A new low-carb support thread for 2016

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.

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

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

Well done BBbevan that is great news!

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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?

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

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!

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.

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

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

merlot have a lovely evening.

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.

Where did you go?

Just to Earsham Hall nr Bungay in Suffolk - run by the Lions - classic cars, usual stalls, live music - lovely country park. It was so hot, from the weather forecast I thought it would be an awful weekend.

Gammon stew today with carrots, celery and swede, cabbage added last few minutes. Not bad at all.

This evening peppers stuffed with mush room and tomato and onions sprinkled with Parmesan and pine nuts.

Just back from a short break so I'd rather not talk about what I ate

We have cut out sugar entirely at the moment, and I am surprised that we never feel hungry. It seems sugar has a stimulating effect on you appetite?

Really pleased it is helping seacliff. Enjoy the birthday merlot.
We have been on the village walk and picnic. Took soup and a salad (which came in for intense scrutiny from my French friends) pearled spelt, avo, toms, cucumber, garlic sausage and beetroot. Tested a piece each of my chocolate tiffin and then the rest of the village ate all of it. Had to decline, cider, calva, apple juice (all home-made), madeleines in all flavours, quiches and a very smelly game paté. The weather was fine and the walk was good.
We have to go to the chosen spot very slooowly in convoy, which makes OH .

whitewave it is interesting ,is it not, not feeling hungry when you give up sugar? I had a very small glass of semi- skimmed milk yesterday and it tasted quite sweet. I still fantasise about a really good cup of coffee with sugar and cream.

Does anyone use a carb counter app. Or know of one please?