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.

[quirkychick]

I have been tired with the return to school: early mornings a bit of a shock! I am trying to get enough sleep by going to bed early. Also I have started taking vitamin d as the sunshine has decreased. I hope it will help.

No weight/inch loss but I have lost 3% body fat & gained 3% muscle this month, so feeling pleased. Especially as I'm limited to what exercises I can do till shoulder rotator cuff heals fully.

[colette]

I think I am starting to become a bit de-motivated .Carbs are creeping in, I got a bit paranoid because I felt my hair was/ possibly is thinning and have heard it can be linked to lc. Have bought some multi vitamins - magnesium ok as they have selenium in.
Really think I need to get back on track

[quirkychick]

Hi colette. I would definitely check out multivits/minerals. Also some of the low carb sites might help eg. dr briffa's blog, mark's daily apple, arthur de vaney. There are more, I'm sure, but they might inspire you or have some advice re: hair thinning. hth.

I have to say I feel loads better low carbing. I like that I'm not so desperate to eat so can be much more flexible with regard to meals.

[colette]

Thanks qc, it seems to have settled down. Am wondering if everyone has defected to the the slightly harder core LC threads