The Pretty Extraordinary Low Carb Diet Thread

[QueenStromba]

A continuation of The Rather Amazing Low Carb Diet Thread.

The protein shake I have is all right (Diet Whey) but I only have it a couple of times a week. But the bag costs about £25 so is a bit risky to give it a try in case you don't like it (mine belongs to DP and I just nick some of it now and again).

I don't think it's very sweet at all.

Let's all hope that when we update the list next week we all have significant losses.

Indeed, GOML

angry - thanks for the cauli tip.

Also Cauli and broccolli are very nice roasted with cumin if anyone is looking for a veggie side for curry or grilled meats.

Tonight is creamy chicken casserole with mustard celeriac mash. Can post recipe if anyone interested.

Am def in ketosis as bought myself some ketostix to test - whole different kind of POAS!

Cravings have passed and am feeling very positive having just done a big carb free (almost had to get some bread for DH) shop online.

Bad night!

Just eaten remains of DSs syrup sponge & custard, some mini eggs, and (bizarelly) a big lump of marzipan. Oh dear. Having glass of wine to finish my disaster off nicely.

How frustrating for you. Oh well it is done now. Fresh start tomorrow!

Hi everyone - been reading the old thread since jan and now this one. Feeling brave tonight so joined up! :-) started Zoe harcombe 9th jan.was 12 stone, am 5 ft 6. Now 10 st 10. Only started exercising last couple weeks. Also, have not stuck to diet strictly- haven't had bread, pasta, rice or potatoes since I started BUT have weekly treats like cake/scones/small choc bar. Have an off day about once a week. Also gave up fizzy diet drinks. Didn't give up sugar in tea or milk. Some days just have cups of tea and no meals apart from dinner, other days have lunch but then v small dinner. Lots of meat/veg dinners, fish, curry, omelettes, salad. Missing sweets! Also few issues going to toilet, ie not! But then nice 1.5 lb weight loss when I do! Sorry tmi. Target weight is 9 stone 7. And that's my story! :-)

I'm with you Glitterkitty I've had a bad night as well, eaten some chocolate and a bit of naan bead. Going to have to work myself hard now to get into ketosis again. It always happens at totm, I really need to get my cravings under control!

glitter glad I am not the only one in naughty corner....am just sooo exhausted coping by myself with DS1 and 8wks old DS2 that not cooking and just surviving on steamed veg interspersed with yoghurts, apples...black coffee by the gallon...succumbed to ricecakes too though just 4 ha ha and not the whole packet of 16!!! I need someone to come and cook for me...pleeeeeeease!!!!!!! Cold cooked meats do nothing for me and even making an omlette is too much like hard work!!!

Look people this WOE (way of eating) is not forgiving.

If you slip, if you cheat, then you will not lose weight. It is very simple.

It is hard.

You have to plan to have food around you that you can eat and (very important) that you like to eat, and - if possible - stop buying the dangerous stuff that will tempt you.

It's also really important that you take a long, hard look at why you turn to foods that you know will sabotage your efforts. Just because you're dieting isn't going to stop the hard days, or the stressful dealings with the DC. You have to find different strategies for coping with these, otherwise you will just end up undoing any good work that the low carbing is doing.

Worse, if you start combining these 'treats' with a low carb diet, what you are actually doing is eating a high fat and high carbohydrate diet - which will mean that you gain weight.

Seriously people.

I know that this is a support thread, and this post probably doesn't sound very supportive!

But stop it!!!

BIWI are you a headmistress of a posh gel's school in real life ?

I've just been reading the section in India & Neris where they talk about planning your cheats. They make the point that if you don't address a craving as it creeps up on you and completely try to suppress it then actually what ends up happening is that you eat more than you actually crave of that thing and then think 'sod it, I've blown it, I'll just have fish and chips for tea with apple crumble for pudding as well'. Whereas if you accept the craving is coming, think about it, think about why you have it, think about alternatives to it that may work, then you are giving yourself the chance to stop the craving before it really sends you insane with desire but are also then in a position to control how much of that thing you eat if you still go ahead and decide you want to satisfy that craving. They also talk about planning your cheats, so if it's your birthday and you want a piece of cake to celebrate then do very strict low-carbing for a couple of days before and a couple of days after and you may find that though you don't lose weight you hopefully don't put any on. They also make the point that a planned cheat shouldn't be a weekly or even daily thing...

It made sense to me - I am a huge impulse eater, who just feeds cravings as soon as they happen and never thinks about why. It's taking a lot of willpower at the moment, and I'm only 10 days in. It's not even just choc/cake/bread. I eat a lot of lentils and pulses and I can't have any, so my favourite chilli or soups are out. V worried about how I'll feel in a month's time!

No. But I evidently missed my way in life!

India/Neris are very good about the psychology of eating/dieting - and it does help to put this WOE into a real life perspective, which is vitally important. We all know that there are certain occasions where a cheat will happen or is unavoidable.

But note that they use the word 'planning'. In other words, it is all about the strategy behind what we are eating/allowing ourselves to eat. Not just falling face first into the biscuit tin!

Sorry if I sound schoolmarmy about this. But it really is important, and I really, really want everyone on this thread to do well.

Oh, and lemniscate, pulses are 'good' carbs, which you will be able to accommodate into a maintenance diet. Honestly!

well said biwi taking the 'tough love' approach is sometimes what is needed.

Just made a delicious breakfast this morning and I am full up and happy.

The IDP craving part is very good and I do go back to that book when I am having a who cares moment. It helps.

I am now well on my way to 2 stone down and inches are falling off me. This WOE WORKS, if you are organised. Nobody says you can NEVER eat a piece of cake again, its just that eating carbs for breakfast, lunch and dinner are OUT.

Did I tell you all I pulled a pair of my jeans off the other day without undoing the zip or button? Size 16 they were, might be time to get the 'thin' (12/14) out the loft and have a try on. That will give me inspiration.

We CAN do this. For me I think of this;
We WILL be in shorts and sleeveless tops in summer, ditching the maxi dresses and wearing knee length dresses (I hate my legs, think rugby players)

BIWI, I needed a good talking to too. Had pizza last night...it was lovely but now I feel guilty.

Tis DP's birthday today and I was going to let the diet slide but in fact I will just end up depressed on Monday so I will stick to it. The pizza has done enough damage!

Off to scramble those eggs....

I had a glass of wine last night and a vodka soda. I was absolutely plastered on two drinks and I feel I have the worst hangover in history. I am such a lightweight now I don't drink.

Other than that mild slip I have been very good and HURRAY I am 10.9 this morning. It follows the madcap ways of this diet that I have ponced around the 10.12 mark for 3 weeks and suddenly -WOOSH- 3lb weightloss overnight.

I am very pleased as my mini target was to get below the 10.10 mark by the end of this week.

Next mini target is to get to 10.4 by the end of the month (so can wear my diet inspiration dress to a party), so a 6lb weight loss in 2 weeks. That may be rather a high target but I will give it a go nonetheless.

Yes biwi that is the risky thing re having treats on this diet - if you are low carbing and eating stuff like bearnaise sauce, mayonnaise and other fatty things if you then have half a mars bar you will knock your fat burning mechanism out of kilter, meaning that all that fat will just end up staying around instead of being burnt off. That's the threatening thinking which keeps me away from pizzas anyway.

Fucking options hot chocolate though. And jellies. I miss them. Does anyone have any recommendations for something sweet?

london can you post your recipe for chicken casserole - I am getting a bit bored and fancy trying something new.

Great news, GOML! (about the weight loss, not the hangover)

Custy - target weight 9:3, current weight 9:7.2
RatherBeOnThePiste - target weight 9:13, current weight 10:4
BIWI - target weight 9.00, current weight 10.7 (and a half!)
kotinka - Start 266lbs, Target 154lbs, Current 229lbs (37lbs loss)
Cardoon?
goingmadinthecountry?
Febes - weight lost so far 5 st 9lbs 13st 9lbs this week
countessbabycham - weight lost so far 3 lbs
QueenStromba - weight lost so far 47.5 lbs
fluffy123 - weight lost so far 56 lbs GOAL
mejon - weight loss so far - 31 lbs - goal weight = no idea!
smokinaces - weight loss so far 27.5 lbs
Rillyrillygoodlooking - weight loss so far 2kg
wantanewname - weight loss so far 9.5lbs
WentworthMillerMad - weight loss so far 21lbs
FreeButtonBee - target weight 9:10, weight loss so far 6lbs
supersalstrawberry - weight loss so far 2lb, goal 17lb
Spamspamspam ?
OneLieIn - weight loss so far 4lbs
openyerlugholes - target 9.6, current 10.8
Getorfmoiland - starting weight 12.3, target weight 9.13, current weight 10.9, weightloss so far 22lbs
CointreauVersial - starting weight 9.9, target 9.0 (-ish), currently 9.4
DizzyDancing - weight to lose, 6 st
BornToShopForcedToWork - TW 9st, CW 13.2st - 6lbs lost so far
AngryFeet - Starting weight 13st 11.75, Current weight 13st 3.25lb, goal weight 9st
PostBellumBugsy - lost 1 stone 3lbs since Christmas. 11lbs to go.
Flipflopflap- Weight loss so far 8lb, goal 1st in total.
debs39 TW 8st10 CW 9stand 3/4!!!!oz
PrincessTamTam - start -12.58, target - 10 (ish), current -11.87
TheRealMrsHannigan - SW:12st 6lbs, CW:12st 2lbs. TW: 9st 7lbs
Renaldo Start 13 st CW 12.75 target 11.5
SeriousWispaHabit 16.5lb lost

Thanks biwi I am really pleased. I think it is no coincidence that the weightloss has happened in a week when I have pulled my finger out and actually kept to the plan. In previous weeks I have been letting things slide somewhat, what with the options hot chocs, diet coke, sugar free red bull, jelly, a couple of toffees. Oh yes and I bit the ear off a lindt bunny (much to dd's rage, it was her bunny )

Other than the booze last night (I AM NEVER DRINKING AGAIN BTW) I have not slipped up once since Monday.

LOng may it continue.

Oooh - careful - you've put that in writing!

I know.

I am going to come on here Tuesday and say 'waaaah I have eaten a whole saucepan of mashed potato and several easter eggs' and you will all go 'SEE!'

Well done GOML!

I'm thinking of experimenting with vanilla and cinnamon as I associate them with sweet things. So thinking vanilla extract mixed with double cream, or cinnamon sprinkled on something nutty. Berries are good for a sweet hit too.

And India and nerIs mention choc mousse made with dark choc, eggs, double cream and a bit of splenda to sweeten it.. Obviously not a daily treat, but maybe a planned weekly treat.

Biwi - I read ahead to make sure I cpuld have pulses Lentils in particular are a necessity as my kids love them so I feel like super mum when I cook them - it's a healthy food they actually eat without cajoling!

I might go an have a look at that.

Or I may go down to my local italian cafe, have an espresso con panna and then just luxuriously sniff the amaretto pastries as I walk by.

And black bean soup is utterly lush! I'm going to talk myself into a slightly barmy craving if I'm not careful!