Does anyone else's brain chemistry mean they get low moods if they don't eat enough carbs?

[Conundrumish]

Is there an easy way around this when loosing weight?

[Conundrumish]

bump

[itstheclimb39]

hi pink, yes am with you on the low moods, i always suffer when dieting, i think my hormones are all over the place

[Conundrumish]

Have you still managed to loose weight it'stheclimb? I never know whether to listen to my body [which is telling me to eat cake!] to get enough serotonin, or try and go without carbs.

[TheMightyBouche]

the danger of a low-carb diet is that it can make you moody AND makes you crave carbs even more, often leading to binges on 'bad' carbs (cake, biscuits etc - unless you have an iron will!)

The Carb Lovers Diet lists a load of reasons why low-carb diets are not good for you, your weight or your mood in the long run and advises including 'good' carbs like lentils, beans, bananas at every meal to stabilise your mood and curb your cravings. Website here. You can buy the book but to be honest, you can get most of the info you need here.

I've found it to be really good, after years of carb-phobia. I definitely feel less irritable and my weight is nice and constant, no depressing ups and downs. Haven't quite managed to include carbs at dinner yet, but it's so nice having them for breakfast and lunch again!

[AngryFeet]

You can lose weight without cutting out carbs. I did a few years ago (4 stone in 9 months). Just do calorie counting and exercise. If you want a group WW or Rosemary Conley is good or just use food focus or weightlossresources websites for cals in food and how much you should eat/exercise.

The low carb thing is fashionable and a little bit faster (although only at first) but it is not the only way. I can't do without carbs either!

[Ragwort]

Agree with AngryFeet - I eat carbs at every meal (and sometimes for a snack as well ) yet I am still losing weight - 2-3lbs per week. I roughly follow low fat/Rosemary Conely and I do quite a bit of exercise.

I cannot go without carbs !

[Tortington]

lcing isn;t the only way as ANNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRY says

what you are refering too is low sugar rathr than carbs and when you;ve been lcing for a week or two it stabelizes and no more moods.

i do notice a particular low when i first start to low carb after a jolly sugar /wine induced weekend

[timidviper]

I struggle with any diet but agree with others above that the trick is not to do anything extreme but to be sensible.

Have to disagree with the low-fat suggestions though. I have been quite ill twice (ill enough to be off work which is not like me) after trying the Rosemary Conley plan, both times it was like a CFS type thing which resolved when I began eating fat again.

[TheMightyBouche]

The CLD advocates fats in form of avocado, nuts and oils, from memory. Nut butters as well I think.

[Conundrumish]

Forgot I had posted this. Thank you - it's reasurring to know that you are all loosing weight and eating carbs [tucks into biscuit].

[thirtysomething]

For some reason I can't fathom, giving up wheat in all forms seems to do the trick for me - otherwise I constantly crave carbs and am SOOOO hungry! But if I give up wheat and stick to rice and potatoes in small quanitities that seems to stop the carb cravings.