For the Low Carbers - how do you do it?!

[dollyxdaydreamer]

Hi all, I hope someone can answer some questions I have about low-carbing

I've got this dream to be the healthiest me that I can possibly be. I've done a lot of reading about the low carb woe (read Taubes/Briffa etc) and it totally makes sense to me. I get it.

But I just don't see how it can become a permanent way of life! Whilst I would absolutely love to be able to embrace this, it just seems difficult to maintain! I couldn't even do it for more than three days last week, I just caved in. Would those of you who maintain this woe mind answering these questions?:

1. How do you just not think "oh sod it!" and eat the bag of crisps/whatever carby snack you fancy?

1. What do you do when you go out for a meal and there's too many temping things on the menu?

1. Similarly, when you have people visiting - for example, we had friends staying this weekend, they wanted to order in pizza. What do you do in this situation? I'd feel like a killjoy not to join in. And the 'nibbles' with drinks etc. How do you stop yourselves?

1. Do you tell everyone you're doing it? Do they think you're weird or unhealthy?

I guess most of these questions boil down to wondering weter the carb cravings actually ever go away? Or whether you find yourself with a constant daily battle?

I hope someone can help. I feel like it's an addiction! I know junk carbs aren't doing me any favours, but I can't seem to stop it. Like a smoker I guess!

On Saturday I have a four hour rail trip. I have treated myself -they had a special offer-- to first class but I know the option for food is generally different sandwich platters and crisps. This is going to kill me because I am its along time, I wouldve been at work and will be starving.

Bread and wine. Both my downfalls.

Hi light house could you take a small cool box and pack a salad and some low carb snacks? Also take some water so you are not tempted by crappy sugary drinks!

Willie, good point about the peanuts.

For someone who wants to start but isn't sure if they can hack it, I would recommend the India and Neris Idiot Proof Diet book. It is very kind and chatty and full of tips about real life. I like John Briffa who goes into lots of science, but without meaning to be all SATC (ugh) there is something very nice about reading women's voices when you are trying to lose weight because this whole issue is so horrifically gendered.
It's a very specific style though - I am surprised I like it as I don't usually go for such twee things - so flick through, or dl a sample on your kindle, before committing, in case it's not for you. In which case, Briffa ("escape the diet trap") might well be.

Yeah I bought Briffa and it's great for the science but when it comes to actually 'what do I eat then?' it's not great.

Swap the peanuts for pistachio's, remember you can have roasted-salted nuts but avoid the flavoured 'honey roasted' varieties. Tesco have an offer on they pistachio's at the moment a huge bag for £5.99 (in the indian food bit of the shop)

Second ted above. Although not really seconding Anything, just yy to that bit of the science. Try and bin all preconceived ideas about healthy eating and eat lots of fat.

I have been low carbing for 6 weeks, and it has changed my life. I no longer feel enslaved to food, wondering where my next meal is coming from, dreaming about breakfast when in bed. I have so much more headspace! It's like I've stopped the voices. Worth saying that in that 6 weeks, I've lost a stone, and have negotiated a week away, a family wedding, and two overnight stays with friends. All perfectly easy. I actually think low carb is less restrictive than low cal in many ways.

I also didn't have carb flu. But, I had been calorie counting for the previous 12 weeks (and lost a stone! Half the rate of loss!) so think i had cut out lots of sugar already.

Do it! You have noting to lose (other than weight), and if it doesn't work for you, then fine. It nothing ventured and all that. It is clearly cliche night.

Also, the low carb bootcamp thread is fantastic. I'm sure that has contributed massively to my success. Gat for ideas, support, general chat.

I do need to just do it. I don't know what I'm so scared of! It's just the fear of change I guess.

A few of you have mentioned the idiot proof diet - I've had a look on amazon and there's the diet itself and the diet cookbook - should I get both? Going to scout the local charity shops first see if I can pick them up cheap.

Maybe I'll ease myself in gently. Did anyone have success with doing that? Or did you find it easier to go for the full blown ketogenic stuff? I'm breastfeeding so I don't know if I need to be careful with that (I can't imagine it's a problem though, given junk/processed food has been a recent addition to our diets...)

I hope you don't all think I have a terrible, hideous crap-filled diet - I don't!! I eat pretty well, just enjoy the usual treats, albeit daily. I'm all or nothing, which doesn't help.

And I just find starchy foods so comforting

Low carbing is much better for comfort food than many other diets (though I'm trying with limited success to dissociate emotions from food):

Shepherd's pie with celeriac mash topping (and no stinting on butter)
Pork belly and other roast meats
Creamy sauces
celeriac chips
Etc

yes, but what about booze? its Saturday night. i have gin. Can I open it?

some spirits are completely carb free don't know if gin is one of them. You could have it with soda water or diet tonic ( I think diet is OK) also dry white wine low on carbs.

Dolly fatty foods are comforting too and you can have loads of fat on low carb diet.
I have just scoffed steak, burger, sausage, ceaser salad, tomato and mozerella salad, the creamiest coleslaw as the richer something is the lower carb it is. I may have some rasberries and rich greek yogurt later! I don't feel at all hungry or deprived and I am loosing weight!!

Dolly, I'm bf my smallest as well, she's 6 months, and was ebf until I started blw a few weeks ago. This woe has made zero difference to her as far as I can tell. BUT, I have been very conscious of eating enough. So making sure that the meals I do eat (after a few weeks, I have found that I miss breakfast about three times a week, and don't eat until a late lunch), are good, proper meals, with delicious fat.

This woe is not about counting calories, but because I was tracking carbs to make sure I was on track to begin with, I know I am eating about 2000 cals a day. I think low cal had more of an effect on my supply to be honest. And yy to my previous diet not being 'bad', just FAR too many sweet things. Also, I did as you said, and eased into it. Even now, I'm not sure I'm in ketosis, but I'm losing just fine.