Advice needed - low carb and ketogentic diets

[Luce17]

Hi all,

I'm new to this, I need to lose 10st and although I don't expect to do it by then, I'm a bridesmaid in 8 months so I want to look as good as possible.

I don't have any food allergies but I do have digestive problems with bread, pasta and caffeine, including chocolate 😱 most my favourite foods. I've tried a low carb diet before which worked well while it lasted. As with some others on here I have an unfortunate cycle of starting diet after diet and nothing seems to last. I've tried from the traditional Weight Watchers and Slimming World to the more unconventional water diet. I tried the 5:2 diet that didn't work but the 16:8 does work for me.

What I want to know is if anyone has had sucess with low carb or keto diets? And what advice you might have for a beginner 😀 What sort of exercise you included? Looking at no cost or low cost exercises.

Thanks in advance 😀

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome Luce17 please note none of us on here are medically trained and we can only give you our experience and support

I know some on here are following low carb diets and hopefully they will reply to you later

I would like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we hope will be a good place for you to connect with members, who are also just starting out, or re-starting.

If you just post a few words on the September Newbie Club thread to introduce yourself and respond to others there you will soon feel part of the club.

Follow this link to the Newbie club: healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Please read all the information carefully, it is very useful and can be referred to whenever you want to check something.

It just remains for me to wish you well on your journey

[Luce17 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you crack10, I think sometimes it's better to get advice from real people who have been there and done it or are in the process at that time. I've been trying to lose weight for 17 year, all that's changed is I've put weight on 😔

Thank you for the invite to the 'September Newbie Club' I'll join that now 🖒😀

[Ceals]

Welcome Luce17 you will be able to lose your weight if you decide to change your lifestyle. Forget dieting, you have already proved it doesn't work. You need to discover what is sustainable for you.

If you already know that low carb works for you it seems sensible (to me) to go back there. I think you are lucky knowing that bread and pasta give you digestive difficulties, these are some foods it is best to avoid and you have an in-built reason to avoid them.

Do you monitor what you eat on an app like MyFitnessPal? It is well worth doing (and free). As an example today I planned to cook home made pizza using gluten free pizza bases. When I looked up the carbs in 1 base it was 87g - way too much for me so I am having a go at making a base from cauliflower.

If you are interested in kept diets there are lots of boards on Pinterest and articles on the internet. I certainly try to eat low carb, moderate protein and high fat. It just suits me.

Pop along to Daily Diary and see what others eat, you may get lots of ideas.

Walking is the very best free exercise, very underrated.

Enjoy your journey and make food your friend not your enemy.

[Luce17 in reply to Ceals]

Thank you for the reply Ceals, I hadnt though about using Pinterest but I've added that to my phone, I'll also use YouTube for exercise plans.

A pizza base with cauliflower sounds delicious. I made my kids a spicy cottage pie this week, the topping was a mix of potato, sweet potato, cauliflower and parsnip, topped with cheese. They loved it, the filling was packed with veg too so it was a winner all round. I've not committed completely to the low carb yet, just trying to be as healthy as possible.

I'll be sure to check out Daily Diary too 😀

[pcrw Maintainer Healthy BMI]

Dear Lucie,

I have had great success following the 8 week blood sugar diet ( book by Dr Michael Moseley). I highly recommend it and it doesn't cost much on amazon. It also contains lots of calorie counted recipes and a menu program for the 8 weeks. It is a low carb and low sugar diet and it worked for me remarkably well. I never felt hungry or deprived and have lost 2.26 stone over 12 weeks. I was 81kg to start and am now 65.8 kg so only another 2kg and I will be at target.

I have increased may activity by ensuring I walk 10000 steps a day and bought a fit bit to help count steps and calorie count. I love my fit bit and wouldn't be without it.

Don't think of the total amount you need to lose. Just go one week at a time but if you stick to the new way of eating suggested in the book the weight will fall off and you will find it easier and easier to increase activity as you won't have all that weight to lug around. Just be prepared to pay for a new wardrobe. I have gone from 16 to 12 and shot past the size 14 so those clothes only lasted a few weeks!

Best wishes

[Susie54 in reply to pcrw]

Wow pcrw what a great testimony - love it 😍 well deserved weight loss!!

I also use a FitBit Alta & love it along with finding calorific values using the nutra check app on my phone (which is free for that) ... mmm low sugar & low carb but guessing high in protein??

Thanks for posting x

[Luce17 in reply to pcrw]

Thank you for the advice pcrw, I believe small lifestyle changes are the way forward, it certainly isn't a quick fix I need anymore. I can't imagine being able to carry 10st in weight for any length of time but that is what I do every day. I think accountability is the key, owning your own failings and triumphs.

I will definitely look up that book by Michael Moseley. He is the reason I heard about intermittent fasting so I'm sure it will be a good source.

I do have a Fitbit, now I need to start using it. I believe it can be connected to MyFitnessPal, I'll need to work that one out.

Well done on your weight loss, you've done amazingly well 🖒😀

[Luce17]

Hi Concerned,

Thank you so much for the links, they are so helpful. I have actually seen the Diet Doctor one before, that's where I got the idea to try a keto diet. I have just just stumbled upon another website, which has lots of meal plans, and a 5 day kick start diet plan. It's 'I Breath I'm Hungry'. The 5 day plan seems a good place to start resetting my eating, as I type, I have terrible indigestion and my mouth is as dry as can be. I really need to do it this time.

Thanks again 😀