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Low carb diet - am I doing it right?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
L

lucy123

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Well finally got my meds changed and haven't been sick since Friday and now feel up to getting back on the healthy eating and exercise wagon again - yeah!

I am giving low carb diets a go.
I have planned to eat the following today which comes to 111g carb.
Could someone take a look and let me know if it looks balanced enough please.
My plan is to keep very low carb for breakfast and lunch and add a bit of carb in the evening to help me through all the exercise I normally do.
It may work, it may not.

Please feel free to be critical if you think its not right.

Breakfast:
Smoked Salmon - whole pack (0.2g)

Snack:
Strawberries (1/2 pack) (12.0g)

Lunch:
Homemade low carb mushroom soup with small amt cream (2.4g)
Whole pack of topside beef slices (0.1g)


Snack:
Crab sticks - 1 pack (31.4g)
Can't believe how many carbs in these but already packed for today
Options hot chocolate (5.3g)

Dinner:
small Jacket potato (43g)
Tuna (whole tin) (0g)
mayo - 1 tbsp (1.5g)


Supper:
Options hot chocolate (5.3g)

Other:
200ml milk (9.6)
Water - lots

Thanks for any comments 🙂
 
Looks very good to me Lucy! 🙂 Not sure I could eat fish for breakfast though 🙂
 
That looks good to me also..........

Lots of meat and fish.........

Maintaining something similar on a daily basis would get some weight loss I would think.......

Curious to see how your BG would be, good probably........Bon App?tit...
 
Northerner said:
Looks very good to me Lucy! 🙂 Not sure I could eat fish for breakfast though 🙂
Click to expand...

It took some doing to start with, but my bs were great (much better than with cereal) so I am sticking with it - and have got quite used to it. I tend to swap it with meat and eggs!

Thanks for the feedback Alan - I thought by adding more carbs (the potato) in the evening I would feel I had plenty of energy for my tennis/gym/running and I also wouldn't feel so much like giving up after a few weeks.

My plan is to try around 100g to 120g this week (just plucked the number out of thin air!) and see how I feel and how the weight loss goes. If I stay the same or put on 😱 I will reduce further - if I lose too fast in the next few weeks then maybe put it up a bit. I would like to lose around 2lb a week if possible but don't want to feel like I can't stick at it long term - if that makes sense.🙂
 
Hi Lucy, comments:
1 not much veg in your diet, whats up with carrots, cauliflower etc
2. avoid the hot chocolate the carbs are pure sugar
3. Try some grapefruit for breakfast (tinned morrisons is only 7g carb per 100g) or scrambled egg with a bit of salmon.
4 cold roast chicken and broad beans is one of my staple lunches (with a drop of salad cream)
5. don't know how you can eat crab sticks - evil things.
 
Not sure what age/weight/height you are but I am fairly low carb (though not at the weekend just past - I was away at a hen weekend, argh!) but anyway, I am fairly small (5ft 3) and to lose 1.5-2lbs a week my calories need to be 1200 a day, and I tend to stick to around 50-60g carb most days. I log it all on My Fitness Pal.

I do the opposite to you though, tend to have some carbs in the morning (Burgen toast or Belvita normally) and then maybe a little carbs with lunch, and with dinner I have very little carbs because I get better waking numbers that way. I often have to have a small carb snack before bed too though, to keep levels steady (grrr)

I have about 1.5-2 stone left to lose now. I need to up the exercise but unfortunately I am experiencing lots of hypos doing that and am unsure how to balance it all out, I need to speak to my DSN really.
 
And also, I really fancy smoked salmon now, yum! Though like Alan, I couldn't eat it for breakfast I don't think. Lunch however.....:D
 
The lack of veg worries me too Lucy, you need some more fibre. Root veggies usually have a higher carb content but green ones are usually low carb, broccoli, cauli, runner beans, spinach etc...... You don't want constipation to be a problem.

You may find that having the larger number of carbs in the evening works better for you as you are going to work it off. If you are not doing any exercise in the evening it may be that the potato raises the blood sugars. A sweet potato, (low G.I.) might work better and would definitely add some veg.
 
Hi Vicsetter - thanks for the reply - see my comments below.
i will defintely try the meat and green beans for lunch - sounds lovely with salad cream! Thanks for the tip!

Vicsetter said:
Hi Lucy, comments:
1 not much veg in your diet, whats up with carrots, cauliflower etc
There is mushrooms in the soup and forgot to add the jacket potato and tuna comes with a salad of lettuce, cucumber and radish - forgot that bit🙂
2. avoid the hot chocolate the carbs are pure sugar
I have included these to try and wean me back off the naughty choccie bars - I find them comforting - but take your point re sugar 🙂
3. Try some grapefruit for breakfast (tinned morrisons is only 7g carb per 100g) Eugh! or scrambled egg with a bit of salmon.Yep - i do have this often but ran out of time to do the eggs today! Do you recommend this as you think Salmon alone isn't enough carbs?
4 cold roast chicken and broad beans is one of my staple lunches (with a drop of salad cream)Sounds nice as an alternative to my soup - I have to say though my homemade soup today beats shop bought easily!
5. don't know how you can eat crab sticks - evil things.
Click to expand...
ha ha - I guess I just find them an easy snack - although I am surprised at how many carbs!
 
novorapidboi26 said:
That looks good to me also..........

Lots of meat and fish.........

Maintaining something similar on a daily basis would get some weight loss I would think.......

Curious to see how your BG would be, good probably........Bon App?tit...
Click to expand...

OOps - sorry NRB - I missed this one. Thanks. I was worried about whether i understood the carbs thing but jsut took the carbs value off of the packets and converted for correct weight. I also hadn't a clue where to start with how many gms per day - but you have to start somewhere. I will give it a go and adjust as I see fit! I dont want it to be too severe that its not maintainable but seems ok so far! Thanks for replying.🙂
 
lauraw1983 said:
Not sure what age/weight/height you are but I am fairly low carb (though not at the weekend just past - I was away at a hen weekend, argh!) but anyway, I am fairly small (5ft 3) and to lose 1.5-2lbs a week my calories need to be 1200 a day, and I tend to stick to around 50-60g carb most days. I log it all on My Fitness Pal.

I do the opposite to you though, tend to have some carbs in the morning (Burgen toast or Belvita normally) and then maybe a little carbs with lunch, and with dinner I have very little carbs because I get better waking numbers that way. I often have to have a small carb snack before bed too though, to keep levels steady (grrr)

I have about 1.5-2 stone left to lose now. I need to up the exercise but unfortunately I am experiencing lots of hypos doing that and am unsure how to balance it all out, I need to speak to my DSN really.
Click to expand...

Hi Laura - I am 50 this year - weight - have about 6 stone to lose!😱
I think I need to try first having the carbs for tea as I do a heck of a lot of exercise in the evenings. If this doesn't work though -at least you have made me think I can change the time of day rather than just give up!

In the past when I have low carbed I have completely cut out everything but then only managed to stick to it for a month or so - so trying to do it a bit more sensibly this time.
🙂
 
lauraw1983 said:
And also, I really fancy smoked salmon now, yum! Though like Alan, I couldn't eat it for breakfast I don't think. Lunch however.....:D
Click to expand...

Well I actually started with those little salmon and cream cheese appetizers you can buy - approx 12 in a pack but very low carb. They are quite pricey though so I bought a tub of cream cheese and some salmon slices to make my own! Only thing is I forgot the cheese today!! I tend to have it with either cream cheese and ryvita - or with a boiled egg but was in a rush today.

Maybe try the appetisers first to get you into the fish breakfast first - you will love it after a while!:D
 
cherrypie said:
The lack of veg worries me too Lucy, you need some more fibre. Root veggies usually have a higher carb content but green ones are usually low carb, broccoli, cauli, runner beans, spinach etc...... You don't want constipation to be a problem.

You may find that having the larger number of carbs in the evening works better for you as you are going to work it off. If you are not doing any exercise in the evening it may be that the potato raises the blood sugars. A sweet potato, (low G.I.) might work better and would definitely add some veg.
Click to expand...

Hi Cherrypie,

thanks re the veg. You will see in my answer to Vicsetter I do have more. I do also love putting spinach in everything - so thanks. I will take both your comments on board and increase the veg! Its always good when you get another pair of eyes looking at it - I wouldn't have noticed myself!🙂
 
lucy123 said:
Hi Laura - I am 50 this year - weight - have about 6 stone to lose!😱
I think I need to try first having the carbs for tea as I do a heck of a lot of exercise in the evenings. If this doesn't work though -at least you have made me think I can change the time of day rather than just give up!

In the past when I have low carbed I have completely cut out everything but then only managed to stick to it for a month or so - so trying to do it a bit more sensibly this time.
🙂
Click to expand...

Yes that makes sense for the energy thing, definitely.

Strict low carb is hardcore, I was going to do it recently but it's SO expensive too, our food bill would be under a bit of pressure that way! I seem to be managing this way for now, and can always reassess as I get closer to my target weight I guess! I can't get my head round the strict low carb diets, which are SO high in fats (creams, cheeses, butter etc) - seems so wrong, but I see results on people I know so it does work!

A higher BMI needs more calories anyway so your menu looks good, agree with others about upping the veg if you can.
 
Hi Lucy,
as others have said you need more veg :D
Chocolate.. have you tried dark chocolate? Very few carbs in the dark chocolate and the darker it is the better.

Cocoa powder might be a better option for your drink. There's 0.3g of carbs to a teaspoon. Obviously add sweetener to your taste.
 
lauraw1983 said:
Yes that makes sense for the energy thing, definitely.

Strict low carb is hardcore, I was going to do it recently but it's SO expensive too, our food bill would be under a bit of pressure that way! I seem to be managing this way for now, and can always reassess as I get closer to my target weight I guess! I can't get my head round the strict low carb diets, which are SO high in fats (creams, cheeses, butter etc) - seems so wrong, but I see results on people I know so it does work!

A higher BMI needs more calories anyway so your menu looks good, agree with others about upping the veg if you can.
Click to expand...

Thanks again - I think I will add some cucumber, celery, radishes to supper too, so as to up the veg a bit more!
 
lucy123 said:
Well finally got my meds changed and haven't been sick since Friday and now feel up to getting back on the healthy eating and exercise wagon again - yeah!

I am giving low carb diets a go.
I have planned to eat the following today which comes to 111g carb.
Could someone take a look and let me know if it looks balanced enough please.
My plan is to keep very low carb for breakfast and lunch and add a bit of carb in the evening to help me through all the exercise I normally do.
It may work, it may not.

Please feel free to be critical if you think its not right.

Breakfast:
Smoked Salmon - whole pack (0.2g)

Snack:
Strawberries (1/2 pack) (12.0g)

Lunch:
Homemade low carb mushroom soup with small amt cream (2.4g)
Whole pack of topside beef slices (0.1g)


Snack:
Crab sticks - 1 pack (31.4g)
Can't believe how many carbs in these but already packed for today
Options hot chocolate (5.3g)

Dinner:
small Jacket potato (43g)
Tuna (whole tin) (0g)
mayo - 1 tbsp (1.5g)


Supper:
Options hot chocolate (5.3g)

Other:
200ml milk (9.6)
Water - lots

Thanks for any comments 🙂
Click to expand...

I would have sweet potato instead of jacket potato for lower GI, and also a smaller amount, to try and even the amount of carbs at each meal instead of having peaks at snack and dinner.
 
Hi Starbreaker. Welcome to the forum 🙂

I would agree with you about the sweet potato.

But it does sound as though you've given a lot of thought Lucy. Wouldn't suit me but then I'm greedy! :D

Rob
 
I'm not a lover of Veg Lucy, so my daughter bought me a steamer and I steam some caulli and broccoli, mix it with a few grams of coleslaw and fill up on that. I really like it now and it does wonders for the digestion.

My carbs are usually about 100g or less per day, so you are doing well at the levels you say. Good luck.

Hello Starbreaker, welcome.
 
That sounds nice Slipper. Thanks for all the replies.
I managed yesterday perfectly and have added more spinach and salad today. Definitely having the carbs before exercise seemed to help - no hypos and didn't feel overly hungry afterwards - and the cup of options before bed did feel like a reward - so I think I will leave that in for now as long as the weight comes down.

Off work for this week after today so will have more time to plan and exercise too.

At least if I don't lose this week its not due to lack of trying - and I will have a starting point that I can then adjust as needed.

Thanks for all the wonderful replies - very motivating.🙂
 
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