Low carb for beginners

Giverny said:

Statistically speaking, people (especially those new to a subject) tend to switch off and not bother clicking links to outside sources. It's best to simply summarise the content of those sources and post that instead of the link.

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OK, but it would be acceptable to describe the source, e.g. Dietdoctor, Jenny Ruhl, and invite people to Google it themselves if they want to take it further?

I'm not at all convinced about menus being included. I personally would have switched off as soon as curry or broccoli was mentioned. Everyone has different tastes, not everyone can cook (me included), and not everyone will want to settle on the same amount of carbs, fat, and protein. There are vegetarians, vegans, fussy sods like me, red meat eaters, white meat eaters, people that hate fish and so on and so forth.

I would prefer to see a simple list of foods that are "free" to eat, ones to be careful with, ones to avoid, ones to seriously reduce etc . Then folk can make up their own menus from the list.

And a good set of recipes for those who want them elsewhere.

I'm with Mrs Bluetit, we are all different, and have different tastes. It's more important to newly diagnosed people to be able to get the information they need about the effects of low carbing in the first instance, get them knowing what's good, what's bad,what effects you might expect, then recipes and meal suggestions can be under the general heading.

My trouble seems to be that I have no trouble not eating carbs but do find I go overboard on the whole-egg mayo on salads and butter on the veg! So although my BG's have come down well my weight loss is VERY slow.

I think we already have a reasonable guide to low carb eating in Viv's Modified Atkins Diet, but this could be expanded to include the whys and wherefors of low carbing in general - e.g. what is a low carb diet, benefits of low carb, how it works, why test, when to test, how to read food labels and check for carb and sugar values, acceptable glucose levels to aim for, low carb flu, best ways of losing weight or maintaining it, how to deal with eating out and parties, maybe differences between (dietary) ketosis vs DKA and why it's safe, testing for ketone levels. plus any (other) information particularly pertaining to type 1s, insulin, and low carbing? And any more I've missed.

Perhaps it could be a collaborative project with people taking on different areas, and someone to oversee the whole thing, rather than burden one person with the whole lot? And something ideally to be started after the Christmas season is over!

I agree with bluetit over menus, and also personally would opt for a traffic lights system for indicating acceptable or otherwise foods, green for ideal to eat, yellow/orange for those to eat in small quantities , red for not recommended at all. With maybe supplementary links to our low carb recipes and What did you eat today thread as options to read for further information, and ideally the same for links to other useful external; sites for people who want to explore further?

Robbity

tonal said:

My trouble seems to be that I have no trouble not eating carbs but do find I go overboard on the whole-egg mayo on salads and butter on the veg! So although my BG's have come down well my weight loss is VERY slow.

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good point!! i hesitate to question the "eat as much as you like category of foods" theory..but i found that although i am quite liberal with eggs and butter, i now actively restrict myself to two meals per day so that i do not go overboard and since then my weight loss has improved. so at this point, for me personally, it still seems like a "diet" rather than a "lifestyle". The overwhelming difference however compared to everything i have tried in the last 25 years is twofold; it is relatively easy to eat low-carb whereas previously i would be climbing the walls with hunger & secondly, i am extremely motivated given the amazing & more importantly, measurable health benefits LCHF has conferred particularly with regards to my A1C, cholesterol and weight.

sorry that was a mouthful...

msmi1970 said:

i hesitate to question the "eat as much as you like category of foods" theory..but i found that although i am quite liberal with eggs and butter, i now actively restrict myself to two meals per day...

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Well I think you would be quite right to question it because I believe it's rather misleading, and it should actually be "eat as much as you like... within reason"! As far as I know you can't stuff yourself unconditionally and lose weight, nor really hope to maintain it: if you are eating more food than your body requires you won't either lose weight, nor keep it static as the surplus has to go somewhere, and that tends to be stored around your waist.

And i think also we have to change our beliefs about fat in general being the main weight gain culprit and - apparently! - learn to blame carbohydrates instead.

Robbity

tonal said:

My trouble seems to be that I have no trouble not eating carbs but do find I go overboard on the whole-egg mayo on salads and butter on the veg! So although my BG's have come down well my weight loss is VERY slow.

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Slow is good...so they say if it's not coming off as fast as you would like, you maybe need to reduce your calories a tad, but not at the expense of your protein, maybe reduce your overall fat intake to more "normal" portions .

But it's great to be able to eat full fat Mayo and real butter again huh

@Robbity Yes, that's what I've found in the last couple of years.
Unconditional eating = fat round my middle. Impaired glucose tolerance diagnosed.
NHS diet (no puddings, pastry, sweets, cakes, sweet drinks, jam etc) = drastic weight loss round middle and loss of muscle, but steady rise in BS. Type 2 diagnosed. Felt really well, but permanently hungry!
LCHF diet = weight stabilised, BS stabilised. Some snacking, but no longer hungry between meals.
Next plan: reduce BS, increase energy. However, it's winter and I'm really a sleepy bear so will stick to good walking.

Robbity said:

Well I think you would be quite right to question it because I believe it's rather misleading, and it should actually be "eat as much as you like... within reason"! As far as I know you can't stuff yourself unconditionally and lose weight, nor really hope to maintain it:

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Hi Robbity, my perception of the "eat as much (fat) as you like" message is that when you eat more fat your body is properly satiated more efficiently and you know when to stop. So it''s not quite the same as "stuff your face until you can't eat any more". But it can be a confusing message.

There is activity going on with members who responded earlier to this thread so a new 'beginners' guide to low-carbing' should be available soon. I am taking note of additional comments raised on here as well.

sanguine said:

Hi Robbity, my perception of the "eat as much (fat) as you like" message is that when you eat more fat your body is properly satiated more efficiently and you know when to stop. So it''s not quite the same as "stuff your face until you can't eat any more". But it can be a confusing message.

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Actually I totally agree with you, but there are also some people who will go the whole hog and overstuff themselves, believing they've been given license to do so, which is really what I was on about.

Robbity

bookmite said:

Slow is good...so they say if it's not coming off as fast as you would like, you maybe need to reduce your calories a tad, but not at the expense of your protein, maybe reduce your overall fat intake to more "normal" portions .

But it's great to be able to eat full fat Mayo and real butter again huh

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Agree agree - I'll try and reduce the fats, but yes they are very good after years of tasteless No fat!

tonal said:

My trouble seems to be that I have no trouble not eating carbs but do find I go overboard on the whole-egg mayo on salads and butter on the veg! So although my BG's have come down well my weight loss is VERY slow.

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if you buy mayo, you may be getting junk grain oil, it's best to make your own with a 'light' olive oil. similar good fats, less taste, the virgin olive is a bit too much for some in a mayo,
make enough for a week or so normally ..if you add more salt and vinegar .. lasts a month in the fridge

tonal said:

Agree agree - I'll try and reduce the fats, but yes they are very good after years of tasteless No fat!

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Tell me about it tonal. For years I was on that low fat **** and now all those great foods are suddenly allowed. Only one little trouble, you still gotta work within a calorie budget.

I love sour cream and can easily eat 500 grams of the stuff in one go, but for my requirements I need maximum of 150 grams fats per day. Still it beats that old fashioned and failed "cardboard diet" ie HCLF.

I for one would very much appreciate a 'Low carb for beginners' thread. I am getting very confused as to whether the kept diet is the way to go, Lots of low carb sites try to make up for lack of flour by making cakes and bread out of flaxseed and almonds etc. other sites say eat NO grain of any sort or Legumes.

Looks like this thread has been 'stickied' rather than the new one I'm still waiting to post while Giverny is around to do it. Maybe I should just go for it anyway ...

sanguine said:

Looks like this thread has been 'stickied' rather than the new one I'm still waiting to post while Giverny is around to do it. Maybe I should just go for it anyway ...

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And it reads great