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

I too love reading (looking at the pictures!) cookbooks, but very rarely actually cook anything from them.

I didn't follow a recipe for this curry either, just chucked it together really. 3 chicken breasts, green beans, onions, garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chillies, cardamom, coconut cream and coconut milk. It was really tasty and very filling with a pile of cauli rice (a whole one between two of us).

I definitely need some more inspiration. I must dig out The idiot proof cook book I think it's called. Have you seen it? it's a few years old now, but all LC recipes and written by two chubby female journalists who lost about 10 stones between them. They wrote the idiot proof diet book too. No idea where I put them though, it's been that long!

Got those books in my extensive collection, they are what started me on my low carb journey.

There is a recipe thread on the low carb bootcamp section, with tonnes of fab recipes.

I do love a curry so might give that a go this week. I googled flames doner recipe and it looks amazing might give that a go this weekend and have a low carb takeaway style weekend.

I just made coriander pesto its fab for putting in cauli soup and i would imagine oven cooking with fish - but not tried that yet.

Jeans keep slipping down yay

Yes the kebab looks amazing doesn't it, I've got everything spicewise and vegwise just need to get the meat. DP is out on the tiles Sat night so we can eat before he goes out. I'm enjoying making the effort to cook new things, I'm actually a good cook and DP used to be a head chef so neither of us have an excuse to be lazy in the kitchen, we have just both slipped into bad habits. We had a lovely spicy bouillabaisse tonight mmmm.

Thanks for the Harvester menu suggestions I was actually looking at the chicken and thinking its the safest option.
Some of the ladies on my team are exasperating to eat with, they are calorie OBSESSED and go on and on about how many calories are in everything they are eating, yet they still order the double cheeseburger & extra chips. Then speak at length about the guilt they feel eating it....then order a huge pudding. Again talks of guilt and how many hours they will need to spend in the gym that week to burn it off. I'll add that they are all between a size 8-12 and I sit and listen very uncomfortably. I do think my god just order a salad and shut up then! I do dread work lunches....

Found the idiot proof books, think I'll re-read them for some ideas.

Mrs...congrats on the big jeans (well a smaller you)! It feels great doesn't it.

Flame....oh yes very slim women who talk about diets all the time are so annoying. And pretty insulting really, especially as clearly you need to lose weight and they don't. It'd be like complaining about your heating not working properly to a homeless person. Do they have no tact?! How rude! Deep as puddles by the sounds of it well I hope you enjoy the food if not the conversation

I used to work in an office and all the women were obsessed with what they were eating and everyone else was. It was so boring, that is one aspect of working i really dont miss.

Had a sneaky jump on the scales (yes i know i am only supposed to be weighing once a month!) and i am a pound down. yay. Couldnt help myself just glad it showed a loss.

Flame you are so lucky to have a chef as a partner and i am glad you are getting your mojo back re cooking. It has really sparked something off in me and i am loving it.

I am feeling really hungry today for some reason so just having my BPC now. DS was up at 3.30 then i couldnt get back to sleep until nearly 5am so its going to be a long day today.

I am getting my hair cut tom, i feel like a kid of xmas eve!!!!!! so excited.

Hope everyone is having a good day and let me know of any amazing recipes.

Ooh let us know how your new hair-do goes... 'Citin! And fab on the weightloss too!

Hope you survived the Harvester Flame.

I made celeriac dauphinoise with roast chicken tonight from the idiot-prof book....it was absolutely decadent and delish! Really easy too, just sliced celeriac layered with fried onions and double cream poured in, then topped with Parmesan and baked. Easily as nice as any potato version I've tried.

Oh and I love the little slogan in the idiot book....from pig to twig. That's us well we're not quite twigs, but definitely no longer pigs!

Scales still being good to me, now 16.9 lbs off....but I'm at a party tom night, so wish me luck

I am so excited about having my hair done i am literally counting down the hours.

I havent ever made dauphinose i always thought it was too calorific but on this diet i can, i have loved it in restaurants so i might give it a try. I cant stand celeriac so i might try swede - do you think that would work???
I use echalion (sp) shallots instead of onions as apparently they have half the carbs.

I made fish pie last night - its not something i have made very often but it was lovely. My kids wolfed it down, its def comfort food, which is needed as its still bloody freezing.

Another party, lucky you. I am sure you will be fine again just keep thinking slim by xmas. And have a fab time.

I have been invited over to a girls night next week for my mates for her amazing homemade pizza and wine. I shall drive and eat before i go, its the company not the food that matters. Usually i would just not go but gagging for a night out and i have to learn to make this part of my life - i can see i will be loosely low carbing forever. I might make halloumi wrapped in bacon or spicy chicken wings so i dont look like a total spoils sport.

How did you get on at Harvester, flame? I love their bbq ribs, i think they would prob taste too sweet now, my taste buds have def changed.

p.s i am thinking about having a vodka and lime tonight, i am not really a big drinker (anymore!) but fancy a drop tonight with my chicken satay, umm not sure if it is worth it though, as i really really don want to mess this up and i am too old for hangovers, decisions, decisions.

Can I sidle in here? I have 8 stone to lose and like so many of you, have lost it before and put it all back on and more.

I've bought a Fitbit and am trying to up my exercise and reduce my carbs but I am struggling a bit.

Hi Mrspnut - welcome to our little thread. If you are reducing your carbs are you upping your fat???

This diet turns everything we ever thought we knew about dieting on its head - its a big mindset change, i really struggled with that at first.

I do the bootcamp on here which is amazing, really supportive and loads of info on the science behind the diet, recipes and a weekly weigh in ( sorry not trying to teach my granny to suck eggs but wasnt sure if you had low carbed before).

For example this morning i have had 2 bacon, 2 sausages for breakfast with mayo. Washed down with a coffee made with coconut oil and butter.

I did this last summer and lost 1st 7lbs in 10 weeks. I have lost 8-9lbs since xmas and havent felt hungry once and i love cooking with butter and cream. I was a die hard SW-er and put on 3 st apparently you cant eat unlimited amounts of pasta and still loose weight, who knew lol. Was bloody starving the whole time too.

Of course everyone does it differently so if we can help just shout.

Macs little phrase is slim by xmas and this time it feels achievable. Good luck

Just back from having my do, done and its amazing i love it! I feel very blond at the mo but the hairdresser has assured me i am not, its just going to take a while to get used to.

I have an app shortly to get my eyebrows reshaped, the real me is coming out of hibernation!!! I put make up on today for no real reason and gosh dont i look better with nice hair and makeup - who would have thought ?? lol.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend

Hi all and welcome Pnut!

Ladies my Harvester blow out isnt until Tuesday but I will let you know, I'm already practising in my head the 'oooh I had a huge breakfast so can only manage a small lunch' line.

DP had a few too many yesterday and really wanted us to order takeaway but I stood firm. My birthday night out is the 21st and I desperately want to get into one particular dress so nothing is breaking my resolve. Also I made those Hairy Dieters kebabs and and they were sooo good, even took some meat mix over to my Aunt's as she was gagging for them when I showed a photo!
I'm feeling pretty upbeat this weekend, I'm going to make extra effort with the walking this week coming to get February off to a great start. I'm off on Friday and I'm booked in for a haircut too so something to look forward to. I'm interested in getting my brows sorted too Mrsstevejones, nowhere local does the HD brows though and that's what I would ideally like

Ooh can I join please ?
I was 19 stone at Christmas and now 17st 13 lb this morning.

I am doing MFP and not eating any refined carbs. I have joined the gym and an swimming twice a week too.

This is going to be our year.

Rumgy -the more the merrier, welcome!

That is a fab weightloss since xmas well done you. You sound like you are doing great on the exercise front as well, that is something i really need to address this month.

Flame well done with staying strong. You have 3 weeks and with a bit of walking you should def look amazing in your dress. Might be worth taking your measurements as "apparently" its really common to have a big stall around week 3-4 and your scales wont move. Then you will have a little whoosh and loose a few pounds. This happened to me last time but i was warned so it was less disheartening and i was well chuffed when seemingly overnight i lost 4lbs.

I had planned on the kebabs but found i didnt have any mince, my DH loves a doner. He made thai chicken satay instead and it was fab. I will def be trying those kebabs next however as they looked lovely.

I can def recommend the new hair cut i feel like a new woman although i have become totally obsessed with looking in a mirror at my new do! This is how i had my hair when i met DH and he said all matter of lovely things like how i look younger, slimmer and it suits me etc - god love him!!

Have a good sunday everyone

Just rolling out our (very slim) red carpet to welcome MrsPnut and Rumgy to our little thread. The more the merrier! Please feel free to share any of the little ups and downs on your journey; we're all the same boat...lots to lose, but determined that this is the year we become ex fat people!

Mrs...congrats on the new do! Sounds fab...and super well done on it being so good hubs noticed. I once had mine coloured bright red and i had to ask mine if he liked it! You are so on a mission, no one will recognise the new glamorous Mrs Steve Jones!

Flame....exciting about your Birthday and dress in 3 weeks! Is it a size down? I reckon that's really doable if you stick to your LC like glue. These little goals are what will get us to 'slim by Christmas'! We need little goals every month to keep us on the wagon

I'm pleased to report that I survived the party without touching any of the (extremely carb laden) food (had a steak with aioli before I went out) and stuck to the vodka and slimline tonic. Had a fab night...even managed a club afterwards. Slightly fragile this morning, but been allowed a lie in. Yay! And having breakfast cooked for me in an hour...he's a good egg I did get up briefly to jump on the scales before I drank anything and (although probably all alcoholic dehydration) I've lost some more. 18.1lbs off. So 18st 10.6lbs to 17st 6.5lbs in exactly a month.

I love LCing! New lifestyle...Pig to Twig....slim by Christmas. We are doing this thing!

Thanks all, I went out for dinner last night and had a burger with no bun and some sweet potato fries. I also had very many gin and slimline tonics and walked the dog at 1 am when I got home.

I'm just having a coffee and then braving the wilds to walk the dog again. I would reward myself after with bacon, egg and mushroom but we are at my MIL's and her cooker is a nightmare to use.

MrsSJ, your new hair sounds lovely. I might book in for some highlights when I get home.

Good for you Mac on resisiting... is it getting easier with each time out??? In the next few months i have valentines, birthdays, wedding anniversary, more birthdays - all in the run up to summer when i intend to be noticeably slimmer. This morning my DH said my tummy sticks out less, he has a way with words! So thats some progress.

Luckily as i am so tubby and my family are always mentioning that i should diet to loose the baby weight, so if i choose to only eat lettuce leaves i would probably get applauded for my self control! I darent mention its high fat low carb as they all think fat is the enemy and do old school cal restriction and constant hunger to loose weight! The fools!

Also in my mountain of ebay purchases all of which are too small at a size 16 i was able to fit into 2 of them - although a bit too tight to wear, not too mention too summery! But its a start.

Hubby only noticed my hair cut because i went from a mousey long bob to a jaw length layered do with blond highlights and a fringe.

I think we could do with a little thread goal - say walk 3 x week more than normal or try and do the plank 3 times a week - just something small and easy to incorporate into daily life?? Or is this just madness?

Flame - 3 weeks is a long time in LC terms and you could def drop half a stone, i think its 8-10 lbs a dress size - although i may have made that up. If you really want to tone up i can recommend jillian micheals 30 day shred - its evil but will def tone you up, i had a noticeable result after a week, i never did get to the end of the 30 days however. You can get the vids on youtube and i think there is a thread on here somewhere.

I must dust it off but i am scared, first 3 times it killed me but after a week it was so much easier, def improves your fitness really quickly and improved muscle tone and tummy.

Happy sunday everyone

Good on you sticking to it on your evening out MrsPnut....thank heavens for slimline tonic it's my saviour too. Have loads of social stuff throughout feb, so brilliant that I can drink without ruining things.

Dogs are great for getting you out walking aren't they. We've been debating getting one for a while now. I really want one but hubs isn't so keen.

Yes I think it is getting easier each time, it kind of reinforces that I can do it, if that makes sense?

Mrs, I love your husbands compliments almost poetic! Well done on getting in the 16s. I hope your family get a shock in a few months when you're looking amazing...cheeky devils suggesting you need to lose baby weight! Good luck to them counting cals too

I'm up for some goal setting. I'm walking regularly, but I need some inspiration to get me to the pool. But scared of the shred though!

MrsSJ, your husband sounds like mine! I get similar compliments.

Mac,I couldn't cope without slimline tonic. I need the gin to get me through a visit to my in laws.
I've walked the dog across the beach and got wind blasted and rained on before stopping at a cafe for a coffee and bacon and eggs. According to my Fitbit, I've done 9000 steps already today and it isn't even lunchtime.

I'm completely up for thread goals, will give me a kick up the butt! Yes the dress is a size down. I'm a size 22 currently (well on my bottom half) and and 18-20 top. I am a pear! The dress is a size 20 and a small one at that as it has no 'give' to the material. I know 20 sounds huge but its my goal for this month and I'll be happy with that, then onto the next size :)
I was just about busting out of my size 22 stuff when I started, I should really have been in 24 but was in denial. The 22s are loose now but that damn dress is still evading me.
I'm too scared to look at the 30 day shred, I am SO unfit. Friday the elevator at work broke and I had to go up 6 flights of stairs and I had to sit and compose myself at 4 because I couldn't breathe
I kind of want revenge on those stairs though, I'm thinking I could incorporate them into my day and use them for exercise - see if they get any easier for me?

Haha....I'm lucky I don't have in-laws! I like vodka with it in the winter and gin in the summer

Well done on the walking MrsPnut, I've not yet ventured off the sofa, but have a kids party this afternoon (fun with a hangover!). I've had a full English too yum!

Flame the stairs would be a great start, its all good. I bet in a week you will be able to do them without any bother.

When I started i was busting out of my 20s, i also refused to go up a size. I was squeezing into my 18 skinny jeans, how i didnt do my organs a damage i will never know!!

That dress is very doable in your timescale.

The plank is good for pulling your tummy in and making you less deep - i think thats what i will try. My hubby and i used to have plank challenges, he always beats me but its surprising how quickly my time would increase - i have students staying this week so i might have to wait until they go to bed as we might get some funny looks otherwise!

Mrsp - 9000 steps is amazing thats 4 miles before lunch!!!!

I have never had slimline tonic - is it bitter like gin - yuk? I was thinking vodka and diet coke but i know diet coke is bad bad bad. Or vodka lime and soda..ummm

My hubby is amazing but some of the things he says. I finally decided that i would embrace my fat calves and about a million years after the trend started by a pair of knee length boots. I went to evans ( was previously determined to slim down and buy them from a reg shop - didnt!) so i tried a lovely brown pair on and he pulled a funny face and if short and stumpy was the look i was going for? Cheek but he was right, the faces on the other ladies in the shop was priceless!

I drink vodka and soda with a slice of lime. It sometimes tastes like a,cool hand gel bug it is low carb !

Dog walk done for me today. Went with a friend so it was slooooww and only 0.8 miles. Off swimming later. I am getting right into this exercise malarkey.

mrspnut a 1am dog walk ? You are not scared of the dark then? Respect.

I have the dreaded school reunion next week. I am dreading it. Have a hair appointment booked so at least my hair will look good . Not much chance of losing 8 stone in a week is there ......

Oh rumgy I feel your pain, you must be so nervous. Soon we'll all be able to go out without the inner turmoil of "I bet everyone is looking at me thinking how huge I am."

I have felt so full of energy today, I'm not houseproud at all (in fact I'm a tramp) but I've been hoovering and steaming floors, changing all the beds, scrubbing away at the bathroom etc. I normally get out of breath and sweaty hoovering but I didn't today, that's gotta count for something right?

Mrsstevejones your husband sounds hilarious, thank god you can just brush the comments off though he'd be of no use to someone sensitive would he!