Trying hard but starting slow

If you are eating pasta, rice and potatoes, I would recommend cutting back on them, have a bit more veg and meat and it may show you that the carbs are not essential to your diet. Best to get on the road but it does not have to be instant, this is a long term project.
Good luck

I really missed potatoes whenI began low carbing 14 months ago.I now use cauliflower,there are various recipes on line,Diet Doctor is excellent.I found that after cooking,mixing it with butter and grated cheese and salt and pepper cauliflower is a good substitute for potato.For a topping for eg shepherds pie I have used mashed swede,again well seasoned.Hope this helps.

I actually eat a lot of sauerkraut as a sub for potatoes and rice and spinach in a cheese sauce, frozen spinach thawed out and ringed then some soft cheese into the microwave, salt and pepper.

I've been like you just few days ago, when I started my own diet. Some people here helped me with their kind advice, so let me share some points, maybe something will help you too.

a) Look for a day when craving will no longer be so strong. Take your time and prepare yourself for that day. Auto-suggestion is the key for either success or failure here. Don't start too early, if you feel you are not ready to do it yet.

b) When you go, be ready to go "cold turkey". To get rid for good of bread, potatoes and other high carbs. Even if it would be for a while, prepare yourself for a lifestyle change, not just a temporary diet.

c) First week will be hard, expect this. Read about known side effects such as the "Keto flu", with transient hypos and loss of salt. Compensate with salt and vitamins (D, Omega-3, B-12).

d) Most foods have acquired taste. You don't like veggies because your mouth (and brain) got used with sugar and high carbs. Be very patient for just one week or so, and you will see results. You'll get used with the new taste and forget about the rest.

Good luck

Motherhen2014 said:

I desperately want to go low carb but cannot do it all straight away.I am limiting bread gill I can make low carb of my own, trying to keep in vegetables that grow above ground.Csn someone advice me what else I could do that will make a difference please

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Hi there
I am on the same journey as you, trying to go low carb. It can be difficult. I try to take each week at a time and even then break the weeks into days. I set myself easy achievable goals . For instance this week my goals are to eat no more than 30 carbs for at least 3 days of the week , which will be monday tuesday and thursday. I plan my menus. On saturday we have video night with the kids so I plan in some treats like low carb snack bars. nuts, olives cheese. All things I can pick at but won't raise my sugars. Most of all I try to stick to my calorie count of between 1500 - 1900 per day. I use substitutes to satisfy my cravings because its better then pigging out on high carb foods. I use low carb bread, sweeteners, 85% chocolate bars , atkin style bars etc. If you can't manage to low carb everyday, just start doing it on 2-3 days a week ,or every other day. Don't beat yourself up if things don't go to plan everyday. You've made a start, you found this website and you are learning what to do, things can ONLY get better . keep at it. Good luck

Motherhen2014 said:

I desperately want to go low carb but cannot do it all straight away.I am limiting bread gill I can make low carb of my own, trying to keep in vegetables that grow above ground.Csn someone advice me what else I could do that will make a difference please

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Motherhen2014 said:

I desperately want to go low carb but cannot do it all straight away.I am limiting bread gill I can make low carb of my own, trying to keep in vegetables that grow above ground.Csn someone advice me what else I could do that will make a difference please

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Hope this helps -
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/foods#foodlist

Motherhen2014 said:

I dont like pasta and very rarely have rice but do have potatoes once a day is there anything I could use that would give me the same texture but not carbs.
Thank you so much for your reply appreciated.x

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Celeriac is a quite acceptable alternative to potato. Peel and cut into chunks, chip shaped if you like. Roll in oil seasoned with salt, pepper and herbs of your choice on a baking tray. Cook in the oven for 35 mins at 200c

It was 4 years ago when I started this journey, and like you I started slowly and built up from there. I began with around 120g carbs a day, eventually reducing this to around 30g after a lot of months. I am a potato lover. None of the substitutes did it for me and I dug my heels in. My heels are still dug in, but the portion sizes are very much reduced. I used my meter to help me with portion size. It has told me I can safely manage 2 smallish new potatoes (with butter on) or 2 pieces of roast spuds (cooked in goose fat) and even half a dozen home made chips (cooked in lard, the old fashioned way). I do not have any mash, stewed or baked potatoes as they are far worse for us.

Do you test your meals with a meter? If you do (and this is a very wise plan) then use this to work out if you can manage some spuds, like I can, but make sure your meal is otherwise very low carb, which means using butter instead of gravy. You may be lucky, you may not, but your meter will tell you (alongside a food diary including portion sizes)

Motherhen2014 said:

Thank you for this it is very helpful.I do use my metre and it is always in the range of 14.2 to 16.3 after meals and I now realise it is too much potato and granule gravy.I have found a low carb granules gravy and am again cutting down my potatoes, I see that a couple of small pots would be the way to go, but will use celeriac on most days. I have found a low carb bread sticks but really tiny.Have had 150 already today so no more.
Many Thanx for your reply.

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Just to understand.
always in the range of 14.2 to 16.3 after meals
what units are we talking, mmol/l ??, and how long after the meals?

My blood glucose was 17.1 mmol/l at diagnosis, but it soon came down when I stopped all the 'healthy' carbs and concentrated on low carb foods - however, I am usually about 50 gm of carbs per day so I can keep my readings normal.

Motherhen2014 said:

Today I really have seen that stews.Potatoes are not good for me as readings are high today.I tried the low carb gravy granules but cannot take the smell of them, so have to find something else.I started the day so well too but tomorrow I start again.

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It is all trial and error. Keep testing, and record all your levels alongside the food eaten (and portion sizes) in a diary. You will get there.