High Fat, high protein, low carb

[Jellyfish]

HotI we do it on a very low income, DP is a butcher apprentice although this does mean we get a lot of random low cost cuts etc, the wage is very low so evens out a bit if that makes sense and Im a SAHM. The most expensive things for us are the various specific "special" seeds, grains, nuts and oils (coconut etc) but a lot of it goes far, lasts well and can be sourced in bulk, I find we dont need a lot between meals to feel full so anything we make lasts ages. For meat, try to go for the cheaper underused cuts, when cooked right they are just as brilliant as any other. Can give lots of tips about that or well, DP can through me lol. We grow our own herbs and a few other bits and pieces that also helps add a lot of flavour cheaply so worth looking into as it is super easy and doesnt cost much to set up. We dont eat potato (Ive just never liked the taste lol yep, Im odd) but you can bulk things out with the cheaper vegies like carrot, beans, zuchini, whatever is on special which is what we do. We save everything and use up everything so lots of complimentary meals - roast one night, the meat will last another meal then the carcass for stock with all our vegie off cuts (save them from all meals in the freezer to use) for a soup base that then will last lunches for a week. At the end of our shopping cycle we always stirfry whatever vegies we have left over etc. There is heaps of tips around for stretching your money further! And ways to search for meals out of whatever is left in the cupboard/fridge.

Also because basically all take out is off the menu as well as prepackaged snacks, drinks (we only have water and some milk for the kids and in things) etc means you save money there. DP takes lunch to work and I always take snacks etc out with us so we arent spending money there.

The other thing is you dont need to go all in straight away, small changes are better than no changes so do what you can manage as you can manage it

[Floweryfields]

I must admit eating loads of butter, cheese and high fat meat terrifies the dieting brain in me! I will be going into this not expecting to see much change so I hope I am extremely wrong!!

[nothing2lose]

I must admit eating loads of butter, cheese and high fat meat terrifies the dieting brain in me! I will be going into this not expecting to see much change so I hope I am extremely wrong!!

It freaked me out too Ausgirl. But I have lost another kilo.... Try it and see. What is the worst that can happen? You put on a couple of kgs that you have to lose, but I highly doubt it

Started reading Wheat Belly this morning. Recommend it. It is a little scary one thing I don't agree with is some of the recipes at the end of the book use artificial sweetener which I won't do. I'd rather go without.

Myturn, I usually make a batch of casheroos (makes 20 slices and I only have one, maybe two a day), a batch of choc energy balls (again makes 20 and I only have one a day but DP and DD eat these too), a loaf of paleo bread which gives you 10 serves of approx 2.5 cm thickness (I have one serve sliced in half), a pot of vege soup (lasts me three lunches). Then maybe some pancakes which I only get two or three days from.

I store everything in fridge in airtight containers except the casheroos. I just leave them in cupboard in airtight container.

It's about half a day cooking and it lasts me.

Eta - you could freeze the bread in portions but I tend to toast it under the grill or in sandwich press at the end of the week to freshen it iykwim.

[Floweryfields]

Where abouts do you find the recipes you are discussing? I've read most of what you've recommended me but I haven't found the recipes yet.
N2L, how lomg have you been on it for?

[nothing2lose]

Ausgirl, for me it has been a gradual thing over a couple of months. Got more serious over past fortnight or so. I weighed myself on Anzac Day and I am almost three kilos down. (Probably more as AF is late and I am fluid central at the moment!)
The first couple of weeks were slack as I had DD's birthday and still ate bread, pasta and rice. So early days but feeling good so far.

I have a FB blog-type thing which I can give you the details to. I post recipes and pics I find, as well as articles and blog info. Let me know if you want the details. Otherwise I can post some here.

[Floweryfields]

So I've just shopped HFLC! I felt all kinds of wrong, butter, cream, big block of full fat cheese! I think I will make some cauliflower cheese, having silverside tonight!!
What kind of things do people have for breakfast. I can't face cooking bacon and eggs every day - cooking anything really. I am usually a quick toast or cereal girl so tips please!
Also is corn flour allowed (pure), for my cheese sauce, would only be a tablespoon but not sure if cornflour counts as flour or not.

N2L that would be great re your blog thing. Thanks.

[peanutter]

My MIL did and she didn't lose anything really - she'd lose a little, then put on a little, then lose a decent chunk, then regain it, etc.

BUT she has been like that on basically every diet she's been on, and the issue is that she likes food, she likes wine, she doesn't exercise frequently or with much intensity, and I suspect she eats too much in general.

I have similar issues!

So I think it's like any sensible eating plan ... it it healthy food? Is it maintainable? Are you going to stick to it? Is it going to be tasty enough to do so? Are you going to be strict with your portion sizes until your tummy adapts, and you can stick to them anyway? Are you going to be exercising?

If yes, then go for it - and good luck

[nothing2lose]

No need to be strict with portion size or exercise. It is not part of the plan really. "They" say exercise for joint health, strength, wellbeing, stress relief, etc but that it plays very little part in weightloss.

Of all the hundreds of blog entries/comments I have read over the past month, I have not heard of anyone not losing weight and getting healthier eating like this IF they cut out the carbs properly.

(Can you tell I've reached defcon 2 in zealot stage? )

[peanutter]

She stuck with the yes and no categories very well, and has had no long term weight loss over the past 15 years ...


When I mention portion control, I mean any semblance of reasonableness ...

[nothing2lose]

Lol, if it were me and something wasn't working for 15 years, I'd stop doing it Which, for me, is kind of the point of this whole endeavour. I can't speak for your MIL because only she and God knows what she puts in her mouth when no one else is watching, but I have read success after success. I'm giving it a go because, as the name says, I have nothing to lose.

It goes beyond weightloss too. Read some of the books about sugar, wheat, various grains and artificial sweeteners and see what they do to your body. You'd probably be keen to cut back on them too. I don't want diabetes. I don't want heart disease. I don't want cancer. I don't want high blood pressure. Even if I can't look good in a bikini, I can look good on an ECG monitor and, ultimately, that's far more important to me. Weightloss is a bonus.

Anyway, we will see how I go

[meow]

It goes beyond weightloss too. Read some of the books about sugar, wheat, various grains and artificial sweeteners and see what they do to your body. You'd probably be keen to cut back on them too. I don't want diabetes. I don't want heart disease. I don't want cancer. I don't want high blood pressure. Even if I can't look good in a bikini, I can look good on an ECG monitor and, ultimately, that's far more important to me. Weightloss is a bonus.

I totally agree. We went on the diet for health and I had no idea that weightloss was even something that might happen. It seems to be the biggest thing that wins people over though. I'm more interested in the fact that I'm infinitely healthier than I used to be. I used to always feel this niggling sense of impending doom that I was going to develop cancer or diabetes or osteoporosis and I just don't feel concerned now. I feel healthy. I'm actually hoping I start to gain weight again as my bone density should pick up.

What sweeteners do you use? We use fruit or honey.

[nothing2lose]

I use rice malt syrup, coconut sugar or 100% maple syrup. I also use dates in energy balls but they are really high in fructose so I only have one a day.

[wysiwyg]

I would love a link to your thing N2L - I am interested in it mostly from a health perspective - I do eat high fat and protein but am pretty useless at cutting out carbs and sweet stuff. My body copes quite well in terms of weight and insulin cholesterol etc but I am hoping for more energy and also to avoid high blood pressure in later life as my dad had perfect blood pressure till mid 60's and it is now impacting his retirement plans slightly.

[nothing2lose]

Happy to wysiwyg Please don't get too excited though. It is very amateur and only been going a couple of weeks. I started it so I didn't obsess on my regular FB page and alienate people. This way I can alienate them under another name and they might forget it's me

[peanutter]

Go for gold, n2l. I wish every success for you

[nothing2lose]

Thanks Nutter

You'd better pray for me too

[Jellyfish]

Starting a revolution, N2L

Weight loss for me was very gradual but it was "easy". I never had to try, it wasnt a conscious thing where I felt actively restricted or on a diet; it was just how we eat. I also never really exercise to exercise if that makes sense, Im quite active in general (walk to the park, shops, run around the yard, take the steps, park further away kind of thing) but I dont specifically ever work out... yet. It took a bit over a year after each DD to get back to my healthy range, about 20kgs each time so only a kilo or two a month but I was in no rush personally. I never really weighed myself so not sure how linear it was or anything, one day my old clothes fit again lol.

Will be interesting whether I need to step things up once I stop breastfeeding as I have been for 4 years so both times and Im sure that has impacted things although by how much, I have no idea. Also how my metabolism might alter with age? Again, I dont know. The most important thing for me is energy levels though, I feel much calmer when I know I can get through the day and whatever it throws at me without feeling too much strain. As long as that is maintained Im less fussed about the number on my clothes tags.

The hardest part is initially, the further you get past the "cravings" the easier it becomes to say no. It is a more you have it, more you want it kind of thing which can be a hard cycle to break.

ETA: should add that whilst I've been high fat, high protein, low carb for a while it is only recently that Im becoming more discerning about which fat, which protein and which carbs. And still have much to learn!

[Floweryfields]

I have been doing this just since Monday. And af arrived on Tuesday and it was a real shocker with loads of pain and feeling so swollen.
But regardless of that, the scales say just over 2kg down, in 5 days, with af still hanging around! I've had no sugar cravings and no sugar/carbs/white anything which in itself is miraculous especially when af is around.
I've been eating full fat cheese and cream and cooking in butter or oil and I am quite astounded to be honest and I've not felt hungry which is so different to anything else I've done before and I love not counting calories.
Oh and due to af being so awful, there's been no excercise at all this week other than normal stuff work related.
Hoping this continues!