Low Carb Newbie

[Seabright]

I need to lose weight. Quite a lot of weight (2 stones, at least). So am thinking I'll try Low Carb mixed with Alli pills because I want to quick start.

But, what do you eat for breakfast? I eat either cereals or toast and I'm assuming both are verbotten?

I love carbs, I could live on carbs alone to be honest, so would love suggestions about what to replace my beloved bread, rice, pasta and potatoes with.

Pringles - please tell me they count as a vegatable!!

Does anyone want to start with me? I am 11 stone as of today, 4'11" tall and my BMI is 31.15, making me obese. I am a size 16 (14 on a good day!)

ROFL...pringles as a vegetable!!!

I wouldn't think low carb and Alli are a good mix. Low carb is not a low fat diet, which is what Alli require (I think). If you low carb there will be no need for pills anyway as the weight will go relatively quickly and without the yucky side effects

OK, I see what you say.

But what do I eat instead of my lovely carbs? My DP has just pointed out that my favourite foods are crisp sandwiches and chip butties, essentially Carb Sandwiches.

I would just like to say that I don't eat these gastronomic delights very often, but he's right, they are my favourites!

I think you need to get a low carb book before you embark on a plan that you only half understand tbh, as doing low carb wrong will actually make you put on weight. I really recommend Neris and India's Idiot Proof Diet. Lots of recipe ideas in there. The idea of bread and carb substitutes isn't really te idea. You can eat lots of veg, salads, meats, fish, eggs and cheese. Typical day would be boiled or scrambled eggs for breakfast, big tuna salad with lots of spring onions, celery, cucumber and pepper for lunch and maybe grilled chicken with broccoli and caulilower for dinner. Small bits of cheese for snacks. The thing with low carb is that by the very nature of the eating plan, you won't want to snack as the protein will fill you up much longer than the carbs would.

Seabright I'll join you. I've just ordered the Neris & india book as I too am a carb addict. I have carbs for breakfast lunch, dinner and snacks!
I've been trying for last few days but feel very confused as to what I should be eating.

i've been low carbing for 11 days now....and have lost 7lbs,so it does work!

have done it before,and is effective for me...gives me more energy,so i move more to!

bacon and eggs for breakfast? or an omelette?

i truly dont miss carbs and feel so full!

Hi Seabright. I have been on a low carb diet called Go Lower since October and until the last few weeks when my weight loss has really slowed down I had been losing about a stone a month so it can be done.

On Go Lower they send you their food to eat so it is all ready made for you but for breakfast I have granola. Sometimes, I have it plain but sometimes with some berries and / or natural pro-biotic yoghurt.

Low carbing does work and it seems great at first, but be prepared to feel like crap by the end of week 2/3. I did and I had to throw in the towel. After 2 years of fitness training ... I had to stop half way through a class a couple of weeks ago as I almost collapsed through a combination of dizzyness and exhaustion.

But on the plus side, if you're anything like me, after the initial 2 weeks your love of carbs will have disapeared and you'll find yourself much more in control of what you eat.

I am a self confessed sweet/crisp/chocoholic and a couple of weeks ago I decided I'd had enough of this "stupid diet". I was really looking forward to being able to eat crips and chocolate again and you know what ... I've barely touched them. It just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Someone bought me a rolo easter egg and I opened a packet of rolos, ate 3 and then put them back in the cupboard. DH asked if I was feeling ill (he was genuine). A few weeks ago I could NEVER have put half eaten choccie away like that ... infact I'd have probably eaten the entire bloody egg!

So yes, low carb definately has its good points but be aware of the bad too

(also, really try and bypass the cravings in the first few days, its sugar cold turkey but once you're through it, it changes everything about your relationship with food).

Enchilada81 - it's reassuring hearing how you now can't face eating chocolate etc. I was a terrible chocoholic before I started this diet and am really hoping I don't get stuck in the chocolate trap again once I am at my goal. It will make it a whole lot easier if I don't actually want it like has happened to you!