Low carb vegetarians? Anyone?

[KinkyDoritoWithJingleBellsOn]

After my rant yesterday, and some lovely advice from different people, I've decided to give low carb a try.

I'm guessing this will involve much cheese and some eggs. I already invest a substantial amount in quorn each week.

I have ordered Rose Elliot's book and I have 4st to lose. (I'd be happy with a couple for now just so my clothes fit me again.)

I'm interested to hear from any other people doing this. Fish eaters are allowed as I do dabble in tuna. (Please don't flame me for daring to claim I am vege in the title of this thread, it's just easier.)

I'm not a veggie but I'll come and say hi anyway. You'll have a harder time of things as a veggie. Do you really like eggs by any chance? The guidelines have changed recently so you can actually eat as many eggs as you want (they realised that dietary cholesterol has only a tiny impact on blood cholesterol). I find a couple of boiled eggs keep me satisfied for 3-4 hours.

Thank you for taking pity on me QueenStromba.

I think eggs will end up the staple of my diet for the time being! I'm pleased they've changed the guidelines as that would have been a bit concerning. I am also hoping that the Rose Elliot book will be helpful as it's very highly rated and I might be able to find a few other dishes. At the moment it will be based on cheese and eggs, which will get boring fast. I will need to use my imagination.

For lunch 3 egg pizza omelette (spoon of pesto, mushrooms, red pepper) with feta cheese melted on top.

For tea vege stew with 3 quorn sausages.

So far, so good. It is day one though .

Kinky I live on the blood type A diet which is nearly vegan with loads of veg. tofu, some fish and eggs also i have lost 2 and half stone combining it with the paul mckenna' which IMO is brill. 'cos it changes yr ATTITUDE to food (You never go hungry or count cals.)

Hi ppeat. I'm actually Type O, so, as far as I've read, I'd be better eating meat! I had the Paul Mckenna a while ago and it didn't work, although I don't think I gave it a chance. I think that might go back on my wishlist for Christmas.

So far I am mostly eating eggs and cheese.

Kinky Yes it's true about veggie O' types! but you have to take a B12 supplement. As you have a lot of weight to loose it may be worth trying the Combining Diet as well as the low carb. O'types are okay with rye and Kamut bread amd most veggies, not potatoes though. We eat parsnip mash and chips so don't miss them (except it's a bit more difficult when you're out).

You do have to give the paul mckenna a chance 'cos it educates yr attitude to food and you are never hungry or counting cals.

Thanks ppeat. I will definitely get some B supplements as I wondered about those. I really like rye bread so it would be nice to have that. I think I'll do the first couple of weeks of the carb cleanse diet from Rose Elliot and then think about what carbs I might re-introduce. I also like pulses, but there's none of those on this diet either.

I will make up for it by eating loads of avocados!

The weight will definitely drop off if you stick to it, but will drop off faster if you exercise as well.

And as it's very boring to do the veggie version of this diet, hitting it hard might help.

Also the Atkins breakfast bars help, available in Boots. They work as a meal substitute or as a treat. As does whiskey and vodka - no carbs.

Vodka sounds perfect .

I feel like crap today so I hope that's a sign it's working - really light-headed and tired.

I am planning to do cross trainer on an evening and probably some pilates through the day. I might wait until my head stops spinning first though...

I a (sometimes fish-eating) veggie, and have just managed to lose 20lb in 2 months by low-carbing.

Quorn ham-style slices are very useful, you can add them to omelettes, or slice them up with low fat cottage cheese and celery etc. A few sliced green lives added to salads help cheer them up! Feta cheese is ok in moderate quantities.

Grilled tomatoes and garlic mushrooms make a nice cooked breakfast with scrabled eggs.

I have been checking the carb values of different ready-foods, (under 6 or 7 per 100g) is generally OK and have discovered that tesco veggie burgers and quorn burgers qualify.

I make up bolognese sauce style stews with quorn mince, mushrooms, onions, peppers and tomatoes, and make a similar stew using white fish and lots of paprika for flavouring. Mashed carrot and swede (use Aunt Bessie's Frozen if you are in a hurry) is very filling, as is mashed cauliflower. I have a huge salad in the evening, with grated carrots, baby spinach, celery, tomatoes, a nice dressing and a generous helping of protein.I limit milk to half a pint of skimmed in tea or cofee per day.

Vegetable soups are good for lunch.

No fruit or fruit-juice - avoid anything with citric acid in - or diet cola-type drinks.

I found it helps to keep track of calories as well as carbs - try to keep to 1200 per day.

HTH

I meant to add - I only have vegetables as part of one meal per day!

I also used meal-replacement protein shakes/bars from LighterLife twice a day for the first few weeks just to kick-start the diet, then switched to "proper" food.

Make sure you take a good vitamin, mineral and fish oil supplements every day, and some psyllium husk capsules in case you get constipated.

This is great! Thanks Lapsed!

I'm just trying to get my head around the whole counting carbs thing. I've been having a soy protein shake for breakfast, and I just sampled the delights of scrambled tofu with some halloumi cheese and an avocado - though, as you say, I'm not sure how calorie friendly that lunch was!!

I'm planning to make cauliflower cheese for tea.

I can sense an over-reliance on cheese at the moment, so I'm grateful for your suggestions.

Glad to be of help! I only have feta or cottage cheese with salads, and I keep a packet of half-fat cheddar to slice thinly on veggie burgers. I don't use butter either, and restrict fats to a tablespoon of olive oil a day, either for frying or in a salad dressing. Avocados are lovely too, but I've limited them to once a week because of the calories.

Lord, I DO miss my though! If really desparate, gin or vodka with slimline tonic is as low-carb as you can get booze-wise...........

how about quinoa burger

Also, I loved flax seed muffins

Thanks for recipe links Hatti and the advice Lapsed it is all helpful as I'm feeling rather clueless.

I'm on 20g carbs for next couple of weeks. I'm pretty wiped out at the moment, so I hope this passes soon!

My carbs were much better today, but I have been feeling greedy. I need to get a grip and do some exercise as well.