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!

Thanks for the welcome Spring:) I need to factor in some exercise as well so this evening I plan to go for 30 minute walk!

Nice to have you on board!

Can I ask, the no-alcohol thing is by far the hardest for me. I have not told DH I am doing this, so the evening comes and DS is in bed (although tbh I usualy have a glass of something before then). What do people do to get over the triggers? I love a glass of wine with dinner, but it is never just one.

I am also trying to understand why I have so many issues around food. Alot of it is my upbringing. My mother has been morbidly obese for most of my life, and she used to monitor what I ate rigidly, and would ridicule me if i put on weight. I have been everything in my adult years from 8 stone to well over 14 stone, and at my age now (40 odd) I just detest how i look in the mirror. Truth is, I cannot really see what i look like. DH loves me, apparently, and I cannot understand why, as so much of my emotional life is tied up in my weight... wioth self esteem rising or falling correspondingly. I am so terribly tired of it all.

I just want to be 9 and a half stone, and to feel good about myself.

Sorry- probably too much for the morning, but feels good to start talking about it.

Spring, I too feel that the no alcohol is very hard for me. Not necessarily when the children go to bed, but when I'm stressed, annoyed etc. I'm not sure what to do to avoid it. Most of the time I don't have it in the house and therefore am not tempted, other times I go for a shower, do the cross trainer, watch a programme or go to bed (my life is dull!).

I understand what you mean about being tired of it all, but do you think once you reach your target weight, all will be perfect? I know even when I was a lot thinner I didn't appreciate it or see it in the mirror.

I see no reason why you would disbelieve your husband, you seem like a perfectly lovely woman, a stone weight loss will make no difference to this, in fact I doubt it will make a load of difference to your appearance either.

Obviously you feel it is related to your upbringing, but you can only be responsible for your actions now and it would be much better to take a long look and try and see yourself for yourself and how other people see you, rather than your weight.

or I write a load of waffle! I hope you understand what I was trying to say!

Hi Spots I have just come back to this thread, sorry! No, not alot of waffle at all. I was being self indulgent. I got a bit sick of myself yesterday so avoided the weightloss thread for other stuff. Decided to give myself a 'day off' thinking/worrying etc about my weight. I have a bit over a month to go until the event I want to look better at. (Lots of photos in the offing). [fright!]

When I worry/obsess then I get back into an old binge/starve cycle, so my focus for today (and if I have to take it day by day I will) is - No carbs. No alcohol. Stop thinking about it so much.

How are you doing?

have good days!

Hi, can I join in please?
Tried everything to lose weight but I actually think I eat far to much bread, pasta etc and far too much wine!!! Even though I know this I still do it.
It's a month till my birthday so feel really focused.
Tonight is my last drink! Will be enjoying red wine and steak tonight.
Will be starting tomorrow.
I already do 3 zumba classes a week and cycle. Will also start aqua aerobics again next week.
Hoping for lots of support and tips here.

Can I join in? I drank a bottle of Champagne last night and today I start afresh. Its the wine that does it for me.

I am at work for the next three days and am stuck on what kind of things to take to work.

Are we doing cheese on this diet? I dont Atkins before and it really worked for me.

I could do with a list of what I can and can't eat.
Anyone know any good websites or books or do you just follow your own diet plan?

I dont know. I know theres the Dukan thats low carb and low fat. The Atkins as well. I need to go shopping right now. I dont want to do it wrong as I need to lose asap!!

Can I join you please? I am on Dukan thread as well but it's very quiet. I have lost 8lb on Dukan so far and need to lose another stone. Gave myself a few days off for the wedding (can't htink why, wasn't as if I was invited) but need to get back into it big style. We are going away at te end of May so a few lbs off by then would be great.

I too struggle with the evening wine. I have the odd aG and T which isn't strictly allowed but still. Yesteday I drank loads to celebrate for W and K. Today was bad as had a kids' party and sampled a few bits. tomorrow back in earnest.

Can I join too please ? Another one who overdid it for wedding party yesterday!!! Wine is my downfall, I don't drink enough water - I do lots of exercise which is something but despite that the weight is increasing...so low carb no alcohol for me starting tomorrow... in exactly a month's time I'll be headed to the UK to see family and friends so it will be good timing for me.

Hi everyone!

I have been following the IDP diet, I have ordered the Dukan book as I find it hard to eat butter and cream, so I might start that when I have read the book through - how do you find it? I have had the odd vodka and soda, I used to drink vodka and diet coke, so it's not too much of a change for me.

I did have a bit of an easter egg yesterday though but am back on the straight and narrow.

A month should see a fair bit gone spring?

Hello SMS - i actually like the Dukan - ish diet as it suits my way of eating. I eat lots of veg and love turkey, salmon etc etc. Could not do IPD as need my veg and don't think butter / cream etc good for one in long term. I am doing my own version. Have some tomatoes and cucumbver with most meals and plenty of oatbran (as oterwise I can't go to the loo) and it seems to work. I did 3 days of pure protein and swiftly decided I couldn't do this regulalry, but low fat and low carb is fine.

Tiggy, I do lots of exercise too and the diet is fine for that. How much do you want to lose?

I have a month. This has been my first day of not having a glass of wine in months. It's been hard! I'm also worrying about what kind of food I can take to work. I am there for 14 hours and generally rely on ready meals at work so, that will be a challenge!

Kittya - work is quite easy if there is a fridge as you can buy lots of sliced meat, cooked fish etc and just eat as and when. Know what you mean about te wine. Need to knock it on the head!

Good morning everyone and welcome!

Hi Spots :) Hopefully a month indeed will see a loss.

Yesterday was a bad day foodwise (easter eggs, leftover toast from baby's lunch ) bit no alcohol and i am very pleased about that. :)

I am weighing myself this Saturday... give my body a chance to catch up with all my good behaviour this week. (ahem)

Today;

breakfast - yoghurt and nuts
lunch- vegetable soup
dinner- Family are having roast pork so i will have cauli cheese, peas, honey sesame carrots and apple sauce.

The no wine thing is BLOODY hard!

I am also thinking of ordering the Dukan book.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Can we have as much meat as we want? Today I feel fine I had a boiled egg and slice of ham this morning and am really thirsty!!

First day of no wine for me.
We are having salad and roast chicken today which I enjoy. Will miss the glass of White with it.
A friend has the duken diet and aitkins so I will pop and borrow those later.

kittya, yesterday was my first day of no wine in months either! Felt very odd, but I did feel good this morning so am focussing on that! No wine today either. Am off out for a run, at mo' am concentrating on no wine and doing exercise, am going to start focussing on the low carb approach by introducing it gently. sybil, I want to lose 8 lbs...I can do this, I can! Low carb is definitely the best thing to do and I love the idea of avoiding beige foods....good uck everything. Hope you enjoyed your roast chicken Pimms! one thing I really tried to do yesterday (and am going to try again today) is to drink stacks of water as I think I have just got out of the habit of drinking lots of water.
Rant over, off for a run, will report in tomorrow!

Hi all! Well done on no alcohol.

The IPD involves eating veg. You are also supposed to incorporate good fats, this is where I get a bit confused as I'm never sure if I'm eating not enough fat or some days too much. I think the Dukan diet would be clearer for me to follow. Spring, would it be easy for you to do being vegan?

1lb off last week, maybe doing the Dukan will speed things up a bit. No meals planned for today yet.... will take it as it comes.

Have good days

Good morning all! Welcome everyone!

I might investigate the Dukan diet Spots and see how it goes, although I am eating cheese and eggs now really so the veganism has slid.

I had lots of wine yesterday, so grrr. My own fault, i think 'well, just one with dinner' and then. Never mind.

This week for me- no beige foods, no fruit no alcohol. I have strained my back though so my plans for a 2 hour walk are out the window. Weigh in on Saturday.

have good days!

Day two was fine but I am craving a drink now!! I just want to watch abit of telly with a large g and t!! the booze is worse than the beiges. Mind you, I dont feel like this diet lines my stomach, I would probably fall off the sofa if I had a drink.

It makes low carb diets a bit easier for you spring!

From what I have read (haven't got the book yet) at first for a short period you have a protein/water only phase and then the main gist of the diet is alternating protein/water and protein/water/veg days and everything is to be low fat.

Are there many veggie protein alternatives? I guess tofu and soy?

I have got back to crocheting with a vengeance, it's taking my mind off of alcohol and food!

Kit after a few days the cravings should abate a bit, keep going!

OK, today - tuna features heavily and I have chicken strips for dinner. Add salad and maybe a little feta cheese and that's my meals.

Am reading this thread with interest as starting a month of low carbing today. I have been losing weight since Jan 2010 but since Last Autumn I seem to have got stuck. Am hoping for a kick start to lose the last 9lbs.