1 week of #Banting
I’m a bit of a trend junkie, and the latest one I’ve hopped onto is Tim Noakes’ Real Meal Revolution. Now you guys know, I’ve tried everything to lose weight- personal trainer, dietitian, diet pills, training for a 10km, working out everyday at home, and nothing works. Because I eat out all the time, and my weaknesses are carbs and sugar.
It’s like I know exactly what I need to do, but actually doing it is another story. Recently, I’ve actually been focusing less on my weight, so I surprised myself when I decided to try out this diet. It’s not really a diet, more a way of life that you’re encouraged to adopt. Noakes’ belief is that we’ve been conditioned to believe that fat is bad for us, when actually it isn’t. Fats are good, it’s carbs and refined sugar that cause damage. He’s done tests and research and I don’t want to get into all the technical stuff because it’s like religion- everyone has an opinion and who knows who is right?
If you’re keen to know more about the science behind the eating plan, buy the ebook or the actual book (it is really hard to get so the ebook may be better) and have a read.
I’m currently on lockdown at home, studying for a very big exam in June, so I’m not going out much, which is the only reason I’m able to do this. I’m under no illusion that it isn’t practical or sustainable long term, so I’m doing it until we leave for the States in mid June, and then I’m going to smash a cronut (or 5) in my face. JK (not really)
I’m hoping that 2 months without carbs or sugar will at least help to curb my cravings. I am the girl who clears out the bread basket before starters even arrive. That girl who can easily have 2 pieces of cake for dinner. Who reaches for the bag to have 1 Chuckle and before I know it the entire bag is finished. My self control is lacking- it would be great if I could not WANT to eat this stuff.
So, after speaking to a doctor who advocates the diet, plus my friend Emma, who has seen great results with it, I bought the book from Kalahari (it’s surprisingly cheap- around R250 and really nice, part recipe book part theory) – it arrived at my door the next day.
I spent some time reading through the recipes, which all looked delish. Parmesan crusted chicken breasts (pictured at the top of this post), blueberry and ricotta hot cakes, chocolate milkshake… It honestly didn’t seem too bad. I’m so over diet food- salads and fat free everything sucks.
It took me some time to organize everything I needed. No carbs means no flour, potatoes, bread. No sugar means very little fruit, and obviously nothing like cake or biscuits. So what was I actually going to eat!?
I stocked up on coconut flour, almond flour, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, plus a crap load of nuts and seeds, mostly from Dischem or online at www.freshearth.co.za who have a great selection. Man, the initial outlay was expensive, but it did make me feel pretty good that I’d know exactly what was going into everything I ate. No more packaged stuff. The book gives you carb free alternatives for bread (made using flax seeds), rice (using cauliflower) plus wraps (also with cauliflower)
I started last week Friday night, with this delish garlic and chilli prawn dish, and I haven’t cheated at all. I’m actually down 2kg in a week (not sure if this is real weight because I’ve been pee’ing way more than usual and not drinking that much more water). I don’t FEEL any different though. If anything, I’m more miserable dreaming about garlic bread and baguettes.
For breakfast,you’re encouraged to have eggs and bacon. I don’t eat bacon, and it’s weird for me not to have toast with my eggs, so I made the carb free bread which was gross (it’s made of milled flax seeds- go figure). I then started having 2 eggs with mushrooms on the side, and I wouldn’t even think about food again until 2 or 3pm which was SO weird. Food is such a focus for me, I’m always thinking about the next meal, and it something I look forward to. But hey, if the editor of Eat Out can do this diet, so can I!
On the first day, I felt almost empty not scavenging around the kitchen for food. I also realized how much I eat out of boredom / for the sake of it. I’d have a lull in my studying and immediately think of having a biscuit or a block of chocolate. When I realized I couldn’t, I was like, “ok, now what do I do with myself”
So post breakfast, I’d end up eating again at around 3 and I wouldn’t be hungry enough for dinner, meaning I effectively only eat 2 meals a day. I initially went by the book and found the quantities of butter and oil a big excessive, so I was feeling heavy and nauseas. I’ve since toned it down.
For breakfast during the week, when I don’t have time for eggs, I have homemade nut granola with some double thick Greek yoghurt which is delish. I’ve tried the smoothies but find them a bit too heavy, so I’ll stick to granola.
I then quickly fry up some prawns, chicken or haloumi, pack some seeds or nuts, and take those to work to have with a salad. It’s been a bit harder at work because it effectively equates to having a cold salad for lunch which is depressing, especially in this weather.
I’ve been spending a lot more time in the kitchen (not my fav place), but I’m interested to see how I feel after these 2 months, and if eating all this butter will really make me lose weight. The key for me lies in planning. If I know what I’m going to eat and have the ingredients to make it, I’m likely not to cheat. Today, I made a banting cheesecake which actually tasted pretty good, surprisingly, as I’ve found that when trying to replicate non-banting food I usually end up with a sorry excuse for whatever I was trying to make. I spent a fortune on buying quality ingredients for the blueberry and ricotta hotcakes and they were horrible.
I know lots of people out there have made this a way of life. But, for me, food is so much more than just nourishment. It’s a way to explore the boundaries of your senses, a means of celebration, a comfort, a daily expression of happiness. A way to connect with people. And I’m not sure if all of that is possible without carbs and sugar. I don’t know if I want it to be. So this will remain purely an experiment.
For inspiration, check out this blog I found, called Low Carb is Lekker – which has loads of cool ideas. If you’re stuck for a recipe or feel like something in particular, literally just google “low carb ___” (pizza base! cheesecake! biscuits!) and you will find that there is a low carb alternative for everything under the sun.
Have any of you guys tried Banting? I’d love to know your views! I’ll keep you posted as things develop…
Yours in carby cravings
H
May 4, 2014 @ 6:43 am
Hi Hasmita,
Loved this post! Thought i’d give you my view- I too bought the book and was inspired by the stories I read all over the web. There’s no doubt it’s an incredible and sustainable lifestyle… IF it works for you. I tried #banting a while ago, and I gave it a good shot. I’m an incredibly active person, mainly cycling and road running, so I thought it could assist in my training. But like you, I ENJOY eating, and I love trying new restaurants, foods, wines etc etc. To be honest, banting left me feeling nauseas, full (I HATE feeling full), and generally unhappy! Like you, I was only able to stomach two meals in a day. I’m the type that enjoys nibbling throughout the day… I’m a very health conscious person given my active lifestyle, so I nibble on bits like biltong, hummus, carrots, rice cakes etc. The only ‘meals’ I have in the day are a healthy breaky and a small supper. I made sure my banting portions were tiny, and stuck to the recipe. But still, I felt awful. Not to mention, I felt awful in my training hours too. So in my (very unprofessional, just from experience!) opinion, you need to find what eating ‘lifestyle’ works for YOU. Banting unfortunately didn’t work for me. I’ll stick to my normal nibbling regime 🙂 Good luck with the rest of your banting! Perhaps it will end up working for you, as it has for many people around the globe!
ps, I believe it’s a mental thing: I got to the point where I realised I simply wasn’t ok with giving up my little pleasures in life eg roast potatoes, chocolate and pizza 😉 I’m quite happy with my eating lifestyle, and at least I can say I tried.
August 15, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
Found your story very interesting. I’m reading everything I can about the Banting way of eating. Seriously thinking of trying it as well. Love your ending “Yours in carby craving” hahahahahahahahahaha
May 5, 2014 @ 12:33 pm
Thanks for the great post. I’m very curious about banting as I have tried almost every diet out there except this.
I wonder how Ill adapt as I never eat dairy, infact I havent had yoghurt for years and I dont even keep butter at home, I have not had milk for 35 years either. As someone who has been dieting for 27 years and still fat, the fact that you mentioned you are not hungry is a big draw card for me. I have tried every appetite suppressant on the market, so if eating some fats and dairy is going to stop me wanting to eat snacks and 3 meals a day then I’m in. I just wonder what a life without chocolate will be like ??. Pasta, rice and bread I can live without – sugar is my addiction. Please post a few more recipes that you have tried and liked.
May 8, 2014 @ 9:10 am
Hey Sarah and Jackie
So I’m almost 2 weeks in now and 2kg down, but I have been MISERABLE. It’s really really tough not eating carbs. The sugar I can deal with- as long as I don’t have biscuits or chocolate around me at home it’s fine. Carbs is much tougher, especially when I was so used to just having a quick slice of toast with peanut butter in the mornings. I had some banter with Tim Noakes over Twitter and he said that if I’m planning to do this only for 2 months I shouldn’t bother starting, because I’ll end up reverting back to my sugar and carb addiction :/
Unfortunately my life is just too social and on the go for me to realistically stick to this, and I don’t want to give up hanging out with friends over pizza, or enjoying a freshly baked croissant.
Sarah, like you say, it is a diet option that certainly seems to work, but other options work too. For me, a balanced diet + calorie counting is easier for me to manage and sustain. I know if Tim were to read this he would say that carbs and sugar are toxic in the long run but that’s HIS opinion, many disagree!
Jackie- I’d suggest buying the book, if only just for a read… it makes for interesting reading. If you tell yourself you are just doing an experiment and force yourself not to eat chocolate you will eventually get used to it. I craved it after meals for the first week but now I’m pretty much used to not having it.
July 6, 2014 @ 4:49 pm
HI, i did buy xyletol buy can you use canderol aswell? and can you have a cheat day a week if you want n pizza of hamburger? will you get fat if you have 1 cheat meal a week? and lastly do you have smoothie recipes?
August 3, 2014 @ 10:46 am
Thanx for your post which I really enjoyed reading especially cos it illustrated a very similar experience to mine. I am however going into the lifestyfe of banting and going the whole hog. I have been on it for 2 months exactly now and have lost 11kg in total and am still losing weight on a daily basis. I am actually enjoying exploring all the recipes in both the #Real Meal Revolution recipe book and on the web and have completely adapted to finding better options in terms of food choices. The one thing I was really amazed at was that having once been addicted to carbs I went cold turkey and have not had a single craving. I like you also tried the carb-free bread, the hotcakes as well as the cauli-wraps but eventually resolved that since I did not like it much I shud rather avoid bread substitutes and so am just staying without it. I have however come across a quick and delicious pancake recipe in a book called #Low-carb living for families (Monique Le Roux Forslund) which I enjoy as a treat about once a week as a substitute for supper when I have had my fill of proteins and veg for the day. LIke you I have also had no appetite for the rest of the day after enjoying a good full fat breakfast and have only managed 2 meals a day for the past 2 months as well. I agree that sticking to this lifestyle has a lot to do with one’s mindset and if u are not going to commit to going the whole hog then rather not start. I live a largely sedentary lifestyle and spend most of my time in front of my laptop or in meetings but still found that I lost weight even with very little exercise. I have also installed an app on my phone and have now adopted a rule of reaching 10 000 steps per day as a form of exercise when I cannot get around to walking for real. In some way I also wanted to prove that I dont have to be in a gym every day in order to lose weight so am exploring the option of a lifestyle eating change in the absence of heavy exercise.
I am really interested to hear what other people are saying but also agree with other commenters that before you start on this lifestyle that you should read the book and also do extensive research. Also consult with your doctor to get a baseline reading of all your medical stats prior to starting.
Happy banting to all!
August 3, 2014 @ 7:24 pm
Hey Kelly- congrats on sticking with the banting lifestyle for this long! I tried it as more of a experiment but with all the travelling it’s pretty impossible to maintain 🙁 good luck with the rest of your journey, you’ve come this far so I’m sure it will be smooth sailing. Xx Hasmita
August 14, 2014 @ 12:04 pm
Argh…my daughter and I have been sticking to it religiously for 3 – 4 weeks now and haven’t lost anything – I only have about 2kg’s I want to loose, but my daughter around 20kg’s. I can say, however, having lived of a diet of sweets and bread, I was surprised at not having had any cravings for it. Any advice as to actually losing weight?
August 31, 2014 @ 6:03 pm
According to the Real food revolution book, if you don’t lose weight you might reduce your dairy intake and remember it is a low carb, medium protein (high protein will turn into high carbs), high fat diet. Make sure that you don’t overdue the meat. A piece of meat should not be bigger than the palm of your hand. Also with this diet you need to drink a lot of water.
September 29, 2014 @ 7:52 am
I have been banting for just shy of 5 months now. Initially it was really difficult but I adjusted relatively quickly. My biggest problem was beer which I’ve had to stop drinking and switch to whiskey. Eating has never really been a problem for me as I don’t have a sweet tooth and love savouries. 22kg’s down so far and I haven’t been back to the gym in all that time… it works.
August 28, 2014 @ 7:09 am
Hi there
I’m going on the banting to help control my sugar. What fruits can I eat? Like one a day?
August 28, 2014 @ 3:27 pm
3 1/2 cups of berries or 1 and 1/2 apple or 2 cups of watermelon or if you want to mix it up figure about 1 1/2 cups of frui a day. This is working for me. I’ve lost 17 1/2 pounds since the middle of July. Buy the book and find out what’s right and stick to it. It will get better.
September 20, 2014 @ 10:52 am
That will be PROFESSOR TIM NOAKES to you Nair. He is your senior and studied long and hard for his title. So use it.
October 8, 2014 @ 9:00 am
Hi, interesting to read other views on banting and i thought i’d share my experience.
I was banting for 9 months (Dec-Aug) and recently stopped because it was not working for me. I started after a difficult year of comfort eating and wanted to lose the extra weight. At first i had to get use to the richness of fats which was strange. I went down to two meals a day and only ate when hungry. When i ate i hardly had much because i’d feel full so quickly (i missed variety).
My weight stagnated despite my active summer months and 5 day a week exercise regime. Not to mention my gut problems became worsen, constipation, thrush, bloating, depressed etc. I’d watch dairy and nuts lose very little and then just put it back on again. I was losing lean muscle mass fast and gaining cellulite.
After a very stressful August and no comfort eating i had put on extra weight. I was the heaviest i’ve ever been. I just did not understand why, I was a religious banter and avoided carbs and sugar.
September i decided i had to see a nutritional therapist to sought out my gut. I have lost weight and fitting into my clothes again!! Things are slowly normalising as i have reintroduced all vegetables (missed beetroot and carrots!) legumes (lovely lentil salads!) and gluten free grains (thank goodness for rice noodles!). It is really just a game of keeping your blood sugar low and always including a protein and fat when you consume carbs. Banting may be perfect for some but not one size fits all!
December 29, 2014 @ 11:00 am
Im on banting 7months lost 33kgs and 219cm’s great way of life. I was fat all my life, I feel great! Lots of energy! For constipation add flaxseed and nuts to your greek yoghurt or diet jelly. Banting is great!
April 14, 2016 @ 7:28 am
Very interesting stories. Lauren’s seems to mirror my own experience. I used to be on a low fat, no butter or cream for my cholestrol and lost 7kgs a few years ago. I put on 2 kgs (53.5kgs) during the holidays so decided on banting given the new ‘sugar’ debate. I have struggled, as I ate oats for breakfast, and rice with curry and potatoes every evening has been my diet for several years. For close to 2 months I haven’t had rice or potatoes except for maybe 3 tablespoons of rice over that period and small bowl of popcorn. I am now 55kg. I do pilates at home 3 times a week. On my low fat diet – I lost over 8 months without any excercise. This is very frustrating.
October 10, 2016 @ 9:53 pm
Anu & Lauren, I have the same experience. I’m following this eating plan for over 3 months & haven’t lost any weight. I’m in ketosis but still not losing weight. Previously I followed my fitness pal & lost about 1kg per week. Sad reality is that this is just not working for me. When you first read the book, nowhere do they tell you about ‘fasting’. Now I’m being told that I should fast – sorry I’m just not going to starve myself.
October 23, 2017 @ 12:25 pm
I enjoyed reading these posts. I like most of the people here have struggled with weight for most of my life. I have tried a lot of things but if I am honest with myself I rarely follow through with them because I get bored and frustrated. I love my carbs particularly rice. I have tried a low carb diet before but adjusted it a bit to include fruits. I did this for a month but did not see any change. I have since being off the diet put on so much weight and I am thinking of banting. So these post have inspired me to start and see where I will be in a couple of months.