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Low carb diet - need advice

M

markcunn2

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Stevenage
I am just about to embark on a low carb diet, finally got some decent advice about it and spent a fortnight working out daily carb intake to work out ideal level for me, which it turns out that due to all the rubbish guidance I had been eating roughly 350g of carbs a day. Will be cutting down to 150g a day, at a ratio of 50/50/50.

However, my trouble is that in around a fortnight I am going to be going out for a meal as it is a relative's birthday, and their restaurant of choice is always Bella Italia. Which with Pizza, Pasta and bready products means I am at risk of ruining my low carb diet. Any advice on what to avoid there, or do I have a day where I say sod it and blow out for the day then start diet again following day?

Also re:alcohol, I was under the impression that alcohol was bad and raised sugar levels. However, apparently if I had a pint a week I would be OK having a drink every now and then. How true is this?
 
Mark - I have been to Bella Italia before, they do lovely salads, several items you could choose from their menu

Pollo e Verdure
Chargrilled chicken with avocado, baby spinach, black olives, roasted peppers, spring onion and baby plum tomatoes in a zesty lemon dressing

Caesar Pollo
Chargrilled chicken and crisp baby gem lettuce in a Caesar dressing, with lightly toasted ciabatta croutons and Parmesan shavings Dont eat the croutons or at least not all of them

And then go for

Burger Americano

Chargrilled beef burger, baby gem leaves, tomato, red onion and mayonnaise in a ciabatta bun, with fries and a smoked tomato and onion relish Leave the bun instead add extras like crisp bacon, mozzarella, goat's cheese or gorgonzola


Bistecca ai Ferri Insalata

30 day aged 8oz* rump steak with flamed red pepper tapenade and a salad of baby gem leaves, green beans, cucumber, spring onion and baby plum tomatoes in a zesty lemon dressing


Filetto di Spigola

Butterflied seabass fillet with a warm salad of roasted new potatoes and red onions, green beans, black olives and plum tomatoes, with a fresh herb and garlic salsa verde You could maybe have a couple of new potatoes?


Pollo Ciabatta (Ask to have it without the ciabatta)
Chargrilled chicken breast, baby gem leaves, tomato, red onion and mayonnaise in a ciabatta bun, with fries and a smoked tomato and onion relish
Add crisp bacon, mozzarella, goat's cheese or gorgonzola


Have roasted mediterranean vegetables with any of these meals above, adding extra cheese and crispy bacon will really help to fill you up, you dont really need all that starchy bread, do you??

But if you do, dont feel guilty, just get back on track the next day.

Enjoy yourself whatever you decide to eat on the day.
I am hungry now!!
 
I don't know Bella Italia
but I always go for the salad options. Italians do lovely salads :D
Also, if you do slip,don't beat yourself up about it. Just "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again!" Just don't do it often :D
Hana
 
Thanks for the reply, very useful. I'm going to be sticking to it as best I can this time, as I have been told if no drastic changes between now and my birthday in September I will be on insulin which won't help weight at all.
 
Good luck Mark on your low carb mission :D

I know I am struggling with it, however I have found that products made with Oats have no or very little effect on my blood sugar levels, so I am trying that approach as well
 
Not going to add to the good advice above about Italian food, but an observation on your low(er) carb mission. You're aiming for 150 a day which is the same as me roughly, BUT, why have you chosen 50/50/50? I think you need to test to find out when is best time for you to eat carbs.
Lots of people struggle with carbs in the morning, so have very few carbs at breakfast and load up (relatively) later in the day. I'm the opposite. I find I can eat loads of carbs at breakfast and not much by evening meal time, so I have almost half my days carbs at breakfast and still get readings in the high 4's two hours later.
If you're splitting because of medication you're on, I understand, but otherwise you may want to experiment a little.
 
Grazer said:
Not going to add to the good advice above about Italian food, but an observation on your low(er) carb mission. You're aiming for 150 a day which is the same as me roughly, BUT, why have you chosen 50/50/50? I think you need to test to find out when is best time for you to eat carbs.
Lots of people struggle with carbs in the morning, so have very few carbs at breakfast and load up (relatively) later in the day. I'm the opposite. I find I can eat loads of carbs at breakfast and not much by evening meal time, so I have almost half my days carbs at breakfast and still get readings in the high 4's two hours later.
If you're splitting because of medication you're on, I understand, but otherwise you may want to experiment a little.
Click to expand...

I agree, I have changed but I am on 25-35g cabs per day at the moment. None or very low carbs for breakfast, most of my carbs for lunch and a few for dinner.
 
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