A Month Into Low Carbing

[Mike d]

I reckon I have spent more time in the kitchen since starting this way of life - rustling up new and interesting foods to keep me on track - than I ever had in the past, despite watching o/h scoffing pies and chips etc.

That's a great sign actually, and yes, I get the kitchen bit. Adjustment is hard but forget what the O/H might be eating. You may as well go to a restaurant and witness what others consume. Same thing. I never let that bother me. Mental control more than anything. Miss it and what I ate? You bet. Alternatives? Countless.

 

[copey399]

That's a great sign actually, and yes, I get the kitchen bit. Adjustment is hard but forget what the O/H might be eating. You may as well go to a restaurant and witness what others consume. Same thing. I never let that bother me. Mental control more than anything. Miss it and what I ate? You bet. Alternatives? Countless.

Yep I do and I have. I have been applauded by family members and friends at the inevitable BBQs for my willpower and self control in ignoring the bread and especially the carb/calorie laden desserts. I am definitely not lacking in that department. Restaurants don't bother me. I just tuck into the meat and veg and give o/h anything I don't choose to eat (and notice it's choice, not "can't have" as it is my choice)

 

[catherinecherub]

Don't put yourself down @copey399. It is early days yet and it's a marathon and not a sprint. It takes time to sort things out and you should be patting yourself on the back for how far you have come.
I expect your back plays up when you spend time in the kitchen.
Have you got a slow cooker? This takes the worry about planning and you can easily get three portions out of a full pot.
Wasting veg is not an option really because of the expense so try to use it up in homemade soup. Make a big pan and freeze some portions ready for when you need a quick meal.
You will get there and will soon be able to help newbies.

 

[ickihun]

Yep I do and I have. I have been applauded by family members and friends at the inevitable BBQs for my willpower and self control in ignoring the bread and especially the carb/calorie laden desserts. I am definitely not lacking in that department. Restaurants don't bother me. I just tuck into the meat and veg and give o/h anything I don't choose to eat (and notice it's choice, not "can't have" as it is my choice)

Copey I admire your honesty which entail helps me. I'm not a newbe to diabetes but I'm a newbe to lchf, or so I feel.
Am I understanding this right? We should all bake/cook to alleviate high BGs which in turn prevents complications and increase longevity?
I think I am suffering with depression as the thoughts of baking etc at the moment doesnt fill me with much joy.
Lack of motivation or depression?

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Copey I admire your honesty which entail helps me. I'm not a newbe to diabetes but I'm a newbe to lchf, or so I feel.
Am I understanding this right? We should all bake/cook to alleviate high BGs which in turn prevents complications and increase longevity?
I think I am suffering with depression as the thoughts of baking etc at the moment doesnt fill me with much joy.
Lack of motivation or depression?

I don't bake at all and I spend minimal time on food preparation as I too don't really like cooking. The only cooking I do is for the evening meal, and that is just a meat or chicken item and steamed veges. Everything else is pre-prepared - yoghurt and berries for breakfast and coleslaw with cheese for lunch.

 

[copey399]

Don't put yourself down @copey399. It is early days yet and it's a marathon and not a sprint. It takes time to sort things out and you should be patting yourself on the back for how far you have come.
I expect your back plays up when you spend time in the kitchen.
Have you got a slow cooker? This takes the worry about planning and you can easily get three portions out of a full pot.
Wasting veg is not an option really because of the expense so try to use it up in homemade soup. Make a big pan and freeze some portions ready for when you need a quick meal.
You will get there and will soon be able to help newbies.

Thanks Catherine x I know I get "down" days but on the whole I'm pretty satisfied that I'm doing the best I can.

I do use the slow cooker. Not as much as I should really. Bless you for remembering about my back problem. x It does make standing painful but as long as I take breaks and sit for a while I manage.

 

[copey399]

Copey I admire your honesty which entail helps me. I'm not a newbe to diabetes but I'm a newbe to lchf, or so I feel.
Am I understanding this right? We should all bake/cook to alleviate high BGs which in turn prevents complications and increase longevity?
I think I am suffering with depression as the thoughts of baking etc at the moment doesnt fill me with much joy.
Lack of motivation or depression?

See below Icki xx

I don't bake at all and I spend minimal time on food preparation as I too don't really like cooking. The only cooking I do is for the evening meal, and that is just a meat or chicken item and steamed veges. Everything else is pre-prepared - yoghurt and berries for breakfast and coleslaw with cheese for lunch.

Lol. You are my kind of gal Catlady I don't think there's any need to be a slave to the kitchen as long as you understand the lchf diet. It's just a case of cutting out all the high carb stuff and sticking to meat (be it hot or cold sliced), fish, eggs, cheese, full fat yogurt, real butter and cream etc. plus allowed veggies. The only baking you really need to do @ickihun is if you want to find substitutes for the high carb stuff then you have to spend time cooking up low carb bread, cakes and stuff. I find it easier to just go without them.

 

[13lizanne]

Baking! I,m still sticking to my same half-dozen meals, all easy cook I don't know what I'd do without my microwave Personally, the least I have to think about re food the better. Well done on the weight loss @copey399 12 stone is still a way off for me x

 

[Indy51]

I think you're either a foodie or you're not. I'm not unless someone else is doing the cooking. I've experimented along the way with a few baking efforts and enjoyed the results, but hated the faffing around and the washing up afterwards so mostly I stick to the same tried and true things that I can make on auto pilot. I'm very much a creature of habit when it comes to food.

 

[copey399]

Baking! I,m still sticking to my same half-dozen meals, all easy cook I don't know what I'd do without my microwave Personally, the least I have to think about re food the better. Well done on the weight loss @copey399 12 stone is still a way off for me x

Thanks Lizanne. I got down to 11st.1 but for some reason I've gained 2lbs. No idea why, no cheats or anything. Never mind, we get fluctuations so not panicking.

I think you're either a foodie or you're not. I'm not unless someone else is doing the cooking. I've experimented along the way with a few baking efforts and enjoyed the results, but hated the faffing around and the washing up afterwards so mostly I stick to the same tried and true things that I can make on auto pilot. I'm very much a creature of habit when it comes to food.

Two more for the "spend as little time in the kitchen as possible" clan If it comes in a packet or a tin and it's low carb then it's on my shopping list for sure. It may not be ideal regarding additives etc. but compared to what I used to eat it's got to be a whole lot better.

 

[Indy51]

Thanks Lizanne. I got down to 11st.1 but for some reason I've gained 2lbs. No idea why, no cheats or anything. Never mind, we get fluctuations so not panicking.



Two more for the "spend as little time in the kitchen as possible" clan If it comes in a packet or a tin and it's low carb then it's on my shopping list for sure. It may not be ideal regarding additives etc. but compared to what I used to eat it's got to be a whole lot better.

With very few exceptions, I make everything from scratch and keep store bought/processed food to the very minimum. It's just very simple, very plain, very repetitive cooking based around lots of vegs and good quality protein with the minimum of preparation and washing up involved. The only cooked meal is my main meal - the rest is very simple stuff like store bought shredded roast chicken, frozen berries, plain yoghurt, cheese, fruit, nuts, etc. I really shop the perimeter, as they say.

I guess I'm lucky in that food boredom doesn't seem to be a factor for me.

 

[13lizanne]

11 stones is my target weight @copey399 , I'm quite tall. I managed to lose 3/4lb last week- had expected more as hubby and I were walking for 40mins to 1.1/2hrs three times every day. I think my portions are too big I'm always hungry at meal times. We all just have to keep at it I suppose

 

[AndBreathe]

@copey399 - I thought of you when I noticed these new products in ASDA this morning: http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webstore/landing/home.shtml#/product/910002071992 . There are four variations, but a couple might be too carb-tastic, depending on where you've set the bar.

Allegedly, all one has to do is tip the contents into a slow cooker, then give it a decent ignoring for the best part of a day.

I think this price is an introductory price, but I couldn't be sure of that. I didn't buy any, but I'd never say never on the tandoori or chicken with chorizo options.

 

[copey399]

11 stones is my target weight @copey399 , I'm quite tall. I managed to lose 3/4lb last week- had expected more as hubby and I were walking for 40mins to 1.1/2hrs three times every day. I think my portions are too big I'm always hungry at meal times. We all just have to keep at it I suppose

Wow, you deserved to lose more with all that walking x I have trouble doing half hour with my back pain I'm always saying I'm not fat I'm just too short I don't really have much of an appetite which isn't really a good thing because I often get told on "Myfitnesspal" that I've not eaten enough and that's as bad as eating too much. Need to keep up the nutrition. Plus even though I'm not on meds I still get very "swimmy" headed when I've gone too long without food.

 

[copey399]

@copey399 - I thought of you when I noticed these new products in ASDA this morning: http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webstore/landing/home.shtml#/product/910002071992 . There are four variations, but a couple might be too carb-tastic, depending on where you've set the bar.

Allegedly, all one has to do is tip the contents into a slow cooker, then give it a decent ignoring for the best part of a day.

I think this price is an introductory price, but I couldn't be sure of that. I didn't buy any, but I'd never say never on the tandoori or chicken with chorizo options.

Aww the link didn't work for me but I searched for chicken and chorizo and they didn't have a pic and no details but I will definitely be having a look at them next time we're in Asda. We don't have one close by but we do go to it occasionally when we're close to our nearest one. Thanks for thinking of me xxx

 

[13lizanne]

I'm hoping that next week's weigh-in will be better. It must be really hard for you when you can't exercise copey, how's your back today? I think you are great keeping on with the low carb eating when your o/h is eating normally, I had a few dodgy moments watching my hubby tucking into curries, pizza, choc deserts etc on holiday - but I was most tempted by the packet of crisps he ate with his lunch every day. Ah well! It will all be worth it when we're skinny Minnies and super healthy.

 

[copey399]

I'm hoping that next week's weigh-in will be better. It must be really hard for you when you can't exercise copey, how's your back today? I think you are great keeping on with the low carb eating when your o/h is eating normally, I had a few dodgy moments watching my hubby tucking into curries, pizza, choc deserts etc on holiday - but I was most tempted by the packet of crisps he ate with his lunch every day. Ah well! It will all be worth it when we're skinny Minnies and super healthy.

The thing is, it's not so much the tempting food that makes it hard to watch him tucking in, it's more knowing what he's doing to himself and his diabetes but thinks he can get away with it and refuses to modify his diet

There is a downside to losing weight at my age. You know the saying "there's no wrinkles on a balloon" ? Well there are on a deflated one and my thinner face is looking a lot older So my dream of fitting into nice (smaller) clothes is a bit clouded by wishing I'd done this years ago when I didn't look so haggard ...lol.

My back hasn't been too bad today thank you, but only because I've not done much apart from potter around indoors. xxx

 

[13lizanne]

I know what you mean about the wrinkles - I'm noticing quite a few lately. You look lovely in your photo copey, I'm sure you'll look fabulous in your smaller clothes. My hubby is non-diabetic and very physically fit, he only has non-healthy food treats on holidays &at Christmas etc so I can only imagine how you'll worry about your o/h We are all in different circumstances, we have to find what suits us I suppose and enjoy the happy moments. X

 

[copey399]

Thanks Lizanne but I have to confess, that photo is a few years old now. I avoid having my photo taken these days, unless they're a long way away

 

[AndBreathe]

My only comment on appearance is that as we lose weight we, ourselves, can become hyper sensitive about it and hypersensitive to the changes we see/experience.

When others comment, their motivations range widely from paying a compliment, to concern as to why one has lost weight to envy, because they wish they could drop a few pound themselves, and so on.

I found as I lost weight, of course it went from the places I didn't mind, or would rather it hadn't gone (like neck/throat area, and upper arms) before it got to the bits I was keen should become more shapely. That's the Murphy's Law of weight loss, isn't it?

Just get moisturising - I use lots of aloe vera, shea butter and vitamin E cream, depending on where I'm slathering it on. It doesn't have to cost a fortune, and indeed, I use a very basic unperfumed, shea butter and pure aloe vera gels from eBay, where it is better value than Holland & Barret, Boots or the like. It's not all in what's being rubbed in, but also the massaging/application process itself stimulates the circulation, just by its physical action, and it provides 3 or 4 minutes of "me time" after my shower.