Slow Carb Diet Meal Plan – Last week I finished transitioning from Whole 30 and just enjoyed a few days of not really being restricted before getting ready for the official start of the Tim Ferris “Slow Carb Diet” (TFSCD).
Things went smoothly, each “forbidden” food item caused no side effects on him when reintroduced. Tuesday I went to Beuchert’s Saloon and had my favorite burger in town, without cheese, but with a bun! And two IPAs! It’s a delicious dish and I think skipping it makes it even tastier. I felt fine that evening and all Wednesday.
Slow Carb Diet Meal Plan
Wednesday evening I met a spontaneous date at the Dacha. We each had a couple of glasses of wine and shared meatballs (there were only three regular sized meatballs, not jumbo, so we each had one and a half). The bartender gave us two small pieces of bread to cook the ketchup on. My date said she was starving and didn’t like the look of the rest of the menu, so we stopped at Rasa for a casual Indian-inspired dinner.
Low Carb Meal Plan
We both ordered the Tikka Chance on Me, and I got it with just a splash of rice instead of a full scoop. Here is the ingredient list, copy+paste from the Rasa website.
TIKKA CHANCE ON ME – chicken tikka | tomato garlic sauce | basmati rice | stir-fried spinach | pickled radish | Kachumber | pickled onions | roasted cumin yogurt | mint coriander chutney
After dinner we went our separate ways, and I laid on my couch to do some work before bed. I got home about 8:30pm, and by 9:30pm I was very bloated, had stomach cramps to the point of nausea, and started to have a headache. I unhooked my bra and undid my pants (TMI- Sorry, haha) which helped for a while. Then I went to my room, changed into loose pajamas, and lay in bed tossing and turning for HOURS. I woke up and went to the bathroom a few times feeling like I was going to throw up, but actually I didn’t (it takes a LOT to make me throw up). After finally falling asleep around 3am, I woke up at 6am still with a sick stomach and a terrible headache. I didn’t feel 100% better until I woke up on Saturday morning.
My date said she felt fine, so it probably wasn’t food poisoning. Which makes me think that something in the mix of gluten, dairy, alcohol, pickles, and possibly spices used at Rasa, triggered that reaction in my body after the Whole30. It’s like heartburn on steroids.
The Galveston Diet: Everything You Need To Know
Saturday some friends organized a party bus to take us to some wineries in Virginia. We had a fun day but I don’t really miss drinking like that. I got home at 7pm then stayed in and ate leftovers and went to bed at 9:30pm. Sunday I spent part of the afternoon reading at Whole Foods while having pizza for lunch (cheese and gluten – no problem) before food prep and good luck (Italian – and I love EVERYTHING my friends have to share!) and episodes (but still disappointing) Game of Thrones again this season.
This week I started TFSCD to guidelines. The biggest problem I have with the “fine print” is trying to get 30g of protein within an hour of waking up, especially on days when I go to teach at 6am (Wednesday, Friday). If whey wasn’t a problem, I would just drink whey protein in the morning, but I think it’s better for me to fast until 8-9am no matter what time I wake up. I prefer to try to fast for at least 12 hours, and that would involve not eating after 5:30pm if I have 30g of protein within an hour of waking up. So… that’s not something I’m focused on, at least this week.
On Sunday I prepared everything but didn’t organize the food, preferring to do it as I went. Hungry Harvest was skipped this week and instead I just loaded up on greens and broccoli at the grocery store. Today (Monday) is fine. I wasn’t too hungry because my weekend was crazy. I like to eat four smaller meals, but when I transition back to the office, we’ll see how that goes…
Set cheat day is Saturday because I’m going to see the Cubsbeat the Nationals with my Crossfit buddies. I envision beer and stadium food in my future.
A Blueprint For Fat Loss With Slow Carb, Low Carb & Keto Diets
Their math and macro math is consistently incorrect… 125g of Carbs is 500 calories, 106g of Protein is 424 calories, and 72g of fat is 648 calories for a total of 1572 calories, not the stated 1515 calories. That’s a 60 calorie difference and can be a big deal to someone who is actually trying to lose weight. And where does this contradiction come from?! Also, as you’ll see below, the macros change from screen to screen for no apparent reason. And the macros are also different on the browser version than on the app (total fat is 72g on the browser). MFP is a good way to keep tabs on estimates but having to double-check their math is time-consuming and a little annoying for those who comb through the details carefully. I picked up Tim Ferriss’ famous book, “Four Hour Body” before the family cruise. I knew I would be faced with 24 hour opportunities for gluttony and wanted to immerse myself in something health-minded to stay motivated to treat my body well. I’m not sure what to expect from this book beyond some bio-hacks I might use to prevent 5-10 lbs of buffet-based weight gain. What I ended up with was a revolutionary way to think about my food and some delicious slow carb diet recipes.
What stuck with me more than anything was the “Slow Carb Diet” Tim shared. Tim claims that by following a slow carb diet, people of all ages (including himself, his parents, and strangers on the internet) have been able to lose up to 20 pounds in one month. Hmm…I hear that.
The diet is not much different from the traditional low-carb Atkins, Paleo or Keto types, outside of three main differences:
I’ve outlined the gist of the diet below (in an iPhone note, which I’ve now sent to probably +20 friends and family!):
Day Fat Protein Efficient Diet Meal Plan (pdf & Menu)
So I tried to follow a slow carb diet pretty strictly for a month when I got back from my cruise. It’s not great. If willpower is a scarce resource, I’m pretty sure I was born with less than average. So a strict diet under any circumstances is not for me (or most of us, really). Plus, I feel conflicted about leaving fruit out of my diet, and cheat days tend to coincide with drinking days, and that’s an absolute field day for my sensitive stomach.
So I am not a gung-ho advocate of this diet as a religious practice. However, I really like it as a guideline for healthy eating. For example, when I cook for myself now, I often try to figure out how I can make my food more “slow carb.” I bought into the science behind it; we know that vegetables are an important source of fiber, nutrients and minerals. We know that protein helps to increase satiety, satiety, build muscle and stay energized.
But what is less talked about in popular health circles is the importance of nuts! I’ve been a nut fanatic since adopting a more “slow carb” approach to my diet, because they’re a nutrient and satiating powerhouse. Plus, beans are uber sustainable.
I am now careful to add more beans, along with legumes like lentils and chickpeas, to my daily diet. I also bought a cookbook called Cool Beans to learn different ways to prepare this new and fun food group.
The Slow Carb Diet And My Favorite Recipes — Blue Sky Mind
But the most lasting and life-changing adjustment I made to my regular diet was the addition of nut paste. Chickpea pasta is amazing, because it only has 1-3 ingredients, lots of fiber and protein, and the taste/texture of real pasta is almost invisible in a good weeknight meal. And…technically it’s slow carb approved.
I’ve been on a mission for the last year to find a variety of slow-carb (or slow-carb-inspired) pasta dishes that I can eat year-round to satisfy my never-ending craving for glutinous deliciousness.
Note: The parmesan and feta referenced below are not technically “slow carb” approved, but that’s where I think we can all practice a little balance and moderation 🙂
A bit of an experimental dish, but well put together. Add dairy-based half & half if you don’t think you’ll like the light coconut influence.
Day Clean Eating Meal Plan (mar 21 27) • Tastythin
I highly recommend the following items to start your slow carb inspired journey. I regularly buy both Banza and Rao in bulk, as they are superior to all other chickpea pasta and marinara sauces on the market.
Disclaimer: The two cookbooks below are not completely slow carb, but both offer great inspiration for nutritious meals that can be easily modified for a slow carb diet.
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