Cutting Carbs

[Meg888]

I've about 3 stone to lose, have tried several diets - with little success. If I was to completely cut out carbs, say, between Mon-Fri, and eat them in moderation at weekends could this work without actually having to calorie count etc.? I rarely eat choc/sweets/biscuits, so they're not a prob

[TheOtherHalf]

you shouldnt have to cut out carbs altogether. Im with SW and can eat as much potatoes, pasta or brown rice as I want. its the sauce thats the problem. I do however, not each as much as I want. I try not to eat potatoes or rice or pasta on the same day I eat bread. dont know why, but this does seem to help me. Ive lost 2 and half stone in one year and my failings unfortunately are choc and cake. Good luck. Join the AB onward and downward thread for help and motivation.

[Meg888]

Thanks what's the onward & downward thread, can you give me a link please?

[TheOtherHalf]

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1101605.html

Its under the weight loss and dieting heading

[maggiebee]

Agree with TOH, you need to eating a balanced diet which includes some carbs. I'm with WW and am losing steadily without giving up carbs.

[rowanwitch]

A proper low carb diet like Atkins only works if you do it all the time as it works in a different way reduced carbs are better as cutting out refined carbs and only having natural wholegrain fat free or skin on versions

[TopKat]

Going low carb will help you lose weight, but rowanwitch is right, you won't be able to follow this diet part time. Your body metabolism needs to change so that excess fat can be burned for fuel allowing you to lose weight. And carbs aren't just choc/sweets etc - potatoes, bread, pasta, rice all contain mostly carbs and should be avoided as much as possible. If you reduce your carbs to a minimum you will gradually and safely lose the weight. You will also gradually stop craving those carbs which will be good for your all round health. I lost 50lbs this way and have kept to the low carb way of eating because I'm healthier and able to maintain my weight loss. Good luck losing the 3 stone!

[Meg888]

Thanks for your answers. I don't necessarily want to do the Atkins diet, I just want to kick start a diet with a good weight loss in the first couple of weeks or so to keep me motivated.

I love my bread, pasta, noodles etc., so I'm thinking if I cut all of these out and just eat protein based foods, with a bit fruit & veg thrown in - absolutely no alcholol through the week (as I'm partial to a glass of wine!). Then at weekend have 1 meal on Sat & Sun with carbs in moderation, and have a low cal tipple on a Fri & Sat night. Would I be right in thinking this would quicken weight loss?

[TheOtherHalf]

Dont aim to lose too uch to soon or you may be disappointed. I find the slower it comes off the more it will stay off. Good luck

[johnk]

Just eat properly and a bit less each week until you're down to the weight you want. Lose it slowly and it'll stay off.

[TopKat]

I know it sounds awful to give up your favourite carbs - I was just the same, particularly with pasta! The thing is, if you reduce the carbs all week and then binge on weekends, you'll find the weight doesn't shift or stay off and you'll be craving carbs all the time. Stick with the low carb and you will find it easier and easier. The bonus is you don't have to feel hungry all the time. Believe me, I've tried all sorts of diets over the years and this is the only one which works without huge amounts of self-control and starvation! Remember though, low carb doesn't mean low fat so make sure you eat enough fat to feel full. And a drink or two won't hurt - stick to dry white wine or spirits though, definitely no beer which is loaded with carbs! Good luck!

[pizza]

I must admit I didn't realise cutting down on carbs is as good a dieting method as it is.
I still have my slice of raisin toast early morning when I wake and porridge mid morning for slow realeasing energy through my 12hr shift.
I just dont have the potatoes with lunch just more veg now.
Another thing I used to do was eat loads of fruit as I thought fruit is healthy, well it is but it's easy to forget fruit has natural sugars in.
Low carbs I think is great because as a few have mentioned doesn't mean low fat ! my breakfast or brunch when I'm off work is bacon, mushrooms fried eggs and I am never hungry on this way of eating.
I have a recommendation for chocaholics watching carbs, it's a relex(brand) called pit stop the caramel flavour is to die for,my partner stocks it at his gym and it's an 80g bar typical values per 100g is 35.1 carb of which 21.7g is polyops so hardly any carb that we retain if you can find it in your area its def worth trying.
Good luck to all on your healthy eating,I think this site is great how it covers all subjects to help people.

[auntiebertie]

Look up Pig to Twig on amazon - an inspiring diet that is easy to follow. I lost 5 lbs on the first time I tried it - it becomes a life style...easy to follow. I have started again and have lost 3lbs in the first week.
Do NOT fall for the Neutriscience diet as it is a CON and DANGEROUS and more expensive than they lead you to belive,

[pastafreak]

Your body will burn 3 different fuels in this order...alcohol,carbohydrate, fat.
When you eat carbs-they are what your body will use first-while storing fat. Studies have shown that eating carbs actually increases appetite...for more carbs.
If you want to lose weight - ditch the bad carbs-bread,potatoes,sweets,rice,stodge. Eat plenty of leafy green veg with your meat,and some coloured ones with fish and poultry.Then-eat more healthy fat-olive oil,butter,the fat on your meat...yes it IS good for you. This will encourage the body to burn,not store fat. It will also keep you feeling fuller for longer.

[Bigeye74]

Buy the latest Atkins New Diet Revolution, it's only a few quid. First 2 weeks is basically trace carbs. Then you move onto minimal amounts of complex carbs. I chinned off the first 2 weeks and just don't have deliberate carbs (as in a portion of) but don't worry about breadcrumbs or batter. I have lost a stone in 35 days.

[Bigeye74]

Doing the first 2 weeks would yield a really good weight loss though

[pastafreak]

Are you male Bigeye? Men always seem to lose quicker than women do.
I did The Harcombe Diet-well I still do as it's a way of life now. It's not as restrictive as Atkins. I lost a stone in 6 weeks or so...and stuffed myself with food...still do. Low carb diets allow you to eat-something calorie restricted diets never do.

[Bigeye74]

certainly am. Cutting carbs doesn't have the effect it used to but as long as I keep the gym work up the weight keeps dropping off. I will move towards eating complex carbs in the next couple of months but not yet.

[Meg888]

I started this carb-cutting on Monday gone, weighed myself yesterday and had lost 3lbs - weighed again this morn, lost 2lbs. I'm not starving myself - I've had 1/4 grapefruit with black coffee for breakfast; tuna fish & boiled egg for lunch; then a ham omelette, with mushrooms & a small amount of cheese with salad for tea. I've ate this for 2 days running (as I've not hit the shops yet - and started this after my weekly shop!) So I'm very pleased, but obviously, I know I need to introduce a bit more variety before the boredom sets in. I've not excercised yet, as I work full time and I have my Mum in hosp, so I've been getting home late a lot lately and just don't have the energy yet. I've not felt hungry at all, but 3rd day in, I feel like I could just chew something! I've not got a sweet tooth, nor did I ever eat between meals, so I'm quite disciplined like that and so far - mentally, I'm buzzing as I always seem to slip into the mode of 'I'll start again next week' when I have a relapse. I'm actually so pleased with the weight loss, I'm now thinking I'm not even going to eat carbs at the weekend - I just need to get my thinking cap on as to what to eat, as I hate following diet plans of any sort.

[Bigeye74]

grin and bear the first 2 weeks
after that try making bread and freezing it in bags containing 2 pieces and savouring them when you eat. Avoid any processed carbs of any kind.
I drink a large mug of Rocket Fuel coffee with cream and that keeps me full til lunch.

[Meg888]

Thanks Bigeye. I've found some low fat/low carb spready cheese, which I thought I could try for lunch, but what do I spread it on? Obv, bread, crackers rice cakes etc are out - is there anything at all that could be used instead? I've spent hours trawlers carb counters - I'm demented!