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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.

Low carb for those of us who aren't hardcore enough for Bootcamp/Atkins induction etc

679 replies

QueenStromba · 06/07/2012 22:02

This is a thread for anyone who wants to eat fewer carbs but has either failed on plans than start out really low carb or just doesn't want to eat very low carb for whatever reason. I'm of the opinion that the high carb diet recommended by the government is the cause of obesity and related diseases and that any reduction in carbs will boost health.

While the Bootcamp threads are fantastic, I think a lot of people find it difficult to dive straight into eating very low levels of carbs which leads to giving up by day five. I did this myself when I first tried low carbing last April. I wasn't even trying to eat induction level carbs, just cut out the obviously high carb elements of my diet (rice, potatoes, pasta, bread etc) and I still nearly killed my housemates. It was about six months before I tried low carbing again and I went about it in a completely different way and have ended up eating induction level carbs through preference.

First I cut down my carb portions slightly in each meal, waited a week or two then cut down the portions even further so I was only eating about half the starch element that I had been in each meal. The next thing I did was completely remove the starch from one meal - I think it was breakfast I did first. I had been eating a poached egg on a slice of toast with a slice or two of lean bacon and some mushrooms or spinach - all I did was cut out the slice of toast and replace it with more veg or an extra egg depending on how hungry I was feeling. Once I was happy with that I started on dinner. Instead of rice I had cauliflower rice, instead of potato mash I had cauliflower, swede or celeriac mash and instead of noodles/pasta I had either shirataki noodles or thin ribbons of courgette. For the first while I still mixed in half a small portion of e.g. rice with my cauliflower rice. I normally made enough dinner to have leftovers for lunch the next day. I lost really well on that without worrying about how many carbs were in veg and I still had milk in my tea and berries with yoghurt. I also had a couple of beers a week and the odd slice of cake or whatever. I only went very low carb after doing a lot of reading and deciding that eating a diet very low in carbs and high in fat (including saturated fat) is the healthiest diet for us.

OP posts:
wobblyagain · 09/08/2012 11:23

Meant to say I did go very low car for three days and felt horrendous could barely function.

So this time I had no carbs for lunch. I eat 2 egg omellette with cheese and nuts for snack but by supper time felt horrendous.

Olympicnmix · 09/08/2012 11:35

Yes, QuenStromba sadly you're right about the sweet tooth! My plan was to ease into the low-carbing by not missing choc and crisps by eating some fruit (raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate & grapes) as well as upping the vegetables and then ease off the fruit - but take your point and know I need to venture out of my comfort zone on the protein.
Fortunately Sainsbury's blackcurrent is the only type I like, being aspartame free.
I've lost half a stone in the last two weeks eliminating wheat and potatoes as well as ditching the diet coke.
Thank you for your advice, you are inspiring an awful lot of us on MN Smile

QueenStromba · 09/08/2012 12:04

Here's my suggestion wobblyagain:

Low sugar alpen, toast and marmalade - Rolled oats, some nuts/seeds, some berries and full fat milk, and an egg

Banana snack - apple and half a dozen nuts (bananas can be really high GI and very high carb)

Sandwich often cheese with yoghurt and fruit - switch to rye or spelt bread which isn't as bad for you as normal wheat and lower GI. Switch to natural yoghurt/plain fromage frais. Stick to apples, pears and berries for the fruit but try and sub some veg in instead.

Afternoon snack Usually feeling dreadful by this time so grab toast and marmalade - rye/spelt toast with philadelphia

evening home prepared meat veg type meal - if you're having carbs stick to new potatoes, sweet potatoes, basmati rice, quinoa, beans

porridge in evening - fine

OP posts:
wobblyagain · 09/08/2012 12:14

QueenStromba I can not thank you enough Grin.

I will give it ago and let you know how I get on.

Without gushing too much I am really grateful for your help Smile

LookBehindYou · 09/08/2012 12:54

QueenS I'm surprised you suggest basmati rice?

QueenStromba · 09/08/2012 13:14

It's the lowest GI rice - it only barely sneaks into the medium GI category.

OP posts:
LookBehindYou · 09/08/2012 13:18

Thanks! Very interesting. I thought as it was so white and fluffy it was sure to be high.

Movingforward123 · 09/08/2012 15:44

Hiya, well I havnt been low carbing Envy the last few days, but I will go food shopping today and start again tomorrow!

I did nice that when I was low carbing I didn't crave chocolate and biscuits as much! Normally I crave them like crazy!

I know that when we stop eating carbs that our body taps into the fat and uses it for energy! Is that after every meal? Or just after doing no carbs for a while when you are in ketosis?

As I'm wondering if say eating a sandwich for lunch but breakfast and dinner bring no carbs would work?

JobCarHouseNoBaby · 09/08/2012 16:31

Well ladies I started low carbing on Friday last week and since then have lost 4lb in total! I'm amazed!

I am very surprised I've survived at work as I commute 1hr 30 each way and usually end up pulling into services to get choc/sweets but I'm doing ok!

Typical day's meals:

Breakfast - eggs (either scrambled or poached) and 2 bacon rashers

Lunch - salad & tuna mayo / chicken or leftover dinner from night before

Snack - fruit tea and atkins choccy bar (quite pricey but give me my afternoon snack fix) or a babybel or two

Dinner - grilled meat, veg/salad

I am going to be a bit more adventurous next week and try the following for snacks:

Olives, celery & philly, ham and philly rolls

And I've been browsing the Atkins website for yummy low carb recipes (it's free to register and you can do a weekly meal plan for free)

I just hope that another 4lb is dropped next week. I have my first wedding dress alteration fitting at the end of August and it'd be fantastic to have lost 10lb-14lb by then!

topsi · 09/08/2012 19:19

I've had blue berries, greek yogurt (bit of honey)
Salad, salmon and cheese
Chicken and salad tonight
4 squares of 90% cocoa chocolate
coffee no sugar
water
Am preying for some weight loss.

NCIS · 09/08/2012 20:14

I'm so pleased to have found this thread and particularly to be able to take advantage of Queens knowledge and enthusiasm. Thanks a million Queen Thanks

Today I've had:
Egg, bacon and fried mushrooms
Cold meats and salad
Raspberries and double cream
The pork chop recipe from earlier on this thread with watercress salad.

If I find myself fancying cake I have a coffee with cream or raspberries and cream.

10lbs lost in under three weeks!!! And I have so much more energy.

LookBehindYou · 09/08/2012 21:09

Wow NCIS! I'm so jealous of all these huge losses. I really need to up my game.

NCIS · 09/08/2012 21:36

I know I can't really believe it as I don't feel deprived and have a glass of wine when I want. I know the rate of loss will slow down but am prepared for that.
My DH is doing low-carb too and has lost a stone in three weeks, he's delighted as he was very sceptical.
I also have (tmi) far less wind and bloating.

LookBehindYou · 09/08/2012 21:41

How many carbs do you think you've been having a day NCIS?

NCIS · 09/08/2012 21:52

I have no idea, I don't count anything. I read John Biffa's book and sort of follow that, cutting out bread/wheat ,pasta, potatoes and rice. I have a couple of roast potatoes if we have a roast and allow myself two squares of dark chocolate a day if I fancy it plus wine.Smile
I also only eat if I'm hungry, it's been a real battle to stop thinking in terms of fat content and calories and giving myself permission to fry things in butter and enjoy coffee with cream instead of eking out a skimmed milk allowance.

Movingforward123 · 09/08/2012 21:54

well done NCIS thats great Smile how much weight do you need to loose in total?

NCIS · 09/08/2012 22:00

I sort of want to lose a stone and a half but could do with losing more. ~I'm 5 ft 6" and was 12 stone 1lb, am now 11 stone 5lb so another stone would be wonderful but am under no illusions that it's not always going to be as easy.

topsi · 10/08/2012 08:17

Scales seem to say I have lost 4lbs since yesterday??

LookBehindYou · 10/08/2012 08:31

I've lost just over a kilo in a day. Does ovulation make you put on weight?
Someone brought fresh pain au chocolat from the local patisserie and it's sitting in the office kitchen calling me. I can smell it from my desk.

LookBehindYou · 10/08/2012 08:31

Sorry, meant to say congrats Topsi.

NCIS · 10/08/2012 09:01

Well done Topsi

LookBehindYou You'll have to encourage someone else to eat it. Smile

topsi · 10/08/2012 09:18

thanks, was stricter with myself yesterday, well done every body keep going, lots of salad and water today!

quirkychick · 10/08/2012 14:26

Well done, topsi.

I am trying not to eat between the evening meal with the dcs at 6:30/7ish and breakfast - which is later during the summer hols; so my body can fast/lower insulin over night. The bbc documentary and other stuff I have been reading have inspired me Smile.

Missing meals atm is more problematic, sadly, as I am on ibuprofen 3x a day with meals. Have not really missed my evening snack, just trying to eat more at mealtimes. I have lost 9lbs altogether but plateaued; tis totm, though and I will not weigh myself until after .

I fancy some kind of prawn/chorizo jambalaya (without rice, of course) for dinner. I will mfp to see carbs and tinker with recipe.

LookBehindYou · 10/08/2012 14:28

I'm going to make the flax pizza tonight. Does anyone have any ideas of good pizza toppings?

QueenStromba · 10/08/2012 15:25

I had that exact thing the other day quirkychick! I used Anthony Worral Thompson's slow cooker mixed grain jambalaya and left out the rice and barley.

500g chicken thighs
200g chorizo
2 small echalion shallots
2 red chilli peppers
1 green pepper

Half a tin of chopped tomatoes
250ml chicken stock
bit of thyme
some smoked paprika

100g okra
250g raw king prawns

Came to 30-35g for the whole lot and was bloody delicious. I did it in the slow cooker but I imagine it would work on the hob if you fried the first block of ingredients in a large pot for 5-10 minutes, then added the next block bring to the boil, cover and cook on a low heat for as long as possible and then threw in the okra and king prawns for the last ten minutes.

OP posts: