Is Calorie Counting my only realistic choice?

[Elfina]

I'm vegetarian who doesn't eat eggs. I have tried 5:2, but found it too difficult with working longish hours and exercising. I absolutely hate calorie counting as it's dull and obsession-making, but I fear that's the only thing open to me. Am I right?

[chocoluvva]

Substitute salad leaves for carbs at lunch and dinner-time - rocket, raw spinach, lambs lettuce, cos lettuce... To add interest you could use lemon juice, olive oil and/or balsamic vinegar as a dressing.

[Marga1]

I think that calorie counting to start provides you with a good base. After that, you are going to know just how many calories are in most foods. I think that you have to work through the initial boring week (two weeks, a month?) and arrive at a place where you just know for yourself what your body needs.

[blackandwhiteandredallover]

have you tried my fitness pal? It's an app on your phone and makes the calorie counting really easy.

I am veggie and I agree low-carb as a veggie is pretty impossible unless you really, really, really like cheese omlettes Cutting out crap and watching portion sizes worked for me, and my fitness pal helped me realise how much all the little extras added up.

[Perfectlypurple]

I calorie count. It's the only thing that works for me but I also make sure I don't go mad of the carbs so I work that out too. It is a pain but I have tried so many different things and I always go back to calorie counting.

[tabulahrasa]

I hate calorie counting - I can lose weight, but I find I become obsessive and I really don't eat very healthily either...yes within my calorie allowance, but really badly.

I joined Slimming World in October and so far I've lost 3 stone 12 - the emphasis is all on choosing better foods to start with, so that you're not having to constantly work out what the calories are or how much you're allowed. It's about the easiest thing I've found in that I'm eating normal food when I want to without worrying about it (with the obvious exceptions of things that are high in fat or sugar, lol).

[Elfina]

I think I'm going to try the leaves in place of carbs...

[chocoluvva]

You could make 'chips' using celeriac - boil strips for 2-3 mins then roast until slightly soft.

Have a cinnamon supplement before eating your main meal.

Drink lots of green tea.

[capsium]

There are some rich foods that will fill you up without the carb,

Avocado
Cheese
Nuts (check carb values though for portion size)
Aubergine
Artichoke
Cream


Look at all those low carb recipes on Boot Camp. People have stuff like Celeriac mash and Cauliflower base pizza. Cheese sauces can be made with cream. Courgette strips can replace pasta. You can make cauliflower rice.