Debt Free & Fat Free Wannabees??

sparkle_monkey

I'd like to join too! Since I quit smoking I've gained about 3kgs - so gradually I didn't notice the sparetyre until my trousers were cutting off my circulation!
I already workout and eat well but I'm addicted to chocolate and diet coke (the coke is bad cos it makes me eat more chocolate).
From 1st May I'm going to cut out chocolate and diet coke and up my cardio. I'm planning to do it for a month initially. It seems pointless that I'm going to the gym 3 times a week and not seeing any results cos of my addiction to mini eggs :mad: Does anyone else eat chocolate every day?!! I thought about restricting it to one bar a week but I tried that and I couldn't control myself!
Well done everyone for your losses and endeavours! :j

freebird65

OMG my head hurts......:mad: .......nasty little men jumping around with large hammers...maybe I should have had dinner last night before giving it large with the :beer:

.....how am I going to stay strong today when all I want is a great big fry-up with buttery toast and everything?

Thank god I work from home....at least I can go back to bed instead of suffering at my desk in a noisy office....oh how I miss those days....not....

fizzel81

ive had a lurk on this tread but never posted.
i cannot go on a proper diet yet or do workout videos i have nearly used up my weight allowence and i still have 12 weeks to go before having the baby i have put on a massive 23lbs so far which im sure is a bit much (i have pigged out on all the bad stuff!)
any tips for a waddler would be handy im starting to feel like a duck when i walk

grimelda

For Bargain Queen, re: Atkins.

First of all, I agree that, as a general rule, it's best to avoid foods high in simple sugars and starch. High carbohydrate foods which are digested and broken down into glucose quickly in the bloodstream tend to create 'spikes' in blood glucose levels. The body then dumps a heap of insulin into the bloodstream to deal with it, which then causes blood glucose levels to become very low, which then causes hunger. The result is not only that you feel quite hungry soon after such a meal, but the glucose spikes and troughs play havoc with the pancreas and likely cause damage in the long term.

Because the food suggested by the Atkins diet is generally low carb, you don't have that process going on. It has also been shown that high protein foods tend to be more satisfying and take longer to digest so you feel fuller for longer. There is also the factor of having fewer foods to choose from which tends to limit the amount you eat. In a study conducted several years ago it was found that people on Atkins lost weight even though they were allowed to eat as much as they wanted, because they actually ate LESS calories that they would ordinarily do. Burning protein and fat for fuel instead of carbs doesn't account for the fact that Atkins causes weight loss. Atkins is basically another form of calorie control.

I have a few problems with Atkins. The first relates to the nutritional aspect of the diet: it cuts out or limits many foods containing essential nutrients and fibre. A high protein diet places a lot of stress on the kidneys and could cause kidney stones and other complications if carried out long term. Studies also suggest that this sort of diet can lead to loss of calcium and, in the long run, decrease in bone density. There are no long term studies regarding the health effects of Atkins in spite of the fact that it's been around since the 1970's. The number of short term studies is limited and restricted to very small numbers of test subjects. I also have some concern about what effect starving your brain of glucose has on your mental abilities. I don't know of any research, but when I used to visit a nutritionist regularly, she told me she could pick which of her clients were on Atkins because they were generally pretty spacey.

The second objection is that the diet is not sustainable. Believe it or not, people find it very difficult to restrict themselves to the foods allowed on Atkins. I have had friends on it, and they don't generally last long because they get sick of eating protein and not having carbohydrates. They give up, and because the diet does not place any importance on physical exercise, they pile the weight back on again and more.

There is also the fact that being in ketosis gives you noxious breath.

This is a really abbreviated version. There is heaps of conflicting information out there for you to read if you're interested but it's hard to sort out the facts from the rubbish.

freebird65

Hi Fizzel81 and welcome to the Cuddle!

Since I'm certainly no expert and know nothing about pregnancy, I'd say maybe go see your doctor and see if he has any tips....or do you go to some sort of pre-natal classes (or whatever they're called) that can give proper guidance?

Apart from that I would say try to eat healthily and cut out the junk....and walk lots as that must surely be good for you...even if you do it slowly!

Grimelda....I have to agree with your arguments on Atkins.....I used to get bored with trying to come up with interesting meal variations on the limited foods available. I ended up doing my own version of Atkins which was nowhere near as strict....but I did end up putting all the weight back on and another 2 st to boot....so now I'm trying WW and since you can eat what you like (to a "point" hehehe) I'm hoping it'll educate me into a better way of eating so I don't put it all back on when I stop.

amosworks

bargainqueen wrote:

BTW Amos if you are still reading it would be nice if you came back...after all peops here were only concerned and that is what a "cuddle" is all about!

Hmm well maybe. I just felt like I was being supported and judged at the same time, which isn't very nice as it seemed very two faced, especially when I did ask people to stop. I've tried very hard not to judge anyone else on here because I've been 21 stone and I do actually know what it's like. Sometimes I just feel like it doesn't cut both ways, and with ss' post accusing me of being mentally ill and an attention seeker etc. etc. I was like whatever, I don't want to be in a situation where I would want to face that sort of abuse. I think those comments overstepped the mark by, say, a few hundred miles. They left me feeling very, very depressed for a good week afterwards In any situation, that's a really nasty thing to say.

But, I have been reading still and following the progress of you folks with great interest and am really impressed at how many people are making a great effort, through whatever means, to combine fat freeness with debt freeness I'm really stunned at the results some people are making and hoping that others are still happy even though they might be giving in to temptation (cue Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkke.) and losing the plot in the process

MinnieSpender wrote:

Off to Asbo.

Since I started, and whilst I was gone, I've lost 17lbs to date which is pretty much on track for what I wanted. I've taken a break off the diet to stop ketosis so I can lose some muscle (which should hopefully take me back down to 14lbs lost) before I go back on again in a couple of weeks. Bunnyhopping is the only way I can stay on Atkins now without looking like Vin Diesel :cool:

grimelda, I read with interest your comments on the diet and it's clear to me that you've done your research on the subject which is something it seems few people take the time to do I think most people are shocked when they realise the secret of Atkins really is to eat less, eat healthier and take more exercise. However, it's reducing calorie intake without counting calories that this is achieved because of all the benefits you mentioned. Most people can't get their head around why someone with an unlimited food intake wouldn't want to eat it That's why I was saying many pages ago that Atkins is like cheating as it requires no will power not to eat lol, even if you could eat loads without gaining weight. If it is the same study I believe you are talking about then it's also interest to note that the people in high-carb set generally seemed a lot hungrier, and would have paid for more food! Heh, I think that's why FFW and DFW works for me on my £25/month shopping budget.

But I do have to disagree with a few points you made, namely that there are no long term studies on the diet. Well the fact we are all here now and doing rather well for ourselves over the last several million years on this type of diet should be proof enough it's healthy and what was intended I agree, not the most scientific, but natural selection is the ultimate natural science, for if it didn't work then we wouldn't be around to observe the results! Remember that humans have only been growing crops for the last 10k years, which is a single thread in relation to a huge fabic of time and evolution. If anything, it should be viewed that high-carb diets have not been around long enough for us to study the health effects (but as mentioned before, cancers, diabetes, etc. etc. may now be some of the side effects high-carb eating brings).

I also think you're point of Atkins dieters being "spacey" seems rather unscientific and goes against the general understanding of the diet, for ketones and glucose are both fuels for the body, and mammals wouldn't have the ability to have fat stores on their body if they could never be burnt off, or all mammals would die of obessity if burning fat was bad. It does have to be noted that it's not natural to get in to an obesse state in the first place, so thus it must be taken that burning huge amounts of fat quickly is also as unnatural - I concede this. I also believe that the breath problems are partly related to this point, as the chemical processes to burn the body fat stores requires VAST amounts of water to complete all the reactions. As the unused ketones flow around in the blood stream the same as glucose, regular water intake will also mean that unused ketones are urinated quickly rather than allowed to be build up and thus start making breath, urine and semen rather pungeant.

Personally, I think people with "Atkins breath" are dirty as they don't brush their teeth properly. I brush 3 times a day and never had the problem, but I do drink an oil tanker of water every day There are also additional benefits of not eating sugar and the role that plays on tooth decay and bacteria on the tongue which also contributes to unhygenic oral problems.

But getting back to my point, when ketosis is in full swing, the body is correctly hydrated, and there are no insulin spikes which make you feel tired, Atkins dieters are typically much more alert and responsive. Dr Atkins described this with the slogan "feel the Atkins change". If, hypothetically, I was unsonscious for a few days and then woke up, I can now tell straight away if I am in ketosis or not! I can also predict with quite a high degree of accuracy my ketone level before I self-test with urinalysis. This is simply because I've learnt a lot more about my body and after spending 3 years on and off the diet and feeling the differences INSIDE my body, I can now tell.

I've yet to meet any spaced Atkins dieters, and a lot of people I know have done the diet because they have seen me half in size in a year and know there's something to it :-\

The last thing I disagree with that you said was about not getting enough exercise. Not exercising goes totally against all the recommendations of the diet, and is a bad thing to avoid. However, Atkins is the only diet where the dieter feels such a great excess of energy (as mentioned due to the water intake and continual source of energy through ketosis) that they seem to get twitchy and want to exercise, because of that restless feeling. When you're sitting there bored, your mind and body are racing, you can't help but want to get out and do something. Ones "get up and go" factor busts through the ceiling and you feel the need to move your body. I noticed this a lot more after a few weeks on the diet when I started feeling like I could fly. I can't. However, that restless feeling made me do lots of crazy things Loads of Atkins success stories feature people who have gone on the diet and within months start running several miles each week and lifting weights and stuff, and I know why they did it and why they felt like doing it.

The desire to exercise on this diet seems to be focused from inside-outwards, in that you don't need motivation to exercise, you simply want to because you've got an uncontrollable urge to do something lol. Flying is bad.

I guess I'm back then you guys. No apologies, no nasty comments, just support and education.

I missed you a lot

clairey_em

sparkle_monkey wrote:

I'd like to join too! Since I quit smoking I've gained about 3kgs - so gradually I didn't notice the sparetyre until my trousers were cutting off my circulation!
I already workout and eat well but I'm addicted to chocolate and diet coke (the coke is bad cos it makes me eat more chocolate).
From 1st May I'm going to cut out chocolate and diet coke and up my cardio. I'm planning to do it for a month initially. It seems pointless that I'm going to the gym 3 times a week and not seeing any results cos of my addiction to mini eggs :mad: Does anyone else eat chocolate every day?!! I thought about restricting it to one bar a week but I tried that and I couldn't control myself!
Well done everyone for your losses and endeavours! :j

Wow sparkle monkey, think you and me are about the same! I gave up smoking after our wedding last sept, although I never smoked that much, but when I stopping completely I put on about the same. All trousers I own are currently cutting off my circulation too, it's such a horrible feeling, especially when you're not used to it! I am also addicted to mini eggs, and even before easter OH or I would bring a packet home everyday, I love them! However, I have cut them out completely and other chocolate, and haven't had any for 2 weeks :eek: and I've got used to it and don't crave it. Actually I've cut out as much sugar as possible, getting my sugar supply from fruit etc. I've also upped the cardio (that is upped from nothing!) and doing at least half an hour everyday. Only lost 1 measly lb last week (very upset!) but am hoping for more this week!

Go for it, everyone here will support you, and it is possible to give up the beloved chocolate!

x x

crazyscientist

sparkle_monkey wrote:

I'd like to join too! Since I quit smoking I've gained about 3kgs - so gradually I didn't notice the sparetyre until my trousers were cutting off my circulation!
I already workout and eat well but I'm addicted to chocolate and diet coke (the coke is bad cos it makes me eat more chocolate).
From 1st May I'm going to cut out chocolate and diet coke and up my cardio. I'm planning to do it for a month initially. It seems pointless that I'm going to the gym 3 times a week and not seeing any results cos of my addiction to mini eggs :mad: Does anyone else eat chocolate every day?!! I thought about restricting it to one bar a week but I tried that and I couldn't control myself!
Well done everyone for your losses and endeavours! :j

lol yes im addicted to the chocolate too! its all so yummy

however, am now on a whole week without it so maybe its not so impossible.

grimelda

Welcome back Amos.

amosworks wrote:

Sometimes I just feel like it doesn't cut both ways, and with ss' post accusing me of being mentally ill and an attention seeker etc. etc. I was like whatever, I don't want to be in a situation where I would want to face that sort of abuse. I think those comments overstepped the mark by, say, a few hundred miles. They left me feeling very, very depressed for a good week afterwards In any situation, that's a really nasty thing to say.

Unlike your 'supportive' friends in real life who make whale noises and whom you admire and strive to emulate?

I am glad you're back, Amos, though many of your previous posts in this thread disturbed me greatly. In accordance with your wishes, I will not criticise your weight loss goals but there is no way I am going to applaud you while you hurt yourself.

On a positive note, I do have to say that your skin looks great for someone who once weighed 21 stone! :j

On to the Atkins stuff:

But I do have to disagree with a few points you made, namely that there are no long term studies on the diet. Well the fact we are all here now and doing rather well for ourselves over the last several million years on this type of diet should be proof enough it's healthy and what was intended I agree, not the most scientific, but natural selection is the ultimate natural science, for if it didn't work then we wouldn't be around to observe the results! Remember that humans have only been growing crops for the last 10k years,...

But humans only began domesticating animals for food 9000-7000 years ago.

... which is a single thread in relation to a huge fabic of time and evolution. If anything, it should be viewed that high-carb diets have not been around long enough for us to study the health effects (but as mentioned before, cancers, diabetes, etc. etc. may now be some of the side effects high-carb eating brings).

Paleontologists generally agree that our hunter-gatherer ancestors most likely obtained about half of their calories from carbohydrate (depending on the environment, obviously; Eskimos and the !Kung are examples of 'modern' hunter gatherers with vastly different diets), not the 5-20% recommended on the average low carb diet. Low carb is an unnatural diet. If you cook your meat instead of eating it raw it's even more unnatural because you are destroying some of its vitamin content. High carb foods aren't the only ones which are processed.

The sort of animals modern humans eat are far removed from the ones available to our ancestors 25,000 years ago. For a start, their feed is full of pesticides and they are usually given hormones and antibiotics. These tend to accumulate in their fatty tissue and then get passed onto us. They have much more sendentary lifestyles and hence are fattier. Meat from domesticated animals tends to be higher in saturated fat and has a different ratio of Omega 3 to 6 fatty acids than 'game' meat.

And I'm not even going to start on how 'unnatural' dairy foods are.

So no, natural selection is not a long term study supporting low carb diets. Not at all. Even if pre-agrarian humans ate high protein/low carb diets, present day protein sources aren't the same as paleolithic ones. What natural selection demonstrates is that humans can survive and thrive on a very wide variety of foods.

I also think you're point of Atkins dieters being "spacey" seems rather unscientific and goes against the general understanding of the diet, for ketones and glucose are both fuels for the body, and mammals wouldn't have the ability to have fat stores on their body if they could never be burnt off, or all mammals would die of obessity if burning fat was bad.

Spacey was my shorthand. What she really said was that most of her Atkins clients complained of lethargy and poor mental alertness. I don't know of any studies about the effect of Atkins on mental acuity but I'd imagine it would be fairly easy to test. In the meantime, I have only to go on what this professional nutritionist told me, and the fact that the brain NEEDS glucose to work. Even during fasting it can't run entirely on ketones.

She also noted more tangible problems such as brittle and peeling fingernails, hair loss and constipation.

But getting back to my point, when ketosis is in full swing, the body is correctly hydrated, and there are no insulin spikes which make you feel tired, Atkins dieters are typically much more alert and responsive.

My experience with Atkins dieters has tended to be the opposite. We'll have to disagree on this one.

The last thing I disagree with that you said was about not getting enough exercise. Not exercising goes totally against all the recommendations of the diet, and is a bad thing to avoid.

Hm. One of the selling points of low carb I often hear is now unnecessary exercise is ('Eat all you want, don't exercise and STILL LOSE WEIGHT!'). As I don't have a copy of Atkins at hand, though, I can't refute your point.

MinnieSpender

Asbo

I came, I saw, I conquered.

And I left without cake but with a nice bunch of flowers instead. They don't quite taste the same, but are reassuringly lower in calories.

Amos - good to see you back, but how very dare you insinuate that I have lost the plot! I never found it in the first place!

2lbs lost this week, so yay!!! :j