deprivation and sugar reliance, and forming terrible habits. And wine to help me cope with the sleep deprivation,

Anyway, hoping to finally turn things around now that he's finally sleeping (sometimes until 5.30am!). Would love to chat to others who are finding that this WOE works for them.

xx

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Thefitfatty · 12/01/2016 11:17

Ooo those look nice. I just made coffee when I got home with a big dose of coconut milk and cream.

I just took my measurements so I will have to keep track of them from now on. Haven't been on the scales this week. I can't help but think that with a 2 inch gap in my abs, and that roll of loose skin over my c-section scar, that it messes up my measurements? Confused

Good job with the 2cm's off favadi!

FavadiCacao · 12/01/2016 12:28

Thank you, Fit.
Don't worry about the loose skin, I used to measure at the natural waist line, belly button and lower hip (at narrowest point below skin fold/apron) to record an easier trend line. I'm not sure if it'll work for abs gap and/or loose skin, I got rid of my apron using Tracy Anderson's post natal abs plus her mat dvd, followed by her TA's Method.

SharkSkinThing · 12/01/2016 17:59

Hello all, hope your Tuesdays are going well.

I had a day off and managed to fit in a pretty decent swim and a good decluttering session! Four enormous bags of toys and books to the charity shop!

Feels bittersweet to be saying goodbye to some of DS's baby things but have kept those with some meaning.

Gagging for wine tonight but need to stay focused. Next goal is another stone by end of March.

So bed at 8pm then!!!! Grin

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DurhamDurham · 12/01/2016 22:17

Been very good these last few days, well since I got back on track on New Year's Day really. Haven't snacked between meals at all and haven't had an appetite since yesterday morning. I have had a steak and some veg for dinner tonight, it was delicious but I couldn't finish it.

I might try some of the delicious recipes on here, apologies if it's been done,I've had a look through and can't see one but does anyone ( Fav I'm looking at you, the fountain of tasty recipes and inspiration to us all Grin) have a recipe for some lamb dishes, I was hoping for a Moroccan dish with apricots etc

Thefitfatty · 13/01/2016 04:46

Made cauliflower rice last night with butter garlic prawns and calamari, asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Was divine!

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 13/01/2016 06:00

Well, having been very good since New Years Day, I slipped up yesterday. I went out to lunch with friends, and the cafe we went to had a carb-loaded menu. Jacket potatoes, sandwiches etc. I opted for the home-made tomato soup (checked with chef, no sugar in it) and told myself i would not eat the bread that came with it..... Failed miserably, and chomped my way through half of it. Blush

I guess next time I'll ask for soup with no bread.

On the plus side, I made delicious turkey meatballs for supper which I had with salad, and am aiming to stay as low carb as possible today.

FavadiCacao · 13/01/2016 11:33

So easy to do at the beginning, Pax. Like the soup with no bread, some of the sandwiches' and jacket potatoes' fillings might be ok; restaurants are often happy to swap the potato and bread for salad.

Fit, your dinner is just my cup of tea. Squid, octopus and prawns...yum! Grin Stuffed squid is a favourite in this house.

Well done, Durham. I've been a good girl with food but fell to the temptation of some wine last weekend.

Funnily enough, Dh cooked lamb chumps last night and I'll be cooking some lamb cutlets tonight as dh didn't realise I had already defrosted some cutlets.

Cutlets, chops and chumps:
-Stand on their fat end (using skewers to keep them upright) over a low to medium heat, until the fat is rendered*, then cook them on each side.
-Once the fat begin to render I might add a garlic clove or two (green shoot removed) and a sprig of rosemary or thyme.
-Towards the end of cooking add 1 tbs white wine or lemon juice to lift juices.
*Might to need to get it start with a little fat (animal is best)

Apricots can be very carby...Inspired by your request and limited by the ingredients in the house, whilst keeping it as low carb as possible...
I'll marinade the cutlets in lime juice; I'll cook the cutlets as above but as the fat begins to render -which will be caramelising because of the lime- I will add tangerine juice and thyme (maybe a little cinammon, cardommon and chilli) and toward the end I'll lift the juices with rose water.
Fingers crossed that'll be recalling some of the fresh, sweet and perfumed smell of a tagine. Confused

Lamb neck and belly make beautiful curries: Dopiaza, Rogan Josh, Shashlik...

FavadiCacao · 13/01/2016 20:13

I'm pleased to say that the lamb worked really well.

Lamb in tangerine and rose water Moroccan inspired

4 lamb cutlets (~300g)
1 lime, juiced
3 tangerines, juiced (or orange)
4-8 cardommon pods, seeds only (I used 4 but it could have taken double)
Almonds, toasted and crushed (I only had 6)
2 tbs rose water
chilli and salt to taste.

-Marinade lamb in lime juice for at least 20 mins
-Cook cutlets over low to medium heat on its fat first and
-As the fat render, add cardommon
-Once fat is crispy, brown both side of cutlet then
-Add tangerine juice and almonds
-Cook meat to preferred level
-Once the meat, remove and let rest whilst finish sauce:
-Add rose water and reduce sauce
-adjust salt and chilli to taste before serving.

I served it with spinach dressed with olive oil.

DurhamDurham · 13/01/2016 20:22

Oh Fav that sounds delicious, I have a thing for lamb at the moment. It's just so tasty and I like eating the fatty bits too .

IHave had another healthy low carb day, cheese salad for lunch, gilled fish, veg and sweet potato mash for dinner.

I'm still not drinking enough water, I do much better with water consumption in the summer months.

Thefitfatty · 14/01/2016 06:51

Gym today!!! Can't wait :D weighed myself last night and I'm back to what I was pre-Christmas. :)

SharkSkinThing · 14/01/2016 10:40

Hello all, glad to hear everyone is getting their mojo back.

My scales seem to be stuck at 13.10, just not budging. I have been 100% good so no idea what it is but will plod along and see what happens on Saturday's weigh in. It could all change by then (though not if I knock back the wine on Fri night, and I am desperate for a few glasses!).

Maybe a new fitness routine? xxx

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FavadiCacao · 14/01/2016 13:32

Durham -The fatty bits are the best! Grin

That's great, Fit. Enjoy gym. :)

Shark -I understand your frustration, this diet can produce strange results. You might not have lost 'weight' but your body composition and body shape would be changing. Subtle changes in places like neck and ankles or even knees can be difficult to spot. For example, a few women can gain cms around the breasts whilst the underbust and waist shrinks but the weight stays the same; rings become looser and shoes less tight... I'm becoming more trusting of the tape measure than the scales (although they're showing less body fat composition, despite the lack of lbs shifting).

I was lucky to pick up some fresh mussels for £1/kg, so for dinner we are having: Mussels hot and spicy

1kg fresh mussels, de-bearded and cleaned
1 tin plum tomatoes, blended
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated/finely chopped
1/2 lemon rind, grated
1 onion/spring onion
couple of stems of basil/parsley/coriander, chopped
salt chilli to taste
fat to cook
Pan with lid

-Over low heat, sweat onion
-Add ginger, after a few seconds
-Add tomatoes, lemon rind, basil and chilli
-Simmer until tomato sauce has reduced by almost half (~30 mins)
-Add mussels, place lid and simmer until all the mussels have opened (~3-5 mins)
-Add a little extra fresh basil, adjust for salt and Stir before serving

I think I'll serve the mussels with oven baked ginger broccoli (in a large bowl toss broccoli with fat and grated ginger and bake @180C).

SharkSkinThing · 14/01/2016 21:45

Sigh. You are right of course, fav. I'm going to do a 2 week bootcamp and really nail it. I think drink may be the issue - it creeps up on me and I'm not as vigilant as I think I am!!

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willpenrose · 15/01/2016 07:38

Youngest daughter's birthday yesterday so a Fastday somewhat derailed by a nice piece of chocolate fudge cake. And my thinking is that you can't hold back on something like this. You don't want to set an example of being fussy about something as lovely as a birthday celebration. So I enjoyed the cake whole heartedly. Smile

And something else to Smile about. Wine tonight. The first for two weeks.

Bad week for 69 year olds. A weekend of Hunky Dory and Love Actually. 'And if the homework brings you down then we'll throw it on the fire and take the car downtown'.

FavadiCacao · 15/01/2016 08:45

Shark, I'll join you in a wine bootcamp. Brew I'd like to give it up for at least a month but might try a stint 'til April (Big birthday party to go to).

Happy Birthday to mini Miss Pen, Will. :)
Other than birthday cake 'pause', how are you doing?

I'm jumping up and down this morning: finally almost a pound down but most importantly I lost another 1/2 cm of the waist, 2.5 at the belly button and 1 at hip AND, according to the scales, 2.3% fat loss since before Christmas, which brings it to a total of 7.3% body fat! Grin Grin Grin

DurhamDurham · 15/01/2016 08:47

Good morning all.

Fav I made the Moroccan inspired lamb last night, I wasn't sure about the tangerines but it worked, I did add quite a bit of chilli as I love spicy food. There is enough left for lunch today so I imagine my worked colleagues will be dribbling at the smell whilst contemplating their sad little sandwiches Grin

Going for a long walk tomorrow, we have snow here. It took one hour 40 mins to get to work when it usually takes 30 mins. Looking forward to not using the car and having a long walk to blow away the cobwebs. I don't do much exercise but I enjoy walking and can keep it up for hours at a fast pace.

SharkSkinThing · 16/01/2016 08:32

fav you're on. I'll start with getting to the end of the month and see if that nudges it. Hold my hand, I know I'm weak! Smile

Durham enjoy your walk and I wish we had snow. Any excuse to stay on the sofa! Xxx

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FavadiCacao · 16/01/2016 10:14

Shark -To the end of the month it is, we shall muster all our resolve! Grin

Durham Glad you've enjoyed the lamb. Did you get any comments at work?
Enjoy your walk.

willpenrose · 16/01/2016 13:43

Well done fav, and everyone.

Snow, wow - would love that too. So would Miss P. And her older sis and bro too. But it is cold. Beautiful day for a little bike ride this morning.

But weight loss is basically done. Hit 13st dead this morning. I'll put a bit on this weekend as I'm back to the wine... GnT, beer, curry, wine and sofa last night. Pretty perfect Friday night in. But will aim just get under 13 next week so that going forward I'll average out at 13.

Lamb's a good idea for Sunday lunch - Jamie's Mad Moroccan Lamb is a nice recipe.

Thefitfatty · 17/01/2016 05:16

So I tripped on my shoelace running on the treadmill Friday. Twisted my ankle good and now its a bit tender. Oof. (ego hurt more then anything really). Was really good this weekend except for one can of beer and one chocolate chip cookie. Otherwise didn't snack at all.
Home made chicken wings tonight with sauteed spinach and garlic.

SharkSkinThing · 17/01/2016 06:47

Nice one will! Sounds like you got your groove on.

Thanks fav....have woken up full of cold so that should stop the wine lust!

Poor fit, get better soon. Well done on just eating one cookie...I'd have snaffled the lot!

Wet here and cold, very cold! Xxx

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FavadiCacao · 17/01/2016 10:17

Well done, Will. :) I hope you'll keep cheering us on and keep us updated.

Fit, Flowers I hope your foot heals soon.

Shark, Wishing you a Brew with some zinc for a shorter cold.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 17/01/2016 13:07

Well, I've had a not-so-good week foodwise, as we have had visitors all week. Lots of meals out and wine. But I'm back to work and normality tomorrow. On the plus side, I am 5lbs lighter than my pre-Christmas weight.

Favi's meal ideas sound amazing, so I'll be trying lots of those. Hopefully I'll lose another 1lb this week.

FavadiCacao · 18/01/2016 07:21

Pax -Well done on keeping the weight off despite meals out and wine. If your meals out were a bit carby, you might lose more than 1lb this week.

Another happy day here: scales moved in the right direction, 2cms off belly button, 1cm off arm and thigh and I can fit back into one of my favourite pair of skinny jeans. :)
Let's hope I won't derail too much later this week, when having visitors for a long weekend.

SharkSkinThing · 18/01/2016 17:51

Amazing, fav! Well done! Smile

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