Low carb is the way forward!

[Spanglymum]

I thought I'd introduce myself. I've been on Minimins for AGES, having lost weight on Lighter Life and found the support on these boards invaluable. I reached goal last January and have been maintaining pretty well ever since, apart from a blip on holiday and a blip at Christmas.

I've gradually come around to the realisation that refined carbs don't agree with me. My instinct, having gained weight over Christmas, was to go back on LL packs - but I don't want to spend my life on and off packs. I want to manage my weight effectively with food. Life is there to be lived, after all! I know a VLCD isn't for everyone, but I won't knock Lighter Life as it was a brilliant experience, and I still go to the maintenance groups to talk about emotional eating etc and find it very useful.

Anyway - so here I am, having read Dr Atkins' (original) book, and some Gary Taubes, and having basically dabbled for the past week... and I know I know. Dabbling doesn't work with low carb!! I can feel myself expanding at a rate of knots, which isn't really the point, is it?

So... time to stop "dabbling" and start doing this properly! I have so many questions. Like, will the waist expansion slow down and I hope reverse if I do this properly? I couldn't bear to go back to where I was!!

Just had a breakfast of two fried eggs, asparagus and some ham. Delicious! But the whole thing feels strange... enjoy my food? WHAT?! Are you mad? Losing weight is meant to be HARD isn't it?! Surely I will balloon eating all this stuff?

But no - I do understand the science. The insulin connection etc. I've been reading... and it all makes complete sense. But it does feel like a leap of faith, having been so brainwashed for YEARS by the "low fat/high carb" majority. I feel like I'm going to get HUGE and I'm scared! I want to do this but how can I know it will work for me? What if my body wants me to be fatter than I want to be?

Words of wisdom, comfort, sense (!) most welcome at this point!!!

 

[Spanglymum]

Any tips for a newbie?!

 

[Spanglymum]

Just made my first MIM! Boy, do they ever look weird. But TASTY! nom nom nom

 

[ladyfelsham]

Hi Spangly and welcome - it really is a great way of eating!

Can I suggest you have a good rumble through all the stickies for tips and so on, but please do ask away as well

 

[Spanglymum]

I am doing exactly that. Thanks for the tip! I've got the day off today so am pottering about on here and learning loads

 

[Spanglymum]

So today's menu:

Breakfast: Asparagus, two fried eggs and ham
Lunch: Mim w butter, greens
Dinner: oven baked salmon with garlic butter, tarragon and a dash of lemon juice, Brussels sprouts and runner beans

Snacks: two pepperami (oops) and some cauliflower rice

Lots of water
One cup coffee w cream
One cup decaff w cream
Tea w unsweetened soya milk

I eat too much, don't I? Hmm. Hope I'll normalise soon. Only thing is I'm going away for work next Saturday for a week to India, and I'm really stressing about blimping out on carbs when I'm there...

 

[ladyfelsham]

Menu looks good to me - lots of greens, lots of water, that's the key

And eat when you're hungry - a motto here is eat fat to burn fat

 

[Spanglymum]

This morning is off to a good start. I made a MIM for breakfast but this time had it with parmesan cheese and mixed herbs (and missed out the Splenda, obviously!) nom nom nom! It just feels so wrong to be ENJOYING MY FOOD. LOL

Spent YEARS of my life trying not to eat too much, watching calories, watching fat, watching portions... very difficult to believe that my body will actually get this right for me, if I give it the right nourishment... the stuff it actually needs.

Already noticed that my skin is WAY better than it's been in years - really smooth and soft. I've always had a problem with dry skin, until I started this woe. Amazing!

Made myself a rocket, parsley, sugarsnap pea and cauliflower salad with blue cheese for my lunch, and have brought a small pack of pork scratchings (!) to have if I get peckish mid-morning.

 

[Jim]

Hi Spangly, sorry I'm late to your diary but this board moves so quick. Welcome and good luck

 

[MichelleT]

Hi there, its wierd itnst it, you think you cant possibly lose weight this way...but you do!!
Omelettes are a great breakfast, egg mayo stuffed in ham rolls is great too, cauliflower mash is stupendous!!
India should be fine if you eat local, just keep off the tomato bases and potatoes, go for creamy curries and veggies! We went to London recently, stayed at The Waldorf Hotel, I thought I would really struggle eating out, but it was sooooo easy!! I just asked them to keep the carbs off my plate and add extra veg.

 

[Spanglymum]

Thanks for the tips re India (and thanks for the welcome, Jim). I do hope I can find suitable things to eat - especially as I love Indian food.

Some observations from today: since when did raw parsley and broccoli get so SWEET?! Can my tastes be changing already?

Anyone else get night sweats when starting induction?

 

[ladyfelsham]

Night sweats - oh yes! Also when I eat meat too late ie, after about 8pm.

 

[Kat1e]

Hi spanglymum - welcome and good to see your diary. I know it's unbelieveable but really - you can join in the food porn, think about food, enjoy it AND lose weight. Thank goodness for dr atkins

 

[Spanglymum]

Made an almond flour pancake tonight, with salmon, cream cheese and asparagus filling. I weighed my cheese for lunchtime so know I didn't have more than four ounces altogether, between the blue cheese and cream cheese. My hubby opted to have the same as me because it looked so good!

Can I just say, 'yum'?!

Ooh just realised I had Parmesan at breakfast too. Oops. Ah but it was a tiny amount... Hmm. Makes a mockery of my careful weighing though! Shows that diaries are v useful!!

 

[Jim]

Morning, oh yes, veggies taste so sweet once you stop eating evil carbs spangly

 

[Spanglymum]

Had a cinnamon MIM for breakfast. Could have done with some green veggies as well (was tempted by Brussels sprouts?!) but didn't have time as I was dashing out the door. I have a big green salad w cheese for lunch though waiting for me in the office fridge.

Already feel less bloated. Phenomenal. Haven't weighed myself yet as I don't dare, and I'm convinced I will bounce around a bit with this trip away... I know what I'm like: as soon as I "feel fat" I might end up thinking "what's the point?" so I'm just trying to concentrate on how nice it is not to be ravenous all the time and not to have the sugar highs and lows.

 

[Spanglymum]

Hmm... I did, however, do a ketostick and am now depressed because it was beige. I know, I know. There are lots of reasons why it might not "turn" - but I'm all despondent now!

 

[Spanglymum]

Been low all day. Decided to have a mega early night. Anxious that this woe will make me gain instead of losing my last few lbs... Stressed :-(

Also annoyed with myself. On the way home I stopped at the supermarket and got some sugarsnap peas and some cooked chicken. Turned out the chicken had sugar in it (0.8g/100g) and the peas are 7g carb/100g!!!! Can't believe I'm so addicted to sugar I managed to locate two ostensibly 'legal' foods with sugar in. Gah. I usually read labels but I was in a rush as wanted to get home for the girls' bedtime.

 

[Kat1e]

I hope you feel better after a good nights sleep. Ignore the ketostix and see if other symptons - stinky wee? Stinky breath? You'll feel better once it kicks in

 

[Spanglymum]

Crossed posts! Thanks for the support. I was editing my post when you posted. I'm sure I'll feel better in the morning. At least I didn't turn to biscuits/chocolate/wine!