Question for the Low Carb People

[CarnivalGal]

Going low carb has been the only thing that has worked for me in the long term. Low carb is not no carb. I do eat brown rice and such a few times a week. I also eat fruit and dairy, all of which have carbs. I don't do the bacon and cheese all the time thing. I mostly eat leaner protein and veggies, but add other things as well on occasion.

I generally eat very clean and healthy during the week, and then relax the rules a little on the weekend. Like I'll have a glass of wine or two on a Saturday night, maybe make some whole wheat pasta, etc. I'll have cake on my birthday, that sort of thing, but the vast majority of the time, I don't really eat many carbs at all.

I started by going pretty much completely no carb for a couple weeks sort of to detox. I gradually added in small amounts, like a piece of fruit a day. After a month or so, I added in small amounts (1/2 cup of brown rice per day). I pretty much stick with that. I have had absolutely no ill health affects. In fact, all of my numbers came down to normal levels.

[Garfunkle524]

I'm on a 45p/35f/25c macro split right now at around 1850 calories per day. It's part of an effort I took upon myself to lose weight while maintaining as much muscle as possible. Progress has been slow, about 6 lbs in 8 weeks. This is largely due to letting too loose on the weekends though, and not being perfect during the week. Still, it's slowly working. I'm very endomorphic with a very slow metabolism, so I'm pretty sensitive to carbs in my diet.


It's only temporary for me, another few months probably. It seems to fit my goals, even if I kinda want to lose weight a bit faster.

[PJSaturn]

At post 22, MyTarge13 asked about protein shakes. I'm curious about them as well. I've recently gone low-carb and wonder about protein shakes. I love to cook and usually don't have a problem coming up with a healthful protein for lunch or dinner, but perhaps an occasional shake when I'm in a hurry would be helpful.

Does anyone here recommend - or not recommend - them? If so, why?

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[chiluvr1228]

I did the super low carb about a year ago and found it hard to do plus I started feeling crummy. I found out it is common to feel lousy for awhile; there's even a name for it "ketosis flu or induction flu".


My last visit to the doctor in October I was 169 lbs and I was told to lose 10 lbs. I was also put on Metformin as my blood sugar was borderline diabetic. I don't know if it is partly due to the Metformin but I have lost 15 pounds and gone down 1-2 dress sizes. I rarely eat white bread, regular pasta or sugar with the exception of fruit. I have cut my portion sizes down and I stop eating when I feel satisfied whether there is food left in my plate or not. I have cut out all soda and drink water or unsweet tea with stevia. I never eat fast food and if I'm forced to for some reason because of time restraints I get a salad from Wendy's.


Instead of munching in front of the TV with Cheetos and a soda if I want something salty I will have a handful of macademia nuts or cashews. If I'm craving something sweet I will have fruit or a yogurt and the occasional piece of dark chocolate.


It is nice to find my clothes fitting looser and looser. I think if we ate food in its natural state as much as possible and cut out processed food we would all be healthier. That has been my approach the last few months. If it doesn't come out of the ground or off a tree I try not to eat it. A great diet book for someone looking to get back to natural eating is "What Would Jesus Eat". I'm not a vegetarian but my protein comes from beans, lentils, chicken, fish, turkey and the occasional steak.


In our busy world it is easier to grab some fast food on the way home from work. If you do it once a month it's probably okay but I know people who eat fast food 5 times a week.