Low carb vegaterian diet. Any advice how please?

a reply to: nonspecific

I did the whole hippy vegetarian thing for about 5 years, but just started eating meat again about 6 months ago.

Anyway...... If you want an extreme diet, where you can basically just watch the fat shred. Then just go for the low carb protein powder drinks with 2 raw eggs, 5 times a day. Add some Metamucil for dietary fiber and take a few good quality multi-vitamins everyday.

That diet, combined with a good exercise regime, used to make me go from having a gut and no real muscle to being cut, lean and tight, with a killer set of abs in less than 2 weeks.

I have a book called "The Vegetarian Low Carb Diet" by Rose Elliot. It was really helpful to me when I was doing that diet and I did lose weight. However, once I went off the diet, as I inevitably seem to do, I gained the weight back.

Sal

a reply to: nonspecific

a reply to: nonspecific

Tell her to make really good friends with leafy greens and vinaigrettes. Its the only way I can see it working, short of finding new/novel ways to employ nuts and other non-vegetable foods.

But yeah, no tubers, no artichoke. Although you can do radishes. Squash is a funny one....id sstay away from acorn and butternut. Spaghetti, summer, zuke/calbacita should be fine.

So you are left with salads, dishes like creamed spinach for a variety, or a squash pasta for a variety. The only diet that would be harder to satisfy, IMO, would be vegetarian, low carb, raw food.

a reply to: nonspecific

When I am around vegetarian people I tend to eat less meat. I don't know you said you are counting root vegetables, so Rice?? Stirfrys are good. Throw in lots of mushrooms peanuts.

I personally can't get enough calories like this without having to focus on eating all the time. I have crazy metabolism. Just the other day I ate almost 2 medium pizzas in a sitting..

So I tend to stay in high fat high protein areas.

I think the main trick my vegetarian friends use is soups.

I'm feeling evil today and this thread is making me hungry.. Think I need Lasagna. Lasagna. Lasagna.. Hahahahahahahaha Lasagna.

Yummy.

Sorry.

a reply to: nonspecific

I have a similar problem and am in research mode today. Interesting to see this post.

Does your wife eat eggs and cheese? I like goat cheese, brie and cream cheese. They all have protein. Happy Eggs are best.

I don't like to eat a lot of meat and I want to cut it further. I'm going to incorporate fish more (I know it's meat, but it's "lighter" and has more protein) and look for a protein additive for green drinks or protein drinks. I don't want to eat soy (GMO and breast cancer), so tofu and tempeh are out (although I don't know their carb count) but they might be another option.

Also, coconut oil and avocados are KEY in getting enough good fats. If she eats dairy, heavy whipping cream is great! There's a coconut oil thread here: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Here are some sites I'm looking at:
Low-carb Vegetarian
Low Carb Vegetarian Diet
Best Protein Powder for Low Carb Diet
Low Carb Protein Powder - Bodybuilding Forum

Low-carb dieting doesn't have to be endless plates of bacon and huge T-bone steaks. You can easily follow a low-carb plan without visiting a steakhouse or meat aisle. If you eat fish, a low-carb diet should be a breeze. Focus on wild-caught salmon and other fish, and incorporate plenty of protein, fiber and good fats. If you're strictly vegetarian, you'll find a low-carb diet more challenging, but certainly possible.

Low Carb Meat-Free
Embracing Fat - Low Carb

The goal is to use saturated fats that are more monounsaturated then polyunsaturated.

I started a low to no carb diet (of my own making) about a week and a half ago.
I also upped my cardio/walking. It's almost beach time, you know!
Anywho, I've only lost a couple pounds but, I feel sooooo much better. I think I may have been becoming insulin intolerant.
I don't feel bloated, my energy level is up, and I feel more alert.

I am a carnivore so, I'm not sure about the vegetarian aspect. I try to eat leafy greens every day in some capacity.
I love my fish and chicken but, am trying to scale down portion sizes and after about 7 days, my appetite has decreased measurably. The evenings are a struggle though as once all the work is done and I am just sitting....I feel the urge to nibble.
I know that I've consumed my caloric limit for the day so, I drink a bottle of water and sometimes get a teaspoon of peanut butter and that seems to help. The only "refined" sugar I have been unable to quit (so far) is in my coffee.

Good luck to your wife! The pasta and sauce literally screamed at me from the pantry and fridge for about 5 days....doesn't really bother me now!

Make sure that fish doesn't eat meat if you want to follow a vegetarian diet. I'm sure grass fed organic cows are considered vegetarians too.

Fish has a lot less metabolic issues than other meats. Just try to make sure the fish comes from reasonably clean waters.

If you do lower carbs, make sure to up the intake of fats, and not those soy oils. From my research coconut oil is good, regular olive oil, and possibly corn oil. I can't find much bad research on corn oil surprisingly. Either nobody is focusing on it or they can't find much wrong with it.

We have two different systems for making energy, burning carbs or burning fats. The processes are quite different.

originally posted by: TNMockingbird
I started a low to no carb diet (of my own making) about a week and a half ago.
I also upped my cardio/walking. It's almost beach time, you know!
Anywho, I've only lost a couple pounds but, I feel sooooo much better. I think I may have been becoming insulin intolerant.
I don't feel bloated, my energy level is up, and I feel more alert.

I wonder how sometimes if I am becoming diabetic. I know from my past a long time ago that I was drinking about 12 cokes in a day (the Army cured me of liking sugar though).. I was having major blood sugar issues, and I got it back to where now I can go a day without food and not crash.. But I also have noticed beer.. Beer. Why that thing I love has to do this too...

Is it just a matter of eating less carbs?
Some sort of Diet change? Get more fats?

My body doesn't even burn carbs all that well. Or like I just use up all the energy.. Carbs feel like they make me really warm. Feels like a different digestion, than say a steak and a salad. I get so warm I change the room temperature.

I've noticed just for me not sure if it's for others.. I've noticed that my body gets really happy with fats like coconut oil or olive oil and especially mixed into something like a salad. those fats and the vitamins combined.. Feels so good. I think the reason I notice this so strongly is that I am probably vitamin deficient, and may have slight issues with carbs.



I havn't much looked into this.
Rickymouse's recent posts have been striking a chord with me though.

originally posted by: nonspecific
mrsnonspecific wants to go on a low carb vegaterian diet.

I'm struggling as the cook of the house to come upwith a varied diet with these restrictions, does any one have any ideas to keep things interesting?

Root veg are okay but wheat, pasta rice is out and anything high carb.

Fish is okay now and then.

Here's two ideas, take colic lower, cut off the heads and desperate the stalks, boil the heads drain the water, add milk and butter and mash it. They taste very similar to mashed potatoes.

Next, instead of potato fries, try sweet potatoe fries with maple syrup. Bake the potatoes in the syrup.

Next fry begins, add butter, throw in nuts. Bud said.

a reply to: nonspecific

I agree with what a couple of other posters here have said - you can't live on greens and tomatoes. It's too extreme

With a little research maybe you can convince your lady that it's more about proportion than cutting things out. She'll be constantly starving if she tries to do this the hard way - and won't be as likely to stick with it. You can still lose weight when eating carbs. It's very difficult to go on an extreme diet and become vegetarian at the same time

So, let's pretend you have a very productive conversation with the lady of the house and you convince her that a sensible diet is a better way to go than cutting out all carbs:

Quinoa - high protein though still a carb, but very nutritious. It has the necessary nutrients you need if you're giving up meat. Proteins can be had by combining different carbs - and you don't even have to eat them together at the same time, you should just focus on variety throughout the day and week

Brown rice, beans of all sorts - legumes in general. Chick peas, lentils, potatoes, corn, quinoa, amaranth, chia. Nuts and seeds - these things with fresh vegetables, fruits and spices can be turned into thousands of amazing dishes

You must have fats in your diet. Don't know if you're going vegan - but eggs and cheese, yogurt are good. Also - olive oil, sesame oil - all oils are a good addition. The body needs combinations of fats, proteins and carbs to be healthy. Fats help you feel full - and they also make things taste better

Get yourself a couple nice vegetarian cookbooks (or just look up stuff online). So many excellent recipes out there - you'll be surprised. If you're not crazy about cooking this might get you started down that path and it could be a lot of fun. If you love cooking - this will be a wonderful experience for you

Indian recipes are excellent - most beautiful flavor combinations in the world (I think). They've got vegetarian down - it's an art

Vegetable Love

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. It's not intended for vegetarians - but it's a wonderful resource. Beautiful really - a world of food that leaves the standard meat/starch/meat/starch routine behind

Vegetarianism is not about suffering. Good luck - and have fun! :-)

ETA: There are also more and more things showing up at the grocery store these days for vegetarians - in the frozen section, soups, all sorts of stuff

a reply to: rickymouse

Corn oil is mostly polyunsaturated. That means it's a highly processed fat and is NOT good.

Polyunsaturated Fats – These are usually seen in the form of vegetable oils and have been hailed as wonderful, but in fact, are normally highly processed. All of those “heart healthy” margarine spreads we see – avoid them. Studies have shown that the rising rates of heart disease are linked with liquid vegetable oils and trans fats – not saturated fats. Don’t get this confused, as fatty fish is also high in polyunsaturated fats, and these are great for you. Takeaway note is that processed polyunsaturated fats are bad (will worsen HDL/LDL cholestertol levels) and natural polyunsaturated fats are good (will improve HDL/LDL cholesterol levels)

The Importance of Fat in a Ketogenic Diet

Hope you can see this chart. If not, save it and open it (or right click and view it). It should be larger on your screen. I ONLY use coconut oil, butter, ghee and EV olive oil. And you have to be careful with the cheap olive oils, too, because they are most likely 'cut' with cheaper, polyunsaturated fats, defeating the process entirely. Link below.



The Most and Least Fake Olive Oils

The brands that failed to meet the extra virgin olive oil standards, according to this study: Bertolli, Carapelli, Colavita, Star, Pompeian. Eat Grown Local also reports: Filippo Berio, Mazzola, Mezzetta, Newman's Own, Safeway, and Whole Foods in this list; the data may be from the earlier 2010 study when more brands were evaluated.

The real deal: California Olive Ranch, Cobram Estate, Lucini. Kirkland Organic, Lucero (Ascolano), McEvoy Ranch Organic are also noted by Eat Grown Local.

We bought "Napa Valley Naturals – Private Reserve" and it passed the test with flying colors. So, it's good, too. To test, place a small amount (I use a shot glass) in the refrigerator for 2 days. If it solidifies, it's good. If not, it has more than 20% added (probably processed polyunsaturated) oils in it.

originally posted by: camain

originally posted by: nonspecific
mrsnonspecific wants to go on a low carb vegaterian diet.

I'm struggling as the cook of the house to come upwith a varied diet with these restrictions, does any one have any ideas to keep things interesting?

Root veg are okay but wheat, pasta rice is out and anything high carb.

Fish is okay now and then.

Here's two ideas, take colic lower, cut off the heads and desperate the stalks, boil the heads drain the water, add milk and butter and mash it. They taste very similar to mashed potatoes.

Next, instead of potato fries, try sweet potatoe fries with maple syrup. Bake the potatoes in the syrup.

Next fry begins, add butter, throw in nuts. Bud said.

I'm guessing colic lower should be cauliflower lol.

I already do that, love it. I also blitz it in a food processor to make cauliflower rice, just simmer like normal rice and it's a great alternative.

Fat is not an ussue and we do not eat that many chips(fries) but sugar is a no no so maple syrup is out and it's expensive in the UK anyway!

originally posted by: Spiramirabilis
a reply to: nonspecific

I agree with what a couple of other posters here have said - you can't live on greens and tomatoes. It's too extreme

With a little research maybe you can convince your lady that it's more about proportion than cutting things out. She'll be constantly starving if she tries to do this the hard way - and won't be as likely to stick with it. You can still lose weight when eating carbs. It's very difficult to go on an extreme diet and become vegetarian at the same time

So, let's pretend you have a very productive conversation with the lady of the house and you convince here that a sensible diet is a better way to go than cutting out all carbs:

Quinoa - high protein though still a carb, but very nutritious. It has the necessary nutrients you need if you're giving up meat. Proteins can be had by combining different carbs - and you don't even have to eat them together at the same time, you should just focus on variety throughout the day and week

Brown rice, beans of all sorts - legumes in general. Chick peas, lentils, potatoes, corn, quinoa, amaranth, chia. Nuts and seeds - these things with fresh vegetables, fruits and spices can be turned into thousands of amazing dishes

You must have fats in your diet. Don't know if you're going vegan - but eggs and cheese are good. Also - olive oil, sesame oil - all oils are a good addition. The body needs combinations of fats, proteins and carbs to be healthy. Fats help you feel full - and they also make things taste better

Get yourself a couple nice vegetarian cookbooks (or just look up stuff online). So many excellent recipes out there - you'll be surprised. If you're not crazy about cooking this might get you started down that path and it could be a lot of fun. If you love cooking - this will be a wonderful experience for you

Indian recipes are excellent - most beautiful flavor combinations in the world (I think). They've got vegetarian down - it's an art

Vegetable Love

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. It's not intended for vegetarians - but it's a wonderful resource. Beautiful really - a world of food that leaves the standard meat/starch/meat/starch routine behind

Vegetarianism is not about suffering. Good luck - and have fun! :-)

Thanks for the advice, It's not a fad diet thing though we have been working towards it for a while.

We often go vegatarian more so in the summertime for a while but it's not a hard and fast rule more that good quality ethically raised meat is expensive and we think of it as a luxury as oppoosed to a given.

We both eat plenty of eggs and cheee and fat especially butter is not off the menu also oily fish like mackerel and sardines.

I was a chef for years but I'm strugling more with the variation, when you take away pasta, cous cous, wheat, polenta ect it's kind of a challenge to keep things interesting!

a reply to: nonspecific

I was a chef for years but I'm strugling more with the variation, when you take away pasta, cous cous, wheat, polenta ect it's kind of a challenge to keep things interesting!

It's a lot like art - sometimes the more restrictions you have the better the result :-)

My sister is a chef - and a vegetarian. I'm a hack - but I do love to cook

Giving up all those beautiful starches does complicate things

It would be great if you came back later and told us what you've been up to

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

I've always known butter was the way to go over margarine. You can just tell when you eat it.. A lot of things that are super cheap are the ones that hurt your body.. Margarine. Yuck.

Butter makes me feel healthy.


Thanks for that chart. This is all way too many things for me to be focused on already in this thread, but looking into fats will be my starting my point.

Oh also.
My cholesterol levels are the healthiest of my family, and all I eat is stuff that's supposed to be bad for that..
I sometimes wonder if blood cholesterol levels are raised when someone is sort of dried and hollowed out.. I mean I wonder if people who don't get enough fat, maybe their body is overcompensating, since the main source of blood cholesterol is just your body making it, right?

I have similar feelings about low fat foods, margarine, and diet coke... ewwww.

One of these days I will have a backyard farm. Just need the back yard first haha. 75% of the food my grandfather ate he grew in his yard, even had bees and honey. I bet even just eating things not found in plastic bags and cardboard boxes, regardless of the nutrient content, probably the move to make.