What tips did you wish someone told you in the beginning of your low carb journey?

genmon00

What has helped me is tweaking my carbs, fats, salt to find the right balance for me. I do advise that this takes time so don't jump ship in a week or two lol Give it at least 30 days. Ask questions, put it out there, everyone here is so helpful and generally nice.

RowdysLady

baconslave wrote: »

Xo_healthylc wrote: »

LeslieMartina wrote: »

Stop trying to fake the carbs- all of the ketofied breads/pizza/sweets/etc. Just focus on eating your regular foods that are naturally keto- meat, cheese, green veggies, etc.

You do NOT have to try the cool kid keto stuff either. I've never made bullet proof coffee or a fat bomb.

Don't tell people. Just live your life and make your choices. No one cares if you order a salad, but if you mention actively being low carb, people go into a frenzy.

Take pictures and measure. The scale is not a reliable friend.

Drink a lot. Water, coffee, tea, powerade zero (if that's your thing). In addition to the benefits of water, it also helps we feel full.

Thanks love. I always worried about the whole Keto food thing as I'm more of a plain eater. If much rather swallow a tablespoon of coconut oil if it means not having to spend time making fat bombs in which I'd probably mess up anyways!

Yeah. There's nothing wrong with doing all the ketofied stuff. But's an "if you need it" instead of a "you must do this or else!"

Thank you for saying that @baconslave. I do like some of those things and it seems sometimes, like those are guilty pleasures now because they are a bit shunned by some. (and my occasional diet soda)

mandycat223

You will be amazed at how many restaurants, even fast food joints, now understand the low-carb thing and will tweak your selections without giving you that blank stare I used to get when I ordered "a sandwich, please; hold the bread."

NonnaTurtle

@PaleoInScotland
Thanks for the tip to read "The Art & Science of Low Carbohydrate Living". I picked up a used copy and read a good chunk of it today. So much info..... love it. I have already learned a ton and feel much better about this WOE.

Thanks again for the tip!

Abm4n

The best diet is based on knowledge. Once you have digested the knowledge and reached a level of understanding the right actions will naturally follow without any strain. You don't miss what you don't want and don't need.

retirehappy

mandycat223 wrote: »

You will be amazed at how many restaurants, even fast food joints, now understand the low-carb thing and will tweak your selections without giving you that blank stare I used to get when I ordered "a sandwich, please; hold the bread."

Sally in When Harry Met Sally is a great role model for ordering your food, even at a diner. And you quote reminded me of Five Easy Pieces when Nicholson orders. Thanks for the laughs

SuperCarLori

RowdysLady wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

Xo_healthylc wrote: »

LeslieMartina wrote: »

Stop trying to fake the carbs- all of the ketofied breads/pizza/sweets/etc. Just focus on eating your regular foods that are naturally keto- meat, cheese, green veggies, etc.

You do NOT have to try the cool kid keto stuff either. I've never made bullet proof coffee or a fat bomb.

Don't tell people. Just live your life and make your choices. No one cares if you order a salad, but if you mention actively being low carb, people go into a frenzy.

Take pictures and measure. The scale is not a reliable friend.

Drink a lot. Water, coffee, tea, powerade zero (if that's your thing). In addition to the benefits of water, it also helps we feel full.

Thanks love. I always worried about the whole Keto food thing as I'm more of a plain eater. If much rather swallow a tablespoon of coconut oil if it means not having to spend time making fat bombs in which I'd probably mess up anyways!

Yeah. There's nothing wrong with doing all the ketofied stuff. But's an "if you need it" instead of a "you must do this or else!"

Thank you for saying that @baconslave. I do like some of those things and it seems sometimes, like those are guilty pleasures now because they are a bit shunned by some. (and my occasional diet soda)

I agree, a couple of keto foods truly have saved the day on a few occasions. Aaaaaaand...if I have to give up sweets, then I ain't doing it.

JessiokaFroka

That adding intermittent fasting is not only incredibly easy, but it really makes my mornings significantly less hectic.

LucyJones195

One day three of my journey and found this useful. Thanks peeps ans wish me luck ....

RalfLott

Keto newbie tips?

baconslave

More would be great.

TnTWalter

thanks for all the great tips from a newbie [day 3].

I made bulletproof coffee on day 1 early afternoon when I normally binge [1 T kerrygold 1 T coconut oil and 1 T heavy cream]...it sustained me until dinner. So now that's my go to afternoon delight. ;O)

I appreciate all the salt tips because I feel so weird doing it but I keep getting reminded to add more salt.

And how do I make chocolate with coconut oil please?

Thanks. Trish

nikoba

For me, this little saying holds true:

"Fail to plan or plan to fail"
Mostly I pertain this to my weekly meal planning and grocery trips. If I stay on track with keeping good food in the house and meals in the line up, I'm much much less likely to flub up. Planning to keep my fridge/freezer stocked with foods that I actually look forward to eating make it so much easier to stay on the right path.

But this also holds true to things like...if I know I'm going to be at a cookout/dinner party or drinking with friends, I need to plan to have snacks and foods that I can enjoy and indulge in. If I fail to do so, it's waaay too easy to go for the other stuff.

baconslave

And another "planning" tip. Pre-logging.
Life saver.
Pre-log your day the night before. You have a guilt-free, easy plan to follow, so you don't have to make decisions when hungry. And you won't accidentally go over on carbs or calories when you make a choice at the end of your day that turns out doesn't fit and makes you go over.

RalfLott

I wish it had been laid out as LCHS, or maybe "Salty Keto," to de-emphasize dietary fat (thereby emphasizing dietary protein) and remind folks about getting enough sodium.

It might have saved me some LBM and a couple weeks of living in Zombieland.

mmultanen

The salt omg the salt. My dr originally set me on this path 3 years ago but while she was supper supportive had no real advice on where to start so I just limited my carbs to 35g a day and I THOUGHT I WAS DYING. I didn't realize I needed salt I maintained but good lord that first shot in the dark was painful and unnecessary.

That you don't have to have some magical fat amount. It's not required to add fat just for fats sake for most people. Don't force yourself to put butter in your coffee and olive oil on everything if you don't like it. I've never ever found a BPC coffee that doesn't make me gag. I just hate it and that's ok

Fake carbs just make me mad. Cauliflower pizza crust isn't pizza. It just makes me want the real stuff worse. So, I don't engage in low carb copies of carbs AT ALL. I'm lucky that I can have a single slice of good NY style (the only style) pizza once in a while and I don't experience many side effects. (It just took me a stupid long time to learn I can't have like the whole pie every other night...... but that's a conversation for a different topic)

And finally, It was a watershed moment for me to realize there's no magic program. a LC lifestyle is incredible personal. What works for you won't necessarily work for me and I don't have to follow some specific diet program obsessively and fear that I'M DOING IT WRONG constantly.

And yes all of these are in the posts above but *pbbbbbt* most people need to hear, see, read things upteen times before they absorb into our thick skulls.

Bonny132

I wish I knew that the Keto flu is NOT normal, to "suffer" through it is not normal. It is not a flu it is an electrolyte balance. Get that salt into you. I also had to google what electrolytes were at first.

Having to eat 3 meals plus snacks is nonsense. Eat when you are hungry, learn to listen to your body.

Don't obsess about macros. At first get used to the plan and a new mindset. You can eat crispy chickenskin, you are told to use full fat products. Enjoy, don't feel guilty. When you are used to the plan, look at your macros.

There is no need to go Keto, low carb is fine.

And eat too much carbs and bloat to 7 months pregnancy and put on 4-7lbs in water weight is normal. It comes off again once the carbs leaves your body.

Finally, yes your bowel movements will get affected. Don't be scared, you are not constipated.

And PS Magnesium can have some interesting side effects if taken to excess.

baconslave

mmultanen wrote: »

The salt omg the salt. My dr originally set me on this path 3 years ago but while she was supper supportive had no real advice on where to start so I just limited my carbs to 35g a day and I THOUGHT I WAS DYING. I didn't realize I needed salt I maintained but good lord that first shot in the dark was painful and unnecessary.

That you don't have to have some magical fat amount. It's not required to add fat just for fats sake for most people. Don't force yourself to put butter in your coffee and olive oil on everything if you don't like it. I've never ever found a BPC coffee that doesn't make me gag. I just hate it and that's ok

Fake carbs just make me mad. Cauliflower pizza crust isn't pizza. It just makes me want the real stuff worse. So, I don't engage in low carb copies of carbs AT ALL. I'm lucky that I can have a single slice of good NY style (the only style) pizza once in a while and I don't experience many side effects. (It just took me a stupid long time to learn I can't have like the whole pie every other night...... but that's a conversation for a different topic)

And finally, It was a watershed moment for me to realize there's no magic program. a LC lifestyle is incredible personal. What works for you won't necessarily work for me and I don't have to follow some specific diet program obsessively and fear that I'M DOING IT WRONG constantly.

And yes all of these are in the posts above but *pbbbbbt* most people need to hear, see, read things upteen times before they absorb into our thick skulls.

And lots are like: "SALT!!! No that's bad. I don't need it. This doesn't apply to me."
EVERY low-carber has higher sodium needs. Especially those that will pass in and out of keto or those who stay keto. At 100-120g, I needed sodium. Not as much as when I was keto, but I needed it. It's biology.

mmultanen

@baconslave I have had friends who said "OMG YOU'RE GOING TO DIE EATING THAT MUCH SALT". Naah. Every health metric is vastly improved with this way of eating. I ain't gonna die from salt.

tcunbeliever

chocolate coconut oil - I use agave instead of honey, but any sweetener can be used:

allrecipes.com/recipe/236212/homemade-melt-in-your-mouth-dark-chocolate-paleo/

abbyweaver1975

I've been reading through a lot of these and I have a question. It might have already been answered. I work out hard twice a week and the other days I get as much activity as possible (taking steps at work, walking as much as my schedule allows). I am doing something everyday. I am new to Keto so I am wondering how many calories should I allow myself in a day? And any suggestions on how to keep myself from falling off the wagon and letting it roll over me? LOL! I'm struggling this morning, if you can't tell.

nvmomketo

@abbyweaver1975 I find if I gave a hungry day, especially when I was getting used to this way of eating, it was helpful to eat more, but not in carbs. Some days I just seemed to need 500+ calories more for some reason. My usual intake while losing, and without exercise, was 1500 kcal. I rarely had more than two days in a row of 2000-2500 kcal days. Then my hunger fell off and I ended up with some lower calorie days. I found not depriving myself of calories when I needed them helped.

Since you are active, you may have higher calorie needs than me while losing, unless you are quite petite. I am 5'8" and had 40lbs to lose, and lost about 2 lbs a week on average. If I was exercising, I probably could have averaged closer to 1700-1800 kcal. I often walked 30-60 minutes but tended not to eat that back - I guessed it was only a hundred or so calories.

And try more salt and water. Sometimes those needs feel like hunger and low energy.

camtosh

What she said! "eat fat to satiety" means that when you feel low, eat a spoonful of something fatty and see how you feel in an hour. And drink more water. With salt if you need it.