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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

The Unbelievably Good Low Carb Diet Thread

670 replies

QueenStromba · 25/03/2012 03:12

The previous thread was getting a bit full so I thought I should start a new one while we could still link between them.

OP posts:
butterflyexperience · 25/03/2012 06:16

I'm starting this (again) today.
Had flu which threw all my previous hard work away.
So meal plan for today is:
Green tea
B: omelette with bell peppers and cherry tomatoes
L: tuna and boiled egg salad
Green tea
D: chicken sagg with sweet potato

Anyone know if I can eat nuts as a snack?

Giving up the chocolate is going to be hard!
Wish me luck Smile

BIWI · 25/03/2012 07:29

Morning all.

I am now up to 10.9 1/2. And I weighed myself three times, and the scales said the same each time, so it is definitely me and not them.

I have been keeping a food diary throughout all of this, so I'm going to have a read back and see if there's anything obvious that I've been doing/not doing. But I'm definitely going to have to knock the weekend wine on the head (even though in previous weeks it's been OK).

I didn't have any wine yesterday and drank plenty of water - also something I have been letting slip a little I think.

I'd love to say it must be my period coming - but as I haven't had one of those since August, I'm not sure it really can be that! Having said that, I have had a few 'signs' that would normally signal it's TOTM, so let's see.

But I'm really cheesed off about it, because I haven't been cheating.

Welcome, butterfly! My only comment about your menu is the sweet potato - they are quite high in carbs. @20.5g carbs per 100g.

You can eat nuts as a snack - it depends on which plan you're doing as to when/whether they're allowed - but be careful as the carbs can quickly add up. It's really easy to eat far more than a small handful!

Anyway, off to the gym now to see the trainer.

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 25/03/2012 09:23

morning all, biwi could it be that your gym visits are building muscle, which is heavier than fat?

I am up grr to the lost hour this morning, but Im sure if I go to bed a bit earlier it will balance out. Grin

BIWI · 25/03/2012 10:29

It's possible I suppose. Will ask my trainer next time I see him

BIWI · 25/03/2012 11:33

The other thing I think I need to do is to measure as well as weigh - I haven't done that yet.

vnmum · 25/03/2012 11:36

reposting from previous thread as not sure which people are following now Smile
well I had a bad night with DD, stripping beds at 1am then at about 6.30 am it started from the other end so another bed strip and a long hunt for suitable alternative bedding as both her sets were waiting to be washed. She has managed a little breakfast this morning and some water so waiting to see if it stays in as last night even water was coming straight back.

BIWI I am going to drink loads of water. It is interesting that you mentioned not eating enough carbs because before friday I was only eating about 10g carbs aday for a number of days. Is this bad for weight loss?

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 25/03/2012 11:48

oh vnmum what a night? poor DD and you.

I measured round my bust this morning as my bras were feeling really loose... 3 inches gone!

bra shopping for me next week then! Grin

kandinskysgirl · 25/03/2012 11:49

Hi all, well I seem stuck at a certain weight grrrr. I have been really good with food this weekend and haven't given into a pizza which is my normal weekend treat.

I did have some wine but meh I'm not going to worry about it.

I have a crazy work week ahead but it means I will have to plan lots of my food so will keep me on track. Hopefully it means I will go past this number on the scales for once!

BIWI · 25/03/2012 12:03

vnmum - I don't know! I know that if your blood sugar goes too low, another hormone kicks in (can't for the life of me remember which one) which essentially helps to preserve the body's weight/fat stores - or something! - but I can't honestly say that my blood sugar has felt too low, or that I've actually been that hungry.

But someone also (katinka?) posted about the effects of eating too much protein, which is also a possibility.

I do seem to remember from years of reading various low carb stuff that going below the 20g carbs of induction level doesn't have any beneficial effect.

BIWI · 25/03/2012 12:07

This is interesting:

"Protein is an essential nutrient, and is vital to your health. It is used to build muscles, skin, hair and nails. However, many people put their health at risk by eating too much protein.

The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and there is no point in adding any more, unlike fat cells, there is no place in the body to store protein so the excess is eliminated or is seen as fat rather than muscle.

So what you need to do is to consume just enough protein to allow your muscles to be healthy, perform work and grow. But how much is just enough?

You only use protein for about 15% of your energy use, the majority of energy comes from fats and carbohydrates. Exercising doesn't necessarily mean that you require more protein but more carbohydrates to stop your body breaking down protein and using that for energy.

Try to make sure that 70% of your protein comes from sources such as meat, fish, eggs or poultry. The complete protein provided by these foods combines with incomplete protein consumed from other food sources. So your body makes the best of all the protein that you consume."

From I'll Pump You Up.com

I guess therefore that this about a balance of protein, fat and carbs - I suspect I have been overdoing the protein a little bit, looking at my food diary. I need to make sure I eat a bit more salad + oily dressings and/or veg with butter, that kind of thing.

BIWI · 25/03/2012 12:08

Sorry - I missed of the last, crucial paragraph!

"If you are consuming too much protein, you are probably consuming too many calories over your maintenance levels and this will show as an increase in your body fat levels. And with the advent of the latest fad high protein diets, not enough carbohydrates are being consumed so the protein is converted to glucose and not converted into muscle growth."

BIWI · 25/03/2012 12:08

off

Creamtea1 · 25/03/2012 12:51

Officially at a plateau - exact same weight for 6 days now. Have had an exercise increase, 5 days out of the 6 have done something cardio based so don't know if that makes a difference (doubt it). Have been starving all week too. Also tested the theory about not eating after 7pm - makes no difference. Friend keeps on and on at me to try slimming world with her, am not convinced - I have 1 stone I want to lose, currently 10.9 and 5ft 6.

BIWI · 25/03/2012 12:56

If you are starving constantly, that would suggest that you aren't in ketosis - so you are eating too many carbs.

This woe is not about starving yourslf - are you eating enough?

Post a few days' worth of meals and lets see if we can help!

Creamtea1 · 25/03/2012 13:10

I know I'm not eating enough but am in catch 22 - cant get my head round eating more as paranoid will increase weight but also conscious about the whole starvation mode theory. Also find it really hard at weekends when out and about with family (today and yest) when it comes to lunch - cant see what I can have which is low carb so end up having nothing, just a drink.

BIWI · 25/03/2012 15:34

You must eat! Have you read any of the low carb books? You really need to get your head round the thinking/science behind it. Otherwise it really won't work - and not eating is hardly healthy!

Where are you eating out? There are usually plenty of low carb options, although if you're just eating 'on the hoof' then it's not so easy, I grant you.

CointreauVersial · 25/03/2012 17:34

Hello shiny new thread! Not much to report today; except that the missed hour was a bonus - by the time I got around to eating breakfast this morning it was 11am new time, so I didn't need to bother with lunch. Grin

Not sure what's on the menu for tonight - possibly sausages with garlic courgettes. The DCs want a BBQ, but steady on, it's still March.

ilovemyteddy · 25/03/2012 18:17

Creamtea when I'm out and about at the weekend instead of grabbing a sandwich from M&S (or whatever) I grab some ham and cheese. I would also recommend 'The Idiot proof diet cookbook' as it has loads of easy to make snacks that you can take with you. The red onion and feta muffins are delish!

I've lost 26lb now in 11 weeks by low-carbing. Still have 51lb to go but am very determined Grin

greenfig · 25/03/2012 18:50

Hi. Not sure I'm an official lo carber but am trying to lose that last pesky 1/2 stone for summer having lost 1 1/2 stone with Dukan 18mths ago.
This time I am cutting out bread, pasta rice, potatoes, alcohol etc & have managed a slow 4lb drop with a few w/e setbacks! I am also shredding to tone & fitten up & generally help things along. I found the dukan thread hugely supportive last time so am hoping you ladies can keep me going this timeSmile

butterflyexperience · 25/03/2012 20:01

Day 1 completed whoo hoo!

Instead of chicken sagg with sweet potato had nandos meditranian chicken salad.

Did not know sweet potatos were high carb thought they were low!

Pleased I made it through day 1 without killing anyone Grin

butterflyexperience · 25/03/2012 20:04

Quick question what's the total daily allowance of carbs on a low carb diet?

vnmum · 25/03/2012 20:06

well DD has managed to keep things down today but she was very tired, bless her. I managed a lie in this morning then didn't actually eat till about 3 when I had a MIM with philly, 2 hot dog sausages and some cheesy coleslaw. Had bratties with heaps of cauli mash with cream and cheese and some courgette ribbons sauted in butter and garlic around 5.30. That is 19g of carbs today with 12g coming from veg so a good day. I also have a very faint colour change on the ketostix which hopefully means yesterday hasn't done too much damage.

I am finding myself looking in the mirror and getting impatient to see my troublespots reducing. Anyone else find this?

vnmum · 25/03/2012 20:11

butterfly it depends on which 'diet' you are following. I am doing Atkin's and you start off on 20g for two weeks but only eating certain foods, mainly meat, salad and veg, eggs, fish etc but no root veg or peas or sweetcorn allowed. No fruit or yoghurt either. Then after 2 weeks you can either stay on the 20g if you have alot to lose or you increase by 5g carb per day per week (so 25g one week) until you reach the number of crabs that you can comfortably lose 1 -2lb a week. Have a look on the Atkins website, it is all on there or get yourself the book. Some people follow The Idiot Proof Diet but not sure how that one works.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 25/03/2012 20:58

Hello everyone.

As I thought, the sag paneer and chicken tikka from the takeaway last night made me feel incredibly bloated this morning. The bloating drops after a few days but it does put me off ordering a takeaway - they use loads of onions and perhaps there is some kind of thickener/MSG on the chicken tikka. Ho hum.

I have been starving hungry all day as well. Had bacon and eggs in the morning, and a (homemade) chicken vindaloo (mine made seperately with no onioons so practically carb free) for dinner, with a cheese plate mid afternoon. I am still starving so am going to make myself some tuna mayonnaise, the fridge and cupboards are bare because the weather was too nice to go grocery shopping!

I have got to be good this week as I have a black tie work event next weekend so have to fit into an el skimpo dress.

I am glad your dd is better today vnmum.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 25/03/2012 20:59

Have a look at this site butterfly uk.atkins.com/ - it has the basics.

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