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

[QueenStromba]

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.

herbaceous perhaps you need to ditch the last lot of carbs. I was what I was advised when I joined this thread. I had lost 6lbs, I dropped carbs and once I was fat burning I started intermittent fasting. Skipping the odd meal each week. I lost another 6lbs that way. I am now within healthy weight bmi 26>22. I just want to reduce body fat%. I am nearly 42 btw. Lots of low level cardio within interval/occasional hard exercise is very good for you, too.

Mrs Hoolie - my body feels fat and bloated. Not really any smaller than when I started.

quirkychick - I don't understand the science, really. Do I have to go mega-low-carb to start the fat burning? Why aren't I fat burning anyway, when I'm eating fewer calories than I expend? If I'm not losing weight while doing low-carbing and calorie-counting, dropping the carbs and upping the fat (the only way not to feeling starving, it seems) seems high risk...

herbaceous it's all about the insulin. High carb = high insulin = fat storage whereas low carb = low insulin = fat burning (so you can eat it without storing it). If you want to understand the science Dr Briffa Escape the Diet Trap explains it really simply. There's lots of info upthread, too. You could always eat moderate fat rather than high fat if you feel happier. hth

Could I do this diet if I had one porridge pot thing for breakfast and then no Other proper carbs? Can't eat eggs or dairy do always think will be pointless trying to do this?

Oooh, can I join in? I've just started low carbing following Rose Elliot's vegetarian low carb plan. As a veggie I thought that there would be no way I could follow a low carb diet however her book has been a real eye opener.

I'm only on day 2 but am really enjoying the food that is allowed (cream, cheese, avocados yum) but I'm feeling really lethargic, did anyone else feel like this when they started?

mmm herb, I am thinking you need to give up that last little morsel of carbs you are holding on to. I was having brown rice with my evening meal at first and wasn't seeing much change. Since giving that up I have been loosing steadily. I do think that cheating on this diet does more harm than if you were say calorie counting.

Ah. I'd been hoping that being non hard-core meant the odd portion of carbs was OK.

Thanks for the explanation, quirkychick. I know I'm being a lazy moo not reading the whole thread, but that business about insulin does ring a bell. I'm just surprised it still applies when the most carbs I have in a day is a sprinkling of muesli at breakfast, and a couple of potatoes at night.

Topsi - that's what's confusing me. I am counting calories as well, so am not really cheating!

I think the odd portion of carbs is fine if you are on maintenance but it won't help you to lose. I also think a sprinkling of muesli and a few potatoes is more than the odd carbs. You could gradually cut down. I was having a few oats in yoghurt in the morning so I know where you're coming from. If you read around a bit it might inspire you too .

For breakfast I had: coffee with cream and a hard-boiled egg (before I got dcs up)
lunch: chicken breast in tomato pesto with cabbage and mushrooms cooked in butter
dinner: dab fillets in white wine and creme fraiche sauce, steamed veg and cheesy celeriac mash (v filling)
I have also had some dry white wine and some 70% chocolate, macademias and blueberries. 33g carbs total.

I'm not sure but I think calorie counting as well as low carb is not the ideal way to lose weight according to Briffa. It may be that you're not eating enough to lose weight.
It's one of the things I found most difficult when I started, stopping looking at calorie and fat content.
Briffa says a couple of potatoes with a roast once a week is fine but not every day.

ThIs is all a bit discouraging. Straightforward calorie-counting seems so much easier than doing low carb! And easier to fit into daily life, with a son and partner.

My plan had been to count calories, but upping the proportion of protein to carbs to prevent hunger. But it looks like an entire change of thinking is required.

Yes it is difficult to get your head round at first. The carbs really do add up quickly if you are having potaoes etc. You must expect to feel a bit funny for a couple of weeks as your body gets used to using fat as fuel but after that it's easy.
I have a DS and DH who are not low carbing. Last night I did chilli and DH had brown rice and I just had a larger portion of chilli! YUM
If the carbs are available in your body then you will be using that for energy and not your own fat and I think that carbs hang around for a while if you do eat them spoiling the rest of your low carb day.
Believe me it does work and is not hard work at all once you get used to it.
For instance if you look at the carb content of milk, yogurt and cream the lowest one is cream. Also the thicker and more creamy the yogurt the lower carb it is. The Tesco finest greek yog is totally delicious and I have it at least twice a day with berries. I used to have it with a small squirt of honey but have cut that out now as my taste for sweet things has reduced.
Honestly keep persevering it will work!

I also have two squares of 90% choc each day. Before I would totally avoid all choc and cheese. I feel I have more treat foods on this WOE than before when I was trying to do low cal/fat

I think once your body gets used to using fat as energy you don't feel so hungry as your body can use the calories from what you have eaten + the calories in any fat stored. I started using myfitnesspal to log calories when I was doing eat more to lose weight. I use it now to log carb count and % protein:fat:carbs. I eat less calories quite comfortably/automatically. I think that not all calories are equal.

Cauliflower or celeriac mash is a good mash potato substitute. I make a big load and serve some to everyone but give everyone else some brown rice too: any left over I can have for lunch/next day. Like topsi said it's not too hard to cook for non low carbers too. Tonight we will probably have some salmon in pesto, veg & carb for others.

Yes quirky think you are right. Also because you are eating plenty of fat you feel full for longer.

topsi what make of chocolate is that ? I had a Dime bar today

Lindt I think

Lindt chocolate is delicious. Aldi is good too. I have eaten loads today, with a bit much carbs: 60g. Still, I'm looking on it as a feast day and I have been very active. I will probably fast tomorrow, as variation is good for you .

Morning Ladies,

Thank you to you all for inspiring me to finally shift the last stone and a half,

monday am =12st 5lb, target 11st or under

i hope you can advise me on the following, mfp says im under my daily calories of 1570 (i know this prob doesnt matter) but im worried about the fat% vs carb% vs protien%

tues

b, tea, 2 eggs, butter
l, beef salad, fat free yog
d, meatballs, steamed cabbage and homemade spicy tom sauce
s, 3 slices ham
w, 4 large glasses water

food 1093cal, 30%carb, 50%fat, 20%protein, 76g carb, 13 fibre, 31 sugar

wed

b, 1 egg omlette, mushrooms in butter, coffee cream no sugar
s, 3 slices ham
l, cauliflower steamed, white sauce (low carb, checked)
s, brazil nuts, 40g
d, half roast chicken, steam cabbage, salad cream
s, 2 shortbreads (i needed them)
w, 5 large glasses

food 1544, 15%carb, 57%fat, 28 protein, 58g carb, 15 fibre, 24 sugar

thur,

b, greek yog, 5 strawberries, 2 slice ham,

planning some sort of fish salad lunch and some sort mince/mousacca with no pasta for dinner?

any advice

weighed 12st 1lb this morning

Well, my body just realised what I was trying to do and dumped three pounds. Weird. So I celebrated by eating a pain au raisin for breakfast. It's my once-a-week treat!

I've been crapper than a crap thing, but the positive thing about that is that I feel like shit! Bloated and sore etc. A Good Thing because it is pushing me to eat well again.

Had chippy chips and sausages last night and have been eating a varying amount of sugar, but back on the wagon today.

I think wheat definitely does not agree with me, I felt and looked far better off it, and although I haven't lost much weight, my waist measurement shrank by 2" when I was sticking to the low carb. So here I go again!

l, piri piri mackrel fillets wrapped in romany lettuce leaves, cucumber and home made coleslaw (red onion, white cabbage, carrott, full fat mayo and double cream, lemon, pepper and paprika)

am i doing this right? Queen???????

I know what you mean Crunchy I felt so sore and bloated on holiday when I was eating wheat and loads of sugar. Back on low carb now and already feel better.

well done herb!

Hi thinthinker, ditch the low fat yog and stick to the full fat greek yog it is lower in carbs ans soooo yummy!

Rather annoyingly, I too am coming to the conclusion that wheat doesn't agree with me, either. Annoyingly, because I've always been a bit 'stuff and nonsense' when people claim to have a wheat intolerance. But since I've been eating hardly any bread, I've had no need for Zantac.