Low-Carb - No alcohol 30 day diet. Anyone want to join?

[SpringFollows]

Does anyone want to join me on my quest to eat low-carb and ban alcohol for 30 days? I am transitioning to vegan, so my 'low-carb' version REALLY means no bread, pasta or potatoes, but I will keep rice in and fruit and veg.

I have all these great intentions, but have a glass or two of wine and fall off all the wagons! I think i need support!

I am considering joining WW next week, but in my heart of hearts i know that my issues are - enjoying wine - and eating like it is Christmas every day. Sigh.

If anyone wishes to join- starting tomorrow, I would be so pleased! Mutual support guaranteed! :)

Me- I am 5 ft 5, 40's, weigh as of this morning 10 stone 12. (I know it is more- I was really dehydrated this morning- i suspect really 11 stone).

Goal weight- ultimately 9 and half stone. Not sure where I will get after 30 days!

Hope to see you!

Excuse typos.

Have no idea what a 'mettuce' is.

I started low-carb/no alcohol yesterday! Basically avoiding pasta/rice/bread/potatoes/sugar/alcohol.

I'm 5'1" and 11 stone - want to be nearer 9 though would settle for 9 1/2. I'm about a stone heavier than I was pre-pregnancy (ds is 8 months).

Hi Rita How are you finding today?

I had cravings from Bunny's post too! I have cooked sausage, bacon, mushrooms and onions to have for dinner with leftover caulimash. Smells lovely.

How're you getting on Spring? My low point is after the kids have gone to bed, I always fancy a vodka.

Good so far - lots of chicken, salad and greek yoghurt so far (and my own body weight in diet coke). I'm also allowing myself a square or two of very dark chocolate as a treat.

I did have a kebab for dinner last night though Left the pitta bread...

Welcome Rita! Yes, I think I am also trying to shed the post baby extra stone.

Hi SpotsI know what you mean about wanting a vodka after putting the kids to bed. I was very good yesterday and was sitting nicely smug, then DH had a whiskey and soda and i had a big sip. I do not know why i am sabotaging myself like this.... and I feel like I have let myself down. But DH said this morning he is keen to go alcohol-free for a bit too (although he hardly ever drinks) so that will help. What will NOT help though is that tonight we have - for the first time since our son was born- a babysitter and we are going out for dinner. I am planning though to remain strong, not least because I hate waking up with a fuzzy head. I havr found though, after the third consecutive day of not drinking I lose the cravings- habit. So yesterday set me back with that.

Yesterday- well, we had a vegetarian roast dinner. Lots of carrots, sweet potato (I have no idea about the carbs on that), butternut squash and peas. I avoided the regular potatos and the paxo stuffing which I usually make with veg roast. So food wise i was okay.

Today I am planning to haave a big green salad with avocado and nuts for lunch, and then will do the best I can at the restaurant. I have already got the menu online and will make sure i have chosen before I get there, so it is easy. Weigh in for me tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great day. :)

Gin and tonic is my downfall - I guess I could treat myself to a slimline one every now and again and it wouldn't be too bad? DP isn't a drinker either thank god so he's not tempting me, but he does eat biscuits by the bucketful

I lost over 2 stone in 2 months doing low carb when I was 19, so I know it's possible!

Weighed myself this morning, I am a bit disappointed that I only lost 3 lbs this week. After 9 last week I was expecting a bit more. I'm not sure if this is reasonable or not.

My DH is the same Rita, he eats loads of sugary things. Skinny as a rake too, some people are lucky like that . Your metabolism won't work as fast as it did at 19 though.

I feel like that Spring, I didn't really want a drink too much any more. I am pleased with myself for going so far. I am thinking of not drinking in the house and only when we (rarely) go out. Did you have a good night? How's the head .

BIWI wrote loads of really useful info on fruit, veg and takeaways etc on another thread, did you see it? Link

I'm trying to organise a 40th for DH at the end of June and want to look nice for it, also I have a gallbladder op in September and want to lose for that.

3lbs a week is still a fantastic loss Spots! That's 12 lbs in 2 weeks which is nearly half a stone per week - amazing!

It's taken me 2 and a half weeks to lose 13lbs. The light switch in my head has definitely 'clicked'. I'm not even tempted by bread/pasta etc any more. The food I'm eating now has so much more flavour than empty carbs! Had a few gin and slims on Saturday night and still lost so I'm definitely not cutting out alcohol completely!

Today I've had

Breakfast - 2 scrambled eggs, 1 grilled tomato and 2 rashers of WW bacon (I heartily recommend this stuff-it tastes like proper bacon and only has about 40 cals a rasher).

Lunch - Bowl of carrot and coriander soup. Some Sainsburys sweet chilli chicken slices.

Dinner will be - Marinated salmon fillet with mediterranean roast veg.

DH has lost 5 lbs just by default - no more beer, takeaways etc!

Ahh I know . I think because I am so resolute, I want it to happen here and now! You've more in about the same time, pretty amazing too. DH not doing too badly either, he sounds very supportive, mine is working away as per his usual habits. I get verbal support while he stuffs biscuits in his mouth

I'm a bit scared to have any alcohol at the moment. Maybe when I've lost a bit more, I'll try. I like soda water, so will have no probs drinking that and vodka.

Today I have had:

Breakfast - Leftover caulimash, salami and cheese
Lunch - Tuna mayo salad
Dinner - will be bacon salad (still having bacon cravings).

I have had my water and copious amounts of tea.

Hi All, Good luck on weight loss goals but remember don't look at this as a diet look at it as your new way of eating and drinking.

I had to tell myself that it has been a mountain to climb inorder for me to understand that there are rules and limits when consuming food and that was hard for me to understand. The demon that I have left to challenge is wine. So if you have me I would like to join your group and work towards a healthier me.

Welcome Sunshine!

Yes, I think it is a new way of eating. I have never liked bread, and certainly do not miss it. I don't yet miss pasta either, but I do like rice. I am not ruling out never eating rice again though i have to say.

I am struggling a bit though being vegan as well. Just today I am sick of trying to work out something new and interesting to eat and it would be so much easier to have a goats cheese salad. But we will see.

I have lost a pound this morning, which i am actually pleased about as we had a VERY big meal last night. And wine.DH ordered a bottle of something nice and as we have not been out for at least 18 months I decided to enjoy every sip. :) I had a pear and candied walnuts salad then tempura vegetables. Very nice. Oh crap. Just realised that OF COURSE the batter would have had flour!!!! That never occurred to me last night. [smacks forehead]

So, I have lost 6 pounds in total since doing an ad hoc version of low-carb with wine. I am going to be very strict on the wine front then weigh myself on Saturday.

:)

Have good days everyone.

Hi Sunshine I do think that I will be following a low carb diet from now on. Maybe not as strictly once I have got down to my desired weight but in some way, shape or form.

Never mind Spring, it was a special occasion... I would be delighted at losing the pound after it! It sounds yummy.

Have you tried caulirice? I haven't made it yet, but it's supposed to be very similar to normal rice especially when eaten with other things that will soak into it. I do keep thinking of you when I make things and then remember that you are vegan. It must make it quite hard.

For me - got on the scales this morning and one pound on! I don't know how....

Hi Spots, Maybe the pound on is because you are retaining water? Did you have more salt than usual yesterday? That plays havoc with my weight on the scales.

Thanks for thinking of me! Caulirice sounds good... have heard of it, but never paid much attention as I would eat usual rice. Now though... good idea. I still want to try caulimash too. That sounds very yum.

Today I am going to have a large salad with avocados, fennel and nuts. DH will not be back until very late, so I am thinking of thai curried veg again. He dislikes it, so a good opportunity for me to indulge. mmmmm.

I suppose bacon is salty.. I drank loads and have today too.

Today has been very boring, almond bread and philly for breakfast, ham salad for lunch and tuna mayo salad for dinner. Busy day and that's all I managed to throw together.

How's everyone doing today?

I forgot I was on a diet and ate a biscuit at baby group today and DP knocked off work early so we went to the pub - had a G&T and a handfull of his crisps, so not a great day all in all!

Easily done

Just start anew tomorrow.

Not a great day for me either. Have the pre-menstrual munchies and while I stayed off the carbs I had chocolate and cheese!

Breakfast - 2 soft boiled eggs
Lunch - tomato and red onion salad and some albacore tuna
Dinner - chicken cacciatore (1 chicken breast in homemade tomato sauce topped with mozzarella).
Snacks - 1 funsize Milky Way and a wee square of cheddar

I had another lb off this morning so that's 13 lbs - want to make it a full stone before my brother's wedding this Saturday!!

Rita knocking off work early is a celebration, so totally justified!

Bunny you are amazing and i am seriously jealous. 13 lbs!.

As for me- I am doing okay, but am a little tired and bored. I am sick of digesting food at the moment so have not had much to eat.

I might be premenstural too as am very teary.

Okay today will be a better day. Day 6

Made a fantastic salad yesterday with rocket, avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pinenuts, straberries and balsamic vinegar and I still have some of that left. I will have with grilled portobello mushrooms tonight. Lunch out so may have to take it as it comes.

Fingers crossed for another lovely and sunny day!

Bunny, I am sure you can do it in 3 days... just think of the wedding. I love weddings.

Sounds yummy spring, still teary? Are avocados nice? I'm ashamed to say I have never had them. I always bypass them in the supermarket.

Starting to be beautiful and sunny here, hope you all have the same.

Hi Spots, thanks I am better today. Bit up and down, def hormones i think.

Avocados, I LOVE them. But oddly I hated them until I was in my 20s when suddenly my taste for them changed somehow. The nicest ones in my opinion are the Haas avocados... they are the ones with the very dark purply/black skin. If they are hard then they are awful, but at that right stage of softness- like clay- then they are lovely. If you do decide to try them, try them with salt and lemon. DH wierdly eats them with soy sauce. You can cook them also--- grilled with cheese for example but I think it makes them bitter.

I could eat an avocado a day I think. mmm. I always have to be restrained from eating all the guacamole when we do Mexican!

Gorgeous day here too. I have a day off too, so planning a trip to the park.

:)

Day 7 (I think).

Yesterday was a good day. No alcohol which is good. However I fell off the vegan wagon and had a huge grilled goat's cheese salad for lunch. Nothing for dinner as I was full, and lunch had been quite late.

Today -
Bk- soya yoghurt, nuts
Ln- no idea - maybe crudites and dip.
Dn- tofu and stir fried vegetables.

:)

Cheese is ok though? Oh I see vegan. You are doing really well, a little slip here and there is to be expected. You are a lot more adventurous with regards to food than me! I'll pick up an avocado next time I'm shopping.

Yesterday I just had salads really, today will probably be the same. We rent our old house out at the moment and the tennants broke the contract and moved out. The house is absolutely filthy, so I'll have plenty of exercise cleaning it today. Grr!

11st 6lbs this morning!!! I've hit my 1 stone off mark (plus an extra lb!). Absolutely delighted!!

Had to go buy a dress yesterday for my brothers wedding and was looking at pin-up style 50's dresses. The girl in the shop told me they were very small fitting and to up a size but I bought the most beautiful fitted dress in a 12-14 and it fits me like a dream and makes my waist look teeny!!

Food yesterday was

Breakfast - Blueberries/strawberries/low fat greek yogurt/drizzle of honey/few walnuts on top
Lunch - Bowl of homemade tomato soup.
Dinner - chinese style pork steak with homemade cauliflower cheese (yum!) and green beans.

How's everyone else doing??

Love avocadoes! Especially with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and black pepper on them.

Bunny - I've heard full fat yoghurt is lower in carbs than low fat yoghurt, as low fat has sugar added. Not sure how true that is though.