Need Some Help On Low Carb Diets Please

[magsmay]

So... I've tried sticking to induction Atkins for 2 weeks -first week was great - lots of things that weren't allowed on WW and I lost 3 lbs -this week I've craved not bread and pasta but normal things not allowed like pulses and root veggies - which are healthy and low fat - am sick to death of meat,cheese and bloody spinach - and I've gained a lb!! I need to lose another stone to be just within my top end healthy weight -should I just cut obvious carbs like bread potatoes and pasta -should I eat everything but half portions? -high fibre low fat? WW is good but I was hungry and sick of counting pro-points - I cook everything from scratch so don't want to live on calorie controlled ready meals -is this G.I. diet any good. ? last night I got so sick I ate a packet of crisps and 4 ferrero rochas - and felt sick afterwards lol!

[woofgang]

mags, diets don't do it, and you know this. eat less, eat more healthily and be patient.

[starone]

I reckon most diets that succeed are low fat diets so if you made sure you have low fat everything, or even no fat you would lose weight. If you examine WW diet you will see that this is a low fat diet. They will not admit it, but nevertheless it is so. All vegetables which are not counted are mainly the ones which grow above the ground - the ones which are in the ground such as potatoes and swedes are counted. If you make sure that you buy low fat cheese, low fat spread and only spray your pan with oil rather than pouring in a generous portion, I am sure you will loose weight. Do not expect to lose a great deal all at once, it is a slow process.

[magsmay]

oh woofgang I wish - I'm at a 'certain age' and am finding it difficult keeping middle age spread away - I have a very active lifestyle, cook everything from scratch but have gained 2 stone in the last two years - I totally agree that 'diets' don't work as I've lost a lot of weight in the past and put it back on . I have bought some smaller dinner plates over the weekend and am going to try eating half portions of what I normally would eat and avoid high fat content foods - and cut down on the vino de plonko -no wine during the week or crisps ;-(

[RATTER15]

Again I gotta agree with Woofgang! Im losing weight on my "diet" I call it a diet because it is a diet but I have just drastically reduced the amount of food I eat and I eat more healthily and cut out the high fat products this is a life long diet, not a fad. I never go hungry I just eat the right things.

If you are not prepared to change your eating habits on a permanent basis and eat more healthily then give up, you will just cause more problems for yourself and end up bigger than you are now.

[magsmay]

thanks starone -this is what I'm thinking about the low fat food but Atkins seem to preach that you need 'good' fats to metabolise your fat burning . I must admit I can't see the logic in this as if you have excess fuel (either fat or carbs) then you will surely store this as fat?

[woofgang]

Yes Atkins do say you can have fat but if you dig in deeper, they say not a lot of fat, for instance a portion of cheese is the size of a matchbox. The thing with fat is that it is satisfying and yes you need some fat in your diet for it to be healthy. Watch out for low fat foods, check what has replaced the fat, it's often sugar!

[pastafreak]

If you've done induction,aren't you supposed to gradually add back in other veggies? I'm not too familiar with Atkins.
If you eat a low carb diet-you need to eat more good fats...this includes butter(helps the body get more nutrients from veg),olive oil,avocados,fat that occurs naturally on your meat,coconut oil,and even lard. Eating fat does not make you fat....if you drop carbs.
Carbs cause the body to release insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps us hold on to fat. Also-given the choice of what to burn first for fuel-the body will burn carbs-hoding on to and storing fat. Now-if you consume fat rather than carbs-the body will then burn the fat instead. Fat leaves the body satiated in a way that low fat never will...how many of you have done low fat diets,and been hungry most of the time?
There is plenty of scientific literature to back this up...and some books readily available to read...including Why We Get fat by gary Taubes. He exxplains why low fat diets do not work...most people will loose-but when they regain,it will be more.
I've been living low carb for over 2 years-lost what I wanted (1.5st).and have kept it off...and I eat plenty of meat,veg,cheese,butter,fish,cream,berries,...but no junk-except for chocolate. ;-) I don't count calories-never have.

[magsmay]

hi pasta do you eat pulses and legumes? I can quite happily give up bread and pasta and cakes but don't eat a great amount of meat as i prefer more vegetable/pulse based meals. How many good carbs a day should you consume to lose weight? On Atkins stage 2 its upwards of 25 -40 a day

[pastafreak]

Hi mags.
I don't do Atkins-tried it years ago-and got bored.
I do something called the Harcombe Diet....no counting calories or carbs. There is a kind of 5-day detox-the premise being that weight gain and food issues are based on 3 things-candida,food intolerance,and/or hypoglycaemia.So-certain foods are not eaten in those first five days. Then-on Phase 2 you can eat most anything,but not mix carbs and fat...this because of the science behind insulin and fat burning as I mentioned earlier.. You also need to eat unprocessed foods. When you loose your weight-you can eat what you want (what works for you). It can be quite flexible.I used to eat a lot of beans and legumes-but I've gotten out of the habit. But-I could if I wanted to,as part of a carb based meal. And high carb veg like sweet potato or parsnips can be eaten also-particularly with chicken or fish.
It sounds complicated,but I took to it immediately,was never hungry,and it's become my way of life.

[pizza]

Hi magsmay I have been concentrating on lower carbs for roughly a month now and reducing my alcohol limit have limited my carbs under 100 and I am never hungry, usually have a slice of fruit toast at breakfast,muller yoghurt or protein dessert(carb free) dinner time salad or meat with lots of veg, tea time meat or fish with small jkt/boiled potatoes and W/W snack biscuit for supper, replaced my wine intake by using flavoured water n WW hot choc and nearly a stone off in a month. still have an odd cider on an evening and share a bottle of red at a wkend with my guy

[taichiperson]

I'm curious to know what you 'weren't allowed' on WW. I have to admit since Pro Points came in I am a lot more careful about my bread and alcohol intake, but there's nothing I can't have - I just have to be careful on portions.

[magsmay]

hi pizza -thanks for your input which is very useful. I've decided to watch my carb intake and not eat fat and carbs together and basically go back to WW points but try eating the 'healthy and filling' suggestions. During the week wine is off the menu and replaced with fizzy water and WW cordial -really not missing the wine think it was habit rather than anything -but if I do fancy a glass no big deal I just count the points. Weekend I'll have a few treats including wine and cheese but keeping right away from bread,cakes,pasta and white rice. Well done for your weight loss -I've lost a stone since the middle of January and have another 2 to go -well another 1 would be great but 2 would mean I was bang in the middle of my 'ideal 'weight.

[pizza]

Hi magsmay sorry I never replied to you before now, I haven't really been on as much lately,I hope the diet is going well and glad my input was useful.
I think lower carbs is the easiest way to lose weight for me as counting calories is a bit of a pain.
One thing I really am enjoying at the moment is a banana toffee flavour protein dessert which is only 1.5g of carbs per serving.
I think the thing for all of us wanting to lose weight is making healthier life changes not dieting as such.
Wish you continued success with your eating plan and thank you for voting my input as best answer x

[rowanwitch]

you can get some great low carb pastas nowadays try the zerocarb megastore or avidlite websites but keep away from the sweet stuff unless you want to spend all your time in the loo

[magsmay]

thanks pizza for your encouragement -have lost a stone now since the middle of January but seem to have hit a plateau but am going to work through it -I'm still losing inches but weight has been the same for three weeks -doing a bit more exercise though so it could be fat 'turning' into muscle. I've basically been following pretty much what you eat and cut all red meat out and feel energized. I keep the wine for the weekend and look forward to it - I drink the WW cordial with fizzy water during the week and don't miss the wine -I think it became a habit -i still drink it out of a wineglass though and pretend its pink fizz lol! Hope your wieght loss is still going down too. x

[magsmay]

Rowanwitch -thanks for the pasta link -I've been craving pasta for over a month but have been good up to now - think I will get some for the weekend. ;-)

[pizza]

Glad it's still going well for you magsmay and well done on the exercise and you are right with the fat turning to muscle, and if the inches are coming off that's brilliant and the gym is a well known feel good factor.
Lol to the wine glass thing I do the same x
My guy has a gym but as I work a lot of 12hr shifts which I am on my feet a lot I don't use it,just been talking to him now regarding you not eating any red meat at all and unless you are eating a lot of green leafed vegetables you need some red meat for your iron.My weight loss has been like you a stone now which I am very happy with especially when I see someone I haven't seen for a while and they notice, I'm looking to lose another stone now.
The protein dessert is really nice if you get chance google usn protein dessert, it might seem a little expensive but it's just over the price of 3 bottles of wine but better for you !!lol will keep in touch with you on this link if that's ok with you ? x
Re pasta link rowanwitch thank you, not sure if you saw my mention of the Weightwatchers Chicken,tomato and spinach lasagne it is really nice and only 26.4g of carbs in the 400g pack.