So I am on the most horrible diet ever...

Originally Posted by Leli

Please be careful. Your body needs some measure of carbs to function properly. Your brain, for example, runs exclusively on glucose. If you're not eating it, the body will make some from protein. Unfortunately, the byproduct of that process is toxic and can cause permanent damage to multiple organs and even cause death in some cases. It's a serious danger for people on very restrictive diets.

Please check with your doctor or a nutritionist to ensure that you are meeting your daily metabolic requirements! There are certain things your body must have and skewing your metabolism for quick weight loss is not worth the damage that could be done if needs are not being met.

I would advise you to substitute rather than cut out carbs. Eat carbs with high fibre content, such as whole wheat pasta and multigrain breads. Your weight loss will be slower, but healthier.

A loss of 20lbs in one month is not just going to be fat, it's a loss of muscle mass. That means your body will literally be eating its own muscle to fuel your brain. Does that really sound like something you want to do just to drop a few sizes in clothes? And I haven't even mentioned the imbalances and heart problems that can come from cutting out potassium (no potatoes or bananas in that diet, huh?).......

I STRONGLY advise against doing this, especially without sitting down with a dr to map out the minimum of carbs, fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to eat in a day. Sorry if this is harsh, but I don't want you to do yourself harm!

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A healthy weight loss should be UP TO 2 lbs a week (or about 8 lbs a month).

In addition starving your body from all carbs and sugar can lead to diabetes. There were many reported cases from the Atkins era where people developed diabetes from robbing their bodies of the appropriate carbs (in addition to the high blood pressure and cholesteral).

The key to a GOOD diet is the pyramid that we were all taught in grade school as well as SELF CONTROL. Many people "pretend" they're hungry just because they want the food so badly and they want to eat it NOW.

Also to avoid a flabby body you do need to exercise. If you lose the weight but do not tone the skin or muscles then you just wind up being flabby. Try accompanying with bike riding or doing pilates (actually I found pilates to be the best at maintaining a firm body)

Guys please read this over and tell me what you think. There are probably some details I left out when explaining the diet. But seriously tell me what you think after checking it out. I would love for some good examples (not that you haven't given good ones) why this diet is awful or what PARTS of it are bad, and good too!

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog...rcise/#more-19

That doesn't sound so bad but you sound like you are torturing yourself. try looking at it as portion size. A serving of meat is 3 oz or about the size ofa deck of cards. You need plenty of fruits and veggies every day. But you need healthy fats, you need carbs (healthy). Get a food scale (like $5 for a cheap one at Bed bath and beyond) and weight your foods.

Pay attention to the nutrition labels. Getting healthy should be a life style change NOT a diet to lose a few pounds.

It seems to me like there are way too many things "forbidden". I doubt anyone can go on this diet and stick with it. Most likely, people go through it, lose some weight and then go back to their old habits and gain it back.

The fact that it tells people to repeat the same simple meals over and over again is kind of scary. It makes it difficult to have a balanced diet.

I think the most important question regarding any diet change is not whether you can stick with it for a month, but whether you can stick with it for the rest of your life. That's why I would be very dubious of any diet that "forbids" so many things.

If you are serious about losing weight, start gradually eating more of what is good for you, and less of what is bad for you. Too much sugar is bad, but carbs from pasta, rice, bread, etc. are fine. Vegetables and low fat sources of proteins are good too.

Hi everyone,

I am Jens boyfriend, and I wanted to clear up some things for you guys, because of the way Jen said some stuff. First off, what she didn't tell you is that she wants to lose weight, but basically refuses to exercise (I cannot make her do anything she doesn't want to do, I exercise and always offer her to tag along). So there are 2 ways to lose weight, exercise your ass off, or change your diet to one that is conducive to what you want to accomplish. Of course eating right and exercise is ideal, we are not fools .

My plan was not to be on this diet for the rest of our lives, my plan is to show Jen the benefits of eating a diet with foods low in the glycemic index (like weight management). She is very much part of our "instant gratification culture", so I figured a noticable result in a shorter amount of time would be the best way to get her to try something with me. Another thing she failed to mention is our previous eating habits consisted of mainly white carbs. White Breads (one of my girls hugest vices...I hate white bread, ugh), White Grains, Pastas, Pretzels, Tortillas, Potatoes. I mean a heavy diet of white carbs. The diet is not intended to stay so simple, but rather a basis to expand on once we wean ourselves from the previous habits. There are tons of foods that are low in the glycemic index, but I wanted to start out with the basics to discipline ourselves. Too many choices in the beginning makes it easier to just expand out into your old habits. If you cannot restrict your diet for a measly 30 days, then how could you expect completely change your entire diet for the rest of your life?

This is a slow carb diet, not a no carb diet. Not all carbohydrates are created equally. We are eating a diet with low caloric intake, but high in fibre, protien and slow carbs. We have only been on it for 2 days, and I don't feel much different, Jen is having some "backside effects" (lol), but in general she ate worse than me before we started.

She posted the site where I got the idea for the diet, and heres an even better site.

http://www.glycemicindex.com/

So yeah, the diet isnt really the hell shes making it out to be.

He explains things so much better then I can...

The most successful dieters, regardless of whether their goal is muscle gain or fat loss, eat the same few meals over and over again.

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I totally disagree with that statement. I'd say the opposite is true. If you eat the same meals over and over again you're going to get bored, and that's when you're likely to cave in and eat something that's out of bounds. You're not going to get all the nutrients you need either. A wide variety of foods is necessary for good health. If it's a short term thing what will happen when you come off the diet? Will you go back to eating how you did before? If so, you'll just regain any weight you lost. I know the temptation of a quick fix but take my word as someone who has dieted on and off for the past 10 years or so, quick fixes don't work. Unless you change your eating habits forever and the way in which you think about food, you'll be forever going from diet to diet with your weight yo-yoing. I've tried so many diets and while most work in terms of losing weight so long as you stick to them, if you can't see yourself eating that way forever the weight loss will only be temporary.

I've finally found a way of eating that works. I'm not losing weight fast but I am slowly shedding the pounds and I feel that I can eat this way for the rest of my life. I try to avoid sugar and white carbs - those foods contain no nutrition - but no foods are totally banned. More importantly, I'm finally learning to recognise hunger and what it feels like to be full (as in pleasantly full not stuffed). By eating only when I'm hungry and acknowledging the reasons why I used to overeat I'm finally getting back to having a healthy relationship with food.

Imo, you'd be much better off doing a GI or GL eating plan, or something like South Beach. Both exclude the white carbs but encourage a variety of healthy foods and are much less restrictive. You wont lose 20 lbs in 30 days but you've a much better chance of keeping off that 20 lbs long term.

[/end of lecture]

If your not in a major hurry to lose weight, try Weight Watchers, you can eat anything you want every day but you need to use portion control, you just can't eat as much as you want.

Hi Guys,

I am a veteran of lower carb diets. . . . .1. you do get carbs, but just not the bad ones. 2. the beginning stages of these diets are NOT lifelong. They are to get you started, to feel good about your success, the problem is to actually LEARN from your changes and make good choices later.

Originally Posted by Jen

I am just not used to filling up on the pure protein such as beans and tofu. The point of the diet is if you are not very active and still want to lose weight. You do that by having a very limited diet that's for sure! There is more to it, I can eat hummous and salsa and guacamole but I have to make it or make sure there isn't a lot of crap added to it.

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some people choose to jump start their bodies when they don't already have the gym as their regular routine. think about it - MOST people who have the gym/exercise in their daily routines aren't really even thinking about low carb high protien. they are eating right and exercising.

Originally Posted by Leli

Please be careful. Your body needs some measure of carbs to function properly. Your brain, for example, runs exclusively on glucose. If you're not eating it, the body will make some from protein. Unfortunately, the byproduct of that process is toxic and can cause permanent damage to multiple organs and even cause death in some cases. It's a serious danger for people on very restrictive diets.

Please check with your doctor or a nutritionist to ensure that you are meeting your daily metabolic requirements! There are certain things your body must have and skewing your metabolism for quick weight loss is not worth the damage that could be done if needs are not being met.

I would advise you to substitute rather than cut out carbs. Eat carbs with high fibre content, such as whole wheat pasta and multigrain breads. Your weight loss will be slower, but healthier.

A loss of 20lbs in one month is not just going to be fat, it's a loss of muscle mass. That means your body will literally be eating its own muscle to fuel your brain. Does that really sound like something you want to do just to drop a few sizes in clothes? And I haven't even mentioned the imbalances and heart problems that can come from cutting out potassium (no potatoes or bananas in that diet, huh?).......

I STRONGLY advise against doing this, especially without sitting down with a dr to map out the minimum of carbs, fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to eat in a day. Sorry if this is harsh, but I don't want you to do yourself harm!

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Like I said before, she IS getting carbs, good carbs but in a limited form. but all the stuff you said is absolutely accurate. there are so many people who just kinda do a diet with out actually researching it and making sure they stay healthy.

Originally Posted by marie-p

It seems to me like there are way too many things "forbidden". I doubt anyone can go on this diet and stick with it. Most likely, people go through it, lose some weight and then go back to their old habits and gain it back.

The fact that it tells people to repeat the same simple meals over and over again is kind of scary. It makes it difficult to have a balanced diet.

I think the most important question regarding any diet change is not whether you can stick with it for a month, but whether you can stick with it for the rest of your life. That's why I would be very dubious of any diet that "forbids" so many things.

If you are serious about losing weight, start gradually eating more of what is good for you, and less of what is bad for you. Too much sugar is bad, but carbs from pasta, rice, bread, etc. are fine. Vegetables and low fat sources of proteins are good too.

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Like before, I think this is a 'beginning' stages of weightloss part of her program. i could NEVER completely give up all the carbs I love but there is a rhyme and a reason and making SURE that once you lose your weight you adjust your carb intake to maintain it. . . .

Originally Posted by Paulena

I was recently diagnosed with diabetes, my doctor put me on a low carb, low sugar diet. I have lost 25 pounds over a 3 month period. I have learned how to control the carb and sugar intake, inorder to keep my sugar levels under control w/diet alone. No medications if I can control it with a diet. Yes, it has taken a while to get use to, but in the long run it will be well worth it. I have learned all about portion size. That pretty much says it all portion size!! Rather than eating 2 meals a day and pigging out at supper time. I eat 6 meals a day. And I don't get hungry. It is definately a lifestyle change something you will have to contend with the rest of your life. But if it keeps my sugar levels under control without having to take shots, I am all for that!!

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My MIL and my dad both were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and they are both on lower carb diets it really does make a difference. educating yourself is paramount. there are carbs that are really really good for you and there are carbs that you just shouldn't eat.

So back to my diet:

five years ago I lost 50 pounds on Atkins. but i did NOT do it correctly. I got used to only eating 20 carbs a day and torturing myself. I felt and looked great but I HATED meal times. everyone else could have what ever they wanted and I got stuck eating meat and veggies. I HATE meat.

My dad got sick, my basement got flooded, i switched jobs and low and behold the weight, ALL OF IT came back. and it was that I never learned how to moderate my carb intake. I will NEVER torture myself again with that diet but I now know how important it is to not eat refined sugars.

So, go ahead and do your low carb thing but PLEASE don't go over board and never eat carbs. you can't torture yourself day in and day out. you need to learn how to maintain your weight and go for some walks. I learned the hard way. . .

I am back at the gym when ever it's physically possible. I've cut out 'snacks' and I TRY TRY TRY to have small portions and make sure that my plate has more veggies than anything else.

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

I wish you the best of luck. I could never do that diet since I love sugar and Carbs!!!

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OMG, I love carbs so much

Originally Posted by Jen

It is the no carb no sugar low calorie EXTREMELY STRICT diet. I can eat salad with oil and vinegar, veggies, beans, egg whites and tofu and that is about it. Today I ate a can of corn and celery sticks for breakfast. For lunch I made tofu, egg whites plus one whole egg, black beans, salsa and corn all cooked together. For dinner I had another salad, carrots, corn and green beans. I can drink water and diet soda, I can have a cup of milk occasionally and one piece of fruit if absolutely necessary.

Thing is, you do this 6 days of the week and on the 7th you can eat whatever the heck you want to. I can eat donuts and ice cream all day if I want to. You are supposed to eat whatever you want on that day because it keeps your metabolism up or something.

The point is you will lose 20lbs in one month.

All I can say is BOY AM I HUNGRY!

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Sorry...but any diet that says it is "no carb" but lets you eat corn and black beans, isn't "no or low" carb.
This sounds dreadful and unhealthy to boot. If you want tips on a healthier version of lower carb eating, let me know.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Sorry...but any diet that says it is "no carb" but lets you eat corn and black beans, isn't "no or low" carb.
This sounds dreadful and unhealthy to boot. If you want tips on a healthier version of lower carb eating, let me know.

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Did you happen to read my response? It is neither a low or no cab diet, but a slow carb diet, using foods low on the glycemic index. Renovia had got it spot on, this is just the first 30 days of the plan, and no 30 day diet change will kill you (if 30 days of McDonalds didnt kill Morgan Spurlock, this wont kill us). Then after we have fully changed our habits, we can reincorporate foods and or replacements that are low in the GI. For instance, I already miss rice...I am having trouble with that, but after 30 days, I will incorporate quinoa into the diet, which is everything rice is only 100x better for you.

I am sorry, but if someone doesnt have the will power to change an aspect of their life drastically for 30 days, then they dont have the power to instill good lifelong habits. It takes about 27 days to make something a habit, so no matter what you are doing, it takes about a month. And most changes, even the good ones, can be uncomfortable at first. For instance, when I started running, I couldn't run half a mile, my shins hurt, and I could feel all my fat when I was done. After a month, I felt amazing after my runs. I could have said "oh this feels dreadful" and quit, but sometimes you have to get through the uncomfortable to get to the comfort.


For the record, Jen posted this at the end of the first day...not even enough to give it a chance. I thought I was a touch more inspiring.

Originally Posted by bocmaxima

Did you happen to read my response? It is neither a low or no cab diet, but a slow carb diet, using foods low on the glycemic index. Renovia had got it spot on, this is just the first 30 days of the plan, and no 30 day diet change will kill you (if 30 days of McDonalds didnt kill Morgan Spurlock, this wont kill us). Then after we have fully changed our habits, we can reincorporate foods and or replacements that are low in the GI. For instance, I already miss rice...I am having trouble with that, but after 30 days, I will incorporate quinoa into the diet, which is everything rice is only 100x better for you.

I am sorry, but if someone doesnt have the will power to change an aspect of their life drastically for 30 days, then they dont have the power to instill good lifelong habits. It takes about 27 days to make something a habit, so no matter what you are doing, it takes about a month. And most changes, even the good ones, can be uncomfortable at first. For instance, when I started running, I couldn't run half a mile, my shins hurt, and I could feel all my fat when I was done. After a month, I felt amazing after my runs. I could have said "oh this feels dreadful" and quit, but sometimes you have to get through the uncomfortable to get to the comfort.


For the record, Jen posted this at the end of the first day...not even enough to give it a chance.

I thought I was a touch more inspiring.

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Hi, no I didn't. I simply replied to what she posted she was eating. As someone who has done a lower carb way of eating for years, I am comfortable with my knowledge of what works and what doesnt for me, and with what I've learned. Going by the Gi doesn't work for everyone, and in my case, 30 days means nothing...changes that make you feel better, and that can be lived with for a lifetime, are more what I'd think you'd look for.

What can I say, this is a topic near and dear to my heart as someone who has had to deal with way more than 20 lbs. to lose, and health issues that resolve when I eat a lower carb/higher fat/higher protein diet

It was a long thread when I came to it, I simply answered since it's an area I deal with. I'd LOVE to be able to eat carrots and black beans btw, doesn't work for me

Just two points to make:

1. As someone else mentioned,when you cut your intake too much or too abruptly, your body thinks it's under attack and goes into emergency mode -- which means it clings grimly to every molecule of fat you've got. You have to sneak up on your body... cut back portions and reduce carbs gradually over a couple of weeks, so you don't scare your system!

2. Jen, I may disagree with some of his diet ideas, but I think your boyfriend is a very articulate and thoughtful person, and he obviously adores you. You're so lucky to have each other!

Everyone is different but THAT DIET is NOT a GOOD one... Yes I know plenty about human nutrition.... I am on a diet that is low grain NOT LOW carb ... There are things it suggests avoiding but NOTHING is FORBIDDEN ... and the Dr who created it states yes he expects you to cheat a little

It is very hard believe me, it is really hard when I can't even have a glass of juice. Some things in the diet are a bit ridiculous and I don't quite understand. But I know the point is that it is a diet for people who don't exercise. So if you are going to lose weight and not exercise, you have to be very selective on what you eat and limit yourself.

I already don't eat meat so that is out from the beginning. Eating a lot of beans and tofu and veggies is NOT bad at all. Throw some eggs in there and it's all good. An occasional salad. That is already what I ate basically, but I also ate the junk food too. Chips, coffee, ice cream. Pastas and breads are not that great for you anyways. I would gladly eat whole wheat pasta and multi grain breads as opposed to regular pasta and white bread if it meant I could eat a little more normal diet! But that is where exercise comes in to play. Until I gt motivated to do that, if I want to lose weight, then I have to be very picky about what I eat I suppose.

I am looking to see if I can sign up for a kickboxing class or something with my sister. So then maybe I can go onto a more normal diet rather then one so restrictive.

Jen,

Fwiw, I'm not into exercise, but...I love to walk. I do treadmill while watching tv or listening to a favorite cd. Imagine my surprise when I began getting the endorphin kick I'd heard others speak of...woo, it feels good

Keep in mind I did not follow your link to your diet, so this may not be appropriate, but here is one of my favorite breakfast creations..I call it green bean carbonara

No salt (I don't handle salt well, use salted green beans if you don't have an issue with salt) green beans
1 egg
no-sugar, low salt bacon

Cook the bacon, drain off most of the fat, dice the bacon add back to pan. Next add the canned (or thawed frozen) green beans (fresh would be even better, if using fresh, lightly boil first), scramble in an egg until the green beans have a coating of little scrambled bits of egg.

Season with black pepper and if you like hot sauce, a dash of tabasco.

This is surprisingly good!

that would be great but I am a vegetarian

Originally Posted by Jen

that would be great but I am a vegetarian

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Try it without the bacon
Another item I make is to take fresh zuchini, julienne it so it's in thin little matchstick bits, mix with ricotta cheese and beaten eggs to make little omelets in thin pancake size (season to suit...use salt and pepper). These are great.

I also adore grilled or broiled portobello mushrooms - many make these into mini pizzas by putting a bit of sauce and then cheese atop, cook until cheese is melted.

"nother...mix kalmata olives with a bit of cream cheese (you can use low fat if you wish), stuff this mix (I also season this with fresh ground black pepper), into celery sticks.

Okay...I'll quit for now ;-)