Back on the Low Carb Diet

Yesterday was the dreaded 'Day One'. For the second time. I first tried low carb eating back in March this year and was pleasantly surprised - it actually seemed to work, and it wasn't that tough! I stuck to it pretty strictly for 30 days (except a pre-booked cream tea right in the middle - ssshhh), and I lost about half a stone. I also felt so much better generally. The best thing was that I felt less hungry; I was just getting so hungry all the time before. This seemed to fix that. 

So, why is this the second attempt? If it was so great why wasn't it the 'lifestyle change' I intended it to be? My excuse is that it was summer and the occasional ice cream, beer and fish 'n' chips needed to be eaten. Generally I continued eating low carb, there were just more and more treats happening. It was beginning to spiral out of control a little so another 30 strict days are necessary. My brain likes a definite yes or no - it is already appreciating the lack of choice. I am not eating carbs. It knows this now.

My summer food exploits. Who could've said no to these?

I did manage a strict 4 days last week, but there was a birthday meal on Sunday so I ate a dessert. Even though it wasn't that bad I'd rather start again so yesterday was it. Day one went well. It felt like I was back in the swing of it. I guess that's the one advantage from having done it before - I have a good list of foods I know I can turn to in hunger. And it's a pretty good list really. I ate biltong, a beef burger (no bun obviously) with bacon and cheese, salad and a small dollop of Greek yoghurt. Not bad at all. It takes about 3 days to get back into ketosis (where the body uses fat for energy) so by the end of the week I'll be well into that stage.

Are there any side effects? The first time I tried low carb I felt like I had a cold and I was exhausted. This is all pretty common and nothing to worry about. I knew it was something you just had to push through. This time around there are no side effects yet. I am tired, but no more than I have been the last few weeks.

I've read that it is harder to get results the second (or third, fourth,....) time around because the body remembers what happened before and knows to cling on to the fat for longer (it knows you're going to give up basically!). That's a weird thought. It reminds me to try to be patient. Kind of.

D is for Diet (groan)

Urgh, I hate that feeling when you realise you need to lose some weight again. While I'm job hunting I'm really struggling to be active so it feels like an even harder battle than it has been before. After some half hearted attempts at Weight Watchers in recent months I've decided to try the Fast Diet. I remember watching the Dr Michael Mosley Horizon program last year and was intrigued by it, but not so fed up with not fitting into all my clothes back then. Basically you fast (500 calories for women, 600 for men) for 2 non-consecutive days a week and eat 'normally' for the other 5. 

It appeals to me so much, not only because of the science behind it, but also the fact that you don't have the same guilt associated with conventional diets. If I 'fail' one day and eat something I shouldn't I generally feel guilty but also give up with the diet for the rest of the day because I've already messed up. I'm hoping this fast diet will enable me to stop some of my unhealthy attitudes around food and dieting. 

I've already successfully managed to get through 2 fast days, and they weren't that bad. I kept thinking that as long as I could get through the day I could then have whatever I want the next day (well, within reason), and that is very helpful for me. I'm lucky because I'm not out at work at the moment - I don't know how well I'd cope with only 500 calories then, but I suspect you get used to eating less overall and it becomes easier. If I can just get exercising regularly again then I hope that 2 stone will be gone before long. (Fingers crossed).

Here's a little interview with Michael Mosley if you're interested in finding out more.

Attacking the Dukan Diet...

I'm now on day 5, the last of my 'attack' days of the Dukan diet, and I have noticed that I'm not as hungry as I have been when trying to diet or cut down on food before. At least, I'm not as hungry in the same way. I don't seem to be craving food and feeling weak - I suppose that is because my body isn't getting a rush of high G.I carbohydrates followed by a slump in blood sugar levels. The only thing I've really thought about is fruit and peas! Obviously I've missed vegetables at meal times too. 

The Dukan Diet Life Plan book recommends that you weigh yourself a lot during this first phase to see the benefits and spur you on, but I've avoided this in case it hasn't been working. I've followed it to the letter with no cheats, but it can't work for everyone, and it is only 5 days after all. Still, I will weigh myself tomorrow morning to see if it is worth me moving on to phase 2.

Wednesday - Day 3

Breakfast: nat yog + 1 tbsp oat bran

Snacks: 5 x seafood sticks

Lunch: 2 x poached egg

           smoked salmon

           mackerel fillet

Dinner: prawns stir-fried with garlic

            3 x slice reduced fat bacon

            nat yog + 1 tbsp oat bran

Thursday - Day 4

Breakfast: nat yog + 1 tbsp oat bran

Snacks: 4 x seafood sticks

Lunch: small piece steak

           1 x fried egg (no oil)

           2 x slice reduced fat bacon

           fat-free yog

Dinner: prawns 

            lean beef mince with liver, onion, garlic and stock

 

Kan I du the Dukan Diet?

Firstly let me apologise for the terrible pun in the title. I've been meaning to shift a few pounds for a little while now, but the last straw came when I could no longer squeeze into my jeans. I am not going to buy a bigger pair, so I have no choice. I happened to see a book on the Dukan diet in a shop on my way home from holiday, and my mum knows someone who has lost a lot of weight on it, so I thought I'd give it a go.

So what is the Dukan diet? It's basically a low-card, high protein diet with 4 phases. You start with an attack phase which is protein only for 1-10 days. I've decided to do 5 days. I'm not looking too far beyond these 5 days for now, but I'll continue with it if I can see some weight loss. It will be tough - I love fruit and vegetables, but surely I can cope for a week?

Monday - Day 1

Breakfast: 1 x poached egg (Delia Smith's method is fantastic!)

                Smoked salmon

Snacks: 4 x seafood sticks

Lunch: 4 x slices bressaola

           2 x tiny haddock fillets rubbed with (too much) garlic

           Bowl fat free natural yoghurt + 1 tbsp oat bran

Dinner: Mussels

            Chicken breast

            Small bowl natural yoghurt

They were very alien plates of food to look at - I'm used to a whole plate of veg!

Day 2

B: Natural yoghurt + 1 tbsp oat bran (a new feature which has to be eaten every day)

S: 6 x seafood sticks

Lunch: 2 x poached egg

           Smoked salmon

Dinner: Basa fillets

            1/2 tin tuna in spring water

            Fat free toffee yoghurt

I have to say that it is going OK until late afternoon when hunger starts to set in, along with thoughts of what a rubbish dinner is in store! It's just not a meal. Anyway, I'm only really craving fruit, not chocolate or crisps which is usually what happens when I try to cut down. I think knowing I can't have any of those things is making it easier at the moment, rather than allowing myself a tiny amount of them. Right now (9pm) I am getting hungry again, but drinking lots of water. I'd usually tuck into some fruit right now. If this diet doesn't work I'll be annoyed.

If anyone has tried the Dukan diet and has any good meal tips or resources to share, I'd love to take a look! Please leave a comment below.