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Just Getting Started - Have a Few Questions
MorganMoreaux
Posts: 691 Member
Good Evening All -
I've been thinking about doing keto for a long time but haven't primarily because I am a vegetarian and really couldn't figure out a decent meal plan. However, certain recent health issues have made going keto a necessity, and I am currently in the process of tapering off sugar. I have to taper, I don't think I can go cold turkey and keep my sanity. This week I have cut back my total carbs by half, and my net carbs by approximately 75%. This is so much tougher than I thought it would be - I give everyone who has successfully done this a big KUDOS! I'm just going to list my questions/topics out to try to keep the post short.
1. Is it remotely possible to keep a primarily vegetarian lifestyle?
2. If it's not possible to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle I am not adverse to some meats such as bacon (have some every now and then) chicken, and shellfish, but would really prefer to avoid those as a staple if possible. I try to get most of my vitamins from raw fruits and veggies, and am really concerned about nutrient deficiencies if I have to eliminate them from my diet. How do you get your vitamins? Before my health took such a nose dive, I consumed a large variety and quantity of different fruits and veggies daily, and also juiced in the morning. This also helped to keep sugar cravings at bay, which are now out of control.
3. Is almond flour really a decent substitute for baking? I'm thinking about getting some this weekend so I have more food options as my current situation is pretty dire and I have had to eliminate most everything I enjoy, and am quite frankly pretty depressed over the situation.
4. Sugar cravings - are there any sugar free hard candies that are legitimately sugar free where carbs won't be utilized and absorbed into the body while I make the transition?
5. Is there are sugar taper schedule that makes this transition easier? Carbs have been my primary macro my entire life, this is not going to be easy lol.
I would greatly appreciate any insight!
I've been thinking about doing keto for a long time but haven't primarily because I am a vegetarian and really couldn't figure out a decent meal plan. However, certain recent health issues have made going keto a necessity, and I am currently in the process of tapering off sugar. I have to taper, I don't think I can go cold turkey and keep my sanity. This week I have cut back my total carbs by half, and my net carbs by approximately 75%. This is so much tougher than I thought it would be - I give everyone who has successfully done this a big KUDOS! I'm just going to list my questions/topics out to try to keep the post short.
1. Is it remotely possible to keep a primarily vegetarian lifestyle?
2. If it's not possible to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle I am not adverse to some meats such as bacon (have some every now and then) chicken, and shellfish, but would really prefer to avoid those as a staple if possible. I try to get most of my vitamins from raw fruits and veggies, and am really concerned about nutrient deficiencies if I have to eliminate them from my diet. How do you get your vitamins? Before my health took such a nose dive, I consumed a large variety and quantity of different fruits and veggies daily, and also juiced in the morning. This also helped to keep sugar cravings at bay, which are now out of control.
3. Is almond flour really a decent substitute for baking? I'm thinking about getting some this weekend so I have more food options as my current situation is pretty dire and I have had to eliminate most everything I enjoy, and am quite frankly pretty depressed over the situation.
4. Sugar cravings - are there any sugar free hard candies that are legitimately sugar free where carbs won't be utilized and absorbed into the body while I make the transition?
5. Is there are sugar taper schedule that makes this transition easier? Carbs have been my primary macro my entire life, this is not going to be easy lol.
I would greatly appreciate any insight!
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Replies
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I have no idea about one or two, other than to say that I pull my vitamins in pill form, and have for almost a decade now.
3. Almond flour is legitimately amazing. I actually made this yesterday: http://www.ruled.me/low-carb-focaccia-bread/ and it's fantastic.
4. Any candy involving only erythritol would be fine (it has an FE value of 0.2/g, and does nothing to blood sugar), but the stuff is nigh impossible to find. I can't even find chewing gum with it that isn't mostly Xylitol.
5. Someone else may have better insight than I. When I went in, I just went in. There was no slow reduction.3 -
The answer to # 1 is, YES. I eat fish a couple of times a year, otherwise vegetarian. (Pescetarian technically.) Pinterest has a lot of great recipes if you search "Low carb vegetarian." The first week or two is the hardest trying to figure out what to eat. After that it is much easier. You will be surprised how much longer you can go without snacking when you increase your fat. Cheese, eggs and full fat dairy help with the fat requirements.
I believe it was the uncontrolled carbs, in my vegetarian diet that sent my sugar cravings out of control for years. I've been LCHF for a few months and the sugar cravings are very rare now - mostly just wanting fruit occasionally. You may be a little cranky the first week or so without the sugar, but it goes away quickly! Good Luck!3 -
Thank you guys so much!!! I really appreciate the insight. I will be going grocery shopping tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to baking with the almond flour. I found a recipie for keto gummy bears - I think I try making those as treat until my cravings are at bay.
Riche120 - I think you right about the uncontrolled carbs in a vegetarian diet causing more cravings. Before I began snacking on cashews and cheese I felt like a bottomless pit for fruit - it was like I was never full and the cravings wouldn't subside. I grew up villa using fat so it was a huge mind shift to eat significantly more but I felt so much better. I'm actually looking forward to increasing my fat macro higher as there are so many good treats that I've been limiting my consumption of because of the fat (nuts, avacado, etc).
Going to start tomorrow - looking forward to doing this - I think it will be much healthier than what I've been doing. Fingers crossed lol. Thank you again guys!2 -
Best of luck, but I think you will find this pretty easy. Prior to starting keto I just monitored calories and was hungry/had cravings constantly. I keep a bowl of chocolates on my desk for my employees, and was sneaking 4-5 per day. Since starting keto I haven't had a single craving. Cutting the carbs out of my diet lessened my desire for carbs.
This is truly a WOE I can stick with.2 -
For me, a former sugar addict, cold turkey was the only way to succeed.
Once you get past a couple days with very low carbs, the sugar cravings may completely go away.
The only thing that triggers them for me now is eating anything that tastes really sweet even if there isn't sugar in it. So, most artificial sweeteners.
Stevia and erythritol seem to be ok for me.
I have a square or 2 of 85% dark chocolate now when I want a little sweet. That doesn't give me any problems with further cravings. Also, toasted coconut flakes. Sometimes, I'll have some coffee or tea in the evening with some coconut milk and stevia as another sweet option that hasn't triggered my sweet tooth monster.
As far as the veggies, eat all the green leafy veggies you want and you can a quite a lot of many other non starchy ones each day too.
You'll want to keep fruit to a minimum but berries are more Keto friendly in small amounts even on a daily basis.
Being very active will allow you more carbs, but you may need to figure out your best timing for them. Overall, eating your most carby foods in the evening seems to be best.2
This discussion has been closed.