Closet Low Carbers Unite!

[Astrid]

Hands up here! Well I have fallen off the wagon at the moment, but I really do believe that low carbing is the way to go.

Have to admit that going low carb many years ago was a sheer act of desperation. Both DH and I really needed to lose weight, I was just about hitting triple figures I looked at many diets, liver cleanse, weight watchers etc, then I came across the Atkins books and it looked different. Put it to DH, who so far had said no to all others, that he could eat all the meat he wanted, he said yes to that and I am glad that he did. That time I lost over 21kgs, I felt fantastic and I slept really well for the first time in my adult life.

Since then I float back and forth to it. I know I feel crap when I eat a lot of the white foods, but so much of the modern diet is based on them. I admit though that I am my own worst enemy when it comes to food.

[~Saram~]

I'm not sure if I'm technically a "low carber" but since coming off the tony ferguson DH and I are eating a lot of vegies - not so much fruit and avoiding potatoes, rice etc. I do eat rye bread salad sandwhiches a few times a week and I do enjoy my brekky cereal :-) But it is certainly a hell of a lot less carbs then we were eating (cereal, sandwhiches and pasta or potatoes everyday!) and we are feeling GREAT! Weight is falling steadily off not up and down and yes feeling healthy and vibrant which is the main point!

[Vixstar]

It would be a diff matter if we all were as active as people were in the 40's 50's and 60's etc....but our lifestyle around the world in 1st world countries has dramatically changed and we move less. Soo...low carbs is the way to go unless you are praggas, bf etc where you realy do burn it off.

I have my carbs before midday, breakfast, morning tea only. At lunch I replace my carbs with more protein and load up on fruit, salad and vegies. My protein when in the form of meat is low fat / lean and if fried...I use non stick pains or olive oil!

I have only been eating like this - not dieting - for about 3 weeks now I think. Some days I get cranky from wanting a bl00dy sandwhich at 3pm but most days i breeze through!

For me it is a lifestyle change and is monitored by my PT at Step into Life!

Go the low carb gals!!!!

~ Just wanted to add I feel 'lighter' too so maybe related to reduced carbs and more exercise throughout the week! Can't wait to have a 'good butt' day like I did oh, ummmmm, 20 yrs ago!!!! lmao!

~ ~ and another thing...carbs these days are so darn refined......

[butterfly_warrior]

I'm off the wagon big-time right now.

I usually go low-carb, and what carbs I do eat I make sure are low-GI. Unfortunately, we're finding it difficult to eat that way on the single-income budget.

If anyone has some ideas on how to eat cheaply without bulking things out with rice and pasta, please let me know! We still get lots of fruit and vegies, but finding it really hard to keep the protein up.

BW

[Rouge]

Yesterday was my first fog free day! This is what I call the first day I realise how tired and lethargic I was when on carbs (due to PCOS). Yesterday I had so much energy, and things actually LOOK clearer. Happens when I'm on full strength Metformin, but its a nicer cleaner feeling when on LC. I feel great today!

I use Zucchini grated and steamed or stir fried instead of pasta, and finely diced cauliflower nuked (I do it my tupperchef) as rice (I use this for risotto and fried rice too). And that doesn't seem to break the budget. This time I'm buying the empower products and I am finding because I'm not eating as much protein I'm not spending as much even though the loaves work out to be $5 for 15 slices (inc crusts). Last night I made Zucchini Fritters and whizzed up the crusts as bread crumbs and it worked PERFECTLY! I was sooo thrilled, so TBH this time its feeling like apart from the sugar reduction side of things I'm eating fairly normally. The other thing I like about the empower products is they are not only high in fibre but also protein and they really fill you up, and are slow energy releasing.

I forgot to mention I also make lasagne sheets from riced cauliflower, mozzarella and egg. I got a lot of my recipes from cleochatra's blog (google her) she's awesome. And I now make sure I have a bag of mozza and a few bags of frozen cauli for emergencies.

ETA: PB thats because everyone automatically assumes you replace carbs with high fat animal products. Which isn't true. Sure I don't freak out if I have cheese or a piece of bacon, but I'm not have 10 pieces of bacon and half a block of cheese by midday, everything in moderation is fine. Most people who don't have metabolic issues (like PCOS) tend to lose weight VERY fast with LC, which is great for them. For me its I guess no different than what any diet would be for most people. But that doesn't bother me because I find it easy and it actually works. But as DH keeps reminding me its not about the weightloss its about the energy and healthy lifestyle that comes for me with LC.

[Pretty Butterfly]

Thats soo true Rouge!!

I had almost forgotten how much better I feel while on it! I generally am a sugar-a-holic, so get the headaches and feeling run down for 2-3 days, but once I get over the hump, I feel amazing. I dont slump in the arvo's, or fall asleep on the lounge at 8.00pm!

I think maybe feeling so well helped get the last 2 babies!!!!

[Astrid]

Arggh - lost my post.

The whole eating buckets of fat impression people have of low carb annoys me. I do eat fat, but not everything is dripping in it. I try to stick to food in their least unprocessed form, so the generally means the high fat version and frankly I do not believe there is a problem with fats in their natural form. It is the added, messed with fats that are the problem. Also I find fats help me a lot with hunger. So I will grab the natural whole egg mayo to have with my salad for lunch and enjoy it.Oh I also eat the chicken skin. I do find though that it is hard to add a lot of extra fats. With no potatoes or bread (can't be bothered with the low carb one), there is not much to spread butter on. As I am not using breadcrumbs, so there is no crumbing and deep frying.

I to here am struggling with the budget at the moment. It is hard not to go for the easy option or rice and pasta for bulking out, the kids love stuff and so does DH. Have tried growing cauli's a couple of times without success and the zucchinis are out of season. Over summer we had a plague of cucumbers, so I was using slices of cucumbers like rice crackers and spreading them with cream cheese for snacks.

[Sammiejane]

Hi guys,
Great thread guys.
I have been TRYING to convert for months but keep stumbling as i have a DH that is stick thin, eats loads and needs his carbs +++
Anyone got any suggestions, i really dont want to cook multiple meals, but it looks like i may have to

I forgot to mention I also make lasagne sheets from riced cauliflower, mozzarella and egg. I got a lot of my recipes from cleochatra's blog (google her) she's awesome. And I now make sure I have a bag of mozza and a few bags of frozen cauli for emergencies.
.

GREAT site - checked out the recipes, going to have a sit down later - problably on the weekend and figure how i can make this work... for me at least

ETA - Tennykins - i have fruit for breakfast. on the weekends we have eggs and i have that with no toast - sometimes i have it with steamed or blanched spinach and or half an avacado

[Pretty Butterfly]

I have done the "low carb diet" a few times now, and it works soo fast on me.

After the last 3 bubbas, after breastfeeding, I done it REALLY strict, and lost all baby weight within weeks. With Harmony, I done a lesser low carb, just cutting out some, and keeping important ones due to the B/F, and it still worked well.

I am eating normally now. I am very lucky as my weight is purely baby wieght, so once it is gone, I can eat anything and not gain it back. I am happy to stay where I am at the moment, and do it really hard again after B/F to lose it all. I find it easy once I start too. I get the Atkins bars, and they are sooo yum!!

So many people ask how I loose the weight, and how great I look for 6 kids, and as soon as you say low carb, they turn up their nose. I dont care. It works, and I look better than them anyway!!!

I certainly dont eat high fat to eat low carb. Thats just silly, and not what its all about anyway!