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Dieting & exercise

A new low-carb support thread for 2016

(995 Posts)
Mamie Fri 01-Jan-16 05:59:16

Thought we needed a shiny new thread for the New Year.
The thread is intended to support people who are already on the diet or want to start losing weight / gaining health benefits by low-carbing.
Here is a simple explanation of this way of eating and how it works.
www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
You do not have to count calories, weigh anything, exercise furiously or feel hungry.
You do have to cut out sugar and sugar-substitutes and avoid starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice and pasta.
You need to eat lots of vegetables (especially those grown above ground) and protein which can be cheese, eggs, meat, fish etc. You can eat olive oil, butter and other natural fats. You can eat limited amounts of fruit, dark chocolate and some alcoholic drinks in moderation.
You need to avoid anything labelled low-fat and most processed food and drink.
Here is a link to the Mumsnet low-carb bootcamp thread, for those who want to lose weight more quickly than the diet adopted by most people on the existing Gransnet thread.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp
Here is a link to the original Gransnet thread - though there is absolutely no need to plough through it before you start. grin
www.gransnet.com/forums/dieting_and_exercise/1214778-Support-and-ideas-for-those-on-low-carb-diet

We aim to help each other by offering ideas, recipes and support. Welcome aboard!

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 14:19:06

I got 2 pairs for £20. They're leggings so show the sausage thighs. One pale khaki and one light beige.

shysal Sat 09-Apr-16 14:21:33

wot grin. Don't take any notice of the mirrors in clothes shops! Stick to your favourite at home, and don't wear your glasses!

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 14:23:14

Are you joining us wot?
No Eton Mess or trifle though. grin

BBbevan Sat 09-Apr-16 14:33:31

Go on Wot, join us. smile

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 14:33:34

Meant to report on last night's dinner. We did lamb shanks with citrus - lamb, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, white wine, juice and rind of a lemon and an orange. Served with cauliflower gratin. I normally find lamb shanks a bit heavy, but this was light and delicious.

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 14:48:44

Okay, thankyou, I will join! I've only dieted once in my life and that was in 2001 before I went to Spain. I used Slimfast and I was hungry all the time. I lost 2 stone in 2 months but a few months later I had to have my gall bladder removed and loads of my hair fell out! I blame it on that diet. I don't even like the Eton Mess but thought I couldn't let partner eat it all plus he gives some to our dog which is bad for her. Is this a calorie counting diet? I'll p[robably freeze half the puds before I let partner near them!

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 14:50:20

Yes, shysal, I'll just use a neck upwards mirror!

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 15:04:15

No, you don't count calories at all. You cut out sugar, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, puddings, cakes, biscuits and anything else heavily carby and eat meat, eggs, fish, lots of veg, fats like butter and olive oil, cheese and limited fruit. Have a look at the Diet Doctor link in my OP.
Welcome aboard!

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 15:13:14

I'll have a look! It sounds like the Atkinson diet. Oh, I love toast and butter. I also love the things I would be allowed.

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 15:13:48

So what about creamy trifles???? And coffee and cream?

whitewave Sat 09-Apr-16 15:15:58

We are still at it - chicken and leek pie with cauliflower mash instead of potato ( made two) from freezer and green beans and probably carrots.

DH lost half a stone me a bit less but on downward trajectory and hoping blood sugar levels also dropping.

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 15:35:00

Coffee and cream fine. Trifles no good because of cake and sugar. We have two puddings so far, chocolate mousse with dark chocolate and eggs and a cheesecake with a nut base.
It isn't Atkins because you can have lots of veg, especially the above ground sort and some fruit.

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 15:36:46

I posted this a couple of pages back.
Low carb explained in 60 seconds!
www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 15:44:32

Sorry to be a nuisance but I've got all the ingredients out for a spag bolognaise or rissotto but what about the paste or rice?

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 16:04:36

Most of us make cauliflower rice or spiralized courgetti. However if you have got it all ready I would have a small quantity of pasta and start properly when you have had a bit of time to plan!

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 16:10:20

Yes, Okay!

wot Sat 09-Apr-16 16:11:54

Been trying to empty one of my 3 freezers. I've been trying to do that since Christmas but it keeps re-filling itself! Never did that when I was hard up, though!

Mamie Sat 09-Apr-16 16:13:28

We are trying to eat last year's vegetable crop before we start again....

WilmaKnickersfit Sat 09-Apr-16 23:26:33

Good to see you here wot.smile

Mamie do you sell any of your fruit and vegetables? You could have one of those little stalls at the entrance to your drive with an honesty box. grin

wot Sun 10-Apr-16 00:27:31

Love cauliflower cheese. I will read the links properly and digest it all!

Mamie Sun 10-Apr-16 06:26:57

Wilma there are only two houses down the lane beyond ours and they grow their own too! My neighbour takes most of our quince crop to market (made 70€ one year) and we swap damsons (tree brought from England) for walnuts and dark red peaches.
The trouble is we can't eat much jam or chutney now because of the sugar so I give that away, ditto home-made ketchup.
We make a lot of ratatouille and minestrone though....

Anya Sun 10-Apr-16 06:44:17

Welcome wot

This is really a great way to eat. I fell off the wagon at Easter and climbed back on at the beginning of this month. So what is it today...the 10th? I'm a kg lighter already and I was away on holiday last week too!

It's not Atkins as it's loaded with vegetables.

I do it for DH as he has a family history of scoffing all the wrong things type two diabetes and has to keep his weight down and avoid carbs. But I've found loads of benefits for myself these include sleeping better, headtburn/reflux gone, more energy and less arthritic flair ups. I didn't need to lose much weight except the odd kg but it's great not to gave to bother with counting calories and there's so much you can, and should, eat.

Good luck.

shysal Sun 10-Apr-16 06:59:04

wot, I use cheesy cauliflower puree as a low carb sauce, or a thicker version as a topping for cottage pie etc.

Riverwalk Sun 10-Apr-16 07:27:51

Breakfast today will be a variation on

shakshuka

Small red onion sauteed with spices in a dash of olive oil, add 1/3 can chopped tomatoes and reduce a bit, two eggs (cooked to almost set), and topped with crispy streaky bacon (done in the microwave), plus coffee.

It's a beautiful day in London so I'll be doing a two-hour riverwalk and need a big breakfast! smile

Anya Sun 10-Apr-16 10:19:00

Going to try Pippa''s cheesy bun recipe - if I can get almond flour. I tried MM's recipe with coconut flour and let's say it was very strange an acquired taste!