Starting a low carb diet - anyone interested in going for it with me?!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

I did this very successfully indeed for about 6 weeks in the run up to the summer break. I have been trying to lose weight for a while and was doing OK but then reached a plateau which was when I decided to try something new. And I easily lost a stone doing this.

It was hard in the beginning, for about the first week, then I sort of settled in to it and it just became how it was. And I like the rules of it, because you just can't cheat on it. But it was sometimes hard juggling what the family were going to eat.

I have been cutting down since Tuesday, but will be going for it completely on Monday 5th. I want to lose a stone. Is anyone interested??!!!

Re the tortillas.....are they available to buy in supermarkets?

I've been hiding in shame having fallen off the diet last week fairly spectacularly. Howeve,r that said, I have not put any weight back on which is fantastic and now its back to it again to try to carry on again.
I'm feeling particularly bad because people have noticed I have lost weight and are commenting on it and I had such a bad week last week. I need to turn this into a positive and say it was working so well that people have noticed so I definitely need to go back to it again .

Hi all. Could I join in, please. Realise I'm spectacularly late to the party! Ordered the pig to twig book and cookbook yesterday and the cook book has arrived today. The recipes look great. I have a 10 mo ds who is still ebf, but once it occured to me that I weigh more now than I did just before I gave birth... It was time to do something!

Ideally I think I need to lose three stone. If that equates to three dress sizes 16/18 to 10/12 then so much the better.

Someone upthread explained why diet soft drinks aren't great - think it's not so much the caffeine as the ??? Can't find the post for looking so if anyone could explain I'd be so grateful. Cola zero is my biggest downfall apart from cider so realise that'll have to go. Reason I ask about the caffeine/additive is o wondered if I could have a glass of no added sugar squash a day. The carbs on the bottle are 6g per 100ml undiluted, so not much in a glass?

One other question, sorry. How do you work out the carbs in vegetables? Had a burger with salad for lunch, but no clue how many carbs in lettuce, tomato and cucumber!

Thanks in advance.

Zimbo - it's the aspartame in diet drinks - well known for actually putting on weight.

I think I will be back in ketosis tomorrow, if not already. I like the sound of Shirataki noodles. Where did you get them?!

ZimboMum - you need one of the professionals! I aim for 20g of carbs a day on this diet and it is working for me. Google carbs in veg and there are lots of different sites - that is way I would do.. But good luck...

Quick check in as I rush in from work and out again to my evening class!

I am exactly 11.00 today, so I'm another 1/2 pound down. Not much, but I'm pleased that the weekend hasn't done any damage, as I was less controlled.

I'm hopeful that by Friday the scales will finally start with a 10!

well done BIWI - I'm sure they will! It's so great when you get the next stone down showing on the scales - really motivating so you are fabulous.

I was with Eggy and some others in Brighton at the weekend - she was given her beautiful MN quilt (all I did with it was relay it from central London) and we were talking about how fab Brighton would be to be a student in and she mentioned your name and said your son was at Uni there, I think it was your son... If it isn't you, just ignore me

Anyway, to cut a LONG story short - I waved at him for you!!

A MN quilt is a thing of beauty, but also, unfortunately, great sadness. Several MNetters have been bereaved (or died) this year, and some lovely ladies have made them quilts - either of sewn squares or blankets from knitted squares. Those that can't sew/knit have also contributed by buying fabric/wool.

Eggy very sadly lost her 2 year old son to a brain tumour earlier in the year.

Rather - she was right! My son is at Sussex, studying history and philosophy, so I'm glad you waved at him.

Well, weigh in day for me today - lost 2lbs! So I've lost a total of 7lbs in 3 week - am absolutely delighted.

Kotinka - re the wine, I absolutely agree. I can easily finish a bottle with dp on a normal night. With a gin&slim I'd probably just have one... BUT I'm glad to know that there is room for White wine in my life (in moderation). Have had 2 glasses this week and really enjoyed them!

BIWI - I studied in Brighton and am still here 12 years after leaving university! Is a great place to be, I'm sure your son will absolutely love it.

Ooh, and re the Mama Lupes - I also think they are amazing. I make burritos and tortillas. I always warm them in a dry pan to make them softer. Sometimes I just add ham, lettuce, tomato and mayo for a nice wrap at lunchtime. Really, really useful things. I love them.

Great going, RnB!

Although I've been to Brighton (for a conference, and a quick, occasional visit to the beach), it's a place i really don't know well, but it sounds lovely. I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to go and see more - assuming DS1 ever wants us to visit him!

kotinka - I don't think you ever would. I'm just working out how to do the link to the FB page for you to see the blankets. They are honestly amazing, but born out of great sadness. When I work out the link, I will post it here, and then you will see how fabulous they are.

BIWI and RnB - Brighton Rocks, and is so achingly trendy I always think! My brother and his family used to live there, but have since moved to bollocking Tokyo, which is a bit further away for a visit!

Right, am back on track and back in ketosis. Hoping for another loss on Friday.

Kotinka - the link to the Mumsnet blanket/quilt photos is here

The blankets are wonderful - make me weepy just looking at them.

Quick question if I may about starting pig to twig (I've ordered book but not yet received it) and I wondered if you slowly dropping carbs you would minimise the headaches/shakey/dizzy spell before you enter ketosis. I've managed two days of low carb breakfasts, lunch and snacks then small amount of carbs in evening mainly because I'd already meal planned and bought for this week. I haven't felt tooooo bad but do ha e rotten cold so not sure what is down to that, iyswim?

TIA

Intitially I did a wind down over a couple of days then went down to 20g carbs approx a day. It takes me 2 days of proper low carbing to get into ketosis.

Not really had a problem with headaches but I do get head rushes in the morning but that does settle down as the morning goes on.

Thank you! I think my headache is cold related as now all bunged up and lost my voice :(

kotinka - I think maybe you were unlucky. I haven't had side effects ilk that, but at the start I did feel lacking in energy.

But go for it Zimbo!!

weigh in day tomorrow - hope everyone gets the results they hope for and deserve!

I also feel less sleepy

Wow Kotinka that is one long list of bad symptoms! You poor thing. I was a bit fuzzy headed and I really craved carbs for the first couple of days but that was it.

I also agree that this is a much nicer diet than low calorie - I just don't feel hungry! And we can have such nice stuff! On Sunday dp and I had sirloin steak and celeriac chips (omg how nice are they?!) with a large baked mushroom and Dijon mustard. It was delicious.

Those quilts are such a fantastic idea. I can't begin to imagine what Eggy has been through

I'm back to exercising again after 4 weeks off - had a neck gland infection with wiped me out for that time. Had a session with my personal trainer yesterday and have boxercise tonight. Will be interesting to see if I lose any more weight this week...

Good luck to those of you weighing in tomorrow! I should really start coinciding my weigh ins with you lit!