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interrupting low carb diet

lozy

lozy

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Possibly a daft question here: I've just started following a low carb diet in an attempt to possibly reverse my type 2 diabetes. I have no problem staying off carbs. In April some friends are coming to stay for a week. I can't really insist on them following the same diet, nor do I wish to make one meal for them and different one for myself. We will also be spending a lot of time in restaurants. If I abandon or limit the low carb diet for a week will it mean starting again from scratch or will it just result in no progress for that week. (If this really is a daft question, please try to be kind) :-)
 
It wouldn't be the end of the world, but don't go crazy on the carbs. You should try to stay low carb as much as possible, though. If you are making the meals, it shouldn't be hard to cook low carb for all of you and they'd probably not even notice too much if you made it well. Another strategy would be to cook meals that include a separate starch (e.g. potatoes) that you include on their plates, but not yours. Put out some bread on the table for them that you don't eat. If you avoid asian restaurants you can usually find something low carb. Good luck.
 
NoCrbs4Me said:
It wouldn't be the end of the world, but don't go crazy on the carbs. You should try to stay low carb as much as possible, though. If you are making the meals, it shouldn't be hard to cook low carb for all of you and they'd probably not even notice too much if you made it well. Another strategy would be to cook meals that include a separate starch (e.g. potatoes) that you include on their plates, but not yours. Put out some bread on the table for them that you don't eat. If you avoid asian restaurants you can usually find something low carb. Good luck.
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Thanks. to be honest, it's the restaurants and pubs that worry me more. It's the first time my friends have visited England and are keen to experience English life, not diabetic English life. I'll use a degree of common sense but I wasn't sure if a mild increase in the carbs would spoil the previous weeks of abstention. Thanks again.
 
I can nearly always find something low carb whatever the restaurant and ask for no starch. So far no-one has ever refused. Otherwise if hubby wants extra he gets them.
 
Hello, If you have no problem with coming off of the carbs, I would suggest carrying on as you are now until your friends arrive and then try to make sensible food choices, without stressing too much about it. Then you can start again in earnest after your friends visit. It is inevitable that there are going to be social occasions when you will want to ease up on the regime. As long as this doesn't happen too often you will be ok. You are lucky to be able to take or leave carbs. I have to stay off them as I find them "addictive".
 
You could always use it as an experiment to see if your body has adapted a bit to having fewer carbs.
Although as I say there's not really any need to come off the diet. Even if carbs are on your plate there's no need to eat them.
 
lozy said:
nor do I wish to make one meal for them and different one for myself.
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Hi Lozy,
I'm a single parent and my life for the last 20 years has almost always been making 2 different meals, so you'll get no sympathy from me. :p

2 things:
I've read a lot of journals that suggest the key is being adaptable. I can't see any harm in dropping the low carb for a week. Just don't go crazy eating pizza and pasta 3 meals a day.

When it comes to your health you have to put yourself first.
Your not asking your friends to give up anything and if you contact the restaurants/ pubs and give them some warning they will make you a low carb meal. (you might get stuck with a salad) :meh:

OK three things.
Jumping back into carbs will probably shoot your blood sugar levels up. You know yourself what if any effect that has on you.

If I understood you correctly your working of something like the blood sugar diet, reverse diabetes in as little as 8 week. So what if it adds a week or 2 on the end of that time plan, you still end up with the same result. :joyful:

I prefer to tackle life at my own pace, which is usually a casual saunter. ;)
:bag:
 
I have only struggled once, surprisingly in Ilford High Street, almost every option was junk food (ended up walking a mile before finding a grill) since going LCHF.

Eating out in most places is more about having a lack of embarrassment to ask for what you want. It is very likely that the majority of places you go will have meat, fish, salads, vegetables (on Mothers day, I was able to order a starter off the breakfast menu (smoked salmon) as the main menu was not suitable. When I go out I ask the servers to tell the chef not to add, sugar, honey or the like to anything, not even a little, also never have been turned down on a swap, or extra cheese as I have none of the biscuits etc.

I have been known to order sticky ribs and scrape off the majority of the sauce.
 
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Your options might be a bit more restricted in terms of eating out. But I don't think you should encounter too much trouble. In fact, traditional pubs especially are pretty easy because there's pretty much always going to be a burger or steak available and you can just leave out the bread/chips/potatoes.

I totally agree with @Mbaker , once you've got used to asking for the food that you want (and seen that nobody bats an eyelid!) things get much easier. Nobody has raised an eyebrow at my requests to swap chips for salad or to leave the bun off the burger.

Last night I went to a posh cocktail bar and thought I couldn't have a thing after looking at the menu, but I spoke to the bartender about the options and he made a delicious fruity tasting cocktail for me that didn't do a thing to my BG.

I've only struggled in a couple of places so far that have very limited menus, and street food markets etc can be a challenge. But in terms of pubs and restaurants, you should be fine.

In fact, every time I've asked for carbs to be left off, they've upped the veggies in place of them (occasionally they've piled on the parsnips and sweet potato, but we can't win every time).
 
I agree with the others on this thread. I think the main thing is to just enjoy the time with your friends and not worry overly much about the interruption to your low-carbing. I've also found that most restaurants are accommodating regarding no bun/chips/rice etc and will usually give you more veggies or salad, and are happy to leave off the sauce. Although be prepared to have a nouvelle cuisine size meal as happened once to me. Hardly any choice on the menu so I asked for the burger with no bun or chips and perhaps salad instead of peas please? That consisted of two lettuce leaves, half a tomato and a bit of cucumber.
 
When ever I Have stayed from my sensible eating regime for any length of time I have found it takes me longer than I thought to get my Blood Sugar Back again to where I am happy with it Now I try to eat just the Fish Options or Steak with no veg and a side salad and ask for olive oil and vinegar on the table and a small bowl and make my own dressing adding pepper & salt to taste not ideal but it works for both fish and steak for me
 
I'd agree with @NoCrbs4Me - many meals are quite suitable for diabetics and non-diabetics alike - and it's often simply a matter of adding or excluding high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, "normal" bread from you plate or meal, This was a strategy I used with my high carb husband when I was first diagnosed and he was still cooking both our meals, and it could work just as well with restaurant meals. Low carb food such as berries and cream, low carb cheesecake, or cakes/muffins made with an alternativeg like ground almonds are not or should not be a problem either.....

But - just don't forget that your friends are coming to visit you - and NOT the food you put into your mouth, so I'd feel that a slight compromise with a little higher carb eating where necessary iwould be a much better course than all-out compromising your specific dietary requirements. And I believe too that a good friends woud not or should not expect you to do so!

Have fun!

Robbity
 
I can’t imagine your friends would want you to compromise your diabetes control just for the sake of appearing “normal” - I’d be mortified if any friend I went to visit even considered it for my benefit.

I’m sure you can find plenty to eat that won’t undo all your hard work, if I know where I’m likely to go out for food I usually check the menu online to see what option suit my way of eating, and can then make quicker menu decisions at the table because I already know what’s in a meal.

Have a lovely time with your friends :)
 
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