Low-Carb insight: Some FAQs
Susan Burke
We know a new venture can be fraught with uncertainty. You've joined up and selected the Low-Carb Plan option - but now what? Here's your chance to learn a little before you lose a lot. This week, I’m going to share some of the questions that members have asked about the Low-Carb Plan.
What happened to my ‘5-a-day’ servings of fruit and veg?
The Low-Carb Plan is not all about burgers and bacon. Even on Carb Reduction, the first phase of the programme, those 20 grams of carbohydrate should come from lower carb vegetables such as spinach, kale, watercress and broccoli. A 180g serving of broccoli, for example, provides 5 grams of carbs – and one serving of a fruit or vegetable is defined as 80 grams. So choose nutrient-rich, low carb vegetables and you’ll still reach your 5-a-day.
What’s the best fat to eat?
Consume at least three servings of fish in your weekly diet. Include fats from a variety of sources; monounsaturated such as olive oil, oil from avocado, oils from nuts and seeds, and saturated fats from red meat and poultry.
Can I drink during Carb Reduction?
No, you should try not to. When you’re trying to make changes to lose weight, no matter what programme you’re following, stay with clear, cool water! Treat your body as if it were a top car - say, a Ferrari! You wouldn’t put sugar in the petrol tank. So, keep your engine clean! Alcohol may interfere with weight loss in more ways than one. Certainly, it removes inhibitions and it may make it harder for you to retain your willpower.
Can I skip meals on the Low-Carb Plan?
No. Don’t skip meals while following the Low-Carb Plan - or on any other weight loss plan. Skipping meals defeats the purpose of the plan, which is to give you more energy and motivation to select healthy foods and lose weight. Eat smaller meals more frequently. Use your meal plan and select an item or two from each meal to eat two to three hours later.
Speaking of snacks, what are some good ones for Carb Reduction?
Your meal plan has snacks, including olives and cheese, hard-boiled eggs, rolled turkey around cucumber slices, crispy turkey bacon, sliced peppers and bacon wrapped asparagus. Your plan also features Low-Carb bars and shakes.
Can I eat Low-Carb bars during Carb Reduction?
Some of them are recommended, some not. Because everyone is different, you may not be able to eat these during Carb Reduction and still lose weight. The Low-Carb products use different sweeteners, including sucralose, glycerin, manitol (a sugar alcohol) and polydextrose (a sweetener and bulking agent). These carbohydrates have a minimal effect on blood sugar.
If you’re on the Low-Carb Plan plam (or any of our plans) to get to or to stay at your goal weight, you have your very own support board and community of friends to keep you motivated and well informed. The support boards are there when you need them. Get online any time of the day or night and post a question, comment or just say hi! Sometimes it just helps to know that there are other people out there with similar concerns and questions.