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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

Anyone on a no / low carb diet? Does it work? What meals do you eat?

81 replies

MaggsS · 26/04/2009 12:39

Hi,

I need to lose around 2 stone and a friend of my husband has said the best way to lose weight is to cut out carbs.(He is a football trainer)

Has anyone done this?

Does it really work?

Would be interested in your opinions please

OP posts:
Original poster
MaggsS · 04/05/2009 20:34

Picked up a copy of Dr Atkins New Diet Revelution at a car boot today for 50p.

Will have a read through.

Glad everyone is doing well.

Have certainly cut down on carbs but haven't gone all the way

OP posts:
flourybaps · 05/05/2009 09:52

well today,

Breakfast, left over cold meats from yesterday and one peice of toast with butter. One coffee with cream!

Lunch will be chicken salad

Tea will be cabbage and leeks with chicken wrapped in parma ham and cheese topping.

Dosent sound like diet food to me but its all in the rules, sadly though I weighed myself this morning and have put on 2 pounds since finishing cambridge

O well cant keep chopping and changing so Im gonna stick with this and try and not weigh myself for a week and re-assess.

flourybaps · 05/05/2009 09:53

ps good luck with the atkins maggs, 50p, what a bargain!

Original poster
MaggsS · 05/05/2009 11:19

It looks brand new. Love a bargain!

OP posts:
flourybaps · 06/05/2009 09:39

today its

B. 2 scrambled eggs with cheese 1 toast with butter
L. chicken salad
T. pork chop with white wine mushroom and cream sauce with brocoli.

How you geting on ruby? Have you weighed in yet?.

Maggs how you getting on with atkins?

Original poster
MaggsS · 06/05/2009 12:28

It's certainly a thick book!!

Haven't started fully but have cut down loads and uping the exercise.

I am just having a salad before heading back to school.

Will have chicken and vegetables for dinner

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 07/05/2009 19:52

10 days in and I have lost 4 pounds. And have had a couple of glasses of wine in that time.

Original poster
MaggsS · 08/05/2009 06:32

Very well done.

So what do you eat on a typical day then?

Do you exercise?

OP posts:
flourybaps · 08/05/2009 12:17

smashing! well done 3littlefrogs, yes tell me what you eat I need some ideas!

Today for me,
B. 2 egg omlette with onion,cherry toms and cheese
L. chicken salad (again)
T. chicken with some sort of sauce and veggies. Pud. sugar free jelly and cream
couple of V+T ( it is friday )

3littlefrogs · 08/05/2009 12:40

Breakfast: Porridge with skimmed milk and dried fruit.

Lunch: fresh fruit or salad.

Dinner: Chicken, meat or fish - quite a generous portion, with either salad or vegetables. Again, a big portion of veg. No carbs.

I drink loads of water during the day. I have had a (small)glass of wine with dinner on a couple of evenings this week.

I work 4 days, and on those days I am so busy, that I don't have a lunch break. I am home by 4 though, so I have my dinner early at about 6pm. I occasionally have a yogurt at about 8 pm.

No bread, pasta, potatoes or rice.

The first few days were really hard, but I am finding it easier now.

Original poster
MaggsS · 08/05/2009 21:22

Do you do much exercise 3littlefrogs?

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 08/05/2009 21:44

Not nearly enough exercise ATM, because I have pain in my knees and feet. Once I lose a bit of weight though, I hope to do a bit more.

I feel too self concious to go swimming, but if I could lose a stone before I go on holiday I might.

Original poster
MaggsS · 09/05/2009 07:30

Be brave! Swimming is so good for you

OP posts:
RubyBlueberry · 12/05/2009 20:11

I've had the Clarke diet book, seems just like Atkins but with one difference, you can have a slice of bread etc and fruit too, whereas with Atkins you are really limited for the first month or so - am I right or wrong?

Do we assume that Atkins would make you lose weight quicker and Clarke would keep it off?

RubyBlueberry · 13/05/2009 11:13

Have weighed in and am less than 13st
whoopee!

Original poster
MaggsS · 13/05/2009 11:44

Great!

How much have you lost so far?

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 13/05/2009 11:46

I have been before now, for long periods of time. Lost lots but there was always a threshold that I couldn't get beneath but as by then my BMI was about 21 that was OK. I've been eating badly and have put in weight again recently so DH and I are giving it another go next month (after his b'day ).

I find it easy to follow, never get hungry, eat much much less but it is a bit pricey.

spinspinsugar · 13/05/2009 12:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrmIrian · 13/05/2009 13:13

Oh god the argument gets batted backwards and forwards endlessly! Carbs are good, carbs are bad. But there was also a recent survey that showed low-carb diets are marginally more effective but I do think it doesn't suit everyone. It suits me as I am carbaholic. I never binge on meat or cheese, always bread, crisps, pasta so cutting them out works well for me.

supersalstrawberry · 13/05/2009 13:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spinspinsugar · 13/05/2009 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BecauseImWorthIt · 13/05/2009 22:36

Please can I point out that it's low carb, not no carbs!

3littlefrogs - I don't want to pick on you, but you say:

"Breakfast: Porridge with skimmed milk and dried fruit.

Lunch: fresh fruit or salad.

Dinner: Chicken, meat or fish - quite a generous portion, with either salad or vegetables. Again, a big portion of veg. No carbs.

I drink loads of water during the day. I have had a (small)glass of wine with dinner on a couple of evenings this week.

I work 4 days, and on those days I am so busy, that I don't have a lunch break. I am home by 4 though, so I have my dinner early at about 6pm. I occasionally have a yogurt at about 8 pm."

You're actually eating a lot of carbs here!

First, porridge and dried fruit, then fresh fruit, wine with your dinner and then a yoghurt.

But you also say that with your dinner you have only veg, but no carbs! But veg do have carbs as well! And depending on the veg you're eating, there could be a lot of carbs here.

OrmIrian · 14/05/2009 14:19

Porridge is a good low-GI food but not really suitable for low-carb. Ditto fruit.

When I'm back in the habit of lc, I eat porridge or muesli for breakfast I must admit but only after I've kick-started the weightloss and changed my habits. I also add small amts of brown rice and lentils, but not fruit - it's so full of sugar.

3littlefrogs · 14/05/2009 18:15

Yes - of course you are right,BecauseImWorthIt. I am still eating carbs, but substantially less than I used to. (I seem to have piled on weight over the the last couple of years, so I thought I would take the advice of my neighbour who has lost a couple of stones doing what I am doing).

I suppose from my point of view, I have cut down a lot:

Things I don't eat any more:

Bread
Toast
potatoes
pasta
rice
biscuits
cake
puddings

I eat the porridge because I have a high risk of hypercholesterolaemia (hereditary, not diet related) and I don't want to take statins. I am told that oats are good for this.

Veg is mostly lettuce, spinach, courgettes, tomatoes. Vast quantities. My jaws are getting lots of exercise .

I have the low fat yogurt and skimmed milk, because I am osteopaenic, (am taking extra calcium and vitamin D, but not keen on bisphosphanates yet).

I am afraid the odd glass of wine is essential......

Have lost 6 pounds so far.

BecauseImWorthIt · 14/05/2009 18:36

Definitely agree that the wine is essential

Well done on the 6lbs!