Sugar Begone! low-carb eating for the incredible shrinking women!

[Ormirian]

Let's start afresh!

Poor you, hope it clears up soon.

Not down to too much fruit, is it?

I did wonder about the fruit, but the doc says it's more likely to be a bowel problem, perhaps even an ulcer. He did say that repeating the same meal over and over was not good, and I am very guilty of that- Love salad.

Had a nice lunch and feel okay- some broccoli, broad beans, peas and sweetcorn with quorn, and a lot of nuts. Also, laying off the coffee for a day.

10 5.75 today. Not bad but in a bit of a mood and not really in the zone. Must perk up later.

BelleEnd - hope you are feeling much better today.

Hello, I hope you don't mind me joining, but I've been reading this thread with interest and was wondering if those of you with more low-carb experience could give me some advice. This might be long, so forgive me.

Last year I started WW and lost three stone through the original points system to get to my goal weight. I have managed to stay within a few pounds of that weight since last July. However, I have noticed that as the rest of me has shrunk, I seem to have developed a pot belly.

I'm still at the high end of a healthy BMI (even though I don't actually trust BMI), so I think I'd like to lose about a stone. However, having tried South Beach and others before, I don't want got do the full-on low carb. I do still get weighed at WW and try to roughly count points as I find it easier than counting calories.

Anyway! The point of all this is that I'm trying to cut out refined carbohydrates as I've heard that's the most effective way to lose a belly, but I eat a lot of fruit and don't think I can do without it. Today I'll eat:

WW yoghurt with muesli and an apple
Babybel Light and seven cherry tomatoes
Hardboiled egg, couple of slices of ham, apple and two small clementines
Small peach
Prawns, roasted veg in quinoa (red pepper, butternut squash, courgette and onion) and steamed broccoli
Bowl of strawberries and blueberries

That seems like a lot of food, but I'm quite often on the move and am hungry if I don't eat it! So there are no refined carbs in that menu, but I recognise that there are a lot of sugar and carbs in all that fruit. So while I know that points-wise I'm fine and I'd lose weight maintaining a diet like that, am I going to sacrifice all the good results in the tummy area I'm hoping to achieve if I don't cut down massively? And if I do get rid of the fruit, what do I have instead?

Apologies for the massive first post. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Hello ladies. I come bearing a big white flag. :(
I have lost 2 1/2 stone in a few months low carbing, and feel great about my new shape. But I'm ill all the time. I have always been so healthy, and I've reached the point that I am up all night in pain, and miserable all day because of lack of sleep. I don't know what connection my diet has to these stomach pains, but I know that I have become far too obsessive and controlling and am not eating what is good for me any more.
My grandmother sat me down this lunchtime and made me eat a sandwich. I actually felt the strength and energy picking up.
The good news is that I am not planning to go back to being a lardbucket... I am going to keep up the veg intake, and eat small amounts of carbs with meals instead of basing my meals around them as I used to. I am going to eat only home-made bread and wholewheat pasta. I will probably pile on the weight in the first few weeks, but at least I'm prepared for it.
I think different diets suit different people, and this just didn't suit my system.
I will really miss you guys! I'll still pop back to say hello (and probably to be at your continuing weightloss!). I really appreciate the support you've given, and you've really made me realize that I have very deep-seated food control issues, and acceptance is the first stage to recovery...

Oh belle, sorry that's not agreeing with you. You've got to look afetr yourself firstof all. If it's not agreeing with you, then no point in being slim and ill. You might want to consider the harcombe diet. Basically she says either either protein/fat with low carb veg OR carbs/fruit/veg without fat/much protein. I think it's a bit tricky with milk and dairy but eg skimmed milk is okay with carbs. Worth a try?

welcome amaxapax. If i wereyou i would reduce the fruit and bulk up on veg and protein. Typical menu for me:

Breakfast: plain full fat nat yoghurt or greek yoghurt; smoked salmon with a squeeze of lemon; 2 scrambled eggs with herbs or cheese; weekends, poached egg and bacon or lo-carb sausages

Lunch: big salads with lots of veg, i often have no wrap fajitas with onions, peppers, chicken, sour cream, salsa etc. I work in the city so lots of choice for me.

dinner: protein and veg/salad. Often the plate is 3/4 salad or i have 3 different veg. I really eat much more than i used to.

Snacks: small pot plain yog, piece of cheese, tuna and mayo, slice of ham, a couple of olives.

Really, i eat much less sweet stuff than before. Fruit - once or twice a week. i try to have it as a pud - ie eat it as a deliberate choice, not a mindless fill me up exercise. I am partial to a few squares of 70% dark choc but try to limit it to 4-6 smal squares and not every day.

Also i find that eating protein alone keeps me fuller than eating the same amount of protein along with carbs! Odd but true!

Could you try to refuce the fruit and replace with something else? Increase the veg portions at lunch and perhaps treat yourself with some in the evning. Better to have it once a day rather than spiking your blood sugar all day long.

Food today has been quite good.

B: yoghurt with fruit compote (from pret -got caught short)
L: chicken salad
Snack: half tin tuna, redonion and mayo, with 2 slices cheese
D: roast chicken thigh, lettuce, asparagus, broad beans, salsa verde.

10 4.5 today. It's all a bit up and down at the moment. Oh, well. Going on clothes fit, I am down but not as skinny as before easter. I have managed not to have any booze since Saturday which is v good for me as I am partial to a wee glass or three of wine mid week.

B: plain natural youghurt
L: not sure
D: wild boar sausages from farmers market, spring cabbage, roasted b/n sqaush

Belle - sorry it has not been plain sailing for you. Perhaps a more equitable balance with carbs might be the way forward for you? Anyway, I wish you luck and, of course, health ... and do pop back and tell us what's going on for you.

Hi Amax - welcome. I would suggest that some of the fruit is dropped. Load up on veggies (raw or cooked) and protein. Don't know how much you snack but, if that is something that happens regularly then try to limit that as well - it is shocking just how many calories go down when you are snacking, mainly because you tend to snack absent-mindedly.

Anyway, had my usual apple and nut butter this morning ... now, what's for lunch

Hi guys

Dinner was awesome. 2 wild boar snags, roasred b/n squash, with olive oil and sage leaves and spring cabbage, pan fired with a bit of butter and olive oil. Loved. It and am rammed full. No room for chocolate. I tell you; veg is the way forward!

Ooooooh free - that dinner sound lovely. Can I come round for dinner tomorrow .

Seriously though, where are you getting your wild boar snags? They sound mmmmmmmmmmmm delicious.

Mmmm FBB!

Welcome Amax and (sob) goodbye Belle - have a look at Holford diet too for a few more carbs without going overboard. Likewise wish you best of luck and health! No diet is worth impacting your health for, and I'm glad at least this has given you the impetus to look at your triggers. Went through that process last year and found v helpful (had thought was just babyweight/foodie leanings but on closer examination, no)(competition for resources as one of five plus that old "poor starving children in Africa, don't waste your food" thing)(went to a boot camp last year almost more of a holiday as to shift the babyweight; they put meningitis the lc holford diet and did work with hypnotherapy and NLP and visualisation. V helpful).

Anywaaay...

Been a busy week so not had time to post at all. Lots of blips but by following basic principles despite many temptations have not put on a single pound. This is a Good Diet....! Sustainable but effective. Blips included brownies and jersey royals and lots of alcohol so frankly a stall is a result for me...!

They put me on the holford diet rather than they put me meningitis..!

Amax yes more veggies and yes I did WW before the lc and what shifted the bloat was being strict on refined/white carb-heavy stuff.

Thanks all for your advice. The truth is...sigh. I don't really like veg. Well, no, that's a lie. I do like veg, but my boyfriend refuses to eat it so it feels like a faff to prepare it at dinner. Having said that, I'm much more likely to have it at dinner time if I'm working on being committed to eating well. I just despair at the idea of eating variations on protein enhanced salads every day for lunch. I was really into soups for a while, but think I may have burned myself out. Do any of you have lunches you can recommend that can be made in advance? I'm a teacher so pack a lunch everyday and have a limited window in which to eat.

Thanks again for your help.

Typed a massive post then lost it

Anyway, hi Amax. I have to take pre-prepared lunches to work, so here are a few of my faves:

Veggie sticks and dips (tzatziki, taramosalata)
Salad with cheese/salami/chicken etc. etc. Infinite variations!
Smoked mackerel and coleslaw
Tuna mayo, in iceberg lettuce "wraps". Ditto egg mayo.
Frittata (eaten cold or heated in microwave)
Soup, with cubes of salami, cold sausage or cheese on the side.
Nicoise salad (egg, tuna, green beans and lettuce, no spuds)
Chicken caesar salad (minus the croutons)

My DH is a veg-dodger too, but I don't let that stop me eating it - I get through loads.

I agree with the others - a bit less fruit and a bit more protein would be better, but giving up the refined stodge had an instant affect on my waistline, so hopefully it will sort out your tum.

Belle - sorry it hasn't delivered results for you, but if it's making you ill, listen to grandma! You only have one life; better to live with a few extra pounds than be miserable.

Anyway, having preached about low-carbing I'm off to Cornwall on Friday to stuff myself silly with cornish pasties. I'll be back next week to make my penance.

Hi all. I'm new to this thread and need a virtual hug! As a regular carb-dodger I restarted my clean living campaign last week in time for the great summer beach parade and immediately lost 2 kg (generally lose 1 - 2 jg per week). So - have been an angel all this week, eaten pretty much the same as last week and, bugger me, no weight loss at all this week :( My head is telling me that weight loss isn't a perfect line but my heart is sobbing and reaching for a family pack of M & Ms and a bottle of wine . WHy does this happen and any tips to maintain some kind of weight loss. Also - interested to know BMIs - mine is 27 - try and convince myself that anything under 27.5 is not actually a disaster but think I need a "virtual" slap to shock me into further action. Thank God I'm at work right now where there are no goodies lurking!

Awww Sal, you're too kind! Ditto, it was lovely to meet you, there were loads of people I seemed to chat to "briefly" - where did the evening go?

Interesting about your IBS kicking off - clearly your body is telling you something.

Did you get some running music sorted, or are you going to stick to building those biceps with the Shred?

OK, laydeeeeeeees .... have just ordered The Shred (da da daaaaahhhhhh). Come and tell me how awesome it is and that it doesn't really hurt that much the day after .... pleeeassseee .

Oh, and hello to mog - glad to have you here. Can't say for sure why you stayed the same for a week, I only know that the more you yo-yo the more your body learns that this 'starvation' thing happens once i a while and learns to hold on to everything! Give it time and it will start to shift again.

Hi sal, nice to see you again. How's the running going?

Mogmog welcome! Same happened to me - lost a stone or so last year lcing but fell off wagon in Sept; back on in April. Immediately lost a couple of kilos and then stalled for over a week, then suddenly another kilo.

Then stalled the last three weeks as kept going out and blipping, but another kilo off this week now that I'm being strict again.

Someone (CV?) suggested a spreadsheet to keep you focused on the overall downward trend when stalling.

And welcome back Sal! Haven't quite started c25k properly yet (did week one day three yesterday if that gives some indication and not sure I can face running tonight with all the Rain...) But plannin on getting that up and Running (ha ha) in the next week (half term energy levels allowing) to join you on that thread...

Twasn't me suggesting spreadsheets - I have plenty of those at work, thank you! I think FBB was the nerdy organised one.

I only weigh myself when I remember (or if I think I will like what I see on the dial)

Oi CV! Did you just call me a nerd!? the cheek.

Yes, I am queen of the spreadsheet. I even have a funky graph and everything.

10 1.75 today but 1. no dinner last night (see 2.) 2. masses of white wine and 3. sausage sarnie and coke for brekkie this morning (again see 2.)! So expecting to bounce up again tomorrow.

Hi All - have just name changed (was Timbachick) ... just fancied a bit of a change. You know what they say ... a change is as good as a rest . Feel a strange sense of exhilaration at name changing ... not that anyone knew me but feels 'weird' nonetheless. Never fear though, I remain 'me' - hahahahaha