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Cutting out carbs to lose weight

(27 Posts)
Daisy25 Wed 20-May-26 07:45:24

Hi,

I just wondered if anyone else does this and has success?

I normally start in May, but due to the weather being so awful recently, I've still been eating bread, potatoes and rice. I don't each much pasta (rarely).

Thankfully with the weather looking to be on the up! Fingers crossed....I will endeavour to cut out bread, pasta, rice, potatoes completely.

I rarely eat cake, biscuits or chocolate anymore, so hoping to give my body a bit of break over the Summer months.

What else would you cut out?

I try to eat healthy so chicken, fish, salads and veg.
I love Michael Mosley's fast 800 recipes.

Anyone else had success eating this way?

It's a good way of life once you get into it and saves money!

Llamas99 Wed 20-May-26 08:08:04

Yes, GP put DH on low carb and we saw a nutritionist. He could have 60 carbs a meal and 15 carbs a snack (3 snacks per day). I took my DDIL everything in the house that he couldn't eat.
Low carb eating works. You can eat bread, rice etc within your carb allowance. I bought a book for carb count, food scales and anything I could find to help. Reading labels was essential. And I kept a log of what we ate. After a short time, I lost my craving for anything sweet. I was very fortunate as my DH never complained. It certainly involves planning and lots of prep work but it works!

shysal Wed 20-May-26 12:20:06

I ate low carbs earlier this year and lost 16 lb over 2.5 months. I really enjoyed the regime as I love poultry, fish, eggs and cheese. With plenty of salad and veg I never felt hungry, and love cauli mash. The loss has slowed down now as I have added a few complex carbs and also love Jersey Royal potatoes! I eat only within an 8 hour slot (16:8), so brunch and evening meal
If you crave something sweet there are lots of keto recipes on line, often using almond flour. I watched the videos on the 'low carb love' website but didn't want the added calories.

Cossy Wed 20-May-26 12:23:21

I eat healthily, but far too big portions, I lose weight more easily (but never easily!) if I cut out all carbs. Good luck 🫶

AmberGran Wed 20-May-26 12:49:21

I've been keto for over 2 years. Don't miss bread, cakes, biscuits, potatoes, etc anymore. We eat two meals a day, mid morning and mid afternoon, loaded up with protein, some fats and a few veg. DH eats more carbs than me, he still likes a biscuit to dunk now and then, a beer when he's out with friends and if we're out for dinner will have a dessert usually. Took him a while to adapt but he's happier with it now because his pot belly has gone 😁

If I'm at a celebration like a wedding I'll nibble a bit of cake but my sweet tooth seems to have disappeared and I find most things too sweet now, so I don't feel like I am missing out.

mum2three Wed 20-May-26 15:55:57

I think the most successful way to lose weight is to count calories. Assign yourself a certain limit each day and stick to it. That way, you don't have to actually deprive yourself of anything. Just work it into your daily allowance. Rosemary Conly recommended cutting out fat but it's a struggle.

Treebee Wed 20-May-26 22:03:23

I find cutting, or reducing carbs works. I also eat smaller portions and don’t eat between meals.

alita Thu 21-May-26 14:03:21

I restrict carbs to a total of 80g, but also count calories, because a lot of carb free things (like cheese and nuts) are high in calories.

cc Thu 21-May-26 14:04:58

Both my son and daughter have done this at various times. My son follows the Keto diet and lost more than 3 stone, my daughter's version is milder, following Slimmers World but still very effective. I have tried but find it makes me feel very weak.

Nicolenet Thu 21-May-26 14:13:48

I certainly do not cut out carbs or anything out! I eat absolutely everything and various portions size - depending on food groups. Over 70, hair natural colour, no wrinkles and fit with Tai Chi and Pilates! Do not become a slim old prune.

Barbadosbelle Thu 21-May-26 14:20:02

.

My only weightloss regime that has ever been successful is one I started at the start of this year.

I discovered four packed chest freezers of Slimming World meals at The Food Warehouse (Iceland) and thought I'd give them a try. So I have a Nairn Flatbread and half an apple for lunch (I haven't, historically, ever bothered with breakfast or lunch).

The SW meals are a generous size 500g-550g. Most meals-for-one from.stores (M&S, Tesco and the like) are usually 400g).
The meals are really varied and very tasty. Well balanced with good ingredients

I use them Monday to Friday and generally have lost a lb a day over the week. I'm not so strict at weekends so usually put on a lb or two then. But it has averaged 3lb a week and I'm wearing clothes two-sizes lower that I love but haven't been able to wear for years (zips!).

The.meals are, in the main, three-for-£10 so not expensive. Calories (c) 350 to 500. My mean average with a yoghurt pud' over the five day week, has been 763 Calories per day and I have NEVER felt hungry.

My only occasional addition has been some Tesco soft leaves.on the base of the.meal (20 cals max).

Really recommend.
.

Grandmotherto8 Thu 21-May-26 14:38:07

Slimming World is the most successful slimming club. The NHS approves of it and you can be prescribed a 12 week membership for free by your GP. However it is most certainly not carb free. In fact it is heavily carb dependent as you can have as much pasta, rice, potatoes as you want! Bread is limited, however, probably because of the need for butter or mayo in sandwiches.

merlotgran Thu 21-May-26 14:42:58

Low carbing always works for me when I want to keep my weight in check. I bulk out my meals with lots of leafy veg and always make sure there’s plenty of protein in my meals.

Aveline Thu 21-May-26 14:44:47

You say you do this every May. It obviously doesn't work in the long run if you have to keep doing it. Maybe there's a better long term solution as yo-yo dieting is not good for health?

JENMA Thu 21-May-26 14:45:44

High, I followed a pretty stiff diet called The Human Being Diet
for 3 months and lost a stone. It also improves your health. It is all in a book at Amazon. As it is too strict for life I have been following another lady who went on the diet and shared her menus on her Instagram to encourage and share with them all. She put them in a book as well. She still suggests on her Instagram www.jemimas-table.com/ I am following a lot of her ideas as well as my own personal choices and keping the weight off.

Aveline Thu 21-May-26 14:49:51

Reported

Barbadosbelle Thu 21-May-26 16:18:26

Grandmotherto8

I'm not a Slimming World member.
I just buy their meals - which are very well ballaced with plenty of meat and vegetables and are very tasty and generous.

At 550g and £3:33 each, they have worked well for me over the past 4+ months eating them 5-days a week and treating myself at weekends and Bank Holidays. Roll on this Sunday and Monday!!

For the first time a diet is working for me. I don't need to spend £7 for a class - that pays for two of my five meals each week!!!

The group sessions might work better for some other people, of course.
.

knspol Thu 21-May-26 17:39:09

For the last 2 weeks I have done without my evening glass of wine, I've given up eating biscuits and cake which have always been my downfall and I've lost a measly 1lb. very seriously considering opening a bottle of wine this evening as it's been a bad day!

JANH Thu 21-May-26 17:46:01

My husband and I have different dietary needs, I am a diabetic watching potassium levels and my husband is low cholesterol and low salt.
I seem to have found a way to cook for both diets and although I watch the carbs, we eat potatoes, brown rice and wholemeal pasta. I make my own sauces for rice and pasta, mostly (limited) tomato based and a white sauce using olive oil and wholemeal flour. We have both lost weight, I do watch the portion sizes and include a lot of fruit and we eat tinned mackerel twice a week. Works for us and it is heart healthy.

PaperMonster2 Thu 21-May-26 18:28:25

I’ve been eating low carb for years. Initially I lost weight but it’s crept back on despite the low carb diet (am T2D so am not going to stop low carb)

GrannieWalker Thu 21-May-26 22:14:18

I’ve lost 26lbs since June last year based on Second Nature guidance and support. SN is recommended by the NHS. It is overall health not just weight loss. It costs me £10 a week to be a member via the App. I believe it’s money well spent, because I am convinced it’s not only supported me to be a lot healthier but given me a healthy basis for the rest of my life. I’m 70. I haven’t solved the orange peel skin despite the good steady slow weight loss but, crikey milikey, do I enjoy my wardrobe more.
A central element is a balanced plate: half veg/fruit, quarter protein, quarter complex carbs and a tablespoon of fat. The course includes a whole host of holistic evidence based guidance and busted a lot of the myths I believed. There is no need to count anything, just the usual measurement when following SN recipes and using ‘a handful’ or ‘fist’ measure. Overall I’ve saved money because I plan menus more often and do more home batch cooking, often with economical but healthy ingredients. SN recipe book is the first thing I received. Yummy and often easy quick recipes. I’m thinking I will be able to happily leave the App this June set up for a healthy life.

Also … my own find, not SN’s, the co-op’s Goodfuel range is a good ready meal when wanted but only when they’re in the ‘reduced’ cabinet!

silverlining48 Thu 21-May-26 22:54:08

Cut back on cheese bread biscuits snd cake. Also take always and watch the ingredients in ready made food. Some have far too much sugar so they last longer.
If you don’t already cook from scratch so you know what’s in food if you make It yourself

Catterygirl Thu 21-May-26 23:39:58

I unfortunately have a very small appetite so I eat and drink whatever I fancy. Mainly seafood, one jersey royal and a few peas. I pile my plate high with basmati rice but can only manage about four tablespoons. I do think that nothing is fattening. It’s to do with the portion size.

keepingquiet Thu 21-May-26 23:56:59

Nothing wrong with carbs if they are part of a balanced diet with plenty of protein fibre and healthy fats too.

We have adapted to eat anything and carbs are necessary for energy.

Eating wholegrains in bread, rice and pasta is a good way to get carbs in but high sugar carbs should only be eaten in moderation.

alita Fri 22-May-26 14:37:47

GrannieWalker

I’ve lost 26lbs since June last year based on Second Nature guidance and support. SN is recommended by the NHS. It is overall health not just weight loss. It costs me £10 a week to be a member via the App. I believe it’s money well spent, because I am convinced it’s not only supported me to be a lot healthier but given me a healthy basis for the rest of my life. I’m 70. I haven’t solved the orange peel skin despite the good steady slow weight loss but, crikey milikey, do I enjoy my wardrobe more.
A central element is a balanced plate: half veg/fruit, quarter protein, quarter complex carbs and a tablespoon of fat. The course includes a whole host of holistic evidence based guidance and busted a lot of the myths I believed. There is no need to count anything, just the usual measurement when following SN recipes and using ‘a handful’ or ‘fist’ measure. Overall I’ve saved money because I plan menus more often and do more home batch cooking, often with economical but healthy ingredients. SN recipe book is the first thing I received. Yummy and often easy quick recipes. I’m thinking I will be able to happily leave the App this June set up for a healthy life.

Also … my own find, not SN’s, the co-op’s Goodfuel range is a good ready meal when wanted but only when they’re in the ‘reduced’ cabinet!

I also do Second Nature, I was referred by the NHS because I had a high glucose reading and having PCOS makes me more vulnerable to diabetes. Its been life changing for us, my husband follows it too. We've been doing it for 6 years, and because its an NHS referral has never cost anything.