You Just Started a Low-Carb Diet—Here Are the Recipes to Make First (2024)

FAQs

How do you start a low-carb diet for beginners? ›

Low-Carb Basics

Protein (chicken, fish, seafood, beef, eggs) and fats (butter, oil) do not contain carbs. Keep whole grains, dairy (like plain yogurt and milk), fruit and veggies in your diet. "Whole grains, fruit and vegetables provide fiber, which can keep you satiated and may help lower cholesterol," says Gorin.

During the first two weeks of a low-carb diet, focus on consuming foods that are low in carbohydrates. Opt for non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats (such as olive oil), and low-carb dairy products. Avoid or minimise high-carb foods like bread, pasta, and sugary snacks.

The most common result is losing between 3 and 6 pounds (around 2 kilos) during the two weeks. Pretty good results when you can eat as much as you want, no hunger required. Even though some of it, of course, is likely water weight. One person in ten lost more than 9 pounds (over 4 kilos) in the two weeks.

That's why plenty of keto dieters look forward to having a cheat day — 24 hours where they can indulge in all their carb cravings without guilt. It's a welcome break from any restrictive diet like keto, which can have both benefits and drawbacks, depending on how a cheat day is observed.

According to some scientists, a well-formulated low carb diet should be high in fat and moderate in protein. A good range to aim for is 0.7–0.9 grams of protein per pound (1.5–2.0 grams per kg) of body weight. Excessive protein consumption on a low carb diet can prevent you from getting into ketosis.

How to follow a no-carb diet. Simply put, when you follow a no-carb diet, you avoid all high carb foods. Specifically, try to eliminate whole and refined grains, baked goods, fruits, milk, yogurt, beans, legumes, pasta, bread, sugar-sweetened beverages, and starchy vegetables like peas and corn.

Anecdotally, people report losses within the first week of anywhere from 1 pound (0.5 kg) to 10 or more pounds (5 kg). The larger you are, the more water weight you're likely to lose after starting keto.

If a person follows the 75% fat /20% carb/5% fat keto diet, average results may look like this: Weeks 1–2: rapid weight reduction phase due to water loss – up to ten pounds. Weeks 2–4: standard weight reduction – between one and two pounds per week. After the first month – slow weight loss – around one pound per week.

What bread has the lowest carbs? ›

Losing weight requires you to burn more calories than you consume. Experts say you should aim to burn 500 calories more than what you eat each day. As far as how many carbohydrates to eat, Pratt says 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates is safe for most people who are trying to lose weight.

A daily limit of 0.7 to 2 ounces (20 to 57 grams) of carbohydrates is typical with a low-carb diet. These amounts of carbohydrates provide 80 to 240 calories. Some low-carb diets greatly limit carbs during the early phase of the diet. Then those diets allow more carbs over time.

You'll Lose Water Weight

Glycogen helps your body retain water. You may also lose some salt along with the carbs you cut out. When you start to eat carbs again, the water weight comes right back. It takes 2 to 3 weeks for ketosis to rev up and start to burn fat.

Bread: Around 2 to 3 slices of white or whole wheat bread typically contain around 50g of carbohydrates. Oats: Approximately 50g of dry oats (about 1/2 cup) provides around 50g of carbohydrates. Fruits: Consuming around 2 medium-sized bananas or 3 medium-sized apples can give you close to 50g of carbohydrates.

Anywhere between 2-10lbs of weight loss can be expected after 1 week. This is an incredible amount, however it isn't due to losing fat, but rather water! Carbohydrates need a fair amount of water to stay in your body; glucose is stored as glycogen in your muscles, and in this form, binds to water.

Whether you are following keto or any other diet plan that puts you in a caloric deficit, it can take anywhere between a week up to several weeks to start seeing results, depending on a number of different factors.