Pig to Twig

[Boo81]

Hi, has anyone got any experience of the 'From Pig to Twig' diet?

I've being doing Dukan on and off for a couple of months with some good results. But I'm getting a bit fed up of only being able to eat veg every other day and not being able to eat my favourite food - cheese! I've mostly stayed away from carbs so I think low-carb diets suit me, but I'm looking for something with a bit more variety.

Any comments/advice from anyone who's had a go?

Thanks!

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I haven't followed the P2T diet as such, am a general low carber. But I really liked their book. I especially liked the way they talked about the emotional side/the psychological side of eating/weight gain/losing weight.

And the recipe book that goes with the book is really good. You will really not get fed up with food if you follow it.

[EustaciaVye]

The book was brilliant I thought, but I just cant get my head around no carbs...

[Tortington]

i'm a low carber and have been for a couple of years see my blog //www.carbfree.wordpress.com

[Boo81]

I've just ordered the book from Amazon but have been looking at the recipes online in the meantime. They do look delicious, and a lot more varied than the dukan recipes. Looking forward to getting started!

Great website Custardo!

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Eustacia - it's not 'no' carbs, it's 'low' carbs - and the idea is that your carbs come from vegetables and salad rather than refined, white carbs (sugar, pasta, rice, bread, potatoes ...)

[foreverondiet]

Why not take the best bits of dukan (protein and veggie days) do that every day and allow yourself a little cheese. Monitor your calories initially to ensure you are running a deficit.

I found pig to twig more restrictive than dukan as i love dairy... (and I was constipated on p2t) I did dukan for a couple of months but made almost every day a PV day after attack.

When I hit my original target (true weight) I added in the 30g a day of cheese he recommended (sometimes have nuts instead), plus the carbs he recommends, the cheat meal and I have 100 cals a day of "treat" ie had solero today, and I don't do the protein thursdays and I still seem to be losing (although slowly, but as I am a stone under my true weight doesn't matter).

[Tortington]

ty ty ty let me know how you get on

[Boo81]

foreverondiet you may have something there with your modified version of Dukan. I'm so sick of yoghurt at this stage so happy to take a break for a few weeks and try something new.

Day 2 of Pig to Twig for me now. I must say I'm finding it quite strange eating such high fat foods after Dukan and I'm not entirely convinced that I can lose weight this way. But I'm going to give it a go for a couple of weeks and come up with my own modified version of Dukan or P2T if need be. Food today was:

B: Scrambled eggs with ham and cheese
S: Small handful of peanuts
L: Mini chorizo sausages, celery sticks with boursin
S: Coffee with double cream
D: Tarragon chicken and a feta and avocado salad

Onomomom! Feels like I've not stopped eating!

[foreverondiet]

Boo81 my modified version works as its lower in calories and lower in carbs than the real version (because I am swopping yoghurt for low carb veggies) - I also end up eating less meat because I eat veggies - and they are lower in calories. But my version is still high in protein - I am logging on MFP and my protein intake is still around double the "recommended" each day.

Dukan is not a ketosis diet anyway because of the dairy he allows.

I do eat yoghurt every day but not so much that I am sick of it!

[Tortington]

@ yoghurt

[foreverondiet]

Custardo - I do my own version of dukan (who allows 1kg of dairy a day! I do have yoghurt but only natural yoghurt, either natural live (which is good for digestion) or greek (which is high in protein and low in carbs) - probably never more than 300g and I don't have any other dairy (apart from occasional cottage cheese, but if I had that I'd have less yoghurt that day).

I have looked at your blog, very helpful thanks and well done - but I didn't really enjoy a ketosis diet (although can see how its good for some) - mainly as I got too constipated! and I like fruit and dairy too much to give it up long term, although yes these would be good things to drop if weight loss plateaued, and actually I got good weight loss with high protein and moderate carbs (rather than low carb). I do eat dairy, 2 fruits a day, pulses and occasional quinoa / brown rice / oats (esp if I have been to the gym). I eat protein at every meal and also eat dark chocolate (in moderation). I don't eat bread, wheat, white rice, pasta, potatoes etc.

I'm now at target so can be a bit more relaxed (ie occasional ice cream!), aim now is to main weight but increase muscle mass a bit.

[Tortington]

i have a packet of pringles staring at me from the kitchen cupboard. well doen you, e all get there different ways

[Boo81]

Its probably a bit late now Custardo but NOOOO...Don't do it!!

Well day 3 of P2T for me and I'm 1lb down. I'm not expecting the usual dramatic weight loss that people expect with this diet. Because I've been dukaning for a while my body is already conditioned to eating low-carb so P2T won't be that much of a shock to it. I'd be very happy with steady 2lbs a week.

I'm enjoying the book and the girls' honesty as to why they ended up so over-weight to begin with. I also like the fact that they tell you how they felt on each day, so if you're feeling like poo, theres something/somebody to relate to.

I've got a sainsburys online shopping order on the way with loads of yummy food to eat. Everybody is raving about the thai meatballs with peanut sauce recipe. Can't wait to try it out!

Well I had better go get dressed before the delivery man arrives!

[Spamspamspam]

Boo, I have been P2T for 6 months now and have lost 22lbs, although in reality I lost most of that during the first three months and during the last three months I have maintained. This is purely and simply that I have gone more into phase three and have definately eaten more calories even though I am still in ketosis. I can sometimes eat 2000 calories a day by having all the high fat which I know is not making me lose anymore weight - even though they say not to worry about calories I definately think you need to. Since Saturday I re-considered what I was eating and have gone right back to having a salad for lunch instead of a high fat/high protein sandwich filler pot or a scotch egg, some cheese and some coleslaw, or 2 sausages, egg and bacon. I have been ignoring sensible portion sizes somewhat and whilst I am really pleased that I can maintain on P2T and enjoy life I also want to lose another 14lbs.

In a nutshell although they say don't worry about calories I think you do need to watch some of the recipes in P2T they are laden with cream, cheese, bacon etc.

[foreverondiet]

spam The stuff that I have read about ketosis diets recently implies that you lose weight on it as you generally feel full due to high protein levels and stable insulin, but that calories do actually matter, so as you say unless you run a calorie deficit you don't lose.

That all being said, if you don't eat enough calories then you'll get hungry and are more likely to fall off the wagon.

I have to confess that when I did dukan I always monitored what I ate on MFP to see how many calories I was eating. I stillI also think now that calories are not all created equal - ie maybe you can maintain at 2000 calories on P2T but if you ate 2000 calories including carbs you'd gain.

[Tortington]

i didn't eat the pringles

i had curried chicken quesedillas for lunch and sausage

[Spamspamspam]

I had salami, parma ham and cheese for breakfast, avocado and king prawn salad for lunch and roasted butternut squash for dinner - very nice!

[Tortington]

sounds yum

i overdosed on cheese - feel a bit shit this am tbh

[Boo81]

Spam - wow, 22lbs...well done! I'm also trying to be a bit conscious of not eating too much fat/calories. If I have cheese/double cream or other high fat foods for lunch I try not to also have them for dinner.

It seems to be working so far as I'm another lb down today, so 2lbs in total since I started on Monday.

Well done on swerving the pringles Custardo!

[goldenbaby]

I have been doing P2T since February this year and I'm at my target weight. I've been maintaining it for about three months now, quite easily. I generally follow stage three, but I don't hesitate to have pudding if we are having a special dinner out or a dinner party.

I can honestly say that this is the first time I have managed to acheive my target weight on a diet - and believe me, I have tried LOTS! I don't know whether I was in a different place mentally this time, or whether the low carb thing has done the trick for me. I do have a seriously sweet tooth so maybe going 'cold turkey' on sugar for a while helped to jolt me into the right attitude.

Interesting to see what you are all saying about calories/fat. I haven't consciously thought about calories etc. I eat a lot of cheese and mayo, so probably lots of fat in there. I was very strict with the carbs when I was actively losing though, so perhaps that is why I got away with it?

[foreverondiet]

goldenbaby The point is that eating fat is very filling (unlike carbs) so you generally don't overeat. And not eating carbs keeps insulin stable so that you don't feel hungry so much or give in to the swwet tooth. Plus protein and fat calories are probably better metabolised than processed carbs. That all being said if you overate (even on protein and fats) in terms of calories you would put on weight not lose.

[twitterer]

Have read the book and am starting this tomorrow. I have found the list of what you can eat a bit vague, it doesn't mention mushrooms but I am guessing they are ok? It says that you can have tomatoes, I wonder if cherry toms are ok or does it just mean limited salad tomatoes? Apart from that I enjoyed reading the stories. I got all the required vits earlier today.

Start weight, 11stone 2lb
Target weight, 9st

[Boo81]

Great to hear from all the people who've had success with P2T. Well done on reaching target goldenbaby. How much did you lose in total?

twitterer - the book is a bit vague alright but pretty much any veg except for root veg (so carrot, parnsip, etc) and peas/sweetcorn are ok. Tomatoes are ok but in moderation, so a few cherry tomatoes in a salad or one fried tomato at breakfast. Ditto mushrooms.

I had a good day again yesterday. Eggs and mushrooms for brekkie, 2 hotdogs and a babybell for a snack, trout salad for lunch, dinner was chicken stuffed with pesto and mozzarella and asparagus wrapped in parma ham. Onomomom!

I ordered some Shirataki noodles online which arrived yesterday so I'm thinking of making chicken noodle soup for dinner tonite. Has anyone tried these? Are they actually a decent noodle substitute? I guess I'll find out later!

Good luck on your first day twitterer. Let us know how you get on.

[goldenbaby]

Boo81 - I lost 2 stone 2 lb and my BMI is now 22.

[goldenbaby]

Boo81 - I lost 2 stone 2 lb and my BMI is now 22.