Support and ideas for those on low-carb diet

I must admit that my LPR was much worse during Christmas night after I abandoned my usual rule of not eating anything in the three hours before bed! Never again...

Oh no it's not!

! It's still Christmas! Shoo!

Well Mamie if anything was needed to prove your point it's this Christmas. I went pretty much off piste and savoured the delights of mince pies, Christmas puddings, weird and wonderful Christmas liqueurs, etc.. Not to any great or glutinous extent, but yes I've indulged

The result is I've had heartburn/ reflux for the first time in nine months, those vague stomach aches, which again were a thing of the past, have reappeared and I've put on 1kg in three days

This is the result of eating too many carbs, in particular sugary ones, for certain. Remembering I've been eating pretty much what I want in the way of other goods (including cheese, cream and butter) for the last nine months and all these symptoms had vanished and I was steadily losing weight.

You are so right about this way of eating.

That was the best cauliflower and broccoli cheese I've ever made. I have no scales to weigh anything out, so just guessed the amount of butter, cornflower, milk, etc. Lovely smooth cheesey sauce and added a good big teaspoon of Dijon mustard for extra taste. Very filling.

Having asked, you only need a small amount I suppose and it is gluten free.

Had cauliflower cheese a couple of time since starting on this 'venture' - but without the sauce and just a good cover of excellent cheese. But in the past, I always made white sauce for dishes like lasagna and cauli cheese with cornflour and milk, with herbs and a bit of salt and pepper- much quicker, much easier and less cals than traditional white sauce- and nobody ever notices. But not sure about cornflour having less carbs than flour.

I'm feeling in need of a veggie meal tonight so planning cauliflower and broccoli cheese. I'm thinking of using cornflour as a thickener and wondered if it is indeed lower in carbs than stated here.

"Cornstarch - Cornstarch has 7 grams of carb per tablespoon, but more thickening power. According to the corn starch manufacturers you only need half as much cornstarch as flour, but experts seem to vary on this point. Sauces thickened with cornstarch are less opaque and glossier. Cornstarch is generally added to cold water and then to the sauce. You don't have to worry about cooKing it" (am assuming cornstarch is the same as cornflour?)

Weight loss is addictive and can be dangerously so. Anorexia is almost as common in the 'elderly' as it is in teenagers it seems. In diabetics, it is even more dangerous- as some people of all ages refuse to take their insulin, or cut it down drastically- as insulin makes you put weight on, and diabetes makes you lose it fast. Tragic.

To be fair to SW, every consultant running the classes I've been to has stressed the 1-2lbs a week weight loss as ideal. I've heard them talking to people who are regularly losing more, but I suspect those people are determined to lose the weight as quickly as possible. It's never happened to me , but I can understand this mindset because to be into clothes several sizes smaller must be almost addictive.

This is why I am trying to lose weight slowly and steadily. Losing weight too quickly can also put enormous pressure on your heart. We had this discussion time and time again with a friend who had become totally obsessed with losing weight and couldn't stop himself from wanting to lose more and more- but he just wouldn't listen to any advice even from his own doctor.

I have read about Slimming World and gall stones before, but rapid weight loss was blamed. All of the cases had lost a lot of weight in a short period of time e.g.4 stone in 6 months. The doctors said the food eaten wasn't the problem, just the rate of weight loss. I know the SW plan very well and both fat free yogurt and fresh fruit can be eaten in unlimited quantities, so I can imagine why the GP is blaming SW.

Sounds delicious! Our chocolate treat from the patisserie was absolutely yummy last night. I think the traditional French diet was quite low carb apart from all the bread. Changing now of course.
Hadn't heard about SW and gallstones but doesn't surprise me.

As it is for lunch with friends. and will stick to (full fat) yogurt and berries for rest of week- I shall do just that - i/2 cream, 1/2 Greek yogurts, dark 70% good quality chocolate and eggs- and really, really enjoy it- with dark cherries in a little kirsch.

I think my view would be - why use coconut milk when you can use cream? You can do it without cream too, just chocolate and eggs.
Bon courage Merlot and Anya.

I was talking to DD's friend this morning. She has not been well for a few weeks and is booked in for a scan because her doc suspects gallstones.

He asked her if she's been dieting using Slimming World. She has - for months.

Apparently there are now concerns that SW's low fat recipes incorporate too many ingredients high in acid like fruit and yoghurt and GPs are seeing an increase in young women presenting with gallstone symptoms.

I hadn't heard of this so I googled it and it seems there is evidence to support this theory.

Anyone else heard of this?

With a bit of luck we'll be moving in next Saturday, Anya. The plumber is finishing off as I type (about time too)

Bedroom floor being laid on Monday and then we can start moving furniture across from the bungalow.

Fingers crossed!!

Diet Doctor recipe for Chocolate Mousse

Would love to know if this is like the real deal.

Will you be in in time for Christmas Merlot?

I've been slipping as well. Getting ready to move, running down the freezer, too tired to spend much time cooking but all is not lost.....My new kitchen awaits!!

Well done mcem too.
Since the trauma of the fire, and now living in rented house until February (??who knows when we can move back in) and dealing with an unfamiliar and ancient cooker, I've let things slip over the last 6 weeks and my tummy is not happy. So have got a grip now and starting to settle back into a better low carb régime.

I think a chocolate mousse is fine, with dark chocolate, eggs, cream, tiddle of brandy?
Strawberries (though not keen on out of season really) or physallis dipped in chocolate.
Figs soaked in brandy, layered with cream.
Lots of lovely cheese.

Great news mcem.

Now who can help me with desserts , no carb, low sugar...

Going to friends for lunch on Monday- from the UK but who have a holiday home near here. She is making her special nut roast for me- and I said I'll bring a pud. Any great ideas?

This thread has been a huge help to me so thanks to everyone whose ideas, hints and recipes have been so useful. I cut the carbs in early September and
in all that time I've had no cakes, bread or biscuits, no pasta or potatoes apart from 2 baked ones.
2 puddings when eating out.
1 (small) bar of chocolate because it was there!
If it's there, I eat it so I just don't even think of buying tempting stuff.
I got back to the gym early November and am very pleased with the results so far. Not looking at weight loss or calories - just inch loss!
Bust 44" to 42"
Tummy area measured at hipbones 41" to 37"
Waist 36" to 33" (aiming to get that to 'healthy' under 32".)
A couple of favourite dresses which last winter were uncomfortably snug now fit well.
Thank you, ladies.

Great - perfect and bravo x (I wish ...)