Support and ideas for those on low-carb diet

I keep forgetting they exist - because the children hated them it was one thing I never grew.

I love sprouts!
Today was OH's birthday, so we had partridge stuffed with chorizo, breadcrumbs (few) lemon and garlic, with roasted squash and baby turnips and kale with pinenuts and sultanas, followed by cheese.
We were going to go out for the day, but everything round here is very subdued and quiet, so it seemed more appropriate to stay close to home.

This weekend my 80yr old FIL was visiting and he's insulin dependent diabetic, so a low carb diet should have suited him. But no, he's likes plain food and loves all things high carb. He's not a big eater, so we serve what he likes because we want him to enjoy his food. To his credit, he manages his condition brilliantly and that includes satisfying his sweet tooth.

Unfortunately, the knock on effect is I have been off the rails all weekend - and I enjoyed every minute. Back to normal now and all the things bought for his visit have magically disappeared. Even the box of Milk Tray he gave us.

I have got to the point where I have enough ideas for main meals and am working on the Oopsie bread recipes. I bought two Yorkshire pudding trays this weekend to try out. If they work, then I will be happy with the bread situation.

Surprisingly I am enjoying preparing meals from scratch. I've never enjoyed cooking before and thought of it as a chore, but being at home instead of out at work makes such a difference.

Getting used to it- and not feeling so hungry all the time. A couple of 'relapses' - at parties, where I did have a few savoury biscuits, and last night a piece of delicious cream tart (a local speciality) - but I have lost 3kg, so nearly half a stone since our return from UK.

Never ever been able to stick to fancy diets and recipes- and this low to no carb really suits me. Still having porridge with seeds for breakfast with a little cinnamon sugar- but it's working.

So thanks all for your ideas and support. And the fact this is working when nothing else ever did- seems to prove that 'a calorie is not just a calorie'. A huge thanks you to Mamie for persuading me that this might work even though other 'diets' didn't - as for diabetics with impaired thyroid function- starches have a different metabolic effect.

Well done jura 3kg is very good and I'm glad this suits your metabolism

Under very trying circumstances we're trying to stick to it. Had an avacado salad with prawn Mayo for lunch. It's DiL's 40th today so we are invited for a 'family meal' tonight (well more like tea time as there's all the children to consider) and her 'do' tomorrow night.

I'll not worry to much if I go off piste on this special occasion, because it can always be brought back on track the next day.

Well that is just brilliant GJ, so pleased for you.
I have been keeping on keeping on and weight has been extraordinarily stable at just under 9 stone. I have made a Christmas cake with ground almonds and masses of dried fruit but no sugar - recipe here
www.thehealthychef.com/2014/11/a-healthy-christmas-cake/
Tonight we are having fresh lobster (went to the seaside to buy it), new potatoes roasted in olive oil, mayonnaise and salad with something exquisite in chocolate from the patisserie - because it is my birthday!

Bon anniv Mamie- enjoy.

Now this is not sour grapes, promise, but under 9 stone is brilliant- why would you want to lose more. Honestly, over 60s (I assume you are about there) - benefit from a tiny bit of 'extra', can't find the right words. I have several friends who became just too thin and a tad obsessive about weight loss.

I will never get there- and aiming for a comfortable size 14-16.

Anya- you are so right. I know too many who give up if they have a set back- onwards and forwards.

No, I am not losing any more! I have been at that weight for about 6 months and BMI of 21 feels right for me. I just meant keeping on with this way of eating.

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

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 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?

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.

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'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!!

Will you be in in time for Christmas Merlot?

Diet Doctor recipe for Chocolate Mousse

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

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!!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.