Low Carb Diet

[nailit]

Anyone tried (or is on) a low carb diet such as paleo, Atkins or something similar?

Im trying to shift a bit of lard and 'dieting' as such doesnt really float my boat. Calorie counting just leaves me feeling deprived and hungry so ive cut out carbs such as bread, rice and potatoes (and junk such as crisps and cake) and make up with extra veg.

today's food consumption has been:
breakfast...banana, strawberries, 1/4 pint of milk (smoothie)
dinner...tin tuna and huge salad
tea...pork chop and a mountain of veg, gravy

The above doesnt look like a lot of food but like I said the salad and veg intake has been huge and I havnt felt hungry or deprived.

Just wondered if anyone else has cut out carbs and felt better/lost weight in the long run?

(I know theres also carbs in fruit and veg but just trying to reduce, not eliminate also not particularly following any 'diet plan')

thanks.

[Psybbo]

DTC has shed loads

[nailit]

on any particular diet psibs?

[Psybbo]

I think he avoided all carbs, Nailit. Hopefully he'll tell us here

[DTCwordfan]

minimal carbs, nailit, no pasta, bread, cookies, cake, pots, rice, and sugar.....minimise sugar intake (read labels - serious on that, even prepared soups. No processed OJ by the way!

what I am permitted is (i) porridge - low glycaemic sugar release and fibre against cholestrol - though I am relatively low to begin with - 4.6 (total LDLs and HDLs).

(ii) alcohol - it's allowed other than beer, cider, sweet white wines sweet drinks, no soda, false orange juice etc, so my diet includes Rioja, Sauv Blancs and Scotch......

(iii) as much meat/cheese etc and I am allowed - fruit as well (obviously taking account of the sweeter ones) - surprisingly beetroot ain't that bad. That said, it's mainly apples, like Granny Smiths, the occasional apple. Avoid sweetcorn and the like.....

For spuds etc, I've subbed into braised chicory, which I love, celeriac and swede purées - mix with shallots, chillis etc. I've only missed the occasional pasta, seriously. Then as many veg as you like, lots of fish, and even meat, - re-discovered Guinea Fowl recently.....

Result, 32 pounds off in a quarter.

Advice - consult with a doc - with a gall bladder, you shouldn't lose more than a kilo a week or you risk losing it. Without, best to be under doc's monitoring - I need to lose another 2 pounds and I am into see the doc to check the essentials (blood test) and then I'll be allowed some measured carb a week, increasing to find my natural level and he reckons I'll lose another 1.5 to 2 stone in this phase and this would bring me close to my rugby playing weight. Yes, I hit 19-4 and am now about to plunge under 17. Playing weight was 14-10, loose head prop.

Hope this helps.

[DTCwordfan]

Side effects - (i) headache and feeling zapped, about 4 days, (ii) walking around like a space cadet Days 2-4, (iii) tiredness in the evening, post 9.30 - that's abating now but then I have slept much better.....still have my evening moments such as after cutting the massive area of grass (and wild garlic) here.

[nailit]

DTC, many thanks for that detailed reply. A few questions.
Are you following any actual 'diet' such as Atkins or are you just taking medical advice?
//No processed OJ by the way!// What is OJ?
Do you consume milk (other than in cheese)?
Why no sweetcorn? (gotta be one of my favourite veggies)

Have been low carbing it for the past 3 days and other than craving sugar havnt noticed any side affects.

Thanks again for detailed reply, very helpful

[nailit]

thanks for that clarion, bit confused about no bananas as they are 'energy' food? Ive been having one every morning for that very reason.

[Peaspeculiars]

Yes, about 15 years ago I went from a size 14 to a size 8 in less than a year by switching to a low carb diet - similar to, but not 100% Atkins. I did the 2 week induction with less than 20 grams of carbs a day and kept it to around 20-30g per day for the following 2 years - I never felt or looked healthier. It is difficult to stick to but I printed out a list of food items with their carb count per 100 grams so I could reference it easily and stuck to eating healthily prepared fish and lean meats but mixed with low carb veg ie spinach, broccoli, mushrooms etc and of course eggs, cheese and some nuts.
I only came off the diet when I met my partner whom was a vegetarian at the time, so with me eating mainly meat and him mainly pasta something had to give lol.
I did pile on the weight again after eating carbs again, but lost it by sticking to a balanced diet fairly high in protein with lots of fresh veg and getting enough daily exercise and have stayed at the same weight for about 10 years now.
If you want a quick fix then yes, great go for it, but it is quite expensive (all the meat) and difficult to maintain especially if you like to eat out.
A good forum for if you decide to try it is: Low Carb Friends for tips & Ideas.

[Jomlett]

I've been on the low carb diet for over a year and lost 26 kilos.

[Tilly2]

How does sweet potato feature in a low carb diet?

[DTCwordfan]

My initiative, doctor supported, nailit - talked it through with the number 2 actually, who I prefer to my man, the latter is the shortest doctor you could ever imagine and with the name, Dr Short.

OJ = Orange Juice - some of them have up to 7 teaspoons of sugar in them. Reading labels is sooooo important.

Nope as to milk, cheese and cream though, the cream on rapsberries or in a soup (careful with those if buying M&S etc - some are good though and quite tasty - use them for lunch often). Many lunches are cold meat in a salad, like a glorified caesar.....

Sweetcorn is loaded in sugar and carbs - 19.5 grams of the latter, nearly 4 grams of sugar for a 100g serving. Beetroot is a little lower and higher in fibre, especially the golden.

[nailit]

Thanks for that peas, will google that forum. Have been looking at various low card websites and the information can get confusing. While obvious carbs such as bread and pasta are out, it starts to get contradictory when it comes to things such as veg and dairy. As I said im not doing 'no carb' just trying to reduce.

Jom, well done on that

[DTCwordfan]

However, nailit, it's all balance, if you like sweetcorn, go for it! Better than pasta or fries.

[DTCwordfan]

sweet potato, akin to sweetcorn - I'm not a great fan of it though....reminds me of my ex, who loved it.

[Tilly2]

What about sweet potato?

[nailit]

Tilly, it appears that some low carb diets permit it others dont
DTC, lol at your dr short, thanks for reply.

[Jomlett]

I was told sweet potato is allowed if I wanted to eat more carbs...

[Tilly2]

So, mixing sweet potato with ordinary potato is of no benefit?

[Tilly2]

I think I'll just stick to my one and a half hour/two hour walk with Tilly.