low-carb diet??

[Tasha12345]

Hi,

I want to try this, does anybody do a low-carb diet? Obviously I know its self explanatory to just have low carbs but is it really beneficial for weight loss?

Also, can anybody give me ideas or low-carb meals?

Thanks guys

[EllaMidlands]

Hi. I have been low carb since October. I don't eat potatoes, bread, pasta, rice so I eat protein like chicken or fish with veg for tea, soup or salad with egg for lunch, eggs, bacon or fruit for breakfast. I have lost 4 stone since then, almost 5 stone in total but still weigh 18 stone 2. I couldn't go back now to eating junk now. I cook meals from scratch which I never used to do. I recommend it highly! I don't eat low fat tho - obviously I am not eating cakes, biscuits, choc, sweets so I do have full fat yogurt. I don't eat low fat yog as it would have sweeteners in

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to EllaMidlands]

almost 5 stone since October is amazing! Well done you, I really want to give it try was just sceptical as you always here different things. I have changed to wholewheat everything and cut out bread completely, just would like a boost in my weight lost so want to give other things a go!

thank you

[EllaMidlands in reply to Tasha12345]

I noticed that 2 slices of wholewheat bread is 260 calories which show how easily they will mount up. I used to eat 4 slices with bacon in for Sunday brunch. That's was about 900 calories which is a lot for brunch as with my snacks and other meal I was well over 2000 calories. I find it easy to lose weight without needing to count calories but cutting them out.

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to EllaMidlands]

Yeah i noticed that too. They're very high calories. I have just decided to cut bread out of my diet now as it doesn't seem to have any benefits. Will try the lower-carb diet and see how I get on

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to Tasha12345]

If you do find yourself missing bread, try keeping a small sliced Hovis in the freezer. If needed it can go straight into the toaster, and I find I rarely have more than one slice. Yes you still must count it ( 60 cals) but it may just help you wean yourself away from bread. I lost my excess 2st and am still same weight 2 years later.

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to elliebath]

Yeah that's a good idea. Thanks, and well done that's amazing!

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to Tasha12345]

It all depends if you're an "all or nothing " person, then it may be too tempting. But for me it works well and Im no longer tempted by the fresh baked baguettes etc in the supermarket .....in fact if I go abroad and can only get white bread, I hate it!

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to elliebath]

Yeah I do prefer brown bread myself! I think my downfall is definitely pasta lol!

[lucigret in reply to Tasha12345]

I like pasta but I'm going to only have it once a fortnight and I have started buying the brown instead. elliebath thats a good idea re the bread. We make our own, but I only like the white from the bread maker. Generally it's only me that eats it. I have one slice for breakfast sometimes. I haven't bought bread for so long, I had forgotten I could lol.

[2stoneup]

A girl I work with was told a few weeks ago she was borderline diabetic. So cut carbs out altogether. The only sugars in her diet are from fruit and dairy. She has since lost a stone. Says she feels amazing. Full of energy! It would inspire me but I love carbs too much! Saying that though, I have cut down a bit...

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to 2stoneup]

Yes I am exactly the same, but on the other hand feel like I have too many carbs, I always seem to plan my meals around them and never know whether its good to cut them out because you often here that a balanced diet is better. Might have to give it a shot tho as have heard lots of positives! Thank you

[EllaMidlands in reply to Tasha12345]

I do agree a balanced diet is good it not certain that grains are needed much if you get a good range of veg you should be okay for fibre etc

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to EllaMidlands]

I will have to try it and see how i get on

[Penel]

This is a useful site explaining low carb eating.

authoritynutrition.com/how-...

[EllaMidlands in reply to Penel]

That's useful Penel , it makes sense to me.

[lucigret in reply to EllaMidlands]

@EllaMidlands if you don't eat pasta and bread what would you put in a lunch box. My husband doesn't have access to a microwave at lunch times and doesn't really like soup, so other than salads what would I put in his lunch box? Inspiration needed.

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to lucigret]

This is my problem! I'm always having carbs for lunch, would like to stop but don't know what else to have lol 🙈

[lucigret in reply to Tasha12345]

I find it quite hard to do for hubby, he doesn't mind a salad. He's going to get bored with it every day though. I do him salad and ham or cheese wraps some days. I guess just cutting back on the carbs is a good thing. If we have less rice, pasta, potato and bread we should see a difference.

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to lucigret]

Yeah that's true. Need to build my meals around other things rather than carbs and cut a lot out. Should be good!

[denvajade in reply to lucigret]

I line muffin tins with a piece of bacon then drop an egg in each and slightly break it, salt and pepper and a slice of tomato and cook till just cooked to keep moist. You can store these in the fridge and take a couple to work.

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to denvajade]

That sounds lovely, thank you 😊

[denvajade in reply to Tasha12345]

You are welcome, but you must not cheat, eat only protein, fats no carbs

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to Penel]

Thats brilliant, thanks Penel

[lucigret in reply to Penel]

Thank you for posting this Penel , it has been really helpful.

[Activity2004 Visitor]

Tasha12345 ,

Have you checked out the LCHF Diabetes group on HU? They have some great advice for eating lchf if you are interested in joining the group. Click on the group's follow button and start posting your questions! Go to: healthunlocked.com/diabetes...

I hope this helps!

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to Activity2004]

Perfect. Thank you

[Linky]

I have been reading on these forums for some time. - lots of inspiration and support. - but have never posted.

A close relative has been following a lo carb diet, monitored by her doctor. She was morbidly obese, borderline diabetic and needed surgery which they were unwilling to do as she was so overweight.

She has lost around 3 stone in 3 months and the surgery will go ahead soon, she feels and looks so much better.

The links on here are very helpful - I am going to start a low carb diet today, but not as strict as the one that she is on which is practically NO carb.

I have about a sone and a half to lose.

[2stoneup in reply to Linky]

Good luck!

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to Linky]

Yeah I keep hearing really positive things from it so I think I'm going to try it too! Good luck.

[ceejayblue]

Going low carb doesn't necessarily mean that you need to cut out bread, potatoes, pasta etc. You can have them but have smaller quantities. I'm type 2 diabetic and have cut back on all of them but not cut them out. Too much protein isn't always good for you either and for some people going high fat (which is usually associated with going low carb) isn't right either. You need to strike a balance, don't deprive yourself of all carbs, its important to have a balanced diet (not necessarily the same quantities as you had before).

Eat off a smaller plate and have smaller portions, it is possible. Or, eat more mindfully, losing weight is a marathon not a sprint and if you only eat when you are hungry, say at a level 6 on the 1-10 scale, and stop eating when you are satisfied (even if it means leaving food on the plate) then you can make these small changes and win through. I'm not saying its easy, its not, we are surrounded by things we love to eat but smaller portions of everything and eating mindfully it is possible.

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to ceejayblue]

Thank you for your reply really that sounds like it could be easier having small amounts! I'm definitely going to try it as feel like it will benefit my weight loss. 😊

[Marie2068]

I have tailored a form of low carb eating to suit me. I eat low carb on days I don't excercise. When I do excercise (run/cycle/gym) anything over 60 mins I fuel my body accordingly. I choose good carb swaps i.e. Sweet pototatoes instead of potatoes, spelt pasta, brown rice. I found if I didn't replenish my muscles after a tough workout I just felt hungry and didn't recover as quickly. This works for me, listen to your body, it gives you all the information you need if you listen carefully 🙂

[Tasha12345 1 stone in reply to Marie2068]

This is my hardest thing! Just struggle to know what is best for me. Gonna give a few a go and see what works. Thanks 😊