Zero Carber-give me your meat!
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Checking in. It has been 6 weeks and 2 days (not that I am counting) since I took the plunge and went zero carb. In the past 2 weeks I have had chocolate quite a bit and wine twice. This past Saturday I had a few bagel crisps. I'm no longer obsessing about what I eat, and it is easy to tell the effects of these indulgences.
My bathroom troubles are FINALLY gone. Last week was the turning point. Thank God, this was really starting to seem like a poor choice-haha! If you are taking the plunge and not sure if this is right for you...there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I had cut back my fat intake (stopped adding butter and extra fat to my meat) and have also stopped drinking fluids with my meals-I drink water only when thirsty but not with food, and dont track how much I drink. I also drink coffee with hwc or half and half as needed/wanted.
I have not had the weight just fall off me. Im down about 12? pounds, and since I am in my 30s, have plenty of belly fat and am at least 50# overweight this has been frustrating. I was really hoping to be down 20, 30, 40! (ha!) pounds by now. I have taken pictures, and can certainly see a difference in my body so I will keep at it and try to just be patient with the scale. I love meat, and grilled porkchops, burgers, sausages and chicken and gorged myself on it for dinner. Every bite was delicious! I dont feel deprived at all, and once you get past the social aspect of it, zc eating is quite simple and inexpensive! I have even told a few people in my family, and a friend. No lectures or judgement so that was nice.
I hope you all are having a pleasant journey of your own, and that this thread has helped answer questions or inspire someone. Threads like this got me interested in ZC last year and gave me the courage to try it for real this year. Im still a newb, but am happy to answer questions!0 -
Kirstie155 wrote: »Been eating a lot of chocolate. Need to cut that out. Other than that, stuck to zc!
Try chocolate fat bombs, 125 grams of coconut oil (melted in microwave for 30 secs. add 25 grams of 100% pure cacao powder, stevia if you can't stand full on dark chocolate, plus a dash of vanilla extract. Put in a candy mold or a silicon mold for mini muffins will work, or the orca ice cube trays do well. Freeze for at least 30 mins. Less than one carb per serve. Really gets rid of the chocolate crazing and I now prefer this to any other chocolate product.
I find is something is "forbidden" it just calls my name forever, so I found these, works for me.
We now return you to full on meat chatting
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The real problem is that I bought a bag of dark chocolate chips and until its gone I eat a handful or more every day! It's really just because they are there. Thanks for the suggestion, that was thoughtful 0
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Kirstie155 wrote: »The real problem is that I bought a bag of dark chocolate chips and until its gone I eat a handful or more every day! It's really just because they are there. Thanks for the suggestion, that was thoughtful
You can also melt them with equal parts of heavy cream if you include that, and blend until smooth. Then let cook, and make truffles. You can cut it further with coconut oil or something if you like, too, and then roll them in crushed nuts or cocoa powder for a fancy fatty, and slightly less sweet treat.1 -
I had no beef at all yesterday and was basically hungry all day!
Had my usual black coffee in the morning. Though, recently, I had been adding half n half which I typically don't because I want to stay fasting. I'm now back to black coffee.
I thought I would just wait until dinner to eat but I got hungry around 2pm so I grabbed a few pieces of salami and a slice of cheddar cheese with a little mayo. Well, that just made me hungrier! So I fried 2 eggs... still hungry. So I had some more cheese... I still didn't exactly feel satisfied so I made coffee and had some with half n half. That finally got me under control.
I didn't have any real meat available to cook up quickly. That's definitely what I needed.
I think that's the hardest part for me. My appetite is so hit or miss that I hesitate to keep fresh meat ready to go all the time because it will just go bad sometimes. Or I'll cook it for leftovers, but then it's over cooked by the time I reheat it and just not as good.
Then dinner was tilapia and shrimp in a scampi sauce I made which wasn't satisfying either. I practically ate the butter sauce with a spoon trying to add some satiety but without beef, I just don't feel the same. I tried not to eat again after dinner but I ended up having salami rolls with cream cheese and some hot tea. A hot drink seems to help me during hungry times.
I probably didn't actually end up overeating even though I felt like I was eating all day.
I think I'm going to really put more effort into keeping beef on hand ready to cook. I have the best overall experience on beef heavy days. It's really the only meat I actually crave. I just tolerate everything else.2 -
Sunny Bunny I get like that sometimes, usually when that happens I either need beef or copious amounts of cheese before I feel full, it's just weird but thankfully it doesn't happen often. Also yesterday I sucked, I ate more total carbs than I have in a month, fortunately my net carbs weren't terrible.1
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Kirstie155 wrote: »Been eating a lot of chocolate. Need to cut that out. Other than that, stuck to zc!
I have been eating 2 squares of 90% cacao chocolate per night, after being off sugar for month than a month that is actually sweet to me now, 2 months ago I would have gagged and spit that out in disgust.3 -
Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »I had no beef at all yesterday and was basically hungry all day!
Had my usual black coffee in the morning. Though, recently, I had been adding half n half which I typically don't because I want to stay fasting. I'm now back to black coffee.
I thought I would just wait until dinner to eat but I got hungry around 2pm so I grabbed a few pieces of salami and a slice of cheddar cheese with a little mayo. Well, that just made me hungrier! So I fried 2 eggs... still hungry. So I had some more cheese... I still didn't exactly feel satisfied so I made coffee and had some with half n half. That finally got me under control.
I didn't have any real meat available to cook up quickly. That's definitely what I needed.
I think that's the hardest part for me. My appetite is so hit or miss that I hesitate to keep fresh meat ready to go all the time because it will just go bad sometimes. Or I'll cook it for leftovers, but then it's over cooked by the time I reheat it and just not as good.
Then dinner was tilapia and shrimp in a scampi sauce I made which wasn't satisfying either. I practically ate the butter sauce with a spoon trying to add some satiety but without beef, I just don't feel the same. I tried not to eat again after dinner but I ended up having salami rolls with cream cheese and some hot tea. A hot drink seems to help me during hungry times.
I probably didn't actually end up overeating even though I felt like I was eating all day.
I think I'm going to really put more effort into keeping beef on hand ready to cook. I have the best overall experience on beef heavy days. It's really the only meat I actually crave. I just tolerate everything else.
@Sunny_Bunny_ - Maybe when you find a good deal on beef stock up and cook some up ahead of time and freeze it in single serve portions. We did some roasted pork butt this way, but you could do beef roast just the same. For some reason I feel like the frozen meat reheats much better than leftover meat that sits in the fridge for a couple of days. 1 -
Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »I had no beef at all yesterday and was basically hungry all day!
Had my usual black coffee in the morning. Though, recently, I had been adding half n half which I typically don't because I want to stay fasting. I'm now back to black coffee.
I thought I would just wait until dinner to eat but I got hungry around 2pm so I grabbed a few pieces of salami and a slice of cheddar cheese with a little mayo. Well, that just made me hungrier! So I fried 2 eggs... still hungry. So I had some more cheese... I still didn't exactly feel satisfied so I made coffee and had some with half n half. That finally got me under control.
I didn't have any real meat available to cook up quickly. That's definitely what I needed.
I think that's the hardest part for me. My appetite is so hit or miss that I hesitate to keep fresh meat ready to go all the time because it will just go bad sometimes. Or I'll cook it for leftovers, but then it's over cooked by the time I reheat it and just not as good.
Then dinner was tilapia and shrimp in a scampi sauce I made which wasn't satisfying either. I practically ate the butter sauce with a spoon trying to add some satiety but without beef, I just don't feel the same. I tried not to eat again after dinner but I ended up having salami rolls with cream cheese and some hot tea. A hot drink seems to help me during hungry times.
I probably didn't actually end up overeating even though I felt like I was eating all day.
I think I'm going to really put more effort into keeping beef on hand ready to cook. I have the best overall experience on beef heavy days. It's really the only meat I actually crave. I just tolerate everything else.
2 words - crock pot. I get good beef whenever it is on sale or has been marked down due to getting a couple days older and fix it in my crock pot. From there, I put it straight into single serve containers for lunches that week and, if there is more than I need for the week, I put some of it in the freezer.
After I take out most of it, I add some shirataki noodles to the liquid and little bits that are left in there along with some other meat and cook for a few more hours to get a few servings of soup as well. This works especially well if it is beef with bones because I am basically making a heartier bone broth at that point by cooking them longer between removing the majority of the meat and adding the noodles and other meat (frequently sausage lately).2 -
Just thought I'd give an update! Still mostly ZC, though last Friday I had some wine and a 2 cookies. Then Saturday had a few chips, then Sunday rolled around...had a whole sub and chips with a huge piece of cake and some ice cream. It is a slippery slope friends. Glad to say that the 6# (yes, SIX POUNDS) of bloat is gone, the stomach cramps that woke me up in the middle of the night have passed, and my bowels will hopefully settle the kitten down soon (still have some upset on Thursday.) So, lesson learned! I will not be doing that again anytime soon, and on Monday I mostly fasted and have eaten Ribeyes and ground beef with coffee and water ever since.
ZC is the way for me! Today the scale said 191.8, so Im down about 12-15# since starting this WOE. Cant remember exactly what I weighed when I started!1 -
Keep it going @Kirstie155!
I have decided that 2 months on ZC is enough for me - not because it wasn't working or wasn't sustainable, but because I have decided that I really like veggies and berries and miss eating them (even in small quantities). I have been slowly adding them back in - I will keep my carbs below 50g total for the day - but I WANT things like broccoli and cauliflower and blueberries in my diet (never thought I would say something like that) and I will judiciously consume them.2 -
Good to see you are getting back on the wagon. I switched to ZC on Mar. 1 and have been able to keep it up so far. The plan is to keep this going until at least mid-April, but I'm going to have a huge carb cheat weekend at the end of April for my birthday. Looking forward to that is a big part of how I can keep this going... I just remind myself how close I'm getting.1
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Thanks @ccrdragon! I really havent missed the veggies tbh. I find meat so satisfying! I could eat ribeyes and cheeseburgers everyday! Sweets are a super slippery slope for me, so still avoiding fruit like the plague. Glad you found what works for you!
@midwesterner85 Glad you are liking ZC! Ive been at it for about 2 months now, and just want to say that cheat meal might just knock you out like mine did after you've been going strong for 6 weeks! A glass of wine here, a (as in, one!) cracker there dont seem to cause me any real lasting discomfort though. A little bloat and it's gone the next day.
What have you been eating? I ve just about removed eggs from my diet, but not on purpose. They just arent appealing to me so much anymore. I eat loads of beef, some chicken for variety and occasionally some pork chops or brisket. I try not to eat too much cheese and keep it as a condiment and not a major part of the meal. Oh, and Kerrygold butter. I nibble on that with my fork while waiting for my steak to cook!1 -
Yes, I expect to need about 2 weeks to recover after that cheat weekend. Because BG issues and electolytes.
I have been eating hamburger just cooked and plain, eggs, coffee is my exception and I put protein powder and HWC in it (ends up being a few carbs there). Chicken breast, sausages, cheese, pepperoni. Mon. I cooked a pork shoulder and will be eating the last of it tomorrow. Sat. will be bacon and eggs, perhaps some sausage and/or chicken. I'm meeting at a restaurant and will get a bunless burger with cheese, bacon, and maybe an egg on it.0 -
Friends! Enjoy a good laugh.
"That coconut could've become a palm tree!" Lol
https://youtu.be/z0O_VYcsIk8 5 -
That's hilarious!1
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Looks like the dog wants to be a zero carber too.....lol....1
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This was so funny! Hahaha! I know of 2 friends that have recently become vegan. Ughhhh. Can I at least eat your meat instead???1
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Another question for the zero-carbers….are you ever concerned about your iron levels? Perhaps that isn't important for those who are younger, but would an older person have to be concerned about too much iron eating zero-carb?0
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Another question for the zero-carbers….are you ever concerned about your iron levels? Perhaps that isn't important for those who are younger, but would an older person have to be concerned about too much iron eating zero-carb?
Surprisingly, you really don't eat much more meat than just following keto or other low carb. Maybe 10-20g more tops.
That is something for someone to be aware of though. High levels of iron can actually lead to insulin resistance so that would be a symptom to be converned about if it were new. But honestly, we aren't eating much if any more meat than anyone else.0 -
cstehansen wrote: »Kirstie155 wrote: »Now what do I do with the jar of hamburger grease I have?
If there is a sale on meat that is super lean (i.e. skinless chicken breast), you may need to add some fat when cooking it.
YES , this is what I sometimes do, add butter or bacon fat to meats that are extra lean, works perfectly.
Thanks for Bacon, Meatloaf and all the great pictures, support here is phenomenal 0 -
Another question for the zero-carbers….are you ever concerned about your iron levels? Perhaps that isn't important for those who are younger, but would an older person have to be concerned about too much iron eating zero-carb?
I donate blood. And I have normal iron levels every time. Not sure if I stopped if that would cause problems, but I doubt it.0 -
Kirstie155 wrote: »Just thought I'd give an update! Still mostly ZC, though last Friday I had some wine and a 2 cookies. Then Saturday had a few chips, then Sunday rolled around...had a whole sub and chips with a huge piece of cake and some ice cream. It is a slippery slope friends. Glad to say that the 6# (yes, SIX POUNDS) of bloat is gone, the stomach cramps that woke me up in the middle of the night have passed, and my bowels will hopefully settle the kitten down soon (still have some upset on Thursday.) So, lesson learned! I will not be doing that again anytime soon, and on Monday I mostly fasted and have eaten Ribeyes and ground beef with coffee and water ever since.
Its been over a week since I fell hard off the wagon, and I am still experiencing tummy troubles. Ughhhhh so not worth it!0 -
Kirstie155 wrote: »Kirstie155 wrote: »Just thought I'd give an update! Still mostly ZC, though last Friday I had some wine and a 2 cookies. Then Saturday had a few chips, then Sunday rolled around...had a whole sub and chips with a huge piece of cake and some ice cream. It is a slippery slope friends. Glad to say that the 6# (yes, SIX POUNDS) of bloat is gone, the stomach cramps that woke me up in the middle of the night have passed, and my bowels will hopefully settle the kitten down soon (still have some upset on Thursday.) So, lesson learned! I will not be doing that again anytime soon, and on Monday I mostly fasted and have eaten Ribeyes and ground beef with coffee and water ever since.
Its been over a week since I fell hard off the wagon, and I am still experiencing tummy troubles. Ughhhhh so not worth it!
@Kristie155 I am considering/planning to try 0 carb and am curious to get an update from you on your experience. Are you still at it? Has your digestive system settled? Have you lost more weight?0 -
@4031isaiah I am not still zero carb. I found it to be difficult in social situations, and I gather with friends or family at least once or twice a month if not more. I genuinely enjoy cooking recipes, and eating vegetables (summer tomatoes with basil, a fresh Cesar salad!) So I decided it wasn't for me. I do still eat a very heavy animal based diet. I am now doing a lazy keto/low carb while eating things like SF jello, lunch meats, meatloaf, steamed broccoli, all the meats and cheeses.
There are several long term ZCers on here like @FIT_Goat and @Sunny_Bunny_ who can tell you more about their long term experience.
Good luck if you decide to go for it!0 -
Another question for the zero-carbers….are you ever concerned about your iron levels? Perhaps that isn't important for those who are younger, but would an older person have to be concerned about too much iron eating zero-carb?
In healthy people, excess iron from food will be discarded and won't build up. It's only if you have a medical issue that keeps your body from doing that, and/or you take supplements is there usually a problem.2 -
I can't actually take iron as a supplement; I have Thalassemia Minor and for whatever reasons blood experts can give, I can't process it. I take Folic Acid 5mg. It's prescribed here in the UK, although in other countries, I can get it over the counter.... But I get plenty of nutritional Iron from my foodstuffs.1
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Dragonwolf wrote: »
In healthy people, excess iron from food will be discarded and won't build up. It's only if you have a medical issue that keeps your body from doing that, and/or you take supplements is there usually a problem.
I use a cast iron skillet for cooking most of my meat, and I've read that iron from the skillet leaches into food. Is this something to worry about? I'm one of those "older persons".0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »
In healthy people, excess iron from food will be discarded and won't build up. It's only if you have a medical issue that keeps your body from doing that, and/or you take supplements is there usually a problem.
I use a cast iron skillet for cooking most of my meat, and I've read that iron from the skillet leaches into food. Is this something to worry about? I'm one of those "older persons".
/shrug
Apparently it's a way to get it in, though I question whether it actually equates to blood iron levels (the linked article says it does, but it says "cooking in cast iron and an iron-rich diet," because apparently nutrition science doesn't need to worry about that whole "confounding variables" things...). Then there's the matter of the layer of seasoning on a properly-cared-for skillet blocking the leeching of iron over the long term.0 -
For anyone worried about iron intake, be sure your stomach acid levels and digestive enzymes are good. Apparently, it's nigh on impossible to break it down enough to absorb it otherwise. B12, too, apparently is another acid-sink... And to my understanding, that is from dietary intake OR supplements, on both.0
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