Support and ideas for those on low-carb diet

I think this is probably ny fault for putting LCHF in the title instead of just low carb. We certainly have small portions of all of those low gi carbs in our diet Granjura, but probably only one of them about once or twice a week. One of the reasons for starting the thread was because I was struggling a bit with finding a way of maintaing my weight rsther than continuing to lose it, though I hadn't raised it here yet. It certainly wasn't meant to be bootcamp - there is a very good thread on Mumsnet for that.
Do people want me to ask GNHQ to edit the title or can we agree that it just loosely covers support around low-carbing?
Sorry again for causing confusion, I just used LCHF as a kind of shorthand.

Merlot, sincere apologies- last thing I want to do is 'pick your posts apart'- but the whole point of the diet if LOW or NO carbs, and HIGH fat- so comments and analysis should relate to those principles in this thread.

I am very interested- and plan to do a gently version of this as OH has to limit protein intake- and also very fast changes and weight loss can actually put a lot of strain on his heart too. He has done so well since the electroshock (artificially stop heart to regulate arythmia) and his kidneys are stable- so do NOT want to do anything drastic.

Arctic again today, so will wait for sunshine to return than switch all carbs to veg and cut down portions. We did switch to low GI carbs a few years back, new potatoes instead of baked (much less starch), aldente basmati and wild rice instead of risotto (much less starch) and always wash pasta in cold water when cooked and then re-heat (m l s), and often eat a small portion of barley instead (sold in yellow packs as Ebly- great for stir fries and salads instead of couscous) and bulgur. But will attempt to cut them all altogether instead of just trying to cut portion size. Thanks for the inspiration.

It is helpful isn't it. And I shall continue with this diet that involves eating good, fresh ingredients, lots of veg, natural fats and a complete absence of sugary and processed food. It has sustained me well and given me gentle and consistent weight loss over the course of a year.
Breakfast and then a morning chopping and hauling in the garden!

just last.

Well, I've come to the end of week 1 and feeling Pretty Damned Pleased with myself. No broken the 'eating plan' except for just night when I hit the whisky bottle.

Note to self; don't run out of red wine.

Good to have support and ideas on this thread

Mamie - I agree with you comments on the french health system. They're very efficient and get everything done quickly, our MT is very kind, but are slow to take on new ideas and research. His father is still in the practise, in his 80s, and his favourite antiseptic is gentian violet (it works too.)
Sorry for thread drift.

Thanks, sounds brilliant- got a leg in the freezer that needs using up- so will try this week- must remember to buy oven bags though- going to HyperU tomorrow. Merci

The recipe is Mechoui lamb from Persiana, but I mucked about with it a bit, so apologies to the wonderful Sabrina Ghayour.
I started with butter, cumin, coriander, crushed garlic, thyme, paprika, cayenne, salt, black pepper, mixed into a paste. Leg of lamb, (2.5 lbs) poked here and there with a knife. Rub the paste all over, especially into the holes. Bung in cooking bag and cook for three hours in a low oven by which time it will fall off the bone. Probably 130 in most ovens but about 100 in our Lacanche which is too bloody hot.
Use the juices in the bag as gravy, having got rid of the fat.
Tomorrow will be cold lamb and ratatouille and Tuesday will be spicy shepherd's pie with celeriac mash on top.

Granjura I only mentioned the bloody saturated fat because the flan contained carbohydrates. It wouldn't matter whether I mentioned the carbs OR the fat because they are BOTH unsuitable if combined in the same dish.

If you're going to pick all my posts apart I won't bother and I think you know perfectly well what I meant.

I'm off for a gin

This thread is really helpful as it's helping me get my head round the whole thing.

Mmmmmm.....spicy lamb. Yes, recipe please

Thanks Merlot that's a lot of carbs, but low in sugars! Interesting that it's only medium fat, though sats are high.

The recipe for the spicy lamb would be wonderful Mamie- when you find time. Is it the Madhur Jaffey classic?

Bon appétit.

Never mind!

Sorry to insist Merlot. But your comment was:

This won't really suit a low carb diet because the saturated fat is high.

We are all aware the tart was unsuitable for low carb diet- but because it is high carb 21.8 gr- and not because of the fat. Surely?

Fair enough.
Our spicy lamb smells delicious. I have cooked it in a low oven for three hours in one of those cooking bags that are not plastic.

I think we can disregard the analysis of the Cheese and Leek Flan as having anything at all to do with the diet or it's going to lead to confusion. [confusion]

Calories are irrelevant.

The high saturated fat is fine. As I understand it other principle of LCHF is that calories are irrelevant and you don't need to count them.

I think Anya knows it's not suitable for a low carb diet but just wanted an analysis.

Unfortunately the pictures thread does not accept Bitmap images so I can't upload the labels.

I am sorry, but it would not be suitable for a low carb diet, not because of saturates, but because it is high carb??? Or am I totally on the wrong track here- more confused than ever.

Anya, I based the shortcrust pastry on half fat to flour and assumed you used butter.

Per serving the results are:

Protein - 15.4g
Carbohydrate - 21.8g (of which sugar 2.18g)
Fat - 31.7g (of which saturates 18.7g)
Fibre 2.43g
Salt 1.02g

The traffic light label states: Fat Medium
Saturates High
Sugar Low
Salt Med

429 kcals per portion

This won't really suit a low carb diet because the saturated fat is high.

I'll try and upload the labels but not sure if the picture thread is working.

Just run my days food (including my dinner which I need to start cooking soon) and the glass of red wine I intend to drink later, though a calorie checker.

There is carb in almost everything, except the eggs. So it's impossible to eat NO carbs.

I will have eaten slightly less than 1000 kcals today. It is almost exactly 30% fat, 30% protein and 30% carbs. So I'm happy with that. I've not been hungry all week.

But it just goes to show how many carbs we would normally eat in a day otherwise.

Thanks for that info Mamie

Yes, spelt is the same ratio as ordinary flour. We make spelt bread too; just takes a little bit longer to rise on the second proving.

I think Tricia, that yes, it would be good to read around the subject. If you Google "low-carb high-fat diet, there is masses of info. The link I posted up thread to the diet doctor is a good starting point. But obviously you need to talk to your doctor. However I have talked about it to our MT and the remplacant and neither was particularly well informed. The ladies at my gym douce class all ask how I have lost so much weight and gasp in amazement when I tell them. Not sure it has arrived in France yet!

I've never tried spelt flour. Do you use it in the same ratio as ordinary flour?

If I was making that tart I'd have it with salad, no other carbs, as you do.

Rose I have a wonderful recipe for cake using no flour, no sugar and Orange Cream Cheese Frosting all over it! I'm saving that for Easter! I'll send you the 'how to do' on the Cheese & Leek Tart when you've lost your 7lbs

Tricia if you have a heart problem and stents fitted don't go doing anything against medical advice.

My question is, how much fat should there be in this diet? We eat a low carb diet and aren't overweight. But I have a cholesterol problem (2 stents) and have been advised to cut down on fats. Also I take tablets for high blood pressure.
I've never eaten cheese, butter or cream since the operation, it was emphasised in the workshop we had afterwards. Also not too many eggs. (And don't smoke - I gave up ages ago, but most of the men at that session still smoked.)
I suppose I should ask my doctor before stepping up the fats.