Low GI and low carb diets - any experiences?
By fluffleshark
@fluffleshark (810)
Ireland
December 31, 2006 4:29am CST
Hi!
I've been thinking about starting either a low carb or a low GI diet. I've been trying to lose weight now for decades, with absolutely no success. I've tried virtually everything. I eat very little, and unfortunately I think my body has gone into 'starvation mode' and stores everything. (I was seriously anorexic as a teenager, which wrecked my metabolism) Anyway I am unsure whether I should go for a low GI or a low carb diet, and was wondering if anyone here had had experiences either good or bad of either? I would really appreciate hearing! Many thanks!
2 people like this
6 responses
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
10 Jan 07
My wife and I recently started a low fat/low carb diet. which seems funny considering it seems if something is low carb, it's high fat, right? but there are products out there that kind of balance them. We use lean meat with no more than 4g of fat per serving, we watch our intake of calories, and if we have an option of something with 50g of carbs, or 15g of carbs, we take the lower option. It's not a no carb diet, we do eat 35 calorie bread, you can find low carb hot dog buns, tortillas, just about anything. We've also started a regular exercise program. And yes, the Atkins diet can be very dangerous because trying to break down all that meat is very hard on your liver and cause it to shut down, so. Need i say more on that one? But so far what we're doing is working for us, I've lost 11 pounds.
1 person likes this
@fluffleshark (810)
• Ireland
11 Jan 07
Sounds like you're doing REALLY well and taking a very balanced approach. Good idea re looking for 'lo carb' options of breads etc. - I hadn't thought of that! That should make meal planning MUCH easier for me! Thanks for that!
@ChewySpree (1832)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I had great success with Medifast, which is a very low calorie diet with balanced carb/proteins. You go into mild ketosis with it so it's not as drastic as Atkins. Their website is www.medifast1.com and it was really easy to follow and it tasted good, too.
@fluffleshark (810)
• Ireland
10 Jan 07
ChewySpree - many thanks - I appreciate that! I'm going to have a look at that! :)
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
4 Jan 07
LOW CARB DIETS are CONTRAINDICATED to HEALTH!! Low carb diets will damage your health, especially the heart muscle, there are healthier ways to loose weight! Don't do it! Simply cut out all empty calorie foods instead!
Here's a link to a great website that helps you figure out your individual dietary daily needs:
"5 a Day"
http://www.5aday.gov
1 person likes this
@fluffleshark (810)
• Ireland
4 Jan 07
Thanks Birthlady I'll have a look at that. Yes when I told my mom that I was considering starting eating meat again and doing the Atkins diet, she was worried (about the Atkins, not about eating meat!) and said thats its okay in the short term, but long term can cause organ failure. It does sound rather extreme I must say!
@teenal (1400)
• Dublin, Ireland
3 Jan 07
I did the Atkins for a while and found it very hard- You can have a fry but no toast- you can have steak and onions but no chips or spuds with it. I also felt quite ill after about a week so I stopped. The GI one is better but Ive gotten to the stage where I think being on a diet - any diet is not working for me as Im constantly feeling deprived and thinking of what I can eat next. Im aiming to loose a stone and a half over the next 6 months just by eating more healthily,not picking at night which is my big downfall and getting in a short walk every day.And as you say your metabolism adjusts to any diet and behaves accordingly in my opinion.Then when you go back to eating "normally" you pile on more weight than you had to begin with in a lot of cases.
@fluffleshark (810)
• Ireland
3 Jan 07
Many thanks for the info Teenal! Yes I have heard by some people that the Atkins can actually be dangerous. Also it would be very difficult (or impossible?) for me I think because I don't eat red meat or chicken. I think I may give a low GI one a try. I think like you I should also try and eat more healthily - I tend to do stupid metabolism-harming things like skipping breakfast if I can't find the time for it etc. Anyway best of luck for your healthy eating - I really hope it works out well for you! And thanks for responding!
