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!

Well I'm abut as I have still not lost anything today, and that's nearly a week with nothing more off. It's annoying because whilst I have slipped up very slightly on carbs once or twice, even if I was going on calories alone I should have lost weight! So I lost 7lb information week and nothing in second, I suppose when you average it out it's not too bad, but I just want the scales to start moving again as I'm beginning to think they never will!

Think today I am going to be really good and try to drink loads of water, and go for a run later on when dp is back from work...

7lb in first week I mean...

Hello! I've still not caught up properly but so pleased to find this thread. I've been eating boring boring stuff this last couple if days to keep down to 20g carbs or below but am working away the next 2 days and wondering the best way to stay on track. I've done ok so far, found a feta salad with seeds for lunch but not sure what to do tonight. If I eat ouit, would something like saag paneer be a good choice?

(also, in carb cleanse phase 1, do you not find it impossible to get your 5 a day like suggested?!)

Morning all!

Well after my initial great loss in the first week I have lost absolutely nothing thus week. I have had a couple of minor wobbles but the rest of the time have stuck to the plan, though yesterday I still managed to have 30g carbs.

I don't know what to do as I feel like I'm being really strict but nothing is happening! Any advice? Should I add more fat/calories? I have not eaten more than 1200kcals/day and I'm worried my metabolism is slowing down...

Oh and hello again bint!

Saag paneer sounds good, I don't think paneer is the lowest carb cheese in the world as it is essentially just curdled milk, but as far as options go when eating out I think it is a pretty good one!

Hi Suddenly - i'd stick with the book for the moment and give it a few more days because your weight can vary naturally. There is some advice on dealing with a plateau at the end of chapter 7 - it does say to ensure you have enough calories, fat and protein. Hope your next weigh-in shows some results.

I'm feeling a bit better today (one week after starting to cut down carbs but only day 4 of following the rules) and am now down 3 lbs

Suddenly - I lost 2kgs in the 1st 2 weeks, but since then have only lost 0.1 kg! Think i've hit a plateau, tho don;t have much to lose. Have kept going tho, and hoping for more tomorrow. Try eating more fat, and drinking more water - it's what BIWI advises for everything!

I had a reasonably good day but slipped up this evening when I finished off the macaroni cheese I had made for the children (dd had a playdate so I wasn't sure of appetite size). Prob just ate around the equivalent of 20-25g dried macaroni plus a little bit of flour in the sauce (plus all the leftover veg & salad) so hope I haven't done too much damage. Now I just have to avoid tasting the chocolate butter icing I am about to make to decorate fairy cakes for someting tomorrow :( This is hard with children!

Thanks all!

Have been fairly good today:

B-soya yogurt, flaxseeds, almonds
L- went for lunch at local vineyard that also makes cheese, so had cheese plate (gave dd bread and fruit) and a small glass of their dry white wine (would've been rude not to.
D - low carb vegeburgers (recipe from book) and cauliflower mash

Have also had a couple of naughty coffees with full fat milk, and vague estimates on mfp say I've had just over 30g carbs. Drunk lots of water today so hope scales move tomorrow! Going to get off my butt and do some exercise as well. I pledge that I will go for half hour run in the morning, or do 30 day shred if it's really chucking it down!

Hello to everyone, and thanks for starting a recipe thread!

Still semi-low carbing with quite a bit of cheating here.

Weight went up a few lb the day before TOTM arrived, but was down to 11st 4.75lb this morning (i.e. 7lb off so far) so something must be working somewhere :)

Are you counting carbs solely through mfp suddenly?

If so it might be worth double checking the entries as some of the inputted food on there is only inputted with the calorie values, and as such you could well be eating quite a few more carbs than you think. I hope the scales show a drop for you tomorrow!

I had a mega craving for chips this evening so made some with swede. Not quite the same as regular chips but satisfied the craving so worthy of a recommendation!

Quite fancy trying swede dauphinoise as my next swede-replaces-potato attempt (not a fan of celeriac).

Finally got around to trying the infamous cauliflower rice too and was surprised by how good it was (also not a huge fan of cauliflower). Added some 5-spice and rice wine to give it a Chinese vibe and it worked rather well.

I'm finding that the main obstacle is deciding what to have to eat at the moment. Hopefully once I've been on this WOE for a few weeks it'll become a bit more second nature.

Hi winston, well done on the 7lb!

I have been using mfp to count carbs, but tbh I've been pretty much following the phase 1 meal plans in the book so I know I can't be going that much over on carbs. I've been inputting the recipes and usually the carb counts are pretty much the same as what rose has estimated in the book. I have been going over 20 a lot this week, but not by too much, so looks like I just have to be super strict to lose anything.

Thanks. I think a lot of it is just luck as I have quite a bit to lose, though I did make an active choice yesterday to avoid the yummy pastas in favour of a less exciting salad when out for lunch with friends. I even managed to say no to sharing a fantastic looking pudding that I could eat to myself in one minute flat

Just adding on to Sparkybabe's suggestions (from lurking on BIWI's threads), could it possibly also be dairy that's inhibiting weight loss for you?

Some people find that they don't lose when they're eating a lot of dairy, and so it might be worth trying to cut it down for a week and see if that helps?

Did you not find that the lunch at a friend's house threw you massively over 20g at the start of the week? I'm finding that I end up doing this face --> when I look at the carb counts on things like bread/crisps when preparing things for dc.

And how horribly carbtastic are tinned tomatoes???!!!

Yeah, Tuesday was a 70g carbs day! But been doing 30ish most other days!

Another good day for me - 4 lbs down now and have eaten B - omelette with tofu with mixed herbs and cheese, L - big salad with rest of tofu & guacamole , T - big salad with avocado, feta cheese & houmous, 50g nuts as a snack late-afternoon which is a danger time for me - I managed not to eat a bag of doritos while dd swimming this time!

DH home now, supportive of diet but wants to ban me from shopping in waitrose - might have spent quite a bit on veggie protein foods (tofu, quorn etc) last week

Well done newlark

I've had quite a carby day today (there was a sweet potato incident), but I've still not shifted this chest infection and between that, TOTM, and painkillers for something else I just can't be arsed with prepping/eating meals.

My overall carb intake is lower than it was, but I'm certainly nowhere near the much feted 20g/day. Maybe next week...

I tried the cauliflower 'rice' yesterday with creamy fried mushrooms and broccoli - was delish! Def trying it with all other sauces; bolognaise, curry, chilli....

Hi all!

I had a bad-ish day yesterday. I was hosting a dinner party and I had breakfast and lunch from the book and the food I did for the dinner party was on plan though a bit phase 2ish, I had halloumi and salad and then lemon Syllabub and coconut biscuits from the book with raspberries. I would have been fine therefore if it hadn't been for the half a bottle of wine! Wellat least it was dry.... Last week I managed to resist the booze, but I think that was because I had been losing and felt motivated, whereas ATM I am feeling a bit despondent. I still only did 46g carbs altogether but the scales are showing 1.5lbs on today.

I have decided to stick very strictly to 20g/day til the weight comes back off, accept that I have lost 7lbs in phase one, then move on as I have done 2 weeks now. So I will start adding carbs, but be much more controlled than I have been!

I did go for a half hour jog yesterday, but I don't feel like exercising today as I'm a bit hungover, so just going to concentrate on staying good with the food. Then tomorrow I'll get back on the exercise!

I had a panini for lunch out of sheer starving desperation (miles from nowhere, soft play party hell).

Unfortunately this only seems to have tempted me to be even more cheaty today. Might just write it off and let the scales chastise me in the morning

Hope the hangover improves suddenly

Was lucky at a party/BBQ this afternoon - the hosts had done lots of salads including a greek salad with feta, olives, tomato, cucumber, a waldorf salad with lots of walnuts and some coleslaw, grated carrot & grated cheese. So I managed to stay away from the bread rolls and new potatoes :)

Good for you newlark :)

The scales were actually down a further 0.25lb this morning, so back on it today with bells on.

L - quorn roast "chicken" salad with coleslaw and a massive chunk of cheese

Might use the rest of the roast to do a roast dinner later with lots of veg, and potatoes for dc.

1lb off today!

B- chocolate tofu shake out of the book. It was nice but if anyone else wants to try this I would suggest using silken tofu as the firm stuff I used left little bits.

L- spinach "bread" from the book (actually nicer than it sounds) topped with cheese and grilled with a blob of mayo

D- went to mum's, made a 3 cheese cauliflower gratin out of the book and took it with me for everyone (doubled quantities) Had it with a quorn fillet and some veg.

I'd had 16g without counting the quorn fillet and veg, so I reckon I've had probably just over 29g today.

I mean just over 20g!

My weight has been fluctuating - I was 5lbs down by Saturday but went up 1lb on Sunday and another this morning - I suspect partly to do with how much food is in my digestive system. Am having a really strict day today so hopefully getting back on track when I weigh tomorrow. Although I've been eating only low carb foods I have been having pretty huge portions and quite a lot of nuts so am trying to reduce those today.

MdmGlamour - please post the recipe for spinach bread - sounds good and i have loads of spinach in the garden!

I had a totally carb-day sunday, using up the last of the porridge oats and soya milk and made hummus with the last chickpea tin - ate with 8" baguette, soo yumm. Then dinner was Thai - 2 little spring roll thingys, and chicken with lemongrass and a bit of rice but OhMyGod prawn crackers (70g/100g ) and chili dip.

Back low-carbing big time today.!

I am fluctuating too a but Newlark, without wanting to be tmi, I have been a bit "bound up" so have started on the movicol and think once that kicks in it will make a difference!

Sparky, I will post spinach "bread" on recipe thread now...