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.

Quejica

Hello!

@CobOnTheCorn

I've read your book, receibe your weekly emails and visit your blog and I've even met you in person!

Probably best to mention that I'm not a stalker, just interested in lots of thing you discuss.

So my question is, is there a resource where I can go for answers to questions like how do I know if I'm getting enough/eating too much salt? Can I really eat pork scratchings? How can I beat the sugar cravings that some days consume me?

Thank you. I don't know of one complete fount of knowledge. Re sugar cravings, have a look at Julia Ross's 'The Diet Cure' (book). L-glutamine helps a lot, usually, but so do other things Julia discusses.

One final thing. You say no 'rubbishy starchy carbs'. How do I tell the difference, and what are good carbs?

@BIWItheBold

Who else - in the UK - apart from you and Zoe Harcombe, is advocating a low carb way of eating though? Because most of what I see in the media tends to still rubbish it.

There's a doc called Charles Clarke whose written some books but no-one else that springs to mind. You're right about the media, generally speaking.

Ah yes, I've read one of his books - he's responsible for getting me into low carbing in the very first place! He doesn't seem to write much that's especially high profile though

@Heartstart

Hi

Have been following low carb having read your books and finding BiWi's thread on here. It has made me review my ds diet and he now has much less carbs. He clearly follows my family body type, hefty, and if eats carbs his belly distends. Whats your view about low carbing for children?

I don't object to carbohydrates per se, it's the form they come in that can be a big problem. I see meat/fish with veggies and some potato as a great meal for kids, but pasta not so (pasta is mainly starch which is essentially sugar, and it's not very nutritious either). For kids, I generally advocate a return to 'meat and two veg'-type meals.

Welcome Dr Briffa, following the low carb diet has changed my body shape for the better even tho weightless is slow with lots to lose but it has improved my sleep and bowel issues which have made my daily life a lot brighter, thank you.

@BIWItheBold

I just don't know where to start with the questions, as there's so much I'd like to ask you!

But i suppose my main one is this. I have read a couple of your books now, and receive your newsletter every week, linking to your blog. I've also read Gary Taubes' The Diet Delusion and Why We Get Fat - and I'm persuaded that low carb is not only a good way to eat to help lose weight, but also that it is much better for our longer term health. And as someone whose father is an insulin-injecting, Type 2 diabetic and whose mother died from breast cancer, I can only see low carbing being a positive step for me.

But why is it that the medical profession still advocates low fat rather than low carb - despite all the evidence against it?

For lots of reasons, I think, but mainly because we are slow to change. It can be hard for us to admit we were wrong about something. Some may even have vested interest in keeping an old paradigm alive. I generally advice people to bypass 'conventional wisdom' and opinion and just do what they feel is right for them. Less and less people, I think, are listening to their doctors, dieticians and our Government about what we should eat.

Does it matter which form the potatoes take ie chips, mash, roast, boiled, steamed?

Sucks up to Dr Briffa by linking his book

www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Diet-Trap-John-Briffa/dp/0007442432

@BIWItheBold

I was hoping to be able to come to MNHQ today to meet you, but sadly that's not possible, so I'm going to be very cheeky and ask another question.

I understand that calorie counting/trying to restrict calories is not a long-term approach to losing weight. However, I have read elsewhere that as you approach your goal weight that the amount of calories that you eat is something that you should be aware of.

Is this true? At what point do we need to be at least aware of, if not count, the calories? Can you still eat too much, even if the diet is focused on fat/protein and minimal carbs?

It all depends. Some people (many, actually) don't need to be at all calorie-conscious, even down to their goal weight, because their body is self-regulating very nicely. This is not true for all. I've noticed in some factions of the 'low carb' community there's this idea that people can eat as much as they like, as long as it's 'low carb'. I don't think this is a good approach, and don't think gratuitous eating is a good idea. Neither, though, is allowing hunger to run out of control. It can be a fine balance, but on the right diet, I've found most people find their without any conscious restriction or counting of calories.

@captainmummy

I've been low-cal dieting since new year - and put on 2 kg.

I started a low-carb 'diet' 2.5 weeks ago and have lost 2kg.

I am a bit concerned re the saturated fat, the cream,cheese, meat aspect. Have i just been 'conditioned' into believing these are 'bad' for me? Or is Low-carbing useful for weight-loss, then I should go back to my fruit (really miss it) and low-fat yoghurts?

There is no good evidence that saturated fat is harmful for health. I discuss the evidence in depth in my book. It can be hard to throw off the notion - I know, because I had to do this myself some years back.!

You going for commission, NMP?

[quote NotMostPeople]Sucks up to Dr Briffa by linking his book

www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Diet-Trap-John-Briffa/dp/0007442432[/quote]

Next thing you'll come to MNHQ and leave an apple (or some nuts) on my desk! ;-)

@CobOnTheCorn

Does it matter which form the potatoes take ie chips, mash, roast, boiled, steamed?

No particularly. Sweet potatoes are worth a thought too - bit less disruptive to blood sugar levels than regular spuds and more nutritious too.

@vnmum

Hi and welcome to Mumsnet. I have been low carbing since feb and finding it so easy and I feel so much healthier. I have also got my DH to low carb also which has cleared his IBS symptoms up completely.

My question is in relation to exercise and low carb.
I believe you do not advocate as such, doing lots of cardio to help weight loss on a low carb diet. My DH has to do 40 - 60 mins of cardio (runs, weighted runs) 3 to 4 times a week as part of his job. He also does weights 3 to 4 times a week for strength. Is it still possible for him to lose fat while doing this level of cardio and low carb at the same time? and how can he help his body cope with it all?

Thanks

This is a complex issue because some individuals benefit from more carb if they are very active. However, cutting back on carbs can push the body to burn fat rather than sugar, and this is explored in depth in a book entitled 'The Art and Science of Low-Carbohydrate Performance' which he might like to take a look at.

I do find breakfast a bit of a problem though. Is it eggs, eggs or eggs on this woe?

@MNP

Welcome Dr Briffa, following the low carb diet has changed my body shape for the better even tho weightless is slow with lots to lose but it has improved my sleep and bowel issues which have made my daily life a lot brighter, thank you.

Well done you and thank you. Do you feel what you're doing is sustainable, but that's possibly the most important thing of all if you're looking to get continuing benefit.

@annieapple7

I do find breakfast a bit of a problem though. Is it eggs, eggs or eggs on this woe?

A good quick breakfast (in the week, say) would be full fat Greek yoghurt, berries and some nuts (e.g. roast hazelnuts). Does the job for most people and travels well. Perhaps leave eggs for the weekend when there's more time (usually) as part of a cooked breakfast (e.g. eggs and smoked salmon)

@Jins

I've been low-carbing for the last 9 years and I'm convinced of the health benefits. I've seen many people swap and change between low carb and 'normal' eating over the years and it seems to me that women never go back to those glorious first weeks where the weight just falls off whereas men seem to get similar results each restart.

What do you think causes this difference between the sexes?

I've not noticed this phenomenon per se, but I do recognise that women generally lose weight more slowly than men. This may be due to these sorts of factors:

1. men often accumulate weight around the middle which is 'surplus to requirements' and perhaps the body is happier to rid itself of this rather than fat below the waist which some believe has a point (for pregnancy and breastfeeding)

1. women are more likely to be slowed up by hormonal issues such as low thyroid

1. women have naturally lower levels, overall, of brain chemical such as serotonin, and this can make eating in a controlled way harder for some.

What about fruit for the rugratschildren?

@SpagboLagain

Low carbers often recommend nuts as snacks. My husband has a very severe allergy to all nuts, so we don't have anything like that in the house. Do you have suggestions for good alternatives, other snacks and best ways of replacing any particular oils or nutrients that nuts provide? (I haven't read your book yet, but have heard good things about it so will be doing)

Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin) are a good alternative. Not very sexy, I know, but they're just there to 'do a job' really.

@TodaysAGoodDay

One final thing. You say no 'rubbishy starchy carbs'. How do I tell the difference, and what are good carbs?

Veggies and some fruit are good. Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and breakfast cereals not so good. The method behind this 'madness' is explained in excruciating detail in my book.

Hi Dr Briffa, great to see you I hope you answer my question about insuline because I have tried to explain it to my biologist-father and fell apart.