The Unbelievably Good Low Carb Diet Thread

[QueenStromba]

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

notsure - you haven't done 'no carbing' before, if you were following a plan that allowed a slice of bread! It's low carbing that is what we (you?) should be doing!

You were probably following Charles Clarke's High Protein Diet, as he allows a slice of wholemeal bread per day.

The Dukan Diet is a very strange beast, IMO. It's supposedly low carb, but allows fruit-flavoured yoghurts, and you have to eat oatbran every day - which means it's not really low carb at all.

But it does sound like you really don't know much about low carbing, and so I can only agree with others here that you really need to do some reading. It's not a straightforward way of eatiing, and it does seem very counter intuitive, given that for the last 30-40 years or so we've all been told to cut the fat and calories.

If you can get hold of a copy of Atkins "The New Diet Revolution", or Dr Briffa's "Escape the Diet Trap" they are both very good at explaining the science/thinking and process behind low carbing.

vnmum - What proportions do you use for your chocolate mousse?

Atkins is not no carb!

None of this WOE is about cutting carbohydrates out. It is about eating a lower level of carbohydrate, such that the diet is mainly protein and fat.

At the strictest level of the Atkins diet, which is induction and is ideally a 2 week period, you are allowed 20g of carbohydrate each day, which must come from vegetables and salad leaves. After that period you gradually increase the amount of carbs until you start to gain weight again - i.e. you're looking to find out how many carbs per day you can accommodate. Everybody has a different level.

Sorry, Osmiornica. I was a bit ranty there!

I also like the courgette ribbons. I just fry them up in butter and garlic granules. Had them tonight actually with my huge portion of cauli mash made with cream and philly. A good 9g of carb from veg.

The chocolate mousse i just tend to make ad much as i think then work out the carbs. Last time i used 100ml double cream (1.6g carb), a sprinkle of sweetner and 2 squares of lindt 90% cocoa chocolate (2.4g carb) melted then all whisked together till thick. So the whole lot is 4g carb but i would only eat half at most and fridge the rest. I have made it with cocoa powder but that is hit and miss on how chocolatey it tastes and can taste a bit bitter

Should I actually be counting carbs? I'm largely doing India & Neris which doesn't really talk about it so I'm not. I'm eating mainly green veg: in the last 3 days my veg intake has been any of mushrooms, cucumber, red pepper, celery, spring onion, leek, lettuce, spinach, watercress, broccoli, cabbage, pak choi, cauliflower. And then some berries (rasps and bluebs) a couple of days.

I don't really want to start counting them - I like this not feeling like a diet whereas I'm used to counting calories/WW points on diets. But most of you seem to be counting them so I just wondered if I'm missing something. What are the advantages of counting/disadvantages of not?

I don't count, lemniscate. My view is that if I eat the right kind of foods then I don't need to. It's hugely liberating to not have to weigh and count.

I don't count either, though I did a little bit in the beginning because I was just learning which foods had which carbs in them. Now I don't bother as I don't think I'd be very good at conforming to those kinds of rules (eg I'd feel like i'd "failed" if I went over and then just run out and order a shame pizza).

I don't count either generally, although I have counted on the odd day retrospectively to make sure I'm not going massively over. I did 2 weeks very strict protein and green veg with no alcohol or anything else but have gradually been adding nuts, a few berries, slightly carbier veg and a few sauces and weight loss is still happening. Going to have a strict couple of weeks again after Easter though, with Easter Sunday off.

I had an Atkins shake for breakfast today. It was not great. As it was chocolate flavour I ended up mixing the last half with black coffee and that was much nicer.

Off to bed now before I dive head first into the hula hoops I know are in the cupboard.

Arf at BIWI getting all het up!! I am getting de ja vous of the good ol' days with Lovecat and me, and you BIWI, (among others) trying and failing to explain it to all the newbies! It was funny opening that link after all this time.

BIWI and I were on there as regulars together - God, must be getting on for 10 years ago now.

Look people, this not an easy thing to grasp, and as BIWI says it can be VERY counter-intuitive at first, but in order to do it properly, for it to work, and for you to have faith that it works and is not dangerous you need to understand it. Read a decent book!

Even then, it takes a massive leap of faith the first time. But you will soon see the light, and the error of your previous deluded ways.

I haven't read the whole thread or the previous thread, so forgive me if I am repeating old advice but you need to go onto Amazon and look for:

Robert Atkins
Dr Briffa
Leslie Kenton
Gary Taubes

I do recomment the India and Nerys book but I would highly recommend you read one of the original ones written by a sciencey person/doctor/dietician first to better understand the science behind it. The India and Nerys is very user-friendly and jolly, but I think in order to really have faith you need to get to grips with the heavy stuff. It's not that dry a read really, in fact I found it all fascinating. It throws so much light on how manipulative the food industry is, and why we have such a hopelessly fat society today.

hilly my DH read the science book, I read IPD.

Went out with my friends last night and had Indian Food - all going well... apart from the 3 bottles of wine consumed. I dont usually drink but did last night, feel rather delicate this morning. Might even have to go back to bed!

At the strictest level of the Atkins diet, which is induction and is ideally a 2 week period, you are allowed 20g of carbohydrate each day, which must come from vegetables and salad leaves. After that period you gradually increase the amount of carbs until you start to gain weight

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about the Atkins diet. It is totally wrong to say it does not allow any carbs, (even at induction phase that is not true) and totally wrong to say that by limiting fruit and veg you will be eating unhealthily.

If you pick the right choice of veg (and to a certain extent even some fruits at the beginning, although I know it is not recommended) you can eat LOADS for 20 grams worth of carbs. I mean LOADS. Far more than you probably ever ate when you had potatoes or pasta on your plate. Veg becomes the main attraction rather than the side token sideshow. People who think this about eating unhealthily are so, so wrong. Any type of diet can be unhealthy if you allow it to be. I could follow a low-fat diet rigidly by eating nothing eat nothing but jelly babies and diet coke, but it wouldn't be healthy would it?

The other thing you really need to do is lose the obsession with thinking that low-fat versions of cheese, youhurt, milk or butter will be better. For this WOE it really won't and it will cost you valuable carbs better used on vegetables.

If you are not trying to "cheat" then you don't have to measure anything on a low carb way of eating.

If you just eat, meat, fish, eggs, fats & green leafy vegetables / salad - you cannot go wrong. That is low carb at its most simple and staightforward.

If you adapt that & introduce fruit, nuts, alot of dairy - then the wheels can fall off the trolley. That is when you probably need to start counting carbs, or know your body well, so that you can see how many carbs you can tolerate while still losing weight.

I think I must be one of life's high insulin producers, because unless I stick with less than 30g of carb a day - I will not lose. I'm a bit older at 42 and most of the low carb gurus will tell you that the older you get & the longer you have been shovelling down a high carb diet the harder it is to get your body back on track again.

Some people can cheat quite considerably & still lose. Every single one of us is different & we have a different genetic dispositions & hormones running through our veins, therefore our carb tolerance will be different.

However, if you really want to lose weight, if you stick to the meat, fish, eggs, fats & green leafy veg / salad then you will definitely lose weight!

at the arrival of the big guns!

Sorry to be ranty about it - and I remember when I was a newbie to low carbing as well.

But I absolutely agree with Hilly that you need to understand how this way of eating works. And also to recognise that it isn't a very flexible way of eating if you're looking to cheat. It's not like counting calories where you can be 'good' one day to compensate for being 'bad' on another. You have to keep the carbs to a certain level for it to work.

(Do you think we've frightened everyone away now?!)

Hoists much less ample bosom - if they are frightened away, then it is not the right WOE for them!

They have to buy into the basic concept - otherwise it is a waste of their time & effort & after 3 weeks they'll be gone.

Im not scared away. I am just rather hungover tired today.

I have been doing WOE since January and have lost lots of inches and almost 2 stone by following the basic concept mentioned above.

I adapt things slightly and keep an eye on carbs if I know I am going to have a wine or 5 like I did last night.

Have to say - got serious wine indigestion today.

I've also been doing since jan and lost 1.5 stone. Had a really good week this week and 2lb loss. Tomorrow though is a friends bday, with party - including food and alcohol. So problem here - a) what to drink and b) what to eat to avoid hang over - previously would do the couple of slices of toast when I get in trick.

I would like to add to anyone transferring over from a different WOE to low carb is although it may feel wrong after years of WW or the like (i know been there done that) but do not be afraid of fat. My weight has stuck for the past 3 weeks. I had official WI day on wednesday and had STS. I thought it was fluid retention due to TOTM being imminent. That still hasn't arrived but I still feel a tad bloaty BUT I have added more fat into my diet for the past 3 days by having oil on salad etc and my ketostix are now darker even though i'm drinking loads and this morning I have lost 1lb and 0.4% fat since wednesday. The only thing I have done different is increase my fat intake so maybe I haven't been eating enough fat or enough good fat, so don't be afraid of fat

hope that makes sense

I am on the hunt for a butter chicken recipe for tonight as DS wants curry. I will have it with cauli rice if I can make it. Also probably going to have to grab lunch in town today as got to get in and back before the school run so I am hoping I can find something. Thinking a subway salad might work, will check their website

I have a brilliant butter chicken recipe - it works really well, is easy and tastes authentic. It's a Gordon Ramsay one from his Great Escape book. Hang on, I'll google it, and if it's not there I'll type it in this thread.

Yes, it's on the net, you can get it from there.

Custy - target weight 9:3, current weight 9:7.2
RatherBeOnThePiste - target weight 9:13, current weight 10:4
BIWI -
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 49 lbs
fluffy123 - weight lost so far 56 lbs GOAL
mejon - weight loss so far - 24 lbs
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 3.5lbs
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 12.13, current weight 10.12
CointreauVersial - starting weight 9.9, target 9.0 (-ish), currently 9.5

I've just had to go to the old thread to copy this 10 pages into the new thread :) This morning I weighed in at 11'7". Ditching MFP and just keeping a rough running carb tally in my head seems to be working for me.

Custy - target weight 9:3, current weight 9:7.2
RatherBeOnThePiste - target weight 9:13, current weight 10:4
BIWI - target weight - 9.0, current weight 10.9
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 49 lbs
fluffy123 - weight lost so far 56 lbs GOAL
mejon - weight loss so far - 24 lbs
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 3.5lbs
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 12.13, current weight 10.12
CointreauVersial - starting weight 9.9, target 9.0 (-ish), currently 9.5

I'm another one STS. Will try the fat thing as I suspect I may not be eating enough fat either.