What's Right for Me?
dragonflylady94
Posts: 20 Member
Hello 
I started a very fine weight loss journey last year (2015), and lost 34 lbs...I started off just counting calories, and then transitioned to LCHF.
I had posted to a forum here (not in this group) about low carb ways of life and it turned into a battle over to carb or not to carb, and all sorts blah blah blah...none of which was helpful, lol.
So, I left MFP and headed over to the Atkins website and tried to make that home.
I noticed changes in how I felt on LCHF, in a good way, but then I just stopped losing weight altogether. I got discouraged, and slowly put back on 26 of the 34 lbs I lost.
In April 2016, I said to myself, "Self, get back on the wagon!!" And I did!! I bought the Atkins books, started following the plan diligently, and I lost 10 lbs from April to May.
After that...I was just simply not hungry, I couldn't meet my carb minimum, my fat minimum...and I rarely met my protein even before that
I posted in the Atkins forums about it, and pretty much got the same reply from everyone, which was to eat more.
When I continued to not meet my macros, and still didn't lose any more weight, I honestly just gave up on it.
I almost immediately started to notice the "blah" feeling from the breads I started eating, and the potato chips....I love potato chips so much.....
In short....it has brought me here.
I would love some feed back on how "low carbers" eat in this group. I have dabbled with the Primal/Paleo idea mostly because it seems to have much more variety in foods than strictly LCHF.
Anything you all have to offer would be greatly appreciated!!
*I have spoken with my doctor, and had blood work/check up so I know I am safe to be starting this type of plan. She suggested "any low carb plan or Mediterranean way of eating...."
I started a very fine weight loss journey last year (2015), and lost 34 lbs...I started off just counting calories, and then transitioned to LCHF.
I had posted to a forum here (not in this group) about low carb ways of life and it turned into a battle over to carb or not to carb, and all sorts blah blah blah...none of which was helpful, lol.
So, I left MFP and headed over to the Atkins website and tried to make that home.
I noticed changes in how I felt on LCHF, in a good way, but then I just stopped losing weight altogether. I got discouraged, and slowly put back on 26 of the 34 lbs I lost.
In April 2016, I said to myself, "Self, get back on the wagon!!" And I did!! I bought the Atkins books, started following the plan diligently, and I lost 10 lbs from April to May.
After that...I was just simply not hungry, I couldn't meet my carb minimum, my fat minimum...and I rarely met my protein even before that
I posted in the Atkins forums about it, and pretty much got the same reply from everyone, which was to eat more.
When I continued to not meet my macros, and still didn't lose any more weight, I honestly just gave up on it.
I almost immediately started to notice the "blah" feeling from the breads I started eating, and the potato chips....I love potato chips so much.....
In short....it has brought me here.
I would love some feed back on how "low carbers" eat in this group. I have dabbled with the Primal/Paleo idea mostly because it seems to have much more variety in foods than strictly LCHF.
Anything you all have to offer would be greatly appreciated!!
*I have spoken with my doctor, and had blood work/check up so I know I am safe to be starting this type of plan. She suggested "any low carb plan or Mediterranean way of eating...."
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Replies
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It's only July of 2016 ... so in 18 months you lost 34 lbs, gained 26 lbs, and then lost 10 lbs?1
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Essentially, yes.
I started in March of 2015....went Low Carb in August 2015....fell of all health wagons in November 2015, and over the winter gained most of it back...then in April 2016 I started paying attention again.0 -
I do best when I eat very low calorie, very low carb, moderate protein, high fat. I keep my diet very limited because of food sensitivities and other health matters. I too "fell off the wagon" for a year and am just now back to eating the way I know works best for me. I gained 60 lbs in from Aug 2015 until May 2016.
I eat less than 10 g per day of carbs; 5 g from a protein shake for breakfast and the rest is estimated from eggs, cheese, tomato sauce, ketchup etc. I may have to cut out all but the egg because of sensitivities.
I vary my fat from whatever meat I am eating, ghee, duck fat (yum) and a little olive oil.
I eat a homemade chicken broth made from leg quarters including skin for lunch.
My dinner is either the chicken that I boiled for the broth that week or fish. I eat ground beef about once per week.
Nut butters and chicharones are delicious supplements when I need a little something extra.
I do not count calories but I see that I am usually under 1000 per day but full so I do not worry about it.
Maybe you can experiment with spices and different fats to add variety to your meal plan.2 -
I started at 1750 calories with 25 or fewer carbs. I was eating lots of protein sometimes over my allotment. I've lost 32 lbs. I just dropped calories to 1675 I think. I seem to stall when I eat too much cheese so I only try to eat it with a meal...cheese burger...not a hunk of cheddar but I struggle because I love cheese!
I got bad at logging for about 3 weeksand I could tell. I'm back at it. What matters to me are carbs and cals. I want to be at our fewer. I eat lots of fats in buttery food mostly.
I don't cheat or have carb days. I do drink diet soda sometimes which is debatable by many.2 -
I just went through a "not hungry" phase. I decided that was ok and to just "keto on". LCHF is my way of life, not just a way to lose weight. I keep carbs at 30 or lower and try to keep calories at 1200 or lower, mainly because I am sedentary at the moment.3
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I usually eat around 30 carbs per day. I don't pay much attention to calories but they are usually low...between 1200-1400. I have periods where I'm super hungry so I eat more and others where I'm not hungry so I eat less. The extra fat really keeps me pretty full most of the time.
I find that my weight loss is pretty gradual and usually shifts up and down a bit. Over the last 10 months I've lost 28 lbs. I'm glad I stuck with it and didn't let scale fluctuations get to me! I basically stay keto for health reasons and that makes it easier to stick to during times when the scale doesn't cooperate!
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After looking at the calorie intake of kmn118 and anglyn1 I should mention that I'm nearly 5'11 and was at 265 lbs when I started. I had/have a long way to go with my weight. I wish I could eat 1200 calories and feel full!! I'm envious! I tried an egg fast and I was STARVING on it. I couldn't eat enough eggs. My body just isn't ready for such a drastic change, I guess.1
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I find that I have the most control over my eating and health when my carbs are pretty low. About 15-30g is usually where I am at. If I purposefully have less it's a mental game because I start to feel deprived of veggies, but when I go over 30g my blood glucose is not as good and I start getting hungrier, especially in the evenings. A ketogenic diet seems to suit me best.
For macros, I would try to make sure you get above the minimum protein needs (somewhere around 45-60g for women). You'll automatically get your fats if you are eating LCHF. As for carbs, I would just try not to go over your setting.
Carb macros varies a lot. Some of us feel best at induction levels and others prefer 100 or 150g of slow carbs per day. Experiment with it and write it down. You'll find what works for you. You already know that high carb is not it.
I would stay flexible though. When I was losing I aimed for 1420 kcal per day. Over 3 months my calories actually averaged out to 1500. One day would be 1000kcal, another would be 2000 kcal and the next might be 1600kcal. I went by hunger and tried to make a point of not eating if I wasn't hungry.
I eat basically primal, but I found that out months after the fact. LOL Meats, veggies, full fat dairy, nuts, coconut and the occassional bag of pork rinds, and I am happy. 3 -
My diary is public, so feel free to have a look. I am currently working in a very mild deficit bordering on maintenance (1700 kcal/day) though. I tend to hover around 20g or less per day net carb, 100g protein or so, and the rest as fat. Though admittedly, since I haven't been grocery shopping in about two weeks, and just clearing out what I have left, the protein keeps creeping up on me a little.
My macros are set to 5/65/30, c/f/p.2 -
I'm a primal typeish meat eater, with some cheese and heavy whipping cream. My average carb intake is 10g. Some days more, but most are less. I've been LCHF since April, 2015, and have lost almost 60 pounds. My losing calories were around 1400, and I'm maintaining at 1700 ish.1
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I eat LCHF clean eating. I aim for Less than 20g now so I go back into Ketosis. I have been on a few different woe in the past 13 months - 1st 2 months I just quit sugar, then I read lots & learnt sugar is essentially a carb (der) so next 4 months went Keto. In that total 6 months period I shed 65lbs. Between Christmas & last week I have not been Keto at all as around 40-60g carbs. I've still lost 20lb in last 7 months despite this. So I'm now ready to go back into Ketosis. Been doing VLC for 2 days so far. Macro is 25g/120g/115g. 6%/30%/64%. c/p/f. I still have over 100lb left to shed so am ready for the next chapter and to ramp it up again on Keto.
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My diary is open so feel free to snoop. Also there are several of us who post pictures of our food and meals on Instagram if you like to see food porn. I can be found on IG at "lcladipoet." Currently my macros are set at: 10% protein, 10% carbs, 80% fat. My calorie intake varies from roughly 1380 - 1425 / day; however, I recently reached my weight-loss goal 1-2 weeks ago so I'll be switching over to maintenance and toning up. Starting this Wednesday, my daily calorie intake is going up to 1600 and my macros will be changing to something like: 10% carbs, 25% protein, 65% fat. I assume it's going to take me a while to find my new sweet spot as I make this transition though. So glad you found us and by all means continue to do what's right for YOU!!2
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Thank you all so much for your input! I feel better just reading it!!
I know this is where I want to go...and as I watched my husband munch some donut holes this morning, I knew I totally did not want to go there........again, lol!!
One thing I think that tripped me up was trying to do it strictly someone else's way, and when I read what you all are saying, it sounds like just tweaking until I am happy, and feel good, is the way to go. Thank you!!!!2 -
Another question....should I focus on calorie intake, or just carbs/fats/protein and just eat until I am satisfied (within reason, of course)?
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I have to watch both carbs and calories to lose, but during induction phase you really just need to focus on carbs. Eat plenty of fats and make sure to get your electrolytes. Then after a few weeks you can start focusing on calories. It may take some tweaking of both macros and calories to find your happy place, but keep following this group and you will have the all the support you need. These people are truly amazing!!!1
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That I can do, thank you!
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