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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off about the so called healthy eating advice we've been given for years ?

338 replies

Scarletohello · 20/01/2014 20:11

I did the Atkins diet about 8 years ago when it was considered faddy and dangerous. Low fat was the healthy way to go. I got so much hostility about it, almost like I was a climate change denier. To my surprise,I lost 2 stone easily and quickly. Unfortunately I got scared by all the health warnings about how bad it was for you so eventually went back to a ' normal' diet. And put it all on again. Am currently watching the C4 doc about how sugar is bad for you. Of course it bloody is !!

Why can't the authorities wake up and realise its not fat that makes you fat? It's sugar and fast acting carbs.

It's time we had a major overhaul in our thinking about what really makes us fat...

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 20/01/2014 21:11

Is that the same Dr John Briffa who tried to argue that rainfall caused autism? Showing in the process his complete inability to read and analyse a scientific paper.

I'm not sure I'd trust anything he says.

sooperdooper · 20/01/2014 21:12

I think you're confusing new 'fad' diets coming out with actual nutritional advice

'Given the wrong advice' by who though? By companies trying to sell the idea of weight loss - and although many of them do work, and you'll lose weight in the short term, ,in order to maintain a healthy weight you need to change you whole food lifestyle, not just (for example) cut out carbs for 8 weeks and then go back to however you used to eat before which had made you put on weight in the first place

The advice you should take is about a balanced varied diet and exercise, yes its boring but it works long term if you stick to it.

Piscivorus · 20/01/2014 21:14

John Briffa's book, Escape the diet trap, is excellent too.

holidaysarenice · 20/01/2014 21:17

I think a big problem is none of us know what a portion is!!

Ever tried weighing 30g of cereal? Its a lot less than you think!!

tyaca · 20/01/2014 21:22

it's not carbs vs fats

there are awful carbs (pure sugar) and great carbs (brown rice) and everything in between. likewise, there's avocado and there's cheese.

fatlazymummy · 20/01/2014 21:26

holidays I always weigh portions out - porridge oats, rice, pasta etc. Yes they are smaller than what you think but I've got used to it now.

sooperdooper · 20/01/2014 21:26

Totally agree holidaysarenice!!

There's a good healthy eating self assessment on here, makes you really question what you think is healthy v's what really is

www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Goodfood/Pages/goodfoodhome.aspx

Mim78 · 20/01/2014 21:26

I'm sure sugar is v bad for you - refined sugar and those types anyway. Not going to be convinced that fruit is bad for you. Also I think there may be differences between different people as I'm sure it would not be good for me to cut out carbs such as pasta, rice etc - can kind of feel it in my bones that I need those things to fuel me. And although I have never done any specific diets I am totally sure that I put on weight when I eat more fatty foods ESP fatty meat.

TamerB · 20/01/2014 21:30

There is no point on going on a diet if you are then going back to eating 'normally'. You have to change so that you have a new 'normal' way of eating and then stick to it. Make sure that it includes things that you want to eat. Mine has a piece of chocolate every day.

fatlazymummy · 20/01/2014 21:30

rafa I think it's the same Dr. Briffa that supports homeopathy.
Funny enough when I googled his name the 1st suggestion was 'john briffa quack' Grin

chrome100 · 20/01/2014 21:47

I love chocolate, sweets, bread etc. I refuse to deny myself so do shit loads of exercise. Luckily I enjoy that too and I'm slim as a result. I think you can eat anything as long as you burn it off.

specialsubject · 20/01/2014 21:49

low carbing is babble for not eating too much.

anyone with a teeny tiny brain should know the difference between simple carbs and complex carbs.

BillyBanter · 20/01/2014 21:50

It's not so much the authorities, whose advice hasn't changed that much. Moderation and exercise. It's the food and diet industry looking to make a buck.

BorisJohnsonsHair · 20/01/2014 21:50

Thing is, it's not all about getting thin, it's about health. I agree that sugar is the root of all evil, but eating saturated fat does clog your arteries and therefore it's best to eat it in moderation. Even if you stay thin you could end up with a heart attack at 50 (like my DH) so just be aware of that.

tyaca · 20/01/2014 21:53

but specialsubject, people really have no clue about the dif types of carbs. all this are carbs good or bad for you makes me want to bang my head against the wall.

JakeBullet · 20/01/2014 21:53

That was an interesting little perusal through the "Dr Briffa quack" results.

I loved his book "Escape the Diet Trap" and it made a lot of sense.

I think he is utterly wrong on autism though.

Original poster
Scarletohello · 20/01/2014 21:54

Indeed. There are good carbs and bad carbs just like there are good fats and bad ones.

OP posts:
TheBigBumTheory · 20/01/2014 22:20

It's not just sugar that makes you put on weight.

If I cut out all sugar and ate a whole block of cheddar everyday on top of my normal meals. I'd put on weight.

Sugar is highly addictive though. In the Sunday observer this week, they were quoting an American study where cocaine addicted rats preferred sugar to cocaine...

manicinsomniac · 20/01/2014 22:35

I think low carbing is more faddy nonsense tbh.

Historically, meat and dairy was for the rich. Ordinary people had an all carb diet of bread, beer and vegetables. But they didn't over eat and they were labourers. So they were slim.

Obviously refined sugars are bad for you but increasing fat isn't the answer. Just eat less of everything!

One big problem I have is that many people think women need to eat 2000 calories a day. That may be true for you average 5ft 6, average walk around a bit job, average gym 3 times a week person but it certainly isn't true for a 5ft 2 office worker who doesn't exercise. Many women shouldn't be eating more than 1500 calories a day at the most. We overeat without even knowing we're doing it.

BillyBanter · 20/01/2014 22:36

I think low carbing is more faddy nonsense tbh.

This. Someone's making a buck.

Mintyy · 20/01/2014 22:37

I really don't enjoy sweet things. I almost never eat breakfast cereal, sweets, cakes, biscuits, desserts, no sugar in coffee or tea, I actually don't like chocolate. I don't eat much fruit - again, no craving for sweet stuff. I'm not fussed about pasta either, might have it once a month. I'll eat a piece of cake if its someone's birthday, but not otherwise.

I'm also not mad about cream, butter, mayo, cheese. I do eat them, but I spread my butter thinly for example, and only have a tsp of mayo on a sandwich. I just don't like that greasy mouth-feel.

But I'm still 35lb overweight Grin.

Joules68 · 20/01/2014 22:41

Thing is you wouldn't get anywhere near the end of that block of cheddar because you wouldn't be hungry

Eat fat and you are full.... So obviously it's less calories consumed

BillyBanter · 20/01/2014 22:44

Um....

Procrastinating · 20/01/2014 22:46

Some people just don't feel full, or feeling full doesn't stop them eating more.

BillyBanter · 20/01/2014 22:47

What we need is a programme with an NHS dietitian (not a nutritionist, you don't need any qualifications to call yourself that) who just tells us the facts.

There is masses of misinformation out there. Loads of it on this thread, for starters. Which isn't surprising but it's annoying when people get judgemental about others struggling to eat well.

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