Introduction to LCHF? WTF? – My Bit on Banting

Several years ago I made the decision to quit smoking and, while there were the obvious benefits and rewards immediately after – and of course I have no regrets, unfortunately there were some less pleasant side-effects.

Weight gain and depression hit hard in the years after I quit the 14 year-long habit, but with a lot of research, trial and error, I found my way back to not only a comfortable and healthy weight, but also and especially to a far happier and peaceful place within myself.

I Got Skinny Eating FAT!

But what is Banting?

Banting is defined as “slimming by avoiding eating sugar, starch, and fat” in the Collins English Dictionary. The word is also described there as being obsolete. Ha! Anyone who has tuned into a radio station, glanced at the news or even walked passed a book-store since the beginning of 2014, would have heard that word, associated very closely with Professor Tim Noakes, the controversial South African sports scientist who is almost single-handedly turning the South African food industry on its head!

It is such an incredibly exciting and also challenging time, as more and more people are learning the truth about fat. It’s never easy being told that what you once knew to be factual has been proven to be a lie. I have seen the looks on so many faces as I scoop butter into my coffee, or refuse something because it’s low-fat. I have had people insist that I won’t lose weight unless I eat a “balanced” diet that includes low-GI bread and grains…and the most unbelievable thing is that the people who are saying this are over-weight themselves!

I have lost a total of 8 kg (and have been maintaining my goal weight for 4 years and counting!) and I am supposed to take advice from these ill-informed people?!

It’s not their faults necessarily, other than the fact that they lack the flexibility of an open mind. The fault is in the bad science that was etched into the textbooks from which all our trusted doctors, dietitians and health practitioners have studied for years. They honestly believe what they have been taught. New information can often be scary…

My Banting Story

It all started after I quit smoking. I gained about 14 kg in 2 or 3 months and then stopped weighing myself. I am 1.57 m (5 ft 1.5) tall…14 kg shows!

I had always been skinny before that, and I didn’t know how to deal with the weight gain. A lot of people made comments…people suck!.. and so I fell into a horrible depression and cried often. I had to buy a whole new wardrobe of loose-fitting and elasticized pants and get rid of my favourite jeans (I kept one pair) – and every time I had to give away a cute top or dress, I cried! I thought I would never get back to my original size…It was a very difficult time for me.

I had tried a few “balanced” and low fat diet programmes and I started walking between 10 and 25 km every weekend. I took dance classes 3 – 4 times a week and went to gym 3 times a week. I drank all sorts of expensive supplements and weight loss drops.

But after all of that, I only managed to lose 6 kg over a period of about 2 years and that was it. My weight wouldn’t budge no matter what I did! My doctors and dietitian said there was nothing wrong with me and that I would lose weight only if I continued to stick to a low fat, balanced diet.

I remember the frustration I felt because the advice these professionals had given me was clearly not working!

So I gave up.

Before I “Banted” I “Boxed”

I started on a low carb diet completely by accident. I was working long hours at a consumer show and was struggling to find food that wasn’t hot dogs, pizza or kebabs…or other typical fast foods. I also don’t eat meat, which made it even more difficult. I came across a product that was a sort of “diet in a box”. They guaranteed that I would lose 5 kg in 5 days if I stuck to it 100% – which I did.

I lost 4.5 kg in 5 days!

The product (which is no longer available) was essentially a low carb, high fat, calorie restricting diet, which was intended to kickstart weight loss through ketosis. The problem with programmes like that one, unfortunately, is that most people go back to eating like they did before, and then act surprised when they gain all the weight back! I was determined not to let that happen and after doing some research, I realised that the programme was based on banting or LCHF, which Tim Noakes had been talking about all along – and so I went out and bought his book The Real Meal Revolution.

Suddenly it all made sense! I had been enlightened!

My Mind-Shift

I had always thought that choosing low fat foods meant that I would actually lose fat, or that it was the healthier option. Now I know that is not the case. The way I understand it, if you put carbs into your body, you will burn carbs for energy and store fat. But if you put fat into your body, it will use the fat for fuel.

Contrary to what we have been led to believe, your body prefers Fat to Glucose as an energy source! What a revelation: Fat is not the enemy!

Banting is easy and fun and I love experimenting with new recipes and food concepts, scroll down for links to some of my favourite recipes and ideas.

At this point, I would like to add that I don’t eat meat or chicken, and while Banting is often (wrongly) interpreted as a high protein diet, however it does encourage eating high fat meat products like bacon, I have been able to follow this eating plan very easily, only including some fish when I feel like it. Pescetarian or Vegetarian (or even Vegan) Banting is not as hard as it may seem.

Click here to check out my vegetarian and vegan low carb/banting cheatsheet

So then what the heck do I eat?

Here are some of my favourite meal ideas

Breakfast

High fat super energy coffee. Click here for the recipe. This coffee keeps me full and gives me energy for most of the day.

One or 2 eggs, boiled, fried (in butter) or scrambled, with chopped tomato and onions or spinach; and some cheese like Roquefort, Camembert, Emmental, full fat cream cheese
2 Ingredient pancakes: 2 eggs + 1 banana, whisk, fry as you would normal flapjacks/pancakes – fry in butter
Banting chocolate fat shake: Click here for the recipe

Lunch, Dinner and Snacks

I often make a large delicious salad comprising mixed lettuces, shredded cabbage, radishes, tomato, cucumber and spinach leaves covered in extra virgin olive oil, and some cheese, or a variety of steamed or roasted veggies with loads of butter!

I highly recommend adding MCT oil to your diet. For more info on how MCT can improve your vitality, focus and speed up weight loss, you can check out MojoMe Superfuel MCT oil or LifeMatrix MCT Oil from Faithful to Nature.

Some of the other foods that I include in my diet are spinach, shirataki spaghetti or fettuccine (ZERO CARBS), pickled cucumbers, braised baby cabbage, crispy fried aubergines, and full-fat Greek yogurt. I also love snacking on dark chocolate, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, nuts and cheese crackers (see above)!

Looking for a Low Carb Cheat Sheet? Check out my post Low Carb Vegetarian Cheat Sheet – I have even included some Vegan options.

Faithful to Nature stocks a wide range of health, sugar-free and low carb friendly products. You will find Shirataki Noodles, low carb pancakes, vegetarian and vegan protein supplements and much more. Remember to always chose the unflavored products for the lowest carbs.

And what do I drink?

Coffee, always black (you can add cream or even butter), herbal teas and lots of water (up to 16 glasses every day!). On special occasions I’ll have a glass or two of dry white wine. I don’t crave any other drinks.

Not only do I look great, but I feel even better. And that is the most fabulous thing about this lifestyle for me.