I need to lose weight quickly, will low carb help me do it?

[Carbornocarbs]

I need to lose a stone at a minimum, I’ve got an event coming up in 8 weeks. I’ve tried cutting down in general etc and it hasn’t worked because if I eat anything I really enjoy I don’t stop and I drink at the weekends which probably isn’t helping as alcohol makes me hungry. I haven’t tried low carb and wondering if this would do it. I have a bad relationship with food but I don’t have time to fix that, and I will delve deep into my eating issues after this event and fix the way I look at food for the longer term.

I can’t go to this event looking like this. Please give me some advice.

Look for the channel 4 program Lose a stone in 21 days and the accompanying book fast 800.

It's not for the feint hearted but it's a way of losing weight fast without impacting your health, in fact the TV participants all improved on all measurements.

High protein (lots of eggs / lean meat etc / protein yoghurt) to keep you full, low carb (salad / a little fruit / minimal bread) and minimal fat. ~1300cals a day. Loads of water. Stick to this for 8 weeks and you’ll nail it!

I lost weight by cutting down carbs. I cut out biscuits/pastries/cake and cut down with carbs in meals. I upped protein and vegetables. I found that having eggs for breakfast I wasn’t hungry again until 2/3 pm.

Drink water and if you have alcohol just one drink. If out with friends or family switch to tonic water.

Good luck.

Just looked at my stats on My Fitness Pal. Between 16 Jan and 5 March (when I was going on hols), I lost 18 pounds. So that’s 7 weeks.

I did it very easily by keto and daily 18:6 fasting. I still drank at the weekends.

Yes but you do need to be aware that the first few days on low carb/keto you will likely feel hungry. If you can push through it and avoid carbs/sugar then you'll reach a point where a higher protein and fat diet makes you feel full and the weight comes off, but you have to get through that first week.

Make sure you have plenty of water/black tea/black coffee/herbal teas too. It helps stave off hunger and your body uses water to break down fat so you need plenty of it.

@Lionessinwinter yes it definitely gets easier if you can push through that first week, especially if your normal diet is quite high carb.

Make sure you have plenty of good high protein foods in so if you need something to eat you don't fallback on crisps, bread, chocolate, biscuits etc, the easy to grab and satisfying diet killers.

I try to have things in the fridge like boiled eggs, Longley farms full fat cottage cheese (best cottage cheese ever), full fat Greek yoghurt (not Greek style or low fat), green beans, tenderstem broccoli, cooked chicken/turkey, mushrooms.

That way I know that I can just walk into the kitchen, grab something and eat it without a load of sugar.

Do make sure you have plenty of veg, preferably stuff grown above ground as it's generally lower carb. If you just eat meat and dairy you'll find yourself with a constipation problem. You need fibre and water to keep bowels working properly.

I lost a stone in 3 weeks the first time I did keto do yes it's possible.

The first 5 days or so are pretty rough then it slowly gets easier. Then at about 2 weeks in you find your appetite dropping, taste buds changing (sugar tastes weird to me, kind of dulled) and your head will clear. Lots of people report other health benefits too.

Make yourself a rolling meal plan and stick to it.

Eg.

Breakfast
2 egg omelette with cheese tomato and mushrooms
Or
Full fat plain yoghurt with a few raspberries or nuts.
Or
Bacon and eggs

Lunch
Green salad with chicken/fish/egg/roast veggies/coleslaw/ tomato/cucumber and olive oil or ranch or mayo.

OR
Keto friendly soup. Chicken, cream of mushroom, broccoli and stilton etc.

Dinner
Chicken stir-fry (oil, garlic and low carb soy sauce)
Couliflour/broccoli cheese
Burger patties with your choice of topping without the bun.
Fajita without the wrap, so meat, sour cream, cheese and peppers salsa etc.

It will but after after about 5 days you'll be desperate for baked beans in a jacket spud

If you have a deadline it makes it easier to get through the hunger imo. You should be aware that the first half a stone of weight is your body shedding excess water. You will still see and feel the difference but this will likely come back on very quickly once you return to a carb heavy diet. It isn't a bad thing, some people are rather alarmed by this and feel very bloated very quickly afterwards. I also get headaches when i start eating sugar now too!

I was 24 at the time and 13st 3 when i started. 8lb the first week then 4 the second then 3 the third. I was rather astonished as you can imagine and its made me quite evangelical about low carb. I was very strict which is actually much easier after the first two weeks as you kind of lose interest in food and i started to skip meals accidentally because my normal hunger cues disappeared (previously unthinkable i love food!).

Im late 30s now and its not nearly so easy as that first time, don't know if my metabolism has changed or it was having two children and gaining quite a lot of weight i don't know. I suspect im not being as struct as that first time too.

The only reason cutting carbs makes you see a quicker change on the scales is because carbs make you retain water. When you go on a low carb diet at first you will see a big loss on the scales but it's just water.

To lose fat you just have to make sure you are in a calorie deficit consistently. I've lost nearly 5 stone by doing this.

The fast 800 does work but it's because you're eating 800 calories a day!

Hi, I know how tough it can be and sometimes when you cut out a food completely - like Carbs - you become obsessed thinking about it and crave it even more! I found Lions Prep really helped me, they do 3, 5 and 6 day meal plans, and I found their main meals perfect for lunch and dinner. As it's there and already made it's so easy to stick to. The meals are between 400-600 calories I think. I prefer to make my own breakfasts but their main meals are perfect!

I think a new low carb boot camp is due to start soon @biwi @prettybird ?

@showmethegin

The only reason cutting carbs makes you see a quicker change on the scales is because carbs make you retain water. When you go on a low carb diet at first you will see a big loss on the scales but it's just water

I'm sorry but this is complete nonsense!

When you adopt a low carb diet, in the first week you lose water - which happens on any other diet you might do. But you will also be using up the glycogen stores in your liver and muscles, which is where glucose/unused energy is stored, along with a little bit of fat. This doesn't happen on a low calorie or low fat diet, which is why the first week(s) of a low carb diet can see such big losses.

@WhoaJayShettybambalam don't know when the next Bootcamp will start - probably some time towards the end of April.