My name is Cherie and I've been a low carber on and off for years.. My first experience was in 2008 when I reached my heaviest weight of 206. I started Oct 1 of that year and by new years day had lost down to 144. (62 lbs) when I leveled myself off I was about 155. (I'm 5`9 and 35) For several years I maintained at around 160 just staying away from breads, sweets, and potatoes.. But in 2012 I started pursuing my nursing degree and its all gone down hill. I'm currently 185. (I started at 195 in november.. Lost to 180 then took a few days off for Xmas and gained the 5 from the dreaded water weight.)

Currently trying to reduce my carbs below 30g (minus fiber) a day and reducing my calories to 1200-1500. I monitor my protein intake and try to maintain 100+ grams a day. I watch my vitamin consumption and thus far only have to supplement 50% of my calcium. I have a portable pedal that I use at least 60 minutes a day. I log the exercise as leisurely biking but I don't eat back the calories.

I love to read from the forums and to post.. I feel like I know how to lose and I know why I gain. I have a passion and addiction for food. I grow it (I'm an avid gardener). I process it (I raise chickens and dehydrate/store meats and veggies). I love to cook and I love to eat.. I weight all my food.. And I enjoy snacking. I hope mfp can help me stay passionate.

I'm Jen and I'm doing low carb again and feel so much better. Not sure why I ever stopped. I did low carb two years ago and got down to 140 and have let my weight creep back up to 157! I am trying to get a handle on it before it gets completely out of control. Love this group and the support. I hate the main boards as well and therefore hardly ever post. Good luck everyone. Happy to be friends with any here too. Love to get more ideas for meals/snacks etc. I tend to eat the same thing over and over again.

I'm Michelle. I've been a low-carber for a long time, but I have problems sticking with it. Most of last year was me low-carbing/carb-cycling. I've learned that my body just LOVES low-carb. I don't have a gluten allergy, but am sensitive to processed wheat (white things). Last year I lost about 25 pounds doing low-carb and walking, and I am looking forward to continuing this trend into this year as well. Feel free to add me, love having friends and support!

oh, and does anyone have trouble falling asleep during induction? I swear it does something to my brain. I could not fall asleep last night and remember this being a problem in the past when I tried to re-start a LCD

Hi!
I've been doing some form of low carb for a year now. (Lost around 30 lbs.) I started out just keeping my carbs under 100 g then moved lower and lower until I was doing a Keto diet, added being (mostly) Paleo/Primal to it and currently am doing lower carb (mostly) Paleo/Primal as with the Holidays I knew that there weren't going to be a lot of good food choices and decided that avoiding the grains was the thing I wanted to worry about the most. Now that most of the parties are over I am trying to see what level of carbs I feel the best on, and if I want to go back to Keto or stay at a slightly higher amount of carbs.

I am Gale (63yo) and when into ketosis as of Oct 2014 after trying all of Aug-Sept and plan to stay with the low carb eating lifestyle because my arthritis pain level is down from 7-8+ to 2-3 on a 1-10 scale. I have lost 16 pounds since the first of Oct as a side effect of eating to manage my pain. The more I learn the more I realize how little I know about the info out there one can learn.

dawlfin318 wrote: »

So, a question. Does my fitness pal count carbs for you like it does calories or do I need to do that myself. I tried playing with settings but am stumped. I would rather see carb counts than calories.

Dawl;

As was explained above, be sure your settings are ok and MFP will indeed "count" (track) carbs for you (as "total carbs"). You can add an extension which will calculate and display "net" carbs if you like - I don't ("like"), some others do, choice is yours.

The one thing that you do need to be aware of though (especially if you record "exercise" calories (which I also don't recommend for a number of reasons), MFP will "adjust" your macro numbers (increase cals/carbs/protein/fat) in absolute terms (grams) in order to maintain the same ratio.

This is NOT what you want to do though since carbs and proteins are generally considered to be "fixed" maximums (i.e. 20 or 50 or whatever is your numerical "target". So if you do add exercise numbers, stick to the goal targets, NOT what MFP "adjusts".

I was wondering why my goals didn't match my targets!!.. I like to record my exercise but don't believe in eating back the calories for two reasons..1) I know I'm not really burning what it says. 2) my goal in eating is to get my nutrients, I got those... Why eat more. All I burnt was calories and I've got more than enough fat for that.

Hola..

My name is Omar, Im 43 from Miami. I've been LC for about 3 months with on and off Keto in between. I transitioned from counting calories cause I was stuck at 228 from 250 and couldn't break. Im now 217 but I can easily gain 7 to 8 pounds in 3 days if im not careful. My goal is to be around 200 (I would be shredded at 200). I'm 5'8 with a muscular frame. I do lift 4 times a week with intermediate cardio in between. Im getting bored with the food and need to learn some new things. Looking forward to participate.

Tight Lines.....

tq33702 wrote: »

Hola and welcome, Omar, mucho gusto!
There, I've used all the Spanish words I know...
Best2U,
/tq

Thats pretty good TQ. You could get a long way with those words
Encantado caballero..

KA___ wrote: »

Hi, I'm Karen, mom of 8, granny to 10. I've been low carb about a year, no particular diet plan, best decision I have ever made. Its a lifestyle change for the whole family, not a diet although I am hoping to drop 15-20lbs this year. I read the forums regularly but don't post much. Generally active on the news feed with mfp friends.This board has been and still is a great place for info. I have the complication that I am recovering from bulimia, LCHF has really helped me with this.I have more energy than ever before. My highest wt was 234lbs( 7years ago) current weight 155lbs, goal wt 137-140lbs

KA;

Welcome Aboard, we're glad you are here and look forward to your participation in the LCD "clubhouse" - I'm sure you'll find a number of "like-minded" folks here ready and willing to support your efforts in any way they can.

BUT.....seems like you are WELL on your way, your "progress" to date is a litany many of us look forward to being able to claim as our own one day soon - congrats.

If my quick math is even close it looks like you have only something like 15% of your long term weight loss goal, to go.

Which means you've ALREADY put 85% of it behind you - not to mention all of the OTHER benefits and improved health markers you've garnered along the way.

You've a "right" to be proud of your accomplishments.

Hi everyone I'm Nadia. I started LCHF beg. of October 2014, I think. Started with IF eating protocols 5:2 and 16:8 8th of September that broke a 1 year stall/gain. I've lost 13 kg since september, loosely following those three protocols with a couple of weeks diet break in between. In a couple of days I'll get the results from taking exams to be a fitness instructor. I log +1 hour of exercise per day on average.

I do TKD, so I go in and out of ketosis on a regular basis, based on crappy stix. But I can usually smell if I'm back in. I'm still experimenting with carb intake levels, types of carbs and exercise levels to take me back into keto. Think I've been fat adapted since october/november, cause I lost the sense of being hungry about that time.

Although I'm only 4kg from maintenance, I'll continue KCKO because of all the health and general well being that has improved so much for me after LCHF.

Atm I'm an active lurker, due to a family crisis. Just wanted to be on the board for later. I just added a bunch of frds on MFP from reddit, I'm still open for more if you want.

Edit: Forgot to mention I used to be skinny, until quit smoking. In 2008 I was total sedentary and underweight at 47 kg. So having to diet is a new journey for me. Max weight was +70 kg and +27 BMI.

TRIAL AND ERROR FTW

andysport1 wrote: »

I did a lcd back in 2010 and it worked well, I put a stack of weight on during the winter of 2012 and its now time to lose it. I'm not following a particular diet just making soups and having protein shakes if I'm out and about, I allow myself extras based on I'll exercise them off.
Started Friday morning doing ok aiming to get into ketosis maybe within a few days.

Good luck to everyone.

Andy;

Please DO NOT take this as an "attack", it is NOT meant in that vein and "might" be simply me misreading your first post here. (Which we are VERY glad to have you here - WELCOME).

While there is nothing wrong with "rolling your own" particular diet protocol (as opposed to adopting one of those already "pre-designed") you "might" want to at least consider taking a look at some of the options available.

Things have changed since 2010 and I think you might be glad you spent some time looking into the "basics" of at least a couple before jumping in with both feet.

Specifically, "....making soups and having protein shakes" and ".....I'll exercise them off." doesn't really sound even close to what most would suggest for "any" version of LC, LCHF, VLCHF, or any of the other "flavors" currently recommended.

If what you were doing back then was based on the "low carb, high protein" ideas, you need to know that more recent research has proven such a regimen to be potentially dangerous (for most).

Depending on the specific method you decide on (even if it's one of your own design and just "close" to one of the more recognizable ones) - none that I'm aware of would "require" protein shakes or soups (although if by "soups" you mean "broths", I stand corrected).

Have a look around the group, especially the older threads (click the "see all discussions" link for back threads), and the LCD Launch Pad (click the title of the "Start Here" post at the top in the "Announcements" block.

Again, we really ARE GLAD you're here and post back with any questions you might have after checking out those links (please start a new thread with the title referencing your question).

See you soon

scoutzmcgyver wrote: »

Wow! So many awesome folks, support, and information here! I just joined a few days ago but have been LC for a few weeks. Coupled with more intentional exercise I've lost 18lbs since the end of November. I'm somewhere between Atkins, Paleo, and "clean".

I'd love to connect with like minded folks!

Scout;

You just did <BG>

Many folks here have opened their diaries if you'd like to take a peek at meals for ideas and most will gladly accept "friend" requests.

I do, but if you're looking for a "friend", you'd probably do better at the dog store since I'm not much on the whole facebooky thing. Don't take it personally, just not enough hours in a day.

Kidding aside, we're very glad you're here, have a look around and don't be a stranger - there are indeed many really "awesome folks" here.