I'm a Newbie

PamWOhio

Hi Everyone,

I started on MFP a hair over 7 weeks ago. I am down 22.5 lbs and have just started trying LCHF. There is no way I could do Keto because I do like to have a sandwich now and again with my 35 calorie bread and I just can't give up my potatoes. I can easily stay between 50 and 75 carbs...sometimes lower. Do a lot of you still have results just staying low carb but not low enough for keto? I do like being able to eat my full fat dairy now so that is a plus but I am not a big veggie person. I like all kinds of beans and corn and peas. A few others if they are in soups and stews and I do like onions and mushrooms but nothing leafy or stalky. I am open for any and all advice you have for me that could help me be successful.

RowdysLady

I happen to be keto, but my daughter stays around 100 carbs a day and she's losing too. You don't have to be keto to lose weight on a LCHF WOE. Keep in mind, the "veggies" you mentioned as liking are actually legumes and starches that have carbs in them so be careful if you are trying to stay at a certain carb level. Corn, especially, has a ton of carbs and I had to give it up completely (but again, I'm only at 20 carbs a day).

Some people, me included, find that too much dairy, especially cheese kills wt loss for me so I try to eat less cheese but I often fail at that.

The best advice I can give you is to hang around, keep asking questions just like you did and read everything stickied at the beginning of the forum. Welcome to this wonderful place of info and support!

PamWOhio

I honestly don't eat many veggies at all. I do have a 1/2 cup of green beans every couple of days but I am bad. I actually prefer my meat. I only eat lunch and dinner and am usually very satified...I don't feel deprived or hungry. I try and keep just enough carb grams available to have 1 sandwich and a small baked potato with dinner but don't usually have both so very easy to stay between 50 and 75 even if I do have both. I have a LOT to learn but with all the research I have been doing the lower carb/higher fat seems very appealing. I usually do the 16/8 or 18/6 IMF as well since I rarely eat anything before noon and am usually done eating by 6 with an occasional snack around 7 or so. I am going in now to bookmark some of the low carb recipe sites. I have so much ground meat in my freezer that I haven't touched because when I first started I was trying to stay lower on fat because I still had it in my head that fat was the enemy. Feel free to throw any advice at me you think would help. I don't eat a ton of cheese but I like the laughing cow wedges for snacks and being able to use "real" cheese on a sandwich. I guess I need to start trying some new veggies. I have never even tried asparagus or anything like that. Maybe I will like it.

KenSmith108

or

RowdysLady

I don't much like veggies either, except the ones filled with carbs, like corn. I do love salad though so I eat a very small salad at many dinners. I subtract the fiber in the veg from my total carbs. You don't have to eat veggies. Just like we were told to eat low fat and we all bought into it at one time or another, we were all told to eat fruit and veggies...but really...we don't have to. @FIT_Goat eats only meat, as I understand it. So, don't think you need to get your spinach in if you don't want veggies. It sounds like you are well on your way to LCHF success! Eat that meat in the freezer and throw some butter on it! Yum!

PamWOhio

Thank you so much RowdysLady for making me feel welcome. I just bookmarked a bunch of low carb sites on Facebook and several of the low carb recipe sites from here in the group.

Sunny_Bunny_

PamWOhio wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I started on MFP a hair over 7 weeks ago. I am down 22.5 lbs and have just started trying LCHF. There is no way I could do Keto because I do like to have a sandwich now and again with my 35 calorie bread and I just can't give up my potatoes. I can easily stay between 50 and 75 carbs...sometimes lower. Do a lot of you still have results just staying low carb but not low enough for keto? I do like being able to eat my full fat dairy now so that is a plus but I am not a big veggie person. I like all kinds of beans and corn and peas. A few others if they are in soups and stews and I do like onions and mushrooms but nothing leafy or stalky. I am open for any and all advice you have for me that could help me be successful.

As long as the way you're eating leaves you feeling satisfied between meals and you don't find yourself having to use will power to not overeat, then you'll do just fine. For some people, keto is needed to reach that.
At the level you're mentioning, you will be in ketosis some of the time and you should feel nicely energized and a fair amount of hunger control from it. So, even though your foods aren't included in a "keto diet", you will still achieve ketosis some of the time. This will help your body become more metabolically flexible. It will also mean that you'll be teetering in and out of ketosis throughout each day and will need a bit more sodium at least in the beginning. Possibly all the time. Just adding as much salt to your foods as you like, without trying to limit it, should be enough. But be aware of the low sodium symptoms mentioned in the launchpad just in case so you will be able to correct them right away if you start experiencing any.

Welcome!

PamWOhio

THANK YOU. I have been trying to stay within the 2300mg of sodium. I usually come in several hundred under that on a regular basis. I will go read up on the low sodium stuff in the Launchpad. I had no clue I needed more sodium.

Robbnva

I just joined this group. I'm on day 2. I'm a runner who's currently on hiatus due to injury and wife convinced me to give this a try. I lost 100lbs previously doing other things but the idea of using fat for fuel intrigues me. Hope to learn a lot in here.

RowdysLady

Welcome to you too, @Robbnva!

GaleHawkins

Robbnva wrote: »

I just joined this group. I'm on day 2. I'm a runner who's currently on hiatus due to injury and wife convinced me to give this a try. I lost 100lbs previously doing other things but the idea of using fat for fuel intrigues me. Hope to learn a lot in here.

@Robbnva welcome to this Way Of Eating. I have been eating this way for two years and it has been all positive in my case. Best of success.

JessicaLCHF

PamWOhio wrote: »

I honestly don't eat many veggies at all. I do have a 1/2 cup of green beans every couple of days but I am bad. I actually prefer my meat. I only eat lunch and dinner and am usually very satified...I don't feel deprived or hungry. I try and keep just enough carb grams available to have 1 sandwich and a small baked potato with dinner but don't usually have both so very easy to stay between 50 and 75 even if I do have both. I have a LOT to learn but with all the research I have been doing the lower carb/higher fat seems very appealing. I usually do the 16/8 or 18/6 IMF as well since I rarely eat anything before noon and am usually done eating by 6 with an occasional snack around 7 or so. I am going in now to bookmark some of the low carb recipe sites. I have so much ground meat in my freezer that I haven't touched because when I first started I was trying to stay lower on fat because I still had it in my head that fat was the enemy. Feel free to throw any advice at me you think would help. I don't eat a ton of cheese but I like the laughing cow wedges for snacks and being able to use "real" cheese on a sandwich. I guess I need to start trying some new veggies. I have never even tried asparagus or anything like that. Maybe I will like it.

You'd get a lot more nutritional value from lots of veggies if you cut out the high carb veggies (assuming your numbers stayed the same). I don't have potatoes at all. I rarely have a small amount of corn, peas or carrot. I'll occasionally have black beans, Brussels sprouts or tomatoes. Other veggies I have with abandon. I've learned to really like my veggies. They are my only serious source of carbs.

Favs: green beans, peppers, yellow or zucchini squash, spinach, salads, asparagus. These I don't limit. I eat as much as I want.

JessicaLCHF

Let me add some ways to make each of these "better".

Green beans- sauté in bacon drippings and add a pinch of curry powder. Killer.
Peppers- with onions and Italian or German meats
Squash- cut in rings, boil 10 m, drain, stir in butter, nutmeg, s+p
Spinach- wash and steam covered in a frying pan wet, then add an egg and a lot of mozzarella cheese, garlic salt
Salad- make a Greek salad or Italian Chopped Salad
Asparagus- drizzle steamed spears with béarnaise sauce. This is my all time favorite. I make mine from a pkt in the gravy aisle at the store, using heavy cream and water with the butter instead of milk and butter. Decadent.

Forgot a few regular veggies. Broccoli and cauliflower, roasted or sautéed cabbage, and avocado. Tho I think it's technically a fruit. Celery isn't bad if you eat it with tuna salad, peanut butter, or a mix of mayo and sriracha sauce).

PamWOhio

Thanks Jessica!

Shadowmf023

Welcome.......



To the DARK SIDE!!!


**Cue evil maniac laugh**


MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Bonny132

Just wanted to say welcome to the both of you. The launch pad thought me so much, this place has been invaluable for my learning about LCHF.

BaconSan2

Welcome! I am surprised how much I AM missing veggies & fruits - still try to add them in carb friendly amounts. I thought I'd miss bread but no I have my wildest fantasies about MONSTER salads.

PamWOhio

Since I am just trying to stay around 50-75 carbs..although today I am only looking at 18, I can still have my tuna or ham sandwich. My bread is only 35 calories a slice and 8 carbs a slice. That was most of my 18 today....lol. I could easily fit in a couple loaded potato skins but might just stick with eating my 1/2lb steak for dinner. It will definitley fill me up but GOD, I sure have a major headache today.

SuperCarLori

Hi Pam! Did you read about sodium? Low sodium=headache, sadly. I want to say welcome!!

MyriiStorm

Welcome, @PamWOhio and @Robbnva! Glad to have you both here. Please ask away if you have more questions. There are lots of helpful folks in here.

sh512266

JessicaLCHF wrote: »

PamWOhio wrote: »

I honestly don't eat many veggies at all. I do have a 1/2 cup of green beans every couple of days but I am bad. I actually prefer my meat. I only eat lunch and dinner and am usually very satified...I don't feel deprived or hungry. I try and keep just enough carb grams available to have 1 sandwich and a small baked potato with dinner but don't usually have both so very easy to stay between 50 and 75 even if I do have both. I have a LOT to learn but with all the research I have been doing the lower carb/higher fat seems very appealing. I usually do the 16/8 or 18/6 IMF as well since I rarely eat anything before noon and am usually done eating by 6 with an occasional snack around 7 or so. I am going in now to bookmark some of the low carb recipe sites. I have so much ground meat in my freezer that I haven't touched because when I first started I was trying to stay lower on fat because I still had it in my head that fat was the enemy. Feel free to throw any advice at me you think would help. I don't eat a ton of cheese but I like the laughing cow wedges for snacks and being able to use "real" cheese on a sandwich. I guess I need to start trying some new veggies. I have never even tried asparagus or anything like that. Maybe I will like it.

You'd get a lot more nutritional value from lots of veggies if you cut out the high carb veggies (assuming your numbers stayed the same). I don't have potatoes at all. I rarely have a small amount of corn, peas or carrot. I'll occasionally have black beans, Brussels sprouts or tomatoes. Other veggies I have with abandon. I've learned to really like my veggies. They are my only serious source of carbs.

Favs: green beans, peppers, yellow or zucchini squash, spinach, salads, asparagus. These I don't limit. I eat as much as I want.

@JessicaLCHF I'm wondering what your carbs end up being at the end of the day? All of my carbs come from low carb veggies and I'm struggling to stay under 50. Today was 54. I'm not using net carbs, just the straight amount of carbs MFP tells me is in 1 cup of chopped bell peppers, celery, pickles, cucumber etc. I LOVE veggies dipped in sriracha hummus (1g of carbs) and eat that daily. My only other source really is 8g from my protein shake every am and the cup of frozen fruit and spinach I purée with it... which gives me about an extra 6-8g of carbs depending on what I throw into it. I am not missing breads etc but darn would I love to be able to eat more fruit and veggies!!

@PamWOhio - I'm almost a month in and still have daily headaches and fatigue. I'm on day 4 or so of two Ketoade drinks a day with a magnesium supplement at night. They are helping. Good luck!!!!!

KarlaYP

I am a meat eater too with a salad thrown in about twice a month. I've been at it about 19 months! Welcome to the group! You will find great support here, and the information available can't be bought!

PLEASE read the information on electrolytes that's at the top of the first page! This will help with the headaches, leg cramps, and other symptoms that can arise from the ketones that are produced from burning fat for fuel! Some don't experience these symptoms, but many of us do, even after almost two years! Don't be afraid of sodium that's needed to fix the symptoms! You are only replacing what you're losing from what the ketones take with your urine.

JessicaLCHF

sh512266 wrote: »

JessicaLCHF wrote: »

PamWOhio wrote: »

I honestly don't eat many veggies at all. I do have a 1/2 cup of green beans every couple of days but I am bad. I actually prefer my meat. I only eat lunch and dinner and am usually very satified...I don't feel deprived or hungry. I try and keep just enough carb grams available to have 1 sandwich and a small baked potato with dinner but don't usually have both so very easy to stay between 50 and 75 even if I do have both. I have a LOT to learn but with all the research I have been doing the lower carb/higher fat seems very appealing. I usually do the 16/8 or 18/6 IMF as well since I rarely eat anything before noon and am usually done eating by 6 with an occasional snack around 7 or so. I am going in now to bookmark some of the low carb recipe sites. I have so much ground meat in my freezer that I haven't touched because when I first started I was trying to stay lower on fat because I still had it in my head that fat was the enemy. Feel free to throw any advice at me you think would help. I don't eat a ton of cheese but I like the laughing cow wedges for snacks and being able to use "real" cheese on a sandwich. I guess I need to start trying some new veggies. I have never even tried asparagus or anything like that. Maybe I will like it.

You'd get a lot more nutritional value from lots of veggies if you cut out the high carb veggies (assuming your numbers stayed the same). I don't have potatoes at all. I rarely have a small amount of corn, peas or carrot. I'll occasionally have black beans, Brussels sprouts or tomatoes. Other veggies I have with abandon. I've learned to really like my veggies. They are my only serious source of carbs.

Favs: green beans, peppers, yellow or zucchini squash, spinach, salads, asparagus. These I don't limit. I eat as much as I want.

@JessicaLCHF I'm wondering what your carbs end up being at the end of the day? All of my carbs come from low carb veggies and I'm struggling to stay under 50. Today was 54. I'm not using net carbs, just the straight amount of carbs MFP tells me is in 1 cup of chopped bell peppers, celery, pickles, cucumber etc. I LOVE veggies dipped in sriracha hummus (1g of carbs) and eat that daily. My only other source really is 8g from my protein shake every am and the cup of frozen fruit and spinach I purée with it... which gives me about an extra 6-8g of carbs depending on what I throw into it. I am not missing breads etc but darn would I love to be able to eat more fruit and veggies!!

@PamWOhio - I'm almost a month in and still have daily headaches and fatigue. I'm on day 4 or so of two Ketoade drinks a day with a magnesium supplement at night. They are helping. Good luck!!!!!

Hi, my carbs end up being 25-30 net carbs a day. I don't delete sugar alcohols normally (Truvia counts as three carbs for me) but I do delete fiber carbs since they pass right through. My total carbs can be anywhere from 50-60 carbs a day. If you want to friend me, you can see my diary. I often eat a huge salad for a meal once a day. I eat berries daily. I lost three pounds last week, so I know it's working for me.