No Wheat / Sugar

[944fan]

Last year in an attempt to lose weight I went on a traditional low calorie controlled diet, eat everything, just less of it. This worked in terms of weight loss, I lost 2.5 stone in 6 months. However, it really impacted on my training and 4 months swimming 5 days a week I dropped only 4 seconds on my 400m PB and I ached all the time. I got fed up and end up putting the weight back on.

I read something about how bad sugar is and things that behave like sugar (refined wheat). So I decided to give it ago. Normally I am dubious about faddy diets but I have to say the results on this have been amazing. Not just on the scales and in the mirror but sports performance wise as well. Times are dropping all over the place and I recover from workouts so much faster.

I still use MFP to track food but not really to count calories. Mostly to ensure I ma eating enough protein and minerals (iron etc). My weight is going down by about 2lbs per week.

I had a pizza and easter egg over Easter after a few weeks on this and woke up the next day feeling like I had been on a 10 pint bender.

[grumbledoak]

The name changes, but always the same candidates. I've been Banting/Atkins/no white carbs/Paleo for a few years now. It is amazing the effect a 'normal' high carb meal has on the body when you are unused to it. I wouldn't even consider a pizza and a fizzy drink as a meal these days; I would rather go without lunch.

You can always hit the peanut butter when you get home!

[ean21]

I've been restricting carbs since January, keeping carbs below 50g, and feel far far better for it. Am dropping fat very easily as well. I can't seem to wean myself off a few beers on a Saturday though - I like it too much. I used to be able to pack it away by the gallon and not feel a thing. Now, 3 or 4 pints will give me a hangover, and so will anything sugary at all.

[KamSandhu44]

ean21 said:

I've been restricting carbs since January, keeping carbs below 50g, and feel far far better for it. Am dropping fat very easily as well. I can't seem to wean myself off a few beers on a Saturday though - I like it too much. I used to be able to pack it away by the gallon and not feel a thing. Now, 3 or 4 pints will give me a hangover, and so will anything sugary at all.

Wow, well done for keeping it up for so long. I managed 4 weeks and gave up. I hated the feeling.

Restricting carbs long term has its health problems.

I moved from atkins to IIFYMs and never looked back.

I eat what I like and shifted 9 stone.

You don't (should) need restrict food groups to reach your goals.

[AntiLagGC8]

KamSandhu44 said:

ean21 said:

I've been restricting carbs since January, keeping carbs below 50g, and feel far far better for it. Am dropping fat very easily as well. I can't seem to wean myself off a few beers on a Saturday though - I like it too much. I used to be able to pack it away by the gallon and not feel a thing. Now, 3 or 4 pints will give me a hangover, and so will anything sugary at all.

Wow, well done for keeping it up for so long. I managed 4 weeks and gave up. I hated the feeling.

Restricting carbs long term has its health problems.

I moved from atkins to IIFYMs and never looked back.

I eat what I like and shifted 9 stone.

You don't (should) need restrict food groups to reach your goals.

What health problems are associated with restricting carbs?

[KamSandhu44]

AntiLagGC8 said:

What health problems are associated with restricting carbs?

Heart disease, stroke, bleeding in the outer layers of the brain, narrowing of the arteries in the legs are just a few.

I read an article on a woman who did atkins for a long period of time and now her body can no longer handle carbs of any sorts. On top of that why would you want to omit a food group?

[ean21]

KamSandhu44 said:

Wow, well done for keeping it up for so long. I managed 4 weeks and gave up. I hated the feeling.

Restricting carbs long term has its health problems.

I moved from atkins to IIFYMs and never looked back.

I eat what I like and shifted 9 stone.

You don't (should) need restrict food groups to reach your goals.

If you felt bad you probably still ate too many carbs. If you go very low or near zero, you feel great after a couple of days. If you had what they refer to as 'Atkins flu' then you were probably deficient in sodium.

I'd be interested to know what are the health problems associated with carb restriction. As far as I am aware they are not an essential nutrient for people and I hadn't heard of any documented conditions associated with avoiding them. I've done a reasonable amount of research but I'd like to learn more if you can point me in the right direction.

[ean21]

oops - our posts crossed. Do you recall where you read the article? Or was it a medical paper?

[Foliage]

I wouldnt say what you are doing is faddy.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/53/8b/a9/53...

I don't believe your supposed to omit carbs completely just the bottom of the pyramid. Fruit and veg are carbs.

Edited by Foliage on Tuesday 14th April 13:38

Edited by Foliage on Tuesday 14th April 13:39

Edited by Foliage on Tuesday 14th April 13:43

[AntiLagGC8]

KamSandhu44 said:

AntiLagGC8 said:

What health problems are associated with restricting carbs?

Heart disease, stroke, bleeding in the outer layers of the brain, narrowing of the arteries in the legs are just a few.

I read an article on a woman who did atkins for a long period of time and now her body can no longer handle carbs of any sorts. On top of that why would you want to omit a food group?

Whoa there! Are you talking about a very high fat diet (Atkins et al) as opposed to a lower carb diet? These are very different things.

There are many very significant health benefits in removing processed carbohydrates from our diets. Eating a high carbohydrate diet is the number one reason why folks are becoming obese in very large numbers.

I personally advocate a diet that doesn't entirely remove carbohydrates but reduces the processed ones.

[944fan]

In my version I'm not restricting carbs. Just not getting them from Wheat and Sugar. Still eat oats, rye bread, plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Tried the low card route but it just made training at a high intensity too hard.

[grumbledoak]

KamSandhu44 said:

Heart disease, stroke, bleeding in the outer layers of the brain, narrowing of the arteries in the legs are just a few.

I read an article on a woman who did atkins for a long period of time and now her body can no longer handle carbs of any sorts. On top of that why would you want to omit a food group?

Have you any evidence or links for this? I've read a great deal on it and never seen any serious claims of ill-health resulting from a low carb regime. Quite the opposite.

[Hoofy]

Funnily, I've been eating any old st recently. Crisps, chocolates (not including Easter stuff!), many pub and restaurant meals. Through no intention, I've lost about 2kg. Guess you can out-train a bad diet after all!

[Piglet]

I've dropped refined carbs over the last few months, I don't consume much sugar anyway (other than in alcohol!). I've really enjoyed trying different wholegrain/less refined options, pot barley, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, bulgar wheat, more beans, pulses etc. I tend to have quite volatile blood sugar levels and often get weak and wobbly - I've been much better without the refined stuff. The whole carb/no carb argument needs to be more sophisticated to reflect the difference between refined and non refined carbs.

I really must give up the booze again, I think I'd feel a whole lot better!

[Hoofy]

Oh yeah, ciders.

[Piglet]

Hoofy said:

Oh yeah, ciders.

Yup that's my downfall, I like to think it's a fruit but I know that doesn't work!

[Hoofy]

Piglet said:

Hoofy said:

Oh yeah, ciders.

Yup that's my downfall, I like to think it's a fruit but I know that doesn't work!

What? You mean it doesn't count as one of my five a day?

[roboxm3]

Hoofy said:

What? You mean it doesn't count as one of my five a day?

One cider definitely counts towards your five ciders a day!

[Hoofy]

roboxm3 said:

Hoofy said:

What? You mean it doesn't count as one of my five a day?

One cider definitely counts towards your five ciders a day!

And given the weather today, I will certainly be partaking later!

[amare32]

There's nothing more satisfying than toasting x4 thick slices of white bread and applying lots of peanut butter

Why deprive yourself. Obviously you'll need to burn it off, 8 hours+ court time a week playing tennis/basketball and 4x gym sessions a week, I need all the energy I can get. It's a fair trade so I can continue to enjoy the things I like to eat/drink guilt free