Finding it hard to low carb

purpleshoes_2

hanfrangipane wrote: »

Firstly - well done on losing 3lb! 3lb is 3lb and it's in the right direction, so do not be disheartened

So often personal trainers who have zero training in nutrition seem to think that they can piggy back on the latest fad and dish out diet programmes to unsuspecting clients willy nilly. I am certainly not saying ALL PTs are like this, I don't wish anyone to take this the wrong way, but your post rings alarm bells since this trainer who is advising you seems unable to make any suggestions to deviate from his one size fits all approach in order to suit your own lifestyle.

Your post resonates with me as I have tried low carb and a paleo approach and I ended up going so far down the rabbit hole with it that I became totally obsessed with food, scared to eat things in case they were not 'clean' and became totally miserably and certainly within the realms of disordered eating.

You seem to have your head screwed on since you're questioning what you're being told, which is great! I'd say that ultimately, fat loss boils down to calories at a basic level. Quite often the reason that low carb works is because its v easy to overeat on carbs, so by reducing these you automatically consume less over the day. However, Paleo often promotes snacking on nuts, lots of co!!!! oil, nut butters etc and there are massively calorific. I would suggest that if you wish to stick to thisplan you'ev been given, that you keep an eye on these foods that, although healthy, can easily be overeaten.

I have reached a much healthier place with my diet nowadays - I tend to eat moderate carbs as I feel sluggish when I eat lots, get adequate protein and roughly track my calories. I eat lots of whole foods but allow myself the odd bit of processed food in order to make it flexible around my lifestyle. This means that I am relaxed regarding eating out or at friends, make good choices and get results.

Moderation isn't extreme enough to be popular nowadays, people want fancy plans but, funnily enough, it is what works!

Edited to add: I'm not anti low carbs, by the way, it works for some. I'm anti 'cookie cutter' diet plans that are dished out. find what works for YOU.

All level 3 personal trainers have to have a qualification in nutrition before they get the award. They obviously aren't nutritionists, but you don't get the level 3 award without having a level 3 qualification in nutrition.

If someone has signed up to a plan run through a gym I would think that there has to be an element of one size fits all because if you have a medium sized or large group, unless you have time to work out individual eating plans, there is obviously little scope for giving people individual attention.

Im doing a bootcamp at the moment and there's an eating plan attached, we've been advised do to Paleo, something that I always said I never would, but Im giving it a go. The trainer basically said he would prefer us to follow the nutrition plan, but he cant stand over us and see what we are eating, its up to us to be honest.

The bottom line is really, that unless we have the money to spend to see a qualified nutritionist there are always going to be elements of our diet that might need a tweak or two. And if low carbing isnt for you, its not for you. Fruit and veg have some carbs anyway, so Im

At the moment Im drinking no alcohol, Im not eating bread, processed foods, as little sugar as possible, no potatoes either. Sounds awful, but its been ok.

Also, I do know people who don't have qualifications in nutrition even at a basic level who run eat clean programmes with people. It really is worthwhile asking someone what their qualifications are.

Some veg and fruit can be quite high in carbs anyway. Im still eating fruit and veg, so Im technically not low carbing. Its finding what works for you. If something doesn't then its time to have a rethink, because there are many ways to eat healthily without following a strict eating plan, of course its important that it fits in with your lifestyle.

terra_ferma

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

That's very true.
Next time you are in the supermarket, pick up three packets of sausages and look at them. Consider for a moment that they used to be on your body and they no longer are.

Are you a PT by any chance? sounds like the sort of motivational tool a PT would use...

hanfrangipane

purpleshoes wrote: »

All level 3 personal trainers have to have a qualification in nutrition before they get the award. They obviously aren't nutritionists, but you don't get the level 3 award without having a level 3 qualification in nutrition.

If someone has signed up to a plan run through a gym I would think that there has to be an element of one size fits all because if you have a medium sized or large group, unless you have time to work out individual eating plans, there is obviously little scope for giving people individual attention.

Im doing a bootcamp at the moment and there's an eating plan attached, we've been advised do to Paleo, something that I always said I never would, but Im giving it a go. The trainer basically said he would prefer us to follow the nutrition plan, but he cant stand over us and see what we are eating, its up to us to be honest.

The bottom line is really, that unless we have the money to spend to see a qualified nutritionist there are always going to be elements of our diet that might need a tweak or two. And if low carbing isnt for you, its not for you. Fruit and veg have some carbs anyway, so Im

At the moment Im drinking no alcohol, Im not eating bread, processed foods, as little sugar as possible, no potatoes either. Sounds awful, but its been ok.

Also, I do know people who don't have qualifications in nutrition even at a basic level who run eat clean programmes with people. It really is worthwhile asking someone what their qualifications are.

Some veg and fruit can be quite high in carbs anyway. Im still eating fruit and veg, so Im technically not low carbing. Its finding what works for you. If something doesn't then its time to have a rethink, because there are many ways to eat healthily without following a strict eating plan, of course its important that it fits in with your lifestyle.

Yeah - I agree. You get what you pay for at the end of the day. If you want a fully personalised plan by someone qualified and experienced then that is, quite rightly, going to cost more.

I suppose my point was that if you do get one of these generic plans then you either need to get advice and guidance from your 'coach' on how you can tweak it to suit you, or have the confidence to do this yourself and find your own sweet spot of the balance that works for you as an individual.

What furstrates me is people who preach that their way is the only way and do not allow for an element of personal preference or individualisation. You don't HAVE to be miserable or segregated on a diet for it to work and, to be honest, it needs to be enjoyable and realistic to be sustainable. Some people have a real attitude problem of 'well it's this way or not at all' which brings guilt and shame to the people who are trying their best to make positive changes and it really makes me feel sad for people who, like the OP, are actually doing well but because they're not '100% clean' they feel like they're failing.

And yes, PTs do some nutritional training. The knowledge is on a spectrum isn't it, and it's quite scary how many people claim to be, or actually believe that they are, much further along that spectrum than they actually are. It's perfectly ok to take nutritional advice from a PT as long as that PT is selling their advice on that premise and not claiming to be some nutritional genius with all the answers they ever could have wanted in one magical food plan.

purpleshoes_2

hanfrangipane wrote: »

Yeah - I agree. You get what you pay for at the end of the day. If you want a fully personalised plan by someone qualified and experienced then that is, quite rightly, going to cost more.

I suppose my point was that if you do get one of these generic plans then you either need to get advice and guidance from your 'coach' on how you can tweak it to suit you, or have the confidence to do this yourself and find your own sweet spot of the balance that works for you as an individual.

What furstrates me is people who preach that their way is the only way and do not allow for an element of personal preference or individualisation. You don't HAVE to be miserable or segregated on a diet for it to work and, to be honest, it needs to be enjoyable and realistic to be sustainable. Some people have a real attitude problem of 'well it's this way or not at all' which brings guilt and shame to the people who are trying their best to make positive changes and it really makes me feel sad for people who, like the OP, are actually doing well but because they're not '100% clean' they feel like they're failing.

And yes, PTs do some nutritional training. The knowledge is on a spectrum isn't it, and it's quite scary how many people claim to be, or actually believe that they are, much further along that spectrum than they actually are. It's perfectly ok to take nutritional advice from a PT as long as that PT is selling their advice on that premise and not claiming to be some nutritional genius with all the answers they ever could have wanted in one magical food plan.

Well, I know some people who have an exercise to music qualification and nothing more who do one to one training with people and nutritional plans. I also know some people who are dancers who teach fitness classes who teach HIIT style classes and dont have a level 2 of any description, havent done a HIIT style course either. Participants dont often know, they just see this advert saying, come and do HIIT and get lean, pay your money.

I have my level 3 in nutrition for physical activity, but I dont do much nutrition advice with my classes, I do teach fitness classes and I do say to people its important to follow good nutrition, but many people dont.

Its tough to eat clean, theres sugar in so many products, even the last few weeks Ive picked up stuff to find theres been sugar in pickled veg, E numbers in tins of strawberries. You do what you can do, thats all.

I would say that the people who I know who are PT's whose advice I look for are the people who didnt stop when they did their level 3 and continued reading and doing other courses.

Ive had a negative relationship with food for a long time, its really important to me that if I do mess up which I havent yet on this plan that I just get back on with it the next day.

Something has to be realistic and fit in with the way you want to eat longterm or its not worth doing.

hanfrangipane

purpleshoes wrote: »

Well, I know some people who have an exercise to music qualification and nothing more who do one to one training with people and nutritional plans. I also know some people who are dancers who teach fitness classes who teach HIIT style classes and dont have a level 2 of any description, havent done a HIIT style course either. Participants dont often know, they just see this advert saying, come and do HIIT and get lean, pay your money.

I have my level 3 in nutrition for physical activity, but I dont do much nutrition advice with my classes, I do teach fitness classes and I do say to people its important to follow good nutrition, but many people dont.

Its tough to eat clean, theres sugar in so many products, even the last few weeks Ive picked up stuff to find theres been sugar in pickled veg, E numbers in tins of strawberries. You do what you can do, thats all.

I would say that the people who I know who are PT's whose advice I look for are the people who didnt stop when they did their level 3 and continued reading and doing other courses.

Ive had a negative relationship with food for a long time, its really important to me that if I do mess up which I havent yet on this plan that I just get back on with it the next day.

Something has to be realistic and fit in with the way you want to eat longterm or its not worth doing.

Definitely - I've stuggled a lot in the past. Now I'm much kinder to myself. If I go a little off plan I just get back to it as soon as possible and what's done is done. Life is for enjoying too!

I totally get where you're coming from re. qualifications and I think most people, even if they asked what qualifications some one had, wouldn't necessarily know whether that's good/bad/adequate.

JimmyTheWig

terra_ferma wrote: »

Are you a PT by any chance? sounds like the sort of motivational tool a PT would use...

No I'm not. I just like sausages.
Thanks, though.

terra_ferma

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

No I'm not. I just like sausages.
Thanks, though.

It wasn't a compliment, just a joke

Edwardia

I have type 2 diabetes, probably because we were all sold down the river with the fat is bad for you thing. Pick up any 0% fat yogurt for example and look at the ingredients and you will see how much sugar/substitute is in there.

A calorie is not a calorie. Firstly because it was designed to measure how much energy it took to heat a certain amount of water to a certain temperature in a lab, back in the Victorian era. It wasn't designed to tell you how many laps of a track you need to do to burn off a Mars bar.

Not all foods are processed the same way. Fat doesn't create fat, whereas unburnt carbs do.

If you have a family history of cholesterol probs suggest getting yours tested before attempting low carb.

I low carb to keep my blood glucose within normal limits so I take fewer drugs. As far as eating clean goes, organic means no synthetic pesticide/fertiliser residues, no GM, no irradiation, no secondhand GM from animals fed on it (routine now), no additives.
It costs more but Lidl does some organic and Sainsbury's does loads now.

As far s Atkins bars go, I'd rather have 90% cocoa chocolate eg Lindt 18g carbs the whole 100g bar. Way less than a Twirl, far nicer chocolate than Atkins.

If you are seriously interested in low carb, suggest Gary Taubes videos on You Tube and he explains it all.

Cheap sausages are usually pretty carby. Wheat can make people bloat too. High meat content gluten sausages can be gorgeous.