High Fat, high protein, low carb

[Floweryfields]

I've been doing this for 9 days now - I did cheat a little on Saturday as Iwent to a 40th birthday party and I had some sugar and a few white carbs but didn't go too silly.
I am exactly 3kg down this morning. I can feel it in my jeans that they are a little looser.....still feeling amazed.

Going on holidays to friends house on Saturday afternoon for a week, so while I'll try to stick to it, I will have to eat what's offered while there but I'll be back on it as soon as I get home!

Oh, and still no additional exercise other than what is normally with the job - cleaning, chasing kids around, etc.

[nothing2lose]

Hi all

Just wondering how people are going? Is anyone else still with me?? I have now lost 5kgs so very happy. Been a bit lax this week with tracking my macronutrients and making sure I get enough fat (family crisis) but am planning on getting back into serious monitoring this week.

I also think I have low stomach acid so looking to boost that. I'm not sure if it is dietary change or coincidence (also read it can be thyroid), but my food is constantly sitting in a lump at the top of my stomach. Need to sort it out.

I have been measuring the ketones in my urine and I am in nutritional ketosis (which means i am burning fat, not carbs eaten by me, for fuel).

Anyway, interested to see if anyone else is still on board....

[myturn]

funny that you posted tonight - I was just trying to work out where this thread was so i could go looking at the webpages you posted again

I have lost 400 g since sunday (which of course could be AF related, could be fluid, could be nothing... but makes me feel better anyway....)

I am starting with 1 month of cutting out the sweet stuff/crap snacks (i.e. lollies, chocolate, chips etc), and working on portion sizes.

At the same time I am going to reduce the carbs and increase the protein. I don't think I'm feeling the 'high fat' thing - but (as I just said to DH) I want to feel okay with the fats I do have - so if I want to have normal cheese, I want to feel okay about it.

[Floweryfields]

I am back on board, I've been on holidays with friends for a week and it was mega tough! I caved and ate weetbix (lol) and hot chips and sticky date pudding! I have been back in the zone since monday. I practically put all of the weight I lost back on while away damn carbs! I have made the flaxmeal parmesan crisps and like them quite a lot. Also made casheroos and yum - is this dangerous given it has a bit of honey in it? Oh and I also made the grain free granola which is a nice change for breakfast too.
Where do you get the ketone measuring thingos from?

[nothing2lose]

Woo hoo Im not alone

Myturn, just wondering about the fat thing. What puts you off? The benefit of it is that you eat enough calories, it fills you up and it's tasty Read through the Diet Doctor site. It is really illuminating.

Ausgirl, get ketostix or keto-Diastix from chemists. I paid $9.95 for 50.

Good job on the weightloss chicks!

[myturn]

funny.... I was just reading the Diet Dr... and thinking... hmmm.... it makes sense when it's written that way ..... I am channeling you tonight I think

was just thinking about the low sugar thing.... thought I was doing an okay job... then realised..... I've increased my fruit juice intake the past week... without even realising it I have just swapped what I get my sugar from .... lmao


oh dear... just felt the anxiety increase in the pit of my stomach just thinking about cutting it all out all together... think I had better make it manageable and just cut the crap for this month (being aware of the rest of it, but not beating myself up).... Am feeling that 'that' is something I can achieve for now...

all because I cut out 'brown' chocolate over the TWW, and realised I am not missing it.... okay... I had white chocolate and a few lollies instead.... but I feel like I might be able to do it... which is a big step for me.

[wysiwyg]

I am still following - enjoying seeing stuff on FB, not managed to do much myself - but am changing some of my choices and feeling better about them. I just need to get organized doing alot of traveling at the moment which has made breakfasts easier!

[meow]

I also think I have low stomach acid so looking to boost that. I'm not sure if it is dietary change or coincidence (also read it can be thyroid), but my food is constantly sitting in a lump at the top of my stomach. Need to sort it out.

Long term, the best fix for stomach acid is getting your gut flora healthy. So make sure to include lots of fermented foods in your diet such as unpasturised sauerkraut, pickles, kefir, kombucha, yogurt etc. Short term you will probably benefit from supplements such as HCl or digestive enzymes. I find adding a dash of unpasturised apple cider vinegar to my meal helps. A glass of water with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar at the beginning of your meal can help too.

[Floweryfields]

2 questions:

How many carb grams do you try to stick to in a day, I read 20g in a few spots, does that sound right?
Also, what do we think about boiled peanuts? You know the salty wet ones you get in the fruit and veg section?

[nothing2lose]

I am usually 20gm or under of carbs.

Re peanuts, I'm not familiar with the boiled ones?? I generally don't eat them because they are legumes and I'm steering clear for the moment. Occasionally I will have a smidge of peanut butter though.

[Floweryfields]

Ah, well they are a love em or hate em kind of thing - they are very moreish so probably best for me to steer clear of anyway!

So as far as nuts go, tree nuts are good, legumes are not?

I just seem to be getting no where now I've restarted. The only difference being that I've added in the flaxmeal crackers, which I have for lunch every second day, grain free granola which is brekky every 2nd day and I also made some casheroos which I think I should avoid for a while as they are too yummy!
Af is also here so I hope to have a breakthrough once she makes herself absent - I ate chocolate yesterday, she made me do it!!

[nothing2lose]

I have posted a chart on my page which may interest you. Casheroos are pretty high in carbs (relatively speaking) so I don't have more than I small piece a day when I have it.

I'm stalling a bit too, for the same reason (still a few days away but retaining water like no one's business ) But I am sticking with it and hopefully will see the payoff in a week or so.

[Floweryfields]

Just had a look at the table, it says 1 ounce. So what is the carb breakdown in the table in? Grams still? Must google grams in an ounce as I don't do imperial!

Eta so about 30 grams = 1 ounce.

Should I be looking at the net carbs, does the fibre counteract (if you like) some of the carbs then?

[nothing2lose]

Yeah, look at net carbs.

[Floweryfields]

low carb choc cake.jpg

Just made a low carb choc mug cake and it was really yum!! I did use a sugar substitute which N2L I know you don't like, but I was really craving a sweet treat....not sure what you can use to sweeten that's low carb otherwise (suggestions?). I was really surprised at how fluffy this was and cake like without any flour!

Ingredients

1 egg - beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1 tbsp heavy cream
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp oil

Directions

Split the oil between two tall mugs with vertical walls, and then use your finger to spread it evenly up the sides, drain any excess oil. The mugs must be very well oiled or the cake will stick when you try and unmold it.
Add the sugar to a small bowl, and then sift in the coco powder (a tea strainer works great for this). Add the heavy cream, egg and optional vanilla and whisk until there are no lumps. Sprinkle the baking powder on top and quickly mix together.
Split the batter between the mugs and firmly tap the mugs on a towel-lined countertop to release any large air bubbles. Microwave one cake at a time.
Since you don’t want to start and stop the microwave a bunch of times, set it for about 30 seconds, and closely watch the cake. It’s done when the cake rises about half-way up to sides of the mug (about 18 seconds in a 1000 watt microwave). The difference between a tender fluffy cake draped in velvety chocolate sauce and a chewy hockey puck is a few seconds, so you'll need to experiment to see what works best for your microwave.
Because the mug retains heat, it will continue cooking until you unmold it, so have a plate ready and unmold the cake as soon as it comes out of the microwave.

I didn't do all the fancy pants steps he did either, just chucked it in a bowl and mixed it up!

[nothing2lose]

That's a keto cake! It looks delicious!!!!!!!

Would you believe I was given this exact same recipe today

I have loosened my tight anti sweetener stance Still don't do artificial though.

I have tried erythritol , which is good in terms of effect (or non effect) on body. It's a sugar alcohol but has no carbs and does not cause an insulin spike. I found it has a cooling effect in the mouth (like a sugar free mint). Apparently though, if you mix it with stevia (google ratios) the cooling taste doesn't occur.

I have also tried Norbu sweetener. It is really good but expensive at $8 a small tin. It is made from monk fruit and erythritol.

My preference is rice malt syrup and coconut sugar but, in carb terms, sometimes I just can't "afford" them.

[nothing2lose]

By the way....how are you finding it Ausgirl? Are you dabbling? Or going the whole hog?

[Floweryfields]

Dabbling as in eating some things not allowed? Yes! I had a few terrible days while af was here! I had a function to go to and had to 'take a plate' so ended up buying those delicious packet mix scones which have 2 packs. I made u one and ended up making a little batch out of the remaining pack for 3 days in a row!

The last 3 days have been fine, I've not had anything 'wrong'. Today when I was craving something sweet, I stood strong and googled instead of buying chocolate!

While af was here I jumped nearly 4kg (and probably the scones as well) but now she's gone, I've dropped those already.

As far as how I find it compared to other diets, it's soooo much easier as I am full, and not starving like usual! Today I had bacon and scrambled eggs (made with cream) for brekky, I wasn't hungry for lunch until after 1pm, (usually famished by 10.30), I had pumpkin soup and flaxseed foccacia for lunch and a little piece of casheroo (made a new batch with less cashews and added maccadamias as they are lower carb/higher fibre). At 5pm I was peckish so had a chunk of cheese (love cheese) then dinner was beef curry with cauliflower rice and the chocolate pudding.
That's not a whole lot of food for a day really, but it's rich, filling food!


I am on holidays at the moment (back Monday) so have had more time to cook, etc. I have made a few big batches of good stuff for lunches/dinners.