Weight loss help

[hammerman]

In my cycling thread below, it seems that the best way to go is to adopt a low carb, high protein diet.

But im totally lost at how many and what types of carbs i should go for.

Any help or advice on this will be much appreciated

HM

[Slapshot]

Well following on I haven't cut anything specific out my diet, don't take sugar and I cut out sweets and snacking and the biggy reducing my portion size by about 25%.

I try to balance my meals 60% protein 40% everything else, it seems to work for me .......... so far!!

[237SJ]

Google low GI carbohydrates. If you want to cycle you won`t find a lot of energy from a low carb/high protein diet though. You need carbs for the energy. Go for medium GI - good sources such as jacket potato, brown rice etc and no processed stuff. I did the Atkins diet and worked a busy 6 day shift on that. I had no energy at all.

[TopKat]

There are lots of low-carb websites, but some of them are trying to sell pills and other unnecessary things! This one is really straight-forward and gives good beginner advice (without making you buy/read the book!) so I'd advise checking it out first:- http://www.wanderings...arbDietPlanGaryTaubes
Also the idea that you can't get energy from a low carb diet is nonsense. Your body can and will burn fat for energy if you reduce your carb level - that's how you will lose your excess weight. I've been eating low carb for years and am able to jog, swim, play badmington etc with more energy than before I reduced my carbs and lost 50lbs. Good luck with your efforts!

[johnk]

I would suggest you make small changes each week, that way you are more likely to stick to it. It can be unhealthy making sudden massive changes top your diet. Aim for a max loss of 2 pounds or 1 kg. Don't go on some fad diet and lose weight then go straightback to your original diet and bang it all back on again.

[pastafreak]

+1 for TopKat again,as I agree with him and his/her recommendations re Gary Taubes. I've been on The Harcombe Diet since last Feb,and lost 23 pounds in about 2 1/2-3 months-not bad for a woman who's at an age where weight loss is aid to be difficult. Like Taubes recommendations-it's moderate carbs-lots of green leafy veg,good quality protein like unprocessed meat,eggs,poultry,fish,dairy, and healthy oils. Restricted amounts of grains (porridge,brown rice) are allowed-but reducing them greatly enhances weight loss...and leads to a greater sense of well being-with lots of energy. I indulge in dark chocolate-regularly...I've kept the weight off since May,and I never feel hungry. The one difference in the diet I've done is that fats and carbs are not mixed...the theory being that the body will burn carbs first-and will store fat when carbs are present. If fat is eaten on its own-it is then burnt first.
And it really seems to work for many people.

In the last ten years or so-more studies have been done on lower carb eating,and it's been shown that to balance out the reduced carbs,then fat has to be increased....this then actually *helps* the body to lose fat. Studies have also put the blame for the increase in obesity on low fat,calorie reduced diets-when in actuality-you need to feed your body to lose weight.
Think of it this way....farmers feed grains to their animals to fatten them up...is that what you want?