Struggling with low carb
xiamjackie
Posts: 611 Member
I just started the low carb lifestyle about two weeks ago, and I've lost 5 pounds so far. Plus, I'm doing the "Insanity" DVD workouts, so that may make a difference too. I limit my carbs to under 100, which is a HUGE feat for me because I was used to eating 150-200 carbs a day easily. I never ate anything I thought was unhealthy, just a TON of fruits, cereals, oatmeal, toast, sandwiches, wraps, etc.
I am having a really tough time finding low carb foods. I end up only eating like 900 calories a day plus burning 300-400 with Insanity, just because I run out of low carb foods to eat. I eat a spinach salad every day for lunch and snack on almonds or string cheese throughout the day, with chicken and veggies for dinner. But I'm never breaking 1000 calories. Can anyone help with what additional foods I could eat? Or where am I going wrong? I'm new to this and even with the diet I described, I end up eating like 70 carbs a day.
Help!
I am having a really tough time finding low carb foods. I end up only eating like 900 calories a day plus burning 300-400 with Insanity, just because I run out of low carb foods to eat. I eat a spinach salad every day for lunch and snack on almonds or string cheese throughout the day, with chicken and veggies for dinner. But I'm never breaking 1000 calories. Can anyone help with what additional foods I could eat? Or where am I going wrong? I'm new to this and even with the diet I described, I end up eating like 70 carbs a day.
Help!
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Replies
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bump because this is what happened to me when i did low carb and ended up ditching it because of this reason 2 weeks ago but had good result weight loss wise so wana start up again!
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Try looking at the Atkins website for acceptable foods and recipes just to give you an idea & Linda's Low Carb has great recipe ideas that you can tweak and make your own! I also like Your Lighter Side for some additional recipe ideas. I've just completed the induction period myself and was succesful with these 2 links for recipe ideas. I hope this helps. You can also go on Pinterest too, I hear there's an abundace of ideas there as well! :flowerforyou:0
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Try looking at the Atkins website for acceptable foods and recipes just to give you an idea & Linda's Low Carb has great recipe ideas that you can tweak and make your own! I also like Your Lighter Side for some additional recipe ideas. I've just completed the induction period myself and was succesful with these 2 links for recipe ideas. I hope this helps. You can also go on Pinterest too, I hear there's an abundace of ideas there as well! :flowerforyou:
Thanks for the tip about Linda's Low Carb website! I just checked it out and it has a ton of ideas.0 -
Holy cow, I just checked out Linda's Low Carb site too and all I can say is wow. And I thought I was really getting the hang of low carb eating only to see that I'm still just a beginner. The recipes for ground beef alone are amazing. I can't wait to browse through the chicken.
Thanks so much for this. Much appreciated.0 -
This is a good site/blog with a lot of infor
for Ketosis
http://josepharcita.blogspot.com/2011/03/guide-to-ketosis.html#Section1
Then try
marks daily apple...
Read through these and you should have a better idea of what to eat. I have no problem getting my cals0 -
I am low carb too and have no problem eating my calories!
Egg Beaters in any way you like with veggies and breakfast meat like turkey or chicken sausage in the AM
Fancy items like low carb pancakes - either zero flour made with whey protein or some flour and greek yogurt - weekends
Protein and berry shakes - make with water add fake sugar and plan greek yogurt
Invest in the zero calorie syrups - yummy
lunch large salad and any meat you like with olive oil and vinegar dressing (add nuts for crunch and calories) - or go out and have a lettuce wrapped burger (hold the sauce and cheese)
Dinner - well any green veg or two plus meat, fish, chicken anyway you like.0 -
Hi - I actually try to stay at 60 or lower, but one thing that you could try which I really enjoy...
morning coffee plus: 1T heavy cream (60 cals and all good fat) AND 1 T coconut oil (120 cals, and again the best fat!)
So add calories with good fats!0 -
I'm a big fan of adding good fat sources, do that and the calories should not be a problem.
Heavy cream, coconut oil, I cook in 100% animal fat, raw nuts, bacon ... mmm, bacon ... it soon adds up
A big mistake for low carbing is to overdo the protein, we need to get good at burning fat and in the absence of excess carbohydrate good (natural) dietary fat will neither make us fat nor be unhealthy. Including saturated fat.
And don't fear salt, we need this too.
And water, obviously
And we are all different, and you probably don't want to hear this, but 100g of carbs a day may not work well for you if you have been a big carb fan in the past. I'd shoot for half that.0 -
I am low carb too and have no problem eating my calories!
I know - I eat 2000 a day!
I would add coconut oil to coffee, start mixing heavy whipping cream with whey protein and ice and put some flax in it and drink it down - it's soooo good. I like to mix unsweetened coconut with almond butter and eat it. Also on the thread is a low carb muffin in a minute...
Now I am going to go check out those links above! Looks awesome!0 -
Wow! I just went to Linda's Low Carb website and am THRILLED! There are recipes there that even the hubby will like. (He hates the low carb way)0
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I see many people who post here use coconut oil in coffee... can you taste it? I imagine the coffee to have a slight coconut flavour?0
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I have just made a new sticky thread for this forum 'FAQS, useful links and infor for newbies'. Check it out- there are tons of links to good recipe sites, acceptable food lists, diet plan comparisons and Low carb shopping lists.0
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I'm sticking to 20g carbs a day so far have lost 8lbs in first week and another lb today....I'm doing Atkins ....it does feel strange to be eating all the no no foods such as cheese and cream ....I tend to eat around 1600 cals a day and don't exercise I know I should lol....I set myfitnesspal up as 5% carbs 65% fat and 30% protein ....I never have a prob getting in the extra fat....there are some fab recipes out there....recipes I love are :
Cheeseburger Pie
Total carbs 9c. Serves 4
Ingredients:
500g minced beef
50g finely chopped onion
150g chopped mushrooms
100mls double cream
2 heaped tablespoons of mayo
150g strong cheddar grated
3 eggs
salt & pepper to taste
Fry mince, onion and mushrooms together until cooked season to taste, drain off fat, add Lee & Perrins sauce.
Place in a greased foil covered deep pie dish, flatten with spoon.
Beat eggs add mayo, cream and cheese.
Pour over the top of mince, drop olives around the dish and bake in oven Gas mark 5 for 20 to 25 mins until set and golden brown.
Leave to cool before taking out of pie dish, remove foil.
Cut in to portions and wrap in cling film
This freezes very well.
Lovely with salad, cauli mash, or stir fry (Great in lunchboxes)
Another is:
Chicken topped with Parmesan
Basically chicken breasts with a mix of Parmesan and mayonnaise on top and cooked in the oven on 180 degrees for about 30/40 mins ....I also cook these dishes for the whole family and they love them too.
I miss fruit....but do have lots of rhubarb ESP for brekkie....with a tbsp of heavy cream.
Hope that' helps x0 -
Even though Im on a 1600 calorie restriction per specialist's orders, they are aware that when I work out, that Im going to need more fuel so I am choosing to eat back some of the exercise calories...
You have to be alot more dedicated to meal planning and make sure you never net below 1200... it is not medically advisable unless you have been approved and are being supervised by the care of a physician/specialist....
Im definitely a fan of enjoying butter where I make compounds for meals. There is something very sexy about a slab of compound butter melting on top of a perfectly grilled steak, a moist and tender breast of turkey, even salmon.0 -
I guess I am just so used to hearing that fat is bad for you that I was a little reluctant to eat fat in my diet, but I guess I need to start. I will take everyone's suggestions. Thank you!0
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I can taste it and I am not a big fan. To me its kind of gross in anything but a little curry. So I use it very sparingly but I am heavy handed with the olive oil and bacon fat! I also just recently purchased MCT oil and will try that. But that is not to cook with that is more of a supplement.0
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bacon fat!
talk dirty... lol!!!!!!!0 -
I see many people who post here use coconut oil in coffee... can you taste it? I imagine the coffee to have a slight coconut flavour?
I can't taste it per se, but you can smell the coconut aroma. It certainly gives the coffee a bit of a oily feeling of course, but if you stir it up really well with some heavy whipping cream, it's practiclly like a rich dessert.0 -
Check out Peace, Love and Low Carb!!! Great recipies on there too!! Good luck
http://peaceloveandlowcarb.blogspot.com/0 -
If you use virgin expeller pressed. That has no coconut flavor or odor. I get mine at my produce co-op but I know you can find it where they sell coconut oils.I see many people who post here use coconut oil in coffee... can you taste it? I imagine the coffee to have a slight coconut flavour?
I can't taste it per se, but you can smell the coconut aroma. It certainly gives the coffee a bit of a oily feeling of course, but if you stir it up really well with some heavy whipping cream, it's practiclly like a rich dessert.0 -
I see many people who post here use coconut oil in coffee... can you taste it? I imagine the coffee to have a slight coconut flavour?
There are two types of coconut oil - one is refined and there isn't really a coconut taste at all. The other is pure, and it's exactly what it says, there is a strong coconut taste to it.0 -
I always use extra virgin, organic, cold expeller pressed coconut oil.0
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More ideas could be from atkins recipes on youtube. The user bowulf has many low carb recipes too.
http://www.youtube.com/user/bowulf0 -
Dana Carpender has really great recipe books too, lots of simple recipes and most of them are not too fiddly.0
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I see many people who post here use coconut oil in coffee... can you taste it? I imagine the coffee to have a slight coconut flavour?
I keep a spoon in the cup and stir away before I sip. I also add heavy whipping cream and cinnamon to my coffee everyday. And yeah, slightly coconutty. But I love it 0 -
Ok so I went and tried the coconut oil in my coffee and it wasnt that b ad. I still dont like it in my food. but I guess I can drink it in my coffe0
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I'm a big fan of adding good fat sources, do that and the calories should not be a problem.
Heavy cream, coconut oil, I cook in 100% animal fat, raw nuts, bacon ... mmm, bacon ... it soon adds up
A big mistake for low carbing is to overdo the protein, we need to get good at burning fat and in the absence of excess carbohydrate good (natural) dietary fat will neither make us fat nor be unhealthy. Including saturated fat.
And don't fear salt, we need this too.
And water, obviously
And we are all different, and you probably don't want to hear this, but 100g of carbs a day may not work well for you if you have been a big carb fan in the past. I'd shoot for half that.
Totall agree with this.0
