When I eat carbohydrates just once per day secretly for 10 days and cut out added sugar…

[PurpleDisco]

I get loads of compliments and people say I look well or ask if I’ve been on holidays etc. Are carbohydrates really that bad that reducing them greatly makes such a difference?

Well perhaps your diet was utter shite before and this change is an exponential improvement

Carbohydrates can cause folk to bloat, but you might also be benefitting from reducing added sugar too (I'm glad you said added, because some folk claim they cut out all sugar, and that's impossible).

I did a low carb diet a few years ago and lost a lot of weight and felt so much better for it.

The carbs have snuck back in over the last year or so, and although I haven't put all the weight back on, I have noticed that my knee joint pain is worse after I have had carbs every day for a week or so, and my indigestion and general feelings of bloatiness are worse.

I feel better without carbs, but I do find them hard to resist at times.

It depends on each person's insulin sensitivity levels. Insulin resistance causes the body to struggle to use carbs efficiently with a tendency to store it as fat instead. It also causes bloating. How your diet affects you is highly individual and you have to find what works for you.

Wow you sound nice, are you always so aggressive? FYI, no my diet wasn’t shite, and if it was then I would have said, I just reduced carbs that’s all!

Every 1g of simple/processed carbs you consume causes your body to store 3G of water. So if you eat a kilo of carbs in a week (which is easily done) you could be storing 3 kg in water and glycogen. And personally, I seem to sure it all in my chin/cheeks. And yes it does mate me look like a puffer fish. Cutting simple carbs out really works for me.

There's a shocking number of undiagnosed insulin resistant, pre-diabetic or even type 2 diabetic folks around. I really do wish people would take advice from properly trained physicians and dieticians before making dramatic changes though - eating a healthy balanced diet is obviously a good place to start, but requirements can vary between the sexes and at different ages (of course many of us also know how tempting carbs can be too)!

What was your diet like initially and what does it look like when you cut carbs/sugar? Give a day’s menu for both scenarios.

I agree. And if your body is showing signs of feeling and looking better when carbs are reduced, then that's a good starting point to get it checked out.

Yes I agree, carbs and added sugar can make some people’s faces look puffy so that’s probably it in my case. I’m 5’ 4” and just under 9 st but my ideal weight for me is 8 1/2 st. I mostly eat chicken, salmon, eggs, organic fruit, salads and roasted veg. Not keen on dairy apart from goats cheese.

The problem is hunger when carbs are reduced significantly so that’s why after a few weeks I end up eating them again with every meal! Any tips?

Wow how were we to know your pre diet

only that your current diet had elicited a wave of surprised compliments

so fairly safe assumption that pre diet, there was a copious amount of carbs and sugar 😆

To keep on top of the hunger I up the protein and fibre

I do like greek yoghurt with a small amount of Bio&Me granola and loads of berries for staving off the hunger

Or a small chicken fillet

If you want to stick to low carb and hunger is a problem, just eat low carb when you get hungry.
For example, always have your next meal ready to go. And if you are hungry eat it.
Snacking is a problem, and not great, but as a bridge (to not snacking at all) have low carb alternatives on hand, like boiled eggs and tinned fish.

If your next low carb meal is a steak and brocolli, and the only snack on hand is boiled eggs and you don't want to eat, then you are not hungry. You are either bored or craving carbs.

Whats the attitude for @Didkyle

I've been trying to do that for ages but can't seem to get through the first difficult 48 hours. My face is so puffy, I look a mess.

Don't most normal eating habits include carbohydrates just once or twice a day. Possibly if you cut out carbohydrates completely, but no not just reducing them a small amount. The diet is mostly about reaching ketosis. Maybe you have some sort of wheat intolerance that makes you look bloated, otherwise it's just you noticing compliments more because you have been watching your diet.

Hi OP, I’d love to do this but my diet is carb heavy as I’m not much of a meat eater. Have you followed a particular plan? I’d love to know what a daily diet would look like for no carb or low carb.

Is this why low carb diets are popular for losing weight? I think lots of us eat far too much carbs considering we live quite sedentary lives.

@PurpleDisco.

have you found the low carb boot camp threads here on Mumsnet ? Loads of very knowledgable people to answer questions and loads of resources

i eat like this all the time and feel so much better for it.

for example, when you say ‘no carbs’ you mean no starchy carbs like bread, rice, root veg and potatoes? Leafy green veg are very much carbs that you would want to eat plenty of.

if you are eating low car. Lots leafy green veg and genuinely feel hungry, then try upping how much fat you are eating.

Thats the kind of help you will read on the spreadsheet provided on the low carb bootcamp threads to guide your food choices. You also need to drink plenty of water. And generally follow ‘the rules’ as set out in that spreadsheet.

hunger can be a tricky thing g. Are you sure what you are feeling is hunger and not the drop that comes after consuming lots suger, boredom or just habit.

low carb boot camp is a really remarkable aid to health for me. Hope you find what works for you.

Not in my experience. When people tell me I look well and give me the most compliments it's because I'm a healthy weight with hair and skin in good condition, due to eating whole foods, exercising outdoors and getting plenty of rest. I've never even considered reducing carbs. As a vegan it would be very difficult. I just avoid processed ones, along with processed versions of other foods. Imo carbs are very important for energy and cutting them leads to too heavy reliance on protein, often from poor sources, and this strains the kidneys and isn't great for health in general.

Cutting out sugar definitely improves my skin ,and it also makes me less moody, which probably makes me more attractive to those around me!

I FEEL my absolute best when I eat minimal carbs and no sugar.

Can’t explain it, but it 100% works for me.

Low-carb really suits me too. 15 months ago, I gave up carby food and refined sugar, pretty much completely. I now only eat unprocessed food. Diet consists of lots of veg, some fruit, olive oil, cheese, eggs, full fat greek yoghurt. These can be made into all sort of delicious things, and I've never enjoyed food more.

I've lost two and a half stone, look younger, my are eyes brighter, I'm full of energy and I don't get all the weird aches and pains I used to get. I actually want to get up in the morning! It's been life-changing for me, to he honest.

I used to feel like a trash can, all the rubbish that went into me. Mentally, I feel so much sharper and on top of everything. Never been happier. It's worked for me, though I'm not saying that it would work for everyone. But for me, low-carb / no sugar is definitely it.

Sympathise on the feeling hungry

I tried to have a low-carb day today

I'm still hungry

I am losing weight though otherwise I wouldn't even bother trying

Is it really making that much difference to your face? I don't find carbs bloating. I don't really bloat though unless it's my time of the month.

you're not overweight, so I'm wondering why you're trying to reduce carbs?

Carbs aren’t ‘bad’ at all.

They’re a vital nutrient that breaks down into glucose. Just like fruit and veg does. If you mean cereals like wheat, corn, rice then they contain protein and some fat (a small amount) as well as carbohydrate and vitamins. Of course complex carbs are much better for you than simple carbs as simple carbs have had much of the fibre and vitamins stripped out.

But essentially carbs are just pure fuel - glucose (sugar) that feeds the cells of the body and brain. This is stored as fat if it’s not used up. If you eat simple carbs this can spike blood sugar.

The effect they are having you depends on what people are complimenting. If it’s weight loss or better skin etc.