Low Carb Novice

[JuliaDomna]

Hello seasoned low carb dieters, can you help?

I am overweight and have been diagnosed as insulin resistant. In the past I have lost weight with Slimming World and the Cambridge Diet. I can't face the Cambridge Diet again and as my weight problem stems from my love of carbs I have decided to give low carb a go.

I have bought a couple of books including the Fast 800 Keto cookbook. I have I got this right? As long as I up my protein intake and keep carbs below 50gr I should lose weight? My aim is to lose weight steadily as well as changing my eating patterns.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

I would read the Fast 800 book not just the cookbook, it’s a very easy read. While you’re on the right track it would really help you to have the full background and understanding of the method. You may not need to go as low as 50g carbs, I generally floated around 80g and still lost, it’s important to get enough fibre too (this isn’t old school Atkins) but with insulin resistance already you might want that short sharp shock - the book will help.

Thanks Buffalo. I will order the book today.

Hi OP, I was also insulin resistant and Fast800 was very effective and as OTT it may sound, also life changing. I'm still eating a low carb-mediterranean way 2.5 years later (stopped calorie counting a long time ago) and have kept the weight off.

Ass PP already said, read the actual Fast800 book first. There's also a very friendly FB group I'd suggest you to join. It's called Fast800 UK Community.

I paid for the 12 week plan which suited me well and kept me straight and narrow. But all the cook books have a meal plan suggestions too.

There is a low carb bootcamp on MN, run by a poster called BIWI.
They are very supportive and helpful posters and there is usually a new bootcamp starting in the new year. I'll try find a link

sign up

these are the rules from a previous bootcamp

Worth a look

Hi. I've been low carbing for a year after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Lost 2 1/2 stone and controlled the diabetes with diet alone, so pleased with how I am doing.

I haven't gone as extreme as fast 800 as couldn't face it (although I did use the book for ideas). Used my fitness Pal to track my eating and stuck to 1200 calories and around 60/70 g carbs for first few months, with focus in lower gi carbs and cutting out refined sugar / white processed carbs as much as possible. It's worked for me and now I don't count anymore but just stick to the way of eating eg a much smaller portion of wholewheat pasta or brown rice when before I'd have mountains of white, or one slice of seeded toast rather than 2 of white. Nuts and dark chocolate for treats instead of crisps, cakes, milk choc etc.

It's working for me and because it's not too extreme I can stick to it (and I will allow myself a very occasional treat meal eg takeaway curry or pizza for an occasion or on holiday, or slice of cake on birthday / Christmas). I realise some people need to go further though.

Thanks very much for the information. I will have a read this evening. I just have to get out of the mindset that I need carbs such as pasta, bread, rice and potatoes.

Thanks again