Sooooooo bored ...

[BrigitsBigKnickers]

Been low carbing for 3 weeks + C25K.
Got over the Keto flu hump.
Lost 7lb in the first week and now up to 10lbs- seem to have stalled a bit.

Not hungry
Heart palpitations that have plagued me for 5 years gone.
Heartburn/ acid reflux gone.

So many good things about this WOE but

I am soooo bored....

I am so fed up with not having bread- have tried about ten different recipes for Keto Bread but they are all foul-too eggy or cheesy.

I want something crispy that isn't overly seedy or nutty.

Want something with bolognaise that isn't bloody spiralised. ( sorry but I have yet to find a way to cook courgette that doesn't end up as a wet soggy watery mess.

Can't have roast potatoes or parsnips or stuffing or with my roast Just vegetables or bloody sodding cauliflower cheese.

No fruit except a few measly raspberries.

Doesn't help that I absolutely fucking bloody hate cooking.

Really fed up this evening- did a curry for DH I have just a bit of chicken with minimal sauce. Wasn't that hungry ( please don't suggest cauliflower rice- it's hideous)

I know this works for me and health wise I feel better but I really really don't think I can do it for much longer.

Low fat low calorie diets don't work either- can't bear being hungry

Someone persuade me to stick with it.

.

Well done with your weight loss! You’ve done so well. I can understand your struggle, I’ve just started cutting back on carbs but I’m in the early days so it’s not so bad.

Your health has improved which is so good, try to stick it out. Think about how you’d feel if you had some bread or cakes, you’d probably feel like it really wasn’t necessary, and you would possibly undo all your hard work and the struggle you’ve endured.

Is this diet fitness/weight related? If so think about your goals and why they’re important to you. Stepping out of your comfort zone is so hard but when you see the reward after, you’ll feel better and it’ll be worthwhile.

As you’re really struggling with food at the minute try and make a Keto friendly treat, how about no bake keto cookies? It’s just shredded coconut, peanut butter, butter and vanilla.

Or how about keto cheese crisps? As you said you fancied something crispy. It’s just cheddar cheese put in the oven for a few minutes then cooled until hard. Would be nice with some guacamole or similar dip!

Thanks!
Yes I am doing it for health and weight loss.

I have been overweight for nearly 20
Years and need to lose 4 stone to get my BMI to a healthy range.

I have lost count of the number of times I have started a diet and just lost it after 6 weeks or so- ironically at the point where I am really moving towards my goals.

Sorry have tried cheese crisps and really don't like them. Believe me I have tried loads of ideas from the Diet doctor website but they just don't satisfy in the same way as a big bag of ready salted crisps or a bar of really good milk chocolate. I have been a binge eater for so long that a sweet treat might push me in the wrong direction.

I do struggle with the high fat thing. Everything I have ever known about diets screams that this is wrong and not healthy but the science seems to make sense.

I found adding leeks or cabbage cooked with garlic in cream to the roast meat and veg somehow satisfied me enough and I stopped missing potatoes, parsnips, etc. Celeriac can be made in a creamy gratin which is lovely
I agree snacks and fruit are hard. What about a few nuts?

Have you tried the Bootcamp threads? They have a lot of support for low carb and keto over there

Okay, four stone is not that bad. You've almost lost a stone so far! I think maybe you might be restricting yourself too much. Diets are so hard and I'm the same-once I start seeing results or almost get on track for a little while I just stop.

I think if you wanna do Keto then stick to it but there are alternative options. I personally think you're limiting yourself, and by you cutting back too much it really decrease your overall mood and dieting isn't supposed to make you feel like that!

Try eating whole wheat pasta, it has a very small amount of carbohydrates. I also think you have reached a weight loss plateau because you aren't fuelling your body enough. I honestly don't think carbs are going to hurt too much but just limit the amount you eat. As long as you're not eating refined sugar, white flour, and processed/starchy carbohydrates (cakes, pastries, biscuits) you'll be okay. Try and continue eating lots of protein and veg (even though it's boring!), and try and make each dish interesting. Eg. a stir fry with veg you wouldn't usually eat.

I'm sorry if I've not been that much help x

Thanks! I do have the odd handful of nuts which is quite satisfying and like the idea of creamed cabbage and leeks! Having slow cooked roast lamb tomorrow -might give that a whirl!

Am trying to stick to 20 net carbs a day at the moment so brown pasta would take me way over that.

Feeling a bit better now. Not eaten that much today but just not hungry so I suppose that's something!

Cauliflower rice? That's satisfying under a bolognese? Or thinly sliced white cabbage boiled?
Iceland do a multi green rice - broccoli, kale, cauliflower- that's fine too
You have done so well so far!

Sorry - re read and not cauliflower rice 🙄 hopeless here

Have you seen the recipe threads in the bootcamp section? There's 100s of recipes, meat, fish, veggie etc etc, all low carb.

Thanks- will have a look!

If you've got that much to lose and you are already sick of it this isn't the diet for you. I'm in a similar boat in terms of weight. MFP working perfectly for me as not boring or restrictive so is helping me effect a permanent change to my eating habits. Basically eating smaller quantities of healthy foods.

Change your eating plan. This won't work. You are struggling now after only 3 weeks. I have lost the same amount of weight in 3 weeks by cutting out the crap and keeping my food as clean as possible. Lean meat, fresh veggies; carbs too. Still have a daily treat and never felt like I have gone without.

I haven't got much advice but I sympathise, I lost weight doing low carb (didn't find any other health improvements) but found it completely unsustainable as a WOE. I was constantly worried about the effects of eating too much fat, cholesterol etc, I hate buttery/creamy veg and I craved crunchy foods (cheese or kale crisps didn't cut it for me). After a year on the rebound and having put the weight back on I've decided to go with the more conventional approach, cutting out sugar, white flour products etc and sticking to wholegrains, unprocessed food and moderate fat, lots of salad etc. I'm only a couple of weeks in but its much better, I feel satisfied in a way I never did on low carb and its so much easier to incorporate into family cooking. Still craving crisp though!

Bootcamp threads have loads of helpful people who will offer advice about a weight loss stall. One thought from me is to make sure you are drinking LOADS of water.

With the food, I'd stop trying to fake the carb element of your usual dishes. So instead of spiralised courgette masquerading as spaghetti (yuck), have your bolognese sauce with a side of creamed cabbage and leek or roasted veg, etc.

I wouldn't give up yet. You've done so well.

Most diets will work if you can stick to them long term. I had the same trouble with LCHF. Fell off the wagon after really good initial weightloss, because it's too restrictive.
New plan for me is 16:8 diet (i.e. only eat between 12 noon and 8 pm, no breakfast) plus no sugary stuff at all except at the weekend. I just can't be doing with a diet that bans certain foods altogether, especially whole food groups.

OP, before you break entirely and dive into a sliced loaf, can you consider a less extreme version of what you’re doing? We have a fantastic trainer who has five rules: no bread, pasta, white rice, potatoes or low fat products (too much sugar/substitute). There are loads of substitutes though. In moderation, brown rice, red lentil or pea pasta, sweet potato. Sainsbury’s even do butternut squash lasagne sheets which are pretty good. The weight might come off slower but it DOES work. Good luck!

I'm doing this at the moment and also finding it hard going, all the recipes taste like they have an ingredient missing and artificial sweetener leaves a horrible taste in your mouth.

One thing i am actually enjoying, buy some low carb protein powder, chocolate or vanilla. One scoop, an egg, drop of vanilla essence, spoon of ff milk, whip together and shallow fry in little circles, makes actual pancakes and they taste normal. I have with a teaspoon of peanut butter and some cream, yum!

MILHouse - I'm surprised none of the 5 rules is about sugar.

You must be on very low carbs. There is stuff on line what to do if you’ve stalled on Keto.
What about upping the carbs and upping your activity levels as well?
By upping I mean still sticking to no cereals no sugar but more root veg, just a small amount. Or more berries with cream or a banana in the morning?
I made roasted celeriac it was like a chip
Look on Pinterest for ideas
With Bolognese/chilli I like to put grated cheese on it and put it under the grill. So it feels less depressing
Personally I wouldn’t eat bread you are probably still a bit addicted to it.

Sorry, yes. I should add that there has to be a large element of sensible eating alongside the 5 rules. Sugar should be kept to a minimum. I was really just trying to offer alternatives to the staples that are missed when meal planning.

I think whatever your trigger foods (ie foods which lead to binging) are are the ones to be watched with extreme caution.
Also, pay attention to what is going on in your life, what do you crave and why?
Eg I had a bad day with DD and she had a bag of crisps. I was like 😭😭 I so wanted them. That is pure emotional eating on my part and nothing to do with hunger.
Lots of low carbers do have dark chocolate or limited potatoes occasionally-I’m not sure if I could yet. So is there a less harmful food that could provide a bit of comfort?
I find desiccated coconut sweet and crunchy
Pecan butter is also very sweet
You could add a few chickpeas to a curry just not too many

I lost 4 stone on low carb, op. Pre diabetic was the kick up the backside but just wanted to encourage you and say it's so worth it.
I feel much better.

For crunchy tastes have you tried these - Morrisons and Spar sell them. They're much nicer than ordinary scratchings, they're not fatty either. I get through a pot a day. They're nice with a dab of almond or cashew butter on them too.

a-review-a-day.blogspot.com/2017/02/todays-review-real-pork-crackling-co.html

Hovis low carb bread [Asda do it] is really nice, I can't tell the difference.

Thanks all- I am feeling a bit less grumpy this evening.
Was in a very bad mood at lunchtime as DH and DDs had fish and chips for lunch! 😡

As they arrived back from the chippy I went out and did some shopping while they gorged.

Anyway looking forward to my dinner this evening. Slow cooked roast lamb, sprouts ( I love them! ) and cauliflower cheese!

I know I am a binger and am not the sort to have one small square of chocolate or a very small treat so I know it's best to just avoid them. At least for the moment.

According to the Keto websites I haven't stalled. I lost 7lbs in the first 8 days and about 1 1/2 lbs in the second and third week . They don't count it as a stall unless it's plateaued for a number of weeks. The weight Is coming off I am just impatient I suppose!

I have tried those pork scratching things as they sell them in my local co-op. They are not bad-but I find they get stuck going down and for some strange reason, always give me hiccups!

I am going to stick with it for a few more weeks and then might go over to 5:2 which I have had real success with in the past.

Have you tried Fathead dough? It can make pretty satisfying crackers/bread substitute. I know you said you’ve tried and disliked cheese based keto breads, but I find that if you make it with grated mozzarella (I use Sainsbury’s Basics) it really has fairly minimal cheese flavour. It may still be too cheesy for you though.

www.ditchthecarbs.com/?s=Fat+head+

I'm right there with you OP, I'm back on low carb for the second time. The first time I lost 3 and a half stone before giving into my sugar craving and then never going back 100%

No useful suggestions to make, but I'm in the same boat so sympathies 😁

Also, you said you liked sprouts, I've just discovered a new recipe which makes them the food of the Gods.
Chop them up, fry them in butter with a shallot, garlic and salt and pepper. Add a few tablespoons of cream and you have the most delicious brussel sprouts the world has ever seen!