My Low Carb Journey

[JTA Mom]

I don't know why I'm posting this. Maybe as a way to keep track, talk to others who've btdt/are going through it too. Maybe as a virtual support group.

Today is Day 1 of 'serious' low carb. Currently going to try to stay around 20 carbs a day. So far, so good.

I cut out grains a month ago, due to dh's recurring issues when eating them. The unexplained weight gain I had been experiencing (1-2lbs a week for 5 weeks!) STOPPED. Grain free has been pretty easy to stick to, and I wasn't doing 'low carb' really--eating fruit, potatoes, yams, winter squashes daily/multiple times a day.

Also, my hypoglycemic episodes DROPPED. As in, I would get one once a week, usually after eating chocolate or something. Before it was a daily struggle. I've been successful losing weight with Weight Watchers, but the constant hunger AND need to eat constantly to keep the 'shakes' at bay were too much for me. I think the low fat, high carb way of eating just isn't good for my body. Even healthy foods, like oatmeal, leave me feeling shaky.

Currently I am following Atkin's Induction phase, blended with Primal eating. My only rules, that differ from Atkins, is that I will ONLY eat real foods. No sugar subs, no crap filled atkins bars, fake bread, etc. From Primal, I'm obviously NOT eating grains. I am allergic to dairy and I find it easier to just drop the 'substitutes' than it is to keep them in my diet. Fake ice cream begets real ice cream cravings, etc. The only 'fake' sweetener I allow is stevia, and that's more to make (herbal) teas so I can drink the bad tasting water here.

Currently weighing in at 199.5 yesterday morning. Next weigh in will be next Tuesday. Here's hoping this works, and that I can drop the weight WHILE feeling good/aka no hunger OR shakes.

If anyone wants to join in and log their stuff, feel free!

Ami

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

I don't know why I'm posting this. Maybe as a way to keep track, talk to others who've btdt/are going through it too. Maybe as a virtual support group.

Today is Day 1 of 'serious' low carb. Currently going to try to stay around 20 carbs a day. So far, so good.

I cut out grains a month ago, due to dh's recurring issues when eating them. The unexplained weight gain I had been experiencing (1-2lbs a week for 5 weeks!) STOPPED. Grain free has been pretty easy to stick to, and I wasn't doing 'low carb' really--eating fruit, potatoes, yams, winter squashes daily/multiple times a day.

Also, my hypoglycemic episodes DROPPED. As in, I would get one once a week, usually after eating chocolate or something. Before it was a daily struggle. I've been successful losing weight with Weight Watchers, but the constant hunger AND need to eat constantly to keep the 'shakes' at bay were too much for me. I think the low fat, high carb way of eating just isn't good for my body. Even healthy foods, like oatmeal, leave me feeling shaky.

Currently I am following Atkin's Induction phase, blended with Primal eating. My only rules, that differ from Atkins, is that I will ONLY eat real foods. No sugar subs, no crap filled atkins bars, fake bread, etc. From Primal, I'm obviously NOT eating grains. I am allergic to dairy and I find it easier to just drop the 'substitutes' than it is to keep them in my diet. Fake ice cream begets real ice cream cravings, etc. The only 'fake' sweetener I allow is stevia, and that's more to make (herbal) teas so I can drink the bad tasting water here.

Currently weighing in at 199.5 yesterday morning. Next weigh in will be next Tuesday. Here's hoping this works, and that I can drop the weight WHILE feeling good/aka no hunger OR shakes.

If anyone wants to join in and log their stuff, feel free!

Ami

Awesome!!! Primal rocks!!!

I've been really loving low carb primal living. I'm bfing so I'm not going as low as you are, but I'm still losing weight very successfully.

current weight is 159 lbs. I will do tuesday weigh in's with you!

Today for breakfast I had:

Chipotle skillet:
peices of bacon
shrimp tossed in a chipotle, chili mixture I made and sprinkled on the bacon grease
eggs scrambled in the leftover flavored grease, with onion and garlic.

Then I put the eggs down, some shredded cheese, the shrimp, a bit more cheese, the bacon, fresh salsa and ff sourcream. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

So filling.

for a snack I had a coconut flour blueberry muffin with butter. It was SO good!!!

For dinner I'm making ginger pork with coconut chili peanut satay sauce. I'm also going to make a baby spinach, mixed greens salad with pears and pomegranate avrils. Haven't decided on the dressing yet...

[JTA Mom]

Yaaay! Hi!!!!

I've read your other thread on this sub-forum. I do feel a LOT better eating this way.

Oh, and your post about your breakfast..... I need to get me some shrimp!

Actually, I think I'll just come over!

Did you make your coconut flour muffin? If so, could you share the recipe, pretty please?

Ami

[lil_earthmomma]

Blueberry muffins:

3 eggs
3 tbsp butter or coconut oil, melted
3 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup sifted coconut flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup frozen blueberries.

Blend together eggs, butter, honey, salt and vanilla. Combine coconut flour with baking powder and whisk. Add to wet ing and mix until no lumps. Fold in berries and scoop into muffin papers. Makes 6 muffins.

Bake at 400 for 15-18 min.

THEY ARE SO SO SO YUMMY!!!! I love them, they are so wonderful and moist and fantastically tasty! hee hee Way better than regular muffins, shockingly.

[greenmom4]

I'll join in.

I've been doing LC (Primal Blueprint based. I wouldn't say I'm 100% primal right now) for a couple of weeks now. It's tough. I miss sandwiches. And bagels. I do feel better though. To be honest, I don't think I'll ever go COMPLETELY without grains but I'm hoping to make them the rare exception. Sometimes a bowl of pasta is just too good to pass up - I'd be happy with rice or quinoa pasta but the thought of never having any is just...sad to me.

Mondays will be my weigh-in days. I'm working so hard, I really want to see good results.

[JTA Mom]

Welcome Greenmom!!!

Today is Day 2. Yesterday was a bit hard, mostly because I don't have many low carb options in the house--need to go grocery shopping too!

I did 'cheat' in that I had a handful of almonds. Supposedly they are a no-no during Induction, but whatever. It's weird having such a meat heavy diet though. I feel better, but I'm so used to eating meat-light. But the abscence of hypoglycemic issues is very, very nice.

I'm trying to figure out what to eat at Thanksgiving. We are going to dh's Grandparents and my mom's house. Yep, 2 dinners. I think I'll avoid the grains, but allow myself some sweet potatoes. I don't think one high carb day will hurt (I hope not).

It's weird to not worry about fat intake either. I'm not drinking it, but it's weird to just let go and go with the flow.

Ami

[claybear]

I have done low carb (but veggie) before and I am trying it again. It worked really well for me last time (lost 50 pounds in 4-5 months while working out often). Now I have had another baby and put on weight with that. He is now 2 and I NEED to take off the weight!

Today was my first day back to low carb. I always feel a lot better when I eat this way. It's really grounding for me. My low(er) carb looks like this:

cauliflower and black bean soup for breakfast
soy burger, broc and cheese for lunch
huge salad with buttermilk dressing, cukes, parm cheese and nuts for dinner

For me that works really well! Glad to join you.

[JTA Mom]

Welcome Claybear!

How is everyone doing today? Anyone have any Thanksgiving plan of attack?


It's Day 3 and so far so good. It's getting easier as time goes by. Yesterday I think I finally hit ketosis, because I just wasn't hungry. It was weird.

Today my period decided to show up, so let's see how that affects things. Interestingly enough, I haven't been interested in chocolate these last couple days. Thank goodness, because I usually become a choco-fiend right about now.

Dh also surprised me with cookies yesterday. Apparently a boy had come by his work, asking people to buy cookie dough for a school fundraiser a month ago (dh works at a hotel), so, feeling for the boy, dh bought 2 boxes of cookie dough. One oatmeal raisin (eh) and the other--chocolate chip. Did I mention chocolate chip cookies are my nemesis? I can't stop at one!! I'm kinda glad they came in yesterday, since I can't have any, but then again, mmmmmm, choco cookies....

Ami

[claybear]

Today is good, although not as good. I woke up with a tension headache and have felt a little like throwing up much of the day. I ended up eating toast because of the nausea, so that was a bummer, both otherwise I am on track. Tomorrow will be a better day.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by claybear

Today is good, although not as good. I woke up with a tension headache and have felt a little like throwing up much of the day. I ended up eating toast because of the nausea, so that was a bummer, both otherwise I am on track. Tomorrow will be a better day.

It's called a carb hangover. It's definitely a bummer. I didn't get it because I went grain free, and then weaned off of other carbs slowly over about a week.

[425lisamarie]

that primal thing is starting to look intriguing. I've been suffering from a small lack of energy, weird cravings of sweets, which I don't eat but is unlike me.

Even with the hard way in which I work out, I"ve always done pretty low on the grains. I only eat oats and rice, though the last couple months I have started eating them a bit more than before. Starting this morning i decided to cut out the oats and do just flax like I used to. I do'nt really know exactly what the primal diet is, but I'm assuming it's kind of my lifestyle already.

I do need lots of carbs but not grains. I eat lots of sweet potatoes/potatoes and fruit. But thinking back it seems around the time I started eating oats again, is when things changed slightly. I have been very satisfied today and have upped my fat a little.

I suspect my DD is the same and needs to limit the grains. She is egg allergic (though showing signs of growing out of this) so I wonder earthmama, do you bake with coconut flour a lot? I don't use it so I wonder what i could do instead of egg. I think she may like that type of "muffin." She HATES bread actually which pleases me LOL, she likes things that are VERY soft and tender

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by 425lisamarie

that primal thing is starting to look intriguing. I've been suffering from a small lack of energy, weird cravings of sweets, which I don't eat but is unlike me.

Even with the hard way in which I work out, I"ve always done pretty low on the grains. I only eat oats and rice, though the last couple months I have started eating them a bit more than before. Starting this morning i decided to cut out the oats and do just flax like I used to. I do'nt really know exactly what the primal diet is, but I'm assuming it's kind of my lifestyle already.

I do need lots of carbs but not grains. I eat lots of sweet potatoes/potatoes and fruit. But thinking back it seems around the time I started eating oats again, is when things changed slightly. I have been very satisfied today and have upped my fat a little.

I suspect my DD is the same and needs to limit the grains. She is egg allergic (though showing signs of growing out of this) so I wonder earthmama, do you bake with coconut flour a lot? I don't use it so I wonder what i could do instead of egg. I think she may like that type of "muffin." She HATES bread actually which pleases me LOL, she likes things that are VERY soft and tender

Well, eggs seem to be a requirement in most of the coconut flour recipes I've come across, BUT I'm making vegan cupcakes tomorrow and if the recipe works I will share it as I believe it would be very simple to turn it into a muffin. (pretty much just omit the chocolate! They are sweetened with stevia and a bit of honey either of which I suspect could be omitted if the other was left in) the base is almond butter (or any nut/seed butter really.)

I will post the results tomorrow!!! I will be experimenting all evening, making vegan treats for my SIL's bday, and tester grain free treats for christmas! I have my extended family to taste test!

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by claybear

Today is good, although not as good. I woke up with a tension headache and have felt a little like throwing up much of the day. I ended up eating toast because of the nausea, so that was a bummer, both otherwise I am on track. Tomorrow will be a better day.

I'm sorry you don't feel good. I HATE headaches. Ugh. Whenever I get them they seem to suck out all my energy. I hope you're feeling better today!
----------------------------------------
Day 4 today. I did REALLY good yesterday. I spent half the day at my mom's (ds desperately wanted to visit, I had to drop off a free turkey I got for TG, AND my sister was in town). I packed my own lunch and snacks, and teas. I didn't break once, even when I saw that my mom had a bunch of FRESH, hot bread out, cooling. But I stuck to my salad and meats, and thank goodness! I just WASN'T hungry, so no room for bread after my meal.

O/T, but dh is going today to take the Police Department's Physical test. Please pray (if you pray) that the weather stays clear AND he passes.

Ami

[ryleigh'smama]

I am doing primal also, it has been a couple of weeks I think now. I haven't weighed myself because the scale needs a new battery and I keep forgetting to buy one. My clothes are looser though. I really don't need to lose weight, I just want to feel great, and I do. The primal workouts are intriguing to me. I just spent an hour and a half shoveling snow out of my neighbors driveway (dh did ours)....cause it seemed like a primal thing to do.

Anyway, thanksgiving....I am thinking lots of turkey, and I am making green beans with bacon pieces, and a big salad.

Egg substitute...I have heard that chia seeds make a great egg sub. I'm sure you could use them with coconut flour. I just made the BEST coconut flour carrot cake (used eggs though). My brother has a restaurant and asked for the recipe.

[claybear]

Did great today! Even went to a party and did not eat the pizza and cake and such. JTA Mom, sounds like we were similarly tempted and made it through. I also brought my own food and ate some of that.

[JTA Mom]

Ryleigh'smama, my fave scale battery gave out too! lol I haven't gone to get another yet, so I'm using an older, less fave scale. By clothes, there's a HUGE difference already. I totally forgot about green beans! MMmmmm, I love green beans with almonds, and you put bacon on yours? I think I just got a great green bean extravaganza idea!

Claybear, good job avoiding the pizza and cake!

Day 5 here.

Hit a small speedbump yesterday. Had to have chocolate. So, I had a high protein chocolate bar. For 22gms of carbs. That's fine, since I actually haven't been hitting my goal of 20 carbs for the last few days. So, technically, I had enough 'leftover' to cover. Didn't hurt my weight either. Still sitting at 199.5, during the middle of my period, so I'm happy! I always gain a bunch of water weight (2-5lbs, depending). My jeans feel a LOT looser too. Before going on this diet, They were a bit tight, not they are nicely loose.

Ami

[claybear]

Today was my 4th day of all low carb and this morning I was down 4 pounds from when I weighed myself on Wednesday. I am trying to to weigh myself too often (aiming for just once a week), but I had to check Anyhow, it was very nice to see that.

[JTA Mom]

Congrats on the 4lbs, claybear! That's awesome!

Day 6 here. Yesterday was hard. I had a sinus headache (thanks weather change!) and was feeling down in the dumps. I was thinking of joining a Nursing masters program, but after finding out all the details, I wouldn't be able to start for 2 yrs, and then it's a 3.5yr program. So 5.5 yrs. Mind you, sometime soon I'd like to have another baby too. And I can't imagine having one in the middle of the Masters--it's tough!

And dh didn't do well on one part of the Physical. He missed the mile cut off by 1 min. Won't know about the rest of the scores until 8 more days. So, ick. Doesn't help I'm still on me period either.

I stayed within carbs yesterday. Today though, I broke down and had another chocolate protein bar for 22gms carbs. My weight is still plateauing though. It's at 199.5. And weigh in is tomorrow. I think too many 'down' things are happening right now. I'm hoping tomorrow I at least go down half a pound!

Ami

[gothnurse3]

Hi everybody. I would love to belong here. I just started today because I am the heaviest I have ever been ( not pregnant). I was 180 this AM. I would love to chime in and encourage as a group. My family thinks I'm nuts for starting " at the holidays" but frankly I can't afford to gain anymore. So away we go. Best of luck to all of us.

[claybear]

Welcome Angela! Starting at the holidays does present extra challenges, but I'd like to think it affords us extra rewards perhaps also. Not gaining 10 pounds this season would be nice Check out the weekly weigh-in thread also, a few us us are going to start going that as well to keep ourselves accountable.

So today felt pretty easy for me. Sugar cravings are gone (although not at my period right now, JTA Mom, I imagine that will be much harder for me also!). Eat well overall but I am feeling a little sick so I have done almost no physical activity today, and I have been trying to up my activity, doing sit-ups everyday and such.

Sorry about your dh, JTA Mom, that is a bummer. Hopefully there is still good news to come.