Low carb 50lb off before I’m 50.

[Soundwasp]

Really need the accountability of posting somewhere. Finally found my determination!
Today is low key as not been shopping yet, so need to use full fat milk in my tea etc, but positive vibes.
B - scrambled eggs & mushrooms
L - tuna salad
D - paprika chicken & mozzarella bake

Good for you - full fat milk is good too.

I've lost a stone and a half doing low carb and kept it off for past 3 years, and I'm 59 - (past the menopause) and found I have to be super strict if any weight is to come off.

I also did/do some intermittant fasting.

Well done! I’ve done this before, and maintained my weight for years. Stupidly fell off the bandwagon and put a more than acceptable amount back on. I went on carnivore on Saturday to fast-track my ketosis. I will get back on my regular (much healthier and interesting) diet next week. Meanwhile, I’ve lost 6kgs, so it absolutely works! If I keep on track I should fit into my good clothes by the end of the month.

This morning I had a small cup of homemade cream of chicken soup (leftovers) for very late breakfast, a cup of tea with a tsp of dollop cream, some pork crackling.
Tonight I will have an early dinner inspired by the Hainanese Chicken Rice I am making for my family. I will make an Asian-style boullion by boiling chicken or beef bone broth with a couple of green onions, white pepper, some sliced, fresh ginger (I like a lot of it) a dash of soy sauce and some rice wine vinegar. I will let it simmer until it smells divine and then blop in some sesame oil and remove it from the heat and then stir in some extremely thinly sliced steak. I might add chili.
If you haven’t done low carb or keto before, you might not be aware that as your body adjusts to burning fat instead of carbohydrates/sugar, you might feel vile. This is known as the Keto Flu. To avoid this, it is recommended that you keep up the fluids and have a zero carb electrolyte supplement. There are lots available. The powdered form is usually cheaper than the pre-made ones like Gatorade. I live in Aus, so probably no use recommending any. I did find that supplement shops are helpful for these and also for whey protein powders. (I think they’re gross, but handy to have for work/study, etc.)

Well, it will work. Temporarily. But there is no point doing it at all if you can't maintain that way of eating forever otherwise when you stop. If you can't then it's better to lose weight very very gradually with a way of eating which is realistic and includes some starchy carbs. Also carbs exist in the world, they aren't going anywhere, and are often the easy and more convenient option. So personally I think it's better to incorporate them in moderation rather than cut them out.

Also there is very little fibre in your meal plan and zero vegetables. It's not a good balance at all for energy or overall health, and you will likely run short of iron as well.

My carnivore thing is only intended for a week. It’s absolutely boring. Couldn’t agree more about it not being workable. As for keto, I did it for 10+ years and I can assure you that my diet was VERY high in fibre. I eat loads of low carb veggies every day - just not grains or anything made with them (no biggie - I have coeliac disease, so haven’t eaten most of them for years anyway) potatoes, corn, or legumes. My diet is extremely unprocessed. I make my own salad dressings and sauces. My protein servings aren’t ginormous like you see Americans shoveling two dozen eggs and half a cow down their gullet for breakfast because I don’t get hungry. I eat two meals a day and both contain a lot of veg. I’m 51 and my vital signs and bloodwork are excellent. (I have a genetic heart condition so I have to monitor these things - plus, I’m studying nursing.) The fats I eat are healthy fats - I am not remotely inclined to even try tallow or lard or put coconut in my coffee. I cook with olive oil or ghee if I need a higher smoke point and I have normal serving sizes of cheese and butter (like a normal person!). I drink a glass of wine occasionally (I work shifts, so more than one knocks me over) and a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. I drink water and the occasional coke no sugar if I’m out and about. (Very rare). It is absolutely sustainable and enjoyable. One thing that it has changed is my mindset. Because I’m not hungry, I don’t focus on what I’m missing out on. I focus on the luxury of enjoying my meal and how I feel. I don’t have to count calories or points. I just eat what I know is good.

That sounds really healthy. It's great that you can get all your fibre from fruit and veg. Must make it hard being coeliac too.

The only fruit I eat are berries. (Not averse to a citrus cocktail when out, but I bring sugar-free syrup as sweetener for margaritas and mojitos) *Also Ike once every couple of years!
I count tomato as a veg because… life

Hi everyone thanks for replies. I eat far more high fibre when low carb than when I binge junk food, and my health was far better when I low-carbed for years previously than it is now. Portion control may sound easy to many but as an overeater who was morbidly obese it’s really not - low carb/unprocessed as much as possible at least I’m overeating on tuna salad!
My chicken and mozzarella bake was made with a can of chopped tomatoes, kale & aubergine - and I did say I need to go shopping; wheat bran/flaxseed/oat bran will all be in my way of eating.

Tomorrow’s food:
B - rhubarb & bran muffin
L - chicken & vegetable soup, berries & Greek yoghurt
D - shepherd’s pie topped with celeriac mash, cauliflower & broccoli

I have to remember to eat fruit sometimes. Bananas are useful for breakfast at work though. Pears have a lot of fibre and I enjoy seasonal berries at this time of year.

Avocados, tomatoes and cucumbers are all fruit though I guess and I eat those frequently.

I lost 6.5 stone doing low carb, intermittent fasting, and then one meal a day. Went from size 18-20 to a size 12. I have since regained about 1.5 stone and am a size 14 now. I'm trying to reverse the weight gain, but honestly the extremes I had to go to to get to a size 12 were a bit mental, now I'm taking the slower, sensible approach to get myself back to a 12.

How old are you now OP?

I have coleslaw for fibre. It's one of my go to sides.
Also mini fry up with bacon, egg, tomatoes and mushrooms. Never disappoints. In fact I had it for dinner tonight but with some beans.

@maria2bela1 slow and steady wins in the end.
@Bellabelloo I’m 48, not wanting to drop too quickly, try to avoid sagging too much!
@Sooze2023 I love homemade coleslaw. Also love roasted squash in their skins for roughage, so will do a meal with both very soon.

@Soundwasp Are you setting yourself a daily carb limit to kickstart ketosis or until you know what you’re doing?
Pretty sure your uffin could be super-high in carbs.
Also, for added accountability and education, there is an app called MyFitnessPal. If you download their free version (no app is worth the paid one!) you can diarise your Daly food intake and it will keep track of your nutrition, count carbs, etc.

@Fraaahnces thanks but I successfully low-carbed for years - my muffins are low carb: no flour, only ground brans, rhubarb, egg, soya milk, raising agent, oil & sweetener.

Thoroughly enjoying being back in control, I’m an all or nothing person - a whole pack of biscuits or none, both are fine but I can’t just have a couple.
A busy day, did a food shop with kids in tow, went to the park, had lots of builders in and out completing new bathroom, now I’m doing some batch-cooking.
Tomorrow’s B - scrambled eggs with spinach
L - Cajun pork salad
D - Roast chicken with broccoli and cauliflower

I’m sure you know your plan. I know there’s a million different types of low carb as well and my version is incredibly restrictive. IRL I am very reluctant to discuss my diet as I know it’s not for everyone. What works for me, may not for others. I was told to try this specific diet by my neurologist to see if it would help my migraines. I got lucky. I absolutely don’t talk about it with my kids. (Three teenagers.) I have a family history of EA. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. My kids know that my diet is restrictive and it’s not how “normal” people eat, but they haven’t shown any interest thank goodness.

@Fraaahnces I think it sounds like you are being as honest (and therefore emotionally healthy) as possible for your teens, mine aren’t interested either but I also have primary aged that I have to be careful with.
I’m glad you found a way to improve your neurological condition!
Yes, My way is definitely restrictive but I do know it works (for me), and getting my blood pressure healthier, joints eased etc is really important. I want my kids to know I’ve tried to be here for as long as possible, and show them you keep on trying.

@Soundwasp When you’re on a routine that works for you and you begin to feel good physically and about yourself, it sort of feels like a luxury you’re allowing yourself. If I concentrate on that feeling, I never get FOMO. I loathe diet crusaders that jam their own “truth” down your neck as though they’re trying to convert you to their new religion. Blech!

@Fraaahnces defintely!! Some people become so obsessed with ‘their’ way they think it’s acceptable to shove it on you, and it’s not.
B - oat & wheat bran porridge with soya milk
L - protein and salad when out at our favourite café
D - fasting

Feel fine, which I’m pleased about, drinking lots and if I start to get headachy I’ll put salt in my water. Weigh in tomorrow.

I forgot to write what I had today. It’s pretty easy..
I had a lovely salmon sashimi salad with sesame Mayo. Was so good I bought the salmon and extra Mayo to take to work. Delish.

Incredibly busy shift last night. I had a protein bar & a cup of tea as well, then crashed.

Trying to re-shift my body clock back to non-vampiric hours…
Today
BLUNCH: Home made high protein chicken soup made with home made bone broth. Was planning on saving the other half for dinner, but DH nicked it for lunch. Cup of tea with a dash of milk.
DINNER: Chicken Maryland cooked in airfryer until crispy. Pickled Carrot/Daikon Radish and Cucumber salad and Chinese mushrooms stir-fried with garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil. Might even chop up some fresh mint, basil and coriander and strew it through the salad.

@Fraaahnces your food sounds delicious, and love the term blunch!
I’m quietly pleased that I managed a meal out (we take it takeaway so can sit with the ducks and watch the boats), DP had our usual fish & chips and I had a ham & cheese salad with no dressing…picked out the sweetcorn. It was tasty, and just as special and relaxing
as always.
Today I think is going to feel long as we didn’t sleep well, so:
B - scrambled eggs with spinach & mushrooms
L - low carb porridge (soya milk)
D - minced beef sautéed with tonnes of garlic, celery, kale, and roasted celeriac
Snack x 2 - beef slices/sf jelly & yoghurt

@Soundwasp Did you give the corn to the ducks? They would have loved it!!! (Probably better for them than bread, too!)
I miss Northern Hemisphere summers where you can do things outside without wanting to die. It’s winter here and was 28’C today. Blah.
I also love celeriac, but no one else in my family will touch it. It’s not worth buying a giant celeriac for myself.
I’m going to add a couple of small glasses of brut champagne to my day’s accountability. I very rarely drink but I just craved champagne this afternoon. Enjoyed every teeny bubble.