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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:
quirkychick · 10/08/2012 20:55

Mine was a mix between delia's and jamie's.

aldi spicy chorizo
pack of aldi king prawns
onion (shallots would be better)
half each of red, green, yellow pepper
2 sticks of celery
1/2 pack of passata
olive oil

Fried the chorizo in the oil in 2 batches until the fat was rendered down and the oil was orangey. Placed on one side.
Fried the onion until soft, added the peppers and then the celery, all until soft.
Added the chorizo back to the pan and the passata and simmered until the veg were soft and the passata tasted spicy.
Added the prawns in last.

Really easy and yummy! Would need longer cooking with chicken. Dp had his with brown rice and shredded cos lettuce. Dds had theirs pureed with grated cheese, salad and brown rice. I just had it with shredded cos lettuce. We will be having that again!

I fancy a slow cooker queenstromba especially for autumn/winter.Mmm.

quirkychick · 10/08/2012 20:58

6.6g carb for 1/4 portion. Just checked on mfp. Bet it would be delicious with okra too.

CrunchyFrog · 11/08/2012 10:06

Hello all, happy weekend!

I got given a barbecue yesterday, so DSis and I had steak, also made celeriac wedges, broadbean semi-mash with tahini and auberge be slices. Lovely! Only other foods were daily omelette and raspberries with cream, so a Good Day!

Going to go meat shopping later.

quirkychick · 11/08/2012 11:28

crunchyfrog we are going to a barbecue later. I think it's probably going to be fairly easy to eat meat/fish and salad (I hope!).

I have had scrambled eggs, mushrooms and smoked salmon for late breakfast. Will probably have cold meat with salad for light lunch.

QueenStromba · 11/08/2012 21:13

I've just had brisket slow cooked in red wine, mushrooms and shallots for dinner with some cauliflower mash - twas lovely.

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 11/08/2012 21:48

Made Jamie Oliver's meatballs today. I added parsley, 4 slices of chopped bacon and 1/2 cup grated parmesan. I omitted the crackers and used 2 eggs cos my mince was extra lean. Eggs are only needed if you use very lean mince that could make the mixture dry.

quirkychick · 11/08/2012 21:56

Sounds delish! I had cheeseburger (without the bun), spicy chicken skewer and yummy salad at the barbecue. Allowed myself 2 pimm's and still only 45g carbs today. Gradually trying to lower total carbs, easily getting under 50g atm. That's with occasional alcohol and dark choc.

topsi · 12/08/2012 09:31

Is milk a no no? As I have cut out fruit juice I am enjoying the occasional glass of cold milk instead, of course still enjoying my water, fizzy water with lime juice, tea and cofee.

QueenStromba · 12/08/2012 11:46

Milk is definitely better than fruit juice - you're still looking at about 10g of carbs in a smallish glass though so you need to be aware that it's reasonably carby and not drink too much of it.

OP posts:
topsi · 12/08/2012 13:33

Ok thanks Queen.

janx · 12/08/2012 20:40

Back from a week away and I fell off the wagon quite a bit.. Found it really hard to stay focused... Good news is tonight I had courgette strips with pesto with my homemade burger and was delicious Smile.... Hope I haven't underdone all my hard work in last week

topsi · 13/08/2012 08:22

Hope you all had a good weekend.
My scales went do-lally last night and were telling me all sorts of rubbish. Went to bed feeling disheartened thinking I had been mistaken about my progress. However my usual jeans feel a tiny bit looser this morning!!
I ate really well yesterday topped off with a bar b q: Jamie Oliver burger with cheese on top, four bits of marinated chicken and loads of salad, I was stuffed!!
Need to buy new scales though!

pyjamalover · 13/08/2012 13:51

Haven't posted for a while as have been not great lately. Keep letting myself off as i'm on nights, or had my period, then the feeling of 'well i've ruined it now anyway!'

Have to say I'm struggling, not so much physically as psychologically. The food is yum, not too much of a faff, I'm not despartely hungry and my IBS is almost nonexistent. Despite this i just WANT CARBS which is silly. It's fine when i'm at work as I have a really busy active job so no time to think about it too much.

Has anyone got any tips on how they coped mentally the first few weeks? And stopped themselves cheating?

Movingforward123 · 13/08/2012 19:15

I want to try to make something on my slow cooker! I've got some beef medallion steak, and lots of veg! I was going to make a large veg curry, which I could then freeze, but I'm wondering if I should stick the steak in with it?

Anyone got any low carb/ yummy recipes?? I've got madras curry powder if that helps Confused

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 13/08/2012 22:07

Ooh, just posted on bootcamp, but wonder if you guys are more my level!

Cutting out bread, pasta, white potatoes, sugar, flour.

Hadn't considered cutting fruit, pulses etc until I saw bootcamp thread. Tbh if I can just stay away from thr sugar i'll probably drop a load of weight, as i've been binge eating sugary food since ds was born 7 months ago and now he's moving into solids i'm going to balloon if i'm not careful!

QueenStromba · 14/08/2012 10:15

Welcome to the thread MakesCakes. This probably is more the place for you - you'll get shouted at on the other thread if you mention fruit and legumes.

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 14/08/2012 10:21

I wouldn't waste medallion steak on the slow cooker Movingforward. Casserole steak or brisket would be better and cheaper.

OP posts:
CrunchyFrog · 14/08/2012 10:50

Morning all Smile

Lost 1lb this week, but also 1.5" off my waist, nothing anywhere else but I'm glad of that (working on reducing my very apple shape, but really dob't want to lose any more weight from the rest of me!

I had coconut chicken with fried aubergines, mushrooms and chilli peppers last night, bit of an odd combo but lovely!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 14/08/2012 11:06

Just ate a whole ball of mozzarella. Nice, but no substitute for the chocolate cake i'm craving...

QueenStromba · 14/08/2012 12:46

What about a low carb muffin?

30g ground flaxseed (linseed)
1/2tsp baking powder (or 1/4 tsp each of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar)
1-2 tsp sugar equivalent of sweetener (4 if you are flavouring with cocoa)
flavouring of your choice e.g. cinnamon, ginger, cocoa etc
5g butter
1 egg

  1. Melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds
  2. Mix all of the dry ingredients well in a cup
  3. Beat the egg into the butter and then mix with the dry ingredients
  4. Microwave on full for 60 seconds
  5. Cut in half and slather with butter/philadelphia/clotted cream etc
OP posts:
CrunchyFrog · 14/08/2012 13:45

That sounds just wonderful.

goes to make

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 14/08/2012 13:52

Am so making those tonight!

I just cracked and had a square of chocolate :(

Had a good lunch, though. Tuna mayo, cheddar, avocado, tomato, rocket and watercress salad

NCIS · 14/08/2012 14:01

I've just made one of these Queen delicious with cheese. The one thing I was missing was wholemeal bread and cheese. This will fill the gap nicely. Smile

awaywego1 · 14/08/2012 20:08

Hello Smile can i join please-have been lurking for a while. Trying to low carb ish, wanting to lose around a stone and feel healthier-less carb/sugar addicted and a bit more energetic.
I'm struggling a bit -already- as I've only recently started eating meat and normally eat a huge amount of carbs. So could I ask a couple of questions please?
Today I had egg and bacon for breakfast but not sure I can manage that usually-would yogurt and berries be ok? Does it matter if it's full fat or can I have fat free? Also, whilst I am happy to try and totally cut out all real sugar, bread, potatos, pasta rice and processed food I really really want to have milk and sweetener in my tea! I am thinking I'll try to cut it out once I've tackled the other things. I know artificial sweeteners are bad but will my teas stop
Me losing tele weight do you think?
Thanks in advance :)

nappyaddict · 14/08/2012 20:40

QueenStromba If I post some recipes can you see if they are OK and if I should omit/substitute anything please?

Thai creamed coconut chicken

Pork with apples and brandy

Hung shao pork

Spanish pork

Pork, sherry, tomatoes and chorizo

Entrecote Hongroise

Cauliflower cheese

Eggs en cocotte

Chilli eggs with grilled peppers