losing it's luster. This is what always happens to me...
tlmeyn
Posts: 369 Member
So..... 47 days in... LCHF is beginning to lose it's luster. Dieting period.
Yes, yes, No.. I know. This is NOT a diet, it's a lifestyle change, and I really mean to stick to the no eating bread and sugar. BUT I have to admit, I am tired of weighing and logging food. Tired of having to take food everywhere I go. If I don't have food with me here, I can forget eating, it's bread, bread, bread, here or just a simple burger costs .. like $20 us dollars.
I CANNOT get my macros right. I eat too much protein. but protein is the only thing that makes me feel full. Unlike most people on LCHF, fat does not make me full. Fat bombs do nothing for me, it's not dense enough, so my protein is always higher than it should be. I am in ketosis about 50% of the time... my carbs are usually around 25-30 net.
My scale has been stuck for the last couple of weeks. I was so encouraged in the beginning, 15 pounds of water weight whooshed out, but then 10 came back.. lol . I think I quit last time because of lack of downward movement. I had a 2 month stall and just gave up because I didn't feel it was working. Now the same thing is happening and I am struggling to keep the faith. All I am asking for is that one little pound a week, maybe 1.5?
I AM counting calories, because I can easily eat more than 2500 calories a day if let loose
my "average" calorie count for a month is about 1600. I have been on 1700, but am mostly under, sometimes over. I have to admit to a few "cheat" days on special occasions. But if CICO is true (I think it's bull but ok..) then it should even out, yes?
I miss crunchy crackers. I am embarrassed to make cheese crisps, as I am really trying to avoid my husbands snide comments about my diet. I miss wraps. and French fries.
Unlike living in large countries like the UK or US, it's REALLY hard to get things like low carb tortillas and soy wraps and electrolyte drink (sugarfree) and all the good stuff here. And SO many places don't ship here (Norway), it's totally frustrating. And if they do, the shipping costs more than the product. Really. I wanted a sugar free sports drink tablet for my electrolytes. htey don't sell one here. I found them on line and they cost about $7 a package, and $15 to ship it! A lot of the things that would make life a little easier I just can't get here.
I spend too much time thinking about food.
So now thank you for listening to me whine and feel sorry for myself. Yes these are seriously FIRST WORLD problems. I should be glad I have food at all. Let alone too much of it. I should be happy I can afford to buy meat. I should be happy to be alive. I am just having a REALLY whinny day.
Yes, yes, No.. I know. This is NOT a diet, it's a lifestyle change, and I really mean to stick to the no eating bread and sugar. BUT I have to admit, I am tired of weighing and logging food. Tired of having to take food everywhere I go. If I don't have food with me here, I can forget eating, it's bread, bread, bread, here or just a simple burger costs .. like $20 us dollars.
I CANNOT get my macros right. I eat too much protein. but protein is the only thing that makes me feel full. Unlike most people on LCHF, fat does not make me full. Fat bombs do nothing for me, it's not dense enough, so my protein is always higher than it should be. I am in ketosis about 50% of the time... my carbs are usually around 25-30 net.
My scale has been stuck for the last couple of weeks. I was so encouraged in the beginning, 15 pounds of water weight whooshed out, but then 10 came back.. lol . I think I quit last time because of lack of downward movement. I had a 2 month stall and just gave up because I didn't feel it was working. Now the same thing is happening and I am struggling to keep the faith. All I am asking for is that one little pound a week, maybe 1.5?
I AM counting calories, because I can easily eat more than 2500 calories a day if let loose
my "average" calorie count for a month is about 1600. I have been on 1700, but am mostly under, sometimes over. I have to admit to a few "cheat" days on special occasions. But if CICO is true (I think it's bull but ok..) then it should even out, yes?I miss crunchy crackers. I am embarrassed to make cheese crisps, as I am really trying to avoid my husbands snide comments about my diet. I miss wraps. and French fries.
Unlike living in large countries like the UK or US, it's REALLY hard to get things like low carb tortillas and soy wraps and electrolyte drink (sugarfree) and all the good stuff here. And SO many places don't ship here (Norway), it's totally frustrating. And if they do, the shipping costs more than the product. Really. I wanted a sugar free sports drink tablet for my electrolytes. htey don't sell one here. I found them on line and they cost about $7 a package, and $15 to ship it! A lot of the things that would make life a little easier I just can't get here.
I spend too much time thinking about food.
So now thank you for listening to me whine and feel sorry for myself. Yes these are seriously FIRST WORLD problems. I should be glad I have food at all. Let alone too much of it. I should be happy I can afford to buy meat. I should be happy to be alive. I am just having a REALLY whinny day.
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Hi Timeyn
We all get to whine occasionally, so don't worry about that. We're all here to help one another and when it's my turn to whine you, and others, will be there for me. That's how it works, right?
Now. If you need more protein than the average bear, then why feel guilty? Keep your protein macro goal where you need it to be, as long as it's not totally ridiculous. If happiness = a few grams more, who's to say you can't sit at that level?
I hear you on the lack of products. I live in Perth, Western Australia. The most isolated city in the world, and our range of products matches our small population and massive distances for anything to get to us. I read all of the options the Americans have, and weep!
And as to you dropping this lifestyle, can I quote something inspiring that I read a few moments ago?
"I have osteoarthritis in both knees. I need to lose weight for health reasons, family history of diabetes and possible knee surgery"
If you want to come join a heap of other ladies who work hard for small losses and regular stalls, come on over to community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10089227/over-50s-ladies-our-special-needs#Item_477 and moan all you like. We all understand. But the truth is - the scales may not be moving, but I can guarantee that your body is increasing in health; that fat has been lost from around your liver and other vital organs and that they are all thanking you for it. It would be very nice indeed to look like a supermodel in no time flat, but I'm trying to know that being healthy is more important than clothes size.
Be patient with yourself. Keep going, knowing that you'll feel more positive about it all tomorrow, or in a few days.
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That really sucks.
The only thing I can say is that a lifestyle change doesn't happen overnight... but it does get easier.
Don't get hung up on the small stuff - don't slash all your tires just because you've got a flat! Keep going! You're doing a million times better than those that are doing nothing but complaining.0 -
Well said both of you! Agree entirely.
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@timeyn I really feel your pain! I sympathise because I have hit my traditional feeling of having been on a diet/WOE for 3-4 months, this is the point where I usually give up. Put on 4 lbs last week due to some bad planning, lack of sleep and I ate some rice when out at a chinese restaurant. Argh!
I was really motivated when I was losing weight regularly, but it is very hard to stick to something when the results aren't showing up. I am determined to stick to it, not least because if I give up and eat carbs about 10lbs will come straight back on and I can't face that! Plus people started to ask about my weight loss and I was so proud to be able to tell them I had lost nearly 2 stone (28 lbs). Of course, now I haven't as I put on some weight... I think this is a key psychological turning point for me - will I stick to this even when the going is hard or will I wimp out again? One thing that I find that helps is reading the success stories on the message boards and all the amazing losses people have had. I keep thinking - if they can do it, am I really so much worse that I can't achieve something like that (although everyone's different and people do have health issues that make it harder). I just have to stick to it...
But as @GrannyMayOz says, we have to believe that our underlying health is improving and that it will be worth it in more important ways. I do feel better in myself, my clothes fit better, I have started taking some exercise and these should be wins that will help me stick to it.
Even though I live in the UK, I can't be bothered with all the low-carb versions of foods - the only thing I use is SlimNoodles occasionally.
What is "too much protein" do you think? Someone (was it wabmester?) posted a helpful chart which had ranges of protein intake for people of different heights. It reassured me - while I aim for 80g protein a day, I quite often overshoot when trying to be very strict on my carbs.
Anyway, I'm rambling, just wanted to say I completely understand where you're coming from and feel a lot of sympathy. Could you bargain with yourself eg I'll stick to this for another week and reward yourself with something you like?
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I can so relate too, timeyn. I have done this before and i know it works ~ now i just have to learn how to live it out. I also am not satisfied on fat and have a tendency to eat too much protein and MUST track my calories. What can i say i like to eat.
Don't be embarrassed to make cheese chips! They are a life saver for me and very easy to pinch a handful of shredded cheese onto a baking sheet and bake. I can eat my taco dip and pizza dip with them. Because I too like crunchy.
Stay positive, like you said focus on the blessings you have and your improved health!
Hang in there.0 -
For the electrolye drink, look at what they give babies when they are dehydrated. Pedyalyte in the states is around $4.00 for a big bottle.
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Unlike living in large countries like the UK or US, it's REALLY hard to get things like low carb tortillas and soy wraps and electrolyte drink (sugarfree) and all the good stuff here
I've been keto for 112 days and haven't had any of those items.I am in ketosis about 50% of the time.
How are you measuring this?0 -
Unlike living in large countries like the UK or US, it's REALLY hard to get things like low carb tortillas and soy wraps and electrolyte drink (sugarfree) and all the good stuff here
I've been keto for 112 days and haven't had any of those items.I am in ketosis about 50% of the time.
How are you measuring this?
a cheap Breathalyzer and the way I feel. This is my 3rd time around with LC, so I am used to the way keto feels. I used keto strips before, but they are WAY too expensive for me to get. about 2x what they cost. But that funny taste in my mouth and that little ammonia smell. I actually don't feel good in keto. it's not a real goal for me, but when I am on 20-30 carbs, I am often there. I guess sometimes too much protein (or too many carbs) throws me out.
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Thank you all for the good advice and support. I know it's just a bad (3 days actually) and I know the feeling when I am about to give up, so the words really help. I know it's terrible to say misery loves company, but it's also nice to know you are not alone.0
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Girl, you live in Norway. Scandinavia is...like...the meat capital of the world. Look at this stuff! Okay, maybe not smalahove unless you're really brave or used to it, but cloudberries and whipped cream? I don't even know what cloudberries are, but that sounds really good! Lamb's ribs? Leg of lamb? Yes please. Moose? Reindeer? Ptarmigan? I'm practically drooling here. Who needs "low carb!" products? They're full of crap usually anyway.
As for your husband's snide comments, tell him to stuff it. Then explain to him that he's being a jacka$$ and if he keeps it up, he can lie in the bed he's thoroughly made for himself -- on the couch. You're doing this for your health and if he doesn't get that, then he's not worth your time. Men just need a swift kick in the butt sometimes (even the men who get stuff like this, like Goat, have thoroughly inserted foot in mouth at times).
Do you really need electrolyte drinks? Perhaps take some time to figure out what you actually need out of it and make sure you get more of that in your regular food (and remember -- MFP is notoriously horrible about potassium values, because nutrition labels are horrible about them, so you're probably getting a lot more than MFP says you are). If you still need more, make bone broth from all that lovely meat you have available to you. Nature's electrolyte drink right there.
One of the differences between a "diet" and a "lifestyle change" is attitude. If you keep thinking about all the things you can't have for one reason or another, you're going to feel deprived and miserable (just like you currently are), but if you instead think about all the wonderful stuff you can have, and what you choose to partake in, you'll find it much easier to stick to.
Find a reindeer farmer and get yourself 1/4 or 1/2 of one. Invest in a dehydrator and maybe a meat grinder. Make jerky and meat sticks, so you have awesome stuff that you want to take with you when you go places. Who needs a boring beef burger when you have reindeer or moose burgers waiting for you at home? Who needs bland chicken when you have Ptarmigan? (For those that don't know, it's a type of grouse, or for you Texans, prairie chicken.) Seriously, grouse beats chicken any day of the week.
I do get it. I have PCOS. I am the queen of plateaus. It's all about perspective, though. Think about all the good things that have come from what you're doing.
Oh, and if you don't feel good in ketosis, then don't aim for ketosis. Whether you keep your carbs or your protein high enough to stay out of it is up to you. You don't need ketosis to reap the benefits of LCHF.0 -
timeyn stop counting and weighing calories/food if that is getting you down. I eat out (USA) once or twice each day but I have learned how to eat 80% fat macros and without eating carbs.
There is nothing wrong with counting and weighing but that was one thing at my age I was not going to start doing plus eating out all of the time the cooks do not want to do it for me.
Now one does have to KNOW how many calories one is eating but once you know how many calories are in one egg you do not forget from day to day.
Counting and weighing is not an eating lifestyle in my world. I do weigh myself each morning after a trip to the bathroom and log that on the back of some junk mail so that gives me 30 days of info.
Stop doing the steps that are going to lead one to stop developing a good eating lifestyle is what I did.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »Oh, and if you don't feel good in ketosis, then don't aim for ketosis. Whether you keep your carbs or your protein high enough to stay out of it is up to you. You don't need ketosis to reap the benefits of LCHF.
This! Don't go as low if it makes you not feel good. Aim for a higher goal, I still eat french fries once in a while, just a few which is enough for me, but if I were aiming for a higher carb goal I would have more. It's not a one size fits all woe, find what works best for you.
Even doing cico when I lost weight in the past I would get stuck at a certain weight for the longest time, the last time I help strong and continued what I was doing and at that point my body started dumping the weight again, some people don't lose slow and steady, they lose quickly a lot then stay there, then again and again. Its the getting through the parts that you are stuck thats important.
I really feel for you and others in different more remote parts of the world. If I could I'd send you the plethora of options we have surrounding us here on a daily basis.
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I'm sad for you that your husband makes disparaging remarks about your way of eating. My husband is less than encouraging, but that's because he thinks it's funny to wave cookies in front of my nose and say, "You can have just one bite." A-hole. Anyway, I got around him making fun of me for my cheese crisps by offering him some. He discovered he actually likes them, and now the problem is that he's eating all the cheese I buy specifically for that purpose! Maybe you can sneak some low carb foods on his plate without him noticing and then remark as he eats, "Oh, isn't that delicious? Those are the chips I make for myself!" Sometimes it's all about how you present it. Or maybe he's just going to be a d*ck about it anyway, in which case I'm sorry. 0
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Hang in there.....I too have been trying the low carb diet. I do great for about 2 or 3 weeks and then when I don't see a movement in the scale, I get discouraged. I read most of the people's comments on here and I have to agree with most of them that said, "remember it is a life style change". I fall of the "wagon" often for about a month or so and then get disgusted with myself and then go back on my "diet". One thing I have noticed about this last round is that I am not diving into my old eating habits. Even though I am not eating an extremely low carb diet (30-40 daily), I am still very conscience of what I put in my mouth. I am an emotional eater and I "craved" something sweet the other day so I baked a cake. I ate one piece and then threw the cake away. I know it sounds like a waste, but it was actually cheaper to do this than buy one piece of cake. I regretted throwing the cake away later in the evening, but only because I knew I wanted to eat it. But I was also thankful that I had the mindset to throw it away, knowing I would eat the whole thing. I am rambling on here, but my point is, don't beat yourself up. It is very discouraging not to see the scale move, but DO NOT MEASURE YOUR SELF WORTH BY THE NUMBERS ON THE SCALE! Measure how you feel when you are on goal, measure how you feel when certain clothes fit you, measure how you feel when you wake up in the morning and do not feel like a failure....those are more important than the number on the scale. The grass is always greener on the other side, enjoy what your country has to offer, (yeah easy for me to say, I live in the US). Good luck to you.0
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Thanks again everyone. I am feeling a bit better. Like I said, I am just being a brat right now. Everything everyone has said has helped me today! Helped me to realize that I do have more choices than I think and remember why I am doing this. This one from @RissyK1
especially hit home. I don't want to wake up another year on my birthday and think "wow another year passed and I didn't do anything about my weight. Ok .. One day at a time. you may hear me bratting out now and then, but thank you SO MUCH for the support!measure how you feel when you wake up in the morning and do not feel like a failure.
@Mami1976D my husband does the same thing. Offers me chips and tries to get me to eat chocolate.. ARRRRRRGH.
@Dragonwolf I need the electrolytes because I am a cramper. Doesn't matter how much water I drink. But all of the drinks here are full of sugar. Plus I dehydrate SO easily, but I will work that out. and Yeah.. we have a LOT of meat.. lol.. made some kid the other day. It was nice.
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An electrolyte drink...I must have missed that the first read. If one is dehydrated here in the US, they will simply IV you a saline solution which is nothing but salt water (sometimes mixed with baking soda). Put some quality salt in your water and if you want it to taste better squeeze a lemon and or lime into it.0
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For the electrolytes, can you just drink some canned broth? Do you have that near you?0
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I see now that I have gotten disillusioned with a diet, in the past that may or may not have been working, and just give up. I would tell myself so many negative things about being a failure. Then, any weight came back, in spades. My whole paradigm has changed about eating, LCHF, and how I feel. I can say that this group of awesome people have been the most inspiring, and motivating, support I have ever encountered. I regret the past, and choices I've made in that regard, but I wouldn't be here, now, getting to share mine and others successes and challenges, if it had been different. Hang in there!0
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Broth for electrolytes? ok. I guess I am being lazy. I don't want to take magnesium, potassium, calcium and selenium all separate, I want them in one package with the salt and bicarbonate. you are all making me think differently 0
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Broth for electrolytes? ok. I guess I am being lazy. I don't want to take magnesium, potassium, calcium and selenium all separate, I want them in one package with the salt and bicarbonate. you are all making me think differently
Broth will cover that. Also add more mushrooms, dark green leaves, and, if you can get it, avocado, to your diet. I have supplements on hand just in case, but I rarely use them.0 -
Yes yes yes. Broth for electrolytes. You can even add fat to it if you need.
For magnesium, I found a product called Natural Calm that works very well. I really don't know where to suggest looking in Norway for similar products, but perhaps you can have something like that shipped in bulk.
The electrolyte packets with no sugar added are not going to be a good price.
Alternatives would be:
Oxylent in a canister
Aminolast amino powder - you can probably find something similar at sports nutrition stores online, or "brick and mortar".
Try to look for products like this in canisters instead of packets. That will really help with the money. You may have to resort to buying it online.
You mentioned that you miss crackers. I have seen flax seed crackers here in the States, and I swear I found a recipe for them somewhere as well.
Ahhh, here's one: http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2012/01/low-carb-rosemary-sea-salt-flax.html
And here are the crackers I buy sometimes. I had to fight my fiance's mom for them last time I visited.
I am lucky to have a supporting fiance - he was on this diet before me.
You are lucky because now you have us.
Your husband is lucky because he will have a HEALTHY NEW YOU for many years to come - like it or not!
-T.
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If you aren't losing weight, you aren't in a caloric deficit and your macros don't really matter.
I would suggest opening your diary.0 -
If you aren't losing weight, you aren't in a caloric deficit and your macros don't really matter.
Not necessarily. (Scale) Weight loss isn't linear, especially for women. Those funny little things called hormones tend to screw with the number on the scale. And yes, it can do it for weeks at a time. No, it doesn't mean she's not still losing fat, it just means the scale isn't reflecting the fat loss due to water retention.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »If you aren't losing weight, you aren't in a caloric deficit and your macros don't really matter.
Not necessarily. (Scale) Weight loss isn't linear, especially for women. Those funny little things called hormones tend to screw with the number on the scale. And yes, it can do it for weeks at a time. No, it doesn't mean she's not still losing fat, it just means the scale isn't reflecting the fat loss due to water retention.
At two weeks, I agree. It's a warning sign, but not certain yet.
If it continues for another two weeks, the most likely cause is the OP eating more than she thinks.
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well.. I weigh in grams. So I use a scale for EVERYTHING. I usually add a gram or two for good measure. My TDEE is 2170, I was eating about 2500 a day, when I first started I cut down to 1800, then 1700, which SHOULD be enough of a deficit to give me about a pound a week. I have had a few "party days" but I actually added my calories for a full month and averaged them out, that got me to about 1570, so if CICO is the rule, I should not be stalled....
add the fact that I have been way more active the last 3 weeks than normal, it's even stranger....0 -
@timeyn I've a feeling that poster is not a low carb person so don't worry about the calorie or 'macros not mattering' statements. Nor the accusation that you're eating more than you think. They sound very CICO oriented IMHO. In the low carb WOE sometimes your body stalls on the scales because it's healing you, not because you're doing anything wrong. It will start losing again when it's done the important work of healing your health. I've stalled regularly, but the fat is almost literally melting away, even though the scales don't have a whole lot to report.
Here, we have a product named Gastrolyte and it's some fizzy tablets that you put in water to recover from gastro where you've lost a lot of fluid (and electrolytes). They're not too expensive and can be purchased from a supermarket or pharmacy/chemist. Perhaps you could find some of those?0 -
Also check out www.iherb.com -- in California. They probably will ship to Norway. I am in Japan and just ordered Effer-C packets and also Nuun drops, not too expensive. If you order enough, the shipping is free to Japan, so look for deals.0
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I use the Nuun electrolyte tablets. They taste good and really help restore me when I feel like I'm dragging.0
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@timeyn I took the liberty of looking at your food diary. Granted I don't know what some of those things are, being from the states, i did notice the counts are generally higher in protein and lower in fat. Try reversing this consistently for a week and see if that doesn't move the scale.
When i first went LC my pie chart was 5% carb, 30% protein and 65% fat. This worked fabulous for me at first. Then stalls. When I changed that to 5% carb, 20%protein, and 75% fat the scales moved again and consistently. I know it doesn't look like that much of a difference but it was really hard for me to increase my fat and limit the protein in order to keep my calorie count the same. I'm a HFLCer that actually believes that there is some creditability in CICO. I know I'm gonna get a lot of back biting for this but I cannot eat all the calories I want and still lose weight, even if it is in the form of meat. I also know of others who are the same as me and been eating LC way longer than me.
Like others have mentioned experiment. Some eat all meat and it works, some do a fat or egg fast and that triggers the scales to move again.0 -
@TribalmamaEmily I think there are quite a lot of people who here who know that calories do matter so don't expect to be jumped all over; it's not going to happen ♥0
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