to absolutely detest faddy diets & quick fixes?

[PetPeeveBonanza]

I am sure I am going to get flamed for this, but I can hide safely behind my namechange

It is my absolute biggest pet peeve, people who go on faddy diets that are bad for their health, and another is people who say they 'cant' give up chocolate/cake/takeaways.

As somebody with a variety of severe allergies/food intolerances, and health problems resulting from this - it bugs me no end when people put their health at risk volunatarily doing diets like atkins and the cambridge diet.

It goes against all medical advice, and is just a stupid lazy thing to do. Voluntarily putting yourself into ketosis? Do you people have no respect for your bodies? I reached ketosis through illness and was hospitalised and had to be put on a drip as it got so bad. It makes me sick that people are glad when they reach this, as if they are achieving something.

Maybe it is a quick fix, but it won't work in the long run, and you are putting your health at risk...for what? You need carbs, just be sensible. How hard is it just to eat a sensible balanced diet? Toast for breakfast is not going to stop you losing weight, nor is a jacket potato with a healthy filling...if you are serious about losing weight do it the right way and don't deprive your body of anything it needs! Yes, it may take longer, but at least you won't look washed out, thinning hair and low on energy.

There is so much choice out there for a healthy balanced diet, that you will be able to stick to! And I wish every day that I had that much choice of food to eat. And if you really really want to lose weight and be healthy, it is possible, just stop eating crap! Remember that food is meant to be there for nutrition, to keep your body working in the right way. Take care of your body, don't abuse it!

[PetPeeveBonanza]

Keeping carbs low is very different from cutting them out all together, if you are in ketosis it IS unhealthy, that's your body telling you so.

And why is it a multi million pound business? Because people fall for it! Think about it, if it was that straightforward people wouldn't need to buy all the books and special foods...you don't need to pay money to be told your overweight surely?

And also, it is very telling that even the person who started LighterLife is clinically obese

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1212909/Revealed-The-obese-woman-whos-millions-extreme-diet-linke d-death-bride-be.html

[Tortington]

its more than people falling for it.

if your fat - you know your fat

its not as simple as saying 'dont eat a donut'

[Kaloki]

I think the problem is that a lot of fad diets are marketed as a quick fix, rather than as an opportunity to change your diet/outlook on food.

inzidoodle I wish I had your willpower, and think you are an inspiration. I know I personally would take a fad diet to extremes then, come out of it in a dramatic fashion. Like a lot of people.

[LittleMrsHappy]

Currently just come off the British heart foundation "diet" as I REALLY NEEDED a detox and this was good for me, as I mainly eat veg anyway, my skin, hair and my general feeling of well being is excellent.

I lost 12Ib on this "diet" and have kept it off, and I am glad I done so.

I generally dont do quite fixes, but I would do this again if needed be, as it has been great for detoxing.

[Tripoli]

I have always been slim and the world of dieting is a complete mystery to me. I really believe that diets cause the problem and that once you are into dieting you have a big, artificial problem. If someone told me I couldn't eat 3 cream cakes, then I would want to eat them.

Don't let your daughters get the weight/diet thing. It leads to a lifetime of worrying. I have just learnt how ww works. If you keep to your target weight, you don't pay for sessions. So newbies see a crowd of successful faces. Thank God I am no part of it.

[Oblomov]

depend what kind of person you are.
i am lucky enough eat what i want when i want and deny myself nothing. tis a mystery to me how i have remained a size 12, all my life. never dieted, not once.
i eat crisps chocolate and biscuits. i also eat, basically a healthy diet,alot of veg and fruit, skinless chicken and steamed fish, loads of pasta nad bread, cheese and youghurts.
my dh eats the same diet as me , probably less chocolate and crisps and is obese. ds1 is nigh on skinny. constantly eating, fruit, cheese and biscuits, raisans, grapes etc etc.and ds2 is nigh on podgy !
just one of those thing, i think.

[pagwatch]

Littlemisshappy

Do you mind if I ask?
Did you contact the British Heart Foundation diet or are you doing a diet called The British Heart Foundation Diet

The Britsh Heart Foundation is nothing to do with the British Heart Foundation and isn't approved by them. It is just a crash diet.

I am sure you probably know this but your using "diet" rather than just diet, suggested that you thought this was not, when it is. IYSWIM

I am glad you have had good results but it is a pretty unhealthy crash diet

[Pumphreydidit]

BBC wartime rations article The chap lost weight (despite lard, fat and sweets) after following it for a week.

[Oblomov]

If you cut down on your calories, yes, you will lose fat, but continue on such a low-cal diet and your body starts to eat its own muscle in order to gather enough nutrition to function properly - including the heart. "
So how little carbs does Lighter life suggets then ?

[nikki1978]

I lost just over 4 stone two years ago after years of dieting on and off. I lost it by eating 1400 cals a day (scrambed egg on toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, meat, pots and a lot of veg for tea plus a snack in the late afternoon). I tried to go low carb a few times and barely lasted a day as I love bread and potatoes too much . During the diet that worked for me I did an hour of exercise 6 days a week (mainly aerobics or running but sometimes walking). It seemed to suppress my appetite and I was so much happier and more positive. I would have a takeaway every couple of weeks and went out drinking once a month or so but the weight came off steadily and I went from 13st 11 to 9st 7 in about 8 months. I stayed at that weight for 18 months then decided as I am small framed I could do with losing a bit more weight to get to 9st. Started doing faddy diets for some stupid reason (wanted to lose it fast and knew it would take a while on my normal regime) and after 6 months I have put on nearly 2 stone

I am now back on my old regime and the weight is coming off slowly and surely again. Slow and steady wins the race after all

[Tortington]

wow inzi - you look great

[Oblomov]

inzidoodle, but any diet that is based on soups and shakes, can't be good, can it? i mean the actual basic concept of having a shake for breakfast, soup for lunch. it is ridiculous. do you not think ? its not maintainable. when do you start eating normal food then ?

[Lizzylou]

Inzi, you look fab, wow.
The thing with Lighterlife (I have never done it though, so will be corrected if need be), whilst it can be seen as a quick fix, they do have lots of counselling sessions etc to address why you needed to lose weight, food issues etc. That has got to be a good thing.
I can't Low Carb, I can stick to it but I don't lose weight. For me, slow and steady, stick to lower calories, fewer carbs and lost of exercise work.
Personally though I have to feel that I am worth the effort, I have to have the confidence in myself to put myself first and go to the gym/running/exercise class. When I am down and full of self-loathing is when I gain weight, often through not eating enough.

[JeremyVile]

There are very compelling reasons to lower carb intke.
And yes, I'm sure cutting carbs altogether would be unhealthy but where are these people who have done so?
Its nigh on impossible I would have thought.
There is a lot of ignorance about carbohydrates.
Cutting out bread, potatoes, rice, pasta does not mean zero carbs.
Salad and veg for instance will provide carbohydrates, they're just a more nutritious source.
It's pretty annoying getting lectured about LCing by people who clearly dont have a clue.

[gonnabehappy]

Inzi you look utterly fantastic (and your daughter has the most brilliant smile). You are an inspiration, I can't afford lighterlife but once I have sorted out the cigs (coming up to 2 days now) I will look again at your profile...

[Oblomov]

jeremy, no one was disputing that cutting a few carbs may work for some people. but others take it to extreme where carbs are so low, or non existent that i don't think that can be considered 'healthy', 'balanced'.
how low carb are some people taking atkins then ? low or non existent carbs ?

[Oblomov]

jeremy, salad has carbs ? there is carbs in lettuce ? really ? and which veg ?
only i didn't know this . and i went on a carb counting programme last year, at kings college hospital, where i go for my pump. i have never counted lettuce as carbs in the 35 years i have been a diabetic ?