Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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.

Original poster

Atkins/Low Carb/High Protein - Anyone doing it?

256 replies

FrogBellyRatBone · 29/08/2006 16:57

Lost 2st on Atkins but have since veered more to GL type diets. Unfortuntely don't seem to be able to stick to them like I could with Atkins.Still want to lose 3 stone (have put back on nearly a stone of the weight I lost) and am debating whether to go back on Atkins. Any opinions welcomed

OP posts:
emotionalwreck · 10/09/2006 20:13

Well done frannyfroo, frog/lunaloop, Joelallie (for reduced love handles) and welcome Monkey - you are all encouraging my competitive side now! However I have had another serious setback this weekend.....

Friend got married and I drank looooooooooooooootttttttttttttttttttttttsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss of wine! But thats not all..... the meal was very low carb friendly - game terrine (aka pate) followed by saddle of lamb with veg (I declined the yummy roast potatoes) and then a desert that I didn't eat (it was all going so well). However, as my partner wasn't drinking I had his table wine and his champagne and then continued to drink like a fish. So when the evening reception began and we re-entered the ballroom, there was every low carbers nightmare staring me in the cake hole - a bloody great chocolate fountain!

But never fear - I only had one strawberry in choc sauce. My downfall was having drunk the best part of a bottle and half of wine, I had serious potatoe cravings and what was on the evening buffet? You've got it - baked potatoes and chilli/chicken curry. Absolute carbohydrate overload.

Anyway, its done now and I did dance like a woman who hasn't been on a night out for a decade! The scales will tell the tale on Wed!

Joelallie - need your recipe for spicy fish stew - sounds devine and something that my other half might like too!

joelallie · 11/09/2006 12:38

Have to admit to a little too much wine over the weekend. I didn't even enjoy it that much.... it all tastes too sweet now. I shall be looking for a really dry white for next weekend.

No news from here obviously. One of these says I am going to wake up with a 26" waist....I am I am I am!!!!

Spicy fish stew - no real recipe as such as I adapted it from something we had in Portugal years ago but without the potato and carrot. You need some kind of firm fish such as tuna or salmon, some kind of smoked fish, some kind of shell fish, half a small onion, loads of garlic, tin of tomatoes, olive oil, chopped chillies and mushrooms. Saute garlic, onions, chillies and mushrooms in plenty of oil, when they are soft add tin of tomatoes and the fish (roughly chopped into large chunks). Leave to simmer for a while. Serve with a large dollop of garlic mayo on the top. You could add other veg (I used home-grown courgettes) but obviously they will add to the carb count. It's not a very low-carb meal due to the tomatoes but it's not too bad. You can tailor it to your needs/taste but the tomatoes are essential!! Delicious but thanks to all the garlic the kids told me I smelt funny when I went to kiss them goodnight

monkey · 11/09/2006 13:10

hey, you are all so brilliant. You got me back on track. so glad I found you. I ditched the nuts and drank loads of water, and hey presto, the weight I was regaining is nearly gone again so was 66.6 kilos, down to 56.6, up to 58 and now back to 56.7 so really pleased.

ew - baked potato - omg!!!!!! Ha ha only jjoking. i'm sure all the protein in the chilli helped.

I'm rubbish with measuring, I never know how tught to pull the tape measureo r if it's tighter than last time etc. I doubt I'd ever get an accurate reading more than the scales.

your fish stew sounds lovely joelallie

Lunaloop · 11/09/2006 20:19

Emotionalwreck, I think you showed admirable restraint - especially after that much wine I too demolished nearly a bottle and half of wine (last night) but I didn't have the excuse of a wedding
Monkey, I too am crap at measuring. I can measure myself three times and get a different measurement each time. My last set of scales were crap too - if I leant over to the side I could miraculously lose 2lbs in as many seconds. Got a digital set now and can't cheat
x

emotionalwreck · 11/09/2006 22:43

Hurrah for monkey!

Alas I may be back on track with the diet but I was weak and weighed myself early to see what damage I'd done at the wedding.... not good, I've piled on 4lb over the weekend so its hello to 15st again

Anyway, went straight to gym and did an hour of cardiovascular exercise. I was that red in the face, that one of the regulars asked me if I was alright whilst I was in the changing room!

Going to do my weekly shop tomorrow and will be getting ingredients for spicy fish stew - thanks joelallie. I have a salmon recipe if anyone is interested - not really a big fish eater but getting fed up of chicken and red meat dishes.

emotionalwreck · 11/09/2006 22:46

BTW lunaloop (you'll always be frog to me)

Your scales story made me howl!

FroggleRock · 13/09/2006 12:02

Pssssssst.......Emotional.....over here....................................it's me, Frog

Heeeeeeellllpppp meeeee. Having a major identity crisis at moment. I too was/am quite attached to my Frog moniker ( I had some negative feedback about my original FrogBellyRatBone so don't want to stick with that, though still maintain that it is a lovely book).... trouble is can't decide which one to go with.....FrogBelly/FrogLoop/MoonFrog or this one (FroggleRock) in homage to another of dd's favourites. What do you think ? Can't have plain old Frog as that is already in use.

Anyways...so what are the scales saying today ??? Hope they treat you kindly. I've been sneaking a look every other day or so and today was showing an increase of 4lbs...ohhhhh noooooo I've been sticking to the diet. The only thing I can think is that I've not been drinking enough water. So off to remedy that now.

How's everyone else doing ???

joelallie · 13/09/2006 12:29

Vote for Moonfrog ! Like that one best.

I keep wanting to change my nickname - I use this one on other sites too -but can't think of anything. Got stuck in a rut. This one uses elements of all my kids' names. Must think of something more interesting.....

Keep on with the water!!! It's so important.

I'm getting disillusioned again as I can't see any measurable change - measurements perhaps an inch smaller on the waist and hips (if I pull the tape measure nice and tight and I feel thinner but going by measurements is sooooo slow. Wish I's at least weighed myself first...

emotionalwreck · 13/09/2006 19:56

I like Moonfrog too - its celestial (or something!)

Anyway, its weigh day..... No drum roll this week as I'm embarrassed by my wedding antics. However, hammering the gym every day has paid off as I'm now the same as last week - 14st 13lb. I can live with that.

I too am struggling with the water. joelallie, do your clothes fit better? Thats one sure way you'll know no matter what the scales or measuring tape say?

As for nicknames - I must need to change mine the most. Chose it when I was having a crisis about going back to work after maternity leave, but I'm just about over that now! Maybe mine should be Carboholic!

MoonFrog · 13/09/2006 20:59

Well done Emotional. You must be chuffed that you've not gained any after the wedding - 'twas only a small slip though.You're still on track.
Joelallie, it's never too late to start weighing although I still stand by my earlier post that weight can fluctuate by lb's daily and can get you down too. It's hard, but we must see this as a long term project rather than a quick fix. Even so I always weigh myself wearing the same pj's in the morning or with nothing on, and try to make sure I've had a poo first, or at least the night before. Tmi I know, but hell, whatever works .
Emotional... Carboholic may seem apt but just makes me think of that yellow soap.... I quite like the smell actually, and it does tie in with you being a nurse what with cleanliness etc
x

monkey · 13/09/2006 21:58

carboholic not carbolic lol. that reminds me of enid blyton.
feeling frustrated as not lost anything for like 3 weeks or more, and my goal is only 3 weeks away and totally unachievable, but would just like to look good when I visit my family who i don't see much.

like the name moonfrog

your name makes me laugh ew

MoonFrog · 14/09/2006 09:54

Monkey, why is your goal totally unachievable ? It was 4lbs that you wanted to lose n'est pas ? Did you manage to ditch the nuts ? and keep up with the water ? What sort of things are you eating ?

How is everyone else doing ? Not heard from Franyfroo, Squillosmum or Sansouci for a while. Hope you are all ok.
x

MrsBigD · 14/09/2006 11:59

I've started Atkins 5 days ago as I've plateaued and had heard it's good to kickstart. And by golly does it work! nearly 2kg down already and also one whole point on my cruel fat monitor scales, i.e. down to 33 from 34! In 5 days! However, I think I'll call it quits after a week, miss fruit and tonnes of salad And also constantly thirsty. Also think got proteine coming out my ears! Will stick with eating less bread and stuff though as my tummy also seems to be less bloated.

Dh's boss has lost heaps on Atkins, and still is on it loosing gradually. The way he does it I'd tutut too... even on Atkins you're allowed a certain amount of greens/salad stuff but he won't touch it...

joelallie · 14/09/2006 12:13

MrsBigD - lots of people who do Atkins like it 'cos they think it's an excuse to stop eating veg which it most definitely is not. When my DH was doing it with me a few years ago he was eating salad every day for lunch - something he'd never done before. That was on a building site too

If you do come off it (and I'd say it's a bit early - 2 weeks is the basic minimum) please be very careful. If you start straight back on the carbs (even the low-GI ones)you will almost certainly pile it all back on again.

joelallie · 14/09/2006 12:14

PS as for being thirsty? How much water are you drinking? Depending on body weight you should be having 3 litres or more.

MrsBigD · 14/09/2006 12:21

joeallie thanks for the reply I sort of enjoy the diet, bar too many eggs and meat but the plan I'm on seems to restrict even salad to 2-3 portions a day which is the part I'm having 'difficulty' with. I could eat 'rabbit' food by the cubic metre ... and I do miss fruit A LOT

So was thinking of 'supplementing' week 2 with more salad stuff, tomatoes and cucumber. Will that throw/negate the plan completely?

joelallie · 14/09/2006 12:35

Not at all, but in theory you are supposed to weigh everthing. Have to say I don't and haven't done since I first did induction 2 years ago. Just stick mostly to green leafy veg - incl salad leaves - avoid root veg. Not too many fruits (and by that I mean anything that would contain seeds - incl tomatoes and beans) - if you think about it anything that contains lots of sugar because it's meant to provide nutrition for a growing seed. Spring onions are the best kind but I use red onions which aren't really allowed but I like them, or raw leek. All these things can be introduced gradually but to start with stick to green stuff and small amounts of tomatoes (Atkins recommended tham inspite of the sugar because they are so nutritoius) and cucumber and you won't go far wrong. Rhubarb and berries are OK in small quantites and at least you can eat them with real cream!

It's an easy diet once you've got used to it because you don't tend to get hungry. My appetite shrinks to almost nothing which is great for me as I have no willpower otherwise.

MrsBigD · 14/09/2006 12:40

thanks for that. I can live with heaps of green leave salad (what does lollo rosso count as???), cucumber and celery

Any suggestions for a 'dentally impaired' meal. I'm having a root canal done today and have no idea what to chump down on for dinner. DH is going to bake fish so thta should be nice and easy to eat but what to go with it?

joelallie · 14/09/2006 12:48

Cauliflower cheese? When I say green leafy veg - the leafy is more important than green! Cauli and lollo rosso are fine!

franyfroo · 14/09/2006 13:00

i have failed big time......and am off to slimming world. dont know why cos will get bored of that to but looked at my bum in jeans this morning, and omg, it is huge so need to try anything i can. good luck to everyone else though

MrsBigD · 14/09/2006 13:04

hmmm yummy LOL

MrsBigD · 14/09/2006 13:27

franyfro you sound a bit disheartened. How do you think you failed?

It's never failure it's a set back And I'm allowed to say that been on a diet of some sort for most of my life, except for when being pregnant. Saying that during pg1 I only wanted meat LOL maybe that is why dd is so slender and lean?

Joelallie... as you seem so knowledgable how do you stay 'on the wagon' when going away on holiday? Going to Greece for a week with my mum. Mini cruise and menue is set I'm guessing. Thinking greek salad and kleftiko every meal might get a bit boring LOL

monkey · 14/09/2006 13:28

i was gonna say raspberries & marscapone but I suppose cauliflower cheese is better.

Woukld it be very bad to admit to having cheese fondu for breakfast. Well, I am in Switzerland, so it's ok. Didn't dunk lumos of bread in tho, ha ha.

My goal is unattainable because it's 6 kilos (end goal), more like 12 llbs than 4. The 4 is just undoing tghe peanuts.

MrsBigD · 14/09/2006 13:36

so what do you dunk in the cheese?

as for unobtainable goal... it's nto the amount of weight it's your target weight... what are you aiming for? My ideal weight in the 'olden days' would have been 48kg - yeah right! normal weight is around 55kg but I'm happy to get to 60kg for the time being anyhow so 4.2kg to go and to maintain. the latter being the issue as I seem to fluctuate a full 2kg depending on where I am in the month!

monkey · 14/09/2006 14:04

Absolute goal is 50, but I'd be happy to get under 55, like 53 ish. Frustrating been at 57ish for weeks now.

As for the fondue, I'm not telling.