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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

THE GI DIET - Support, Tips, Recipes And So Much More!!!!

432 replies

PuffTheMagicDragon · 28/01/2005 21:10

A thread for all us GI diet followers (and anyone interested in it).

If you have any yum recipes or tips to share, please do .

If you have any questions about following a GI diet, there's bound to be a Mumsnetter who knows the answer .

I'll be posting my progress on the thread weekly - if anyone else wants to - great!

Here are some useful links (some posted on other threads, but I thought I'd bring them together here):

Sunday Times GI Diet

The Glycemic Index (including database of foods)

GI diet recipe ideas at bottom of this page

OP posts:
BellaLasagne · 10/05/2005 18:00

Thanks all

Think I'll stick to brown or basmati.

I've just got the Tesco £3.97 book and find the coloured pages very contradictory and hard to follow. I can't understand why they've listed every single Tesco brand product in some categories when a generic list would have done. Also they list brown, all long grain and wild rice as green with basmati as yellow!

They also have a recipe section, some of which are quite high fat and only on digging deeper didi I find a small disclaimer saying so!

Naughty

Saker · 10/05/2005 20:10

I've been following the Rick Gallop plan and thought basmati rice was okay. I just looked it up in the GI database and it has a value of 58 which is just above the 55 cut off. So I think a small portion should be okay which is what Rick Gallop recommends.

The green light foods say eat freely but IMO that is a load of rubbish as you have to limit portion sizes of carbs such as bread, rice, new potatoes etc and I presume you still have to reduce calories each day to lose weight.

I am having a bad day today - have felt hungry all day so have eaten more than I should though have stuck to low GI foods. Plus feeling a bit demotivated as didn't lose anything last week. I know I have to expect weeks like that but this always happens to me on diets, I lose for the first two or three weeks then just plateau. This time I have sworn to give it a chance to work but don't feel very optimistic.

Original poster
PuffTheMagicDragon · 10/05/2005 20:21

keep with it Saker, hopefully you'll have a loss this week .

On GI, I've tended to have a small/no weight loss one week and then a fairly substantial one the following. Not sure why this happens, but its a definite pattern.

I'm glad others think a specific recipe thread is a good idea. I'll get together recipes I've tried (and not yet posted) to kick it off. I don't know about the ones on this thread - I don't know how to transfer them across apart from re-typing (can do links but not cut and paste ).

I can't do it for a few days, so bear with me! I'll set up a new support thread at the same time, as we've been busy on this one and it's quite long now .

OP posts:
Heathcliffscathy · 10/05/2005 20:42

oh great puff, i'm so glad you said that as i didn't lose a pound last week (and haven't so far this week) but hope to by the end of the week. but i still haven't put any on...so i'm still half a stone down yay!

Saker · 10/05/2005 20:50

Thanks Puff, that's cheered me up. Cutting and pasting should be simple. I will do some when you set up the thread.

Original poster
PuffTheMagicDragon · 10/05/2005 21:01

sophable and Saker.

Saker, if you could do some cutting and pasting, that would be brill!

OP posts:
robin3 · 11/05/2005 09:15

Saker....I have the same problem as you and am now only weighing myself every month to avoid the demotivating weigh ins every week. I keep getting tempted to step on the scales but I know that I can gain 3 lbs in one meal (!) so the chances of getting a consistent loss every week is low. The overall effect of one month is a lot more motivating. Maybe this will help you too.

Saker · 11/05/2005 12:53

Thanks Robin3 - I do try to weigh first thing in the morning once a week so it should be more consistent but I know what you mean. Thing is I already have trouble not stepping on the scales more than that which is pathetic really. I completely take your point. I have vowed to stick to the diet until we go on holiday at the end of term so in a way it is pointless weighing before then. If I have no loss this week I might try and go to once every two weeks. I'm sure hormones etc make a difference also - does anyone find that being on the pill makes any difference?

glitterfairy · 11/05/2005 13:45

Started a GI diet this week and am actually really enjoying it. I have not had any of my usual diet headaches and feel much better already!

I will read this thread when I have time but glad it is here. Has anyone seen the telegraph on Saturday about it or this week?

Saker · 15/05/2005 22:27

Does anyone know where noodles stand in terms of GI? I am talking about the Sharwoods type of egg noodles rather than totally instant ones. I suspect they are not allowed but can't actually find it anywhere.

Lost 1lb this week - would have liked more given I didn't lose any last week either so don't know if I'm eating too much or if that is all that I should expect now. I don't have loads of weight to lose, I am 5ft5 and now weigh 10st1 - ideally I would like to be somewhere between 9st and 9st7. I suppose it will slow down as I get nearer to that???

robin3 · 16/05/2005 10:46

I think egg noodles are fine....rice ones are a no no but I think my book has a recipe with egg noodles.
I think a pound a week is what they project as the ideal weight loss. It also confirmed in something that I read that the more you have to loose the quicker it comes off at the start. I'm hoping to loose a total of 2.5-3 stone (lost 1.5 so far) so it's much easier for me to see dramatic loss. Not sure if anyone else on the thread has experience of loosing smaller amounts.

suzywong · 16/05/2005 10:51

I know what you mean about small amounts, I would like to lose 10lbs and I am eating a spinach mushroom and blackeyed bean balti while my family digs in to fish and chips.

I have been off and on this diet now and I feel PMS bloat overtaking any good works, will just have to be more thorough

yoyo · 16/05/2005 11:41

I only have a small amount to lose (about 10 lbs) and seem to be getting nowhere. I originally started this to feel healthier but stuffed myself over a period of 3 weeks back at Easter so now have to lose the weight too. I feel frustrated as it is obviously a healthy way to eat but I can see that I am going to have to be far more controlled about portion sizes if I am to lose the pounds. I also need to be more active. I walk everywhere but I think I need to get back on the treadmill again.

I have 11 weeks before I go on holiday and have to bare my body - there will be 2 leggy size 8 women there and short-legged 12/14 saggy, wobbly me! Is this achievable or do I buy a kaftan and occasionally dip a toe in the water?

Original poster
PuffTheMagicDragon · 16/05/2005 11:48

I think if you have less than a stone to lose, a lb a week is really good.

I've also got to get off my butt and do some exercise.

Haven't got round to setting up the new recipe thread yet, I will do though, I promise!

OP posts:
MarsLady · 16/05/2005 13:31

Ok, so I have prawns in the fridge and some spinach and cherry toms. What can I do for lunch that is low in GI? Haven't had my book arrive yet (I'm really tight and have bought it from the Book People via school and it won't come for at least another week).

Original poster
PuffTheMagicDragon · 16/05/2005 13:39

Being lazy, I'd rip up the spinach a bit, bung everything together, drizzle with olive oil, a little salt and more pepper, then eat!

OP posts:
Caribbeanqueen · 16/05/2005 13:44

The Sunday Times did some more GI stuff yesterday with a few recipes in it, and I think there will be more next week. The desert looked yummy!

MarsLady · 16/05/2005 13:47

Perfect Puff!

I've kept the Sunday Times bits and told DH that that's how we'll be eating from now on.

flum · 16/05/2005 13:57

who's lost what weight then, and how long have you been doing it. I keep hearing about this diet. I need to lose a stone in 12 weeks to fit into my (already ordered ) wedding dress.

I need some proof it works though!¬!!!!

Caribbeanqueen · 16/05/2005 14:02

I lost a stone in about 2 months, could have been more if I'd made more effort

Gone a bit off track due to holiday but determined to get my act together again.

Original poster
PuffTheMagicDragon · 16/05/2005 14:09

flum, I've lost a shade off 5 stones - started at the end of August last year.

I have been "good" some weeks and then had weeks off. I find this easy to get back on track with.

In the long term, I think I'll always eat the "GI way".

Avoiding foods made from white flour has made a big difference (see earlier in thread where I put on 6lbs in 2 days, simply because I ate bread).

OP posts:
MarsLady · 16/05/2005 14:12

that's so encouraging to hear.

robin3 · 16/05/2005 14:14

Last time I weighed myself I'd lost 1 stone 9 lbs in 2 months but I still need to loose more than a stone and I reckon the next stone will be much harder. I've been pretty determined and tend to eat more at meal times and not snack....goes against the rules but this suits my life better.

Saker · 16/05/2005 14:49

I know you are not supposed to count calories on this diet, but I think I might have to to keep on track. In the Rick Gallop book, some of the recipes are quite calorific I think. The annoying thing is that I already exercise 4 times a week and walk up and down to school lots of times and that doesn't seem to make a lot of difference! It's like your body gets used to it and then it has less impact.

Well I shouldn't moan - I have lost a total of 12 pounds in 5 weeks so far but only 1lb in the last 2 weeks - I am just a bit worried that it will tail down to nothing at all.

I am enjoying the food lots, I just wish I could have a bit more of it.

flum · 16/05/2005 14:52

WOWEEEEEEEEE

well done you girls!

right I'm sold. am staying with family this for next two weeks so will start 1 June.

I'm sold.