May 3 rd this year was my moment of truth when I knew I had to do something about two years of pred use weight gain. After two weeks of thinking I was low carb, the scale had not changed! Discouraged I sought the forum’s help and was alerted to the existence of carbs in many hidden places. It is true! Since those moments of realizing there is more carbs than I was counting… and taking action of listing those amounts I have lost 16 pounds ! Nuts do have carbs, as do vegetables.. of course I eat veggies but now count every carb I ingest.
I try to stay under 20 carbs a day, so if it is a bit more it is not enough to stop the progress. The beginning of being accountable was hard, but now it is so much easier, and I feel so enlightened that this does help. I only feel so silly that after reading recommendations to go low carb to reduce weight gain, it took me two years to try. The best effect is I feel so much stronger and capable.
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Janetknit
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I'm a little slow, so it took me awhile to catch on with this advice. I actually only really started paying attention when I was threatened with steroid-induced diabetes.
Completely redid my diet - no carbs, no sugar, no alcohol. I lost a ton of weight and now am totally normal blood-sugar-wise. Fortunately, I didn't have to get too niggly about it - haven't had to worry about carbs if they're not in the obvious places (i.e., rice, anything with flour in it, etc.).
Sounds like my journey, slow to get started but successful when following the guidance. Congratulations , job well done! Excellent that you have your blood sugar under control, that’s wonderful!
I started low carb a few months after my PMR diagnosis as I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic. I lost over 3 stone in weight and put myself into remission. Over 4 years later I am still in remission and have kept the weight off
Koalajane, that is truly amazing, especially the part about going into remission, what an excellent side benefit! To control the blood sugar and back off PMR , truly a medical moment of bliss, congratulations, encouraging me to continue, I have a longerJourney ahead.
That is amazing you must be so happy with that result. I have been to hospital today for respiratory tests and had to be weighed and height measured. Feel so miserable as I have gained 2.5 stone since Pred & Actemra and lost 1.5 inches in height due to spine fractures. Going to take low carb more seriously but what I find difficult is I drink large amounts of tea throughout the day and there is 27g carb in 1 pint of skimmed milk so how does everyone manage for cups of tea? Please don't tell me I have to give it up, I can give up most things but I love my tea 😀
I also have lost height and have three spinal fractures, so I sympathize with you. It is hard to add movement for weight loss. About the tea.. skim milk has more carbs than fuller versions of milk, consider a higher fat, even half and half or cream itself as a substitute . Just the richness of cream will allow more satisfaction. One thing about low carb is fats are your friends.But you can’t do fats and a lot of carbs … that would be counterproductive… it has to be low carbs. I need to stay 20 a day to see results… and I eat plenty of fats to manage satisfaction.
I just checked.. there is only half a gram of carbs in one tablespoon of cream… you could easily use 2 tablespoons per cup and consume only 1 gram of carbs
Thanks for your advice, I wonder if it might work if I mix cream with water to make a milk consistency or even change to coffee as I would find tea with cream just too rich which is why I use skimmed milk. You have certainly inspired me.
It is all about balance - so you can "allow" yourself your tea if you limit something else.
But personally - I can't see the point of skim milk and I bet if you were to go back to semi-skimmed (full fat is almost as disgusting in tea as skimmed in my book) then you would use a LOT less milk in your tea. And it is the fat you need when eating low carb to satisfy you.
Thanks I will try semi skimmed, certainly couldn't cope with full fat milk would spoil my cuppa! Think I might try 20grams of carb a day plus my tea and if that doesn't work will think again. Certainly got the kick up the bum I needed today when weighed at Hospital which just shows how stupid I am because I knew I had been over indulging in the 'wrong' foods and comfort eating for some time.
Good luck - but you may well find that being honest about what you are eating you may get away with a lot more carbs than you think. There is no point depriving yourself because that just builds resentment and you cheat. Once you get used to the changes you make you stop missing lots of things and even start to crave something like salad leaves!!!
Maybe find some nice tea and drink it without milk. I drink strong coffee with the occasional Kuzmi tea Organic Prince Vladimir -Earl Grey black tea, orange. Expensive but the tin lasts years. Put a pinche in a mug and add water. It's lovely.
For sweetening my coffee I use monkfruit drops. Can also use it in other dishes which taste better with a little sweetening. The trick is tiny amounts. I get it on Anazon.
Lakanto monkfruit extract drops. 52ml. Some sugars are mixed with something else which tastes terrible and causes the trots. Only the pure monkfruit drops have nothing else it it. One drop in my coffee is sufficient. I add it to pancakes and my protein snoothies.
Thank you for sharing this! I too am learning about the hidden carbs and thanks to the experts on here I am more 'carb aware'. Its great to read your success story and gives hope to us beginners 🌻
Absolutely, my journey with accepting the hidden carbs, as well as the obvious has been a course in denial. They will be deposited into fat in the most undesirable areas of our bodies. After two years I’ve been jolted into reality , and grateful that the removal of carbs is changing my profile.The first few days were tough, then it’s been fairly easy after that. Our bodies do adapt to low carb if given the chance!
It is hard isn't it! ....I can't believe what I've found out...bananas 🙈 shocker! I'm looking at carb content on everything now and my beloved choc treats are quite high! Tried cauliflower rice the other day and it was nice. Lots to learn but I'll hopefully get a good balance ...keep up the great work 🌞
Zucchini is very low in carbs and lovely to simmer with olive oil and serve with Parmesan cheese. Simple recipes like this keep me inventing a new way to eat! I have cauliflower rice in the fridge, think I’ll try that tonight. 😃
Oooh lovely!! I'll put that on shopping list! It's important to have variety isn't it...I'm attempting a cheese and onion pie with low carb pastry tonight 😊
Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions. I have put an order in to Waitrose for delivery tomorrow with some green and herbal teas to try and all low carb food. Today I am busy eating the naughty things I bought in M & S yesterday when I went to the Hospital, the idea being best not to have them in the house once I've started low carb seriously. It is sort of logical I think as I shan't be buying any more.....
You sound very positive, excellent! Once I committed to making a change I felt stronger. It took a few days but very soon my body adapted to using fat for energy.I wish you the best in your new journey.😊
Wow,that's brilliant. Low carbs has worked well for me in the past but I have drifted a bit especially with holidays etc so this post is the encouragement I need to get back into it
That’s great news… one thing about carbs is they make a person just keep craving them!Comfort food ends up not bringing me very much comfort when I have to live with the results😞 the war with steroids depositing fats is one I’m sick of battling . I hope to remain aware that it’s the carbs hidden and obvious that played this mischief. You’ve done low carb before… welcome back!
Your body may convert fat into ketones for energy if your carbohydrate intake is severely restricted. The ketosis state is this. Side effects of ketosis include poor breath, headaches, weariness, and weakness. It's unclear what sort of long-term health consequences a low-carb diet might bring about.
No-one here suggests the ketogenic approach - mainly because it is almost impossible to get into ketosis when you are taking pred since it triggers the liver to release random spikes of glucose from the body stores into the blood and that triggers secretion of insulin.
You need to be aware of the whole story here - all of us on this forum are likely to be on corticosteroids and that changes the whole frame of referance.
The LCHF diet is a way of eating that emphasizes cutting back on carbohydrates and substituting them with healthy fats. Examples of LCHF diets include the ketogenic diet and the Atkins diet. Following an LCHF diet may help with weight loss, blood sugar stabilization, cognitive improvement, and heart disease risk reduction.
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thanks, Who makes it happen? We do! No more excuses!
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