Another newbie

[Cyclonic]

Hi all, I've been lurking and reading for a couple of months and attempting to low carb diet for about two of them. I'm still figuring it out, but have found the info on here interesting and comprehensive.

I'm located in the Upper Hunter, and am low carbing to both reduce my weight (6kg down so far) and improve my cholesterol levels - have inherited my father's genes unfortunately.

Look forward to getting to know you all.

[Sherrie]

Welcome Cyclonic :)

Are you following a particular plan?

[Cyclonic]

Hi Sherrie,

I actually started out using Tony Ferguson, but after doing a fair amount of research decided that it was way too calorie restricted, and wasn't going to retrain any of my eating habits.

I read one of the Atkins books ages ago - Dr Atkins Age Defying Diet, but was somewhat concerned about the saturated fat intake. I actually found this website when I was doing my research on Tony Ferguson (it comes up on google) and had a closer look at low carb as a result.

I suppose the biggest issue is that there are so many confusing recommendations out there for the average person to work through, many which directly contradict each other. All I can say is that I was a low fat saint, and steadily gaining weight, despite a reasonably high activity level and had gradually worsening cholesterol scores. I was a tad desperate to reduce my weight, you might say.

I have found that on a low fat diet I am continuously hungry (stomach growling), moody, and was attempting to top up on bread/porridge/rice etc.

I am now trying to work out exactly how much carbohydrate is too much for me, and how much to eat. Currently my weight loss has plateaued, so after using the FitDay Calorie counter I think I've figured out that I'm actually not eating enough (which feels a bit odd..as I am not really hungry at all), so this week I'm attempting to up my calories by increasing my fat intake.

I might add that my current cholesterol tests have improved, but are not yet quite right, so although this still feels weird, I am keen to continue.

This forum seems particularly encouraging and I think that's what I need at this stage, along with tips - particularly for breakfast!

[janal]

Hi Cyclonic, Welcome to this great forum :D

[Shez]

Welcome to POH Cyclonic - a lovely part of the world you live in :)

[Sherrie]

Cyclonic don't believe all the bad stuff you hear about saturated fats and cholesterol. Also keep in mind high cholesterol can also be a sign of hypothyroidism.

[Cyclonic]

Hi all, thanks for your lovely welcomes.

Yes, I have decided to try not to worry too much about saturated fats, (and I do really enjoy cream in my coffee) - I think it's the hangover from eating so low fat for so long, that it actually makes me feel guilty when I enjoy a little chicken skin, or cream cheese.

When last tested, my thyroid stimulating hormone tests were nicely normal, so hopefully that's still going well.

My father's family history of heart disease is really awful - we're talking a minimum of three generations of early deaths - and my Dad had his first set of bypasses at 49. Hi cardiology professor reckons there is most likely a familial hypercholesterolaemia that contributes to this - elevated triglycerides and poor LDL/HDL ratios.

Interestingly, low carbing has brought my triglycerides right down to normal ranges, although my overall cholesterol is slightly higher, so I am encouraged.

[Sherrie]

My main fat intake is saturated fats and monosaturated and I have great trigs and ratio last test in September was 0.4 and 2.8. My total cholesterol was 5.6 but I have high HDL. But hey we're all different.

[JoAus]

Welcome Cyclonic :) I'm new here too, if you look over each forum there's a mine of info. in each thread. Everyone is really helpful too.
Cheers
Jo.

[Lauren78]

Welcome. As already said, heaps of great info and people on here. I always ate "good" foods, lot of fruits and low fat. This never worked for me. It can take a bit to get your head around eating fat, i felt a little guilty at the start too. My family still dont quite get that i can eat fat, but they are watching my body transform so they are supportive. Good luck!
Lauren

[arandall]

I just wanted to welcome you as well! Look forward to seeing you around Pinch.

[sam68]

Welcome from me too Cyclonic

Goodluck with the weightloss...can't wait to see you lose.

Sam:)

[Cyclonic]

Hi again and thanks for all the welcomes.

After increasing my calorie intake (mainly by upping the fats and proteins), and feeling like I have actually been stuffing myself with food, the weightloss has resumed - down another 1.5kg. I have been exercising steadily, and still feel a little odd eating so much, however I'm sure I'll learn to enjoy it shortly!! :)

[Sherrie]

great news :)

[wenever]

Welcome Cyclonic

Nice to see you are losing weight by eating more, isn't it wonderful!

Great breakfast ideas that I love are

Psylluim pancakes

2 eggs , 2 level tablespoons Psylluim husks , 1/2 tsp baking powder , 1/2 tsp splender , 2 tablespoons cream .

Mix all together in bowl and stand for a few mins ., Then cook as pancakes or a few small ones .

4 carbs in total . Make sure you drink plenty of water .

Or these are delicious

Breakfast 2 eggs 0.3 c
30g tomato 0.6 c
30g mushrooms 0.1 c
2 tbspns cream 1.2 c
Dijon Mustard 0.7 c

[Cyclonic]

Thanks for the recipes, Wenever! I have just eaten the psyllium pancakes for breakfast. Whoever would have thought psyllium husks could be so tasty? I usually have a couple of teaspoons in a glass of water each day, and I promote them as a good bowel normaliser to those I work with who have constipation and incontinence issues, but I'd not thought of cooking them into pancakes.

Now I'm feeling creative - I may have to experiment a bit.

Oh, and just a note - I couldn't locate my baking powder, which I know is in the pantry somewhere, so I made them without - no problems at all - they puffed up nicely just like pikelets/pancakes.

[Cyclonic]

Just a note - I am now down 8.8kg. Very happy - about 12 more to go.


http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wwZVS3r/weight.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wwZVS3r/)

[Sherrie]

Hey good stuff Cyclonic!

I don't put baking powder in my pancakes either, they come out quite thick already a bit too thick most times (I prefer thin ones).

[Cyclonic]

Yes, I had them again this morning - and reduced the psyllium husks a bit as well to make them a little thinner. Boy do they fill you up!

[Sherrie]

I find they make me a bit hungry so I stopped, I noticed that they do that for my daughter as well as she is heaps hungry afterwards yet if I make her cream pancakes (just egg and cream) she is fine.

[Cyclonic]

Thanks Sherrie, I tried the cream pancakes, which were really nice - and very filling.

I'm now going to experiment and attempt to include a picture..... this could be tricky!

http://i555.photobucket.com/albums/jj467/Cyclonic4/28122008_002.jpg

[Cyclonic]

And it seems to have worked! Although it's a bit bigger than I anticipated.....must practice more.

That's my husband, our thirteen year old, and myself, on top of Mt Kosciusko about a week ago!

[Cyclonic]

And that's a bit better, I have managed to shrink it!

[Shez]

Cool piccie - I love to see what we all look like :D

[sam68]

Thanks for sharing cyclonic....your son is very tall for a 13 yo and looks so much like your hubby.....
I bet you lost a few kilos walking up there, my os did it with his dad xmas 2007...I chicken out with ys.
Keep well now - Sam:)

[Cyclonic]

Thanks Sam and Shez!

Yes, our thirteen year old son (Lachlan) is very tall and does look like his dad! We're always having to remind people that he is not sixteen or so, and that his brain is definitely thirteen - just - mind you he still likes to sit on my lap intermittently, which is a bit interesting!

I think just once in thirteen years, has anyone said that Lach looks like me, and I nearly fainted with shock.....

[JulieH]

Well done Cyclonic.

Just a silly question from a BT girl, do Atkins girls have anything on the pancakes, or do you eat them as is, straight from the frying pan.

[Cyclonic]

I'm not expert (as you can probably tell, I'm a newbie!), but I swiped them with a little butter, or alternatively just used a bit of butter to grease the pan, and they were delicious either way.

[sam68]

Thanks Sam and Shez!

Yes, our thirteen year old son (Lachlan) is very tall and does look like his dad! We're always having to remind people that he is not sixteen or so, and that his brain is definitely thirteen - just - mind you he still likes to sit on my lap intermittently, which is a bit interesting!

I think just once in thirteen years, has anyone said that Lach looks like me, and I nearly fainted with shock.....

Hi Cyclonic (interesting name by the way)
That is so funny about your son sitting on your lap, my ys son who is turning 7 in a fortnight loves his cuddles with me and I quiet often joke with him that he can't be doing this in his teens...but he reckons he will.....we'll see I said..Lol.

take care now - Sam:)

[nulky75]

Hi Cyclonic!

Love your pic - walking Mt Mt Kosciusko is on my wish list of things to do! Is it a hard walk?

Bec

[Cyclonic]

Love your pic - walking Mt Mt Kosciusko is on my wish list of things to do! Is it a hard walk?

Bec

Well, it's a moderate walk - we did it a relatively easy way, which is to go up the chairlift at Thredbo, and then follow the walkway to the top of Kosciusko, although it is still about a 14km round trip that way, and there are of course, some "up" parts!

Most of it's just a steady rise, and it would be almost impossible to get lost due to the walkway. The weather (as you can see from the photo) can be a bit unpredictable, so you do need to be prepared for just about any kind of temperature and weather conditions. It can change very quickly, and may look nothing like the weather in Jindabyne or Thredbo. The views are fantastic though, and we saw heaps of wildflowers and the little alpine fish - galaxias, which have little feet to walk on rocks with, which was rather cool.

I would highly recommend doing the walk, it's great. We plan to do some of the longer ones next time, or perhaps take a snowshoe trek in winter with a guide.