I have never posted in the diet threads before but have been reading a bit and each time I read that the ?only way? to lose/maintain weight is to cut out grains/carbs out of your diet, I can?t help but thinking that this is wrong and puts unnecessary pressure on those who want to be healthy and slim but also like their carbs. I know I am going to get criticised as this thread seems to be dominated by people who swear by low carb diets but I just have to say what my experience with losing/maintaining weight is.
What is this current craze with cutting out healthy food groups? If you are physically active or/and exercise, you need carbs! I am not saying eat lots of white bread, white rice, cakes, chocolate etc, but brown rice, potatoes/sweet potatoes, wholegrain (spelt if normal wheat not tolerated) bread and pasta, rice cakes, oats, fruit etc. are all a valuable source of carbohydrate which is necessary for a healthy, balanced diet. When leaving out healthy carbs from your diet, you are also limiting intake of important vitamins and minerals. Fruit is full of vitamins and cancer fighting antioxidants, not an evil enemy as some here try to imply. Yes, it has sugar but it is natural. Also, a lot of studies have concluded that excessive animal protein consumption can contribute to growth of cancerous tumours in the body.
By all means, if you feel that you really get on with high protein/low carb diet (reach your optimal weight, can maintain it, don?t get crazy cravings, have lots of energy, sleep well etc etc), go ahead but it is not for everybody and certainly isn?t the only way to lose way/stay slim. I guess my message is: Each to their own but to those who like their pasta, bread, rice, potatoes and fruit, please don?t feel discouraged by the low-carb posters, there is another (and in my opinion) healthier way of losing and maintaining weight. If I wanted to lose weight IN A HEALTHY way, I would say stop eating processed food, cook from scratch, cut down on fat and sugar, eat healthy protein and complex unrefined carbs, take plenty of exercise and water and you are on your way. Basically, the old principle of burning more than taking in still works. In my opinion Dr D?Adamo?s blood group book is also worth a read as it makes sense that we are all different. Here I will mention that I have read countess books on nutrition as am a keen runner and cook. I am slim, strong and toned with a lot of energy and I eat carbs at every meal. My typical food intake will look like this:
Breakfast: porridge made with water, raisins, a banana, a kiwi, some nuts and a low fat natural yoghurt + nettle tea
Snack midmorning: A piece of fruit (or oatcakes if more hungry)
Lunch: An egg omelette with spinach, cheese and kidney beans plus some oatcakes OR a sandwich of 2 slices of spelt bread with cottage cheese and a salad OR a quinoa salad with salad and feta cheese OR bean/veg soup with some spelt bread or oatcakes OR a baked sweet potato with bean casserole OR fish with rice and veg etc etc (I am lucky in that I am a SAHM and can cook from scratch at lunch time and dinnertime).
Afternoon snack: same as midmorning snack
Dinner: Vegetable bake with cheese, egg and beans with potatoes OR Fish with rice/sweet potato and veg/salad OR Turkey steak with potato mash and veg/salad, low fat turkey mince spaghetti bolognaise (with non-wheat pasta) etc etc.
Late evening snack: rice cakes/oat cakes or spelt bread with cottage cheese plus carrot sticks, apple etc.
I don?t get cravings because I eat all food groups and eat at regular 3-hour intervals. I make sure that all my main 3 meals include protein, unrefined carbs and salad/veg. I don?t eat red meat, eat fish 2x a week, eat turkey or chicken 2-3 a week and have 2-3 vegetarian days a week. I drink gallons of water and herbal tea. BUT I also love baking so I make cakes (I try to substitute things in recipes for healthier alternatives) 2-3 times a week and always have some, I use butter in my baking, I will have something sweet when I fancy it (again, try to go for healthier option: dark chocolate, wholemeal muffin, wholemeal carrot cake) and I will have a glass of wine to unwind. I run or do some form of exercise (about 30-40 minutes) 4-5 times a week. And I have never felt that eating carbs was detrimental to my shape.
I hope I have encouraged those who want to slim down but still eat carbs. Good luck!