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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!

BBbevan Tue 24-May-16 05:40:23

Well that was the worst Tea I have been to. The sandwiches were uninspiring, and the scones flat and hard. So it wasn't difficult to resist any of it.
Came home to cod in Parma ham which DH had cooked . Lovely

Lazigirl Mon 23-May-16 18:57:05

Riverwalk comte would make anything tasty! Yes Mamie, I see NHS healthy eating experts are trying to rubbish the low carb diet again, but the proof's in the pudding, ha ha. If you are pre or diabetic why should you be encouraged to eat more of the stuff that is causing the problem. It doesn't make sense. There was a recipe for cauliflower cake by Yotam Ottolenghi in paper yesterday, so will give that a go. When I first came onto this thread I said I was no domestic goddess, but after trying to be low carb inventive with meals I think I could now give Nigella a run for her money.......

BBbevan Mon 23-May-16 11:45:36

I think a lot of restaurants, especially around London are excellent for LCHF. We went to Giraffe with the GD's and there was a lot on the menu I could eat.
Going out to another birthday Tea party this afternoon. £14 is a bit expensive for 1 sandwich and half a scone.! Which is all I will allow myself.

Mamie Mon 23-May-16 11:36:29

Lots of stuff in the press today about LCHF. I thought the dietician on BBC Breakfast was excellent, she really had the "expert" squirming.
Was in London yesterday and had an excellent low-carb lunch from Itsu. Avocado, chicken, poached egg, nuts, seeds, goji and a lovely dressing, then a full-fat yoghurt with berries. Really enjoyed it.

shysal Sun 22-May-16 17:50:43

Glad it was edible, Riverwalk. I must give it a try, I think I have one lurking in my veg overflow box in the shed. I too thought the sugar would be unnecessary, but I shall be including the butter!

Riverwalk Sun 22-May-16 11:14:25

Yes a whole celeriac can be microwaved. After I'd peeled the beast there was about 500gm.

I followed Shysal's link - and only used salt and pepper, no sugar, or butter for cooking. It was perfectly cooked after 10 minutes cooking then 10 minutes standing.

Surprisingly considering how solid a celeriac is it's a bit watery, not as much as a swede but certainly more than a potato - I wonder if piercing half-way through cooking would dry it out a bit.

I opened it like a baked potato and put butter, more S&P, and grated comte - all very filling and tasty. smile

whitewave Sun 22-May-16 08:10:33

I love kale especially cavelero de Nero ( if that is how you spell it?)
Yesterday had a chicken casserole with lots of veg thrown in. Today we are having the first roast since our blood sugar episode. I might allow DH two small jersey Royal roast potatoes as he adores them - see that as his pudding! Also we are having lamb because the mint is looking lovely in the garden.

Mamie Sun 22-May-16 07:36:12

I think it needs a bit of dried fruit for sweetness then spices, nuts, feta, red pepper, baby toms etc....

BBbevan Sun 22-May-16 05:55:53

Thanks Mamie I will try that. DH will probably wonder what on earth I am doing but he will try anything once

Mamie Sat 21-May-16 20:19:34

Olive oil and massage it by hand for 5-10 minutes. It reduces by half and sort of cooks. Strange but true. grin

BBbevan Sat 21-May-16 20:15:48

How do you massage kale?

Mamie Sat 21-May-16 19:09:39

Glad it worked well. We have had three puddings since Christmas and that was my favourite. We had a salad with massaged kale for lunch. It was really delicious.

BBbevan Sat 21-May-16 18:31:17

The chocolate mousse was heavenly. A little dense in texture perhaps , but with a splash of cream and a sliced strawberry, perfect. The first pudding I have had for nearly 4 months.

Riverwalk Sat 21-May-16 17:28:28

As I have one lurking in the fridge will give it a go Shysal - and report back!

shysal Sat 21-May-16 12:40:31

Riverwalk, you can microwave a whole celeriac, but it is not quite as simple as the usual swede. It has to be peeled and loosely wrapped in cling film. I have never tried it, but might do so now you have reminded me.www.therecipebox.com/microwave/vegetable/mo_veg0070.htm

Mamie Sat 21-May-16 12:14:16

Think it definitely was the sugar in the icing "Riverwalk", I could sort of feel it as I was eating it. Shame, because the "fraisiers" from that patisserie are superb.
Now in the UK and averting my gaze from cakes and puddings galore. Fortunately DD is a very good low-carb cook. grin
I have never seen anything about celeriac in the microwave - maybe in the oven?
Tonight we are having sausages with a salad of broccoli, red pepper and avocado.
I am also enjoying the cheddar with chilli that I love (and a pork pie shh.....).

Riverwalk Sat 21-May-16 11:24:00

I'm glad you're fine now Mamie - a good deterrent against further fancy cakes grin. Maybe there was something wrong with the strawberries - would a bit of sugar have had such an affect?

I could swear we've had mention of microwaving a whole celeriac but I can't find it .... can someone please lead me in the right direction (or confirm that it's just my imagination!)

BBbevan Sat 21-May-16 09:15:48

Hope * Pippa* had a good evening at the taverna.
DH 's birthday today. We were going on a long walk, but it is cold, wet, and windy.
So may go tomorrow.
Pork tenderloin with fennel this evening and I have just made an avocado and chocolate mousse.Hope it tastes alright!

Anya Wed 18-May-16 15:06:44

Make sure you wear your new trousers and that'll keep you on track smile

Pippa000 Wed 18-May-16 14:57:05

I have just bought a pair of trousers a size smaller than usual!! It is just that the scales don't seem to register a significant weight loss. Still I am happy. Out tonight to a local taverna, for chicken kebabs and salad, the others will have loads of chips with theirs, made with delicious Cyprus potatoes. envy

Mamie Wed 18-May-16 12:46:20

Riverwalk we had people to dinner who brought a lovely strawberry cake from the patisserie. It had quite a bit of icing which was obviously very sweet and was the first really sugary thing we had had for months. We both had a really restless night with hot sweats, racing heart and busy brain, upset stomach in the morning and then three days of weeing a lot. Can only think it was a sort of reaction. All fine now.
grin

Anya Wed 18-May-16 12:34:15

Glad you're on the mend Mamie and hats off to you BB

I watched that Helsom (?) & sister Cookery programme last night and just tried out their bacon, egg, mushroom, tomato, asparagus & spinach 'full English' as a brunch.
Very tasty (though I have the eggs 5 mins) and quick and easy. Everything in one dish, in the oven, no hassle.

Without the bacon would make a great veggie brunch... Just add extra everything else.

Riverwalk Wed 18-May-16 12:25:59

You're doing so well BB!

Mamie I must have missed the strawberry cake incident - what happened?

In the slow-cooker right now I'm batch-cooking chicken & fennel:

Thinly sliced red onion
Thickly sliced 2 fennel bulbs/heads?
Topped with 8 chicken thighs (bone in, skinless) browned in olive oil and butter & sprinkled with our friend Za'atar
One lemon quartered
Seasoning

BTW I get my Za'atar from Ocado

smile

Mamie Wed 18-May-16 12:25:46

Fine thanks BB and I meant to say well done to you as well. Brilliant weight loss. smile

shysal Wed 18-May-16 11:52:22

Well done BB! You have done so well! smile