Low carb vegetarian? Rose Elliot specifically.

[SuddenlyMadameGlamour]

Hi all! In my never-ending quest to finally shift the last half stone of baby (well toddler now really) weight, I am finally set on starting to low carb. I am a vegetarian, and whilst I have been lurking on the bootcamp threads, I have struggled to actually get my head around what I can actually eat on that one, though others success has been very inspiring!

I lost 2 stone on slimming world, but then stalled, and have been losing and regaining the same half stone for at least 6 months doing calorie counting on mfp, trying various calorie allowances, various nutrient ratios, various forms of exercise etc etc. I was running quite long distances not long ago, but an operation followed by a string of minor illnesses has scuppered that!

I have been inspired this weekend as I have been away with a couple of good friends who are complete foodies, been have lost lots of weight and look fab low carbing. We have been staying in a kosher vegetarian house and they have still managed to eat amazing food.

I am torn on the merits of low carb, but i really want to shift this weight now. I have just broken up from uni for summer, and want to go back a new woman! I have just ordered the two rose elliot veggie low carb bookson amazon, so hopefully they will be with me not long after I get back. They seem to essentially be atkin's adjusted for vegetarians.

I realise I am appealing to a small demographic as there are not that many vegetarians, let alone those that want to low carb, out there, but nevertheless it would be lovely if any of you out there would like to join me, or through in your two pennies worth! I don't want to distract from the other great threads running ATM as they're doing a gret job, but I do feel it would be nice to have one better suited to us veggies!

Hi all! Well done on your weight losses!

I had never heard of the harcombe diet but just googled it. Looks interesting but not sure if I could stick to it, especially of I was vegan! Looks like you can have carb meals, but with no fat . And don't think I could stomach a bowl of porridge made with water!

I used to be vegan and it was my little naughty treats that kept me going, dark chocolate especially!

I tried the low carb pizza out of the book tonight and have to say it was very good. Think it's my favourite recipe so far...

Treating myself to a little glass of wine tonight as I was well under 20g and I've done loads of gardening today. Had 125ml and feeling very giddy, so I am now officially a lightweight too!

I had the Brie and Broccoli bake this week and it's very tasty . I've had the granola a lot too as I was sick of egg flavoured foods.

Tried the lemon pancakes. Tasted eggy.

What's the pizza recipe again? I definitely like pizza!

I also had a cheeky low carb chocolate bar today - wasn't bad; a bit like chocolate from the continent rather than my usual Green & Black choice but nice to have...

I also had a low carb choc bar from holland and barret in the first week, was rather nice!

The low carb pizza is in the diet book. Basically the base in made of cheese, cream cheese and egg with oregano and garlic, then you top it with artichokes, tomatoes, olives, peppers and Parmesan. It tastes a lot nicer than it sounds! If you can't find the recipe I can post it for you.

Well scales are finally moving again today, another lb off meaning I'm 11st 2.5, so I've now lost 8.25lbs! Officially only got 1/2 pound to go till I'm back to my pre baby weight. I think the 11st 1-2lb mark is my 25 BMI cut out so I'm nearly officially not overweight anymore!

I don't think there's any magic trick to low carbing though. If I am doing my utmost to stick to 20g I never seem to end up consuming more than 1200 kcal. Yesterday I logged all my food and activity, I spend the entire day on my feet doing housework and gardening and my net cals for the day were only 535, and that is including wine!

I remember reading somewhere that low carb ultimately causes you to consume less calories because you are satisfied easier. I never used to get this as there seemed to be so much fat and it was so calorific. However I'm starting to believe this now. When I was calorie counting before it was VERY hard to stick to 1200 kcals without feeling miserable and hungry, and then I would have an ocaasional binge that would ruin everything. I think what low carbing does is take out a big chunk of empty calories in the starchy carbs and leaves the tasty filling bit, and cravings are so reduced that you don't binge and it's sustainable. Well that's how it feels for me anyway.

MmeGlamour - I don't bother counting cals, or grams of carbs! I have however lost nearly another kg! Taken over 3 weeks to lose,so have lost 3 kg in 5 weeks now. Only another kg or so to go. I know next week will be hard, saturday we have afternoon tea to go to, so sandwiches and cakes and Pimms, then evening 3course dinner, and more wine prob. Will feel crap after i'm sure.

Am off to make the spinach bread as i have loads in the garden - they seem to have loved the rain!

Well done everyone on their weight loss
I'm feeling much better now except still lusting after fruit
The only thing I'm still finding a problem is running, I do 5k but I'm finding it a struggle at the moment, does anyone else have this during carb cleansing stage?

Well I had a massive blow out today! Had crisps, wine, elderflower cordial, potatoes, pastry etc etc and mil's at dinner. Oh well tomorrow is another day!

Alree - I used to run quite long distances but my fitness has dropped so much after an operation and knowing I am doing this diet I have decided to go right back to basics and am doing couch 2 5k. I'm finding that ok, but it is hardly taxing anyway, so hard to tell whether diet is making a difference or not. I certainly haven't felt giddy or out of puff, but my legs did feel a little bit heavy and cranky the other day, but not sure if that was linked to low carb.

Maybe try dropping your pace a bit? If your heart rate is quite high isn't that when you burn glucose, but when your hr is slower you are in fat burning zone? I am guessing if you are burning fat it will be less important how much glucose (I.e carbs) are floating around and you shouldn't fatigue so easily? I am no expert though!

CRAMPY

Oh and well done sparky!

Hi. Can you tell me which rose elliot book you are using please? Having trouble shifting my last stone and as a veggie finding it difficult to add some different tastes to my menu!! I'm thinking of getting the vegetarian low-carb diet one.

Running on a low carb diet is like hitting the wall every time you run! I had a hockey match today so cheated and had porridge and later a tortilla wrap just so I had some easily accessible glucose. I would prob recommend having a bit of carb (flapjack maybe?) if you're doing any sort of distance. But I'm not an expert either!

Nice work on the collective loss! Are we a month into the thread yet? We should do a tally...

I'm using the Rose Elliot Low Carb Vegetarian cookbook - and I don't think it has the pizza in!

Hi haylee! I personally have bought both the rose Elliot diet book and the recipe book, but I think some people on the thread are just doing their own thing!

Do you want me to post the pizza recipe ghost? I could put it on the recipe thread...

And yes we should do a tally...

Yes please

I've lost 6llbs :) I've found this diet hard to get into but am finding easier now. I am craving fruit and have probably been eating too many berries (and drinking too much wine). I've definitely lost off my stomach which is my problem area and I'd like to lose another 10llbs.

Hello Ladies,

I have returned. I had to stop the diet for over a week which was a bit of a disaster. I've been back on it for about 5 days now and have lost 2lbs.

Without being too gross, not only did I get a rather horrific period which if I'm honest totally destroyed my willpower but I got the most awful constipation ever. Something I never thought would happen with my period. I ended up having to go to the doctor for some super strength stuff after I gave myself piles

I think what happened is I was relying too heavily on eggs and dairy, I was only averaging 15g carbs day and as someone who lives on fruit and beg normally with very little dairy or eggs it just wrecked my system. I haven't felt that ill in a while.

My Rose Elliot recipe book came and I found it rather disappointing but I guess thats an aside.

Anyway since feeling better, I actually sat down and worked out a healthy meal plan, then looked at ways I could reduce the carbs while keeping fibre etc. I think for the low carb life to work for me I do have to increase the amount of fish I eat, which I'm not too opposed to. That way I can use my carbs on vegetables and not eat eggs. Its my own fault really because I am such a fussy eater and will only eat about 3 cheeses, certain veg etc.

I also bought some ketostix, and found I got in to it much faster this time by exercising (don't know if that is useful to anyone).

So yes I'm back and back on low carbing. Well done to all of you on your weight loss, I'll have to try and catch up.

Alreet - i crave fruit too! More than anything else - a juicy apple, luscious mango, cherries... A sliceof cheese doesn't cut it!

Ruby - where did you get ketostix from? I don't know if i'm in ketosis or not, i have the dry mouth but not the bad breath (don't think anyway) but i don't have that burst of energy others say they have.

I've been struggling a bit and have been eating more like normal but trying to snack on nuts and seeds and keep to smaller portions. Partly due to problems with mild constipation(so have gone back to porridge for breakfast) and partly feeding the dcs in the school holidays, needing easy picnics etc. A cheese roll is much quicker to make and pack than a lovely tofu, avocado and feta salad... Weight is up 1lb in the last few days so 5 lb down from starting weight. Next week is going to be a bit hit and miss so will do my best but I should be able to have a good week the week after.

Sparky I got them from Amazon, but lots of online places sell them. I read up quite a bit on ketosis was easy with all that time sitting on the loo and most people take 4 days, exercise can speed this up, but anything earlier than three days is unlikely.

I've been in ketosis before but I never had smelly breath, and lots of places I read it said that is down to all the meat, so I would assume being vegetarian it happens less and your breath is just exacerbated by the dry mouth.

In my reading it was also said chemists/pharmacies in the uk will sell you ketostix but only if you say you/your partner is diabetic, I can't imagine them being that picky, I just ordered them because I was doing an order anyway.

Wonderful thread, I am on dukan but am getting v tired of meat. I love tofu but just never buy it. I will now!
Will keep popping back for ideas and share any recipes I have!

How is everyone doing? I've only lost half a pound this week but I've not been very strict. Going to have a couple of days of bootcamp to spur me on a bit.

Have just had turnip dauphinoise - can't remember where i saw it recommended (could be the bootcamp thread) but it was seriously gorgeous! Just turnip, sliced thin and baked in cream and butter.(i did splosh in a tablespoon or so of coconut cream too ) Served with broc tossed in butter - you wouldn't think i was on a 'diet', would you?

How is everyone getting on?

I got down to 11st 1-something then had a blip due to ill health and went back up to a ridiculous weight.

I'm back on it again and have started logging on mfp to try and keep track of carbs. I'm eating a lot more carbs than I was expecting to (obvious drawbacks of not eating meat!).

I'm going to try and get down to 30g carbs/day and am hoping to get some of this weight off in August.

Is anyone up for an August challenge?

Noticed this thread today and wanted to chip in.

When I was a meat eater I lost about 3st on Atkins. After becoming veggie I gained it all back. I struggled with calories/Slim Fast and managed to lose 10lbs (I lost more than this but it's impossible to keep off without changing the way you eat permanently - that's a no-brainer of course).

Anyway, back to the veggie/low carb drawing board. My sister recommended The Harcombe Diet which is far more accommodating than Atkins for veggies. The diet is based on two key concepts - real food only (so no junk bars or sweeteners), and no mixing of cheese, dairy etc with carbohydrate.

The Harcombe diet has a phase 1 stage which lasts 5 days. In that time cheese, milk and caffeine is forbidden. Trust me, you will feel rotten as the caffeine leaves your system, but once it's gone, it's really easy to stick with. Phase 2 starts from day 6 and allows cheese and milk, so it's really only 5 days of strict dieting. Sugar and sweeteners are not allowed.

I started doing Harcombe 7 weeks ago and have lost 21lbs to date. My wedding is in two weeks and I expect to lose another 5 or so before then. I'm counting carbs as well (an Atkins hang-over!) but I've found Harcombe more flexible and I honestly never feel hungry, not one bit.

If you're struggling, take a look. It basically recommends a good grounding in proper nutrition (as a veggie it's easy to be lazy about eating the right things, so another reason to give it a go) plus a more careful style of putting meals together.