Gransnet forums

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!

Galen Sun 01-May-16 15:36:43

Where did you go?

seacliff Sun 01-May-16 15:32:30

I went to a country show today, and it was really unexpectedly hot and sunny - lovely! I knew there would be "bad things" there, so I took a hard boiled egg with me. When OH had a chocolate brownie and tea, I had my water and egg. Later I had a quorn veggie burger with onions + salad, and also less than half the burger roll. I've entered it all on My Fitness Pal, so I'm still within limits. Will have some home made Minestrone soup later.

I am amazed at myself. By cutting out processed carbs and sugar, I don't have the urge to eat the bad things. This has never happened before to me. It's nearly a month now, so hope it continues.

BBbevan Sun 01-May-16 15:11:10

merlot have a lovely evening.flowers

merlotgran Sun 01-May-16 14:59:11

All low carbing out the window tonight. DGS2 was 18 on Thursday so his cousin (DGS1) and friends have been making a weekend of it!!!!

Nothing like a 'Granny Roast' (NOT roast Granny) to see off the effects of three late nights!!

I do love cooking for teenage boys grin

Izabella Sun 01-May-16 10:29:40

Can I just also mention what a lovely welcoming and informative therad this is too? Thanks everyone.

Izabella Sun 01-May-16 10:28:39

Rediscovered the joys of boiled eggs this morning. Became fixed on scrambled with chilli for a while. OH bought some low carb bread from Lidl yesterday as he was passing. Tried some as soldiers this morning. Verdict? Tastes like eating fresh air with the occasional piece of nuttiness. Disappointing. Just wondering now if it was a ploy as OH says he is not baking bread this weekend!

Planning a day preparing two of the raised beds for eventual planting out stuff when things warm up. Spent yesterday morning at an organic gardening course which was brilliant so feeling more motivated and have some ideas and different possibilities for extending cropping.

Riverwalk Sun 01-May-16 07:40:44

Yesterday I tried Shysal's way with savoy cabbage, plus Mamie's addition of lemon juice and it was really delicious - zingy and satisfying.

200g shredded cabbage
Few dabs of butter, sprinkle of olive oil & lemon juice, black pepper
Four slices of streaky smoked bacon laid on top

Covered with paper towel and microwaved

Highly recommended! smile

BBbevan Sat 30-Apr-16 19:16:11

Seacliff not that I know off. However I don' t know what I would have felt like if I hadn't taken them!!!

seacliff Sat 30-Apr-16 18:07:41

Oh I'm so glad you posted that BBbevan ! I then remembered I'd bought some a while ago. I've dug them out , expire Jan 2017 luckily, it says blue/green algae, and I remember Carol Vordermann used them years ago as part of her detox.

I may as well give them a go now (just taken 3). Did it do anything for you?

BBbevan Sat 30-Apr-16 17:45:35

seacliff my DiL gave me some Spirulina. Apparently it has all the vitamins and minerals known to man ! It was ghastly to take so I got tablets instead. Have a look on the internet about its benefits

seacliff Sat 30-Apr-16 16:33:32

Yes thanks Anya yes I'm eating salads, just a little spinach and cabbage, carrots, berries, small amount peppers. I will start adding a lump of frozen spinach to my omlettes and anywhere else I can.

I will eat more strawberries as they come into season (vit C) not eating oranges atm.

I have some Centrum Advance 50 multi vitamins (not been taking them), but read that they don't have enough Vit B12, so I may also get some Berocca thanks, and see if that sorts it, before I try the iron.

I am doing the 800 cal Fast diet, which I realise is low cals, but I really don't want to eat more.

thanks again

BBbevan Sat 30-Apr-16 16:28:33

P.S. DH losing quite a bit also. Even though he is ' just helping' me. Bless him.

Anya Sat 30-Apr-16 15:57:32

Seacliff I'm guessing you're eating plenty of vegetables too - though you didn't list them. Be careful taking an iron supplement. You should be getting enough in the diet you listed but did you know the body needs vit C to help absorb the iron? And are you getting enough of the B vits as that can make you feel tired.

Try to eat Vit C rich veg at most meals....and I find half a tablet of Berocca in a glass of water first thing ensures I get all the B vits I need.

seacliff Sat 30-Apr-16 14:50:01

I've been low carbing now for only about 4 weeks, and am veggie. Although I'm sticking to it quite easily, I don't feel full of energy, like many say they doi. Also I look quite pale and washed out, and my hair isn't in great condition.

I eat eggs/cheese/pulses/nuts/seeds/berries.

Just wondered if any of you had similar problems? I think I'll start taking a low iron supplement and a general vitamin per day. The irony is, I'm eating so much better food than before, (was often just junk food)l

seacliff Sat 30-Apr-16 14:48:46

I'm going to try a suggestion on another forum - fry a little garlic and chilli, stir in sliced courgette ad cook, then stir in cream cheese and a sprinkling of parmesan. Sounds quick and tasty.

BBbevan - fantastic - you have lost so well in a short time, you must feel so much better.

Mamie Sat 30-Apr-16 14:10:30

Well done BBbevan that is great news!

BBbevan Sat 30-Apr-16 13:42:16

We had Hairy Dieters Minestrone for lunch and steak and salad this evening. BMI just nudging the normal range now. I am so pleased.

Anya Sat 30-Apr-16 13:29:33

I love mushroom omlette Mamie with a nice side salad and a splash of dressing. Yum yum.

Anya Sat 30-Apr-16 13:27:15

Just come back on this thread Izabella and spotted your Ramoska question. We had a fire and had to move to a rental for 4 months. This had a very old and inadequate cooker which was guzzling electricity at a terrifying rate. We replaced our Ramoska then because you can cook a meal much more cheaply than turning on the whole oven.

I still use it now, even though we are home with an energy efficient oven if, for example I'm cooking my salmon in pesto recipe. Not worth turning oven on for two piece of salmon and you can't fry that recipe. Also if I'm doing roast veg (eg Mediterranean) - unless I'm using the oven anyway, it goes in the Ramoska.

It really comes into its own though if you are camping or caravan ing and I cooked a lovely Mediterranean chicken à la Hairy Dieters once at a campsite to the envy of the rest of our gang.

seacliff Sat 30-Apr-16 13:11:09

I did a veggie version of the minced lamb, pomegranate and aubergine recipe below. The quorn mince was very tasty and filling with the spices, I left out pomegranate. I didn't really enjoy the actual aubergine, even though I'd baked it on own first. In future I'd do the mince with courgetti or a bed of cabbage, or poss cauli mash.

I had no breakfast, just the above for lunch, and was so stuffed, I just had Greek Yoghurt/berries/seeds later in evening. This low carb regime has really stopped my desire for junk food, thank goodness.

I'd do the same as Mamie with the blueberries, they're sold frozen so would be fine I'm sure. That's a lot of bluberries!

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3404259/Eat-beat-diabetes-just-eight-weeks-s-life-changing-diet-help-avoid-reverse-Type-2-diabetes-best-s-tasty-way-health.html

Mamie Sat 30-Apr-16 12:28:20

I don't see why not. I would freeze them on a tray and then bag them up so that they don't stick together.
Mushroom omelette for lunch and OH is cooking gurnard for dinner.
Tomorrow is the village walk and picnic and I have made chocolate tiffin to pass round. Haven't tried it, though very tempted!

Riverwalk Sat 30-Apr-16 12:12:35

Due to an error on my part I'm the recipient of nearly a kilo of blueberries - I only eat a small handful a day as am not very fruity!

Can I successfully freeze them?

Mamie Thu 28-Apr-16 16:17:17

Recipe here Izabella
food52.com/recipes/28121-za-atar-spiced-chickpea-crackers-with-maldon-sea-salt
I change the spices depending on how I feel.
I just spiralize the courgette and toss it in a bit of oil for a minute or two.

Izabella Thu 28-Apr-16 16:03:14

Mamie those biscuits sound wonderful. Would love the recipe, fingers crossed they are sugar free too. Also how do you cook your courgetti and for how long please? Always happy to try things. At this rate I will end up with a spiralizer.

Izabella Thu 28-Apr-16 15:59:50

Anya I notice you have a Remoska. Do they have any advantages over a slocooker?

Also tried cauliflower rice recently and made lovely cauliflower and Stilton soup with the stalks and rind from the cheese. Delicious.