Hi, I am a ....well, I forgot the technical term but I am a vegeterian that eats SOME fish and dairy. Pesco-lacto-something... Anyway, I became one about three years ago. Prior to that I remember trying Atkins and it worked (unfortunetly I screwed it up ) so I am considering starting a low carb diet now. I am very big on veggies and some fruits. I started swimming laps 30mins a day to an hour and walking also. It's helped and I feel it working but I want to step it up. Can you suggest any low carb vegeterian foods? I don't like tofu but do eat some veggie patties and veggie links. Other than that I like my veggies. Thanks!

PS. So far I cut down my dairy intake since I was trying a low fat approach but I also cut down to one slice of bread per day *WHICH IS ALOT FOR ME! I love carbs . I am trying my best here!

Cutting out fat isn't a good idea...especially with you being a vegetarian. Fat isn't what makes you fat or keeps you fat. That is caused by the carbs. When you cut carbs...something has to go up...like your protein and fat.

As for vegetarian eats, I love grilled portabella mushrooms basted in olive oil, baked squash with parm and butter, almond meal pancakes...stuff like that.

Do you eat eggs?

Yes I do. I'm not big on them-have to be in the mood or they made me sick. I have no idea why. I'm trying to increase my protein since I am working out alot.

I recommend eating greens, especially the leafy ones. A high proportion of the calories comes from protein, and there is some fat too. In fact, bok choy offers 74% from protein and 17% from fat, leaving only 9% from carbohydrates. Also two cups of bok choy is 40 calories, and offers the same amount of calcium as a 150 cal glass of whole milk. Actually there are tons of reasons to eat leafy greens.

Also consider the pulses. Many of them have a third of calories from protein, and are low glycemic.

Among the fruits, consider the berries, and honeydew melons and cantaloupes.

And seeds and nuts, which offer mainly fat with some protein. Some of the fats are omega 3s.

Make a nice hot artichoke dip and eat it with celery sticks. Mmmm. Or some warm veggie casseroles. Most of them can be adapted to low carb really easily, I think.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat a vegetable diet with the addition of dairy products (lacto) and/or eggs (ovo). This, in common parlance, is the style of eating most often meant in America when people refer to "vegetarian." Lacto-ovo food choices, in other words, do contain some foods of animal origin, but no foods composed of the animal's actual flesh, or products thereof (for instance, if rice was cooked in chicken stock, it would not be acceptable to your typical lacto-ovo vegetarian).

You might try finding a good protein powder which you could add to shakes to bump up your protein. Since you eat some dairy, a micro-ionized whey protein powder like Isopure or something similar will ensure that you're getting adequate protein. And I agree...don't try to cut fat AND carbs...there's no need to do that. You have to give your body SOMETHING to digest.