Anyone 16st+ and low-carbing?

[Macloveswill]

Hi, I started on 1st Jan at 18st 10lbs and I have so much to lose, it would be lovely to share my journey with others who have over 6 stones to lose.

I know it's going to be a really long slog and I'll need help staying on the straight and narrow. I have to do it this year, no excuses!

So far I have lost 8.4lbs in first 11 days, but that seems tiny when I've got nearly nine stones to lose altogether. My goal is 10st.

Anyone out there? All buddies welcome

had a lovely dinner, cooked some mince into a bolognaise but instead of adding tonnes of tomatoes i just added one can and then 2 tbsps of sun dried tomato pesto 2.1g carbs/100gs, it gave it a really nice flavour and served with cauli rice and cheese. Really full even now and loads of water.

How is everyone else getting on?

I've just ordered red pesto after reading that. If assumed it would be high carbs - things surprise you sometimes don't they?
I made Nigella's Halloumi bake with swede, butternut and celeriac instead of potatoes last night. I added some chorizo too. Was gorgeous.

The thing I struggle with is eating out. At the weekend we are often out for the day and it can be hard to find an appetising low carb option - salad just doesn't do it for me in the cold weather! I thought I did really well the other day getting a burrito bowl rather than wrap, but they put loads of rice and beans in! Aargh. I don't like picking stuff out as I have 3 teen girls and I am trying to set a good example to them.

I would recommend going through some old cookbooks if you are getting bored. I find I can cook loads of things I ignored in the past because they seemed too high in fat. And loads of things can be substituted. The carbs are actually the most boring bit of a meal!

Hi Yule, when we go out for the day i tend to take a picnic but my kids are small and i am tight!

Can you steer where you go for a meal? Say Nandos and not have chips, or carvery with no carbs.

When we do go out i try and avoid places where carb avoidance is hard. At our favourite thai place i have tom yum soup and chicken satay instead of something with rice. There are some nice restaurants where we live that do good food (non chain type) and i find it easy to eat there as the food tends to be quite rich and i just ask for no potatoes and extra seasonal veg with butter- these places the food is all freshly cooked so its easy to adapt something.

In pub type places i have a steak and salad or broccoli.

I do have to avoid all pizza places, fast food etc. Sometimes we go for a greasy spoon place where they do an all day breakfast. Even some of the Italian chain places do steaks or baked chicken dishes with bacon and cheese alforno. Research is key, i dont go anywhere without studying the menu online.

It must be hard with teenage DDs as you dont want to make a big deal over dieting and eating.

My DD asked why i ate differently from her and i told her that i had a poorly tummy and the doctor told me to! She was happy with that but then she is 3! Thats why i would like to get this done now.

Can you not explain to your daughters that your weight is on the higher side and you are doing the healthy thing by getting it back under control and you will avoiding certain foods, without making it a huge deal? I believe lower carb is healthier and fat isnt the enemy but thats totally contrary to what is taught in schools. Its hard isnt it, girls can be so funny about bodies and weight, i certainly was.

I usually shop in Aldi where the choice is very limited but i do a monthly shop in sainsburys for bits i cant get elsewhere and i often have a good rummage around the shelves the carb count of prepared stuff varies enormously - Lloyd Grossman jars are good for a lazy quick meal and relatively low in carbs with less unpronounceable stuff in. Jars of paste tend to be better than jars of sauce. I have had to switch brands in several things - although i am cooking from scratch more often now but it is good to have a jar in for those days you cant be bothered!

I have had to change the way i cook and learn new recipes as i was brought up in a low fat household and did SW for years - didnt bloody work! Now i love butter and cream and food tastes so much nicer.

I did legs, bums and tums yesterday and everything from my shoulders to my knees hurt so breakfast was a BPC with painkillers!

I think I will have to be more creative when going out. The issue is that as I never cook pasta/ pizza at home, they always want it when we are out and I struggle to find low carb options at Italian places ( unless I spend a fortune on steak etc). I have told the girls that I am sensitive to gluten ( which is true from how my body reacts to it), and I also tell them that sugar is worse than fat ( backed up by GMTV!) but my girls are fostered and have their own eating issues - one was starved, one is anorexic and one is overweight. My BD also has some food issues as she is autistic! So I have to tread very carefully. Eating home cooked meals with lots of veg works well, but it just falls apart when we are out ( and I smell their chips!)

Chip smells should be banned -i feel your pain!

I have to serve my students normal food and i find they are so picky that i end up feeding them lots of beige food else they dont eat anything. So i have to cook endless lots of burgers, chips, pizza, pasta and garlic bread. It is losing its appeal slowly, but sometimes i could weep!

I am not a terrible host mother- honest! at first i used to cook lovely homemade food with loads of veg and ended up binning what DH and the kids didnt eat. I just do a token salad for them now and DH makes them try a bit!

Wow i can see why you find it hard, it must be very complex dealing with all their needs. In an italian place i tend to have a caesar salad with no croutons or bread - i do love it as its fresh and very moreish but i do feel a bit cheated eating salad in a restaurant!!

Just had leftover for lunch so more mince and cauli rice with cheese on top - yum.

No idea what to do for dinner however. Off for a freezer raid!

I tripped up last night and had fish finger sandwiches instead I typed out my excuses but it doesn't really matter! It's the usual thing for me though, I have to try to be more organized. I've got steak in the slow cooker for tonight and I'm about to have tuna salad for lunch.

I find i have to be organised on this diet to remove the temptation of grabbing something quick and easy esp when i am hungry. I have lots of cheese and pepperoni in for moments when i am very hungry and need to eat NOW.

I do love a fish finger sandwich with ketchup. Dust yourself off, drink loads of water and hop back on the wagon. Hopefully it wont derail you for too long and you are straight back to being on track so thats very positive.

I love fish finger sandwiches. With loads of tartare sauce hmm might have fish and tartare sauce tonight....

Evening, I am so busy with work at the moment and so am just reading and not getting time to post.

Tonight's dinner is sausages, celeriac dauphinoise (leftovers from saturday), broccoli and steamed leeks.
I also made a big batch of muffins from the IPD cookbook and so have been taking 2 of those to work for lunch with some homemade coleslaw and some salad. A protein shake for breakfast is boring but very quick for a work day and doesn't mean that I am overdosing on eggs. I do need to buy some berries though to add some variety.
Welcome Marsden and Yugo.
Gatorade, I adore fishfinger sandwiches too. My poorly comfort food of choice.
MrsSJ, way to go loser. :o

Hey all, apologies for being AWOL for the last few days....weekend away, then home decorating, so it's been a temporary MN-free zone. I've missed you all! How're you all doing?

I'm just back from tonight's walk, after a nice soak and now have my feet up with a giant mug of Rooibos tea and I'm enjoying catching up on all your posts.

Welcome along Marsden! It's lovely to have you aboard!

Wow.....Mrs...you're rocking this weightloss thang!!! Hurrah! Bet you did a little naked jig when you stepped off the scales

My weekend away went well and stuck to vodka with soda, but it's still stalled me...so it's official, my LC body does not like alcohol (shame I bloody love the stuff then!).

I hear you all about eating out....my goodness our chef at the hotel this weekend must've thought he had the fussiest guests ever! "Could I have that, but without that, or that and none of that please?" managed to stick to it though and weight'll start shifting again by thurs no doubt.

I can't believe we're nearing the end of February already! Only 10 months until Christmas when us piggies will be twiggies all we have to do is keep going, no matter how many blips (or vodka and slimline tonics or fish finger sandwiches ) we have, as long as we keep clambering back on the wagon and keeping each other going, we'll do it!

Not had a BPC since last week, can you believe I'm even missing those too! Back into my routine tomorrow. Have a great week everyone!

Morning all, Mac you have been busy, i love a bit of decorating... well not doing it but the planning and dreaming about it and ta da moment.

Hope DH enjoyed his weekend away and well done on staying on the wagon. I used to waitress and loads of people ask for alterations to dishes and i am feeling less funny about asking now. Loads of people lc and do paelo etc now.

I did jig about the living room, my DD thought i was hilarious and i am pleased to report i jiggled SLIGHTLY less. My exercise is going well but after LBTs on Monday EVERYTHING from my shoulders to knees is AGONY, even rolling over in bed hurts - so its got to be working.

Gosh the time is flying, it was only the other day we were marvelling that it was the start of the month already. Its my birthday soon so i am trying to be very strict for the next 2 weeks. Then heading out with hubby for a birthday lunch - lunch will be better as less alcohol involved.

Good luck everyone

Well done with the exercise Mrs....I am yet to venture back to the gym, but walking still going strong and I am noticeably more able than when I started. My walking buddy is away for the next few days, so I will need extra motivation to venture out on my own. Kick up the arse required I think!

I picked up a Paleo diet book for a fiver yesterday, just for some recipe inspiration (no way can I give up my beloved dairy just yet though!).

2weeks until your birthday....plenty of time to drop another dress size at the rate you're going

Yes, time flies when you're having (a smaller) tum!

I am making some changes today. I noticed I am stuffed after about half a meal so I am consciously reducing meal sizes. Had 2 rather than 3 eggs for breakfast and feel perfectly happy, so it's a good start. I have a big appetite and hate being hungry so this is a big step!

I have bought a few fitness DVDs but haven't tried them yet. I tore a ligament in my knee last year and while it's 70% better I am nervous about exercise. When I injured it they discovered I have severe arthritis in the knee - from being overweight I would guess. I haven't had any symptoms from it but I am a bit scared of making it worse. I cycled a lot last year, but it's less appealing in the rain!
Made a hairy biker beef rending for dinner ( it's in the slow cooker) If I prepare food in the morning I find I can switch off thinking about it in the day. I love the way LC reduces cravings.

I weighed 13 st 7 this morning - very happy as I've been stuck on 13 st 9 for a couple of weeks. Can't wait to be 13st 6 as I'm heading for the 12s then, which seemed unimaginable this time last year.

Yulelog, that's amazing! Well done you. It's brilliant when you can see the next stone in sight isn't it? It's like going down a size. I'm waiting on 2lbs to come off to get into the 16s and it will feel so much nicer than the 18st 10 I started at!

Happy days!

Well done yule, i am worried that will have a stall now after loosing so much so i might not weigh until my birthday as it destroys my motivation. The 12st barrier is just waiting for you Yule, wont be long.

I also feel that i can do this and i have never felt like this on any diet, i honestly believe we will all be in size 10s by xmas - def have to share pics of the xmas frock fabulousness!!

Low sugar is supposed to help arthritis and loosing weight can only help -it did my gran the world of good and she hasnt had any issues in yrs and she is in her 80s now. Hubby did his knee liagament in last year and had to stop footie and running - it took a whole year to get better but he is back at the gym now and no issue. He is training for a triathlon - thats partly my motivation as i dont want to be the fat wife of an athlete ! Hope your knee holds up and if not the weather will improve soon (hopefully)so you can get out on your bike.

I have started having my dinner on a side plate so the plate looks really full without a massive portion. I think that combined with a lot less dairy really helped give me a boost the other week. I end up eating out of habit and am trying to wait until i am actually hungry. Loving the no cravings however.

Mac - kick up the arse duly delivered!! Happy to help!

Kick up the arse duly felt...thanks Mrs, I will make myself get out for the walk tonight!

Yes, yes about sharing Xmas frock pics! That's a great goal. Before and after pics

My foster cat is enjoying the benefits of a high protein diet now too! Every evening she hovers round the dining table waiting to see what 'we' are having for dinner! It's a little bit irritating because I don't really want to share, but she's so cute I can't say no...

Just had a stupidly early dinner as i am off out tonight to my language course. Steak pan fired with shallow fried swede chips and a mush of tomatoes, spinach, peppers, shallots, garlic and chilli -lush.

Drunk loads of water and only a tiny nibble of cheese and 1 coffee with cream as trying to keep dairy low -if you are struggling to get the scales moving i would suggest this -butter doesnt count. Thats what i attribute my big loss to.

I have hideous toothache and an emergency trip to the dentist tom - joy but will be worth it.

Haha....Gator's Low Carb Cat, known around the neighbourhood for their new slimline figure and their poo not smelling as bad as all the other cats

I know it's hard not to share when they give you the big puss in boots eyes and purr loudly. I used to be a bit like that with chocolate, so DH would give in and share his with me not anymore, no siree!! Blimey 8 weeks since any of the brown stuff has passed my lips....think that might be a world record! (In Mac's world anyway) Boom!

Your dinner sounds delish Mrs. I know you're right about the dairy, but I love it soooo much

Thank you for welcoming me to your thread!

I've realised that i don't really know what I'm talking about when I say I'm low-carbing. I mean I'm cutting out obvious carbs ( potatoes, bread, pasta, rice) which also means that a lot of fats get cut out too - no butter / cheese on a baked potato or bowl of pasta or slice of toast . But I'm not doing more than that, and I'm certainly not upping my intake of fats, and I had to google this Bullet Proof Coffee of which you all speak so knowledgeably and the very thought made me feel queasy...

At the moment, probably because I've got so much to lose, I'm losing weight by cutting down generally and carbs more specifically and avoiding wine but I'm reading with interest and may need to step things up a bit when I reach the inevitable plateau.

I don't think I've EVER been a size 10...I'm 5'9" so a 12 would do me beyond nicely at the end of the year.....

Funnily enough Macloveswill she does have a few admirers, a big Tom sits on my windowsill all afternoon trying to get her attention! Anyway, she just took the lions share of my chicken. I hope I'm not hungry later!

I have ordered some bacon salt from, Amazon to make my own bacon salt sesame seeds. (Well, when I say 'make' I will just be sprinkling the bacon salt on the seeds. I hope they're nice.)

Yeah BPC isn't really for me either Marsden. I get plenty of butter and coconut oil in my diet anyway. It must be a very quick and easy breakfast for those who can tolerate it though!