I'd just like to put in my two cents- I think I am addicted to carbs. I have followed the LCHF for 7 weeks now- I still crave carbs very day and for a lot of the day. If I was diagnosed with a terminal illness- say cancer I think I would feel a sense of relief and start eating what I like. I like practically nothing in the LCHF diet and the things I kind of liked I now don't having eaten them much more than I am used to- I sandwich- yes that would be great- eggs and bacon- I'll choke them down because I am very very hungry.
My tastes haven't changed and if I could guarantee that the diabetic complications I would get would be a stroke or heart attack that would kill me that would be okay- my younger siblings already have ulcers over their legs and I really couldn't do that. The thought of injecting insulin every day- well all I can say is the type s and others that do that deserve a medal as their quiet courage is amazing- I am truely in awe of those people.
I would so love to like meat or vegetables other than potato, pumpkin, sweet potato and beetroot- alas I don't. Actually the only positive about LCHF is that I don't have to eat carrots which are my least favourite food every.
Sorry for such a negative post- not doing too well today
VashtiB, perhaps this would be a good time to learn how to cook?
The diet you're describing sounds bland and heavy in starches...which convert to sugar...and make you feel good...for a short period of time...then you have to repeat the process again every few hours.
What if more is possible? What if there are other ways to enjoy food?
Eggs and bacon was a non starter for me. I missed the potatoes. So I used one pan to cook the eggs and bacon, and another to sautee sliced cauliflower in butter. It was even better when I allowed it too caramelize a bit.
Not long after that I remembered how much I enjoyed a dish I ate at my favorite breakfast spot: eggs with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes...and goat feta. Through trial and error, I figured out how to make it home.
This led to further experimentations with other combinations of eggs, often onion, vegetables...and cheeses. I love fresh basil and now grow it each summer. Eggs, basil, tomato, and goat feta is another great combination.
For breakfast this morning, I had eggs with a mix of onion, broccoli, bacon, and cheddar cheese. So good.
Another cheese I like to play with is gouda. Sometimes I make eggs with a mix of onion, cauliflower, and gouda. Delicious.
Lunches are often a simple tuna salad, made with tuna, mayo, and bread & butter pickles - (its a sweet pickle). I eat it with five crackers that are 1 1/2 carbs each that are made with rice and quinoa flours with five additional seeds. They're wonderfully crunchy. With it I have a mix of non-starchy raw vegetables though I usually include some carrot too.
Lunch can be everything you normally put in your favorite sandwich, chopped up, and thrown into a bowl.
I love pickled beets. Still enjoy them, I keep them in the fridge and eat a little bit each day.
I like making chicken salads too, usually with some mayo, onion, celery, 4 or 5 chopped grapes to bump up the flavor, and some chopped cashews or walnuts to add texture.
A salad of leafy greens and purples with red cabbage, nuts, some chicken, and whatever other vegetables sound good, topped with a viniagrette of 2/3 oil and 1/3 vinegar, perhaps with some spices is yummy. I sometimes add some parmesan cheese, or perhaps some berries
Lunches can also be left overs from dinner.
I often make meals from scratch, eat some, then freeze the remaining portions for easy grab and go meals.
Dinner is often some type of animal protein with vegetables. I look for low carb recipes in cookbooks and online.
Sometimes I try to figure out how to make a dish I enjoyed at a restaurant. Making a mushroom swiss burger is easy. I throw a ground beef patty into a fry pan with butter and lots of sliced mushrooms. While cooking, I slice some swiss cheese. Next, I mince some garlic and mix it with some mayo. I then pile the cooked mushrooms on the patty, top with the swiss cheese, and heat covered until the cheese melts. I serve it with garlic mayo on the side, also some steamed vegetables.
Have you ever made a pesto with basil, nuts, garlic, parmesan, and olive oil? So good with chicken and zucchini noodles.
At some point, it helps to dive in and figure out how to cook things. It can be as simple as roasting a chicken and finding different ways to eat the chicken each night. I love sliced chicken breast heated in a fry pan. I top it with sliced tomato, thinly sliced onions, and swiss cheese, melt the cheese with the lid on, then serve it with sides of sliced avocado and garlic mayo.
Sauted onion, pulled chicken, enchilada sauce, grated cheddar cheese, and cilantro is another easy meal to make in the fry pan.
Sometimes I make a huge taco salad, without the corn chips, and eat it for days. Instead of using a store bought salad dressing, I just dish up some salad then add salsa, sourcream, and some avocados.
Many of the things you eat in restaurants can be made at home if you're willing to try. I find that making food ahead really helps. Some days I have time to cook, others, not so much.
There are so many great flavors out there. And you're worth it. Nothing feels as good as being healthy.
Sometimes it helps to find a really good multivitamin made from whole foods to give your body a bit of a boost. Make sure you're getting enough salt in you foods daily. If you don't, you'll find it difficult to stay hydrated even if you're drinking water throughout the day, and you won't feel good. Staying hydrated is important. And moving is important too. If you can take short walks daily, that will improve blood circulation, which will also make you feel better.
When I started eating this way four years ago. I didn't know how to cook. Most people today don't know how to cook. I wasn't alone with this problem. If I can learn, trust me, you can too. I'm still learning. With each year, it gets a little easier. If I come late at night, and I have nothing to eat, I cook up some eggs. It doesn't have to be complicated. Keep it simple.
Hope you can find someone to buddy with on this. It's so much more fun finding a partner when taking on new adventures in learning.