Live webchat with Dr John Briffa Wednesday the 4 July 12-1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

In response to popular demand we're delighted to invite Dr John Briffa for a live webchat next Wednesday 4 July at 12 midday.

Dr John Briffa is a doctor, award-winning health writer, and former columnist for The Daily Mail and The Observer. He is author of eight books on nutrition and self-help. His latest, Escape the Diet Trap has been widely discussed across the Mumsnet Talk boards.

In Escape The Diet Trap, Dr Briffa says you can 'achieve successful, sustainable weight loss without consciously cutting back on food and without the need for exhausting exercise'. One Mumsnetter describes the book as '...brilliant. Really easy to read without being patronising, and an eye opener with all the studies he cites. Really makes me feel that I am following a healthy diet for the first time in ages'. and another says, 'His advice is smart, sensible and rooted in Proper Science - but it's still controversial. Perfect for a webchat!'

Join us over lunch (extra helpings appear to be acceptable ) at noon on Wednesday 4 July to chat to Dr John Briffa, or if you're unable to join us on the day, post a question in advance on this thread.

[MNP]

Welcome to Mumsnet.

As a follower of a low carb diet I am finding I am loosing very small amounts each week even tho there are tonnes to lose, I believe I am following the advice correctly tho eggs do not feature in my diet, is there any food I should ensure I eat to increase weight lose or just plod along as I am?

Thank you

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

What are your views on the health benefits/downfalls of a vegan diet?

[OliviaLMumsnet]

SharonGless I see everything.

[BIWItheBold]

Sharon - I'll distract Olivia while you get your extra questions in.

[PostBellumBugsy]

Fantastic! Love your blog Dr Briffa.

What are your favourite low carb foods?

[becstarsky]

Welcome to mumsnet Dr Briffa. Love your book, and lost weight with the diet initially but then started finding it really hard to stick to in terms of time commitment for making meals. I work full time and prepare meals for five people not including myself every day. They're fussy about eggs and veg, and they like pasta and potato based meals, so I was having to make separate meals for them and in the end I gave up and joined the majority.

Really annoying as your diet suits my health so much better than anything I've tried (I'm coeliac with PCOS related insulin resistance). Have you any ideas on recruiting/influencing carb-addicted family members? Thank you!

[BIWItheBold]

Why have we lost our sticky already?

[BIWItheBold]

See - already slipped off active convos.

Please can we have the sticky back again?

[BIWItheBold]

[Quejica]

I would like to ask about intermittent fasting. I have lurked on the wonderful BIWI's threads and lost 1 stone in 12 weeks by low-carbing, but I break her number 1 rule - thou shalt eat breakfast. I never eat breakfast and tend to eat each day within a 6 to 8 hour window, but it wasn't until I read your blog that I realised that this was IF and not necessarily wrong. Is IF something you recommend to women to increase weight loss? Thank you!

[Jux]

I'm afraid I haven't read your book as we have very little money to spare, and basically my DLA is how we pay for food.

I need to lose weight, but don't actually eat a great deal to start with. I have ms and therefore find exercise very difficult and painful. If I were to eat less I would spend most of the day fainting (I've tried it so I know!). I have fresh fruit and veg every day, past a couple of times a week, rice at least once a week. We cook from scratch every day so none of those ready meals or anything like that.

Would your regimen work for me, do you think?

[GetOrfMoiiLand]

Ooh how wonderful.

I think the Escape the Diet Trap book is brilliant, so easy to read but not at all patronising and more importantly not full of pseudo-science.

I would also like to ask the question why nutritionists the world over are still so wedded to the low cal principle.

[BIWItheBold]

Oh good idea!

[QueenStromba]

I know I've already asked a question and I'd really like that one asked for the sake of my own future health but I think I have another one which is probably more important:

I believe you mentioned in "Escape the Diet Trap" how eating an overall acidic diet leads to calcium being leached from the bones. I would have thought that carbonated water would be acidic (carbonic acid) and therefore contribute to acidity in the diet and thus to leaching of calcium from the bones but I've read claims of a pH of 7 on some fizzy water bottles. Is fizzy water normally acidic, neutral or basic? Also, is soda water any different? Should we all stop drinking carbonated water altogether to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis?

[OliviaLMumsnet]

@BIWItheBold

[BIWItheBold]

Olivia - I've been hearing reports about how svelte and lovely you are. I hope these are true? And can I claim the credit?

[OliviaLMumsnet]

There are those who might say I was always lovely but yes, SgtMajorBiwi you can take the credit for the svelter bit. Have lost albs.
Would like to shift another 10ish lbs though.
Still trying to think of a really good question for Dr John.

[TunipTheVegemal]

Olivia, I've replied to Rachel's email re the name. Of course you can have it back (though it would be lovely if you would un-ban ArtexMonkey, as a little quid pro quo )

[TunipTheVegemal]

Oh, and my question for the real DrJohnBriffa:

A few years ago you told Patrick Moore off for drinking normal tea. Do you still think he should switch to green tea or can he carry on as he is?

[BIWItheBold]

You've lost albs? I hope you find him/it/them soon ...

[Quejica]

Jux Escape the Diet Trap is £3.99 on ebay including delivery

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160835993808?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1034wt_1139

[vezzie]

Hello Dr Briffa, very pleased to see you here!

Please could you explain how caffeine affects insulin and what the knock-on effect is on weight loss (or gain)? (Or whatever it is, if it isn't insulin.)

Also (another sneaky second question) how do you feel about sugars in whole fruit - are they as problematic as refined sugars? Taken in quantity?

Thank you!