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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:
BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 12:14

I think it entirely depends on you as an individual. But from everything I have read (and I am by no means an expert), I'd worry far more about the carbs you are eating, rather than the calories.

If you've been eating berries, yoghurt, nuts, melon, alcohol and chocolate then you will be consuming a lot of carbs. Why not try cutting them out for a while and see what happens? You would be a lot better off focusing on pure/unprocessed meat and fish with vegetables and salad than including those other things in your diet - whilst you're trying to lose weight.

I think Briffa is fab - but I suspect his dietary guidance is a bit more about maintenance/everyday healthy eating more than it is about losing weight. And certainly, if the weight isn't shifting for you, then this would suggest that you need to be more careful about what you're eating at the moment.

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 12:14

I think it entirely depends on you as an individual. But from everything I have read (and I am by no means an expert), I'd worry far more about the carbs you are eating, rather than the calories.

If you've been eating berries, yoghurt, nuts, melon, alcohol and chocolate then you will be consuming a lot of carbs. Why not try cutting them out for a while and see what happens? You would be a lot better off focusing on pure/unprocessed meat and fish with vegetables and salad than including those other things in your diet - whilst you're trying to lose weight.

I think Briffa is fab - but I suspect his dietary guidance is a bit more about maintenance/everyday healthy eating more than it is about losing weight. And certainly, if the weight isn't shifting for you, then this would suggest that you need to be more careful about what you're eating at the moment.

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 12:14

Such good advice I had to post it twice Grin!

dotty2 · 01/05/2012 13:11

Thank you (twice). I know, I think I do need to be a bit stricter with myself. Have been focusing on the whole deliciousness thing a bit too much I think - as in OK, so I can't have bread/biscuits/cake, but I can still have all these lovely things. Need to think lighter, I think.

survivingspring · 01/05/2012 14:01

I hope it's ok to join this thread and am hoping for a bit of advice! I just started on a low carb diet a few days ago but am now getting really bad tummy pain/cramps. Would there be any reason for this? I do suffer from IBS which made me think the low carb and cutting out bread/refined carbs would be good. I've maybe eaten more cheese than usual as the book I have surprisingly suggests that it is unrestricted on this diet. Has anyone else had anything similar?

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 14:04

dotty2 - I don't know what you mean by 'think lighter' - but if you mean cut down on fat, don't! That's the absolute opposite of what you should be doing. Cut out the fruit/chocolate/alcohol (and restrict the cheese a little) and you should be fine.

survivingspring - if you're eating a lot of dairy and suffering, it could be that you have a problem with that. What are you eating? And are you drinking plenty of water - this is absolutely essential. I'm an IBS sufferer, and mine always gets much better/disappears when I'm low carbing.

dotty2 · 01/05/2012 14:08

I suppose I just meant stop thinking about food 'treats' - which could mean just replacing the old bad habits with new ones. I know low fat is bad, though!

survivingspring · 01/05/2012 14:16

Hmm - I'm probably not drinking enough water so will up my intake. I might just have isolated my IBS trigger I guess as was never sure if it was wheat or dairy causing the problems! Thanks BIWI Smile

I have 11 lb to lose to reach my target weight but really want to get there in 2 months time as I'm going to a wedding and the dress I have is too small (determined not to buy another one!). I so want this diet to work!!

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 14:24

Two months = 8 weeks

@1lb/week = 8lbs loss
@1.5lbs/week = 12lbs loss
@2lbs/week = 16lbs loss

Come and join my Bootcamp

If you do Bootcamp and follow it to the letter, you ought to see a more significant loss than 1-2lbs in each of the first two weeks - which will get you off to a good start so that you can achieve your target. I had been low carbing since 6 Feb, but my weight loss had really slowed down - sometimes I didn't lose anything and in one or two weeks I actually put weight on. I lost 3lbs in the first week of Bootcamp and a further 4.25lbs in week 2.

RoryCeilingCat · 01/05/2012 18:04

Hi all
I did SW will good results when I lived in the UK, but now I live abroad it's felt much harder, and looking at low-carb it seems v sustainable. I won't start it til next week for work reasons, and will be doing IPD as it looks easy for someone as lazy about couning things as me Wink Feel v enthused about it, despite the lack of wine...

Question: I can't eat most nuts or sesame. Is there anything I can substitute? Esecially in recipes that call for ground almonds/almond flour? (I can eat coconut). And is walnut oil okay as a salad dressing? I ate it inadvertently on holiday, didn't react adversely, and thought it was lush Smile

Will be back with renewed zeal next Wed when I start properly. Reading lots before then (and planning to give my preciously acquired tin of Cadburys to a friend for safe keeping too).

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 18:07

Any oil is fine, Rory.

If you need help/support, come and join my low carb Bootcamp. There are around 80 of us doing it!

Even if you don't want to join, have a read of all the threads - there are some fab recipes posted on the Bootcamp recipe thread as well.

wouldratherbeonthebeach · 01/05/2012 18:11

I've been low carbing since January and lost a stone in the first 6 weeks and not lost a lb since Sad. Any ideas? I've not cheated at all and I'm getting really fed up SadSadSad

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 18:12

Yes I absolutely do have an idea!

Here's a post from the Carblife website:

"The weight loss has stopped what am I doing wrong?

Everyone experiences a slowing down or stopping of weight loss at some point in their diet. Listed below are a few things that may help you understand why and what you can do to get moving again.

Water.
Water is essential to weight loss for those who eat low-carb. The minimum consumed in a day should be

Weight-----Litres
140lbs-----2.5
160lbs-----3.0
180lbs-----3.0
200lbs-----3.5
220lbs-----3.5
240lbs-----4.0
260lbs-----4.5
280lbs-----4.5
300lbs-----5.0
320lbs-----5.5
340lbs-----5.5
360lbs-----6.0
380lbs-----6.5
400lbs-----6.5

High levels of ketones in the blood stream can lead to a reduction in ketone production, therefore being well hydrated could aid in keeping the levels low and ketone production ongoing. Consuming enough water can have many other positive side effects: aids your kidneys with the processing of protein, reduces the retention of water, helps with preventing constipation, and reduces the levels of ketones released by your breath, which in-turn will reduce breath odour.

Citric acid.
Citric acid, a common ingredient in diet drinks, can stall weight loss for some lowcarbers. If you are sensitive to this ingredient it can slow you down.

Caffeine.
Many lowcarbers drink caffeine and still lose weight. You may want to wean yourself off caffeine to see if it helps. In Atkins' book, The New Diet Revolution, it says that you aren't allowed caffeine because it triggers an insulin response, but that information has since been found to be incorrect. The insulin response that Atkins saw in his patients was more likely due to citric acid. Do keep in mind that one cup of coffee can have roughly .6g of carbs, so make sure to add those into your daily carb allowance.

Dairy
Dairy can be a problem for some people. If you experience slow or stalled weight loss try reducing or eliminating dairy, especially cheese. Some have found better results by cutting all dairy. Although cheese is allowed on lowcarb plans it does seem to effect weight loss if consumed in high quantities.

Nitrites
Nitrites - found in processed meats like hot dogs and bacon can cause problems for some, you may want to monitor their effect.

Alcohol
This is an area that seems to vary a great deal between individuals. While it is true that many alcohol products contain few carbs, alcohol itself is a fuel source. The body will choose to burn alcohol before any other source of fuel. However, many people have reported that they are able to consume moderate amounts of alcohol while on low-carb without having any problems. As most people are already aware, alcohol has a depressant effect which lowers inhibitions, including those that could stop you from overeating and making poor food choices.

Menstrual Cycle
Many women find that their progress is affected by their menstrual cycle. After a few months, you will have an idea of how your cycle affects weight loss, and you will be able to take it into account when measuring your losses. People have noted the following interactions between low carb eating and the menstrual cycle in women include: heightened carb cravings in the second half of the cycle, ketosis levels dropping or disappearing altogether, differences in the amount and severity of cramps, changes in the heaviness and timing of the cycle. Additionally it has been noted that a low-carb diet is very helpful to women with PCOS.

Protein
Although getting adequate protein is of vital importance on a low-carb plan, taking in too much protein can also be a problem. You will need enough dietary protein to avoid any muscle loss and to produce some necessary glucose. Protein is converted to glucose at a rate of roughly 58%. Therefore, too much protein can produce too much glucose. If you are having problems with staying in ketosis (or getting into ketosis), you may need to track your intake of protein and then make adjustments. It is highly recommended that you don't restrict your intake of protein in the initial adaptation stage of starting a low-carb plan.

Glycerine
One of the recurring issues of stalls and labelling discrepancies regards many of the low-carb protein bars currently on the market. While the true carb count of the bars is low, most of these bars contain glycerine. Although glycerine is not a carb, it can be metabolised like a carb by some individuals. Additionally, it can cause muscle cells to hold water, hence its use by some athletes.

Prescribed Medicines
There are a number of medicines that can interfere with weight loss, the worst offenders are the psychotropic drugs; phenothiazines, tranquillisers, anti-depressants, etc. The next are hormones such as oestrogen, prednisolone and other steroids. Many anti-arthritic drugs especially NSAIDS, diuretics and to a lesser degree other cardiovascular medications. You cannot stop these medications! Atkins suggests that you can gradually replace the drug with diet and suitable supplements. Do not stop medications without consulting your Doctor!!!

Hormonal Balance
A significant percentage of people, who have difficulty losing weight, have an under-active thyroid. The typical symptoms are; mental and physical slowness, lethargy, memory loss, heavy periods, a hoarse voice, increased weight and intolerance of the cold. The eyes may become swollen, the skin dry, and the hair ?lifeless?. Constipation is also common. You can ask your doctor for a thyroid function test if you think you may have this condition."

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 18:14

And here is another one - this is the key one, IMO - because it's very common for people to report that weight loss slows down at this stage:

"PATTERNS OF WEIGHT LOSS
Common patterns of weight loss from tracking a lot of people who become assimilated into the lowcarb lifestyle (hehe...resistance is futile!) a pattern emerges.... the 2 week induction is pretty heady...weight lost just about every single day, enormous and unbelievable amounts of weight loss are reported. This is often followed by complaints that weight loss "stalls" or that the rate drops to only 1 pound per week.
Many people just don't know that fat-loss ...the actual goal when on a weight-reduction" diet, is rate-limited. In other words, the human body has factors that prevent more than a certain amount of fatty-acid release from storage...and even more factors that prevent those released fatty acids from being used up instead of stored back into the fat cells.
A priority of the human body is survival. Anything that threatens its survival results in the cascade of events to maintain the previous status quo. Water fluctuations are one way the body does this. OK...so you done good on Atkins' during induction...lost 10 pounds the first 2 weeks. Maybe 7 the first week and 3 the second. But, whoa!Weeks 3 and 4 there is NO loss! And weeks 5 and 6 is only 1/2 pound each!
So... what gives? Initially, the body jettisons the water attached to the glycogen stores that we diligently deplete to get into ketosis...this accounts for about 3-5 pounds of water. In addition, muscle stores of glycogen are not being replaced when used...which will account for the rest. All in all...MAYBE 1/2 pound of fat was metabolized during the first week... and MAYBE 1/2 pound of fat was metabolized the 2nd week. Of that 10 initial pounds, only 1 pound was fat and 9 pounds water... The body senses this lack and sirens start shrieking: Warning! Warning! Losing water... new thing...got to get back to the status quo! Brain tells body to produce and release that vasopressin antidiuretic hormone....more water is retained, and no weight loss noticed. Fat loss is still occuring, MAYBE even 2 pounds per week, because ketosis is firmly established and appetite supression is in effect...but water retention is hiding that continuing fat loss. The body is preventing dehydration with this mechanism, and that's a good thing.
From the perspective of the scale, it can be discouraging. Which is why the mantra: Water retention masks fat loss (repeated frequently to oneself ) is helpful. Water retention will mask ongoing fat-loss for as long as the body retains the water. We can combat this by drinking more water...but we aren't going to totally overcome this mechanism during the initial water-loss phase of the Atkins diet. By weeks 5 and 6, things start to get back in balance, and the scale will begin to reflect the true fat-loss...which, as mentioned before is rate-limited. Individuals vary, but max weight loss runs about 2 pounds per week...under extremely optimal conditions... or 1% of body weight (whichever is the lower number).

So don't use the scale as an excuse to undermine your progress. Even when the scale is in a stall, fat loss can be occuring."

This, too, was from the Carblife website.

wouldratherbeonthebeach · 01/05/2012 20:25

Thanks so much for posting but having gone through the list many don't apply to me. Since I started I've only had water or fruit tea. Ive not had any caffeine or fizzy drinks at all.
Had small amount of cheese but not loads.
Ive stuck to pig 2 twig to the letter and had no processed meat or alcohol.
When i Last had a period lost 3lb, this time nothing, I'm on the regular pill not oestrogen one Sad.
The only 2 things I can think of is that I don't drink enough water or eat enough vegetables. I have a lot more protein and don't eat veg with every meal.
It's getting incredibly frustrating and depressing. I'm totally exhausted due to lack of energy but I really want to lose at least another stone. I'll just have to keep persevering, thanks for the help Wink

KateSpade · 01/05/2012 21:28

I'd like to join the Low-Carb diet thread, if i may! I've been thinking about cutting out carbs completely, however you need some to function. So i have planned to have a small amount for breakfast and another small amount with tea, maybe a 2/3 baby potatoes.

My meal plans are:
Breakfast - Oatibix

Dinner - Vegetable soup, no WW points at all.

Snack - Vegetables

Tea - Protein, vegetable, small portion of carbs.

  • two litres of water a day

It's getting to the point i am so fed up with not loosing weight, i used to be this amazing glamorous person, and i just feel so depressed that its not me anymore. It sounds stupid, but its frustrating. Angry

I plan to do the 30 day shred everyday + toning exercises. I have free time now, as i have finished working till i go back to uni, except weekends.

Any helpful messages of encouragement appreciated! :)

teaandthorazine · 01/05/2012 21:43

Hello KateSpade and welcome!

Interesting meal plan there Wink. It's true that you don't need to cut out carbs completely, but it's absolutely not true that you'll need Oatibix and potatoes to function. You can get plenty enough carbs just from non-starchy veg (I also eat small amounts of yoghurt, berry fruits etc).

Veg soup is great, but you don't have to worry about WW points on a low carb diet!

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 01/05/2012 22:13

Wouldratherbeonthebeach - how much fat are you eating? If you haven't got any energy, I'm concerned that you're not eating enough.

List what you've been eating and drinking over the last few days and I'll see if I can spot anything that might help.

Also - how much do you weigh/how much do want to lose?

KateSpade - low carb isn't about no carbs. It's important that you eat them, but the idea is that you get them in the form of some veg and salad.

When you say 'small portion of carbs' what do you actually mean? Because your vegetables are carbs!

Looking at what you're planning:

Oatibix is not low carb.

What vegetables are you planning on eating?
What protein are you planning on eating?
How much fat are you going to include? Low carbing means high fat.
2 litres of water is the absolute minimum you should be drinking. See my post ^ showing amounts of water you need according to your weight.

Why don't you come and join us on the Bootcamp? There are 10 rules to follow - that's it - so it should be easy to do. You can join the 80 or so of us already doing it. Here is the most relevant thread

wouldratherbeonthebeach · 02/05/2012 07:19

Thanks biwi
Monday
B - Omelette with double cream cheese & mushrooms
L - flaxseed with smoked Salomon
Snack - nuts
D- chicken soup & chicken stirfry

Tues
B - eggs again
L - chicken stirfry
Snack - nuts
D - chicken soup, chops & asparagus & mushrooms
I think part of prob is I don't drink enough water, I drink a lot of flavoured teas. Also I munch away on nuts and then not always hungry for dinner but eat anyway. Possibly I'm eating too much, is it possible to be having too much protein?

dotty2 · 02/05/2012 07:50

I've just measured the glass I usually drink my water from and have realised it's only 250ml, so I should be drinking 12 of them a day. I never both measuring water as I always think I drink 'loads' - but am sure it's no where near 12 glasses a day. Am going to count today, though have train journeys and meetings that might make me hold back a bit for practical reasons...

dotty2 · 02/05/2012 07:50

Never bother, even.

KateSpade · 02/05/2012 08:20

Hmm, I havent thought of it that way, If I can get enough carbs from vegetables I will try and cut all other carbs out. Except for sandwich wraps, high carbs I know but I don't like bread.

My protein is chicken & my vegetables are broccoli & carrots. No sweetcorn. Fruit will be strawberrys, oranges, pineapple & apples.

I will check out the meal plan, thanks for posting.

What do you guys eat for breakfast?

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 02/05/2012 08:35

Kate - that isn't going to be a low carb diet! Yes, you should be getting your carbs from vegetables - but only some vegetables - there are many which are simply too high in carbs.

Carrots, oranges, pineapples and apples are all high carb, and if you're eating a sandwich wrap that will also really increase your carb levels. Honestly - if you want to low carb, you really need to know a bit more about what you're doing.

Your protein won't be high enough in fat - unless you're eating thighs instead of breast, or roasting a chicken and eating the crispy skin.

If you don't like bread - hurrah! That's ideal for low carbing. Go and read the Bootcamp thread I linked to - there are 10 'rules' and if you follow these this will give you a really easy way to start low carbing, knowing that you're doing it properly.

And re breakfast - eggs will be your friend!

wouldratherbeonthebeach - a couple of observations. First, you don't seem to be eating much veg/salad. Second, how much fluid are you drinking? Flavoured teas are good, but are you really drinking at least 2 litres? If you aren't, then this is definitely worth addressing. And if you're snacking on nuts so that you're not hungry, this could suggest that you're eating too many of them - they are a really good snack, but it's very easy to eat a lot of them without really thinking about it - and they can be very carby very quickly. That's why in Bootcamp (which is a two week period) nuts aren't allowed.

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 02/05/2012 08:46

Oh and yes - you can eat too much protein. You should be eating fat, then protein and then carbs (in terms of relative proportions).

ilovemyteddy · 02/05/2012 12:56

wouldratherbeonthebeach I've also been low-carbing since January and have lost 34.4lb as of this morning (although I was crap on the bootcamp fortnight!!) I do have a lot to lose, though, as my starting weight was 224.4lb and I want to get down to 147lb. A few things I have learned since starting LC: You really must drink LOADS of water. BIWIs post at 18.14pm yesterday explains the science behind why. Your body will go into preservation mode if you get dehydrated and you will stop burning fat. You need to keep a close eye on not eating too much cheese, flaxseeds and nuts as they can make you stall (and are carby when eaten in excess.) An alternative snack to nuts is celery - I know it sounds boring but celery and a few shavings of parmesan is the food of the gods! Variety is the spice of life so it is important to vary what you eat so that you don't get bored, and so that you get a good balance of nutrients whilst sticking to the principles of low-carbing. There are some lovely recipes on the Recipe thread Artificial sweeteners and other 'sweet' things can make your weightloss stall as they can give you cravings for sweet things, and make you feel hungry when you aren't. Sometimes (a lot of times) you don't eat because you are hungry but because you are either dehydrated or bored. Eating is often an emotional thing, especially if, like me, you are a lardarse lot heavier than you should be for your height/bone structure.
I'm trying not to eat after 7pm as much as possible. Mainly to get me out of that habit of snacking whilst watching the telly. Because so much of what we eat and when we eat is habit. Skinny people eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. I have NEVER been hungry since I started this WOE. Ready for my dinner, yes, but never hungry in between meals (and, if there was an Olympic medal for eating, I would have been a gold medallist!!) HTH