low carb diets -seems like everyone's on one, but I thought dieticians etc generally don't recommend them?

[GhostOfAWasp]

I am not a dietician, but I know a few and they seem to think that all the anti wheat arguments are pseudo science and carbs aren't that bad! Granted, they work, but surely cutting any food group from you diet would have the same effect? I never found it felt very healthy or sustainable long term.

Have I missed something?

No ghost, mine do get some carbs. I've replaced a lot of their fruit snacks for cucumber and cherry tomatoes, but they get cereal in the mornings and toast. They do have a small amount with their dinner too - to me, kids are like athletes and have very little fats on their body to burn for their calories so I do give them carbs. I watch what kind they eat though.

Four years ago I followed the Atkins diet for 6 months. As I was obese I stayed on the induction phase for that whole time which meant I only ate meat, eggs, a little cheese and a little amount of veg/salad. Although it was hard work at the begining it soon became my way of life and not only did I lose 5 stone I also felt fantastic. I has sooo much energy, my headaches completely stopped, I only ever felt hungry if I had to miss a meal due to work or travelling and I never craved sugar.

The problem was it was very unrealistic to follow such a strict diet for so long and I well and truely fell off the band wagon! As soon as i came off the diet I gained all the weight back and more, this was because I binged on all the sweet and carb-rich foods I had denied myself for so long. I failed because I tried to stick to the induction phase for so long and really should have introduced other foods into my regime but I was scared to even eat fruit as i was convinced i would become fat over night!

Last year I started a low carb diet devised by myself and it really is working. I have lost 4 stone and counting and I eat a very varied diet. The things I don't eat EVER are sugar( sweets/cakes/chocolate ect ), white bread, pastry and most other processed foods. Things I eat occasionally are brown bread, rice and pasta,cereal, potatoes and things I eat a lot of are salads, fish,eggs, veg, lean meat.

I never worry about the fat content of what I eat so tuna mayonnaise, bacon and eggs and big steaks and the like are not 'bad' foods for me.

Although it's not the Atkins, it sure is low carb and very easy to live with. I can eat out and eat with the family at tea time and I now eat more veg and salad then ever before. It's also not the end of the world if I have weetabix for breakfast then a prawn mayo sandwich at lunch as it's just a small part of my overall diet. The only thing i really forbid myself, as i said before, is sugar.

I personally believe a low carb diet is very healthy and if not taken to extremes like i did 4 years ago, is easy to follow and maintain.

Good luck to every one of you trying to lose weight

Since christmas my husband has got into his cycling and lost a ton of weight plus he's going into triathalon too now so we have changed our attitude loads in this house. We have always had the best foods (own beef, lamb & pork) the finest of ingredients however it was too rich so overnight we decided that fitness and diet was going to be part of our lives forever (near enough tee total too). With that we have had to change our diet too so the children also have to join in. I have always cooked from scratch and they have also have varied meals. I'm not too concerned over their carb intake but I try not let them continually graze which is near impossible as they do have sweets etc but I know they have a better diet than many of their friends. I'm only just getting into it but what I've read is extremely interesting. Now that I'm over 40 and 2 stone over weight and totally unfit I feel its got to be a change in lifestyle not just a swift diet plan. I have found I dont crave much at all but needs meal planning (always omlette as have tons of eggs) to fall back on. We will forever keep carbs low now as want to be a fit mum. Fitness is a problem with me due to running the business & childcare committments. I've started on my rower and running. Drilling fitness and diet into the children can only be a good thing.

We eat the same food - we eat as a family and I could not do what I do and not change my dcs diet. They no longer have refined carbs at home - so it's homemade wholemeal bread, brown rice & pasta. They don't get processed cereal for breakfast - instead they have a choice of parma ham, a wide variety of cheese, eggs - any way they like, fruit, wholemeal bread, pancakes or crepes, porridge all served with a maple syrup and leftovers. Fruit juice is on its way out - to be replaced by fruit. They still get sweet treats but they are all made by me - choc truffles, homemade ice cream, cookies, muffins etc. They currently have school dinners but they have decided they want packed lunch as my food tastes better and they're right ...but it's taken a while for them to appreciate it.

They are allowed whatever they like when out at restaurants or when visiting friends.

For them I guess you could sum it up by saying we are trying to aviod processed food most of the time and reduce the amount of refined foods they consume.

I'm more concerned with sugar than with starchy carbs for ds, who is 9, extremely active and skinny as a rake. The only bread we have in the house are wholemeal bagels for his packed lunches. We no longer have fruit juice, sugary yoghurts, crisps, sweets etc. But he does still have pasta regularly, and he does have the odd cake or biscuit or small bowl of salted popcorn eg if we're watching a film. Have never had fizzy drinks in the house as I think they are the Work Of The Devil and always have!

I definitely don't worry about things like carby fruit or veg - he can eat as much of that as he likes! We try to eat together and he definitely doesn't seem to notice if a meal is 'missing' the carb element. I'd love to have the time to bake scrummy low-carb goodies all the time - I do manage cupcakes now and again and he'll happily eat greek yog and berries for pudding.

The only battle I regularly lose is the cereal one, but I have started giving him boiled eggs in the morning which works a treat!

I agree Tea but sugar is so ingrained in kiddie culture it's hard to restrict it without making them feel like they are really missing out. I told my kids that things had to change - we had to cut back on refined carbs so their choice - eat wholegrain and get some refined sugar or eat refined carbs and get very limited sugar.. they choose wholegrain with sweet treats and the change has been remarkably easy and although it's not perfect - it's a good workable compromise.

Absolutely Betty - my parenting motto is Pick Your Battles .

I've got a kid who will happily eat wholegrain bread, smoked salmon, pork belly, plain yoghurt, cabbage, broccoli and spinach - and doesn't like chocolate or icecream (think he was swapped at birth!) - so I figure the odd bowl of cereal isn't the end of the world.

Well, I'm on day two of my own made up low carb plan and have lost a pound since yesterday. Of course, my scales might be talking crap and am about to go out and drink probably quite a lot of wine, but will start in earnest when I get back. Might have finished the Diet Trap by then...